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The slap hurt. Pretending it didn’t required more acting skills than Randy was capable of, so he didn’t bother. “Glad to know that’s the way you think of us.”

“Jesus, this isn’t about us. It’s about public perception. It’s about everything I’ve worked for going up in flames for something we all agreed was temporary. Fun and games, remember?” Tris gripped a handful of his own hair and shook his head. “This isn’t freaking fun anymore.”

“So sorry the party wasn’t to your liking.” Juliet slipped her hand into the one Randy had balled at his side. “Maybe we should just go. Obviously, we aren’t wanted here any longer.”

Perhaps it was because he knew Tris better, but Randy didn’t miss the bleakness that scrolled through Tris’s expression before he turned away.

“We don’t have to go,” Randy said quietly to his best friend’s back. “But you have to tell us you want us to stay.”

He waited for a minute. Two. When Juliet’s fingers trembled in his grip, he made the decision.

For her, he’d make the hardest choice of his life.

“Okay, we’ll leave.”

Nothing. No response at all. Tris had walled himself off and gone somewhere in his head where they weren’t invited.

Squeezing her hand, Randy led her to the door.

He had

to pack.

Chapter Twenty-Six

She’d screwed up everything. Worst of all, she didn’t have the slightest clue how to fix it.

If she even could.

Juliet and Sparks left Tristan’s loft in silence and stayed that way for most of the day. She brought him to her apartment and showed him around, letting him know that he was welcome to stay as long as he liked. He was clearly uncomfortable with that idea, and she wasn’t sure if that was because he didn’t like leaning on her in any shape or form or because he thought that being in her space for more than a night indicated another level to their relationship.

From how he’d behaved with Tristan, she’d believed Sparks at least wanted something more with her. Something bigger than sex and laughter and happiness—

God, the three of them had experienced so much together already. Even if it was mostly couched in sex, there was no denying they’d swiftly developed a real bond.

Well, she and Sparks had, she was pretty sure. As for Tristan, after what he’d said, she didn’t know anymore. He’d torn them apart with a few words. Then, when Sparks had thrown him a rope to take back what he’d said, he’d just shut down.

Your fault. That story wouldn’t have come out without you. Not at that time.

She kept trying to tell herself it was all for the best. She’d wanted to know where the guys stood, and now she did. Or she was beginning to.

Sparks had indicated he was all in. Tristan had intimated he was all out.

Awfully clear, really.

So when Sparks made some noises about needing to work on some paperwork for a show he’d agreed to help out with, she allowed him the out. He needed room to process. She got it. She did too.

They’d had the most amazing night and into the morning. She’d never felt more worshipped or cherished or—let’s face it—wild and dirty in the best possible way. Every emotion she’d experienced had been heightened by what they had done together.

What they’d shared.

She couldn’t call what was between them just sex anymore, no matter how dirty and raw the fucking was. Not by a long shot.

While Sparks worked on his paperwork, she sought solace in the same thing she always did. She dragged her Fender onto her lap and started running through Warning Sign’s setlist from The Fillmore, just so she had something to fill her mind. Music had soothed her since she was a child, and she especially depended on it in times of stress. This probably more than qualified.

The first time she’d ever been in love and she’d messed it up so royally that—

Her thumb stilled on the strings. Was she in love? Could she truly be in love with two men?

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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