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.

called out and snapped me back to reality. "What about

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

see it in his eyes, that curiosity, that need to dig deeper. "And who

hesitated. "Myself," I said finally. "I'm afraid of letting myself

pressed

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

I barely heard them. I was too focused

room. I stood up, ready to leave, when Thomas touched my arm. "Hey," he

nodded but I couldn't bring myself to speak. My throat felt tight and my heart pounded against my ribs. He didn't let go of my arm. His fingers were warm against my skin, and

more.

his jaw clenched so tight I 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

eyes blazed. "What were you

asked even though I knew exactly who he

he spat the name like it was poison. "What were you doing,

steady. But my heart raced and I knew he could hear it. "Why do you even

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, Angel." He said it as if he was begging,

floor before he met mine again. "But it's not that simple anymore, is it?" There was this sadness in his eyes, this longing that made my chest tighten. "It's

I shot back and my voice trembled. "You can't

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

through his hair and for a moment, he looked so lost. "I'm not trying to control you. I'm just...

making it hard to breathe. I didn't know what to