Second Chance Love

“Listen…” He held his hands up in a surrendering gesture. “I’m not trying to offend you. That’s not my intention. I just want to know that you’re taken care of while I’m not here. You don’t have anyone else but me, Evie. Can you put yourself in my shoes?”

I sighed, feeling like shit. However, I was still pissed. This situation was a clusterfuck of emotions. I understood where Jax was coming from, but his approach was all wrong.

Or maybe if Caleb wasn’t the man he was relying on, I wouldn’t feel so upset about it. Either way it sucked. To make matters worse, Caleb pretending like he didn’t know me only added insult to injury.

“Just consider Caleb like another brother.”

I scoffed, resisting the urge to reply that my new brother fucked me senseless all night.

Feeling spiteful, I snapped, “Aren’t you worried he’s going to fall in love with my amazing personality, Jax?”

After everything he said to me last night, I wanted to throw it in his face.

How was he going to keep this charade up?

Caleb glared at me, understanding what I was insinuating.

Good. Two can play this game, asshole.

Jax laughed. “That’s the least of my worries. I told you, I trust him. I wouldn’t have asked him to look after you if I didn’t. Besides, he doesn’t do relationships, and from the casual hookups I’ve seen him with, you’re not his type, baby sister.”

“I’m not a baby.”

“Evie, I know you’re not a baby. But you’re my baby sister, and my job is to protect you. No one has protected you since you were born, and there’s no way in hell it’s going to continue that way. I told you I wanted you to transfer to Miami University, but you were adamant on staying in Texas. Had I known I had a half-sister a year ago, I would have played for my hometown to stay close to you, but it’s too late now.”

My eyes shifted to Caleb. “You don’t have a problem with my brother throwing me at you?”

My heart was pounding out of my chest, waiting for his retort. This was his opportunity to speak up and be honest. Jax trusted him. One of the first things Caleb told me was that he wasn’t a liar, and I believed him. I needed him to come through on his word.

But Jax replied for him, “What’s with the attitude, Evie? I’m not throwing you off on him.”

“I don’t like being treated like a child. I don’t need anyone’s protection. I can take care of myself.” Glaring at Caleb, I alluded, “If you think you can use me, then think again.”

“Evie!”

Caleb stepped toward me. “It’s fine, Jax. She’s just a kid throwing a temper tantrum.”

“You fuc—” I caught myself. “I need to go.”

“Evie, what is your problem?” Jax exclaimed.

“Him!” I pointed at Caleb. “He’s my problem!”

“Man, I am so sorry,” Jax apologized. “She doesn’t normally act this insane.”

“You need to call in for that phone interview, Jax.”

“Shit.” He looked down at his phone. “I forgot about that. I’m going to step out real quick.” Nodding to me, he mouthed, “You need to chill,” before he left us alone.

As soon as we heard the door close, Caleb was in my face.

In a sharp tone, he snarled, “That’s enough, Evie.”

He caught me off guard, causing me to completely lose my shit.

Caleb

“Oh, so now you know me? That’s convenient for you. Should we call Jax back into the room, so he knows his best friend just fucked his baby sister like what? Two, three hours ago? And now he’s trying to fuck her over?”

I wanted to tear my hair out. I couldn’t believe this was even happening. Out of all the women in the world, she ends up being my best friend’s little sister.

Fuck me.

“Evie ... you need to stop acting like a child.”

“Well then, you need to stop acting like you don’t know me. What the hell was that? Are you really going to keep this charade up?”

“Sweetheart, we barely know each other. It was one day.”

She jerked back. The hurt was evident all over her face.

What could I do?

Either way, I was fucked.

“So everything you said last night was bullshit? What was that? Just a game to get me into bed?”

“You know that’s not true.”

“I don’t know shit. All I know is I showed up to my brother’s house, and the man who told me that I make him question everything is pretending like he doesn’t know me.”

“I promised you nothing.”

“Are you for real?”

“If I had known Jax was your brother, Evie, last night wouldn’t have happened.”

“What about the night before? You would have just let Ryan throw me in his car?”

My expression immediately turned heated.

“Oh, so you do care. Good to know I didn’t just imagine it.”

“You need to calm down.”

“And you need to stop telling me what to do. Despite what my brother thinks, I don’t answer to you.”