Page 58 of Too Hostile
“We were just kissing,” Ronan says, a boyish glint in his eyes that I can’t stop myself from being infatuated with.
Grayson beams as he walks further into the living room, holding his hand out for Ronan. “Nice to meet you. I’m Grayson.”
Ronan stands and shakes his hand. “Ronan. Thanks for letting us stay at your house for that weekend.”
Grayson grins. “That place is magic, am I right? I mean, I know what Blair and Rhys were getting up to. They didn’t fool me. Rhys wouldn’t even look at me.”
“Nah. That’s just Rhys,” Bree says as she approaches Ronan. “I’m Bree. You better not still hate my brother since you’re at his place, and I doubt you were all that innocent at the lake house.”
“Bree,” I groan. She’s as bad as Blair.
Ronan, however, just smiles widely at her. “Never claimed to be innocent. It’s nice to meet you.” He leans in a little closer to her, his eyes full of sincerity. “And I never hated him.”
Fuck. I hate the way my stupid heart flutters in my chest. The man just said he didn’t hate me. That’s all he said. There was no declaration of love, but to my brain, there might as well have been.
Way to guard your heart there, Fletcher.
“I’m Rhett,” Rhett introduces himself. Ronan shakes his hand.
“Nice to meet you.” Rhett actually smiles at Ronan, which is pretty rare with people he doesn’t know, so I’ll take that as a win.
“Sorry we busted in,” Rhett apologizes, but Bree and Grayson have already made themselves comfortable on the couch. Bree’s opening up what looks like tacos from one of my favorite places on the coffee table.
“We brought food though,” she says with a waggle of her eyebrows.
“It smells delicious,” Ronan says as she hands him one. “Thank you.”
She studies him closely, and I don’t like it because I know she’s analyzing him. Deciding whether he passes the test to be with her brother. Joke’s on her—we aren’t together. She seems satisfied, though, and grabs a taco for herself. “So what are we watching?”
I shake my head at her, wanting to be annoyed, but I can’t seem to bring myself to actually be irritated with any of them. Bree moves to New York tomorrow. I can’t believe she’s actually going.
But man, am I happy for her. She’s been dreaming about this for so damn long. We all had those dreams that kept us going when everything felt so damn bleak, and this was hers.
I sit down between Ronan and her, silently apologizing for the interruption, but I see no irritation on Ronan’s face either. He seems totally content to hang out with my family.
Again—why does it have to end?
It’s too damn perfect.
And I guess, after all my experiences in life, that’s my answer.
RONAN
School has started. And Fletcher is in my classroom right now, giving me those flirty little looks. He shouldn’t be in here. We shouldn’t be this close at all. It doesn’t matter that he’s not enrolled in one of my classes. I’m still a professor, and he’s currently a student.
But I couldn’t bring myself to end things last night.
Not after sitting and talking with his siblings. Not after watching murder docs and then switching over to cheesy slasher flicks they seem to really love, even though they mocked it the entire time.
Listening to the way they are together. To their stories. It was enchanting. I think I’m in love with the entire family, and I’ve only met each of them once. I’m lost and so damn confused about what to do.
I know I need to end it. That if I don’t, it won’t end well, but I’m terrified to let him go. I don’t want to let this feeling go. Not even for the beautiful security my career allows.
“Fletcher... this is a bad idea.” The door is closed but not locked, and the shade is drawn. But still, it’s the first day of classes, and the hallways are flooded with students.
“I just wanted to tell you to have fun today. Even though I won’t be in your class.”
I smile at that. Look how far we’ve come. “Whatever will I do without you coming in late and being disruptive?”