Page 66 of Rattle the Cage

My lip curled as her boot mucked up my pristine floors. “You’re going to stain shit.”

“Seriously?” The scoff was punctuated by Nash making her bloody self comfortable in one of my leather chairs. “What’s your fucking deal?”

“It’s not insane to wish you’d shower before⁠—”

“This isn’t about your furniture, dude. Are you ever going to apologize?”

I crossed my arms over my chest, “What do I have to apologize for?”

But the cock of her brow told me that we both knew exactly what was happening.

Nash leaned forward, elbows resting on her knees. “I saw the way you looked at her. Back at the truck. In the kitchen. I don’t want to watch you fuck this up, Cy.”

I couldn’t help my stubborn urge to deny it. “You got your toy back. What else do you want from me?”

“Oh my god, I’m not talking about me. Although, it would be nice if that was enough of a reason for you to stop being an asshole.”

My nose wrinkled at the insult. I wasn’t sure what hurt me worse: having it lobbed at me by one of my closest friends, or the fact that I knew she was right.

“Well isn’t that lovely,” I growled. “I’m so glad you get your fairy tale fucking ending. Where do I fit into your story? Maybe I can be the monster on the hill. She still needs someone to hate, right?”

Nash could act shocked all she wanted, but it didn’t change the truth. I’d seen the horror in Tess’ eyes on the hunt: the way she trembled as I smashed that pig’s head in. She thought I was a monster. Any glimmer of excitement that I thought I’d seen was a desperate projection from my forlorn psyche. I’d be a fool to believe in the mirage.

With a sigh, Nash rubbed at her temple. “Look, I owe you an apology too. It wasn’t fair of Blade and I to lay all of the blame on you last month. You might have done a number on the girl, but you weren’t the only reason she was staying away. I can see that now.”

I couldn’t calm the spite in my tone. “Whatever. Everyone else gets off so fucking easy.”

“No.” Her expression hardened, “We apologized. We made things right with Tess, just like I’m trying to do with you. Just like you’re going to have to do if you ever want things to go back to normal — if you ever want Tess.”

Her name made me bristle. Fear gripped my heart knowing how easily Nash could see through me.

Because the truth was, I did want Tess. I was fucking obsessed with her. And the only thing that scared me more than the idea of losing her was what might happen if I actually had her.

Could I be trusted? Could she?

Between my uncle and the fuckheads at Heirs, I’d learned one lesson very early: it wasn’t safe to be myself. Not around anyone other than Nash and Blade.

And especially not around the bitch who turned me in.

But ever since that night in the fucking pirate’s cove, everything I thought I knew had turned on its head. None of the evidence had changed, but the feeling in my gut had.

“How could I want the girl who ruined my life, Nash?” I bit my lip, but the unspoken question still lingered between us.

How could you?

“I’m not sure that she did, Cy. And I don’t think you’re convinced either.”

“It’s the only thing that makes sense. She was the only one there besides us. If she wasn’t the one who outed me, then who…?”

“I don’t know,” Nash sighed. “But maybe we don’t need to have all the answers. I don’t know how it happened, but I know Tess is telling the truth. I know you’re all facts and logic and cold calculation, but at some point, you’re going to have to learn how to trust — even if you can’t prove what really happened. Otherwise, your obsession is going to rob you of any chance at real happiness.”

My lips turned down as I took in the weight of the assertion. Nash’s logic was clear, but emotions had never been my strong suit.

Standing, Nash stretched her arms over her head. “I’ve lectured you enough for one night. Just take some time to think about it, yeah?”

I nodded silently, prompting Nash to cock her head to the side. “Are we good, Cy?”

“Yeah,” I murmured. “We’re good.”