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For once, I do the right thing and pull away from her. I know if I stay, I’ll regret my decision come morning. I leave the room and go outside to think.
Opal fighting for us proves she won’t let go of the idea of us working out. Ignoring her hasn’t worked. Being a dick hasn’t worked. Telling her it’s over hasn’t worked. I’m not strong enough to stay away from her, and I feel my resolve slipping.
It’s becoming more difficult to justify leaving her when all I want is to claim her as mine for always. As much as I may want Opal, it doesn’t excuse how wrong I am for her. I need to do something that will obliterate any hope she has. The longer I put this off, the harder it will be for both of us.
Night turns into morning, and morning shifts to evening, with me still mulling over how to end things with Opal. I’m sitting on the couch, deep in contemplation, when Candy saunters into the living room, looking for a willing crew member to sink her teeth into. Eagle and Stage are too involved in a drinking game to pay her any mind. The rest of the crew is outside enjoying a bonfire.
A light bulb goes on in my brain, sparks flying like a live wire. It’s wrong, so wrong…
But it will do the trick.
Opal has been uncomfortable with Candy’s continued advances toward me, amped up more so when discovering I’ve fucked Candy multiple times in the past. Playing on her insecurities is a surefire way to push Opal far away from me for good. With her falling out of love with me, it’ll force me to stay away from her.
It’s near the time when Opal finishes her baking projects for the evening. She’ll be making her way back toward the bunkrooms to get cleaned up for the night. There’s a brief window of time to make this happen.
Without giving it a second thought, I stand from the couch and hold out my hand to Candy. She arches an eyebrow at me, placing her hand in mine. She comes willingly, but her eyes are trained on my face with her brows pulled together.
The timing works perfectly as Opal emerges from the kitchen. She freezes when she spots the two of us hand-in-hand. Candy is too busy looking at me to notice we’ve been spotted. My gut twists, but I keep my face stoic as I hold Opal’s stare, acknowledging I see her hurt but don’t give a fuck.
Before my resolve slips, I move briskly to the bunkroom. I feel Opal’s cool blue eyes throwing icicles through my cut and into my heart. It spurs me to move faster.
As soon as the door is closed behind us, I engage the lock. If that doesn’t send a clear message, I don’t know what will.
Candy looks confused as hell. She opens her mouth to speak, but I raise a finger to my lips. Thankfully, she listens, remaining silent.
Seconds later, I see a shadow block out the light from underneath the door. The handle jiggles, but the door can’t open.
Candy looks between me, the door, then back to me. Her eye bug out. “Are you kidding me?” she mouths.
I press my finger to my lips again, reminding her to remain silent. These walls are paper-thin. I don’t want Opal thinking that anything other than Candy and I having sex is happening.
A choked sob echoes in the hallway, shattering my heart into million fragments. Unable to hold back my emotional onslaught, my eyes pinch shut, fighting to hold in my tears. I’m shaking as the pain I caused hurts not only Opal, but me as well.
I’m sorry, Gorgeous. But you deserve better.
Opal’s footfalls quickly retreat, growing quieter as she disappears from the hallway and my life.
With her gone, I sink on the nearest bunk, my face falling into my hands. My shoulders shake violently as I fight my sobs from escaping.
“What. The. Fuck. Gauge?! What did you get me involved in?”
My eyes snap up to Candy, remembering I still have to address her. She deserves an explanation and an apology.
Candy looks flaming pissed. She has every right to be furious when she never had a say on whether she wanted to be mixed up in my drama.
I hold up my hands. “Let me explain.”
“Don’t bother,” she hisses, remaining rigid in her attack. “You used me as a goddamn scapegoat out of your relationship with Opal. Do you realize the amount of shit I have been taking from everyone in the club after the last time I fought with her? Ebony and Red have been up my ass for weeks. The guys want nothing to do with me anymore. How well do you think this is going to go for me when the club finds out you hurt Opal by—although false—fucking me? Atlas will throw me out.”
“I’m sorry, Candy. I’ll make sure you’re allowed to stay in the club.”
“Like I’m going to want to stay when everyone hates me,” she throws back in my face. “I need the club’s protection as much as Opal does, and you fucked me over.”
“Yes, I used you, and I’m sorry. I’m trash, I know. But Opal would not let go of hope unless I gave her a reason to give up on me.”
“So, use me? Why not pick up some woman from a bar? Someone who doesn’t have ties to the club?”
I shake my head. “I don’t think it would have had the same effect. Opal forgives to a fault. It had to be someone who has hurt her, someone who hates her.”
