Page 144 of Forgive You

He means it. I can see it in the depths of his eyes. He means every fucking word, and I believe him. I’ve always believed it, because I could feel it growing up beside him. But I never understood why.

Taking a few steps closer, I’m shaking my head in confusion. “What did I ever do to make you hate me this much?”

He glares at me with a humorless, wolfish grin. “You exist.”

It’d be a lie if I said it didn’t hurt. If I said I understand. Because I don’t and it does hurt. I never wanted to be his enemy. But I guess I never really had a choice in the matter.

“You wanna know why I taped her?” he sneers, and I meet his gaze again. “Because I knew it would kill you.”Don’t do this, Jacob.Don’t make it any worse. “I bet you’re getting eaten from the inside out, knowing that I jerk off to watching her tape over and over and over again.”

Look, brother or not, I only have so much restraint.

“I will kill you,” I say, then finally,finally, connect my fist with his jaw.

And it feelsglorious.

40

Jason kicking his brother’s ass is something I’ve been waiting for, dreaming of, but at the same time, it’s my nightmare come true.

The tires of my dad’s SUV screech as I park the car behind the cop car. Jason hits his brother straight in the nose, blood flying around, while the officers don’t lift a finger to protect their suspect.

With my heart in my throat, I jump out of the car. “Jason! No! Please, stop.”

I pull on his arm, my heart hammering as I try to dodge his elbow. When it almost knocks me over the head, one of the police officers steps in, holding up his hands and pushing Jason onto the yard.

“That’s enough, son.”

Jason’s deep blue eyes are alight with fire, his knuckles caked in his brother’s blood. I stand in front of him, taking his face in my hands.

“He’s not worth it. He’s not worth it.” He keeps glaring over my shoulder, before his gaze crashes with mine. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.”

“Did he hurt you?” His fingers dig into my arm.

“Shut up, Julie,” Jacob spits, flexing his jaw.

“You shut up!” Jason snaps.

“Yes.” It’s a single word, but it ignites a flood of emotion.

The fire gets dimmed around his blue irises; instead, waves of hurt and regret crash in. His eyebrows raise in shock, as if he was still hoping it isn’t true.

This day has become one big shitshow.

I woke up confessing everything to my best friend, then was forced to tell my dad because of Kathy. Then they convinced me to press charges together, and I did, but I also thought I’d still have time to tell Jason myself.

Little did I know, they decided to pick up Jason right away.

Everything fucking blew up, and it’s this look, this expression of devastation that I’ve been trying to avoid. It numbs my nervous system, is the recipe for nightmares, and it breaks my goddamn heart.

Tears fight to break free, doing exactly that when our gazes collide again.

“He hurt you?”

I nod, glancing at Jordan comforting his mother but hanging on to every word. “The night before I broke up with him. Beforeus.”

Jason’s body sags, like a curtain falling down, but right when I think he's gonna give in, he flies to Jacob again. He hits home one more time, before the officer pushes his body against mine, almost knocking me on my ass.

“You son of a bitch!” Jacob spits blood onto the ground while I hold on to Jason’s arm to hold him back. “Did you see that? I wanna press charges against this maniac!”

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