Page 69 of Vexatious Queen

“Okay…technically, it is what it looks like. But the situation is not what you think. I didn’t take anything, and that isn’t mine, but it is cocaine”

He ran his hand through his hair and looked genuine, but he was so good at hiding his addiction that it was hard to tell.

“I realize, as I say that out loud, how lame and guilty that sounds, but it’s true,” Blake said, sounding desperate.

Theo stood, his body tense.

“Are you kidding me? After mom and dad…Blake, I just…I can’t deal with this. Consider that a fucking self-centered thing to say, but it’s the truth. I may look calm, but I’m barely holding myself together.”

Blake put his hands on his hips and stared at his brother.

“I swear it’s not mine and I didn’t use.”

“But Myles just said he found it in your bag,” Theo growled, his body shaking so much that Liam reached out and grabbed his hand.

“Yes, it was in my bag, but it’s not mine. Why are you automatically thinking the worst of me?”

“Because trust is really fucking hard to earn back, and we all know that things have been extremely stressful lately. I really wanted to believe we were past this.”

“We are…I’m not using again. Listen to me for a minute before accusing me,” Blake said, the frustration bleeding through his words.

“I just can’t believe this,” Theo growled and jerked away from Liam as he started to pace.

“You really think that I’d use again after all my hard work? After everything that has happened to our family. Do you really think I’d do that to myself? To everyone? Especially you?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know what to believe,” Theo yelled. “I want to trust you, but…”

Blake crossed his arms.

“But you can’t,” he yelled back and shook his head.

“Theo, please give Blake a chance to explain,” Ren said, coming over to stand beside Blake and me.

“He doesn’t want me to explain. He just wants to make assumptions and act like I’m still the weak link, just like the rest of you. Don’t think for a second that I can’t see the judgment in your eyes,” Blake said.

“If you’re innocent, then why are you so defensive,” Theo asked.

“Because you’re my brother, and of everyone here, you are supposed to have my back. Instead, you are sitting on your fucking high horse and glaring down your nose at me like you always do. That’s why.”

Nash whistled, and we all looked at him as he removed his two fingers from his mouth.

“That’s enough, Theo. Sit down,” Nash ordered.

Theo walked around the couch and crossed his arms, quietly refusing to sit.

“I want to hear what Blake has to say,” Nash said, while watching Theo. “He says that the baggie isn’t his, fine, benefit of the doubt given. Ren is right, we need to hear Blake’s side of the story before flying off the handle.”

Nash gave Theo a sit-the-fuck-down glare, and he finally did. You could’ve knocked me over with a feather. Was this really happening? A year ago, it would’ve been Nash that we were trying to calm down.

Blake seemed just as stunned as he stared at Nash.

“You really want to know?”

“Yes. I believe you. But I want to know why you have it, because there is obviously an explanation. Just saying, it’s not mine, and expecting us to go along with that is not acceptable,” Nash said, and Blake’s entire body relaxed. “So, the floor is yours. Tell us what happened.”

“Thank you,” Blake said with a sigh and ran his hand through his hair. “Let me start by saying that I planned to tell all of you this when it happened on Thursday, but Theo and I went to see my dad that night, and Nash was at Volatile until late. Then Theo was at the office right after school on Friday with Liam, and Myles had the game against Sacred Heart. This is the first time we’ve all been in the same room, privately.”

I held the baggie out to Blake, but he shook his head.