Hate to Say I Told You So

Chapter Tewnty

The next morning proceeded as usual, as did school. I sat with Ross in English and at lunch, nothing major happened. Ross ran by our house in his evening run, and I made sure to do homework by my window as he went by so I could open my window and hog whistle at him, per usual. About an hour later, our doorbell rang. Sometimes Ross would stop by after his run so we could finish homework together, or just hang out.

I had started walking to my door, figuring my mom would call me down any second, but instead she said called for Finn. What?

Finn shot me a confused look as he headed down the stairs, and I followed him, stopping short of the bottom few steps so my mom wouldn't see me.

Ross saw me and smiled, just a flicker so that my mom wouldn't notice.

"Hey, Finn. You want to hang out, or something? I spend all this time with your sister, and Collin spends so much time with Heather, and I just feel bad that you seem to be on your own a lot. Plus, since I'm dating your sister, I kind of need to stay on your good side." Ross stood there, hands in his pockets, waiting for an answer.

Finn shot a look in my direction and I waved him on.

"Uh, sure. Let me grab my coat and stuff."

"Thank you." I mouthed at Ross, he just nodded his head, ever so slightly.

...

I heard Finn come home about an hour later. Two sets of feet went up the staircase. I heard them both stop at Finn's room for a minute. A door opening, voices, the door closing. I wasn't trying to act nosy, but this made me far too curious. I know I had asked Ross to keep an eye on Finn, but I didn't think he would start this soon.

I sat very still trying to listen in on their conversation. I turned off my music, closed my eyes, and tried hard, but then I noticed Finn playing music.

A while later, I heard a knock on my door. I opened it to find Ross.

"I figured I couldn't hang out with one Bryant kid and ignore the other one." Ross said in a labored voice, leaning against my doorframe.

"So now I'm just 'the other Bryant kid'?" I said, challenging tone in my voice.

"Walk me part way and prove you aren't?" Ross smiled, grabbed me by the waist, and kissed my cheek before walking back downstairs.

I followed him, grabbing my coat as we went, and hollering my destination to my mom.

Once outside, I tugged Ross into a proper kiss before taking his hand and walking again.

"So what did you and Finn do?" I asked.

"Oh, you know. Drank beer, smoked weed, typical guy stuff." Ross made sure to sound very sarcastic, "Kidding. We went to Pages and I showed him some stuff I liked. He said he was sick of reading your, and I quote, 'chick lit feminine shit' books." Ross shot me a disapproving look in the dark, "And I thought you were so well-read in the classics."

I gave him a playful shove, "He stole that phrase from Collin. I am, CLFS include the Bronte sisters and Jane Austen as well as other, actual CLFS authors."

"Mm, sure." Ross said, nuzzling the top of my head.

I rested my head on his shoulder, "Thanks for taking him out tonight. What did you do in his room?"

"Just talked. He told me some of the most adorable stories about you as a kid."

"Ohmigosh, he did not." I sputtered.

"Yes, he did. Among other things."

"I'm going to kill him. What else did you talk about?"

"My goodness, Belle. So nosy. Some things need to just be left between the boys. What happens on a bro date, stays on a bro date, bros before hoes, and whatever other guy cliché you can think of."

"You're on a roll tonight, Ross. First I'm the other Bryant kid, now I'm a ho? Tsk, tsk." I stopped under the street light we had dubbed halfway between our houses and turned to face him.

Ross made a face, "Well, not just any ho..." He smiled and ducked his head down to kiss me, making me weak in the knees, as usual. He pulled away with a smile on his face, "Finn did tell me the most adorable story in involving you, cowboy boots, and using green beans as braces?" He raised an eyebrow in question and had a mean smile on his face.

I covered my face in shame before resting a head on his chest, "I swear I'm going to kill him."

Ross just laughed and kissed me again before saying goodnight.