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“I wanted to. But it wasn’t about what I wanted.”

I step between him and the car. He grabs me and physically moves me out of the way.

I reach past him, slam the hood shut, then plant my ass on it.

Jameson’s stare turns lethal.

Try ignoring me now.

“You made me hate you.”

“I tried.” His eyes shine down at me. “Didn’t work how I expected.”

Jameson didn’t hit me. Theo did. Everyone’s best friend, Theo.

It’s breaking my brain. I’m questioning every conversation, every judgment. He was protecting his family. Which doesn’t stop his lie from hurting like hell.

“Do you know how much I hated you for that? How much I hated myself for wanting you, even though…” I swallow.

“You lie when it’s convenient,” he retorts.

“I did what I had to.”

“So did I.”

We stare one another down, neither of us willing to concede.

He takes me in for the first time, my white tank top and jeans, the sweater I grabbed on my way out the door. After talking with Theo, I didn’t stop to check my appearance.

One moment he’s standing over me. The next he’s following me down onto the hood of the car, my shoulders pressing into the fiberglass.

“How do you think your father feels when you lie to him?” His breath mingles with mine.

“Okay, ouch.” He’s not trying to be cruel, and that’s the worst part.

His eyes soften. “Theo was always my little brother. I didn’t realize until later how much it mattered that my mother wasn’t his. She tried to treat him like he was but couldn’t unsee our father’s cheating. And Luca…ignored Theo.

“Until Theo took an interest in racing. That’s when Luca realized he could use Theo to get to me. To make me better.”

“It didn’t work,” I say, quieter. “You protected your brother.”

“I swore I wouldn’t treat him like that.” His voice cracks slightly. “His whole life, he was an afterthought for everyone who was supposed to love him. Including me.”

I’m shaking my head.

“Until you,” he goes on. “He wanted you and I would have been the best brother in the world not to come between you.”

This stupid family, this entire legacy. Falling for Jameson Ashford is a dangerous game.

“I have a say in who I’m with,” I inform him. “You don’t get to decide whether to ‘give me’ to your brother. Do you ever think about what I want?”

Jameson takes my face in both his hands, his eyes wide and clear. “All the fucking time.”

Fuck.

Right when I think I can keep some distance between us, he tears down every wall I’ve built. Makes me want to give him all of me, the rough parts, the ugly ones, the ones I’m not proud of.

I fist a hand against his chest and he winces.