" You sure you want to do this?”
“Do what?” I tried to appear confident, so I could ignore the stampeding herd in my chest. “Get drunk? I can drink with the best of them.”
He closed his eyes a moment, shaking his head as he stepped back. His hands left my sides. I tried to pretend I didn’t miss them: the warmth of them, the slight weight of them, or how they’d made me feel safe for a split second.
Nope. None of that was going on.
“You’re going to meet people I really care about.”
“I’m down with caring people.”
His eyes narrowed. “Don’t fuck anything up.”
“What?” I touched my chest. “Me? What have I fucked up? It’s like you don’t know me.” I laced my fingers and pretended to crack my knuckles. “I’m ready for this. Let’s get the sexing and drinking started. "

― Tijan , Anti-Stepbrother