Page 168 of Revenge Puck

“Why would a man date someone to get back at someone else? That makes no sense.”

Garrett shrugs his wide shoulders. “Dunno.”

“That’s not…” My voice trails off because, suddenly, I don’t know how to finish that sentence. “That can’t be…”

True.

Can’t be possible.

Except, my brother truly hasn’t been behaving like his usual self. He’s been short-tempered. Snippy. Reactive.

“Hey.” Garrett is studying my face carefully. “You okay?”

No.

I am not okay.

“Do you believe it?” I ask, not recognizing the sound of my own voice. “Do you think Aaron’s sleeping with me to get back at my brother?”

Garrett opens his mouth.

Snaps it closed.

Opens it again.

Already off on the wrong start.

“I mean—guys say stupid shit when they’re pissed,” he says quickly. “You know this. Who has the bigger balls, locker-room stuff. Heat of the moment.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

He winces. “Right. Sorry.”

His apology makes it worse.

“Do you believe Aaron is using me?” I reiterate my question.

“No,” he says immediately.

Relief flares inside me, but then?—

He keeps talking.

“I think…timing-wise? Looks kind of bad?”

Kind of bad is an understatement.

“Hear me out.” He gestures vaguely around my cubicle, digging himself a deeper hole. “If your girlfriend cheats on you with your teammate, you’re not thinking rationally—you’refuckingpissed.You might be tempted to get the upper hand, know what I mean?”

“The upper hand.” I pause. “On my brother.”

Garrett leans on a file cabinet and shifts his weight. “I don’t think he’s with youjustto get back at your brother.”

Just.

That single word lands wrong.

It implies that heis, but there is abut.