Tears fall from her eyes. “I wasn’t thinking. I saw Reggie pull up, and I only wanted to hurt him as much as I was.”
“And inflicted that same pain on me,” I say, voice flat.
Jerica flinches. “I didn’t even consider that.”
“You never really considered anyone else, did you? You and David both act without considering the fallout. There’s hope for you, Jerica. You’ve owned your selfishness and decided to change. Your brother still has far to go.
I step away from the sink and slide past her to open the door. Alek’s hand is poised where the handle would be, and I raise a brow. “Were you about to come into the ladies room?”
“You were taking too long, and I didn’t see her anywhere. Had a feeling she’d corner you.” He cups my chin to hold me in place. “Are you good?”
“I’m good, Alek. Promise.” I push him back and step out, holding the door open so I can see Jerica. “I’m not your enemy, Jerica. I never was. Yours and David’s biggest enemy will always be the person you see in the mirror.”
The door closes between us, sealing the closure I’ve needed for so long.
“Where is my sister?”
His growled words send goosebumps up my arms. David looks worn and haunted, like his demons might drag him under at any second.
“She’s in the bathroom,” I tell him softly.
“Why isn’t she out here? What the hell did you say to her?” he snarls, stepping closer to me.
Alek maneuvers between us, his own lip curled back as he pushes David away. “Stay the fuck out of her face. You speak to her in that tone again and you’ll be lucky to speak at all.”
“What’s your deal with me?” I ask quietly, moving out from behind Alek. “You acted this way during our entire relationship. You never tried getting to know me. Yet you stand here acting likeI’mthe one who hurt your sister.”
David scowls. “I don’t have an issue with you.”
Alek goes to speak, but I place a hand on his chest to stop him. I overheard Alek’s confrontation with him when he broke off his friendship. This time, it’s my turn to have a say.
“That’s what you say. Question. Did you know I was in a relationship with Alek?” He just stares at me as if he doesn’t understand what I’m saying. “Did…you…know…that I was in a relationship with Alek? The man you called a best friend.”
“You were together for three years. Of course, I knew.”
I nod at David. “So, you’re just an asshole then. And honestly, not a very good best friend. Let’s be real here. Do you know how to do that? Be real? No worries, I do. So, stick with me through this. Alek was the reason for the demise of our relationship, but you and Jerica played your part, didn’t you? You enabled them both. Your sister says jump and you ask how high. You never stop to consider the ramifications. Hell, Alek wasn’t much better. They used each other for their own selfish reasons, and you aided them.”
“I tried getting him to see what he was doing,” David growls.
I cluck my tongue. My hair swishes against my cheeks as I shake my head. “Did you really, though? Because if my best friend was pulling stupid shit that could hurt her relationship, you best bet I’d be setting her straight, and I wouldn’t do it subtly.”
David’s face goes even darker as his chin tilts stubbornly. “Not my business to do more than I did.”
Jerica was right. They both have issues they need to work through.
“Then you weren’t his friend. Friends want the best for each other. They want each other to be happy.” I shake my head. “Whatever you all were, David, it wasn’t friends.”
“She’s right,” Alek agrees, scrubbing a hand over his face. “Hell, as much as I hate to admit it, none of us were good friends to each other. It took me losing her to see how fucked up I was.How fucked up we all were. We were all going to crash and burn eventually, man. Do you really want to continue living your life with so many demons riding your back?”
“Fuck you, man,” David spits. “You’re really doing it then. Burning our friendship to the ground for this bitch?”
The crack of Alek’s knuckles smacking against David’s cheek drowns out Jerica’s shocked gasp. Alek draws back to hit him again, but in a stupid move, I step between them and wrap my arms around Alek.
“You’re damn right I’m going to burn this friendship to the ground now. I’ll burn the whole fucking world down for her. Look at you, David. Calling someone—calling my woman—a bitch because you don’t like the truth in my words? Right now, this version of you is not someone I would ever want to know.”
Alek pulls his gaze from David and puts it on me. The anger turns to a simmer as concern takes its place. He grasps my chin, gently lifting my face. “Are you okay, baby girl?”
I smile. “I am, Casanova. His words don’t hurt me because he’s irrelevant.”
