Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 80074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80074 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 400(@200wpm)___ 320(@250wpm)___ 267(@300wpm)
“We don’t even remember what happened, Jackson. I couldn’t tell you a damn thing about what went down. The last thing I remember was we were seein’ who could walk in a straight line. Cash don’t even remember us doing that. The last thing he can recollect is talkin’ about your baby sister.”
“He’ll stay the fuck away from my girls if he knows what’s good for him.”
“I ain’t your girl. Not anymore. I didn’t cheat on you, Jackson. We weren’t together. Remember? It’s kinda like when you fucked Willow. Except I caught you mid-thrust. Trust me, it’s taken me years to forget the image of you balls deep inside of her.”
“So that makes this okay? My girl fucked another guy when my dick was the only one that’d been inside of her.”
“I. Ain’t. Your. Girl.”
“The fuck you aren’t, Gremlin.”
I didn’t think twice about, heading straight toward the door.
“No!” She blocked me. “You leave Cash out of this! This is between you and me. Besides, don’t worry, asshole! I told him I hated him, he told me he hated me for saying that to him. We got in a huge fight. He knew about the bet too. So now I hate both of you.”
“I know. I told him.”
All the blood drained from her face. “Wait, what?”
“Like I’ve been telling you, we were fuckin’ kids. We were drinking or some shit at a bonfire party one night, and he made some comment about how he couldn’t believe how happy they were. How much they loved each other. Saying he never thought it’d work out between them, but he was happy for Shiloh. That’s all he wanted for her. And to show face, I told him I was behind it all. Betting Trigger to get with her, so he would really pursue her.”
“Holy shit, Cash protected you and never said anythin’ to us about it.”
“You and Shiloh are the only ones who don’t see what’s right in front of you. Trigger fuckin’ loves her. Nobody wanted to come between that. Even your best friend could see it. There was no need to tell her. They were happy. In love. End of story. Now get the hell out of my way, so I can go murder the motherfucker.”
“You don’t even know where he lives.”
“I’ll drive the streets of Nashville until I find his ass. Lay him the fuck out.”
“What will that prove, Jackson? You think stormin’ out of here to go confront Cash is going to fix things with me? If so, you are dumber than you look, Rudolph.”
“You called me Rudolph, does that mean—”
“It doesn’t mean anythin’. How do I know everythin’ you have ever said to me isn’t a lie? That it wasn’t you tryin’ to win some challenge you and your fan club have goin’.”
“You know that’s not true.”
“I don’t know anythin’ anymore. That’s what happens when trust is broken. You’re wastin’ your time. You win, Jackson Pierce. Game over. I quit. I’m done fightin’ this battle we’ve had since we were kids. You’ve finally managed to affect every important aspect of my life all at once. You are the reason I’m pickin’ up the pieces. You are the reason Shiloh is wrecked, and you are the reason I drank too much to forget how badly you hurt me! I fucked my best friend and don’t remember it! And YOU are the reason it happened! I want nothin’ to do with you! Now get the fuck out! I hate you!”
She was right. No matter how bad it hurt, I shoved her over the edge into Cash’s arms. Exactly how I always did. Thinking back to what he said all those years ago as if he was saying them to me right now.
At this moment.
“I have the peace of mind of knowin’ every move you make just secures my position on her field. I’m her best friend, I’ll always be the guy in her life. You’re nothin’ but the boy she fuckin’ hates. So do what you do best, Pierce, go push her away some more. ’Cuz let me tell ya, nothin’ tastes better than kissin’ away Harley’s tears.”
I stood there shocked, not recognizing the girl standing in front of me.
“Fine. I’ll leave.”
She turned but wasn’t quick enough. I gripped her wrist, holding her in place in front of me.
“You're not going anywhere. Not until I say you can, and Gremlin... I won't.”
“What more can I say to you? I don’t want you here!”
“Please, don’t do this! Please, don’t fuckin’ do this!”
“Let go of me! Do you hear me?”
I did, and she immediately opened the door to her bedroom, nodding for me to leave.
“If you love me as much as you say you do, you’ll leave me alone.” Despite her brutal words, a tear escaped from her eye, quickly wiping it away.
“You don’t want this. Your tears prove that, Harley.”