AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He doesn’t smile at me, but that’s nothing new. Donnie isn’t exactly the type of guy who grins very often.
“Hey, long time no see,” I tell him as I approach.
I dip my head down to give Ronnie a little wave, but, like his brother, he doesn’t seem happy to see me either.
Maybe I read too much into the card Adalynn sent. Maybe the entire Tate clan is glad to be done with me.
“My sister’s inside with Madison,” Donnie says.
“I know. I was looking for her.” I don’t give any further explanation.
My relationship with Adalynn was never because of the twins. We’re cordial to each other, but a choice between them and her was never a choice at all. They had an issue with me when we were all in high school because back then the three-year age difference was a big deal. They kept a close eye on me, and I never once stepped out of line where she was concerned.
“We want you to leave her alone,” Donnie says.
I don’t have to lean down to verify with Ronnie that the man is speaking for the both of them. I’ve never seen them disagree on a single thing in all the years I’ve known them.
“She’s moved on,” he continues.
My jaw aches when I grind my back molars. They’ve never brought up the subject of Adalynn and me. I was never encouraged or discouraged from trying something with her since we’ve both become adults, so his insistence that I need to leave her alone now is strange to me.
“Moved on?” I ask, my hand coming up to scratch at a spot on my freshly shaved face.
“If you can’t step up and be the man she needs, then you need to clear off so she can find the guy who can.”
I lick my dry lips. “Which is it going to be, Donnie? Get out of the way or man up?”
He narrows his eyes at me.
“Our little sister deserves everything the world has to offer, but she’s been locked in some fucked-up loneliness because you don’t have the balls to tell her how you feel.”
I can’t really argue with the man. I haven’t opened my mouth to make confessions to her, and, apparently, she isn’t very good at reading body clues because if she was, she’d know from the time we spent together that she’s it for me.
“She’s my best friend,” I say, even though I know he doesn’t need the reminder.
I’ve questioned whether my need for her in my life is more a bad thing than a good thing. We aren’t toxic exactly but my co-dependence on her could easily be seen as an issue from the outside looking in.
“Have you told her that’s all it will ever be?” he challenges. “You’re so in love with her that you don’t even see the other women watching you.”
My lip twitches in irritation. I hate that I’m so transparent to everyone but her.
An insidious thought begins to settle inside of me. What if she does see it, but she’s been ignoring it all these years because she’s hoping I’d give up on that delusion?
“That look on your face right now tells me that you’re not ready to be what she needs, and maybe you never will be.”
“I can’t just go to her and demand that she be mine,” I growl.
He’s quiet for a minute, his eyes darting back and forth between mine. “Can’t you?”
Instead of waiting for a reply, he opens the driver’s side door of his truck and climbs inside, leaving me on the sidewalk with less bravado than I had when I got that birthday card in the mail earlier.
Chapter 38
Adalynn
“And this?” I ask, holding up the cutest camouflaged bodysuit.
“Camo?” Madison asks, her hand going to the small swell of her stomach. “I don’t think she’ll like it.”
