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Go to Maddie.You’re better off with her.
Scar’s words are on repeat in my head, and no matter how loud “Bother”by Stone Sour is blasting in my ears, they don’t drown out the sound of her voice.
How can I be better off with Maddie, if it means being without Scar? There’s no way. My mind can’t even comprehend the possibility of a life without Scar.
Maddie doesn’t have my heart, Scar does.
I need her like I need air.
The music suddenly stops, warranting a glare at Jagger. “What the fuck, dude?”
“I can’t think with that shit playing.” He pulls out a stool beside me and takes a seat. His elbows press to the center island. “You been up to see her yet?”
My response is a point-blank, “Nope.”
“She knows you’re here now. So what’s up? Not ready to see her?”
Jagger and I came here to find out if it was true. Sure enough, Scar was right. Maddie’s here, alive and well.
I pinch my eyes shut, trying hard as hell to remember what Maddie looked like before the fall. I try to bring her smile to life in my head. Grasping at straws for a feeling that doesn’t exist. For years, I tried to feel something other than friendship for Maddie. She’s got all the qualities any guy would love, but she’s not Scar. In the past, I looked at each day as more time to bide while waiting for Scar, but now, I can’t do that. I won’t pretend anymore.
Neo walks into the kitchen, and Jagger and I share unspoken words with just a look.
“You both look like someone fucking died. This is a celebration. Not a funeral.”
I spin around in my chair, glowering hard at Neo. “Should be yours.”
His hands clap to his chest as he smirks. “So, you two can share her, but I can’t have a turn?”
Jagger shoves his stool back and gets on his feet, and I do the same. Three steps bring Jagger nose to nose with Neo, as I follow, taking his back. Neo curls his fingers, egging Jagger on. “Oh, you wanna fight me for her? I dare ya.”
“Fight you for her? I’ve already got her, dickhead.”
“No, you don’t. In fact, neither of you do. If I remember right, she dumped your asses before jumping into bed with me. And now that she’s had a taste, she’ll want more. They always do.”
I’m watching Jagger’s right fist in slow motion as it meets Neo’s left cheek, sending his head snapping to the side. He didn’t even see it coming, which makes this all the more satisfying.
Jagger and I are alike in many ways, but I have the ability to keep my cool. Him, on the other hand, he has no chill when it comes to anyone treading on his territory. In this case, that territory being Scar. He’s pissed at her, but he’s more hurt than anything, and he expresses his pain with rage and violence.
Neo, who usually backs down in an attempt to diffuse any situation like this with me or Jagger, retaliates this time. His arm locks around Jagger’s throat as he holds him in place with Jagger’s back to his chest. He’s got enough pressure around his neck to shoot Jagger’s eyes wide. He opens his mouth, fighting to breathe.
I position myself in front of Jagger, grabbing Neo’s arm and trying to break his hold. “Let him go, man. You’re gonna kill him.”
“Why? So he can sucker punch me again?”
I’m not one to fight, or take sides, but it’s a long time coming when I cock my fist and land a shot on the same cheek Jagger just did. Neo loses his hold on Jagger, who crouches over, catching his breath.
Neo’s jaw clenches as he grazes his cheek with his fingers. “Of course you two would gang up on me. Have for years.”
“Gang up on you?” I laugh under my breath, tapping both sides of my head. “Are you fucking delusional? Do you see what you’ve fucking done?”
“Oh yeah. I’m the asshole for trying to protect my sister?”
“This isn’t about Maddie, Neo!”
“Isn’t it, though? Isn’t Maddie where this all begins and ends?”
“No,” I huff. “Not with me. Maddie isn’t my endgame. Scar is.”
