Losing Control by Summer Mackenzie

had just been one moment of passion and he had just been swept away or whatever. In any case, he convinced me not to leave him. He convinced me to stay.
    “You see, I loved him Thorne. Ever since I remember having feelings I’ve had them for Nick. I’ve never even had the chance to look at someone else, because I’ve always been truthful and loyal to him. There was never any need for me to do all that, you know? It’s not like I was doing him a favor or anything.”
    “Elena,” he said. “That’s where you’re wrong. Being faithful to someone, when temptation is all around you, is a favor. One that he obviously couldn’t do for you.”
    “I get that now, but you know, back then I just felt so lost and alone. I barely had any friends because I had alienated myself from everyone. The whole living together thing had changed me. It changed him too. He wasn’t the same guy anymore but I kept thinking maybe once things get better, he might be. But things never got better. They just got worse.”
    I couldn’t help that I started crying. Thorne’s face was a mixture of concerned and confused. And then he came over to my side and put an arm around me. “I’m sorry you had to go through this,” he said. “I know how hard it can be.”
    And again, there was that note, of experience, something in his words that made me feel like there was a story beneath the surface, but he didn’t say anything.
    “I’m so embarrassed,” I said, unable to pull away from him. “I didn’t mean to cry like some crazy hormonal woman.”
    “Hey,” he said gently. “You passed out drunk in the middle of the street. We’re way past embarrassing.”
    That made me laugh. Just the image of that happening outside the club. Did you carry me to the car? To the bed? In your arms? And with my head buried in his chest I felt like I really was a crazy hormonal woman, because even though his embrace was little more than casual friendship, it was beginning to feel like a lot more. When he finally pulled away I was left a bit breathless.
    “Elena?” he said, getting up and facing me.
    “Yeah?”
    “I know this might sound a bit weird,” he said. “But it’s Saturday and my brother and I have a sort of ritual. Would you mind being a part of it and spending the day with us?”
    “Thorne—”
    “Look, I know my brother can be a bit annoying at times but that’s just the hormones talking. He’s actually a very nice person to hang out with, I assure you.”
    “That’s not…Thorne…”
    “Elena. It would mean a lot to me.”
    If he only knew how much I wanted to do it, despite my better judgment. “Sure, what the hell.”

THORNE

     
     
     
     
    “So what kind of movies do you watch?” that was Lane.
    Un believable.
    Not only had my brother not freaked out or teased me about Elena staying the night, he actually seemed like he was having a good time talking to her over brunch, which we were having at one of my favorite places for a change. In every way, he looked different. He was more alert, less irritated, and he wasn’t constantly asleep. He was even picking up his books to study once in a while. By any sense of the word, that was progress. I think he may have given Elena more reason to be friendly than I might have. To be honest, I was freaking out just a little. I felt like this was a big deal, but I was supposed to make light of it and that was never easy. At first when there had been too much silence at the table, I had been worried Elena was getting bored but ten minutes in, even she looked like she was enjoying it.
    “I watch pretty much everything,” Elena said. “But I love sci-fi and superhero movies.”
    Lane looked at her, a little surprised. “Yeah?”
    “Oh…did you watch the new Avengers movie?”
    “It was awesome, right?” Lane said. “Any Marvel movie is pretty much a favorite of mine.”
    “I love the CGI. So good it just pulls you right into that world, doesn’t it?”
    “True.”
    “What kind of