Page 62 of Hate It with You

Though if she really didn’t want to see me, then why wouldn’t she turn off the cameras? She knows I’ve been watching her in her apartment. By the way she looks at the cameras, I know she’s spotted the blue lights. What I can’t figure out is why these notes are affecting her so strongly.

Our connection is undeniable, and our chemistry palpable. The all-consuming pull my soul has toward hers is only possible if she feels this too. The glimmer in her eyes when we first met was enough to reassure me this is something worth pursuing.

Fuck, my chest aches just looking at her.

“Holy shit,” Roman and Theo say in unison.

They’ve caught me red-handed staring at Beth for way longer than a landlord should be looking at his female tenant.

I whip my head back down to the work at hand, hoping my brothers will let it go. Though I have a feeling they won’t.

“You love her,” Theo whispers excitedly, pulling a chuckle from Roman.

I scoff, unable to find a retort to his statement.

“That wasn’t a no.” Theo lifts his nose, a smile spreading across his face as he stands tall triumphantly.

Roman chuckles again as he looks at me, responding with a simple, “Damn.”

Turning to my brothers so my back is toward Beth, in an effort to avoid her reading my lips, I say, “I don’t know anything about love. What I’m focused on is protection. She’s been getting these… notes. I haven’t read all of them, but the ones I have are creepy as shit. Someone’s fucking with her, and when I get my fucking hands on the fucker who thinks he can fuck with Beth, he has another fucking⁠—”

“Breathe, Alex.” Roman’s voice is steady beside me, forming a tight huddle between Theo and me.

Taking a deep breath, I continue, “Sorry, you know how I feel about bullies.”

Theo and Roman nod; no further words are needed on the topic. The incident of my childhood was far too familiar to Roman, and the stories later told to Theo all too horrific for him to want to know the details.

“So what’s the plan, then?” Theo asks, in a serious and slightly worried tone.

“I was hoping Sienna could help with that. She’s like a sister to Beth. I figured at the very least, she could talk to her. God knows she won’t open up to me.”

“I’m glad I brought her with me, then. They’ve needed some time together,” Theo says, looking onward to Sienna. The love in his eyes is sickening at the moment.

“Maybe I’ll pick up some more gym days. I could use a bit of a cut after all that food we ate at the lake house this summer.” Roman says, “We missed you this year.” The last sentence comes out more timid than Roman usually is. A hint of sadness overwhelms his eyes but it’s gone in an instant. Lingering only long enough for me to know he might be struggling more with his inner demons than any of us thought.

“You have a key. Come by whenever. This shit is getting worse, and I wouldn’t say no to backup. But Beth is delicate when it comes to this, so be subtle.”

Roman nods, the corners of his mouth ticking up into a smile.

She and Sienna are practically sisters, making her as much our family as Sienna is. Whether Beth wants the protection or not, she’s getting it from all of us.

25

BETH

“The two of you seem to be getting along,” Sienna says. She’s perched on the front counter, her legs swinging back and forth as she watches the guys work. She looks to Theo with love in her eyes, while I struggle to keep my gaze anywhere but Alex’s direction.

“Barely.” I roll my eyes, a melancholy smile overtaking me at the thought of just how well, and not well, Alex and I have been getting along lately. His words repeat in my head again.

I would die before I let any harm come to you.

“Alright, spill it,” Sienna says, her forwardness making my mouth fall open in shock.

“Damn, one trip away with Theo and you come back a changed woman.” I chuckle.

She laughs with me. “I think it’s more so the break from work than anything else. Graham has me working nonstop. It was nice to get away for once. You could’ve come, you know.”

I wave my hand at her. “Nah, it’s not my place. I only went last year to help you, remember? Plus I have things to do here.”