Page 124 of Pucking Bad Boys

“I wanted to ask her out from the second I saw her again. But I did my best to be respectful of your relationship with her.”

He looks at me without speaking for a few moments. “Can I ask you a question and get an honest answer from you?”

“Shoot.” I bite out cautiously.

“If you’re in love with her, why did you let me in your room last night? You knew what I wanted. I would have told you to get lost if roles had been reversed.”

Fuck. There’s nothing I can do but tell him the truth. “Because I want to be with her for real. Without your shadow hanging over us. Without her wondering how it is to be with you every time she sees you.”

My brother considers my words. “It’s the most fucked up thing I’ve ever heard, and it makes sense at the same time. I’mgonna be honest with you, though. After last night, I don’t think I can walk away from her. Not if she wants me.”

I nod. That’s exactly what I expected. “Then I guess it’s up to Talia.”

“Is it?” Becks looks confused.

“Yeah. I’m not going to step aside or make things easy for you, brother. I’m in this for the long haul. If you want her, you’re going to have to get through me first.”

Like I thought, he takes the challenge head on. “I’m not going to stop pursuing her until she’s mine. Unless she says that she doesn’t want me.”

We stare each other down, and I know Becks won’t go down without a fight. But neither will I.

“So if neither of us is giving up on her,” he says after a few tense moments. “How is she going to decide who she wants?”

“There’s only one way.” I say with grim resignation. “We both date her, and may the best man win.”

Becks shakes his head. “Fuck, no. I really don’t like this.”

“What’s up, brother? Are you scared I’ll beat you, like I’ve always done since pretty much… forever?”

He puffs his chest out, squaring his shoulders to face me. “I’m not scared of you. But this has disaster written all over it.”

I don’t understand. “Why?”

His scowl deepens. “When has a bet over a woman ever not ended in a total disaster?”

“A bet? There’s no bet, Becks. You’re my brother, and Talia is the woman I love. I don’t want to lose either of you if I can help it. The only way this can work out is if we’re totally honest with Talia about our feelings. We can fight for her as long as she knows that this is what we’re doing. One of us is probably going to get hurt when she chooses. We’re big boys, and we’ll have to deal with it. But if you hurt her in any way, you better run. Because I’m gonna fucking kill you.”

Becks doesn’t look intimidated by my warning. “Same.”

I look at the time and shoot Talia a message before stripping off the rest of my gear.

“Where are you going?” My brother asks.

“Why?”

I roll my eyes. “What does it look like? I need to shower.”

“If you’re going to see Talia, I’m coming with you.”

He grabs his own shower supplies and follows me.

“No, you’re not.” I argue. “I’m taking my girlfriend out for breakfast.”

“You said we need to be honest about our intentions. We need to speak to her together.”

Panic quickens my pulse. I need to tell Talia how I feel. That this thing between us has never been fake for me. And I’d rather not have an audience when I tell her. Especially not Becks.

What if she decides to end our deal when she hears that my brother wants way more than a hookup with her?