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The boys have been awfully quiet, and I wonder if they butt heads often. Kid gives me a kind smile. “Don’t worry about her. She’s just an uptight bitch.”
“I can see that.” I don’t see the point in arguing.
“I guess she’s just jealous.”
“Jealous?Of what?”
My blood pressure begins to spike, and my palms grow clammy. “Kid, shut it.” Felix subtly shakes his head, but it’s too late.
“Why would she be jealous?” When the three men remain silent, looking at the other sheepishly, I know whatever they have to say can’t be good. “I’m sure Saxon mentioned how stubborn and persistent I could be.” He seems to have told them all about me, so I have no doubt he’s mentioned my pigheadedness.
Kid and Felix keep their gazes peeled to the ground, but Hogan finally spills the beans, knowing I won’t let this rest. “She’s jealous that Saxon chose you.”
What in the actual hell?
“I didn’t realize there was a choice to be made.”
“There wasn’t,” he quickly clarifies, which has me feeling an iota better. But that soon evaporates. “She’s always been sweet on him, and I guess, one time…he eventually gave in. He never told you?”
“No, he did not,” I reply, internally counting to five.
“There’s nothing to worry about, Lucy. Saxon is a changed man.” And that’s what scares me. Just what sort of man was he before he changed?
I thought coming here would allow us to escape the skeletons in our closet, but it appears when one door closes, another opens and out spills a comrade, ready to remind us of the sins of our past.
The house is calm—but it’s a false comfort.
Once we left the garage, Saxon showed me the sights of Oregon, but my mind was elsewhere, like what exactly “giving in” to Cleo meant. When I asked him if everything was okay, awaiting an explanation, he simply shrugged and said Cleo was a pain in the ass and not to listen to a word she said. That’s it. No explanation as to why she was treating me like public enemy number one.
I wanted to ask, but he has respected my privacy, so I guess it was now my turn to do the same. Sadly, that mindset lasted for roughly an hour because when we got back to his house, he went quiet and avoided me. I decided to unpack, giving him the space he clearly needed, but when I found him out back, having a smoke on the balcony, lost in thought, my understanding came to an end.
His silence has me filling in the blanks, and those blanks involve graphic images of him and Cleo—naked. Oh god, I think I’m going to be sick.
I’m pacing the bedroom, unable to even look at the bed, too afraid of what my very vivid imagination will conjure up. I’m already on edge, so when I almost bump into Saxon, unaware, I yelp, placing a hand over my racing heart.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” He stands by the door, a smart strategy if he needs to make a quick exit.
“It’s fine.” My voice is flighty. So is my mood. I’m waiting for him to finally open up, but he leaves me sorely disappointed.
“The boys just texted. They’re heading over now. I’m just going down to the store to grab a few things. Need anything?”
That’s it? Really? We’re just going to ignore the big, fat elephant? Hell no.
“What I need is for you to tell me what’s going on.” Tact left me about three hours ago.
Saxon sighs, running a hand through his hair. “What do you want me to say?”
“The truth,” I counter. “I have no idea what happened today. Please talk to me.” He leaves his hand atop his head as he appears to weigh what to say. But it shouldn’t be that hard. “Your silence is worse than anything you could say.”
A strangled grunt catches in his throat. He’s clearly annoyed I won’t let this go. “I didn’t tell you because it meant nothing,” he finally shares, spreading his arms out wide.
“Didn’t tell me what?” I want to know everything, no matter how gruesome.
“Do you really want the details, Lucy?” he barks, brushing past me. “I’m sure you can figure it out yourself.”
I chase after him, annoyed. “I just want to know why your friends think Cleo is angry with me because you chose me over her.”
He shakes his head, jaw clenched. “They’re wrong. There neverwasa choice. It hasalwaysbeen you! Don’t you get it? I have been in love with you since I was sixteen years old!” I take a step back because his anger almost burns me.
