The Risk (Briar U #2)(113)

“I almost lost you, and I didn’t know how to make things better for you,” he admits gruffly. “If your mom had been there, she would’ve known exactly what to do. When you were crying in the hospital, and then all those months that you were at home. I was out of my element. I didn’t know how to deal with it, and every time I looked at you, I pictured you bleeding on the floor.” He shudders. “I’ll never forget that image. I’ll remember it until my dying day.”

“I’m sorry I scared you,” I whisper.

“I’m sorry I made you think I was ashamed.” He lets out a ragged breath. “But I won’t apologize for the shit that happened afterward. Grounding you, enforcing the curfew. You were out of control.”

“I know.” I hang my head in regret. “But I turned everything around. I grew up and went to college. I’m not acting out to get your attention anymore. You were right to be overprotective back then, but I’m a different person now. I wish you could see that.”

His somber gaze sweeps over me. “I think I’m starting to.”

“Good. Because that’s the only way we’ll ever be able to move forward.” I eye him hopefully. “Do you think we can clean-slate this? Forget about the past and get to know each other as adults?”

His head jerks in a quick nod. “I think we could do that.” He nods again, slowly this time, as if his brain is working something over. “In fact…I think that’s an excellent idea.”





37





Brenna





The following evening I go over to Summer’s house, because that’s how desperate I am to not think about Jake. I’m willing to walk into the lion’s den, be around Hollis and Hunter and maybe even Nate, who all think I betrayed them by sleeping with the enemy. I’m willing to deal with whatever angry words they hurl my way, because it beats obsessing and agonizing over the fact that Jake doesn’t want to be with me.

Ironically, I would have been perfectly content hanging out with my dad tonight. After years of avoiding being in the same room as him, I’m finally excited for us to spend time together. But he had a meeting tonight. The dean of Briar is apparently interested in discussing the prospect of extending my father’s contract with the university, which he totally deserves. But that meant if I stayed home, I’d be alone. With my own thoughts.

To my surprise, I’m not tarred and feathered the moment I walk through Summer’s door. In fact, when I poke my head into the living room, Hollis looks up from the couch and offers a preoccupied, “Hey, Jensen.”

“That’s it? I expected a lot more yelling.”

“Why would I yell?”

I’m dumbfounded. “Are you kidding me? The last time we spoke, you called me a traitor.”

“Oh. Right.” I’ve never heard him sound so blasé and uninterested. And it takes a second to realize he’s not even watching TV. He’s staring at a black screen, and his cell phone sits untouched on the coffee table.

“What’s going on?” I demand. “Are you okay? Where are Summer and Fitz? Upstairs?”

“No, they went to pick up the pizza. Summer refuses to get it delivered ever since the delivery kid bitched at her for giving him a five-dollar tip.”

“Isn’t five dollars a decent tip?” If not, then I’ve been tipping pizza delivery boys wrong for years.

“Not according to Mr. Money Bags over there.”

I unzip my jacket and duck into the hall to hang it up before joining Hollis on the couch. His vacant stare is alarming, to say the least. “All right. What’s going on with you?”

He shrugs. “Nothing much. Studying for finals. Rupi dumped me, but no biggie.”

“Wait, what?” I’m genuinely shocked to hear that. “Seriously? Why did she dump you?”

“Doesn’t matter. Who cares, right?” He hops to his feet. “I’m grabbing a beer. You want one?”

“Sure. But this conversation isn’t over.”

“Nah, it is.”

When he comes back and hands me a Bud Light, I’m reminded of my bowling date with Jake and how we had to choke down that watery beer. Also, it doesn’t surprise me that it’s Hollis’s beer of choice. He’s totally a Bud Light kind of guy.

“I’m calling bullshit,” I say.

“Bullshit on what?”

“Bullshit on the bullshit you’re trying to feed me about not caring about Rupi. You do care. You liked her.”

“I did not. She’s so annoying.”

“Really? So why did you keep hanging out with her?”

“Because I was trying to get in her pants, Brenna. Come on. Keep up.”

“Uh-huh. So you were just trying to get laid?”

“I was. And now I don’t have to work for it anymore. I’ve got a dozen other chicks lining up to bang me. So, good riddance.” His tone holds zero conviction.

“Admit it, Hollis, you like her. You like her shrill voice and her bossiness and her endless chattering.”

“I don’t,” he insists. “She’s not even my type.”

“She’s not,” I agree. “She’s not a puck bunny with a centerfold body, or one of those plastic girls I see you hitting on at Malone’s. She’s weird and tiny and has an inexplicable amount of self-confidence.” I grin at him. “And you like her. Admit. It.”