Dangerous Fling (Dangerous Noise 4)

It's not like I can talk.

"Is it only fun bossing around women at this point?" Ethan banters, even though I'm not bantering back. "Please tell me you've tired of bossing around your bandmates."

"In your dreams." I fold my arms and continue staring at the floor.

"Maybe you're tired of bossing around your family."

"Fuck off."

"Not that."

"What the fuck do you want me to say?"

"You uninvited Lacey," he says.

"No."

"You made it clear you don't want her here."

"And where's Violet?"

"Violet and I use words to communicate. It's this new thing. Very exciting."

I push off the wall and move towards… something. The entrance, I guess.

"Are you stupid or just committed to being miserable?"

"I don't know—"

"Yeah, you do."

I force myself to look my brother in the eyes. He knows it. I know it. I can't face it, so I might as well change the subject. "Violet broke your heart."

"Because it belonged to her."

"Still."

He stares back at me. "And?"

I shrug.

"Are you jealous or something?"

"I don't want Vi. She's like a sister."

"I know. But you are."

I take another step towards the entrance.

"I don't fucking get it, Mal. You could have that with Lacey, but you're committed to pushing her away."

I say nothing.

"You want credit for holding up the world, you have it. Let somebody help you for once."

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"When's the last time you were fucking happy?" He stares back at me with fire in his blue eyes.