Page 23 of Forever Fighting
“I told you I didn’t want to see you.”
“I never agreed to that. I would have been here sooner, but I had a client to deal with.”
“Priorities are a bitch like that. Did you see your lover?”
He looks away, shame tinting his cheeks, and that’s another thing he didn’t think about. The fact that he has to see this woman regularly because she works for his company.
She makes a dismissive noise. “That’s what I thought. We’redone here anyway. I don’t want any of the things we bought together.”
“Braelyn, please don’t do this. We can figure this out. Just stay here and talk to me.”
She looks down at the floor. “I’m not sure what else there is to say. You told me all about her and your reasons for fucking her. The wedding is called off. Engagement over. I even returned the ring to you.”
A wounded cry wrenches from the back of his throat and he covers his face with his hands. “You called off the wedding?”
“My parents are managing it.”
“What about mine? They’re paying for a lot of this too.”
“Then you can call them and tell them what a lying, cheating bastard you are!” she screams at him. “Either way, I’m not marrying you in seven weeks. No fucking way.”
Jesus. I shouldn’t be here. “Do you want me to go?—”
“No,” she cuts me off. “I’m done with this.”
“Braelyn—”
“Don’t say my name like that!” She slashes the air in front of him. “You trashed three years together and over a decade of friendship because you suddenly realized you weren’t going to get more pussy in your life. There is no talking yourself out of that. It’s cheap and shallow, and I deserve better.” She steps toward him and gets right up in his face without touching him. “I deserve better than you. A man who prioritizes his needs at the expense of the woman he claims to love isn’t a man at all. Please do the honorable thing and respect my choice. We’re over.”
She walks out after that, and I can’t stop my prideful smile.
“I can’t do that,” he whispers hoarsely. “I can’t respect that.” His gaze casts up to mine. “You have to help me with her. You have to talk to her and help me win her back.”
Fuck. I stare bewilderedly at him. “Adam?—”
“No,” he cuts in urgently before I can argue. “You have to. Iwas there for you after you lost Nash in the water. I heard the whispers. I knew what people were saying. But I stood by you even though I lost my best fucking friend. So you owe me. Please. You have to help me win her back.”
Motherfucker. That punch hit me as none have before.
I wince and he winces in return. He knows what he just did. But he’s not backing down either. He’ll do whatever it takes to win Braelyn back. That’s what he’s telling me.
I pick up Braelyn’s purse off the counter and go to leave when he grabs my arm and stops me. “I won’t lose her.”
“You made your choices and now she’s making hers.”
I tear my arm from his grip, only to grab him by his collared shirt and hoist him up until he’s on his tiptoes. His hands reflexively grab my arms and cling. I want to hit him so fucking badly. I want to pulverize him for what he’s doing both to Braelyn and to me.
Instead, I shove him away, making him stagger back four steps before the wall saves him from falling on his ass. That’s how I leave him.
Only I already know he’s far from done with this.
8
BRAELYN
Ican’t believe I’m doing this. Even as the lyrics to Fergie’s “Glamorous” about flying first class play through my head and I dance along. I ain’t got no money and I should take my broke ass home, but Roman is leading this charge and for reasons beyond my comprehension, I’m letting him. Probably because I’m a wounded bird and hurt and fucking angry.
Over the weekend, Skylar and Quinn came over, and we took over the pool and sundeck area of Roman’s place. They brought me champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries—my favorites—and we played loud music and sang and swam, and it was so great. Hayes, Forest, and Crew were also over, but they hung out with Roman in the media room as our space was a no-dick zone.
