Chapter Five #5
Jonah moved through the living room and into the kitchen, trying to tamp down his anger.
He grabbed the fridge door, pulled out a water and twisted the cap before taking a long swig.
All the while, fully alert to Holden watching him as he stirred the taco meat in the pan.
Jonah did his best not to lose his shit in front of his brothers too often.
After all, he was the example they’d follow.
He took another swig, hoping the cold water would settle the heat raging in his chest.
If ever there was a rule that Jonah ingrained in his brothers’ head it was to never lay a hand on a woman.
It was a hard rule that should never under any circumstance, be broken.
The only thing keeping him from tossing his brother through the wall was Roxanne’s explanation.
Fuck, he better not have been aggressive.
“Cord!” Jonah shouted again. He pushed off the counter and started toward the door.
“Wait, Jay, I got a question,” Holden said, his tone too eager.
Jonah turned. Holden was practically bouncing on his feet. Jonah sighed and glanced up at the ceiling. There wasn’t a doubt in his mind, his little brother’s next question had nothing to do with the dinner he was currently preparing.
Jonah held up his hand. “I want you to think long and hard before you ask, you hear me?” He paused with little hope that his brother was receiving the message he was trying to send. “You ask and I don’t like it?” Jonah pointed. “Gonna slap you upside your head.”
Holden scanned the room and drew in a breath, taking two seconds to think.
“I’ll take my chances,” he blurted.
Jonah sighed, knowing what was coming. His question would be about sex. Or Roxanne. Or both. Jonah crossed his arms. It was more for Holden than for himself. He knew the next words out of his brother’s mouth would be worthy of a slap to the head.
“Are you banging her?”
His eyebrows pinched together in a deep scowl. “I warned you.”
Jonah released his arms and stalked toward Holden who, at the last second, ducked his head and scrambled around the table. Smart kid. Putting an object between them was vital to his safety at the moment.
“What? I’m asking for research purposes.” Holden held up his hands.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
Holden shrugged. “My odds.”
“Odds of what?” Jonah snapped.
“Landing a girl like Roxanne.”
Jonah closed his eyes and hung his head low. He hoped like hell he hadn’t been this idiotic at eighteen.
“Hear me out.”
I’d rather not, but …
Jonah glanced up, sighing. “What?”
“Okay. You never bring any girls home, so I usually have to base it off Cord’s girls, and well, while he’s had a few hotties, none of them looked like Roxanne.
” Holden twisted his lips. “Like not one on her level. And while Cord has that ‘I’m a dick’ thing going for him, which seems to get girls, I don’t wanna be a jerk and have them eventually hate me.
But on the flip side, you got that ‘I don’t want a woman’ attitude which I can’t pull off cause,” he flared out his arms and pursed his lips, “I want a girl.”
Jonah steeled his features, and resisted the urge to smile. It may not have been the conversation he wanted to have at the moment, but at least it enlightened him as to how observant Holden was.
“So, I need to be somewhere in the middle. I’m thinking I need to lean toward your side, cause I don’t want to be a dick to a girl and, like, make her cry. And I was just asking ‘cause if you’re bang…”
Jonah hardened his gaze. “Watch it.”
Holden cleared his throat. “What I mean is, if taking your approach gets me a girl like Roxanne, well, that’s where I wanna be. But if you’re just friends, then Cord’s side is a better option.” He nodded. “See? Research.”
Jonah stared back at his brother. “Why don’t you just be yourself?”
“I have been, and look where it’s gotten me. Eighteen and still a virgin.”
“Nothing wrong with that, Holden.” Jonah said.
Holden snorted, rolling his eyes. “Says a guy who got laid at sixteen.”
I should’ve never shared that story. It was meant to be relatable, and he’d hoped his brothers felt comfortable enough to come to him. It had worked, but it came with a downside.
“There’s a lot more to sex than the motion.”
His face paled. “Yeah, I know, Jonah. Please not another lecture about babies and STDs. I’ve barely recovered from that video you showed me a couple years ago.”
Jonah laughed. “Just keeping you informed is all.”
Holden shot him what was meant to be a glare but somehow came out more comical than angry.
“Yeah, I’m informed of exactly what can happen to my dick.
” His mouth twisted in disgust. “You won’t let me watch porn, but you show me that gross shit?
” Holden moved across the room to the stove. “Not right. Just not right.”
The door swung open in the kitchen. “What?”
All the anger that’d subsided during Holden’s research conversation quickly resurfaced the minute he caught sight of Cord’s face. His brother had the smarts to move back a step.
“You tell me.” Jonah stared back at him, waiting. Twenty-one was young but old enough to know better and follow common rules.
“I’m sorry about the car.” Nothing in his tone sounded remorseful.
Jonah continued to scowl and locked his jaw.
Cord released a heavy breath. “And for lying.”
“Keep going.” Jonah snapped.
Cord’s gaze drifted around the room, landing on Holden.
With his youngest brother at his side, Jonah couldn’t see what he was doing, but it became clear as he watched Cord’s face.
Those two were always helping each other out when it came to dealing with Jonah.
More so Holden assisting, but occasionally, Cord would take one for his youngest.
Cord’s brows knitted together in confusion, and he leaned a fraction closer. Jonah smirked. Cord was never good at reading lips. It took a few more seconds before Cord understood, and his face turned a bright shade of red.
“And for grabbing her arm but …” He held up his hands in front of his chest. “It wasn’t hard, you heard her say it herself.”
“So, you’re telling me it’s okay to go grabbing a woman as long as it doesn’t hurt her?”
“No.” He groaned. “But I didn’t hurt her.”
“It doesn’t fucking matter. You don’t put your hands on any woman unless you have permission, do you understand me?” His tone was feral. It had to be in order to prove a point to his brother. Both of them.
“Yeah, I get it.” Cord lowered his gaze to the floor and shoved his hands in his pockets. That’s what he’d been waiting for. Remorse and regret for his actions. Jonah sucked in a breath and moved forward, grasping the back of Cord’s neck.
“I know you do.” He tightened his grip and pulled him over to his side and curled his arm over his shoulder. “Let’s get dinner ready and eat.”
Cord glanced up with a small smile and moved to the cabinet with the plates.
This was how most nights went in their house.
Everyone did their part. Jonah made his way to the fridge, grabbing drinks and condiments while Cord finished setting the table.
It was eerily quiet but not for long, Jonah knew.
Once they took their seats, they made their plates. Even without looking at his brother, he knew Holden was staring. Jonah sighed and looked up.
“What?”
Holden leaned his elbows on the table. “You never answered my question. Are you banging her?”
Cord burst out laughing while Jonah closed his eyes, dragging his hand over his face.
This fucking kid.