Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 51484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 51484 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 257(@200wpm)___ 206(@250wpm)___ 172(@300wpm)
“Just because you quit caring doesn’t mean I did,” I snap, frustrated by that expression. Hurt because he thinks so little of me.
I can’t really blame him, though, can I? I’m the one who slapped him and told him to go to hell. And I’m the one who has spent the last five years believing my brother.
Does he know that I hate myself for it? That I’ve thought a million times over the years about coming to see him? That I’ve barely slept since Jamison finally let the truth slip? That I packed up my whole life and came here because I couldn’t stay away once the truth was out there? It’s all true. Aside from demanding the truth, I haven’t spoken to Jamison in weeks. I’m too damn mad to forgive him. At him. At myself. And maybe a little bit mad at Jordan, too. Because he let me believe it.
Why didn’t he just tell me that Jamison was lying? Why did he just tell me to go home and forget about him instead of defending himself that day? What did my brother do that was so bad that Jordan would rather let me hate him than tell me the truth?
Jamison ruined his life. Why keep protecting him?
It just doesn’t make sense.
He mutters a curse, his gaze fixed on my face. “You don’t even know what the fuck you’re talking about, princess.”
“Then tell me!” I cry quietly, resisting the urge to stomp my foot. “Why did you attack Jamison? Why’d he lie about it? What did he do?”
Jordan gives his head a sharp shake. “Are you here for him or the truth?”
I hesitate for a long moment, not sure how to answer that question. Not entirely sure why I rushed here as soon as I knew. I want the truth, desperately. I wanted to see him again so badly that it hurts. I couldn’t stay away any longer. But…I need his help, too. I know he won’t give it to me. He doesn’t owe me that. But I came anyway. Because…because he’s Jordan, and I’ve already spent too damn long trying to pretend that every inch of my heart doesn’t still belong to him.
“I wanted to see you, but things are bad, Jordan. Really bad,” I finally whisper. “You were the only one who could ever–”
“That’s what I thought,” he says, his voice full of resignation. “You’re here trying to clean up his mess.”
“No!”
“You sure about that?”
I narrow my eyes on him. “I’ve never lied to you.”
He grunts like he doesn’t believe me.
“I haven’t!”
“No,” he says after a beat. “You just ripped my goddamn heart out of my chest.”
“W-what?” I gape at him, shocked.
“Don’t pretend you didn’t know,” he says, his voice a soft rasp. “I followed you everywhere. Christ, I couldn’t keep my goddamn eyes off you.” He laughs, a bitter, mocking laugh. “Your fucking brother thought I was looking at his girlfriend, but I never saw her. The only fucking thing I ever saw was you.”
“Jordan, I…”
He touches my cheek, muttering a curse. “Guess Jamison was right when he warned me that I’d lose everything if I didn’t keep my fucking mouth shut, wasn’t he, princess?”
“W-what?”
He sighs instead of answering. “Just go home, Sutton. I don’t have the answers you're looking for. I never did. And hell will freeze over before I help you with that prick.”
I stare after him, shocked silent as he stomps back to his truck. He just… Jesus. I think he just admitted that he was in love with me back then. No. I know he just admitted it.
Jordan was in love with me.
Tears slip down my cheek as he drives off. This wasn’t the answer I came here looking for. I think this one hurts a hell of a lot worse than whatever I thought I’d find. Because Jamison’s lie didn’t just break my heart.
It broke Jordan’s, too.
Chapter Three
Jordan
Ibreathe in and out in a deep, even rhythm, my feet pounding against the conveyor on the treadmill. Music rattles the windowpanes around me, aggressive notes pinging off the walls loud enough to silence every thought in my head. Except…it’s not fucking working like usual.
Most days, I can drown out anything with music. I can punish my body into exhaustion, make it so I’m too goddamn tired to think. It’s not working this time. Even after a grueling game, my mind refuses to shut off.
Seeing Sutton again has my head all fucked up. She’s so damn fiery, so passionate. I wanted to push her up against my truck and fuck my way into her soul yesterday, hear her screaming my name loud enough for the whole city to hear it breaking for me.
Instead, I did the one damn thing I never meant to do. I told her the truth. Now, she knows my little secret…knows that I’m the kind of man who fell in love with her when I shouldn’t have.