The silence on the other end of the line was deafening, but I couldn’t stop now.
“I’m in love with her.” It came out like a confession. “I’m so in love with her it terrifies me. I didn’t plan this. I didn’t want this. I fought it hard, not because of her, but because I knew what it would cost. I knew I could lose you, and that’s been killing me. But I can’t pretend anymore. She’s everything to me. She’s my whole goddamn world.”
More silence.
“There was one rule.” Jax’s voice had gone quiet now, which was somehow worse than the yelling. “One goddamn rule between us. We don’t fuck with each other’s family.”
“I know.”
“And you just… What? Decided it didn’t apply to you?”
“I would never risk our friendship for just a fuck. “
“But you did risk it, didn’t you?” The anger was seeping back in, mixing with something that sounded like hurt. “You risked twenty years of friendship, and what happens when you hurther? Because that’s what you do. That’s your pattern. Remember Cam? Remember how that turned out?”
The reminder stung, exactly like he intended it to.
“This is different.”
“Is it?”
“Yes.” I let out a heavy sigh, running my free hand down my face. “I’ve never loved anyone the way I love Harlow. She’s not a distraction, a mistake, or some impulse I couldn’t control. I would burn the entire world down for her, and if you made me choose…” I swallowed hard, forcing myself to say something I never thought I would have to say to him. “If you made me choose between you and her... I would choose Harlow. Every single time.”
Silence.
Long enough that I thought he might have hung up. My heart started hammering against my ribs, waiting for the verdict.
“You’re my best friend, Jax. You’ve been my brother in every way that matters for two decades. But Harlow is my soulmate and I can’t… I won’t give her up. Not even for you.”
A long exhale on the other end of the line.
“The worst part is that I actually believe you. I believe you think you love her. I believe you think this is different. But we all know your pattern. We all know this is what you do.”
“Jax…”
“I don’t want to hear it. I can’t do this right now. I can’t listen to you talk about how much you love her while I’m still trying to process the fact that my best friend betrayed me.”
“I didn’t betray you. I fell in love.”
“Same fucking thing.” A bitter laugh that held no humor. “You know what? I hope you’re right. I hope this is different. I hope you don’t destroy her the way you’ve destroyed every other relationship you’ve ever had.”
“Jax…”
The line went dead.
I stared at the phone like I just lost my best friend in under ten minutes. Harlow’s footsteps crossed the kitchen floor toward me.
“Owen.” My name came out as a whisper. “That was...”
“He hung up on me.” I managed a weak laugh that sounded more like a sob. “He actually hung up on me.” I knew he was going to be angry, but I really thought he would see how much I loved Harlow and understand.
Her arms wrapped around me from behind, her cheek pressing against my back.
“He’ll come around,” she said softly. “He just needs time.”
“You don’t know that.”
“No.” She squeezed tighter. “But I know Jax, and I know you. Twenty years of friendship doesn’t just disappear because of one phone call. He’s hurt. He’s angry. But he loves you.”
