Chapter Five
Freddy
What the actual fuck just happened?
I stood in the middle of the dance floor, trying to process, while around me the party continued like nothing had happened. But something had definitely happened. Something big.
"Freddy." Jonah appeared at my elbow, looking like he'd been hit by a truck. "I need to talk to you."
"Yeah, I think you do." I grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the back hallway, away from the crowd. "What the hell was that?"
"I fucked up."
"No shit. But I don't understand. You and Chelsea have been together for six months, right? So why is Lindor acting like you cheated on her?"
Jonah's face crumpled. "Because I did."
My blood ran cold. "What?"
"Chelsea and I aren't together. We've never been together. I asked her to come tonight as a favor, to pretend to be my girlfriend so people would stop asking questions."
"Questions about what?"
He looked at me, and I saw genuine anguish in his eyes. "About Lindor."
The world tilted.
"You and Lindor," I said slowly, my brain struggling to catch up. "You've been... how long?"
"Six months."
Six months. The same amount of time he'd claimed to be with Chelsea.
"You've been fucking my sister for six months," I said, my voice dangerously quiet. "And you didn't tell me."
"I wanted to! But I knew you'd be pissed, and I didn't want to lose you as a friend, and Lindor said she didn't mind keeping it quiet—"
"Lindor said that? Or you convinced her to say that?"
Jonah flinched. "It was mutual."
"Bullshit." I shoved him, and he stumbled back. "You know my sister, Jonah. You know she doesn't do casual. She doesn't do secrets. If she agreed to hide your relationship, it's because you made her think she had to."
"That's not—"
"And then you brought another girl to my party. Introduced her as your girlfriend. Kissed her in front of everyone, including Lindor." I shoved him again, harder. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"
"I panicked! You asked if I was bringing someone, and I couldn't say Lindor, so I—"
"So you humiliated her instead. Made her watch while you played happy couple with someone else." I wanted to hit him. Wanted to break his nose and make him hurt the way he'd hurt my sister. "Get out."
"Freddy, please—"
"Get. Out." I pointed toward the exit. "You're not welcome here. Not tonight. Maybe not ever."
"She's with Axel now," Jonah said desperately. "She kissed him. She left with him. You're just going to let that happen?"
"Why wouldn't I? Axel's a good guy. He'll treat her right. Which is more than I can say for you."
"I love her!"
"You have a fucked up way of showing it." I turned away from him, done with this conversation. "Go home, Jonah. And stay away from my sister."
I walked back into the main room, leaving him standing there. The party was still going, but the energy had shifted. People were whispering, glancing at me, clearly wondering what the drama was about.
I found Rennedy near the bar, nursing a drink and looking worried.
"Hey," I said, sliding onto the stool next to her. "Your brother just left with my sister.”
"Hey, birthday boy,"she said. "You doing okay?"
"My best friend's been secretly banging my sister, and now my sister's probably banging your brother." He downed another shot. "So yeah, I'm fantastic."
"Axel will take care of her."
"I know. That's the only reason I'm not hunting him down right now. Did you know about her and Jonah? " I said.
"Yeah, I did. She thought she had to hide. He kept promising not much longer and they could go public. I tried to get her to end it, but..." I shrugged. "She had to figure it out on her own."
"By kissing your brother in front of everyone?"
"Hey, I've been trying to set them up for months. I'm just glad she finally saw the light."
I laughed despite my self. "You're shameless."
"I prefer determined.'" She grinned. "Besides, think about it. If they actually get together, Lindor and I will be sisters. We can make it official."
"You're getting ahead of yourself."
"Am I?" she pulled out her phone and showed me Axel's texts. "He's been in love with her for years, Freddy. This isn't just a rebound for him. This is his chance."
I read the messages, then sighed. "Fine. But if he breaks her heart, I'm breaking his face."
"Deal."
We shook on it, and I felt a little thrill of excitement.
She bit her lip. “But really are you mad?"
"Should I be?"
"I don't know. Are you the overprotective brother type?"
I considered that. Lindor was my little sister, and yeah, the idea of her with anyone made me a little uncomfortable. But Axel was a good guy. Better than Jonah, that was for damn sure.
"As long as he treats her right," I said finally. "And doesn't break her heart."
"He won't." Rennedy smiled. "He's been in love with her for years. He'll treat her like a queen."
"Good." I signaled the bartender for a shot. "Because if he doesn't, I'll break his legs."
Rennedy laughed. "Fair enough."
"God he's an asshole." I said, thinking of Jonah.
"Agreed." She raised her glass. "To my brother finally getting the girl."
I clinked my shot glass against hers. "And to my sister finally realizing she deserves better."
We drank, and I tried not to think about what Lindor and Axel were probably doing right now.
Some things a brother just didn't need to know.