Page 69 of Those Heartbreak Scars

“I’m so sorry.” I hate that I hurt him back then. Even if he didn’t know then, he was waiting for me while I was ruining us.

“And that’s why you said no to being my girl. Which means I never had a chance with you, did I, Lucky Charm? See why I’m having a little trouble believing the two of you are trustworthy?”

Gray clears his throat. “How do we fix this?”

“Anything,” I beg as I throw myself at Everett. “Anything with Gray and I is so over. It never even really began. But you and me… I’m falling for you.”

“See. She doesn’t want me.” Gray’s voice is full of gravel. “She wants you.”

“I’ll believe you,” Everett says, staring into my eyes. “If you fuck me in front of him.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

America

“What?” Everett’s request turns into a high-pitched ringing as it sinks in.

“You’re going to sit pretty on my cock while he watches,” he says, rewording his ultimatum. “Then I’ll believe you, Lucky Charm.”

Gray’s expression is tight. His hands are deep in his pockets, probably curled into fists. “Come on, Mann. That’s not fucking okay.”

“If I can believe you, then I’ll believe him too,” Everett tells me. “I’ll sign the contract. I’ll apologize for being a twat about it.”

“America.” Gray snatches up his phone. “You don’t have to do this.”

Don’t I? Gray wants Everett’s signature on the contract so he can keep his job. It’s more important to him than anything else. Everett wants an agent who will go to any length for him and his career.

I want to belong.

I thought I could belong in Everett’s world. I wanted to belong in it. But as long as Gray is a part of mine, I’ll never truly be able to give my heart to anyone else.

Not to Everett. Or anyone who could cherish me.

Everett sensed that. He realized that Gray and I were more than friends.

But it wasn’t enough for Gray to wrap me up in his arms and never let me go. It was enough to come between me and Everett, though.

If I can’t have Gray… If this is the price Everett needs me to pay in order to prove my loyalty… “I think I do.”

My heart pounds as I stand and shimmy out of my panties.

I push down the little voice that tells me this isn’t what I want. The voice never factors in how tired I am of wanting someone who doesn’t want me. How sick I am of being alone. Or how I prickle all over because I don’t know how Everett will react if I don’t fix the problem.

I only know that Gray doesn’t want me. Not enough to love me.

Adrenaline pumps through my veins as both men watch me. Everett’s dark gaze is hooded. Gray’s face is flushed, his jaw clenched.

“This is ridiculous,” Gray says.

“She wants to.” Everett spreads his knees. “Don’t you, Lucky Charm?”

My lips part, but not one of the thoughts in my head escape. Want isn’t the word that I would use. Yet saying no feels impossible.

Saying no won’t make me safe. It won’t protect me from having both men turn their backs on me. Feeling their anger and their disappointment and their hate.

I can only set things right.

Even if the whole scenario quite literally has me shaking.

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