The Better Brother

There was something in his voice that I didn’t like. It was almost like an accusation. I narrowed my eyes at him but didn’t answer.

“We met at that little café in town,” Michael said simply. “Julie had just moved to Ennis.”

“And she found you?” Joshua asked, shooting me a look.

There it was. That was what he was getting at.

“What?” I asked. “You think I tracked down your brother and seduced him?”

“I never said that,” Joshua said firmly.

“You didn’t have to.” I scoffed and looked away. “You couldn’t be more wrong, Joshua.”

“It’s just an odd coincidence,” Joshua said, sarcastically. His eyes, so much like Michael’s, narrowed dangerously as he considered me. “You left Dallas and somehow ended up in the same small town as my brother? How does that happen, Julie? Especially since you helped me find him.”

“It just did,” I snapped. “Contrary to what you might think, my life has never revolved around you. It sure as hell doesn’t now.”

“And yet, you ended up with my brother.”

“Apparently,” I said.

My face flushed with anger as Joshua continued to stare at me.

“Okay,” Michael said loudly. “That’s enough, Josh. She didn’t know who I was, okay?”

“That’s hard to believe,” Joshua said.

“How could I have known?” I snapped. “You refused to let me meet him.”

“That doesn’t mean you didn’t snoop or—”

“Snoop?” I laughed loudly, throwing my head back. “My god, you’re insane.”

“I’m not insane!” Joshua’s eyes flashed with rage.

“Enough,” Michael said firmly

“Yes, I’ve had enough,” I said. “I’d like to go now.”

Joshua didn’t say a word, just stood staring at me as Michael shifted beside me.

I rolled my eyes and pivoted on my feet without a word. Michael wrapped his arm around my waist, and we hurried to the car. Once we were safely tucked away inside, all my emotions hit me at once. I felt like the car was spinning beneath me.

“Listen,” Michael said. He put his hand on my knee. “Are you all right?”

“Can you please take me home?” I asked without looking at him.

Michael hesitated for a second. I knew he wanted to talk about what just happened, but I couldn’t. Not yet.

“Sure,” he finally said. “I’ll take you home.”

CHAPTER 18

Michael

I barely slept at all Monday night. After I dropped Julie off at her house, I drove around in circles until the early hours of the morning. As much as I wanted to talk to Julie, I knew she needed space. Still, that didn’t stop me from thinking about her nonstop all night. When I finally made it home, I was too wired to rest. I lay in bed and stared at my ceiling, barely drifting off just before the sun came up.

Marcy wasn’t yet at her desk when I arrived at the office. I hurried to my desk and let my head fall into my hands. Today was going to be a long day. I had a lot of work to do, but I already knew I wouldn’t be able to focus.