The words should have meant something, should have sparked something inside me other than anger. Instead, I locked the screen, refusing to let myself be pulled into whatever game she was playing.
“Seriously, how much do you plan on doing?” Brigham moved closer, eyeing me like I was a bomb about to go off. “What are you so mad about?”
“Being played,” I muttered, breath still heavy from the run.
Brigham arched an eyebrow, then had the audacity to laugh. I snapped my glare toward him, my body already on edge, already coiled too tight. His laughter faded fast.
“By Michelle?” His voice lost its teasing edge, replaced with something careful. “You actually think she played you?”
I didn’t answer, just slowed the treadmill to a walk, my lungs still burning as my frustration curled tighter around my ribs. The truth was, I didn’t know what to think anymore. The past four days had been a storm in my head, my thoughts spinning in every direction, latching onto every worst-case scenario.
Brigham shook his head, muttering something under his breath. I hopped off the treadmill, moving toward another machine, but he stepped in front of me, blocking my path.
“Would you get off that thing for one goddamn second?” His voice was sharp now, like he was fighting to keep something in.
I glared at him, my muscles aching, my breath still uneven. “What is so fucking important?”
“Let me ask you something. If someone you cared about was threatened, what would you do?”
I scoffed, running a hand through my sweat-damp hair. “What kind of question is that?”
“Just answer it.”
“Fuck, I don’t know. I’d protect them.”
Brigham didn’t flinch, didn’t waver. “Would it be safe to say you’d lie? Do whatever you had to do, even if it meant hurting them in the short term?”
The question landed harder than I wanted it to. My jaw clenched as I exhaled through my nose, my body still too wired from the run, from everything. “Obviously. If it meant keeping them safe, I’d do whatever it took.”
Brigham nodded, lips pressing together like he was debating his next words. “Would you ever blame someone for doing the same?”
Something inside me stilled, my pulse hammering in my ears. My anger didn’t cool, not yet, but a sliver of doubt wedged itself into my mind. “What are you trying to say?”
“She will literally kill me for this,” he muttered, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “But think about her family, Brooks. Think about what kind of people they are.”
I went still. “Why would you say that? What do you know? Did something happen?”
Brigham hesitated, but it was long enough for my brain to start piecing things together. Had she called him? Was he in on this? What the hell was going on? Was she safe? Did I even care? My mind was scrambled, and my heart pounded even harder than it had on the treadmill.
“She’s doing what she thinks is the right move,” Brigham finally said, voice steady. “I told her it was dumb and that she should stay with you?—”
I barely heard the rest of his sentence. One thing stood out like a flashing red light.
“She’s with you?” My voice came out low, dangerous. “Why the fuck is she staying with you?”
Brigham’s brows lifted slightly, but he didn’t back down. “Look, man, she let you believe what you wanted to believe. She said she tried calling you, and honestly, I didn’t believe her. But you took it so damn easily.” He scoffed, crossing his arms. “That’s your issue, not mine. She’s upset, okay? She’s doing what she thinks is right.”
“None of this makes sense.” I paced, pulling at the ends of my hair, frustration clawing its way through me. “Let me believe? She’s upset when she’s the one who lied to me?”
Brigham just watched me, his expression unreadable. “You sure about that?”
The words stopped me cold.
Because no. I wasn’t.
“To protect you, dumbass. Look.” Brigham exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down his face like he was already regretting opening his mouth. “I shouldn’t have said a damn thing, but I’m not going to sit by when she’s hurting and worried, and you’re clearly not fine. There is no fucking other guy, man. It’s her family. They found her. They threatened you, your mom… fuck.”
My stomach dropped, the words punching through my anger like a sledgehammer to the ribs.
