Chapter 37 A Kick to Cry
"James, can you tell me what happened?" I asked, munching on my skewer and moving closer to him.
"Sit down and eat properly," Brad said, pulling me back to my seat.
Brad didn't eat much; he mostly took care of me, handing me napkins and peeling shrimp, making me feel really comfortable.
"No, I want to hear about Brad's love life. Spill the tea," I said, pouting. Brad just gave me a tolerant look and stayed quiet.
"You know how hot Brad is, right? He's famous for it. LLet's ditch the old tales and dish last year. There was this pretty junior girl, a bit shorter and not as pretty as you, with a bit of a tan. She accidentally spilled food on Brad in the cafeteria. Quick as a flash, Brad kicked her, and she was down for the count. Went down during lunch, right in front of everyone, and he didn't give a damn."
Over the summer, I binged on romance novels and pondered the typical twists. This chick's move would be labeled as "shooting her shot" in today's romance scene, likely 'cause she was digging Brad's looks.
Can't blame her. If I saw such a stunning, tall, strong guy, I'd probably fall for him too.
"What happened next? Did anyone come to her rescue?" I leaned in closer, and so did Mia.
Brad pulled me back with a dark look, and Benjamin sat between Mia and James.
James smirked at their actions and continued, "With Brad around, who'd dare to play the hero? The girl blushed and got up on her own. After that, every time she saw Brad, she cried. Behind his back, folks dubbed him 'Kick 'n Cry Brad.' Pretty spot-on, huh?"
"And then?"
"That's it, no more." James shrugged, showing the story was over.
I pouted, feeling unsatisfied. "No romance between them?"
Brad was always the model kid parents compared their kids to. Even my mom used him as a role model for me, urging me to be like him and contribute to society.
It's normal for someone like Brad to be admired.
I figured the girl thought Brad wouldn't do anything drastic in public, even if he didn't like her. But Brad, being all righteous and cold, kicked her without hesitation. Poor girl.
"Jane, if you keep asking, no food for a week," Brad said coldly, his handsome face looking like it came out of a fridge.
I bared my teeth at him, pretending to be scared of his cold look.
Brad placed a plate of freshly grilled shrimp in front of me and started peeling them seriously. He peeled one and put it in my bowl, and I ate it.
He spoke harshly, but his actions were gentle. As I ate, I thought that for Brad to kick someone in public, the girl must have really crossed a line with him.
If I couldn't ask others, I'd go straight to the source.
"Brad, why did you kick her? What were you thinking?" I asked, moving closer to him, catching a whiff of his scent.
James, a bit tipsy, kept talking even though everyone else noticed Brad's mood shift and focused on their skewers. "Your Brad thought the girl smelt."
"What? She didn't bathe? Was it that bad? But Brad, you could've just stayed away. Kicking her was too much," I said.
"So, I should've hugged and kissed her to be a gentleman?" Brad's face darkened.
Being a gentleman didn't mean being sleazy. How could he not get that?
The guys couldn't hold back their laughter, and beer sprayed everywhere.
Brad glared at me, clearly pissed.
I scratched my nose awkwardly. "That's not what I meant. I wouldn't want you kissing just anyone."
"Exactly. Even we wouldn't agree. We've known Brad for years, and he's never been nice to any girl. We used to think he might be gay. Now we know he's just waiting for someone. Luckily, that someone is here, and Brad's single days are over."
"Pay him no mind. Eat up," Brad said, handing me a drink.
Benjamin added, "Look at him, spoiling her, still feeding her. Brad, you're like Jane's loyal dog now."
"Don't insult our relationship. Brad's always been good to me since we were kids. If you had a sister, wouldn't you be good to her?" I argued with James, feeling indignant. This was Brad, whose feelings for me were pure and noble. How could he be disrespected like that?
Only a boyfriend could be called that, but this was Brad.
Matthew Brown, who had been quietly eating, finally spoke up. He tossed his skewer and grabbed another. "Seriously, if I had a neighbor like Jane, I'd spoil her to death. I'd even give my life."
I looked at Brad, who was gently handing me a skewer, and felt Matthew's words had a double meaning.
I thought, 'Weren't we talking about Brad's gossip? How did it turn to me? This conversation is all over the place.'
That night was wild but ended safely. Brad not only saved our lives but also treated us to a delicious barbecue. Mia was so happy she smacked her lips in her sleep, leading to a sweet story between her and Benjamin.
Because of this, Brad's image in my heart grew even more.
And Brad took over all my meals and snacks, not letting me fend for myself anymore.
I resisted, but Brad said if something like that night happened again, his heart would stop. To keep my brother healthy, I chose to listen to him.
Though Brad's rule limited my freedom, the food and snacks were all my favorites, and I shamefully surrendered.
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