Regardless of what happens with that unpredictable woman, I can’t repeat the mistakes of my past.
“Okay,” Noel says, his voice reluctant.
My knee bounces in a fit, but I push through it.
“I don’t want to have lies between us again. I saw her this weekend at Tybee Island.”
He glares, and his body tenses.
I swallow hard and contemplate the best way to say it, but I’m not a shrink. There’s no way to soften it.
“I fucked her.”
He keeps staring. Thinking. His hands ball into fists.
“I’m sorry, man,” I add, my voice as sincere and remorseful as I feel.
A beat.
“Say something,” I urge.
He scoffs, his eyes narrowed. “I thought we agreed not to go after her!”
I rub the back of my neck, feeling like I screwed up. “I know.”
He shoots to his feet. “So much for brothers first, huh?” Then he rounds the coffee table, storming off to his room.
All I can do is say words I don’t want to repeat, even to myself.
“Noel, I’m sorry, but I’m in love with her. Okay?”
He takes a few more strides, but his paceslows. He turns to face me.
I can’t look at him and veer my eyes. I hate saying that shit. Quickly, I hold up my phone.
“She’s supposed to text me tonight and tell me if she left Blake.”
“She is?” he whispers, stepping closer. “When?”
“Soon. It’s dark out. I don’t know how much more time she needs. She’s had all day.” I lean back into the cushion. “But it’s Morgan. You know I got no chance in hell of her actually leaving him.”
I peek over at my brother. His anger seems to have faded some. His head hangs as he returns, dropping onto the couch.
“You could preach,” he mutters, as though he wants to help me.
“I can’t lie on a stage.”
“Come on, bruh. I’d lie all damn day to have Morgan.”
I take a drag of the blunt, wishing it’d make me feel better. It doesn’t. I’m too amped. I check the phone.
Nothing.
I rest my elbows on my knees and stare down at the carpet. Why’d I have to fuck her? She isn’t gonna call. I just need a text. Something. This not knowing anything is gonna drive me insane.
“Jack, you didn’t kill Mom. She’d be sad you quit believing.”
My stomach drops, and my eyes blow wide.
