He thought pulling back from her would give him clarity. Instead, it felt like a missing limb. The distance between them was like a physical weight on his chest. Pure torture. Her sleepy smile in the morning, her laughter as they passed each other in the hall, her soft weight against him as they watched TV—it had all vanished. Now all he had was her enduring silence and her shut bedroom door.
And like blood in the water, others started circling. He saw it, the way guys at school lingered near her locker, hovered in the shadows like sharks scenting the cracks between them. Their eyes followed the curve of her jeans like treasure they’d never been privileged to look at before. Like this may be their chance.
What's worse—she let them.
She used to flash those tight, dismissive smiles. The kind that saiddon’t even try itin the politest of ways.Now? It was different. The gates were wide open, and Ebony was standing at the threshold, looking those fucks dead in the eye with a smile that felt like the gates of heaven were opening just for them. Making them believe they had a shot. She had already been a goddess—a work of art crafted by God himself—with tight curves, soft curls that begged a man to run his hands through them, and a smile that lit up the room. But now, now, she returned looks with a smile edged in a challenge and it was devastating. Like aprayer sculpted in flesh and breath, she was turning every man in her wake into fools, and him into something worse.
Gavin watched it all with something black and vicious crawling under his skin. Because she wasn’t just letting them look, she was daringhimto react.
Rage twisted in his gut. Sitting back in his seat Gavin breathed heavily through his nose. Then he caught it, a flash of blue. Powder blue against dark skin caught his eye. Her curly hair pulled up in a ponytail, Ebony jogged up the private drive from their house. She crossed the street, kept her pace for a few more steps, then turned and waved at someone.
Gavin closed his eyes for a moment, already knowing who he was going to see. Cameron jogged down the opposite street. Gavin watched them exchange smiles and fall into step, moving in sync as they jogged.
Stone still, Gavin watched their forms shrink down the block, a cold fury tightening his muscles until he thought he might snap the steering wheel off its base. He could envision himself breaking every one of Cameron's fucking fingers. One by one. Smiling at the pain he caused, the suffering in his eyes.
Closing his eyes, Gavin leaned back and breathed. He was trying to do the right thing. But she was slipping away.
But that was it, wasn't it? Gavin opened his eyes and stared at the spot where they disappeared. Because she wasn’tjustslipping away. She was being stolen.
He wasn't sure how much longer he could stay away.
Chapter sixteen
Around him lockers slammed and wet footsteps echoed down the shower hall. With each passing minute they faded, one less person occupying the locker room. Swim practice was over. And thank God for it, Cameron thought with a roll of his shoulders. He was fucking tired.
He was in the back standing near a bench with his towel slung around his waist. His damp hair was still dripping down his neck, while the steam from his shower still clung to the air.
With most of the guys clearing out of the locker room, Cameron paused when he heard the door open. Heavy. Intentional.
Something in him told him to turn around and look. Like some sort of a primitive survival alert. He let out a curse under his breath when he saw him. Cold unnaturally blue eyes stared back at him from across the room.
Gavin didn’t speak. Just stood there for a moment, eyes sweeping the room with a slow deadly patience that set Cameron's nerves on end.
Finally, his wintery eyes settled on two guys loitering near the sinks. “Out,” Gavin commanded.
They didn’t argue. One glance at his face and they scrambled out, probably thanking God they were dressed and not forced to leave in a towel.
Nowit was just the two of them.
Cameron didn’t move. Didn’t bother reaching for clothes. He straightened, his arms loose at his sides. “Seriously?”
Gavin took a step forward. There was a deadly calm about him that made Cameron's gut clench. “What did I tell you?”
Cameron didn’t say anything. He was sick of Gavin acting as if he had the final authority of everything. They were friends not master and subordinate. They never had this dynamic before—not until Ebony.
“I told you to stay away.” He said quietly, pouring a wealth of scorn into his words.
Cameron shrugged and averted his gaze. “Yeah, I heard that. Still doesn’t make sense.”
Gavin’s mouth curved, but it wasn’t a smile. “Ah. An understanding issue. That’s good," he said with mock relief. "I was starting to think you were just tanking our friendship on purpose.”
Gavin stepped closer and Cameron cursed himself for not dressing faster. If this crazy bastard fought him it was going to turn into a dick-out type of brawl real fast.
“Tell me, Cam. What’s the part you’re confused about? I’ll clear it up for you.” He glared at him, his cold eyes glittering.
Cameron exhaled through his nose. “The part where you’re acting like you own her. She’s yoursister. Not your girlfriend.” He made sure to emphasize the word knowing it was the wrong move even before the words finished leaving his mouth.
Gavin’s expression hardened, his jaw tightening. “You are not dating her," he said evenly.
