Bad Seed

“Right there.” I pointed at Joshua boldly, not caring that he could see me.

Michael looked from Joshua to me, an unsettled look crossing his face. “Uh, that’s my brother,” she said quietly.

“You have got to be fucking kidding me?” I asked him, turning to storm out into the parking lot.

Michael followed close behind me, calling my name.

“Julie wait,” he called.

When I pivoted to face him, I saw Josh had followed as well, a dark look of anger on his face.

“This is the girl you’re seeing?”

Michael nodded. I just stood there, my tongue frozen to the roof of my mouth, my heart pounding in my ears.

“Yes,” Michael said.

“Julie?.” Joshua asked, a slight snap to his voice.

“ I stood looking between the two brothers. Joshua’s stance was angry and confrontational, while Michael’s was more relaxed. How could he be so calm?

“So,” Joshua said after a minute. “How did you two meet?”

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.