Dad looks at me, blinking like he’d forgotten I was here. I’ve never thought about it until now, but I’m embarrassed. Cole is an asshole, sure, and he’s temperamental, argumentative, and…broken. But my dad never gave him a chance. No, in his eyes, Cole is cut from the same cloth as his alcoholic father.
“He gets it…” I emphasize, pleading with him to drop it.
My chest fucking throbs. What’s that shit about?
I don’t like how my father skates his attention to Cole, and I like it even less when a look of disgust flashes in his eyes.
It dawns on me that I’m protective of Cole. The instinct to defend him tingles my fingertips.
No one hurts him but me. No one gets to crawl beneath his skin.
I swallow down the lump in my throat. “I started it.”
Cole looks up at me. I stare at my dad, fighting the urge to check on him to ensure he’s okay.
I’m so confused.
Dad tightens his jaw, looking between us. Then he points at Cole again. “I will not tolerate you ruining this family holiday.”
Then my father walks out without another word, all but slamming the door shut behind him. I want to run after him and shove him so fucking hard that he crashes into the opposite wall and breaks his fucking nose.
I peer down at Cole, but he’s not looking at me. “He shouldn’t have treated you like that.”
Cole sucks on his teeth, the flames casting flickering shadows over his face. “Why did you do it?”
“Why did I do what?” I ask.
“Stand up for me.” His eyes lift, hooking my heart and tugging at something inside me. I take him in, sweeping my gaze over his lips and the stubble on his jaw—lips I want to feel pressed against mine. The emotions he evokes when he looks at me scare the living daylights out of me, yet here I am, unable to break eye contact.
My throat jumps. “I did what I thought was right?—”
He flies to his feet, standing so close that his heated breaths fan my mouth. “Next time, don’t.”
I frown, bouncing my eyes between his. Why is he so angry? What have I done wrong now? My father was a dick to him, and I couldn’t just let that slide.
“I don’t want you to defend me, Blaise,” he seethes. “I didn’t fucking ask for it, alright? I can look after myself.”
“I know you can,” I reply, struck with the need to explain. “I didn’t suggest otherwise.”
“No? Then why the hell are you getting involved? Do you think your dad is the first asshole I’ve had to deal with? That I can’t stand up for myself? I’m not fucking weak.”
“I never said you were?—”
“Stay out of my fucking business,brother,” he sneers before turning on his heel and walking away.
I stare after him.
What is wrong with me? I almost feel like I want to…cry or punch something.
No, fuck that.
“You’re scared, Cole,” I call out, and he pauses in the doorway with his back to me. “You’re so used to being treatedlike shit by everyone—your dadandmine… It’s where you feel safe. You would rather push everyone away than allow yourself to be vulnerable.”
When he stays silent, I throw my hands out defeatedly. “Not everyone is against you, Cole. Sooner or later, you will need to let someone past those fucking walls you’ve built so damn high. You want to hate me? Is that what you need to feel good? To feel safe? You want a villain? Fine. I’ll be your worst fucking nightmare.”
This time, when he walks out, I slump.
What the hell was that? He makes no secret of hating me, but when I try to do the right thing, he throws it back in my face. I can’t fucking win. Screw him and his wounded pride. I couldn’t just stand by while my dad was being a dick.
