street. He didn’t say a word as we walked away, heading for the bus stop.
“Just ignore them,” I finally advised. “They’re just messing with you.”
He gave me a weak smile and then checked his watch. “Film’s starting soon. We better
hurry.”
***
I slammed the door shut behind me, trying to mentally decimate the angry tears that were
determined to spring to my eyes.
“Is that you, darling?” Mum called from the living room.
Miserable and needing a mum-hug, I moped down the hall and entered the room only to
draw to a surprised halt.
It was ten-thirty and Braden and Adam were still here.
Mum and Clark were in their armchairs, Braden and Adam on the couch, and all four of
them were no longer looking at the television but at me.
I took one look at them and knew why they were here and angry tears began to fill my
eyes.
“How did your date go?” Mum asked, her question faltering as she took in my expression.
“Awful,” I bit out and returned my glare to Braden and Adam. “He’s not asking me out
again because of these two idiots.”
“Good,” Braden responded flatly. “You’re too young to be dating.”
Mum sighed. “She’s not too young.”
“She’s too young,” Adam agreed. “And look at what she’s wearing.”
“There’s nothing wrong with what she’s wearing. She’s got tights on.”
“She’s fifteen,” Braden argued. “She’s got plenty of time to go on dates. She should
concentrate on school.”
“Oh you sound like an old fart, Braden.”
“I can’t believe your attitude, Elodie,” Adam sighed. “I thought you’d be more careful
about this stuff.”
“Careful,” Mum spluttered. “It was a date.”
As they squabbled on, my anger had time to grow and seethe, and the humiliation to fester.
The nicest, cutest, coolest guy at our school had asked me out on a date and my brother and
his best friend had ruined it for me. “I liked him,” I suddenly informed them, quietly but with an edge that halted their conversation. They all looked at me and a tear slipped down my
cheek as I said, “I really liked him. You both ruined it and you don’t even care.” Chest aching with the pressure of my hurt, I whirled and raced for the stairs, ignoring Braden calling my
name.
“I’ll get her,” Adam told him which made my legs move faster up the stairs. I banged my
bedroom door shut behind me and threw myself on my bed, hiding my face in my pillow as I
cried into it.
I heard the knock over the sound of my muffled sniffling and lifted my head just enough to
growl, “Go away.”
I tucked my head back into the pillow and waited.
Since I knew how tenacious Adam was it didn’t surprise me when he ignored my
command. I heard my door open and the creaks of the floor as he walked over to the bed. The
bed dipped on my right side and I heard Adam sigh.
“I’m sorry,” he apologized, his voice deep with sincerity. “Sweetheart, I’m sorry.”
I didn’t say anything, my throat burning even deeper when it occurred to me this was the
first time Adam had ever hurt me.
“Els.”
I turned my face on the pillow so I could see him. I ignored the worried look on his young,
gorgeous face and told him stonily, “Just go away, Adam.”
He ran a hand through his hair, turning more fully toward me. “Look, I feel like shit, Els. I
didn’t mean to ruin your night. Neither did Braden.”
“Oh I’m sure when you threatened sensory deprivation you had no intention of ruining my
chances with Sam.”
“Jesus,” Adam huffed. “You are too smart for your age. It’s like arguing with a grown
woman.”
“How would you know what it’s like to argue with a grown woman? You never stick
around long enough to do something to piss them off.”
His mouth twitched at my response and he shook his head. “Jesus,” he repeated.
After a minute of silence, Adam turned his head to look down at me again. His expression
was no longer amused. In fact he looked deadly serious. “If this kid dumped you because he’s
not man enough to deal with some familial concern, then he’s not the kind of boy you want to
be with.”
The word “familial” pushed that little button inside of me and I knew when I glared at him
this glare was colder than any that had come before it because it made him stiffen with
surprise. “You’re not my brother, Adam.” I snapped. “Stop acting like it.”
I felt a slash of pain across my chest at the hurt expression in his eyes, guilt instantly
making me want to cry even more. “I know that, Ellie.”
Our eyes met and held, and my awareness of him caused my skin to flush. “Do you?” I
murmured a little breathily.
Something flickered in his gaze and he stood up, looking uncomfortable. “I’ll leave you
alone for a bit. I just wanted you to know I would never intentionally hurt you.”
When I didn’t say anything, Adam exhaled wearily and left.
As he was closing my door I heard Braden’s voice right outside it. “She okay?”
“She’s pissed off. Let’s just leave her alone for a while.”
“I want to speak to her.”
“Braden—”
“I’ll get you downstairs,” he cut him off, opening my door and closing it behind him as he
stepped inside. Braden’s concerned eyes locked on me as he strode toward my bed.
“Els, sweetheart,” his voice was gruff as he sat down. “I’m so sorry.”
At that I burst out crying and launched myself against his chest, letting his strong arms
hold me tight and his soothing murmurs calm me.
Chapter 3
“You forgave Braden?” Adam frowned, holding the diary out to me.
I shrugged, taking it back and putting it next to the one from the year I was fourteen. “You
hurt me more. Not intentionally, of course, but I wanted you to see me as a woman, not a
girl.”
Adam gave me a look that suggested I was daft in the head. “You were a girl. You were
fifteen.”
“So you never saw me that way then? Not that night… in my little dress,” I teased.
“Not then,” he admitted softly as if worried he’d hurt my feelings. “You were still
Braden’s wee sister then.”
I wasn’t hurt. I had retrospect on my side, and frankly I’d find it somewhat concerning if
Adam had fancied my lanky, boob-less fifteen year-old self. Still, I was curious. “When did it
change for you?”
I was treated to another “are you daft?” look. “I’m not telling you that.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s a guy thing that you won’t get and it’ll probably piss you off.”
Okay, now I was definitely intrigued. “I won’t get annoyed. Just tell me. Please,” I begged
sweetly.
“Fine.” He eyed me warily. “It was the morning after your eighteenth birthday.”
My eyes widened as I remembered. Seriously?
“The morning on which you oh so casually told me you’d just lost your virginity.”
That was the moment he realized he had feelings for me? Jeezo… Joss was right. Men
were such cavemen. As that morning came back to me in vivid detail I gave a huff of laughter
as I now replayed the whole thing but with the realization that Adam had been jealous. Wow.
That was not how it had appeared to me at the time. “I knew you were mad at me but I
thought it was another overprotective “big brother” moment.”
“Nope.” Adam shook his head grimly, leaning back on the palms of his hands. “It was an
“I’m looking at my best friend’s wee sister who’s just told me she had sex for the first time
and I can see her swollen mouth and her bed hair and I’m getting fucking turned on”
moment.” His eyes locked on my mouth as he remembered. “My body reacted to what you’d