Julien
It’s Sunday evening. Liz left our condo and moved back to her apartment this morning. I miss her already. Ryder is planning to stay with her at her place for the foreseeable future and Jayson is practically fuming. I know he and Ryder called a truce while Liz was here, but I don’t think that’s going to last much longer. The brewing storm is about to rain down and I’m getting tossed between the two of them in a boat with no paddles. When it comes down to it, will I back my brother or my best friend? I guess the answer to my question comes down to Liz. I will more than likely back whatever she wants, and she wants Ryder.
I’m still torn, though, because I will never give up on Jay. He’s my twin, my other half. And right now, he’s hurting. The shit that went down on Tuesday night lingers over us like a persistent gray cloud. Liz had a daughter. My brother’s child. My niece. I am so goddamn angry right now. Angry at Daniel for keeping it a secret. Angry at Jay for kicking Liz out of our house that night. Angry at myself for not stopping her from leaving. Angry that my relationship with Elijah was the reason Jay was mad at her that night. Angry at the man who hurt her and her family. Angry at fate or destiny or whatever the fuck it is that keeps messing up the lives of the people I love.
Elijah and I watch from the couch as Jay restlessly paces around the condo, waiting for Ry to return. Ry texted us an hour ago saying he was coming back to grab some things to take to Liz’s, and I texted him back to warn him about Jay’s mood. My eyes track Jay and I know things are about to go down. I feel it. Elijah feels it, too. But I’m not going to sit by and watch my brother ambush my best friend. So I wait and I watch.
Jay stops pacing and I sit up straighter when we hear a key turn in the front door. The thud of my pulse feels like a doomsday clock counting down. Five… the turn of a lock. Four… the opening of the door. Three… the sound of the door closing. Two… Ryder’s footsteps on the laminate wood floor. One.
“You and I need to talk,” Jay demands. Ryder stops in front of the open archway between the kitchen and the living room.
“Say what you need to say, Jay.”
Jayson doesn’t say anything. Instead, before Elijah and I know what’s happening, Jay flies forward and smashes his fist into Ryder’s face. Ry stumbles to the side but doesn’t go down, a trickle of blood oozing from his cut lip. Elijah and I are up and pushing between the two of them before Jay can get off another shot.
I make my choice. I stand in front of Ryder and face my brother. “Stop this shit, Jay.”
Jay tries to push past me, but Elijah checks him. Ryder acts like nothing happened and walks into the kitchen to get a chilled bottled of water. He places the cold bottle to his mouth and leans back against the fridge.
“That’s the only shot you’re getting, Jay. I hope it was worth it,” Ryder tells him. “You said you wanted to talk, so talk.”
Elijah softens his grip on Jay’s arm. “You good now?” he asks him before releasing completely. Elijah stands beside my brother, shoulder to shoulder. I guess he has chosen sides as well, and I scowl at my boyfriend. He and I are going to have our own talk later tonight.
Jay wipes his knuckles down his jeans. I can tell that he hurt his hand punching Ry. He may not fight like Jay does, but Ryder’s built like a fucking brick shithouse, so I know Jay’s hand must hurt like hell. Good.
“You’re a piece of shit, you know that Ry?” Jay spits out.
“You’re fucking kidding me, right?” Ryder scoffs in disbelief. “If memory serves correctly, not too long ago, I poured my heart out to you about my feelings for Elizabeth, and you ran off in the night and stole her away.”
“I couldn’t steal something from you that was never yours to begin with. She chose me, Ryder. Not you.”
Ryder’s eyes narrow and heat, his usually light brown eyes charring to an ominous black. “And now she’s choosing me,” he replies gravely.
Jay takes a menacing step toward Ry but stops himself. I’m afraid of the half smirk that forms on his face and I know he’s about to go for the jugular.
“I made Liz a promise and I will not go back on that promise. But know this – she will never be truly yours. I was her first love. Her first kiss. Her first time.” Ryder flinches. “She was going to marry me. Spend the rest of her lifewith me.” Jay’s voice breaks. “We had a daughter together.”
He pauses, spearing Ryder with a gaze full of spite and menace. “Her memories are coming back. She’s remembering, and there is no kiss, no touch, no word you will ever say that will prevent her running back to me the minute she does. Liz is and will forever be mine. It’s only a matter of time. So enjoy your second chance while you have it, knowing I’ll always be right here waiting for her and you’ll be the one left alone once again.”
It breaks my heart when I see Ryder’s slight tremble at Jay’s vitriolic words, each one like an arrow shooting straight through his heart. For the first time in my life, I’m ashamed of my brother. I want Ryder to say something, defend himself. Defend his love for Liz. But he says nothing because Ryder has always been the better man. I, however, am not.
“You have it wrong, Jay. Liz’s capacity for love is unbounded. She loved Ryder when she was with you, and not once did she stray even though her heart was split in two. She loves him. She wants to be with him. She chose Ryder. She will not run away from the promise her heart made to him, memory or no memory.”
“Babe, I have to agree with Jay. If Liz gets her memory back, she’s going to break Ryder’s heart.”
“I think you need to shut the hell up, E. You have no idea what you’re talking about. I know Liz. You don’t.”
“I have supported your feelings for Liz for years, Jules. I know you love her. But I trusted you. I trusted us. After everything I have done, everything I have sacrificed for you, you have no right to talk to me like that.” Elijah stares me down, hurt and emotional, waiting for an apology. One that I can’t give him right now.
“Fine. You know what? Call me when you want to discuss this rationally. You’re too involved, Jules. Between Liz and the pregnancy, you are way too tangled up in the hurt and sadness. You need to step aside and let Ryder and Jay settle things between them as they see fit without any interference from you.” Elijah cuffs Jayson on the back. “You need me, you know where to find me. Call me anytime.”
“Thanks, E,” Jay tells him. I remain stoic and watch my boyfriend walk out. It’s then I realize that Ryder is no longer in the kitchen. How the hell did he leave without any of us noticing?
Elizabeth
Ryder stalks in and my brilliant smile turns into a gasp when I see his swollen jaw.Goddamn it, Jayson! I knew things were going to explode between the two of them, but I hadn’t expected it to be so soon. It’s been less than half a day since I left their condo and came back to my apartment. Barely ten hours. I hope that whatever repressed feelings they’ve been carrying around the past week got rectified and that this stupid tug-of-war is over and done with. Jayson promised me our family would remain tight. He promised me. All I can do is wait and see if he breaks that promise.
I try to lighten the mood. “I hope you got in a good lick, too.”
