About Us (all of us #2)

T H I R T Y

J O S E L Y N

I should've never trusted a word out of that man's mouth. And the funny thing is, I really didn't. I just didn't listen. I just really wanted to believe otherwise.

That I could be wanted, that I could be loved. That I could be his. That he could prove me wrong.

I never even got revenge, but I don't want it anymore. I just want to be done.

I sit on the edge of my bed, staring at Gio's name. He already thinks I'm pathetic. If he knew about this, I'd only be driving the sword deeper into myself.

Funny thing is, I don't regret that night with Gio. I don't regret any of it, and I hadn't even before me and Scott were done. The only thing I regret was not trusting him.

Letting him slip away from me a second time, and this time it being my fault.

"Joselyn!" A deep voice barks behind my door before trying the knob. I'd locked it this morning after Mom saw me come in, sobbing. I couldn't even help it. I'd ran straight to my room, wondering if she were relieved that the relationship obviously fell to pieces before she had a chance to lecture me about what I was doing. "Open the door. Now."

"Trent?" I squint, recognizing the voice when it's not such a hard shout.

And why is she shouting? Why is he even here?

My body goes cold, only staring at the knob as it jiggles from his force. She told him? Of course she told him. It's mom. She only held in the little things, and even sometimes—

"Joselyn!"

"No, Trenton. I'm not coming out."

"I'm not fucking playing around, open the door."

I don't respond, hoping he'll give up soon if I ignore him. But then again, it's Trent. He doesn't let things go when he sounds like that.

There's silence and I let out a breath, my heart still heavy and hurting, but I can't cry anymore. Not right now.

The knob clicks and I gasp right as the door shoots open.

Trenton's towering over me with one of my bobby pins that he flicks away aimlessly. His eyes glaring hard as he looks me over.

"I don't want to talk right now! Why don't you go talk to Mom about how stupid I am for thinking a man like that would ever leave his wife and family for me. I'm stupid, okay? Now leave me alone."

His brows dropped over his eyes. "What man, Joselyn?"

So...she didn't tell him?

"Doesn't matter. It's over."

"It does matter."

"What are you gonna do? Go beat him up for me? This isn't just some little teenage boy, Trenton."

"I don't know what I'm going to do, that depends on who it is and what he did."

"It's Scott Benson, Trenton." Both of us look at Mom speaking gently in the doorway. "Marina's dad."

Trenton looks at me for confirmation of those words. "Jos?"

I nod, tears running down my cheeks without me even realizing it. I hate the look on his face. The fact that my hurt has always been my brother's, it always got to me. He cared about me and although I always doubted it when he said it, the few times I saw it on him, I believed it. I felt it.

"Seriously?" he blows out an angry breath into his palms. "What the fuck. Wh—When did that start? How old were you?"

His eyes are round and shining at me.

"Eighteen."

"Fuck," he whispers to himself. "Piece of shit."

I clutch my pillow in my lap, wrapping a single loose thread hanging from its seam around my index finger until it turns violet.

"Don't confront him," Mom advises. "She says it's over, let it be over."

"It has to be over. Lyssa's pregnant."

They exchange a glance, one of the one's I can't read but know they're thinking the same thing, whatever it is. Probably wondering why she would start all over with another kid twenty something years after the first.

Trenton sits beside me. I can see his heart pounding in his chest before he hunches forward and blows a breath into his hands.

Mom leaves us there.

"Are you mad at me?"

"Not at you. At that—guy." He sighs, angrily. "If I could, I'd hurt him. I'd fucking hurt him, Joselyn I swear."

"I know you would. But you don't have to. He's not worth it."

"I know, but I feel like I need to respond. I need to do something that's going to change the fact that you're sitting here like this."

I weakly smile, sniveling as my head falls onto his hard shoulder.

"Gio gave me the tip to come here..."

I lift my head at the mention of his name, hit with that sharp pang I'm now realizing lives in the place between my heart and my belly.

"I always knew you liked him, Jos," he tells me, and I chance a glance at him. "I always knew you did and I always knew something would happen between you guys if given the chance."

"It shouldn't have happened...he doesn't like me the way I like him."

"But he does. I think he loves you."

My heart races and I wonder if my brother can heart it patting in my chest.

"He doesn't." I almost laugh, but really I want to cry again as I think of what he told me.

And why is that? Why did I believe it when Scott said it, but not when it came from Gio's mouth? What's wrong with me?

"He sort of told me." Trenton's shoulder lifts and he pulls his arm around my neck, kissing my head. "Listen...I'll never like anyone you date because that's my job. I'll always give them a hard time because I know if they want you badly enough, they'll deal with it to have you. They'll deal with me, with Mom, with all the crazy things you do. They'll look out for you the way I always had, maybe even better. And to tell you the truth, I don't trust any of these fucking guys...but I trust Gio."

"What are you...are you giving me permission to...?"

"No." He scowls, removing his arm from me. "Not permission, but I know...all I'm saying is, Gio's a good guy."

He stares ahead, picking at his fingers like he doesn't know what he's saying either.

"Trent..."

He drags in a breath. "Look, bottom line is, I'll hate anyone you date, but I'll dislike Gio a little less." He springs from his seat, scratching his head. "That's all I'm saying. Do with it what you will, as long as I am spared the fucking details and PDA and whatever the fuck else..."

I look up at my brother, my smile bright and so wide it almost hurts, then wrap my arms around his waist.

He hugs me as long as I need him to. I'm the first to let go.

"Love you, sis."

"Love you, too."