Discarded sheets. Broken lamps. The bed.
He thought he should burn it all. But he knew it wouldn’t help.
He’d survived it once. And he stupidly told himself he could do it again.
His hate boiled to the surface, only this time it was directed at the man staring back at him in that cracked mirror.
She might have pushed him away. He might have caused her both emotional and physical pain.
But this time? He went in with his eyes wide open. She went in blind. This was on him. All of it.
He clenched his fists and swore until his voice was hoarse. It was both too early and too late for whiskey.
His phone rang. With a curse, he surged to his feet and snatched it off the table. “What?”
Bentley sighed on the other end. “What happened?”
“Why did something have to happen?”
“Brant.” Bentley sounded miserable. “We’re twins…so I’m going to ask you again, what the fuck happened?”
Brant closed his eyes. It didn’t work; he still saw her, still felt her. “I slept with Nikki.”
“I’m on my way.” The phone went dead.
Brant nodded even though his brother couldn’t see him, and then got dressed, shoving all thoughts of Nikki away.
He had a job to do, right? Three days in, four days left.
Damn Nadine Titus. Damn her to hell.
Chapter Seventeen
It took an hour of consoling, a hot shower, and three cups of coffee before Nikki felt like herself again. The minute she got into work later that morning, Cole met her and refused to let her out of his sight.
“Take the day off.” Cole kissed her temple. “Seriously, you need it. Hell, take the rest of the week.”
“Right.” Nikki wiped at her puffy cheeks. “And who’s going to take on the clients?”
Cole was silent.
“That’s what I thought,” she mumbled. “Plus, I’m not running away, I won’t…” Because that was what Brant did. And she refused to be guilty of the same thing, of not facing her past.
Cole snorted. “Do you really think that asshat deserves you? He slept with you, and he treated you like a slut!”
“To be fair, I did the same thing,” she countered.
“That’s different,” Cole grumbled.
“Why?” She jerked away from him. “I knew exactly what I was doing. But I wanted”—her throat constricted—“I wanted him too much to walk away.”
“People always think the heart is pure. Which is bullshit—hearts are greedy little bastards that promise to be strong. They promise they won’t break, but they do. They always fucking do.”
The hurt in his voice was tangible. And felt way too personal.
“Cole—”
“Serious talk, Nik.” His voice deepened as he took a step in her direction and then pulled her in for a hug. “You’re the best friend I’ve ever had, but you’ve never been mine.”
“You’re my best friend, too.”
“Good.” He sighed and kissed her on the forehead. “Don’t worry. I’m sure I’ll get over the rejection, though it may take a few years. Hey, maybe I can start a cat farm for the lonely? Cole’s Cool Cat Farm.”
She laughed through her tears as she wrapped her arms around his muscled body. “That’s really creepy.”
“Cole’s Creepy Cat Farm? Nah, it doesn’t have the same ring. Hey, I’m the one that’s going to die alone, so the least you can do is support my dreams.”
Another giggle escaped. “Ugh, why do you have to be so perfect?”
“Perfect for everyone but you.” He sighed. “Let me know if you have any cancellations today, and I’ll make sure asshole Brant isn’t anywhere near you. Think of me as your personal restraining order.”
“Sweetest thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“I’m good with words. Imagine what I can do with my mouth.”
She sighed and looked away.
Cole tilted her face back toward him. “I’ll take care of him, all right?”
“Don’t kill him.”
“I’m too pretty for prison. I was thinking something less violent, like ripping his dick off and feeding it to the cats at my new farm, but that would make the cats suffer, and I’m all about love. Either way, his cock is mine.”
Nikki winced.
“That came out wrong.”
“You think?”
“Sorry, I blame lack of sleep since you disappeared on me last night only to end up in the boss’s bed.”
“He’s not…” Her eyes widened. “Oh hell, he is technically our boss, isn’t he?”
“Sleeping your way to the top. I’ve never been prouder to call you friend.”