I thought we’d have more time before Duncan learned that we were dating. Considering that I see him all of three days a year—two holidays and a random birthday—I didn’t plan on being face-to-face with him so soon.
Seeing him in my entryway breathing fire, casting angry glances between me and Chloe?
Not how I saw my day going.
“So this is why you ran out on me?” Duncan huffs a breath.
“Do we really have to go over this again?” She’s exasperated. “You were cheating on me.”
“Clearly because you were cheating on me.”
“That’s not what happened,” I interject.
“It doesn’t look that way.” Duncan crosses his arms, taking a step closer to me.
“Dax, do you care to explain exactly what is going on?” Dad asks. “Because your brother has a point here.”
It figures they would take his side. They always have. It’s why I’ve never really gotten along with my parents—hell, any of my family.
“I don’t care what happened. Dax,”—Mom turns her attention to me—“you cannot be with this woman.”
“Says who?”
My annoyance at their presence turns to anger. Who do they think they are, coming in here and telling me who I can or can’t be with?
“Chloe left poor Duncan at the altar and ruined his life.”
“Oh, is that what he said? In his big ‘interview?’” Chloe spits out. Well, I’m guessing she saw that. No sense in hiding it.
“You’re the one that is lying, Duncan.” I take a step closer, but Dad steps between us. “Tell everyone else what they want to hear, what you want to believe, but we know the truth.”
“You only know Chloe’s truth.”
“And I believe her.” There is no doubt in my voice. Outof everyone in this room, I would trust Chloe over all of them combined.
“What happened to the tramp?” Chloe crosses her arms over her chest, the hem of the T-shirt riding up ever so slightly.
Damn it, I wish we had more clothes on right now. Again, wasn’t planning on my family showing up on my doorstep today.
“Chloe, is it really appropriate to be calling another woman that?”
“When she’s sleeping with my fiancé, I can call her whatever I want.”
I love that she doesn’t back down from my mother.
“Dax Thomas Fletcher.” Mom turns her ire to me. “It is obvious that you are the one that was cheating here. I cannot believe you would do that to your brother.”
“Stop it!” Chloe snaps. “We were not doing anything behind Duncan’s back. He was the one in the wrong here. Not us and I will not let you stand here and make us out to be the bad guys.”
“Are you going to allow her to talk to us like that?” Dad asks.
I pull Chloe next to me. “It depends. Who do you believe?”
“This is a conversation that needs to be had when cooler heads will prevail,” he says, the response not surprising.
“What, so they can get their stories straight?” Duncan throws a hand in our direction.
“Fuck off, Duncan. There’s nothing to get straight because we’re not lying about anything.”
