Page 119 of Scoring Lessons

Somewhere along the way, I’d made myself believe that if I was difficult to love, I couldn’t afford to be too particular about who I was loved by.

THIRTY-ONE

WESLEY

YOU ARE SO OBSESSED WITH ME, AREN’T YOU?

I could barely breathe when Olivia finished speaking.

There it finally was. The whole truth. And though it shouldn’t have shocked me in the least, I couldn’t help it.

She turned, the warm water shifting between us. She studied my whole face, her eyes alarmed. “You’re shaking.”

I stared at my hands. Yeah, I was.

I got out of the bath and dried myself in record time without saying a word—not because I didn’t want to, but because I couldn’t.

“Wesley.” Her voice was filled with concern as she followed after me.

I grabbed the first sweater I found inside my closet and handed it to her. I still couldn’t speak.

She dressed herself as I put on a pair of boxer briefs. “Wesl⁠—”

“I am so fucking angry right now,” I breathed out. “It’s taking everything in me not to get on a plane to New York right now and kill him.”

She was in front of me in record time, her hands gripping the back of my neck, forcing me to look at her. “He’s not worth it.”

I hated how angry I was. This was the time I needed to show my strength. I shouldn’t have been breaking down at the thought of Olivia being treated so poorly. Part of me knew he had to have done something terrible.

But to hear her say that not only had he stolen pieces of her, but also outright told her she didn’t deserve to be loved?

She deserved everything and more, and the thought of her being torn down by someone who was supposed to love and protect her? Fuck. Anger didn’t begin to cover the torment of emotions I was sifting through.

“I’m okay now.” Her smile was small, as if she were trying to placate me. “You don’t need to be angry for me.”

I tried to gulp, but it was no use. My throat felt tense. My heart was in a web of strings, being pulled too tight, too fast.

When I looked up, her lips were pursed in doubt. “But⁠—”

“No,” I said quickly, knowing what she was about to say.

“You can’t tell my brother,” she said quietly. “It’s none of his business.” Her blue eyes pinned me in place. “It’s in the past, and I don’t want to relive it. I told you because”—she gave me a one shoulder shrug—“I trust you.” Her gaze dropped to the floor. “I know he’s your best friend, but…” She let out a long sigh. “You’re kind of my best friend, too, Wesley.”

Those words were enough to undo whatever determination was coursing through my body.

I’d done that. I’d gained her trust, and the last thing I’d ever do was break something so precious between us.

Still, I was left angry and frustrated.

I brought her in for a hug, because I couldn’t bear being far from her. She embraced me without hesitation.

“I won’t tell him,” I said, my hands caressing one of her cheeks.

She leaned on my touch. “Thank you.”

“He didn’t deserve you,” I whispered. “I hope you know that.”

“I do now.” She studied my face, and the way she looked at me made the tightness in my chest loosen. “Thanks to you.”