Page 52 of Pretty Broken Wings

“I won’t,” he snaps.

I roll my eyes, but it makes me dizzy. “You’re a cocky asshole, you know that?”

“That’s all you. I’m just prepared.” Gage’s voice softens slightly at the end, just enough to make me pay attention. He’s prepared because Raven helped him.

A pang of jealousy flashes across my chest.

MyRaven. The woman who was mine from the beginning, and he stole to hire her on.

My chest gets tight.

“Careful, brother.” I cross my arms. “You know what happened with the last one.” It’s a low blow, and I know it.

“Shut up,” Gage bites back too quickly.

Gage better understand that Raven ismygirl. She may not know it yet, but she’s fucking mine. I can’t keep the words back. “You wouldn’t care then that she spent the night with me.”

Gage freezes. I can’t fully see his glare, but I can feel it in the way he’s stopped breathing. There’s a tense moment where I’m not sure if we’re going to fight or not, then Gage laughs.

“Sure, whatever.” He turns on his heel and marches out of the house.

This fucker doesn’t believe me.

I follow him out. “Don’t be mad that I can pull more pussy than you.”

Gage just flips me off as he’s walking to Mom’s waiting car. At least, I think that’s what the aggressive hand raise was.

“Bring my glasses back as soon as you’re done!”

Gage gets in his car, slams his door, then they leave, and I’m left standing in my doorway, somehow even more pissed off.

I found Raven first. If he thinks he can keep her with his broody ways, he’s sadly mistaken. I’ll get her to open up to me.

I start to stomp upstairs, then pause.

Food. People are pissy when they’re hungry.

I stomp back downstairs, throwing together a quick turkey, spinach, and pesto sandwich on sourdough. Something quick so she doesn’t have time to, I don’t know, break the bathroom mirror and stab me with it. Then, I march back upstairs.

When I open the door, Raven is up and standing on the other side of the bed. I can’t see her as well with these glasses, but I can still clock the tense way she’s holding her body. Despite that, I already feel better being in her presence. It’s like the tight band around my chest loosens.

“Morning.” I throw her my best blinding grin.

Silence.

“Made you breakfast.”

Raven ignores me. “Who was that?”

Instantly, my mood sours.

“Eat.” I shove the plate on the bed.

She’s silent again and doesn’t move. I perch on the edge of the bed slowly. “You know, most women would kill for a chance in my bed.”

“I’d kill for a chance to get out of it.”

The sass immediately goes to my dick, and I feel myself stiffening. Fuck, I want to shove it down her throat and teach her some manners. Instead, I clutch my chest. “Jesus, am I really that bad?”