Page 56 of Fragile hearts

“Please just let me say this,” he pleads.

I nod swallowing hard.

“Connor and I, as you know, have always been good friends, but a little over a year ago we started to become more. I helped him out a lot with Colton after Joey and Melissa died, and we grew into something more than friends. We—I…Fuck.” He drops his head into his hands, looking like he aged ten years. “We dated for six months, we spent most of our free time together, then about five months ago we broke up. Connor brok—”

I cut him off. “It’s none of my business why you broke up.” I lick my dry lips, tapping my fingers on the wooden table. “I know I haven’t been a good friend lately.”

“Don’t say that, you have always been a good friend.”

“You don’t have to lie, I know I haven’t been very present this year. And that’s on me. But you know what hurts the most?” His face falls. “You guys didn’t tell me, you lied to me for months. My brother and the guy who has been my best friend for fifteen years thought I would break them up.” I take a deep breath, staring into Killian’s eyes. “That hurts so fucking bad…Do you know why?” He doesn’t reply just lowers his head. “I wouldn’t care. I wouldn’t have given a single fuck. I mean sure it would have taken some time to get used to. But I wouldn’t care, you two are the greatest men I know—I know you would never do anything to hurt my brother.”

“I wouldn’t,” he promises his voice raspy.

“I know, but the fact that you didn’t trust me enough is what killed me.”

“We didn’t mean to, I swear. We were just so egotistical and in love I guess, that we didn’t think of the consequences of our actions, we were in a bubble where we thought that if we kept it a secret, it would last longer, but I promise you, Cars, I promise you, we didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“I want you to know that I support you and Connor. I wouldn’t sabotage your relationship, but I need to know, you said you broke up. Did you mean that, or is it like a break?”

“We’re broken up, I promise.”

I quirk a brow, remembering the glances Connor has given him, Connor definitely does not want to stay broken up.

Killian pauses, eyes flitting away from me.

I sigh. “Can you promise me one thing?”

“Anything.”

“Take care of him. I know you two aren’t on speaking terms, but he’s still my brother, unless he cheated on you—”

“He didn’t that’s not why we broke up.”

“Good, please don’t intentionally hurt him. I know it’s none of my business, but you two are my two best friends, and I don’t want either of you to be hurt.”

“I won’t, we’re going through something, but I would never hurt him on purpose.”

“Good, that’s all I ask for.”

“Are we okay now?” The conversation has helped, but the pain in my heart is still there, his betrayal is still lodged in my veins.

“Yeah.” He’s still my best friend. I won’t give up fifteen years of friendship just because he fucked my brother.

Holy shit. He fucked my brother.

He stands up from his chair, holding a hand for me to grab, I stare at it. God, I’ll never look at him the same again. “You fucked my brother,” I state hoarsely he gives me a sheepish grin.

“Technically he fucked me.”

“That’s even worse!”

Oh my god, I’m going to puke. I will never be able to look them in the eye again.

I lift myself from the chair, ignoring his stretched-out hand. I don’t want to know where that has been. He wraps his arms around me, pulling me in a hug. “I love you,” he says in my ear. “You are the best friend anyone could ever wish for, and I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you.”

Chapter Seventeen

Alexis