Deal Makers (Dealing with Love 3)

“Now, what were you saying about me winning something? I wasn’t aware that I was playing anything.”

“The fuck you’re not,” I sneer. “You’ve been jerking me and Drew around for almost a month.”

“Ah.” He nods his head, as if he’s suddenly the all-knowing.

“That’s all you have to say for yourself?”

He raises an eyebrow in reply.

I wave my hand through the air. “Drew and I are no longer together so you don’t need to worry about it. And I mailed the annulment papers so that’s been taken care of, too.”

He slams his glass down on the small table beside him. “What the fuck? He broke up with you?”

I flinch, taken aback by his tone. “No. I left him.”

Brody frowns. “Why? What the fuck did he do?”

“He didn’t do anything.” I stretch my leg to kick his foot. “You’re the one who issued an ultimatum, asshole. Drew refused to walk away from me and I refuse to be the reason you two are no longer friends, so I left him, no matter how much it killed me to do so.”

His elbows are resting on his knees and his eyes are downcast. “Goddammit, Charlotte.”

I throw my hand up. “What the hell, B? Isn’t that what you wanted?”

He rolls his lips. “No, it’s not what I fucking wanted.”

My jaw drops. “What the fuck? Then why would you tell him that he could have you or me in his life, but not both?”

“Because it was a test!”

I set my glass down so I’m not tempted to throw it at his face. “What the fuck do you mean it was a test?”

He scrubs a hand over his face. “He fucking lied to me, Charlee. He’s supposed to have my back, no matter what. Marrying you and hiding it from me is the opposite of that. He should’ve told me the minute it happened. Or after you sobered up, anyway.”

“Why would he? You told him to stay away from me at every possible opportunity.”

“Of course I did! How the hell was I supposed to know that my goddamn sister was going to be his motherfucking magic pussy? As far as I was concerned, he just wanted to fuck you and I was not okay with that.”

“So he was right?” I rub my temples, feeling a headache coming on.

His eyebrows scrunch together. “Who was right about what?”

“Jesus Christ, Brody! Drew said you’d come around; that you just needed time. That the ultimatum, or whatever you want to fucking call it, was basically your version of a hissy fit—my words, not his. Once you had time to cool down and saw how serious we were about each other—that we loved each other—you’d be okay with it.”

Am I imagining that look on his face? Is he actually feeling...contrite?

“Well, yeah...I guess that about sums it up. I needed to know for sure that his feelings were genuine. If he really was in love with you, I knew he wouldn’t give you up under any circumstances.”

“How long were you planning to let this go on, B?”

Brody shrugs. “I don’t know...probably not much longer after what I saw yesterday. He stuck to his guns and I respect the hell out of him for that, Charlotte. How was I supposed to know that your dumb ass would leave him? I sure as fuck didn’t see that one coming.”

I kick him on the shin. Hard. “You idiot!”

“Ow! What the fuck?” He rubs his leg.

I groan. “How am I going to fix this? He’s not going to forgive me.”

He takes a sip of his drink. “Sure he will. He’s a pretty forgiving guy. You’d have to be, to put up with me. Ask Rainey; she’ll back me up.”