Lee was an... interesting creature. I felt like he was exactly the same as Bennett, but also the complete opposite of Bennett as well. A good example of this was the way Lee spoke. Very proper, like Bennett, and very polite, unlike Bennett. The two brothers sometimes used complex and eloquent words a normal person wouldn't, but Lee was much worse than Bennett. He bordered the territory of characters from John Green's books and it weirded me out. No one spoke like that. No one.

"Do you consume any vegetables?" was the question that really set me off after only knowing Lee for twenty-four hours. I had just entered the kitchen and he was stooped down in front of the fridge, eyebrows furrowed.

"You mean do I eat any vegetables? What are you? A walking encyclopedia?"

He cocked his head to the side in a very Bennett like way. "Consume is a synonym for eat."

I sighed, gathering my hair and attempting to tie it into a quick braid. "Sorry, I just haven't been to the grocery store since I moved in, but I guess since you're staying here for now we should fill up the fridge. Maybe Brandon can take you whenever he shows back up here."

It was noon already and there was no sign from Brandon. I felt like since he got out of jail I was seeing even less of my brother than when he'd been in it. I had no idea what he could be doing. Hanging out with Ariana? She had a job and classes to go to too.

"I probably shouldn't leave the house," Lee said and then looked at me with puppy dog eyes.

"Oh, right. I'll go after work then. I'm not sure if Brandon's coming back, so you might be alone for a bit. Sorry."

"No, I should apologize. I was dumped on you without much warning. If there's anything you'd like me to do, just say the word. I can help you clean, or cook, or do your laundry."

A mental image of Lee in a maid uniform popped into my mind and I vigorously shook my head to rid myself of it. "Er, that's alright. Just make yourself at home. Sebastian had someone install the cable and Internet already, you can use my laptop if you're bored."

"I have my own, thank you though."

"If you need anything, I'll leave my number—"

"I have it already, Henry gave it to me."

"Oh." Made sense. Henry probably gave Lee my debit card number too. And maybe even social security number. What was next, my hand in marriage?

Lee beamed at me radiantly and I realized I couldn't even be irritated by it.

"Hey, sis!" My heart leapt into my throat as Brandon jumped at me, slinging his arm around my shoulder. "Ready to hear the best news you could possible hear today regarding me and my case—" He cut himself off when his gaze landed on Lee.

I struggled to get him to release me, as he was slightly obstructing my airway. "Uh, Brandon, this is—"

"Lee," Brandon greeted him, releasing me and jogging up to Lee, clapping him on the shoulder. "Long time no see, dude!"

Lee smiled, shaking Brandon's hand. "Nice to see you."

My eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. "What? How to you two know each other?"

"We met at McKellan's," Brandon told me. "One drunk game of pool turned into one great acquaintanceship. He was my partner during competitions. Does McKellan's still do those?"

"You've never mentioned him before."

"I wasn't aware my little sister needed to know every detail about my life."

I blushed, glaring at him. "I don't. I just think it's weird you two know each other."

"It's quite a small world," Lee said. "It's been a long time since I've been to McKellan's."

"Same here. Stuff led to stuff and somehow I got arrested and I've been in the county jail for the past few months," Brandon responded lightly, as if it were an every day thing.

"Arrested?"

Brandon shook his head, his forehead crinkling. "It's a long story. The short version of it is that I was accused of a crime I'm ninety-nine percent sure I didn't commit, but the evidence pointed to me more than anyone else and I was drunk, so it's not like I could defend myself well. And neither could the so called best lawyer in New York."

"May I ask what the crime was?"

"Apparently I stole a car and crashed it. Which makes total sense right? I'd steal a car even though I'd driven my own car there. It's too bad you weren't there with me that night. I got drunk alone and had no one to vouch for me to the cops."

Lee's whole posture had tensed and I tried to shoot a look to my brother to get him to quit talking. I'm sure talking about McKellan's and car crashes brought back some unpleasant memories. But what were the odds that both my brother and Bennett's brother were involved in accidents around McKellan's...

You know that feeling of anxiety when you're anxious about something, but can't remember what exactly you're worried about? It makes you feel uneasy and ill all over because you know there's something important you're forgetting, but you just can't remember what it was? So it's not a full force feeling, but one that's constantly at the back of your mind, filling up any moment your mind's not preoccupied? I was suddenly hit by that feeling. An unknown uneasiness.

Because what if it wasn't a coincidence?

"No," I accidentally said out loud. Looking down, I realized my hands were shaking. There was no way. Sebastian had said— Sebastian had promised me they weren't related. If they were, he would know, since his dad was Brandon's lawyer. Sebastian wouldn't lie to me.

"What's up?" Brandon asked, his eyebrows pinched together. "You don't look good. Are you going to throw up? There's the sink."

I cleared my throat, pushing those thoughts out of my mind. "No, I just realized I'm going to be late for work if I keep chatting."

He made a shooing gesture. "Alright. I'll hang out with this guy; we have a lot of catching up to do anyway. When you said someone was staying with us I had no idea it'd be someone I knew. How did you guys even meet, anyway? Don't tell me you hooked up at the bar when I was away—"

"Please don't listen to half the things that come out of his mouth," I said to Lee, who grinned back at me.

Brandon opened the fridge and peered into it. "We should order some food. There's nothing here."

"Good idea. Buy Lee something. The address is, uh..."

"21 Acre Brook," Lee supplied.

"Haha, yep, that's it... ha ha." Oh man, he even knew my address better than I did. Maybe Henry actually told Lee this stuff for my own benefit. "I'm leaving now. Bye. Don't burn down the house."

"Goodbye, have a pleasant day," he said formally as I left the kitchen.

I grimaced to myself as I paused by the door to slip on my shoes. Did Bennett and Lee both go to some weird speech etiquette after school academy? Were they robots? It didn't make sense. Someone had to teach them more casual language. Maybe me, but then again, I sometimes used words unsuitable of a hotel heir...

As I reached for the door, it suddenly opened, causing me to stumble back. Henry poked his head in, frowning at me. "Oh, Henley."

"Welcome home, master Henry, please come right in," I said, bowing slightly and making a please-enter gesture with both my arms.

Neutral-faced, he stepped around me and headed toward the kitchen, a large plastic bag in one hand. I scowled for a second before dropping it. How did he always manage to miss my sarcasm? Was this house really my house? I peeked outside, expecting to see Sebastian coming as well. Surprisingly, no one else was there.

"I'm going to work!" I called.

"Okay, bye Henley!" was Henry's response.

"I'll just lock the door then, everyone probably has keys anyway." I sighed. "Still better than hobos, I guess."

As soon as I arrived at Coffee House, my boss practically danced out the door, proclaiming me as his relief. I shook my head, tying my apron around my waist, and washing my hands. Ariana was busy helping a customer so I started wiping down the counters until she was done.

"Did your brother make it home?" she asked me.

"Yeah, I just ran into him."

"Did he say what he's been doing? He left my house at like four o'clock this morning. And then last night he was gone until like midnight. Is it about the McKellan's thing?

I bit my bottom lip. "I think so. He didn't really say much though. If he did find something, why wouldn't he tell me?"

"Don't worry too much," she said, nudging me with her shoulder. "I'm sure with everything that's going on with you, he doesn't want to bother you with his own problems."

"Everything that's going on with me? What's going on with me? I'm fine." I flexed my bicep to add to my point.

"Hmm, breaking up with Bennett? Having his brother suddenly staying at your place? I thought his brother was dead, by the way. He's really alive?"

I nodded. "And apparently Brandon knows him. What's the last thing I told you about what's happening?"

For a good portion of my shift, I filled Ariana in on everything that had transpired between Bennett and myself, and I gave her as much information as I knew about Lee. She listened patiently and quietly, folding her arms inside her apron and using the edges as support. I mimicked her stance, leaning against the counter.

"So Lee wants to face against his mother to protect Bennett?"

"I think that's the gist of it."

"That's so sweet!"

I nodded.

"So then you and Bennett can get back together too!"

I paused, my eyes focusing on a lone coffee bean on the counter. "Maybe."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

I shrugged. "We weren't even really in a relationship to begin with. I was just some kind of stepping-stone for Bennett. We dated for a reason, and we broke up for a reason."

"You seriously think that? There's no way. That guy is head over heels for you."

My stomach twisted and I scuffed my foot in the floor. "I don't know." Everyone could tell me that, but it was just hard to believe myself.

"You're probably confused right now because you're hurt."

"I'm fine!"

"Oh, you poor thing," she cooed, swaddling me in her arms. "You're so heartbroken you don't even realize it."

I struggled to push her off me, "Hey, I said I'm fine, seriously. I'm old enough to realize things I can't control will happen to me."

"Dude, the bags around your eyes are no joke. How much sleep are you getting?"

"Enough," I mumbled. How did she know? I could barely stay asleep for any amount of time. It had to be due to sleeping in an unfamiliar environment though. It wasn't because of Bennett. There was no way.

"Are you eating? You look thinner."

"There's just no food in the house," I explained.

She tutted. "You can't fool me."

"I really am fine," I insisted. "He's the one that broke up with me— why would I waste my time in being upset about that? He can do what he wants. I understand why he had to do it. We just couldn't be together." Even if he calls me drunk and tells me he loves me. I didn't have time to play those kinds of games. I wasn't heartbroken. I was realistic.

"Ah, anger. The second phase of heartbreak. Hang in there, pal."

"Ugh." I didn't even want to think about it. There was too much else going on. Too many people were trying to tell me my own feelings for me to even figure out what they were. Not like it even mattered right now. Even if I wanted to get back with Bennett right now, I couldn't. He probably wouldn't even answer the phone if I called. Not that I would call.

Maybe Ariana was right. Maybe I was hurt. Was I hurt? I kept going back and forth with my feelings. There was too much going on and I kept too much to myself. Even I couldn't figure out how I felt. I knew in my heart I was sad, but my mind just rolled with the hits. It was what I was used to. Being disappointed led to being upset, and in a world of mostly disappointments, it was easier to just accept them and move on.

A defense. Accept it and move on.

I love you.

It was hard to hold back a scoff. For someone Bennett claimed to love, he sure didn't try very hard to fight for our relationship. Couldn't he at least call me?

No I don't want him to call.

I groaned. The back and forth was giving me a headache. I needed to keep myself busy. And to do that, I decided the pasty shelf needed a good cleaning. Fortunately, between doing that and all the other daily tasks, it was already six when I finished it. Ariana and I closed up the shop and I quickly headed for my car.

"Where are you going?"

"Grocery store. I wasn't lying when I said we have no food."

"Do you want me to take Brandon again tonight?"

"You know you don't have to keep letting him stay over," I said. "We have room at my place. I know you barely have enough space as it is."

Ariana shrugged. "I don't mind him sleeping with me."

"Uh, too much information, Ariana."

Her cheeks tinged with pink. "That's not what I meant! Don't say that. You might give someone the wrong idea."

I paused with my hand on the handle to my car door, swiveling 180 degreed to face her. "What did you just say?"

"Your brother and I aren't like that!"

"No, not that. Who would get the wrong idea?"

Now her face turned completely red. "Just, uh, anyone, really..."

"Hmm..."

"Don't look at me like that, Henley."

I held up my hands defensively. "I didn't say anything. It's just strange that you used to flirt around my brother in circles and know you don't want Sebastian to think you're dating. Strange indeed."

"I never said Sebastian!"

"You didn't need to."

She huffed at me, placing her hands on her hips. "Oh, whatever. Just don't say anything about me liking your brother around Sebastian."

"A little jealousy might help things a long."

"Henley."

I laughed. "I'm kidding. Okay. I won't say anything. Can't promise the same for Brandon." It was clear he and Sebastian had their own little silent war going on.

"He doesn't worry me. Does anyone you know take your brother seriously?"

"Good point. Okay, I gotta go. I'll see you tomorrow."

"See ya!"

The grocery store was surprisingly empty for it being six o' clock on a Sunday afternoon— not that I was complaining. I could get in and out without having to navigate the packed aisles. I wasn't sure exactly what to get, but I figured the basics would do for now. Like milk and cereal. They could be eaten for any meal, really. Though it was hard to imagine someone like Lee eating Lucky Charms for dinner. I decided to throw in a box of plain Cheerios just in case.

As I rounded the corner into the produce section, a familiar sound met my ears and I instantly knew it was Bennett. I jerked my cart back into the bread aisle, nearly taking out an old lady walking by. Of course he would be here. I'd never seen him go to the grocery store once when I stayed with him. I'd assumed he made Henry pick up his groceries. Or had Amazon deliver them or something. But what were the odds that he'd be here at the same time as me?

Well, seeing as this was pretty much the only grocery store around, it wasn't incredibly surprising. Still annoying though.

I hated how hard my heart started beating. Why was I so nervous? It was just Bennett. It would be childish to ignore him, but we didn't have any relationship anymore, so maybe it would be best to avoid him. But then again, that wasn't like me. I had more pride than that. But how could I face him after what happened the other night? Would it be awkward? Did he even remember? Maybe now was a good time to question him about it. Although maybe not in a grocery store. In a small town like this, his mother probably had ears everywhere.

"Stop it," I warned my heart, holding my hand over my chest. It needed to chill. I didn't have any reason to be nervous. I could just walk away and pretend like I never saw him.

But while thinking that, I realized I did want to see him. And maybe that was why my heart was beating so frantically. It was easy to forget about Bennett if I wasn't near him, but when he was this close, all I wanted to do was talk to him, get him to look at me. I wouldn't bring anything serious up. I'd just ask him how he was. That was an understandable question, seeing as how drunk he was the other night. I could approach him with that.

With my decision made, I pushed my cart back into the produce aisle. A part of me was worried I'd waited too long and he left, but I saw him by the fruit, peering into a barrel of apples. My hands were shaking and I clenched the cart, reprimanding myself. There was no need to be nervous. I had to be confident. Just say hi, don't make a fool out of yourself—

"Do you know how many people have touched these?" I heard him saying, turning away from the apples.

For a second I thought he was talking to me. I felt the corners of my lips lift up. What a typical Bennett thing to say.

"That's why you wash them," a female voice responded and my heart dropped.

His mother, was my first thought, but just as I turned to hide myself, I caught sight of familiar long, brown hair. She'd been hidden behind the sign for the apples, but as she stepped toward Bennett, placing her hand on his shoulder and laughing, I realized who she was. The girl from Michelangelo's.

I wasn't an idiot. It was obvious Bennett's mother would force him on blind dates after breaking us up. This was bound to happen. I couldn't be surprised about it. I couldn't be, and yet I couldn't keep my chest from constricting. It took everything I had to resist the urge to run. It would look bad if I was caught running. Bennett would probably be grateful to see me. Maybe I could help him get her off his back by saying I was his girlfriend...

What was I thinking? No way. I couldn't do that. I just had to leave. Turn around, and walk away—

"As a thank you for offering to cook me dinner tonight, I'll let you drive my car back to your house," the brown-haired girl said, rooting me to my spot.

...What?

"I can agree to that deal," Bennett responded.

I blinked a couple times. I couldn't have heard that right. Bennett didn't let people go to his house. And he was obsessed with his car. He wouldn't drive anyone else's. His mom had to be forcing him to do this.

"You're so cute," she cooed, smiling brightly at him. "Maybe I should just marry you."

My hands slid off the handle of the cart, falling to my sides when I caught sight of his expression. What was this? This wasn't right. Even if he was being forced into this, this was going too far. He looked happy. A smile was displayed on his lips and his features were relaxed, not on edge. Not like the Bennett from the other night, the one who claimed he loved me.

That wasn't the look of someone being forced into something they didn't want. Bennett was here with this girl voluntarily. And, apparently, they had dinner plans at his house.

How arrogant of me to think I was special.

"Henley?"

Bennett was staring right at me, the blood drained from his face. Caught in the act. Of course he should be embarrassed.

But I was mortified. My skin felt hot and tight. I could barely force a smile, lifting my hand up in greeting, hoping he wouldn't notice the tremors. "Hey."