Page 10 of What Goes Around

“Ashley,” Apple said softly from the bed. “You should go.”

I looked at her, searching for the sister I used to know. But all I saw was a stranger. Someone who’d helped destroy what was left of me.

Nick turned back to her, grabbing her ankle and yanking her closer across the bed. She laughed, a high, breathy sound that made my stomach twist.

“She can stay and watch,” he said, his voice cruel. “I don’t care. Let’s continue.”

My body shook uncontrollably. I forced myself to stand, every step feeling like it could break me in half. I had to leave. If I stayed, the pain would kill me.

I reached the door, my vision swimming. Before I closed it, his voice hit me one last time.

“I wish she never came into my life at all. She’s better off dead.”

The words sliced through me.

I stumbled down the hall. The walls seemed to close in, the air too thin to breathe. By the time I reached the parking lot, my legs gave out. I crouched beside my car, shaking, wheezing, my chest on fire. Not enough air. Not enough…

My fingers dug into my stomach as a sharp pain twisted low in my abdomen.

And then everything went black.

Nick POV 30 minutes earlier

Apple was the only one who didn’t look at me like I was about to shatter. She didn’t whisper or offer empty words. She just sat there beside me quietly, letting me lean on her without questions. Somehow, that helped. She was the only one who could give me even a shred of comfort.

“I know you miss her,” she’d said softly, her hand brushing against my arm. “But she’s gone, Nick. And torturing yourself won’t bring her or your sister back.”

Her voice soothed something raw inside me, but it couldn’t stop the ache that had nothing to do with grief.

It was Ashley’s face that haunted me, her eyes when she swore she was innocent, the sound of her voice when she said she loved me. I missed her in a way that made my chest hurt, and I hated her in the same breath for what she’d done. The two feelings twisted together until I couldn’t tell where one ended and the other began.

Apple leaned in closer; her perfume filled the room, sweet and distracting.

“Let me help you forget,” she murmured. “Just for tonight.”

And I let her.

Because I couldn’t take the memories anymore, the betrayal, the grief, the endless loop of what-ifs. I wanted to make the memory of Ashley go dull and distant.

So I pushed the doubt away and let myself be taken by the moment.

I pushed Apple down onto the bed and yanked her skirt up, tearing her panties off. I figured if I went hard enough, maybe I could forget Ashley.

The woman who’d betrayed me and made a fool out of me.

Apple’s eyes widened, but she didn’t stop me. She just nodded, like she understood what I needed, what this was. With rough, impatient movements, I unzipped my pants and pushed inside her. My thrusts were hard, desperate, almost punishing.

I didn’t care if it hurt her, didn’t care about anything except drowning out the ache in my chest. But even as my body moved on instinct, my mind was somewhere else.

We could have been so happy, Ash.

We could have had a family.

That child inside you should’ve been mine.

My rage flared and suddenly I had the urge to strangle Ashley to death. My thrusts became rougher. I couldn’t tell if I was trying to forget her or punish myself for still loving her.

Apple didn’t protest. If anything, she matched my tempo, quick and willing, murmuring that she could take it.