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As I wondered what story she’d told him about that ink, a possessive feeling came over me. This night felt like a turning point. I was kidding myself if I thought I could handle this dynamic. I hadn’t gotten over Wren. Not even close.
She’s fucking mine. She’s been mine this entire time.
So where did that leave me? I couldn’t do to Morgan what I’d done to Maren. I couldn’t marry someone I wasn’t completely in love with. I knew I was only headed toward repeating my history of hurting women I cared about. You can’t fall in love with someone when you’re already in love with someone else. Damn that was a hard thing to realize when the person you loved was currently in the arms of another man—and when you’d sworn you could never be with her anyway.
When the dance ended, I needed a breather. I excused myself to the bathroom. Long after I took a piss, I stayed at the sink, staring at the man in the mirror and hating myself for what I now knew was coming. I had to figure out how to end things with Morgan. I was about to hurt yet another woman I cared about because I couldn’t control my feelings. With Maren, my sin had been not loving her passionately enough. With Morgan, my sin was secretly loving someone else.
I loosened the bowtie around my neck and prepared to head back out there. As I exited the bathroom, Wren was waiting outside in the small hallway. Her face was as red as her dress.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
She shook her head. “I’m having a hard time.”
“I thought you were happy.”
“Well, I’m not. I’m just a better actor than you are.”
My heart sped up. “Things aren’t going well with him? It’s all an act?”
“They’re going as well as they could be. But you know this isn’t about him.” Wren took a deep breath. “Did you really think I could just come home and switch you off that easily?”
“I wished you could,” I said.
“Well, I can’t. I can’t switch you off like it seems you can with me.”
“Is that what you think?” I looked into her eyes. “You’re wrong, Wren. So very wrong. Have you not seen it in my face tonight? I haven’t been able to take my eyes off you.” I looked out toward the ballroom to make sure no one was coming. “All I fucking do is hurt people,” I whispered.
“You don’t owe anyone anything, Dax. Not Morgan. Not me. Not even Rafe. You owe it to yourself to be honest about how you want to live the rest of your life. Because life is short.” She started to cry.
Fuck. My mind raced. Maybe I needed to tell Rafe. Maybe that was the only solution. Then almost as soon as I had the thought, I began doubting it was right. But I couldn’t live like this anymore, and I needed to do something. No matter which decision I made, someone was going to get hurt.
I nodded. “I’m gonna figure this out, Wren. I—”
“What’s going on?”
Morgan’s voice was jarring.
She looked over at Wren. “Why is she crying?”
I’d been looking out toward the ballroom for Morgan, but she’d appeared from a different direction altogether.
Wren nor I said anything. I hoped my face didn’t look as guilty as hers.
Wren wiped her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she said as she rushed past us to return to the ballroom.
Left alone with Morgan, I knew this was it.
I’m not gonna lie to her.
I won’t lie.
I’m done fucking living a lie.
The look of suspicion in Morgan’s eyes grew with every second I remained silent. We stood facing each other.
“Are you going to say anything?” she finally asked. “What the hell is going on?”
“We need to speak in private.”
She raised her voice. “No. You’ll tell me right here. Right now.”
“Outside on the veranda,” I insisted. “Please.”
She reluctantly followed as I headed for the French doors. When we got outside, I didn’t waste time as I came out with it—the truth.
“Before she went to Europe, Wren and I…were lovers.”
Morgan’s mouth slowly opened. “What?”
“I know you’re shocked.”
She looked ready to explode. “Does Rafe know about this?”
The mention of his name made my chest hurt. “No.”
Morgan grimaced. “How could you get involved with his sister?”
The air was chilly, but I wiped sweat off my forehead. “It’s more complicated than a simple answer. She and I connected before Rafe knew she was his sister. It wasn’t something I planned. Wren and I are both adults, and it just happened. We ended things before she left because we felt it was the right thing to do.”
She crossed her arms protectively. “And you never thought to tell me this little factoid?”
“I didn’t want to hurt you. That’s all there was to it.”
“Finding out like this was better? Catching you in a lovers’ quarrel?” She huffed. “So…what—why was she crying? She still wants you?”
