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“Let’s get you someplace safe, okay?” Trey says quietly, looking at me with a frown.
I know he can see the panic in my eyes, and he gives me a warning look that tells me not to run. He knows me so well because that’s all I want to do: push them both away. Run from all these emotions that are choking me. Be a coward.
Trey lifts Charlie into his arms and carries her to the car, placing her gently in the back seat. I hear her whimper as he releases her. He reaches into the front console and grabs a bottle of water, handing it to her. Then he presses a chaste kiss to Charlie’s lips and says something softly before turning back to me. His stance stiffens with anger as he takes in my expression.
“Don’t you fucking dare,” he hisses, his voice breaking. “I have played the middleman between you two for weeks because Iknowhow you feel about her. She needs you right now more than ever.”
I look down, my lips flattening into a hard line. “She has you, and you’re what she needs.”
Trey lunges for me, and I stumble in surprise when he pushes me until my back hits a tree, the rough bark biting into the nape of my neck as his forearm presses against my throat.
He’s shorter than me, but only just, and his eyes flare with rage and hurt. “You need to make a choice right now, Evans,” he growls. His face is so close that our noses graze. “You can man the fuck up and accept that you’re in love with her, and despite all that you’ve done, she still wants every damaged piece of you.” He takes a shaky breath, baring his teeth. “Or you can break her heart and walk away, but understand you’ll be breaking my heart too, and youwilllose us both.” His voice cracks, and his eyes redden as tears slip from the corners. “You’re my best friend, and I love you, but I love her too, and I know what will happen to her if you leave. None of us can come back from that.”
I swallow thickly as all the fight leaves my body and shame washes over me.
“I…I don’t want to leave,” I say, a sob crawling up my throat. “I want to be strong enough for you both, but I’m so fucking scared I’m not. What if I’m not enough?”
Trey’s arm drops from my throat, and without his weight to steady me, my knees almost collapse. Then he’s catching me, hugging me like he did the night my mom left. Like he’s strong enough for the both of us.
“You are enough, Link. You always have been. You’re everything. To both of us.”
I let Trey hold me, burying my face into the crook of his neck as I break. All of my anger, pain, and regret drain away. And he accepts everything as I cry against his skin, cradling the back of my head, holding all my shattered pieces together. He holds me until there’s nothing left and I can take a full breath. Movement over Trey’s shoulder catches my eye, and I see Charlie sitting up in the car, watching us with a somber expression.
“You good?” Trey asks, his hands cupping my face to redirect my gaze. He seems satisfied with what he sees.
I clear my throat, rubbing my cheeks with my fists. “Yeah,” I say roughly. “Let’s get out of here. I’ll drive.”
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
CHARLIE
The car ride is quick, and I barely have time to register the misery I feel before we pull into the garage of an impressive mansion.
The garage itself is huge, full of fancy-looking sports cars and motorcycles, and even a boat. I stare out the window blankly after we stop until Trey’s gentle hand on my elbow captures my attention.
“Charlie? Are you okay?”
I look up at him. “Where are we?”
“We’re at Link’s house.” Trey studies me with concern, and Link turns in the driver’s seat, his eyes dark and unreadable, all emotion from his earlier turmoil carefully hidden.
I don’t know what to say. I’m not okay. I don’t normally admit that easily, but sitting here with Trey and Lincoln watching me makes me feel raw, and I don’t want to hide anymore—at least not from them.
“No,” I say honestly. My voice is barely audible even in the heavy silence of the car’s interior.
“Maybe we should take her to the hospital,” Trey says, looking up at Lincoln.
“No,” I say quickly. “I’m okay. And it won’t even matter. Remember the other girls from campus? I just want to sleep. Please.”
Lincoln gives a tight nod and exits the car. He opens my door, reaching in to help me out, but I involuntarily flinch back toward Trey, and I’m confused when I see the hurt on his face. Logically, I know this wasn’t his fault, but the irrational drunk feelings I had at the bar have burrowed into my brain.
If you had just wanted me the way I want you, this would never have happened.
Trey’s gentle hand on my back eases me out of the car and then his strong arms scoop me up effortlessly. I bury my face in the warm skin of Trey’s neck, feeling his pulse against my cheek. He smells like beer and a spicy musk that’s distinctly his, and I inhale it shamelessly, allowing the tension to finally leave my muscles.
I’m safe.
I hear Lincoln’s footsteps follow us into the house, and I peek over Trey’s shoulder at him. He meets my gaze. He looks so lost. Guilt is a sharp pain in my stomach because I feel lost too.
