Part 27 (1/2)
”How can you be so blase?” he snaps.
”I'm not! I hate this too!”
A movement behind me catches Bryn's attention and I look over. Jax stands in the bedroom doorway, barefoot and s.h.i.+rtless. He pushes a hand through his mussed hair and smiles at us.
Does the guy have a death wish?
”Hey, Bryn.”
Bryn's face darkens and I swear he's holding his breath.
”Jax!” I mouth at him.
”Anybody want breakfast?” he asks.
I'm unsure who's the most speechless as we watch Jax head into the next room. My heart thumps and I tense, ready for Bryn's comment. Or worse.
I place a hand on Bryn's leg, warning him to stay. ”Don't say anything. I need you on my side here.”
”It's f.u.c.king hard for me to see the man I've seen with a different girl each night, now coming out of my sister's bedroom!” He pushes my hand away and stands.
I swallow against his words and the image of that Jax, the one I'm counting on him leaving behind. I stand to face him. ”My choice, Bryn.”
The tension rolling from him scares me, and I step in front of Bryn as he stares at the direction Jax went. ”Every time I see his hands on you, I want to smack him. Hard.”
”What for? I understand you're looking out for me, but Jax hasn't done anything wrong!”
”I warned him to stay away, he should've respected that,” he growls.
”Sit down, Bryn.” I push him onto the sofa and stand between him and the doorway again. Bryn sits and scowls. ”I'm twenty years old. I am big enough to make my own decisions, and you are not making them for me. If you don't like this between me and Jax, tough. My life, my f.u.c.k-up if things go wrong.” Bryn opens his mouth to speak. ”I won't let him mess me around. First hint he is, and this is over. So back off!”
Bryn's silent shock amuses me. ”Man, you're feistier than usual at the moment.”
”Look at what I'm facing around me! The last thing I need is more conflict. Draw a line. Move on. You're wasting energy interfering in my life.”
”Yeah, I know. I've tried telling myself I'll keep out of this and only step in if I needed to, but it's hard! You're my baby sister.”
I grit my teeth against raising my voice. ”Look at me, Bryn. I'm not a kid.”
He shakes his curls from his face. ”I told you before, that's the problem! You're still my kid sister. I don't want you to get hurt.”
I sit next to Bryn and take his hand. ”I'm lucky to have you as a big brother, but please back off. This situation is becoming too much now - me and you are going to fall out if you don't stop.”
For a moment, he says nothing and stares at the floor. ”Fine! But if he puts one foot out of line -”
”I'm d.a.m.n sure he won't step out of line around you.”
Bryn's focus remains on the carpet. ”One thing...”
”What now?”
He stands again and tucks his hands beneath his arms, before fixing me with concerned eyes. ”You are being careful, yeah?”
I cringe. ”Bryn! Please, don't...”
”Yeah. Right.” The awkward hangs between us. Surely, he's not going to give me a talk on contraception. ”Fine. Jax. I need to talk to him before I go.”
My heart rate picks up as Bryn heads in Jax's direction.
When low voices rather than raised ones come from the next room, I hesitate. I will go in there if I hear Bryn raise his voice. He reappears a few minutes later with an impa.s.sive look.
”Switch your phone back on, Tegan. Please.”
”Okay.”
”And don't go out on your own.”
I nod and kiss his cheek. ”I'm fine. This reaction to me will blow over soon. Maybe you could find something scandalous to do? Take the heat off me.”
Bryn's eyes darken for a moment and he shakes his head. ”You chose the front man, I'm just a drummer.”
”But you're Bryn Hughes,” I say with a smile. ”My awesome rock star brother.”
With another indistinguishable grunt, he heads out of the room.
Will that be the end of this conflict? Somehow, I doubt it. Did Bryn swallow my lie about being fine and thinking the outside scrutiny will blow over?
Jax reappears with the menu. ”Awesome, they do full English breakfast. I'm b.l.o.o.d.y starving after last night!”
I blink at how nonchalant he is. ”What did Bryn say?”
He shrugs. ”Same old. I have nothing to worry about because I'm going to take care of you.”
”I'm not a puppy. I don't need taking care of.”
Jax sets down the menu and strokes my hair from my face. ”You're a fierce chick, Tegan, but you're like me underneath.”
”And what are you?”
”Out of my depth.”
27.
VIENNA, AUSTRIA.
TEGAN.