Darn Stupid Brother You Are by Mairee

Chapter 68

(Angel's POV)

Thomas stayed by my side, true to his word, and I felt thankful for the distraction. He joked around and I tried my best to let loose for once. But the last encounter we'd had kept replaying in my mind and made me jittery. Noticing this, he leaned in closer, his shoulder brushed against mine, and my heart skipped a beat.

"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked gently.

"I am," I lied. "Just... thinking."

He took my hand, his fingers brushing against my palm, and I shivered. "You can talk to me, you know. About anything."

I looked up at him and met his gaze, and for a moment, I almost forgot about everything else. Almost. "Thank you," I whispered.

He smiled. "Anytime."

A burst of laughter pulled my attention back to the pool, and my eyes narrowed at the sight of Hendrix and Ava, closer now than they had been before. My chest tightened with a mix of frustration and longing. Why wasn't he pushing her away? Why was he letting her cling to him like that?

"Do you want to go for a swim?" Thomas asked and pulled me from my thoughts.

I shook my head. "No. I'm fine here."

Thomas took a deep breath and finally spoke, his tone softer and almost vulnerable. "Look, about yesterday..."

I glanced at him as my heart thudded louder than the laughter around the pool. "You don't have to explain yourself."

"No, I do," he insisted as his eyes met mine with a sincerity that made my chest tighten. "I shouldn't have pushed you like that. I was frustrated or something, but that doesn't excuse it."

I let out a shaky breath. "It's fine. Really."

a bit closer and lowered his voice. "I don't want you to think I'm like everyone else here. I'm not trying to make you feel trapped or forced to make a decision." There it was again that warmth and kindness that made it so hard to stay mad at him.

to pretend, just for a

a little. "I

I plan to be around for a while, whether you like it or

a threat?" I teased and bumped

He chuckled. "Maybe."

finally cleared. But when I glanced back across the pool and saw Hendrix

and focused back on Thomas, but the weight of Hendrix's stare lingered, reminding me that nothing here was

that day passed in a blur with laughter and splashes filling the air, but all I could think about was how close everything felt-too close, too raw,

too went in. Thomas too left to grab some drinks and talk to

he said. And then

again and leaned in closer, and for a moment, his warmth was

off, my eyes still on Hendrix and Ava.

Thomas murmured and glanced in the same direction. "You know,

a genuine smile

presence. As the minutes passed, we watched Hendrix, who was doing an excellent job pretending not to notice us, even though I knew he

he's just pretending, right?" Thomas

asked without

like he doesn't care when

me, his

not ready to face that

sad smile.

Ava said, and my heart twisted painfully in my chest. But then

I knew.

....

<<

and mouthed the lyrics to some song only she knew. Hande and Charlotte were probably outside joking around with Eddie and Bundah which left