Page 16 of Shattered Oaths

“Bella’s here? She didn’t mention that she’d be coming to the ranch today.”

I shrug. “Her car just passed me on my way over, but I didn’t get the chance to speak to her.”

Bella and Daisy have been best friends for as long as I can remember. The pair were inseparable when we were kids and once Kilian started dating Daisy, the two of them would tag along with us everywhere we went.

It bothered me at first, having them follow us around all the time. I felt like I was losing my friend. Like he was replacing me with his girlfriend. But after a while, Bella and I built a friendship that made having them around a whole lot more enjoyable.

I’ve always felt protective of Bella, in some way. At first, I looked at her as more of a sister figure but as our friendship grew over the years, it evolved into something more than that. Something entirely opposite to brotherly. And I’m pretty sure Killian noticed too, because eventually he pulled me to one side and made me promise that I would never, under any circumstances, go near his sister.

What he doesn’t know is that I broke that promise years ago.

I’m not proud of the fact that I betrayed my friends trust and slept with his sister. If I could go back in time, I wouldn’t have changed anything from that night, but I would change everything about the morning after.

I hadn’t realised the gravity of the mistake I’d made until I’d dropped Bella home and returned to my bedroom. When I pulled my comforter off the bed to change the sheets and found the blood spot in the centre of the grey sheet, I knew I had royally fucked up.

I had no idea that Bella was a virgin that night. If I had known, I don’t think it would have stopped me. But I would have been gentler. I’d have taken my time and made it as special as she deserved it to be. I wouldn’t have pretended not to remember like a fucking pussy.

Daisy nods thoughtfully, the movement pulling me back into the present and reminding me that I’m standing in front of the very person I’m keeping so much from.

“I’ll finish up here and go over there.” She leans up on her tiptoes and kisses Killian softly before turning and disappearing back inside the tack room.

I look back at Killian. “Ineed a boy’s night, man.”

CHAPTER 6

BELLA

My stomach is in knots as I pass the main house of The Calloway Ranch and follow the dirt road around the main barn, ignoring the fact my brothers truck is tucked beside it.

He’s the last person I need to see right now.

I’ve gone over and over in my head about just how much of my situation I should share with Liv. I laid awake most of the night thinking about how many signs I’ve missed.

God, I feel so fucking stupid.

I feel like I’ve been so blind to the signs that have been in front of me for months. The more I think about it, the more I realise just how much I’ve dismissed.

My head is all over the place as I crest the hill leading to Liv and Grayson’s house. Noah’s black Ford comes into view and my stomach sinks as he slows to an almost stop.

I know he’s likely expecting me to stop and talk to him, but I can’t. Noah Calloway knows me better than anyone in this world and if I stop to talk to him right now, he’ll see itwritten all over my face. I’m afraid that if I face him now, I’ll break and spill it all to him. I know exactly how the conversation would go too. I would tell him everything, probably break down, and instead of sayingI told you so,he’d wrap his arms around me and tell me everything is going to be okay while silently plotting his revenge on Justin.

And the last thing I want him to do right now is get himself in trouble for fighting my battles.

So instead of stopping, or even acknowledging his existence, I keep my eyes trained ahead as I pass him and continue toward Liv’s all the while ignoring the pang of guilt in my chest.

The large barn conversion comes into view, and I check my rearview mirror, breathing a sigh of relief when I see Noah’s truck pull back onto the dirt road, kicking up dust as he picks up speed again.

Liv stands in the open doorway, a small form cradled in her arms and for the first time all day, my face breaks into a wide smile.

Liv and Grayson welcomed their baby boy into the world less than a month ago and I’m ashamed to admit that I’ve only met him once in the hospital. They named him Rueben after Grayson’s best friend who passed away when he was only twenty after a bull-riding accident. For the longest time after Ruebens death, Grayson closed himself off from the rest of the world. It’s a beautiful thing to see him finally get everything he deserves, and he couldn’t have found a better woman than Olivia Donahue.

I pull off to the side of the house and park before reaching into the back seat and grabbing the gift I’ve beenmeaning to bring over here since they got home from the hospital. Just seeing it makes my guilt deepen further.

I’ve been the shittiest friend to walk the planet recently.

“Hey, Girlie,” Liv calls as I climb out of my car, the baby hamper I put together cradled in my arms.

“Hey,” I grunt in response, blowing a stray hair out of my face.