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His jaw hung low.
Of course, he was going to feign confusion. What did she expect? “I can’t do this. I told you not to come over. You need to go. We’re done.”
Tristan grabbed her and pulled her around. “What are you talking about, Stacey? Why are we done? What happened now?”
Stacey’s insides tore to pieces. Anger rose from her chest. “Does the name Carla sound familiar to you, or are you as shallow as your dipshit cousin, and girls don’t mean enough to remember?”
Tristan shook his head. “Carla? I don’t…”
She could tell he was digging through his memory. What. A. Dick. She didn’t think him capable of being a typical guy. She should have known better than to put him on a higher pedestal. He belonged on the dick level with the rest of them.
His eyes became enormous, and he pulled away just a little.
He figured it out. “See, you know her. Imagine my surprise when I was talking with some of the nurses at lunch and found out one got to know you last summer. Imagine how confused I was. You told me you haven’t been with another woman for over a year. August to now is just seven months.” Stacey had never felt this much rage and anger before.
“What are you talking about?” His eyes got wider, and his hands went into his hair. “What? You think I slept with her? I told you I haven’t been with anyone in over a year.”
She shook her head and walked away. “That’s not what she told the entire break room.”
“God, she’s lying.” His voice thundered. “She came to the house for some fundraiser. Adler invited some of the nurses to stay and party. We had too much to drink. She and I made out, but nothing else happened.”
She didn’t need a man. She didn’t need him. What if I’m as easy for him to forget about and throw away? “I can’t do this again. I’m done. Please go.”
Tristan breathed in deeply. “God, you’re being unreasonable. Again!”
Stacey held her own.
His nostrils flared. “Whatever. Call me when you want to talk reason.” He stomped to his car and peeled out of the driveway.
Kristen and Jacob pulled in close behind him, and Kristen jumped out of the car quickly. “Stace. What just happened?”
Stacey’s insides felt like they were going to split apart. Her heart ached something awful. Her throat was tight, and the throbbing in her head turned into a full-out banging. She waved her hands in the air, not able to get out words.
Jacob touched her arms.
Couldn’t these two just leave her alone? She finally got her composure. She put up a hand to calm herself. “Nothing that I didn’t expect. It’s over. Leave me alone.” She barely looked at them as she walked away.
Kristen tried to follow Stacey, but Jacob pulled her arm.
He shook his head. “Leave her alone. She needs time.”
Anger fueled Kristen. She felt it rise from deep in her belly. Stacey was always there for her. She needed to be there for her friend. “Jacob, she’s hurting, and I don’t know why.”
“I’m sure I do.” Jacob interrupted, and his gaze held hers, not letting her look away. “Her trust issues are screwing with her. She has to find a way to put her past relationship issues in the past. Until then, she will always look for something negative about her and Tristan’s relationship. She can’t find anything, so I know my sister. I’m sure she just made a huge deal out of nothing for the second time.”
Kristen stomped toward him. God, he’s infuriating when he’s in his I know better than everyone attitude.“Exactly, and someone has to talk to her.”
“I disagree. She has to grow up and see that not everyone’s going to hurt her. Not everyone is going to always leave.” He grabbed Kristen’s hands.
His face softened. “Kris, I love my sister. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be here with you. She saved me when I was at my lowest and never gave up on me. Now, she needs to save herself. We can’t do it for her. She can’t fix everyone and always nurse the world back to health. She needs to start nursing herself.”
Kristen dropped her gaze and looked at her toes. He was right. Stacey needed to take care of herself. Put herself first. “How do we get her to see that?”
“Well, for starters, she and I need to separate.” Kristen’s face scrunched up.What does that mean?“What?”
“I need to move out. I need to move in with you.”
Kristen’s heart leaped. Jacob won’t move in with her. She had already asked him. Many times. “I asked you to move in with me. You won’t live with a girl full-time until you’re married.”
