“Why on earth would you choose to say that now?!”
“Evie, I’m done lying to him and to everyone else!”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I bit. “Now’s the time you decide to be honest?”
I couldn’t believe this was the moment he brought this upon us, like dealing with him wasn’t already enough of a challenge.
“Jax, I swear last night was the first time we’ve been together since…”
“Since when?” he demanded, furious with the both of us. “Finish that sentence.”
“I … I…”
“Since I fucked up the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Jax’s ferocious glare erupted in Caleb’s direction, scoffing out, “How long has this been going on?”
I swallowed hard. The whole world was spinning around me, and I was trying to hang on for dear life.
In one sudden movement, Caleb shifted me aside, standing up to my brother. Getting right in his face, he didn’t back down.
I’d be lying if I said I never considered it would come to this. There were even times I wished it would have. However, having it actually happen was an entirely different story. This was the first time since Caleb and I started whatever the hell you’d call us that I truly felt ashamed.
The only time I’d ever seen Jax scowl at someone like he was at Caleb was with our father. The hatred and disgust were evident in his expression and the tension was suffocating me, sucking all the air from my lungs.
“This is the last time I’ll ask you, Caleb. How long has this been going on?”
“Jax, please…” I begged for I don’t know what.
Again, Caleb didn’t miss a beat. “Since the day before you introduced her to me.”
Everything happened so damn fast, but at the same time it felt as if it played out in this slow motion reel of black and white images clicking across my eyes.
“Jax, no!” I yelled in a high-pitched tone as his fist collided with Caleb’s face. His head whooshed back, taking half his body with him.
It didn’t take long for Caleb to catch his balance, stumbling for a couple seconds before he found solid ground and began rubbing his cheek.
I lunged into action, gripping onto my brother’s arm. My attempt at stopping him wasn’t enough. He simply shoved me away, only pissing Caleb off further.
“Don’t fucking touch her!” Caleb pushed Jax.
“You’re telling me not to touch her?! Fuck you, Caleb!”
“Please, Jax, this isn’t the way. His kids are inside. I’m begging you.”
“You’re my best friend!” Jax growled, going toe-to-toe with Caleb. “I fucking trusted you! With my career! With my money! With my little sister! All those times! All those fucking times I called you to look out for her, all you were doing was screwing her behind my back?! What kind of best friend does that, asshole?!”
“That’s not what happened. Just let me explain.”
“Explain? Explain what? Huh? What other lies do you need to tell me?”
Caleb snapped, “I’m done fucking lying! I’ve wasted so much time lying to everyone. Especially myself! For years, I pushed her away because of my loyalty and friendship to you. I didn’t want to love her, but for fuck’s sake! You know your sister—it’d be impossible not to love her.”
I sucked in a breath.
“I tried. Trust me, man. I tried for over a year to just do what I promised you and protect her, but you had to go and fucking book us a suite together!”
Jax staggered back. I could tell he was reliving that morning all over again.
“She was in your shirt,” he uttered so low we could barely hear him. Almost like he didn’t want to remember it himself.
“I didn’t… I mean…” I paused, trying to get my words out. “We didn’t…”
“You didn’t what, Evie? What didn’t you do?”
I bowed my head, unable to reply. The shame was eating me alive.
“I kissed her and touched her, but it didn’t go further than that because again—I couldn’t do that to you.”
“You piece of shi—”
“You’re right! I am a piece of shit! But nothing happened between us until months later when I couldn’t stay away from her anymore. You made sure of it!”
The memory of him unexpectedly showing up to my apartment raced through my mind at rapid speed as if it was happening right then and there.
I opened the door, seeing Caleb standing in front of me.
“What are you—”
His mouth crashed onto mine, rendering me speechless. Before I could move an inch, he gripped onto the back of my thighs and carried me into my bedroom, shutting the door with his foot behind him.
“You wanted me to pierce my cock,” he growled into my mouth, throwing me onto my bed.
Standing by the edge of my mattress, he unbuckled his slacks and pulled out his cock.
I hadn’t seen it since the night he had it pierced.
“Well, darlin’, you’re going to be the first woman this jewelry touches.”