“If I can slap the shit out of you after, sure.”

He thought about it for half a second. “I think it’d be worth it.”

I pressed my lips together, trying not to smile. “I’m glad it wasn’t you. It was disappointing.”

“He’s a bad kisser?” Taylor asked, amused.

“No. There was just … nothing”—I referenced the space between us—“there.”

“Huh. Now, I’m curious.”

“I’m not kissing two brothers in one night.”

Taylor looked down at his watch. “We are now four minutes into tomorrow.”

“No.”

I walked down to the street corner and pressed the crosswalk button. Taylor followed me, staying quiet until we reached the front door of the Bucksaw.

He chuckled as I turned the key in the lock.

“C’mon. Aren’t you a little bit curious?” he asked.

“Nope.”

“I am,” he said, following me inside.

I shook my head. “I don’t exist to satisfy your need for competition with your twin.”

“That’s not what this is.”

“This isn’t about you being jealous?” I asked, turning to face him. “It doesn’t bother you that you’ll be walking back to Cowboys, knowing he kissed me and you got the shaft? I don’t want you to kiss me for rivalry or ego.”

“Just to get you to Eakins, right?” As soon as the words came out of his mouth, he regretted them. He reached for me. His hand cupped my shoulder, and he brushed my bangs from my face. “I am a royal fucking skag. Sorry. I’m just pissed.”

“I knew there would be conditions. I don’t want anyone holding anything over my head. I left my parents, Taylor. I can walk away from you.”

His brows pulled together. “Don’t you think I know that?”

I sighed. “I want to go to Eakins, and I don’t want something like petty jealousy getting in the way of that.”

He took a step back, his expression changing. As if his anger was just barely contained, he kept his voice low and controlled as he said, “I’m not jealous. I fucking hate that his mouth was on yours. I’ve never felt that heated toward one of my brothers, ever, until tonight. I’ve been trying to play this off, but whatever this is … it’s not petty, Falyn.”

I shifted. “It was just a stupid kiss, Taylor. I was overly friendly because I mistook him for you, and it piqued his interest.”

Taylor looked away, his jaw working under the skin. “I know it wasn’t intentional. Doesn’t make me feel any better.” He sighed and then rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m gonna … I’m gonna go. You make me feel … not myself.”

“Okay. Well, good night.”

My casual demeanor only made Taylor more agitated, and he approached me, stopping a few feet away. “I know what I said before, but I like you.”