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."

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

watched the water shimmer under the afternoon sun. It was easy to pretend, just for

couldn't help but smile a

and the tension in his shoulders eased. "Good. Because I plan to be around for a while, whether

be a threat?" I teased

He chuckled. "Maybe."

like the air between us had finally cleared. But when I glanced back across the

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

with laughter and splashes filling the air, but all I could think about was how close everything felt-too close, too raw,

Thomas too left to grab some drinks and talk to Eddie for a while before returning to my

by a few girls who hung on his every word and laughed at something he said. And then there was Ava, her hand brushing his arm, her smile far too wide.

again and leaned in closer, and for a moment,

eyes still on Hendrix and Ava. "I'm just

and glanced in the same direction. "You

a genuine smile this

side as the sun slowly set, and I was grateful. There was something grounding about his presence. As the minutes passed, we

right?" Thomas finally said with

I asked without looking

he doesn't

respond. Thomas turned to me, his eyes searching

to face that question. "I

offered a sad smile. "That's what I

my heart twisted painfully in my

just like that, I knew.

....

<<

were probably outside joking around with Eddie and Bundah which left the room feeling strangely empty. I should've felt relieved to have some time to myself but all I could