Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 62

(Angel's POV)

The thought of Thomas rejecting Ava hadn't left my mind since Hande told me. Ava-the one who always had every guy wrapped around her finger-got turned down. It didn't make sense. And now, every time I looked at Thomas, this heaviness settled in my chest. I didn't know if it was relief or excitement or fear. Maybe it was all of them. And then there was Hendrix. The way his eyes followed me lately was impossible to ignore, like he was waiting for something, always watching.

Today's group therapy session didn't help my jumbled thoughts either. The room was packed as usual with everyone spread out in a circle. Dr. Joe sat in the middle with a clipboard in hand and his eyes flickering between us, studying our expressions like we were some kind of project.

"Today," Dr. Joe began, his voice cutting through the murmurs, "we're going to talk about fear. What are we most afraid of and why?"

A murmur of unease spread through the room. Nobody wanted to go first as always.

Cylan cleared her throat and said, "I guess I'm scared of never being accepted, like truly accepted for who I am." Her eyes darted to the floor, and there was a vulnerability there that made my heart ache.

Hande nodded beside her. "I get that. For me, it's being forgotten. Like I never mattered, you know?"

The room fell silent again as everyone absorbed Hande's words. I felt the weight of them too. Being forgotten. Yeah, that was terrifying.

Thomas shifted beside me and his leg brushed against mine. I glanced at him, and our eyes met. That same electric jolt surged through me and made my skin tingle. He offered a small, almost shy smile, and I felt my pulse quicken.

I looked away quickly but not quickly enough. Hendrix was watching and I could feel his eyes burning into the side of my face. The air between us was thick with something I didn't know how to name.

I wondered why he was present in this group session because he normally wasn't. I wondered.

out and snapped

feeling everyone's eyes on me. "Uh... I guess I'm scared of letting people down." My voice

like he understood but I could see it in his eyes, that curiosity, that need to dig deeper. "And who are you

hesitated. "Myself," I said finally.

Joe pressed

people, like my worth is tied to what they think of me. And if I let them down, then I guess I let myself down too." There was a pause, and I could feel everyone staring at me, heavily and expectantly. But it was Thomas's gaze that I felt the most. It was like he could see right through me, see every fear and every doubt and every insecurity. And he didn't look

them. I was too focused on the way Thomas's knee kept brushing against mine and the way Hendrix's

ended and people started filtering out of the room. I stood up, ready to leave, when Thomas touched my arm. "Hey,"

pounded against my ribs. He didn't let go of my arm. His fingers were warm against my skin, and for a second, I thought he might

more.

thought his teeth might shatter. "We need to talk," he growled and grabbed my wrist and pulled me away before I could protest. "What the hell, Hendrix?" I yanked my arm free once we were

eyes blazed. "What were you doing with

even though I knew exactly who he

like it was poison. "What were you doing,

said and tried to keep my voice steady. But my heart raced and I knew he could hear it. "Why

and his voice dropped, softer and almost vulnerable. He took a step closer but there was no aggression in his movements, just this desperate, aching need to understand. "Because... you're my sister,

that simple anymore, is it?" There was this sadness

I shot back and my voice trembled. "You can't act like this doesn't matter when you've been

sagged. "Ava is... it's complicated. But she's not you, Angel. She's never been you." His hand reached up, hesitated, then fell back to his side. "I just-I don't know how to feel when I see you with him." Tears welled up in my eyes but I fought them back. "You can't decide what I do, Hendrix. You can't keep looking out for me like I'm some little

a moment, he looked so lost. "I'm not trying to control you. I'm just... scared, okay? Scared that I'm going to lose you to him. That you'll look at him the way I want you to look at

stood there, the silence pressing down on us and making it hard to breathe. I