Too Big to Fit

Chapter 7

Tyler

Once again, my mouth had moved faster than my brain. Because somehow I couldn’t resist saying something about Sydney Walker.

“I guess the outfit was thirsty after all.”

Really, Tyler? Really?

I’d beaten myself up after I realized the words had rolled off my tongue.

In my defense, Brooklyn had started it. She’d planted the idea in my head, and somehow I’d grabbed it, twisted it, and threw it out there without thinking.

I guess some part of me had expected something else. Because, I mean, if Sydney Walker was bold enough to walk into a crowd dressed like the most stunning piece of art I’d ever seen, she would have taken a joke.

But it’d gone the other way.

Her cheeks had turned beet red. And not the way it did when I bumped into her.

She hugged herself like she was trying to disappear, her chest rising too fast, her back hitting the door.

And before I could completely register that I’d screwed up again, she ran.

She always ran. And as much as it used to amaze me the way her body bounced with every step, something had stung in my chest.

The laughter didn’t stop even after she left. Partly because a quarter of the crowd was already half drunk.

But the next moment a loud crash came from the living room, and everyone’s attention snapped to Micheal, who’d fallen off a glass table.

And me? I didn’t take my eyes off the door even as I settled back into my seat, half hoping Sydney would walk back into the room and pretend she didn’t care.

Like the look in her eyes as she stared at me wasn’t entirely hatred.

But no matter how many times I sipped my drink whenever the door opened, Sydney Walker never came back.

“Dean! Dean! Dean!”

“Man, coach is so going to kill Dean during practice.” Aaron laughed, sliding into the chair beside me.

I dragged my attention to the small crowd forming around Dean as he chugged half a gallon of beer.

I forced a scoff. “You talk like you’re new. Coach will never know. Dude masks his scent like a cheating werewolf.”

Aaron barked a laugh and finished his drink.

“Yeah!!! That’s how you do it, you bastards! That’s how you f*****g do it!!” Dean roared after the last drop of beer rolled down his throat, beating his chest.

“It’s a great party.” Aaron said. “Micheal outdid himself this time.”

“Yeah, sort of.” I sipped my drink.

“And Brooklyn’s sister?” Aaron grinned. “That was epic.”

I forced a chuckle. “Yeah. She’s easy.”

The words tasted worse than the drink.

Aaron laughed even more.

“What about Micheal?” I asked quickly, stopping myself from replaying the look on Sydney’s face.

Aaron clicked his teeth. “He’s fine. Only sprained his shoulder. He’s up with Brooklyn in his room.”

Brooklyn.

I’ve never seen someone switch on their sister so quickly without blinking.

Brooklyn and I have been friends since I knew how to spell my name. Neither of us even felt human at school until junior year—when she got voted cheer captain and I got noticed for my height.

Not that I was that I was the tallest on the team, but I guess coach knew talent when he saw one.

Honestly, Brooklyn had always been that girl.

She could be fierce when she wanted to and really private. No one dared cross her, and honestly, seeing how excited she was when Sydney arrived, I never expected the switch.

At least not so soon.

I just sat there, sipping my drink, trying not to picture Sydney’s face right before she ran.

Because the truth was no matter how much I lied to myself and said I messed with her because she’s easy, or because of the way she reacts, the real reason is I can’t have her.

Why?

Not because she was Brooklyn’s sister, or that our families have been close since forever…

My life is complicated.

Complicated in a way that the moment I make a mistake, it blows up. And not just in my face.

And Sydney is bound to push me to make a thousand mistakes without me even knowing. She’d make me reckless.

Just thinking about her makes me forget where I am.

So what’s my escape? I try to push her away.

Make her hate me so she never gets the hint I like her so much.

And somehow, I’m trying to protect her too.

“What’s with the long face, cap? These asses walking around aren’t enticing to you?” Dean laughed, sliding into the spot Aaron left.

He was shirtless now, still smelling like beer. And somehow not drunk.

“Or,” nudged me in my ribs. “You want someone bigger, like Brooklyn’s sister.”

I scoffed immediately. “Not a chance.”

He laughed loudly.

And I just stared because the truth was I did want Sydney Walker, but I shouldn’t.

“Hey guys, a bunch of people are playing truth or dare.” Aaron said, walking up to us.

“Pfff,” Dean scoffed. “That game still exists?”

“What would you rather play? First to die from drinking?”

Dean laughed. “You bet.”

Aaron just ignored him. “You coming, Tyler?”

“Yeah, I’ll play.” I placed my drink on the counter and followed him to the next room.

Because I needed something, anything to help me forget that look in Sydney’s eyes, or I might pierce my skin myself.

“Truth or dare?” Micheal asked Tracy as the bottle landed on her.

Tracy flipped her hair, her eyes moving around the guys in the circle, until they landed on me.

She smirked. “Dare.”

I just sat there, half interested in the game, stopping my eyes from flickering to the door.

“I dare you to take four things off.”

“Oooh,” the circle erupted.

“You have to do it or pay a fine!”

Tracy smiled widely and stood from where she sat.

“Tracy! Tracy! Tracy!” the group chanted, though they knew she’d do it.

She’d always been a wild one, second in command to Brooklyn.

“I’ll do it, calm down.”

The group went quiet, and Tracy took off her fake cat ears, then a bracelet, then something else. But when her hand slipped to her bra hook, I checked out mentally.

The crowd lost their minds. Cheering as she spun her bra on her finger.

The bottle spun again.

It landed on me.

Dean smirked. “Truth or dare, cap?”

I gave him a lazy grin. “Smells like an ambush.”

Brooklyn chuckled. “You seem a little too serious tonight. An ambush is valid.”

A little too serious?

I’d said some s**t about Sydney, and she’d chosen to nurse her boyfriend over her seeing if her sister was okay.

“Yeah, truth or dare, Sinclair?” someone yelled.

I masked the thought in my head with a smile. “Alright, truth.”

“Playing it safe, are you?” Dean said, then straightened, raw mischief in his eyes. “Who have you ever had a crush on at school?” He paused. “Doesn’t have to be in this circle.”

“Or a girl!”

The crowd roared with laughter.

But all I could think of was Sydney Walker. None of the girls I’d ever taken a fancy to came before her in my head.

Brooklyn tucked her hair behind her ear. “Oh, it’s definitely a girl.”

What’s up with her?

“We don’t have all night, Tyler,” Dean said, putting an arm around the girl beside him.

No way I was going to mention Sydney’s name.

“I’ll pay the fine.”

“Boo!!”

I chuckled, pulling out a couple hundred-dollar bills. “My life is none of you fuckers’ business.”

But as I looked up, I caught Dean’s eyes. A smirk was on his lips, and I could tell some mischief was on his mind.