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My head snapped in his direction and expression fell, but only for a moment.
Marissa was Brian’s wife. There was no way in hell I would ever think about her in that way, let alone touch her.
“Marissa?Brian’sRiss?”
“Yeah,” Brandon said with wide eyes. “She’s the piercer. She’s the only girl who works here.”
“Fuck that. No,” I said quickly. “It wasn’t her. And when did she start working here?”
Brandon gestured toward the building, but his expectant look faltered. “About a year or so ago.”
“Jesus.” I dragged my good hand over my face and fought a shiver. “Just the thought, man.”
“Few weeks ago, that would’ve been your reaction to Harper.”
I braced myself against the onslaught of memories and forced myself to meet his patient stare. “I’m sorry for the other night.”
A breath of a laugh left him. “I know you, Chase. You wouldn’t be doing this unless you genuinely believed that had been your life—that we were all lying to you. I can also see how this entire thing is tearing you up, and as much as I hate you even thinking about my wife, I hate this for you.” He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “I’m here for you, but I’ll sure as shit let you know when you overstep.”
“Good.” My chest pitched with amusement even as a frown tugged at my mouth. “It’s weird...I see it. I feel it. I feel emotionally attachedtothe memories. And everything in me is screaming to get back to that life. But it wasn’t until I was in the bathroom with Harper that I realized I don’t actually feel anything forher.”
Brandon’s eyebrows raised, his expression a perfect mixture of relief, amusement, and intrigue. “Maybe because the real girl in those memories has been right beside you this entire time,” he said knowingly, and I listed my head.
Refusing to agree or disagree with him when my mind was still so twisted.
“Yeah, Scarlet’s something,” I muttered instead. “But that’s why I need to talk to Brian. He’ll know if I did something to her. He’ll tell me the truth.”
“The fuck,” Brandon said with an offending huff, his next words leaving him on a teasing breath. “Good to know where I stand, asshole.”
“No, it isn’t that,” I said quickly. “You’re family. You know that. But with this?” I gestured to him. “Brandon, all of this shit revolves around us and your wife. Brian is completely removed from it. Not only that, but if everything was the way you’ve all said it was, I don’t know if I would’ve told you if I cheated on Scarlet.”
Brandon’s eyebrows drew close in irritation and hurt, but he just waited for me to continue.
“She still goes surfing with you even though I’m not there, so she’s clearly close to you. You can’t tell me she wouldn’t have found out.” Without giving him time to argue, I continued, saying, “As ridiculous as Brian is, the guy’s a fucking vault. And the memories I’m currently dealing with have me going to Brian foreverythingsince it involved Harper.”
“So, you think you went to him,” he said in understanding.
“If it happened,” I corrected. Drawing in another breath to continue, I let it free instead. Hesitating for a moment before I finally confessed, “He and Riss have been texting and calling, and I’ve been avoiding them, and I’ve had no idea why I would even want to. This might be my reason why.”
Brandon nodded before whispering, “If you cheated on her...”
“I know,” I mumbled.
“Do you?” he challenged, studying me like he was trying to figure out what exactly was going on between Scarlet and me.
“I’m starting to. I hardly know her, and I’m already racked with guilt over the thought of cheating on her.” Reaching for the handle, I popped open the door and said, “Thanks for the ride.”
“Chase,” he called out before I could shut the door, and I turned to see him leaning over the console. “I’m here, man. Clearly,” he said on a laugh. “Something happened? I’m fucking here. I would’vebeen there, even though, yeah, I would’ve made sure Scarlet found out...from you.”
I dipped my head in understanding and gratitude, then closed the door and turned to take in the building in front of me before finally heading inside.
Memories, real and twisted and who-the-hell-knew-what blasted me as soon as I walked through the doors, and I let them consume me for the seconds before my nickname rang out through the shop.
“Chach!” The relief and excitement in Brian’s voice forced a smile to cross my face that faltered when Marissa’s trembling voice echoed from the back.
“Chachi?” She barreled down the hall and nearly dropped to a crouch when she saw me standing there. “Jesus, you asshole.”
A sharp breath burst from me just as Brian stepped up to me, arms spread wide.
