It doesn't matter to me whether or not Drew provoked Bryan. What matters is that Bryan's known about Drew's past all this time and decided to lash out at that moment. To top it off he nearly beat Drew to a pulp. He's sensitive and impulsive, and most of all selfish.
"Where is he?!" I exclaim, slamming the door to his loft closed.
Leraunte jumps from on the couch, clearly not expecting me. There's a whole bunch of files scattered on the center table. He's not here to play catch up with his little brother, but he's in for more than that now that I'm here. "Hey, AJ." His brows furrow as he takes in my disheveled state. "You okay?"
"Bryan?!" My breaths are labored as I walk through his living room, nearing the kitchen.
After Drew left me on the curb, I was too stunned to move. I refused a ride home from Isla, didn't even notice when she hopped in the car alongside Bryan and walked bare feet over to a nearby pub. The scene wouldn't stop replaying. From the moment Bryan made his snide remark, to the moment he elbowed me in the stomach, to the moment Drew's eyes began to flutter close and his body began to sag. We all managed to orchestrate the unthinkable in one of Ithaca's most exclusive restaurants, and standing front and center was me. It's always me.
"I know you're in here!" I spin when I spot him coming down the hall with a tired look on his face. He's gotten too comfortable sabotaging my relationship with Drew and I am done giving him more chances to prove himself.
"Why are you yelling?" He grumbles, massaging his temples.
"Why am I yelling?" I laugh coldly, stalking up to him. My hand flies up to connect with his face without a moment's notice, and it leaves my hands tingling.
"Shit." I faintly hear Leraunte say. He rises from the couch, ready for anything.
"Is that what we do now, Bryan?! Huh?!" I push at him, not caring to notice how his jaw contracts or how his eyes turn impossibly dense in color. "You decide not to like someone and instead of being mature about it, you run a fucking background check on them?!"
He fixes me with a glare.
"Don't look at me like that! Like you have any right to be upset right now. How do you know about his past?!"
"You're drunk, Alaina." He speaks low, averting his gaze as if trying to convince himself.
"And you're an inconsiderate piece of shit!" I get all up in his face. "Why did you do that?! Why did you..." I shove him again and he's meters away from the refrigerator. "Act like a fucking bitch!"
"Alaina!" He yells, freeing his temper. "Come to your senses, all right?! I didn't instigate that fight!"
"Oh don't act stupid Bryan." I squint up at him, scowling deeply. "You said you wouldn't take the chance with him fixing your computer." I scoff. "You must've loved having that under your belt, huh?—God!" I hold my hair away from my face. "You are such an asshole!"
"Listen to yourself," he scolds. "If I don't want him touching my shit, I have a right to say so. You should be correcting the one that threw a fucking tantrum about it. We're not in kindergarten."
"Stop fucking with me, Bryan!"
"Alaina." He carries a dangerous calm. "Look, I don't know what your aim is here, but I highly suggest you fix your tone."
Normally, I'd be intimidated, but right now seeing those dark brows of his hooding his eyes infuriates me. "Fine." I move so close we're chest to chest. "You wanna play games?" He just stands there broodingly, with eyes scolding.
YOU ARE READING
Benevolence
Romance"A part of me has always wanted to be punished, to experience pain at its highest degree, and to be ripped apart in every way possible for surviving the crash. But I was stupid for not knowing the extent of that wish; for not knowing that pain isn't...
