Page 128 of The Bridges I've Burned

She pinned me with her gaze as the puzzle pieces started to fall into place. “You can’t tell anyone?”

I shook my head. “I might have been able to tell Macon if he also signed an NDA since he’s family, but?—”

“Then, he’d have to keep it from Marin.”

“Yeah.”

How could I ask my brother to keep something like that from his fiancée? No, not just ask—legally bind him to keep his mouth closed.

It wasn’t even a solution I’d considered. Not one I’d even bothered asking Saul about.

“So, what was your plan, Zander? To just not say anything and let her find out when everyone else does? Or were you not planning for this to go past the wedding?”

“I don’t know, okay?” I shoved my hands in my hair. “I don’t know what the hell I was going to do. I didn’t plan for this to happen.”

“Don’t pull that shit,” she scoffed. “I was with you in that coffee shop. This was completely premeditated. You knew exactly what stakes were involved when you hooked up with her.”

“Yes, but I didn’t expect to?—”

I choked on my own words as she stared at me until, suddenly, her eyes widened.

“Oh shit. You love her.”

“I—” Fuck.

The realization hit me like a lightning bolt to the skull.

Somehow, over the past few weeks, she’d become part of me.

I loved seeing her in the morning, leaning against the kitchen counter in my T-shirt, drinking coffee.

I loved the sight of her ridiculously expensive handbag by the front door because I knew it meant she was home.

I loved the way she called out my name when I was buried deep inside her.

I simply loved her.

“Millie, love, did you give the poor man a heart attack? Why is he so silent?”

“I think he just had an epiphany.”

“Ah.” Aiden chuckled. “Feels kind of like a swift kick to the balls, doesn’t it?”

“A little, yeah.” My voice came out a little shaky.

“So, what are you going to do?” Millie asked, bringing my focus back, even though my mind was still reeling.

“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “Part of me just wants to say fuck it and tell her.”

“And if anyone found out?”

I frowned. “I don’t know. I’d like to say the guys in the band would be understanding, but the last thing I want to do is break their trust before I’ve barely had a chance to earn it. They’ve already been through enough with Mitch.”

“You can’t be loyal to one without betraying the other.”

“Pretty much.”

She let out a long sigh. “Well, I thought I’d be a lot madder than this, but I can see how hard this has been for you.”

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