Page 62 of Burning Bridges Duet

“I know, Livy, but it’s okay to feel hurt and take time to heal. Just remember that you’re not alone,” he says, his voice gentle and understanding. I nod, taking in his words.

Maybe he’s right. Maybe it’s time for me to focus on myself and my own healing, without the added pressure of a complicated relationship. I hug him tighter, feeling a sense of comfort wash over me as I close my eyes.

I hear loud knocking and sit up. It takes me a second to remember where I am and that I’m lying in Gunner’s bed. I hear muffled knocking again, and my name being called. Gunner, who was sitting on the end of the bed, stands up and walks to the door. He opens it to Ryder and River banging on my door.

“I suggest you two get lost and forget about her,” he says.

“Fuck you, Gunner. Where is she?” Ryder snarls.

“Her bag with her keys and her phone is just lying outside her door. We’re worried. Can you please tell us if you know where she is?” River asks, trying to sound polite.

“Oh, I know where she is, and she told you guys that your relationship” —he nearly spits the word— “is over. So leave her in peace.”

“You piece of shit,” I hear Ryder say, then there’s some shuffling, so I quickly get out of the bed and go to the door.

“Gun, don’t!” I shout at him and pull on his biceps. He steps back to my side, revealing Ryder and River standing outside, both looking at me intently.

“You’re with him?” Ryder asks, looking furious. “After all that shit, you just hop into bed with him?”

“Ryder,” River hisses, pulling at his arm, but I feel like he just stabbed me. And I know exactly what that feels like.

“You think I would do that?” I ask, hurt evident in my voice.

“No, dickhead, she’s not with me. I found her sobbing in front of her apartment door because you guys broke her heart. I’m the one that’s here for her after you all hurt her,” Gunner clarifies. Ryder visibly relaxes and now looks absolutely devastated.

“Baby, I’m so sorry,” he says, genuinely remorseful.

“Jaxon is wrong, Liv, and he knows it too,” River adds. “He’s just scared. He’ll come around. Chase too.”

“No, Jaxon is right, isn’t he?” I reply, feeling overwhelmed. “Wanting to have all of you is selfish of me, and I don’t want to come between you guys.” I look down at the ground, defeated. Ryder tries to take a step toward me, but Gunner quickly stands in front of me with his arms crossed in a protective manner.

“Let us have our girl, man. She needs us,” Ryder says to Gunner. He looks over his shoulder at me, and I nod in agreement. He turns and hugs me tightly.

“If they make one wrong move, I’m going to kick them out of here so hard that my boots will be stuck up their asses,” he whispers. I chuckle at his words and kiss him on the cheek.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

When Gunner releases Liv, Ryder takes her hand and pulls her into a hug. As soon as he has her in his arms, his posture relaxes. I pick up Liv’s keys from the ground and open the door for them, frowning internally at Gunner. Why did he leave Liv’s stuff outside? He seems protective, but for the wrong reasons.

After I close the door behind us, it’s my turn to embrace Liv.

“I’m so sorry for how this all played out. We never wanted to hurt you. We care for you so much,” I say before kissing her temple, and she starts crying. Ryder steps behind her and hugs her from behind.

“Shh, baby. We’re here, and we’re not going anywhere. I don’t give a fuck if Jaxon is okay with us or not.”

“No,” Liv says, sniffling and pushing us away. “That’s exactly what he was talking about. You can’t choose me over him. I’m not going to come between you guys and ruin your family.”

I can see Ryder wanting to argue, but I understand where Liv is coming from.

“She’s right, Ryder. We need to get him on board first. If he feels betrayed because we went behind his back, he will only see his fears confirmed. We want this to work with all of us, right? Jaxon and Chase included?”

They both nod, and Ryder wipes away Liv’s tears. He leans in to kiss her, but she ducks away.

“I mean it, Ryder. We’re friends, and we’ll stay that way until Jaxon gets on board. If it never happens, then we’ll stay friends,” she says.

He grins at her, cupping her cheek. “Then we’re going to be the best friends you ever had until we get Jaxon and Chase to take their heads out of their asses.”

Liv’s eyes are still red from crying as I take her hand and lead her to her bed. She looks at me with wide eyes.