Page 74 of Fragments of You

“Felix slept with Celine.” I finally manage to say the words, though they burn all the way up my throat. Iris pulls back just enough so that she can look into my eyes. “When she was fifteen.” A fresh round of sobs boil to the surface. “Did you know?”

I don’t miss the surprise that flashes across her face before a look of understanding takes its place, answering my question before she ever says the words.

“Of course I didn’t. Though I can’t say I’m surprised given Felix’s track record. It sounds like something he would do.”

Iris has always been an open book. I think maybe that’s why I found myself here in the first place. Because I couldn’t let myself believe that she would ever lie to me about something so big. It’s good to see that some people are who you actually think they are. Unfortunately, she’s about the only person in my life who I can say that about at the moment.

“Why did I not see it?” I sniff, roughly wiping at my cheeks. “I knew how he was with girls in high school. Sleeping with Celine... Of course that’s something he would do. Because Felix is a man who thinks with his dick and nothing else. So how could I let myself... How could I not see all the signs?”

“Maybe because you didn’t want to,” she says apologetically.

And she would be right. There have always been little things, things I should have picked up on over the years, things I ignored because the alternative was too unfathomable to even entertain.

“Nash knew. He knew the whole time.” This brings on a fresh batch of tears, his betrayal somehow stinging worst of all.

“Come on, let’s get you inside and you can tell me everything.”

I nod softly, wiping at my cheeks again.

With a gentle arm around my shoulders, Iris pulls me firmly into her side, leading me up the sidewalk toward the house.

I have only one thought as she opens the front door and ushers me inside. What the hell am I going to do now?

Chapter Sixteen

Nash

I DROP THE SCRAPS OF wood into the dumpster I rented, wiping the beads of sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand. It’s hot as fuck today. I mean, it’s always hot. It is the South, after all, but today is damn near insufferable. Doesn’t make for a very productive workday, especially when you haven’t had the new HVAC system installed. Even with fans running, it’s just as hot inside the house as it is out here.

The sound of tires coming up my driveway pulls my attention to the front of the property, my heart kicking against my ribs at the thought that it might be Paisley.

Our last encounter flashes through my mind. The way she looked at me. The things she said. I honestly wasn’t sure I stood even a marginal chance of making up for what I did to her until that day. Now, for the first time in a very long time, I have real hope that maybe, just maybe, I can prove to her that I’m a man who deserves her, even if deep down I know I don’t.

Disappointment seeps into the edges as I quickly realize it’s not Paisley speeding up my driveway, but Iris.

Don’t get me wrong, Iris’s friendship has meant a lot to me these past few weeks, but the fact still remains, she’s not P. And right now, she’s the only person I want to see.

Iris parks the car in the dead center of the driveway, not bothering to pull off to the side as she kills the engine and quickly climbs from the driver’s seat. I know the instant I see her face that something’s wrong.

“Iris...” I arch a brow in question as she approaches.

“How could you?”

I don’t try to hide that her question confuses me.

“Hello to you too,” I say instead.

“Celine, Nash. Are you kidding me?”

Confusion quickly morphs into something else entirely.

“How did you—” I don’t even get a chance to finish the question.

“Paisley.” She puffs her cheeks, letting out a forceful breath.

“How did she—” Again, I’m cut off.

“Felix came clean.”

---