No.No.He wouldn’t.
From the smug smile Max was wearing, apparently he would.
My heart ached. Fuck, ithurt.
“You’re lying.” I took a shaky step back, preparing to run to Dominic and make him force Max to admit his lies. “Dominic hasn’t told you anything.”
“See, that’s where you’re wrong. Me and Dominic? We tell each other everything.” Max’s lips twisted in a sneer as he took a step closer. “I know he spends every night in your bed. That you kissed for the first time after Amy’s party. Hell, I even know he fucked you in that B and B after the festival.”
Smack.Pain radiated up my arm as my knuckles connected with his cheekbone.
Max raised a hand to his cheek in disbelief.
I stared at him, my chest heaving as I thought about doing it again. “You’re lying.”
But he wasn’t. That was why he’d shared those details. Because there were only two people alive he could have learned them from.
And he hadn’t heard them from me.
I struck him again, ignoring how my fist screamed in protest. Max cursed, shoving me aggressively. “Hit me again and I’ll hit you back, Ryan. I swear to fucking god.”
“Do it,” I snarled, my chest bumping against his. This fury was ugly, but it was better than the pain. I grabbed it with both hands and refused to let it go. “Hurt me, Max. It’s all you’re good at, after all. We both know that’s why you’ve signed up. You’re shit at everything else.”
It was a low blow, I knew, but I took it regardless.
“I may be shit at everything, but at least I have one thing,” Max said softly. That should’ve clued me in, but it didn’t. “I’m the one Dominic truly wants.”
My brow furrowed. “What? No he doesn’t.”
“Sure about that?” Max said again, mockingly this time. “Dominic spends all his time with me. Up until a few months ago, it was my bed he slept in. Not yours. I’m the one he’s in love with, but I’m straight.” Malice shone in Max’s eyes as he continued. “Good thing I’ve got an identical twin who’s not so straight. Makes it easy for him to pretend it’s me who’s under him. Me who’s moaning his name.”
I should have punched him again. I pictured doing it, but couldn’t get my arms to move.
“Doesn’t bother me.” Max shrugged, putting his hands back in his pockets. “It did at first, but then I realised that it’s better he’s fucking you than anyone else. At least I know he won’t ever choose you over me.”
“You’re sick,” I whispered. “Sick and wrong. Dominic loves me. Me. Not you.”
The look he gave me was almost pitying. “Then why is he going away with me and leaving you behind? Face it, Ryan. It’s never been about you and Dominic. It’s always been about us.”
Memories flashed through my mind. Dominic grinning at me in the early morning light. Dropping a blueberry muffin onto my lap. Holding still for hours while I sketched. Encouraging me to chase my dreams rather than settling.
Calling me Shadow. I was his shadow. Me, not Max.
“You’re wrong,” I said steadily, when in truth I felt anything but. “We’re together. Him signing up doesn’t mean the end of us. We love each other.”
“If you say so.”
“I do say so.” I lifted my chin, forcing my lip not to wobble. I wouldn’t show weakness in front of Max. Not ever.
Max just laughed. “You’re so confident, but you know nothing. He’s lied to you the whole time. Stop paying attention to what he’s saying, and listen to his actions instead.”
Fuck Max. He didn’t know shit about us. “I’m going to him now. Don’t follow me.”
He shifted uneasily. “Are you going to tell him I told you?”
“Yes.” I didn’t owe Max anything. This conversation had proved that. I’d told him to hurt me, and he had. Far deeper than he should’ve been able to. “I don’t give a shit if he’s pissed off with you. You should’ve thought about that sooner.”
Dom should’ve thought about it too. If he hadn’t wanted me learning the truth from Max, he should’ve told me himself. God knew he’d had enough chances to.
