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Doubt creeps into my head and my heart, but she must see whatever expression plays over my face because she adds, “I only asked you to leave yesterday because you both needed to cool off.” She cocks her head and grimaces. “Andbecause you two broke my favorite lamp.” She points at me. “Teagan’s paying for that. As for Brynn, I don’t know what all happened between you two, but I can tell you that most things can be fixed. You just have to want them bad enough.”
Her words are a balm to my wounded heart. “I want her more than anything.”
Nikki grins. “So, what are you waiting for?”
“I don’t think she—”
Nikki reaches out and clasps my face in her hand, forcing me to look at her. “Maybe it’s time you realize you’re worthy of love and what that means. Just because you make a mistake doesn’t mean you can’t be forgiven.”
CHAPTER 40
JACE
Once Nikki leaves, Isink back down into the couch as my mind wanders.
Could it really be that simple? If I pursue Brynn and refuse to let her push me away, will she come around? Will Teagan?
Something tells me there’s more to Brynn taking a step back from us. After Crow’s Creek, she might’ve been upset about how everything went down, but not enough to push me away. It wasn’t until . . .
The jewelry box.
The second it fell and split open, she went into panic mode.
I replay the moment in my mind, recalling how she seemed shocked to discover the leather bracelet belonged to Knox. But why the hell did she have it if she didn’t know who it belonged to?
Another memory from weeks ago, fights its way through my subconscious. The night I drove Brynn home from her triple date, when she got all weird on me. Chris had been asking whyshe hated me so much, which I came to find out later was the result of a misunderstanding the night of her attack. She thought my snarky remark was directed toward her and not Graham. I’d seen her shoving the same wooden box back into her bag, then.
A chill creeps down my spine.
Something tells me the contents of the jewelry box have to do with the night she was assaulted. It’s the only thing that makes sense.
But if that’s true, then Knox’s bracelet must have something to do with.
I couldn’t see his face, it was too dark . . .
I tried to flee, pushing and clawing, when something snagged on the strap of my dress and ripped it . ..
I swallow. Could it have been the leather cuff?It would explain why she didn’t know whose it was. But that means . . .
I stand and hurry down the hallway for the kitchen, wincing as my head throbs harder with every step. My cell phone sits on the massive island where I left it, and I swipe it up, opening my text messages.
I take a deep breath as I find Knox in my contacts. I run a hand over my mouth as I stare down at his name, remembering what he said at breakfast the other morning.Did you get in trouble with a chick? Maybe take things too far when she was drunk or . . . Man, any time you have a secret this big which you’re keeping from your brothers, it’s bound to hurt.
My stomach roils as I type out a text and hit send before I lose my nerve, hoping I’m just paranoid.
JACE: Hey, man, just sitting here reminiscing about old times. Remember that leather cuff your mom gave you for Christmas sophomore year? The one we bullied your ass about? Whatever happened to that?
My heart pounds in my throat as I clutch the phone in my hand, my knuckles turning white as I wait. I’m almostcertain I’m wrong. I’m simply overreacting, high on emotions or hungover—maybe both—and my imagination is running wild.
My stomach clenches when text bubbles dance across the screen, indicating he’s typing.
KNOX: LOL of course I remember. You guys insisted on calling it a bracelet, made fun of my ass so bad I stopped wearing it.
ME: You still have it?
Maybe I’m being obvious, but I don’t have two shits to give.
KNOX: Nope. After I stopped wearing it, I must’ve lost it.
