Page 99 of Forget Me Not

She rolls her eyes, stepping toward me. Her hands come up, resting on my stomach and even though I take a step back from her, it doesn’t deter her. Sophie likes a chase, as predatory as that sounds.

“I thought Nova wasn’t into dating anymore. You know since Jack and all.”

There’s that fucker’s name again.

“We aren’t dating.”

“So, you aren’t exclusive.”

“Sophie. You need to leave.”

“Did she tell you how she tried to blame Jack for everything? How she lied and told our father he hit her when we both know he didn’t?”

I grit my teeth. I’ve had my suspicions. After speaking with Will, even more so. Now, I’m ready to fucking hurt someone. Nova hasn’t said, but sometimes, when I reach for her, she’ll jump, like she’s afraid I’m going to hurt her. That shit doesn’t happen overnight.

“Does it matter?”

“Jack was a good man, Reid. My sister is a lot of things. Honest isn’t one of them.”

“Sophie. Time to leave.”

“Just listen to me.”

“I said leave.”

I move to push her hands off me, but apparently, she has other ideas.

She lunges for me, her lips pressing to mine and for a moment, I’m so taken back that I just freeze, rooted in place.

Then . . . the gravity of the situation sinks in.

“Jesus Christ, Sophie,” I jerk back, pushing her off me, but a small gasp is what stops us both in our tracks.

Nova. Standing in the doorway and watching us both, her mouth set in a grim and disappointed line.

Fuck.

Me.

“Nova,” Sophie blushes, stepping back from me as if she’s innocent. “I didn’t—”

But it’s too late. Nova is gone, taking off down the hallway without stopping once.

Sophie sighs, grabbing my arm when I move to go after her, a panic I’m not used to seizing my veins.

“Let her go. She’s always been overdramatic.”

Gripping her hand, I pry it off my arm and drop it, leaving her bereft. “Let’s get one thing straight, Sophie. I am not interested. Now, get the fuck out of my room.

She stumbles back, a mixture of shock and horror on her face, but I don’t stick around to explain. I follow Nova because, like a man gone insane, I need to make sure she understands, that wasn’t me.

I’m an idiot.

Only I would think that I could get away with this friends with benefits situation and come out on the other side unscathed.

I should have known it would end up this way.

As the storm clouds roll overhead, I stomp down the path that leads past the cottage to the old Whitaker house. The house where Reid and I hid from the storm.

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