Page 50 of Flawless

And I had to figure out how the hell to live with that, without going out of my mind.

“Looks like I’m a lousy judge of character, boys.” I laughed, but it felt more like cynicism than humour. “Another one cheated on me.”

“Shit,” Rob said, swiping a hand over his face. “For real? How do you know?”

“Her ex sent me a video of them… going at it.” The first time I watched it I’d wanted to smash my phone into a million pieces. The tenth time I’d watched it I felt the same way. Apparently, I was a masochist.

“How do you know it was recent?” Jake, the detective, asked. “You know shit like that can be manipulated, brother.”

“You think I haven’t thought of that?” I snapped. “I’m not an idiot.”

Except I was, because I confronted her about cheating before I considered that possibility. I was so furious, I didn’t even give myself a chance to think it through before I went off on her. And whoever said words were weapons was spot-on because when my accusations landed there was no taking them back.

“You need to find out for sure,” Rob said. “It’s obvious you care a lot about this girl, and if this is just her asshole-ex tryin’ to screw things up for y’all⁠—”

“He’s already done that.” I closed my eyes. “Hell, even if it didn’t happen, you really think she’ll forgive me for accusing her like that? Trust is everything to Rylee.”

“If that’s true,” Billy said. “You really think she’d cheat on you? Or was that just what happened with Kelly messing with your mind?”

“I don’t know anymore.” My gut told me Rylee wouldn’t cheat, but my battered heart wasn’t so sure. “I have to see her this weekend. My sister and Austin got engaged and they’re having an engagement thing at their place. How the hell am I supposed to be in the same room with her?” I rubbed my eyes. “This is a goddamn nightmare, guys.”

“Hey,” Jake said. “I’ve never seen you like this before. Not even when Kelly cheated on you, and you’d been with that girl for two years. Don’t you think you need to have a face-to-face with Rylee, to try and figure out whether she actually did what you’re accusing her of?”

“And what if she didn’t?” My gaze travelled around the table, looking for answers. “That means I ruined the best thing that’s ever happened to me because I let some lowlife guitar picker get one over on me. Aren’t I supposed to be smarter than that?”

“Brother, sometimes we act before we think,” Rob said. “You’re not the first guy to do that when you’re jealous, still reeling from a bad break-up, and some asshole throws something like that in your face. Don’t beat yourself up. In your position, we probably all would’ve done the same thing.”

I knew they were trying to make me feel better, but it only made me feel worse. If not for my experience with Kelly, maybe I would have had enough faith in Rylee to demand more proof before judging and convicting her.

“I’ll be right back.” I stood, cursing when I had to grab the chair to steady myself. “Sonofabitch.”

Drinking just made a bad situation worse, and I’d learned that the hard way after my break-up with Kelly. Yet here I was, making the same stupid mistakes again.

“You okay?” Jake asked.

“Yeah.” I stood a little taller, determined I could walk across the crowded bar without face-planting. “I’m good.”

Before I could walk a few feet, Kelly was in my face, slipping her arm around my waist, and slinging my arm over her shoulder.

“Whoa, you look like you could use a little help,” she teased. “I was just heading back to the restrooms. I assume that’s where you’re going?”

“Yeah, but I’m fine.” The room was already spinning, so I knew I wasn’t fine, but she was the last person I’d ask for help.

Ignoring me, she weaved her way through the Thursday night crowd, until we were tucked away in a dark hallway leading to the private offices.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, resting her hands on my chest. “Talk to me.”

I scowled at her, curling my hands around her wrists and setting her hands at her sides. “Don’t touch me.”

She sighed heavily. “Are you gonna hate me forever for one little mistake?” She spread her hands wide. “I’m human, okay? But you expect everyone to be perfect. Above reproach, like you, and we’re not all like that. Some of us have scars. Some of us have been hurt. And that means we act without thinking sometimes, because we just want someone to hold us, to make everything alright for awhile.”

Kelly’s parents split when she was eight and she never got over her daddy-abandonment issues. When she cheated on me, I’d been out of town on business, and she claimed she was feeling lonely and depressed so she turned to someone else for comfort.

Her childhood had been nothing like Rylee’s. If anyone could justify needing comfort, or making a mistake it would be the girl who’d never been shown what healthy love was supposed to look or feel like.

Damn. Even if she had cheated on me, was I justified in walking away? Or did I owe it to her to help her fight her demons and shadows?

“I loved you,” she whispered. “I still do. What I had with Smyth was one night.” She raised her finger as tears glided down her cheeks. “One lousy night that ruined my life. We could have had something amazing, but you couldn’t forgive me for making one mistake.”