Page 110 of Forgive You

My stomach somersaults.

But the combination makes me homicidal as I stare into blue eyes that I’ve once loved but now hate with a passion.

“What thefuckare you doing here, Jacob?”

30

This is the first time in years that I miss home.

I survey my boys around me, spread out over Hunter’s lounge while he’s standing behind the grill with a beer in his tattooed hand.

Hunter and I moved to LA right after graduation. He got picked up by the American Fighting Association and soon became the best fighter out there, while I went to college and majored in Sports Management.

We had as much fun as you can imagine when two teenagers move from small-town North Carolina to LA. It’s where we met Jensen, who moved in with us in the big house Hunter’s manager put us in, and soon Bodi, Jensen’s best friend, made us all become friends. Add Jordan attending Berkeley a couple of years later, and most of my life has been situated on the West Coast.

But not that all has changed.

Hunter moved back east when he and Charlotte finally got together and Jensen and Bodi followed not long after. I never considered moving back.

I like the California sun, the beach, the waves. I like Los Angeles, even though the glitz and glam is something I can do without. I like how everyone in LA has a dream, a goal, and ambition.

But looking around, there’s one thing it doesn’t have for me anymore.

Family.

Because that’s what these boys are to me. I miss the nights we’d just hang out and chill. The nights we’d play poker and talk about Jensen’s hockey games. Or the nights we’d get trashed and complain about women.

Women.

The thought curves my lips, because there’s only one woman for me.

“So, you and Julie, huh?” Jensen surveys from beside me, as if the broody jock can read my mind.

“It was about time.” Hunter takes a sip of his beer, smiling from behind the bottle.

I cut him a look. “It’s not official yet.”

“But you want it to be?” Bodi, the most sensible of all of us, asks.

“It’s going to be.” There’s no fucking doubt.

She’s under my skin, always has been. When she smiles, I feel different chemicals rushing through my blood. When she touches me, I swear it’s like I light up. My brain wakes up with her in my mind. And my heart is ready and determined to capture hers, whether she agrees or not.

She’s mine.

“Oh, cocky.”

Hoots and hollers pass around the group.

I breathe out a chuckle, lifting my shoulder. “It’s not cocky. It's just the truth.”

We’ve wasted enough time pussyfooting around, trying to not make waves. Well, I don’t know if anyone noticed? But I like waves. I’m ready for whatever waves are coming my way. I can handle it. I will ride it and make it my bitch.

“What about Jacob?” Hunter eyes me.

Including my asshole brother, who’s the equivalent of a tsunami.

“What about him?” I bring the bottle in my hand to my lips, enjoying the bitter tones on my tongue.

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