Chapter 18: Overcompensating

I snatched it back as if it were on fire. "The fuck dude?" I murmured in shocked disbelief, but he only chuckled.

"I just had to check the 'total slut' theory," he replied with a shrug.

I glared at him. I was about to tell him how wildly inappropriate that had been, but then I figured that was probably the reaction he'd been hoping for. So I went in a different direction.

"Wow... That was disappointing. But Tyler is your 'big' brother, right?" I asked hopefully, trying to sound as believable as possible.

It was now his turn to gasp in shocked disbelief. "What?!"

I shrugged. "I'm not sure what reaction you were hoping for, Ryder. I guess I kinda expected more," I went on casually as I pulled Tyler's jacket around myself tightly and gave Ryder a pitying look.

I could see the wheels of his mind working, trying to figure out whether I was joking or not. Unfortunately, my acting abilities only went so far and the look of panic and discomfort on his face made me break character.

I c