Logan must’ve been thinking the same thing. He laughed and folded his arms over his chest. “Look at you, Sebastian. All alone. It’s like a rare sighting in the wild. You usually travel with your pack, don’t you?”
Sebastian shot back, “You would know.” He gestured to Mason. “Always in your brother’s shadow, right? He’s the leader. He’s the football talent while you…what are you?”
Sebastian’s eyes flicked to me, and I knew where he was going.
He added, taunting, “Couldn’t get the gi—”
I surged forward, stopping him. “You’ll stop right there.”
“Or what?” His eyes sharpened.
Yes, he hit a nerve, and I was the one to let him know that.
Lovely.
I opened my mouth. I had no idea what I was going to say, but Mason’s hand rested over my arm. He pressed it down. I’d been lifting it, but I hadn’t even known. Sebastian saw that gesture, too.
He laughed now. “Maybe I should feel sorry for the two of you.” He looked at Logan and back to me. His gaze stayed on me, falling to my mouth. His eyes narrowed, lingering there. “Neither of you really matter. I mean, it’s all about Mason, isn’t it? He’s the star wide receiver. You two came here, following him. And what for?” He pointed to my arm where Mason was still touching me. “To be told what to do by him? My, my. That must be so much fun for you both.”
His sarcasm was evident.
I gritted my teeth.
Mason shook his head. “It won’t work.”
“What won’t?”
“We’re not normal,” Mason continued. He was calm now. He was in control.
Sebastian didn’t like that. I could tell as his mouth pressed into a thin line, the ends stretching tight.
Mason continued, “You can’t try to bait them to see what they might say back to you. That’s what you’re doing—pressing some buttons that maybe others have. But it’s not true. I don’t tell Sam what to do. My brother isn’t jealous of me. You’re looking for a reaction because you’ll know that’s a weakness we have in our family, but you’re underestimating the bond we share.”
“What? You mean, you aren’t a dictator? You don’t control your girlfriend?”
I wanted to defend myself, but I wanted to defend Mason, too. His hold was keeping me contained—for now.
Logan started laughing. All attention went to him, and he was shaking his head. He pointed at Mason and to Sebastian, still laughing. “Ho