Page 31 of Cruel Devil
“Bullshit. You absolutely would.”
He huffs and then seems to rally himself, which surprises me.
“Was it?”
“Was it what?”
“Indecent. Was the swimsuit indecent?” No. Maybe. Okay, yeah, I mean, have you seen it? It was a lot. But I wasn’t going to admit that to my brother.
“It’s a swimsuit.” I argue. “Top. Bottom. The usual.”
“Kasey—” He’s glaring. At me. What the hell?
“What is going on right now. This is not how this,” I wave at the space between us, “works. Dominique is an asshole. I yell at you and you apologize for him being an asshole. That's how this works.”
He just stares for a beat and says, “Fine, let’s see it. If he’s wrong, I’ll apologize for him being an asshole.”
My eyes widen. “What? No!”
He gives me anare-you-serious expression.“It’s a swimsuit. I’ve seen you in a swimsuit.”
Dominique is shaking beside me fighting not to laugh. I push him. “This is your fault.”
He smirks. “Show him the suit, Baby Henderson.”
I grind my teeth together. Fine. I’m not embarrassed. I fucking rocked this swimsuit. With my eyes on his, I tug the t-shirt off. Dominique’s eyes stay trained on my face, but I don’t miss the hitch in his breath.
There’s a gasp. “Jesus Christ.” That was from Aaron. “Don’t look at my little sister like that, you fucking perv.” That catches both our attention, but when I look, Aaron isn’t talking to Dominique, he’s glowering at the guys he’s been playing corn hole with. “She’s only se—“
“Hey!”
He turns.
“Don’t you dare,” I warn. If he tells everyone I’m seventeen I will murder him. He must see that in my eyes, because he manages to keep his mouth shut and gives Dominique some weird look. Silent communication passes between them, and then the shirt is being shoved back over my head, only this time when my head pops out it’s to see Aaron heading for the door.
I follow him, Dominique right behind me, and as soon as we’re all safely inside Aaron whirls on me. “What the fuck were you thinking? Do you know what goes through those guys' heads when they look at you? Shit.”
I wait. I’m not really sure what is happening right now. Aaron has always been protective, but he’s also always let me do my thing. This is different. Almost like he’s spiraling. I don’t think all this anger is really about me. At least I hope it isn’t.
“It’s a swimsuit. I’m at a party in my own house I might add. I don’t care how guys look at me or what goes on in their head. As long as they don’t touch me without permission, I’m good. You’re overreacting—”
“Overreacting? Overreacting! Jesus Christ.” He spears his fingers through his shaggy blond hair.
“You said that already.”
“Well, it warranted a repeat.”
I smile a little at that. He takes a few deep breaths and then turns to Dominique and gives him a fist bump. “Thanks, man. I appreciate you looking out.”
Dominique grunts and meets my stare. There’s a warning, as if he’s sayingdon’t you dare say a thing about what happened in the classroom.
I glare back, my eyes conveying my own response.I’m not an idiot, asshole.
“I’m gonna go down to the park. I need to get the image of my baby sister in that,” he nods in my direction, “out of my head. I can drop—”
“I’m good. Go ahead. Kasey can give me a lift.”
I scowl, but Aaron’s not paying attention. “Cool man. I’ll see you later back at the house.”
