I tightened my hands on the box. “What are you doing here?” I walked straight to my door and took out my keys to unlock the door. Brandon trailed after me.
“I came here after Rick told me you were at home sick.” He looked back to Sterling’s car that was just starting to back out of the driveway. “But you weren’t here.” He watched Sterling drive away. “Where were you?”
I popped the door open and dropped the box inside, shutting the door before Brandon tried to go inside. “I went and grabbed my mail from the school. Apparently, I had a bit built up, and they called to see if I wanted it before they tossed it.” I turned back to face him. “Why did you come here if you heard I was sick?”
He smiled. “I wanted to take care of you.” He stepped into my space and kissed my lips, but I couldn’t kiss him back. Rowan’s words flashed through my mind.I love you.
I put a hand on his chest. “I appreciate it. But have you figured out the Shannon issue?” I pushed him away. “You keep showing up when I’ve asked you to keep your distance until it’s been handled. I don’t want to hurt her.”
Nix snorted. I love that you keep using Shannon as an excuse not to touch the scum bag.
Megan snorted.It really comes in handy. The man is a bastard.She sniffed.The funny thing is, he still has the scent of our mate, but it’s faded. And it smells like it turned. Gone rotten somehow.
Nix smelled.He smells like rotten apples to me.Megan just nodded.
Rotten like his soul. She snorted.
“Amy.” He tried to grab me, but I held my hands up to keep him at arm’s length.
“No, Brandon, I’m serious.”
His eyes darkened. “I’m working on it.” He wrapped an arm around my back and slammed his lips to mine. There was a growl at the back of my throat, but I caught the sound of a car stopping in front of the house, so I held it back. There was the sound of the door opening. And then a gasp.
Shannon was standing at the bottom of the driveway. “Brandon?”
He whirled. “Shan.”
I wiped my face as he whirled to face Shannon. Her eyes burned and I could smell her devastation. “How could you?” Her words seem to hit him like physical blows. She turned to me, but I held up my hands.
“Don’t look at me like that.” I called to her, and she fumed. “I told him he had to make everything very clear before our mating ceremony.”
Brandon spun to face me, anger and something else I couldn’t pinpoint on his face. But it was Shannon’s choking that had him spinning back. “Your mating ceremony?” She looked between us. “You two are still holding the ceremony?” She stumbled back a step before her eyes raged. “Is that true?”
Brandon looked back and forth between us, and he settled on me, pleading. “Amy…”
I laughed. “I knew it.” I scowled at him. “If you love her, then mate her and keep me out of it.” I snarled as I turned back to the house.
“Wait!” Brandon screamed as I slammed the door open.
I turned back. “What? What the fuck are you going to say?”
Shannon growled. “Don’t talk to him like that.”
I turned to Shannon. “I love you. I’m sorry for any part I had in this.” I looked at Brandon, who was looking between the two of us. “I would have never agreed to becoming his girlfriend or mate if either of you had just been honest with me.” I forced some tears into my eyes. “I was trying to avoid this exact fucking scenario.”
Shannon laughed. “You love me? Bullshit.” She screamed, drawing more people outside. Good, let them see this. Brandon looked around and realized we were gathering an audience. “You don’t fucking love me.” She kept screaming. Her hair was flying everywhere as she tossed her head. “If you loved me, you would have never dated my boyfriend.”
“Let’s calm down.” Brandon attempted to defuse the situation.
I laughed this time. “He’s your boyfriend?” I faced him. “I fucking knew it.” I stepped up to him and poked his chest. “You said she was just someone to pass the time with. That in truth you talked to her so you could get close to me and then you guys got close. Isn't that what you said?”
He looked back at Shannon, who looked devastated. “Did you say that about us, Bran?”
Brandon backed up a step. “What, of course not.”
I laughed. “So what? Now I am the one lying?” I snarled, but I turned to Shannon. “I know we hated each other growing up, but I need you to think clearly here.” She glared back at me. “Did I ever give you any fucking inclination that I secretly likedBrandon in school?” She shook her head. “Exactly.” I turned back to Brandon. “I never wanted you. But you chased me. You made me believe that you and Shannon were done. You told me you had already told her how you felt. And now look at us.” I flung my hands out. “We are less than two weeks to OUR mating ceremony and I have to deal with this.”
Shannon scoffed. “Your mating ceremony? You didn’t even plan it.”
