Page 48 of Three Pucking Ex's Brothers

Not that he goes out of his way to avoid me or anything; he’s not quite as skittish or quiet as Tommy, but I sometimes get the feeling that Freddie is just more deliberate about how he interacts with people.

He’s pretty close to Daniella, their mom, and usually at events you can find him hanging out with their dad, Kurt, and his uncles. Mostly in the garage with a beer talking about hockey,since that’s the family’s favorite pastime and all four Sterling boys play in some capacity. Even Tommy plays, though he doesn’t play professionally like his brothers.

But Freddie and I don’t usually talk about much, other than the “how are you doing, how’s life, how’s my asshole brother treating you?”

Well,before,it was more or less how is mybrothertreating you, but now…

“Thank you again,” I say carefully as I take another sip of my coffee. “For the coffee, and the clothes and?—”

Freddie dismisses me with a wave. “Don’t have to thank me for doing what a man should be doing.” He licks his lips. “What mybrothershould be doing for you.”

I hear the tinge of anger in his voice and tense.

I can’t look at him because the words cut me to my core. He’s right, Brettshouldbe taking care of me, of us—not fucking women in our bed on our damn anniversary. Not ghosting me completely then telling meit’s over.

Like it’s the most simple thing in the world. Like I didn’t matter…

Likewedidn’t matter.

“Nora.” Freddie’s voice is harsh, commanding. “Nora, look at me.”

I don’t hesitate. I do as he says, looking up from my coffee at his dark, forest-green eyes. At his darker, masculine features. I can see some of the similarities to Brett—but the differences are more evident when you really look.

Like the way Freddie’s eyes look darker, or the way his facial hair is trimmed, neat and perfect. The round swell of his broad shoulder and that pronounced vein in his neck…

Another wave of heat hits me as my insides turn to lava under his gaze.

“What he did…” His voice borders on sharp and brutal. “Cheating on you, like that…” He shakes his head. “Bastard is lucky I didn’t go over there and slapshot his dick into next season.”

I watch as his jaw tightens, anger emanating from him. Something about that calls to me. Makes me feelgood.

I know that’s messed up. Watching Freddie Sterling get all pissed off shouldnotmake me feel good in the slightest, but…it does.

“Don’t,” I say, shaking my head. As much as I’m pissed off right now with Brett over what happened, I also don’t want any trouble. At least, not until we talk. And I know we need to, but…

“You said you’re staying at your brother’s, right?” he asks, clearing his throat.

“Yeah. Michael’s on vacation until Friday, and I’m watching his cat.”

Freddie nods. “You need a place to stay? Until you get back on your feet?”

I watch his expression, his dark gaze holding mine. His words shouldn’t make me feel on the spot, but they do. Because I realize all at once, I don’t have a place tostay. Home was Brett’s and now…

Now we’re over, and where does that leave me? Not just in our relationship, but…

I should call him. If only to figure things out.

This relationship wasn’t just someflingto me. We were building a life—at least, I thought we were—and now that life is gone.

I should probably call my brother. Tell him what happened. I’m sure he’d be okay with letting me stay with him until I figure something out. I could look for an apartment again, maybe, but that will take some time. I’m sure Abby would let me stay for awhile too, on her couch, but my brother’s house is a three-bedroom ranch and Abby’s apartment is a tiny studio loft.

“Um…I’m okay, I think,” I say, not very confidently. I vow to call my brother after my last appointment today and fill him in. Freddie’s words settle on me, and I know I need to not only start processing all of this, but…I need to make a plan. I need to figure things out.

“You think?” he says carefully.

I nod, feeling strangely vulnerable as I realize I’m going to have to figure something out. Sooner or later, I have to reach out to Brett.

The thought makes me panic. After what happened, I’m not sure I can even look at him without falling apart. Because it was clear in that one moment, that everything I thought we were, everything we were working for, was a lie.