Falling for my boyfriend's Navy brother novel Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Asher

I told myself not to we

Told myself to sit my ass down and leave her alone. Not my business. Not my problem.

But then she stood up.

Dragging that heavy bag onto her shoulder like it weighed more than she did. Shoulders tight. Eyes locked on the field like maybe if she stared hard enough, someone would come looking.

No one does.

She’s halfway down the bleachers before I even realize I’m following.

She doesn’t hear me.

Of course she doesn’t. She never does. I could have taken her a dozen times over by now. Bag over her head, hand over her mouth, gone in

under ten seconds.

She’s a walking goddamn target.

I trained for years to move quiet. Step where the boards don’t creak, breathe where no one hears. Move. Kill. Disappear.

But you don’t need training to catch a girl like Penny Vale.

You just need patience.

She stops near the edge of the field, shifting her weight like she’s trying to make herself smaller. Her hair’s falling out of its tie, strands catching the light. Her hands clench and unclench at her sides, like she’s trying to decide if waving will make her look desperate.

Tyler doesn’t even glance at her.

He’s too busy showing off, dodging around some brunette who’s grabbing at the ball like it’s foreplay. She’s laughing, lake as hell, pretending she can’t play just so he’ll stay close.

I grit my teeth so hard my jaw aches.

Penny moves half a step closer. Hopes harder.

Pathetic.

Not her – him.

Him for making her stand there and wait.

I whistle. Sharp and loud, cutting across the field like a gunshot.

Tyler’s head snaps up immediately.

Penny jumps out of her skin.

Useless. Both of them.

ing like an idiot, wiping sweat off his forehead like he thinks it makes him look good.

Tyler jogs over, grinning

Chapter 26: Asher

“Yo! Bro! Didn’t know you were coming,’ he says, voice bright, stupid.

I shrug. “Wasnt planning to.

He claps me on the shoulder like were best friends. I barely hold hack the urge to break his hand. He’s my brother, but I hate when touch me without promission.

What’s up?

“Mom said your car’s overdue for an oil change,” I say, “I’m taking it.”

He frown like he can’t remember owning a car, then shrugs and fishes his keys out of his pocket. Tosses them to me without a second thought.

I catch

them. Tight, Cold metal biting my palm.

“How you getting home?” I ask

He shrugs s again. Zee or lo can give me a ride,

Of course they can

He turns, throws his arm around Penny like she’s furniture he almost forgot. Presses into her side like he deserves to be there. She leans into him and for whatever reason, I feel like punching something

“What about you, baby?” he says, voice low. “Ready to come play with us?”

Penny tilts her head back, smiles that polite, brittle little smile she’s been wearing since the second she decided to get off the bleachers.

“I think I’m just gonna head home,” she says. “Still sore from auditions,”

She says it soft. Easy. Like shes making excuses for herself before he even gets a chance to.

Tyler pouts – actually pouts like he’s

‘s the one getting left behind.

–“But pizza plans,” he whines.

how‘ goddamn stupid he sounds. I haven’t known this girl for that long, and I feel like I stare at him, wondering if he hears himself. If he knows she’s an open book. All you need is to look at her for more than a second and her eyes will tell you everything you need to know. Those big, green eyes that drive me fucking insane because they’re too trusting, too sad, too expressive, too… I don’t even fucking know,

Penny just smiles tighter, smaller. “You should stay. Go have fun.”

I look at my brother, hoping that he’ll get the hint that his girl is feeling anything but happy, that he’ll understand that he should call this whole game off and make her feel better the way he should.

He hesitates for half a second, probably debating whether staying with the fun crowd or walking her home is less work.

Then that brunette girl calls him–loud, sharpy bright and the decision is made for him.

Tyler leans down, kisses Penny quick on the lips like he’s clocking out of a shift, and jogs back to the game without even looking twice.

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