She knew what she was doing. I didn’t.
I had told him he could do this, fuck around. But I didn’t think he’d actually do it. I thought he’d be loyal to me. But I had pushed him away, and apparently, I had pushed him straight into Heather’s welcoming arms.
I felt myself sway, losing my balance.
Max saw it and immediately reached for me.
“Trouble,” he breathed out, stepping toward me, panic flashing in his eyes. “It’s not what you think?—”
“Isn’t it?” I whispered, my voice barely holding together. The ache in my throat burned like betrayal. “Then say it.”
He looked like he wanted to say something, but couldn’t. He was slow, too slow. Max was a smart guy and usually quick to defend himself. But right now, he looked defeated, scared even.
Rhett shifted uncomfortably.
“Didn’t mean to start anything. Just trying to figure out who’s off limits here.”
Max turned on him with the slow precision of a lethal killer.
“She’s notfuckingavailable,” he growled.
Rhett raised an eyebrow. “Could’ve fooled me.”
That was it.
For a moment, I thought Max was going to lunge, drag Rhett under until he stopped breathing. But instead, Max turned sharply, water splashing as he stormed out, muscles tight, shoulders bristling with fury he couldn’t unload.
I didn’t follow because he hadn’t denied it. And I washeartbroken.I wanted to grieve, run away, hide, but as always, fear was watching me. It was always watching me, waiting to torment every single small piece of happiness I had left.
Like a nightmare rising from the deep, Jackson stepped into view. His presence sucked the warmth from the air. The air emitted a loud, screeching cry around him.
He didn’t speak right away. He just watched me with a smile too sharp to be human, his eyes glinting like he’d been waiting for this exact moment. To get me alone.
“Lover’s spat?” he asked, his voice velvet and venom combined. “Looks like you touched a nerve.”
He then turned to Rhett. “Get lost.”
I barely registered his words. My mind was stuck in a loop.
She said you guys hooked up tonight.
Max was a damn good actor. He had fooled me. He had made me think we were something more; that we were meant to be together. Why would he tell me he loved me?
“You new here?” Jackson asked, voice low and threatening.
Rhett blinked, disarmed by Jackson. “Yeah, Rhett. I’m?—”
Jackson cut him off. “Right. Rhett. Just so we’re clear—” He got close. Close enough for the threat to be unmistakable. “Mackenzie is my property. I own her.There are some other boys here claiming she is theirs, but don’t be mistaken; a man actually takes her. Me. Don’t ever fucking look at her again if you want to keep breathing.”
“Dude, chill.”
“I am chill.” The danger in Jackson’s eyes was cold and terrifying.
Rhett held his hands up and took a step back. “Alright. Got it. Jesus, Mackenzie. You sure get around. Everyone has a claim on you tonight.”
Jackson didn’t say anything, but I could see the darkness in his eyes. He finally turned to me, his eyes dragging down my body with possessive heat.
“Nice bikini,” he murmured. “You always did like being the center of attention.”
