I slide my hands out of my back pockets and fold my arms across my chest. He looks at me pleadingly, pointing at the girl, who’s now adjusting her barely-there skirt. He struggles to his feet but can hardly stand up straight. “Holder,” he says, pushing the girl off his lap. I can see the fear settle in when it clicks-when he finally realizes that the last person he thought would be here tonight actually showed up. Grayson tears his mouth away from hers and tilts his head back, looking up at me with glossed-over eyes. If I have to watch him palm this chick’s breast one more time without a single ounce of respect for his relationship with Les, I’ll rip his fucking hand off. “Hey,” I finally say, unable to contain my silence a second longer. I would take out my phone so that I’d have evidence, but I couldn’t do that to Les. I remain behind them for several minutes while the party continues around us, everyone completely unaware that I’m a fraction away from losing my mind.

Considering the grip he has on the chick straddling his lap, I doubt he’ll notice for a while. I don’t know how long it’ll take him to notice I’m here. I’m standing behind the couch, looking down at him. I slide my hands into the back pockets of my jeans and hope to hell I can keep them there. That’s why, right now, this son-of-a-bitch is my number-one priority. She has no idea how hard it is to sit back and not let it be my business. She’s never been a brother before, though. Les has reminded me more than once that it’s not my business. My heart rate is signaling for me to just walk away.

Without hope colleen hoover