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JACE
Before Brynn crept outof my room at dawn, we decided it would be best to keep our distance this morning. We both need a break from the charade, especially since our acting skills are weak at best, and Brynn is overdue to spend some alone time with Teagan. Meanwhile, I need advice.
I have no idea how this conversation is gonna go, but I’m hoping an outside perspective from someone who knows all three of us will give me some direction. Mostly, I just want to make sure I’m doing the right thing by waiting to tell Teagan, and if anyone knows what it means to hold a stable relationship out of the five of us it’s Knox.
His girl might’ve broken things off with him this summer, but they’d been together for three years, which is an eternity when you’re only eighteen.
I exhale, trying to calm my nerves as I wait in one of the red vinyl booths at Mel’s Diner. Lifting my cup of coffee, I take a sipwhen the bell on the door chimes, and I glance up to see Knox filling the doorway.
I offer him a little wave, and he heads my way. Standing, I slap him on the back and give him the onceover. “The summer looks like it’s been good to you. What’s up, man?”
He settles into the booth, taking the seat across from me. “Not much. Good to see you again. You went radio silent these last couple of weeks.”
I nod, raking a hand through my hair. “Yeah, sorry. End of semester was crazy with finals and conditioning wrapping up. How are things down south?”
“Eh, as can be expected I guess,” Knox says as he motions for the waitress to bring him a cup of coffee. “Got your text about Crow’s Creek tonight. Is the whole gang gonna be there?”
“Of course.”
“Damn. It’ll be nice seeing everyone and catching up. Group chats just aren’t the same.”
“Agreed.” I take a sip of my coffee, hating how awkward I feel with this secret weighing on my chest. It’s like a ticking timebomb waiting to detonate. Still, I find myself stalling. I wait until the waitress delivers Knox’s coffee and takes our orders before even considering broaching the subject of Brynn, and even then, I do so with barely restrained nerves.
“So, I have to be honest, man. I asked you to meet me for more than breakfast and catching up.” I toy with than handle of my mug and the fist in my chest tightens.
Knox arches a brow, raising his own mug to his lips with one beefy arm. He takes a tentative sip, then says, “If you came to ask me to marry you, the answer is no. I don’t swing that way.”
I snort. “You know blondes are my type.”
“Ah! So you came to ask for Teagan’s hand in marriage. In that case, I give you my blessing.”
I bark out a laugh. It feels good to shoot the shit with a member of our old crew, but then my smile fades as I realize I stand to jeopardize everything by having a relationship with Brynn if Teagan won’t accept us. Will they take sides if this thing implodes?
I sober at the thought. “Whatever I say stays between us, right?” I ask, flicking a glance up to him.
Knox tips his chin, taking my mercurial mood in stride. “Of course. Talk to me, bro. What’s going on?”
I drag a hand over my face, unsure of where to start. “Shit. I don’t how to say this . . .”
Knox leans closer, whispering, “Did you get in trouble with a chick? Maybe take things too far when she was drunk or . . .”
I flinch and straighten. “What? Fuck no.”
Is that we he thinks of me?
Is that what they all think of me?
My pulse pounds in my temples. I know I have a reputation, but I thought my friends knew me better than that. My encounters with women have never been anything short of consensual.
“Okay,” he drawls like he doesn’t believe me, and I have to admit, it’s not giving me a whole lot of fucking confidence about where the direction of this conversation is heading.
“I’m just gonna come right out and say it since whatever you’re thinking is clearly worse.” I inhale, steeling myself for his reaction, then blurt, “Brynn and I are seeing each other.”
Knox stares at me for a moment before he bursts out laughing. “Good one,” he says, bringing his mug to his lips.
The blood drains from my face, and when I don’t so much as crack a smile, he sobers.
“You’re serious.”
