Velyn steps just a little bit closer. “I’m sorry I didn’t quite catch that because your hand
is over your mouth.”
I shoot her a cynical glare. “You heard it fine; you just want me to repeat it.”
She lets out a laugh. “You’re right, I do. I’m going to guess that it’s been a long time, if ever, that those words have fallen from your lips. But tell me, Dylan, who would you be jealous of?”
“I’m jealous of you.”
Her eyes shoot wide open. “What? Why?”
“Because in a matter of mere seconds, my brother of seventeen years decided you were more important to him than me. He went from relying on me to needing only you. Then my best friend jumps ship and swims over to Team Velyn,” I let out, and her response is to stand there completely speechless. “Say something.”
She moves in close, her face still holding an expression of utter shock, but that changes quickly when she’s only inches away from me. “You’re right; you are a complete idiot. Do you honestly think that because I came into Chase’s life that he would just stop being your brother?”
“Well, no. But he did stop wanting to hang out with me and wanting to talk to me about his day and stuff.”
Velyn crosses her arms over her chest, looking me right in the eye. “That’s because every time he spoke, you made him feel like you weren’t really listening. Dylan, you were dismissive.”
“I was not.”
“You were, and if you’re serious about wanting to fix this thing with Chase, then I suggest you start admitting when you’re wrong too. Dylan, Chase knows who you are, and he accepts that. He loves you regardless of it, but this time you went too far. You tried to limit him. He’s not a child, and you need to stop treating him like one.”
I shake my head. “But he is a child. He’s only seventeen.”
“Yes, and I’m sure things would have gone over just peachy if someone had called you a child at seventeen.” Looking around, Velyn lets out a breath searching for her next words. “Look, I’m not saying he’s not still young and somewhat naive. You’re right; he does still need someone looking out for him. Dylan, if you honestly want that to be you, then you need to start acting like an adult. You can’t just pull rank when he’s not submitting to your every request; that’s not how that works—he’s a person, not a pet.” I start to talk, but she raises a finger to stop me then she starts back up. “And as for Jordan, you need to stop treating him like a piece of crap. He’s your best friend, but the way you speak to him, you’d think he was more of an annoyance.”
“He said that to you?”
She shakes her head. “He didn’t have to. Dylan, Jordan loves you like a brother, and I think no matter what, in a way, he always will. But if you want to be in his life, then you need to start showing him some respect and also Ava.”
“What? Ava? Why?”
“Because he loves her, Dylan.”
Loves her? That’s just ridiculous. “How can he be in love with her, they literally just started hooking up? You do know I was with her just a week before he was, right?”
“See that-that right there is what I’m talking about. Dylan, who cares that you were with her before him or how long before. If it doesn’t bother him, why does it bother you?”
“Because she’s just like the rest of them. Ava knows he has money, and when she realized she wasn’t getting her claws into me, she moved on to easier bait,” I reply.
Velyn lets out a breath. “Just so you’re aware, Ava’s beyond brilliant. She’s one woman who will never need a man to get what she wants; she’s more than capable of doing that all on her own.” Velyn pauses a moment then continues. “Maybe I was wrong about you. This really must be who you are. Dylan, if you’re not willing to peek your head outside that box of yours, you’re going to lose a lot more than what you already have.”
“What does that mean?”
She takes another step closer, now only a breath away. “It means you’re going to be a very lonely man.”
Velyn turns, heading back to the table and starts to finish with her prep, not saying any more. I should probably take this as a hint and leave, but I don’t. “Help me fix it.”
She looks up to me, and I would almost think she looks relieved. “Are you going to argue with me when what I ask you to do puts you out of your comfort zone.”
I shrug. “I mean, depending on what it is, there may be some resistance.”
“Resistance I understand, pulling the ‘I’m Dylan Dandridge, you can’t tell me what to do,’ I won’t.” Crap, she does have me figured out.
“Fine, if I do that, I’m giving you permission not to help me anymore,” I reply, and she lets out a chuckle. “What’s so funny?”
“The fact that you said you’ll give me permission—I just realized I might have bitten off more than I can chew.” She shakes her head then points with the knife to the other side of the counter. “Get back there; we need to get this done before doors open at six. Then we’ll figure out how to best tackle mission ‘Get Dylan not to be a douchebag.”
I move back to the other side of the table and watch her as she works away. I know she may be leery, even think that I’m not serious about this, but I honestly do hope she can help me smooth things over with Chase and Jordan. And who knows, maybe at the same time she’ll change her mind
