Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 37

(Angel's POV)

It was the way he looked at me. Dr. Joe.

I felt his eyes every time I walked down the hall. Every time I sat in the cafeteria or passed by his office, it was like his gaze burned through my skin. It had been days now and I couldn't shake it off. The tension was thick like fog and it was suffocating me.

I knew he was onto me. Onto us.

Hendrix didn't seem to notice as much because he'd been distracted and honestly a little more careless than I liked. But I saw it. Every glance and every smirk Dr. Joe threw my way. He knew we were snooping around and I got the feeling he was waiting for the perfect moment to pounce.

But I wouldn't let him intimidate me.

Not today.

I rounded the corner and my stomach twisted into knots as I saw Dr. Joe standing near the entrance to the common room. He was chatting with one of the nurses, and his smile looked too wide and too perfect. He saw me coming and something shifted in his gaze. His eyes darkened and for a moment I thought about turning around.

But I didn't. I kept walking. Straight toward him.

"Angel," he greeted me with a chilling smile and his voice sounded smooth and calm. "How are you doing today?"

My heart thudded against my chest but I forced myself to smile back. "I'm fine, Dr. Joe. Just keeping busy."

"Busy, hmm?” His eyes flickered with something I couldn't figure out. Amusement? Suspicion? I couldn't tell. "I've noticed you've been quite active lately. You and Hendrix both."

I stiffened. "We're just trying to adjust to the routine here. It's been an experience."

He chuckled softly. "I imagine it has been. This place can be overwhelming for new patients."

The way he said "overwhelming" sent a shiver down my spine. It was like he was toying with me, seeing how much I knew and how far I'd gone. But I didn't back down. I couldn't. "It's a wellness center," I replied and kept my voice steady. "I suppose that's part of the experience, right? Helping us get better?"

to help. But sometimes patients get curious.

weight of his words. "I wouldn't know anything about

but it looked colder and more threatening. "I hope not, Angel. Because if you were to overstep,

was. The threat, hidden behind his professional tone. He was warning me to stop. But I wouldn't. Not after everything

Joe," I said and my voice turned cold. "But I think I'll

for a moment longer before he finally nodded and his

distance between us as possible. His words echoed in my mind but I pushed them aside. I couldn't let him scare

time I saw Hendrix and every time our eyes met, I

talk to him. I needed to clear the air and figure out what was happening between us. But every time I tried, something held me back. Was it fear or shame?

grew closer, though. Despite everything-despite the lies and the danger and the fear-we were spending more time together. Late-night talks and casual conversations,

that night, it all came crashing

...

in the treatment room. He had just finished talking to one of the doctors, and I saw the strain

up and his eyes flickered with something I couldn't

was it?" I asked and kept my

his usual bravado slipped

them to him. He took them without a word and swallowed the pills with a grimace. I watched him as my heart pounded in my chest. Now. I had to do this now. "I've been thinking," I started and my voice was barely above a whisper. "About...

and for a moment, neither of us

about it?" His voice

need to talk about it. We need to... clear

but it wasn't a happy sound. "Clear things out? Angel, there's nothing to clear

not that simple, is it? We can't just pretend it didn't

eyes darkened. "What do you want me to say,

bit my lip and felt the tension between us build. "I

his voice rose. "You want to keep pretending like nothing's changed? Like we're just siblings? Because I'm telling you right now, Angel, that's not

hit me like a

the frustration. "You're always trying to control everything. Always trying to fix things and make them neat and tidy. But this? Us? It's not something you can fix." I shook my head as my heart pounded in my chest. "You don't get it.