Strung(35)

So the fact that he comes to me says a lot.

Micah isn’t the same one-night-stand-guy I met over three weeks ago . . . The same one I witnessed screwing some random girl against the sliding glass door downstairs and then kicked to the curb.

He hasn’t so much as even looked in another girl’s direction, and I’m hoping that my brother has noticed it too. Anyone can change if they want to.

Because I’m not sure how much longer I can go without telling my brother the truth, and even though he doesn’t speak of it, I know it’s eating Micah up inside too.

“Xan, I–”

“Shit. One sec,” he says while reaching into his back pocket for his phone when it goes off. “I’ll be right back.”

I can’t believe I’m about to tell him the truth, but maybe now is the best time to do it. Maybe I can talk him down from being mad at Micah with it just being the two of us if I just explain how much we care about each other.

All these thoughts keep running through my mind of the different ways I can start this conversation, but every single one makes my stomach hurt.

It takes my brother a few minutes to come back over, but when he does I can tell our day of spending time together has ended.

“I’m sorry, but I have to get to the bar. Parker called and said that Micah just fired Ryan for serving drinks to some underage kids and he’s in his office looking to fill his spot. They’re shorthanded now.” He points at me as he begins walking backward toward the house. “But we’ll continue this conversation later if you’re serious about wanting to stay here. Will you be awake when I get home?”

“I’m going to help Micah and Sebastian tonight at Express, so I’m sure I can stay awake for a couple hours once we call it a night.”

His jaw flexes at the mention of me being with Micah again, but I refuse to lie to him about hanging out with him. “We’ll talk later.”

I nod and watch as he rushes up to the house to change.

Well . . . so much for getting it all out in the open.

I walk over and grab the Frisbee and the two towels we brought with us and begin walking back the house.

I won’t be seeing Micah for another few hours and I want to finish this last chapter so I’m able to go back to the very beginning and read it over, before sending it to my editor.

But the moment I pull out my laptop all I can think about is Micah and Alexander and how soon they might not be speaking to each other because of me.

The thought of the two of them hating each other has my chest aching and my stomach twisted into knots. Especially since I’m the one to blame.

I hate it. I hate it so much.

But I think I need to tell Micah when I see him tonight that I’m going to tell my brother the first chance that I get.

That way Micah can be prepared to deal with my brother’s wrath. I’ve seen it before and it’s far from pretty.

I just hope I can keep the guys from killing each other once the truth comes out.

I don’t think I can handle watching two of the most important men in my life hurt each other.

It would crush me.

But the hiding and going behind my brother’s back ends tonight.

Because there’s no way I can hide my feelings for Micah any longer. Not when I’m quickly falling in love with him . . .





TODAY WAS A ROUGH DAY AT Vortex, because all I could think about was getting out of there so I could spend time with Tegan. It had me anxious and uptight all day, practically chewing everyone’s ass off that stepped foot into my office.

It didn’t help that thirty minutes before I was scheduled to walk out the door two of Sebastian’s asshole friends showed up with fake IDs, thinking I wouldn’t notice them in the crowd.

They were sadly mistaken. Thanks to Sebastian pulling this shit on me for the past two years, I keep a close eye on everyone who steps foot into this place.

The little shits were barely able to take their first sip before I snatched them both by the back of their necks and threw them out on their asses.

I was heated, so they’re lucky I didn’t do more damage. The only thing that calmed me down about the situation was that Sebastian wasn’t with them. He seems to be doing better lately and I hope he keeps it up.

I ended up firing Ryan’s incompetent ass on the spot and had to spend the next hour going through applications to find him a replacement.

I told Parker that I could handle the situation, but like an idiot he called Alexander anyway and took what little free time he had to spend with his sister away. It pissed me the hell off and apparently it pissed him off too, because he was not happy when he arrived.

It felt as if he was taking it out on me with the way he kept giving me dirty looks every time he stepped into my office for updates on Ryan’s replacement. The way he was sizing me up confirmed he had something on his mind, almost like he thought I was trying to keep him away from Tegan myself.

I may be worried about him finding out about us before we’re ready to tell him, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want Tegan to be able to spend time with him while she’s here.

Even if that means him finding out and coming at me to kick my ass. I’m not going to lie. I deserve an ass beating for what I’ve done, and when the time comes I’ll take it.

A lot has changed over the last week between Tegan and I, ever since I showed up at her room in the middle of the night.

I’m not the same guy I was weeks ago, and that moment proved it to not only her but myself too.

I’ll do what I can to prove it to Alexander too.

“You going to tell me how you got the money for those new shoes?” My attention veers to Sebastian’s new pair of Nike shoes the moment I step behind the bar, where he’s helping stock the liquor. They’re not the same pair I paid for.

He shrugs as if it’s no big deal. “I got a job washing dishes at the diner around the corner.”

“Don’t lie to me, Sebastian.” I drop the stack of applications I’ve been searching through and get face-to-face with him. I can always tell when the kid is lying, but I’m a little off my game right now thanks to my head being all over the place. “You better not be selling drugs again or I’ll kick your scrawny ass.”

He laughs, reaching into the box for another bottle to stock. “Chuck got me the job last week. I swear. He loaned me a hundo until I get my first paycheck. Trust me, big guy.”

“I try my damned hardest to, but until you prove to me that I can trust you I won’t be able to. Trust isn’t given, it’s earned. Got it?”

He slaps my shoulder and lifts a brow. “Got it. Now calm it before you bust out of that shirt like the Hulk. You can even stop by and check on me. I know you’re dying to.”

I’m the last person who should be schooling someone on trust right now, and looking over at Tegan as she sits there writing is a harsh reminder of that.

How the hell am I supposed to expect a kid to be truthful with me when I can’t even be truthful with my best friend?

“I’ll be doing that this week.” I grip his shoulder and smile. “I’m proud of you, kid.”

“Hell, I am too sort of. It being my first legit job and all. Which reminds me. I need a favor.”

“What? A ride? Sure.”

He shakes his head. “No. A place to stay so my asshole parents can’t steal my money for drugs and booze. I want to be better than them and I know you’ll help me get there.”

“Yeah . . .” I look him in the eyes. “You already are. We’ll discuss you staying with me later, now that you’re almost eighteen.”

“Hell yeah,” he says excitedly, before turning his attention to Tegan. “How’s that last chapter coming along over there? Did you add me to the story yet so the ladies can meet me?”

Tegan laughs and looks up just in time to catch me slap Sebastian upside the head. “Leave her be so she can concentrate.”

“Damn, big guy. Remember what I said. Calm it.” He throws his arms up. “Can’t blame a guy for trying to make an appearance in a book. My name needs to get out there.”

Tegan looks up from her computer and laughs. “Sorry, Sebastian. Maybe my next book. This one is practically done,” she says with a proud smile. “All that’s left to do is go over it from the beginning before I send it to the editor and it’s ready to go.”

She stands up and starts walking toward us.

“Are you serious?” I set the stack of applications back down before I come at her and pick her up, grabbing her legs to wrap them around my waist. “I’m fucking proud of you, baby. So, when do I get to read about me?”

I can’t help but to tease her still, even though she’s already mine. It’s just who I am with her.

“Who says I’ve been writing about you?” she asks against my lips. “You’ve had that little idea in your head since the day you were snooping over my shoulder. A little cocky, are we?”

A deep laugh rumbles in my chest as I move my hands down to grip her ass. “I think we both know that I’m much more than a little cocky.”

“Oh, come on you two!” Sebastian complains from beside us. “Do you ever give it a break? I’ve got virgin eyes over here.”

“No,” I growl. “Close your virgin eyes and ears if you don’t like it. You’re gonna have to get used to it being like this twenty-four-seven when you’re around me and my girl. Especially if you’re staying at my place.”