Read Online Keep Her by Faith Andrews - Free Book Online

deal.
    I deflated against the cushions, wishing I could sink into their warmth and bask in it. The plush cushiness brought back memories of my legs wrapped around Beck, fisting the soft material as he made me scream out his name. Mmmm, yummy.
    Snapping back to reality, I let out a frustrated whimper. “See. I really am stupid. Why do I let these things happen to me, Fal?”
    “Before I make you rehash your whole evening to me with complete, colorful descriptions, let me ask you something.”
    “Go.”
    “Do you want to do it again?”
    Of course I did, but did Beck want to do it again? He was on a break with Marissa, but he left this morning because she called. For all I knew, he was at her place right now making up. I wasn’t going to be the other woman. Hells no.
    “I don’t know if that matters. Things are complicated, Fal. Besides the fact that he’s my brother’s best friend and I’ve known him since he was a damn toddler, he also has a girlfriend, or had a girlfriend… I don’t know. And then there’s the little issue of me being the biggest hypocrite that ever walked the planet. I’ve been giving Tessa and Marcus the third degree over whatever it is they have going on. If I start up something with Beck, they’re going to lynch me for it.” Shit, this was more complicated than I’d thought.
    “Can I ask another question? Kind of off topic, but I think it’s still a valid one.” Fallon’s reactions had gone from curious to concerned. This was why I’d called him. I could always count on him when it came down to it.
    “Of course,” I answered, feeling like his questions would help me get the answers I needed.
    “Why do you care if Marcus and Tessa are together?”
    The question was easy enough, but the answer was a lot more complicated. “Because they don’t belong together.” That barely scratched the surface.
    “Okaaaay, meddling sister and jealous friend, that still doesn’t answer my question. Why. Do. You. Care? Let them figure it out for themselves. It has nothing to do with you.”
    “You’re wrong. It has everything to do with me. Tessa barely has anyone in her life to lean on. She has me and I’m not sure exactly how close she thinks she’s gotten to Marcus, but I guess we can say she kind of has him, too. But once he’s done messing with her and tosses her aside like he always does—I’m all that’s left. And that’s if she allows me to stick around.
    “It’s not my story to tell so I won’t, but she has a piece of shit for an ex who made her life a living hell. He was abusive and possessive and made her turn her back on me, on everything. I don’t want to lose her again—this time because my brother can’t commit. She can’t handle the aftermath of being duped by Marcus Grayson after everything she’s been through.
    “I love Tessa with all my heart, but she’s no good for Marcus either. If and when he does decide to actually date someone, I think he needs to test the waters slowly at first. He can’t dive into the deep end with a woman full of baggage and emotional issues. They are just no good for each other. End of story. I want to protect them both from inevitable heartache.” It was a mouthful, but it was what I’d been telling Marcus and Tessa all along. They were setting themselves up for doom and gloom, and I only wanted to prevent it for both of them.
    “Riles, you can’t live your life protecting other people all the time. Especially your brother. He’s a grown man now, and just because your mother isn’t around to give him a good ass-chewing now and then, doesn’t mean you have to take her place. Wanna know what I think?”
    That was the point of the phone call in the first place, but we were getting off tangent here. I wanted to know why I felt like a loser that Beck still hadn’t called. “Yes, but what does any of this have to do with Beck?”
    “A lot, actually. Hear me out before you bite my head off, okay?”
    “Yes, Master,” I sighed