Page 11 of Chasing After You (Twisted Desires #3)

Hayes said, “They’re hardly brothers, pet.” There was a pang in my chest. “I’m just saying. Josh was more of a live-in nanny than a brother. No blood relation either, plus the adoption was dissolved, so there’s literally nothing tying them together.”

“It’s okay, Ollie, they’re right.”

“Even if they are right, they shouldn’t be assholes about it,” he grunted, glaring at his partners.

“Okay,” I began, addressing the twins. “So if I have nothing to offer him and can’t even be considered his brother, what would be the reason for him to go this far? Be honest, I mean it. I don’t care if it’s hurtful. I just want to understand.”

“There are a lot of possibilities. Given that it doesn’t sound like he had a good relationship with his parents, maybe he imprinted on you like a duck with its mother.

You know how a duckling will attach itself to the first animal it sees as it comes out of its egg?

Could be a cat, a person, a chicken, anything,” Hayes said.

“But he’s not a duck?” I asked, confused.

Hayes chuckled, shaking his head. “No, he’s not. Still, it’s a frequent enough occurrence that should be considered.”

Hudson chimed in, “Or maybe he wants to fuck you.”

I spluttered, “W-what?”

Oliver choked on the sip of water he’d taken.

Hayes tilted his head in thought, smirking. “That could be it.”

“No! There’s no way!”

“But—”

I cut him off. “No! We’re brothers! He couldn’t want that!”

Hudson smiled slowly. “We’ve already established that you’re not truly brothers.”

I whined, “No.”

Oliver reached over to squeeze my hand in his, trying not to laugh but failing miserably. “It’s okay, Josh. No one’s saying you have to sleep with him. They’re just throwing out possibilities. Poorly. Rudely. Inappropriately. You have to understand that they’re horny little psychos.”

Hudson put a hand to his chest, gasping in fake outrage. “Us?”

Hayes just grinned unapologetically, sipping from his coffee.

I buried my face in my hands. “God. I came here for help. Not… not whatever this is.”

Hudson leaned against the counter with that irritating, smug calmness of his. “We are helping. You’re the one in denial.”

“I’m not in denial,” I mumbled into my palms.

“You’re definitely in something,” Hayes said. “And it’s probably a dangerous, unresolved emotional attachment that’s been festering for almost a decade.”

I looked up, glaring weakly. I muttered, “I hate both of you. He’s my little brother. I’m not a creep.”

“Sure,” Hudson said with a shrug. “Maybe you’re not. But it certainly seems like he is. So, Josh, top or bottom? Or maybe you’re verse?”

“Hey—”

Oliver stepped in between us. “Okay, okay, enough. This isn’t a joke.

Josh is scared. And if Dorian really is as smart and resourceful as you say, then we need to think about this seriously.

If Dorian poses a real threat to him, regardless of whether or not he wants to fuck, we need to figure out how to deal with it.

If Josh gets hurt because you two just want to joke around instead of helping, I swear I won’t let your dicks anywhere near me for a long fucking time. ”

That sobered the room just enough to calm the pounding in my ears. The twins looked angry.

“Look,” I said. “I just… I don’t know what to do, or what he wants, what I want—anything.

I think I need to meet him.” I nodded slowly, the weight of it finally pressing into me.

“He was just a kid when I left. But now he’s…

this whole person. And I don’t know him anymore.

I think… even if it does end up hurting me, I need to see him and talk to him.

Sitting here, scared, isn’t going to help; it’ll just make the anxiety worse. ”

“Alright. What do you want from us?” Hudson asked.

“Could Oliver hang out at the shop when I’m working? Just for the next few days. That way, I’m not alone if Dorian decides to visit.”

Oliver smiled. “Of course, Josh. The twins can monitor the cameras and step in if anything goes wrong.”

Hayes groaned, “How many hours a day? Oliver has duties here as well.”

Oliver narrowed his eyes at him, threatening, “Those duties will go away if you don’t go along with this.”

Hayes sighed, “Fine.”

“Thank you! It’ll just be a few hours a day,” I promised.

* * *

The next couple of days passed in a haze of too much caffeine and not enough sleep.

I kept waiting for something to happen—for the door to chime and for him to walk in—but it never did.

And yet, every time I glanced toward the street, I expected to see him.

Watching. Waiting. But as always, he wasn’t there.

Oliver had been a constant presence by my side. He had accompanied me to work each day with no complaints, staying close but not too close that it felt suffocating.

“Want another?” I asked, gesturing towards Oliver’s empty cup. He kept joking that he was getting paid in coffee.

“Yes, sir,” he replied brightly, maybe a little too hyped up on the caffeine. “They never let me drink this much coffee at home.”

I smirked, laughing, “I think I’m starting to see why.”

“Don’t you dare cut me off,” he growled, reminding me of a puffed-up kitten.

“I wouldn’t dare,” I insisted, picking up his cup to take back to the counter. “Do you want the same drink or to try something else?”

He grinned. “Hmm.” He tapped his finger against his lips. “Up to you, oh great one.”

“Just don’t let your boyfriends hear you call me that,” I joked. “I’m too young to die.”

Oliver let out a laugh. “Don’t worry, I’ll tell them you’re very mean and ugly.”

“Wow, you’ve wounded me.”

He raised his hands in a placating manner, a smile still on his face. I grinned and rolled my eyes, leaving the little corner table he’d commandeered to head behind the counter.

I hummed while deciding which flavors to add to Oliver’s drink, letting my gaze flick toward the windows. Still nothing. Just a handful of regulars and a breeze rustling the leaves outside.

Kellie caught my glance and elbowed me gently. “Are you doing okay today?”

“Yep,” I answered, trying to act like I hadn’t just scanned the street for the hundredth time in three hours.

She gave me a knowing look, reminding me of faraway memories of my mom. “If you say so. Just take care of yourself, Josh. It wouldn’t be the same here without you. Make sure you’re prioritizing your mental health, yeah?”

“Thank you for everything, Kellie. God, I should really give you a raise.”

Kellie preened, batting her thick, dark eyelashes at me. “Well, I wouldn’t be against that.” She took my hand in hers, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “But remember that I’m your friend before an employee. You can always ask for help.”

My heart ached from her support. I quietly said, “Thank you, Kellie. Really. You’re a great friend. I’m lucky to have you.”

She smiled, her brown eyes watering. “You too. Now I’ll be in the kitchen prepping, so just holler if you need anything out here, ‘kay?”

I nodded. “Will do, Kels.”

I stayed quiet for a few minutes, bustling around up front. The espresso machine hissed behind me. Dishes clinked. Conversations blurred into background noise. And all I could think about was Dorian.

I almost forgot to take Oliver’s drink to him. Quickly, I grabbed the cup and hustled back to where he sat.

“Here ya go,” I said, placing the cup on the table gently. “It’s a red velvet frappe, extra whipped cream.”

“Oh my god, Josh, that sounds heavenly,” he moaned, not hesitating even a second to pick up his cup and take a sip. “Wow. This is so fucking good!”

I smiled bashfully, my face pink from his praise and genuine enjoyment of one of my creations. “I’m glad you like it.”

“Do you want me to stay again tomorrow?” Oliver asked after a few more sips.

“Yes,” I said immediately. “Yeah. I do.”

“Then I’ll be here,” he promised. “And if he walks in, I won’t let him corner you. Or get in your head.”

“You’re the best. Thank you.”

“Hey, it’s what best friends are for, right?”

“Oh… You consider me your best friend?” I stammered, “I mean—I do. I consider you my best friend. But you have Lane.”

Oliver looked at me fondly. “I can have two best friends. So, yeah, you’re one of them.”

“Oh, wow. Thank you,” I said, happily surprised. I’d never expected to be held in the same regard as I had Oliver. I just assumed he would always mean more to me than I to him.

I walked back to the counter with a giddy look on my face.

I was Oliver’s best friend.

I’d never been that important to someone before.

It felt so nice.