Loving The Better Brother novel Chapter 27

Chapter 27 Not There

WILLOW

Now that I think about it. I loved him a lot.

Maybe, a little too much.

“Stop thinking about him.”

The voice came from beside me, low and irritated, cutting clean through the spiral of my thoughts.

I blinked and turned my head.

The sunlight passed over Tristan’s features, catching his slightly annoyed expression.

I stared at him for a second too long. And suddenly I tried to remember.

The first time I saw Tristan Hale.

Not Marcus.

Honestly? I couldn’t recall the exact moment.

It was quite strange because he was Tristan Hale. However, I do remember being starstruck the first time I saw him. He had this aura that just made you want to step back. I also remembered him ignoring me for most of the night.

“I told you to stop thinking about him,” he said again.

I snapped out my thoughts.

“How do you even know I’m thinking about him?” I shot back.

He sighed, “I’ll get jealous.”

“What?” I asked, genuinely confused.

12:38 pm

ppp.

Chouder

Not There

The car slowed.

“We’re here.”

I looked up, and truth be told, we were already at the drive–thru of the coffee shop.

The car rolled forward, and the speaker crackled,

“An iced americano with two extra shots,” Tristan said casually.

I opened my mouth.

“I’ll have-”

“And an iced cold brew with half and half and sweetened vanilla syrup,” he added before moving on to the payment window.

“How do you even know?” I muttered, looking at the side of his face.

He didn’t look at me. “You ordered the same thing back then.”

I tilted my head to the side. Back then? I don’t recall ever having coffee with him! Or did I order coffee when we drank together?

The drinks were handed over. Tristan passed mine to me without ceremony and drove forward again. Instead of heading back toward the office, he pulled into the parking lot.

I frowned.

“I told you I don’t have time.”

“Rocco said to take our time.”

I pursed my lips. “You don’t have to take his words so literally.”

He finally looked at me.

“You weren’t like this when we first met,” I said, recalling how he was always aloof in my presence.

12:38 pm

PPP.

Phy &!

Nat ther

Finished

His jaw flexed slightly.

“Maybe because I was holding myself back before.”

My pulse skipped.

“What?”

But before I could press further, he shifted gears and parked.

He unbuckled his seatbelt and pushed something on the dashboard. After that, he got out of the car with the coffee in his hands.

“What is he doing now?” I muttered.

My door suddenly opened.

“Out.”

I sighed. “Tristan, take me back.”

He clicked his tongue before placing the cupholder on top of the car. Then, he reached in, slid his hands under my arms, and lifted me out of the seat like I weighed nothing.

“Tristan!” I exclaimed.

He ignored me completely.

The cargo area was already open. He placed me down firmly but not roughly.

I scrambled back immediately. “No. Take me back.”

He leaned in slightly, bracing one hand against the car frame,

“I told you,” he said calmly, a smirk tugging at his mouth. “We still have some time.”

My heart was beating in my throat.

“This is insane,” I whispered.

12:38 pm

Chapter

ppp.

Not There

His eyes dropped to my lips for half a second before returning to my eyes. Then, like nothing happened, he sat on the spot next to me, sipping his coffee

nonchalantly,

“You’re so freaking stubborn, you know that?” I asked, still too aware of how close he was.

One brow lifted.

“Why do you think I have this position?”

I rolled my eyes. “You shouldn’t be used to getting what you want just because you’re stubborn.”

His expression shifted slightly.

“Trust me,” he said, voice dropping lower as he turned fully toward me, one arm stretching along the leather behind my shoulders. “I don’t have everything.”

Something in the way he said it made my stomach twist. I looked away before I could drown in whatever that look meant.

I grabbed my coffee and took a long sip.

My eyes widened a little.

It tasted better than usual!

Or maybe I just needed it.

“Answer my question again,” I said. “Why do you know my order?”

He didn’t hesitate.

“I told you–we’ve ordered it before.”

I frowned. “Huh? When did we order it?”

He smirked.

4/6

12:38 pm

ppp.

Chapte

“Not There

Fow hed

“When was the first time you met me?”

The question came out of nowhere.

“What? When Marcus first introduced me, right?” I said carefully. “At that dinner. Two years ago?”

He shook his head. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“Why?” I demanded. “Is it wrong? Tell me.”

He said nothing and just watched me.

“Tell me,” I insisted, leaning closer.

“You should figure it out on your own.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“You’re enjoying this.”

“Very much.”

I huffed.

“Tell me. Or I’ll tickle you.”

“I’m not ticklish.”

“That’s what everyone says.”

His gaze flickered–amused.

“Go ahead.”

Oh.

Game on.

I lunged and dug my fingers into his side.

12:38 pm

ppp.

Chapter 27 NA! Thre

However, the moment my hand came into contact with his sides, there was nothing–not even a twitch.

His expression remained maddeningly composed.

I tried harder, not letting his lack of reaction stop me.

“Are you even human?” I muttered.

“I told you,” he said calmly. “It’s useless.”

I frowned and shifted position, half kneeling. My knee brushed his thigh.

Fine.

If his sides didn’t work-

I moved my hand lower, closer to his thigh.

His reaction was instant. His fingers wrapped around my wrist mid–motion.

“Trust me,” he said quietly, eyes locking onto mine. “You don’t want to do that.”

[IR

12:38 pm