Page 76 of A Little Bit Engaged
“This venue isn’t what I had in mind, and I’m sure there won’t be an orchid in sight.” Caitlin continued speaking as if he hadn’t said anything. “I hope my sister didn’t go all English garden wildflowers for the floral arrangements.”
“We’re not getting married, Caitlin.”
“Of course we are.” She acted nonplussed because Cait Neal always got her way, especially with him. “This is what has to happen.”
“Because your fiancé dumped you?”
“Alek was a mistake. I was never in love with him. Not really.” The words rushed out. “Can you imagine me as a stepmother?”
No, Brody couldn’t.
“But you and me.” She ran her fingers down his arm. “We’re good together.”
“We haven’t been together in over two years. Even when we were dating, it was one drama after another and not that much fun.”
More bad times than good. Which was why they’d broken up.
She touched his face and snuggled close, wiggling her chest and pressing her hips against him.
He felt…nothing.
“We can try harder this time,” she whispered in a seductive voice.
Brody stepped away. He’d been too blind to see that everything Cara had said about her twin sister was true. He hadn’t wanted to believe Caitlin was capable of lying and manipulating those closest to her, but she had. Caitlin didn’t care who she used or hurt as long as she got what she wanted. Not seeing the truth had made him feel stupid, rendered him speechless at the worst possible time. That wasn’t going to happen now.
“No.” His tone was harsh. Exactly as he intended.
She drew back. “You can’t say no to me. I’m mentally fragile. With my anxiety issues, I might—”
“No.”
Her lips parted as if she was about to speak.
“Nothing you say will change my mind.” Brody didn’t want to listen to her any longer. She was toxic. He wanted her out of his life. For good. “I appreciate all you did for our careers, but I’ve spent the past three years feeling like I owe you. You’ve taken advantage of my gratitude, making me cater to your every whim and demand. Holding your anxiety over my head like a guillotine. Are you even in therapy and taking medication?”
Guilt flashed across her face before vanishing. “I’m doing better.”
She hadn’t answered his question. There was a big difference between doing better and not needing to see a doctor, meet with a therapist, and take medication. And that was when it hit him. “You’ve been using your anxiety issues to get what you want.”
From Cara.
From him.
From her parents.
They’d all gone along with it. Especially him.
His jaw tensed. “This entire time, you’ve been the one pretending. Claiming to be mentally fragile. Suggesting you might hurt yourself if things got too bad.”
“I…”
Brody held up his hand. “I’m not finished. To save yourself and continue to appear above reproach, you destroyed your sister’s life and reputation. Turned your parents against her, took away job opportunities, and left her homeless.”
Caitlin gave one of her trademarked pouts. “You make it sound so…premeditated. I still suffer from anxiety, but perhaps I slightly exaggerated how bad it was after I was put on the right meds, got in therapy, and learned coping techniques.”
Unbelievable. All this time…
Anger burned. “Cara and I have done whatever you asked for years. We bailed you out of trouble because we love you and never wanted to see you spiral again. You, however, have done nothing but use us. That ends now. You’re on your own.”
