The Payback (Team Zulu 2)

“Really?” I raised my chin. “What are you afraid of?”

If we hadn’t been standing so close, I might’ve missed the slight hardening of his unblinking eyes. Silence lingered between us before he said, “Failure.”

I hadn’t expected such an honest answer. My chest tightened because I recognized his haunted expression as the same one I wore sometimes. Brandon suffered too, and I wondered what that one word—failure—meant to him. The small chink in his armor and the fact that he let me see his vulnerability only made him more appealing.

Damn him. Why couldn’t he continue to be a cocky asshole so I could walk out of here and hate him? Sure, he pushed all my buttons, but he’d also been helpful and honest.

And I…I hadn’t been truthful. Not at all.

“This was a mistake,” I said, taking a step back. “I shouldn’t have asked for your help.” I turned to grab my laptop.

“Don’t.” Brandon intercepted me before I reached it. “Please, let me fix it. I promise you don’t owe me a thing. Not even coffee.”

“Fine.” Although I didn’t think I deserved his kindness. But the repair quotes had been eye watering, and I was bordering on broke, otherwise I wouldn’t have approached Brandon for help.

“I didn’t mean to upset you, Sage.” His brow creased. “I’m sorry.”

I nodded, accepting his apology. “So am I. I’ll see myself out.”