Loving The Better Brother novel Chapter 30

Chapter 30 See You Again (Not)

WILLOW

He was still holding me, one arm firm around my waist. After a while, I heard him murmur against my hair.

“The two of them have been gone for a while now.” There was the faintest pause before he added, “But you can stay here if you want. You must be comfortable.”

The implication in that sentence made my face warm.

I immediately pulled back.

“I’m not comfortable,” I muttered, though technically, his arms were quite comfortable. “I was just making sure the two of them wouldn’t see me.”

I pushed against his chest, and this time he let me go.

Then, I clicked my tongue in annoyance, grabbed my coffee from where it had been abandoned, and climbed back into the front passenger seat with as much dignity as I could muster. I shut the door harder than necessary and took a large swig of my iced coffee, as though caffeine alone could drown out everything that had just happened.

He went inside right after, starting the engine without a word.

In the silence of the car, I internalized my feelings.

I was annoyed.

No–that was an understatement.

I was furious!

This would not have happened if he had not insisted on taking me out for coffee this far. If he had just driven me back to the office like a normal person instead of deciding we had “time,” we wouldn’t have met Marcus and Serena.

Idn’t have met Mar

Along with that, Marcus’s last statement made me livid. He had the audacity to call

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my ass nice?

My grip tightened around the plastic cup until it crinkled slightly.

Tristan drove silently for a few minutes before glancing at me.

“You alright?” he asked.

The concern in his voice caught me off guard, and for a moment, my anger faltered. I realized then that most of my irritation was not even directed at him.

“Annoyed,” I replied honestly.

He waited.

“How can he say that?” I burst out, unable to hold it in anymore. “It’s not like we’re already divorced! Does he just go around saying such words?”

My voice rose, frustration bubbling over.

“It makes me think he has other women on the side, too,” I continued bitterly. “It’s

good fucking thing I didn’t give my virginity to him. That fucking bastard.”

The words left my mouth before I could stop them. The car slowed abruptly at a red light.

I turned my head just in time to see his expression change.

“You’re a virgin?” he asked.

My eyes

Oh no.

Fuck.

widened.

Why did I say that so casually?

He looked into my eyes for what felt like an eternity. Meanwhile, I couldn’t find it within me to respond.

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Fire bed

Fortunately, the car honking behind us broke the moment.

“Drive,” I said quickly, gesturing toward the light that had already turned green.

He obeyed, but I did not miss the way the corner of his mouth twitched upward.

I frowned and turned my face toward the window, pretending the city outside was far more interesting than the conversation inside the car.

“Don’t think about it,” I muttered defensively. “It just turned out like that. Marcus was my first boyfriend and then became my husband. It’s normal that I didn’t do it with anybody else.”

He shrugged one shoulder, eyes still on the road.

“I didn’t say it wasn’t.”

The silence stretched for a few seconds before he added, casually, “I’m glad to be your first, too.”

Heat rushed straight to my face.

“Can we not talk about this?” I snapped, mortified.

He chuckled softly, clearly enjoying himself.

Goodness, I wanted this conversation to end. I wanted the office building to appear magically in front of us so I could escape this car and bury myself in paperwork, emails, and anything that did not involve discussing my lack of experience with Tristan Hale.

Fortunately, there was no traffic.

That did not stop Tristan from running his mouth, though.

“Marcus wouldn’t be able to satisfy you anyway,” he said smoothly.

I whipped my head toward him, eyebrows raised. “Excuse me?”

He smirked.

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54

“You would barely feel it.”

My mouth fell open.

“What does that even mean?” I demanded.

He glanced at me briefly, eyes glinting with mischief. “It means exactly what you think it means.”

My cheeks burned hotter.

My imagination, traitorous as always, filled in details I did not ask for. I immediately crossed my arms over my chest and turned back toward the window.

I refused to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

The rest of the ride passed in tensed silence–although that might just be on my part. He seemed amused all throughout the ride.

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