I held my hands up in defense as my cousin stared at me incredulously as I rambled on.
"I should've turned her down, but she was turning it up a bit. You know what I mean -"
"What the fuck are you doing?"
The words died on my tongue at Barron's icy tone. His face was red in anger, and his chest was rushing up and down as he fought to control what I could now see was fury.
"Uh, well, I mean," I stammered, realizing I fucked up. "I know you have history with her, that you dated her. I just wanted to be honest that I slept with her, too, before you found out from some-"
"You think I give afuckabout Lissa and the fact that you fucked her?"
A shiver of unease trickled down me as a deep fear settled in my gut. "Well, because you dated her and-"
"You think I want to hear you talk to me about Lissa? With my fiancée lying in the other room?"
I closed my eyes against my stupidity. Of course, Barron didn't want to hear about the woman he had cheated on Eden with. But, Jesus, that was years ago. We were all kids.
"Sorry, I wasn't thinking-"
"No, you never do," Barron coldly replied.
I reared my head back in shock at my cousin's tone.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"You know how Lissa and even Maria treat Eden, yet not only do you come into our home and mention her name, you even bring Maria to our engagement party? Why the fuck did you think that was a good idea?"
"I - uh, I didn't - I - I just-"
"You've made no effort to get to know Eden again. The only time you come into town is to accept party invites from us or to get your dick wet when you're bored of whoever you're fucking in Helensville."
Now it was my turn for my temper to flare. "Hey, that's uncalled for, man."
"But still true," Barron snapped. "Eden's reached out numerous times to invite you to family parties and dinners, and the moment you get your belly full, you're off to get laid. Do you know how many birthday dinners and parties you've had over the last few years that you've invited us to?"
I breathed heavily as the enormity of Barron's words hit home.
"Zero," he roughly supplied. "That's how many."
"I just invited you two out for lunch." Yeah, the argument sounded weak to me, too, but my cousin's hard truths were starting to weigh on me.
"Yeah, after you came over here to borrow shoes after Maria kicked you out of her place. Let me guess? She found out you were fucking around with her best friend?"
"Why does everyone think we were a couple?" I ground out in frustration.
"I didn't. Because I know that you're too self-absorbed to-"
"Barron."
The softly spoken chiding of his name rang out against the heated atmosphere, causing us both to turn in the direction of the voice.
The anger on Barron's face drained as he rushed towards his fiancée. "Baby," he softly murmured, covering her body with his.
It was then I noticed that Eden was bare-legged with just a long t-shirt covering her slim frame. Normally I would shamelessly check out a beautiful, scantily clad woman, but I felt no such inclination to do so. Not because she was my cousin's fiancée and it was wrong - but also because...it felt wrong regardless.
I watched as Eden spoke softly but firmly to Barron, rubbing his back in comfort to ease the sting of her words. His head descended to kiss her, and I quickly averted my eyes.
When a throat cleared, I lifted my gaze to my cousin. Barron's mouth was downturned in guilt as well as restrained anger.
