Hungry For More(19)
“What’s going on?” I say as I walk into the kitchen and lay the bags down on the counter.
“Why don’t you tell me?” Brian says, turning his anger my way. Good, I don’t mind if he wants to kick my ass, but I won’t let him talk to Sage like that. “Is there a reason my sister is walking out of her room like she’s been up all night, doing, well, whatever it was she was doing?”
Brian can’t even look at her as he waves a hand in her direction. He’s red in the face and I see him grow more irritated as he looks me up and down.
“Sex, Brian. I had sex, but there’s no reason you have to act like an asshole.” Sage throws her hands up in the air, and before Brian can turn his anger on her again I move and step between them.
I also notice that Sage is only in a bathrobe that’s showing off more than I’d like. It’s clinging to her generous rack and I can see it slipping open a little more each time her hands go up. At this rate it won’t take long for it to come undone.
“You were supposed to be my business partner. I brought you here because you didn’t have anywhere to go on Thanksgiving. And this is what you do the second you have her alone. Do you have any fucking clue what she’s been through? Did you see the scars on her back?” There is pain in his eyes as he gets closer to me. “I respected you and I trusted you and now you’ve lost both.”
“First, you need to calm down.” I look over my shoulder and nod at Sage. “Why don’t you go get dressed and come back out here?”
She glares at me for a second before I look pointedly at her robe. She gets the hint and looks down to see it coming open at the top. She grabs it on both sides and pulls it tight before she looks around my wide body to her brother.
“I’ll be right back,” she says before I hear her stomp out of the room.
“You don’t get to come in here and make the rules. This is my fucking house,” Brian says, and he’s so angry right now I can see the vein on the side of his head pop out.
I’m not putting up with his shit, but it’s clear he’s worked up over more than this.
“If you want me to leave I will, but Sage is coming with me.” I take a step closer to him and hold out my hands. “Do you know why I was late yesterday to Thanksgiving?” He shakes his head no and I point to his phone. “You’re so wrapped up in that you’re missing what’s happening right in front of you. And whatever is going on, that phone has gotten you worked up to the point that you’re yelling about something that has nothing to do with you.”
“She’s my sister! This has everything to do with me!”
“She’s the woman I love and I’m going to marry, Brian. That’s where I went yesterday, to get her a ring. And this morning I went and talked to your parents. So, you can get on board like they are, or you can watch us leave. But either way, this is happening with or without your consent.”
“Are you kidding me?” He looks completely shocked, but I stand there unmoving.
I hear Sage coming back into the kitchen and I turn around to talk to her before Brian can say something to mess things up for me.
“Why didn’t you tell me about your attack?” I ask as I look at her. For a moment I think she’s not going to tell me, but then she sighs and her shoulders sink.
“As stupid as it sounds, I thought maybe you wouldn’t want me after you knew.” I pull her into my arms and feel her face against my chest.
“I’m just glad you’re okay.” I kiss the top of her head and I feel her arms come around me.
How could she think I wouldn’t want her? After everything I’ve said to her, nothing could make me want her less. The fact that it happened makes me want to lose control, but it’s not her fault.
“Why did you tell him?” She glares at Brian, and I reach out and touch her chin.
“Your parents told me.” Her eyebrows pull together in confusion. “That’s where I went this morning. I went to talk to your parents and let them know how much I care about you. How much I love you.”
She brings her hand to her mouth and I can see she’s trying to cover up a smile. “Jensen…”
When she starts to talk, I shake my head so I can finish. “They told me what happened to you and how they’ve been so overprotective since then. Your father was less than thrilled to admit it, but your mom realizes how much they stifled you by trying to keep you safe.”
“We only wanted what was best for her,” Brian says, and I look over at him.
“I know, and I want the same thing. I can’t imagine how helpless you felt,” I say, and I watch him nod silently. I know Brian, and I know how much he loves his family. I also know that a part of him blames himself for what happened to her. That feeling will probably never go away, but it’s time for him to let Sage move past it.
“I love you, too,” Sage blurts out, and when I look back at her she’s got both hands over her mouth and her eyes are round in surprise like she can’t believe she just said it. “I really do,” she whispers behind her fingers and I smile at her.
The feeling is still so foreign to me, but I’ve smiled more this weekend with Sage than I ever have in my life. Her parents told me they knew the moment they met that they were meant to be together and they knew Sage would be the same way. She would look up one day and standing in front of her would be her husband. Now that time has come and I’m ready to be the one.