Page 98 of Always Us

“Your father had sex with another woman while he was married to your mom. That’s the definition of cheating, Sadie. Doesn’t get any clearer than that.”

“Whatever.” She twists her hair around her finger. “I know her slut mom tricked my dad into it. Jade can deny it all she wants, but she doesn’t know the truth. She wasn’t around when it happened. She’s relying on what her whore of a mother said.”

“Stop saying that about her!” Jade moves to my side. “She wasn’t a whore!”

I inch closer to Sadie, my temper rising. “Is that what you call a woman who’s been raped? A whore? That’s a pretty fucking sexist comment there, Sadie. Are you seriously one of those people who think women asked to be raped? Because of what they wear or how they act?”

“Garret, no.” Jade grabs my arm and pulls me back a little. “She doesn’t know that part.”

Shit. I didn’t know that. Whatever. She needs to be told.

Sadie huffs. “Now you’re saying he raped her?” She narrows her eyes at Jade. “I thought you were nice when I first met you. But you’re a bitch. And probably a whore just like your mom.”

“Don’t you dare speak to her that way.” I walk forward, forcing Sadie against the wall. “I swear to God, Sadie.”

“What? You’ll hit me?” She rolls her eyes. “Please, Garret. You’d never hurt a girl.” She glances behind me at Jade, then looks back at me. “Why would you marry someone like her? She’s lying, Garret. To all of us. She’s—”

“Your father raped Jade’s mother.” I lock my eyes on Sadie. “I don’t give a shit if you don’t believe me. Just keep thinking Royce was a saint if that’s what you need to do. But the facts don’t change. He did that to her mother. There’s a police report and hospital records to prove it.”

“You’re disgusting. Both of you.” She shoves on my chest but I don’t move. “Just get away from me.”

“Apologize to Jade.” I say it loud, right in her face.

“She makes up lies about my father and you expect me to apologize?” She moves her head so she can see around me to Jade. “Never.”

I remain in front of her. “Apologize. Now.”

“If you don’t back away, I’ll scream. I’ll cause a scene.”

“What are you, six? You’re going to throw a tantrum? We’re not leaving here until you apologize to Jade.”

“Then I guess we’ll be here all night.”

I hear Jade behind me. “Garret, she doesn’t have to apologize. Just forget it.”

“She called you a whore. She called your mother a whore. She needs to apologize.”

“She’s just upset.” Jade stands beside me and speaks to Sadie. “I’m sorry, Sadie. I didn’t want you to ever know the truth about your dad. I know it’s hard to hear. And I know you don’t want anything to do with me, and it’s fine. I understand.”

Jade just keeps amazing me. Just when I think she can’t do it again, she does. Sadie attacked her, said horrible things to her, acted like a spoiled child. And Jade just let it go, acted like an adult, kept control of herself.

Sadie has spent years in etiquette classes, being coached on how to act and what to say, and yet Jade, who had none of that, is the only one with class.

I’m still in front of Sadie. “Jade may not need you to apologize, but I do.”

I wait for Sadie to say something. She doesn’t.

I take a step back. “Sadie, what the hell happened to you? You didn’t used to be like this. Back when we were friends, you didn’t used to be like this. What changed?”

A smirk crosses her face. “Nothing changed. I’ve always been ambitious. I’ve always been driven to succeed. You just didn’t acknowledge those traits in me because you like your women weak. Submissive. You like to control them.”

“That’s a fucking lie and you know it. If anyone’s that way, it’s Evan. He has zero respect for you and he treats you like shit.”

“Evan’s going to be president someday. And you? What will you be doing, Garret? Hanging out on the beach every day? Living off your father’s money? Doing nothing with your life?”

I put my arm around Jade, my eyes still on Sadie. “Just go. I’ve wasted enough of my time on you. I wish you and Evan the best. Have a great life.”

She turns to leave, then whips back around and sets her eyes on Jade. “If you EVER tell anyone those lies you just told me about my father, you will pay.”

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