Page 16 of Love Defies Us

“My ex cheated on me with my uncle and left me for him, when my mom just died from breast cancer and my dad has been on my ass about going to the wedding.” My chest clenches at his words. I knew his ex cheated and left him for another man, but I had no idea that his mother died from cancer.

That is fucked up is what I wanted to say but I reframe from saying it.

“Do you still love her?”

He tilts his head to the side and frowns. “Why would you ask that?”

“It’s a yes or no question.”

He waits a few minutes to answer and every second that ticks off, my heart pumps louder and faster than a drum.

Please say no.

Please say no.

Please say no.

“No. We weren’t happy before she cheated. I settled with Mae. I fell out of love with her shortly after she miscarried our daughter. I bought that house that I’m living in so we could raise our family. She always felt like I chose my career over her.”

His eyes are heavy with emotions that I can’t detect. Maybe he’s angry and bitter towards her. I sit cross-legged and he watches me carefully as if I’m a precious gem.

“In reality, you did choose your career over her. All artists do. I understand, though. When you love something, it tends to be the first thing in your life.” His face showcases surprise at my response, as if he wasn’t expecting me to say that. I continue, “But, I’m sorry you lost her. How far along was she?”

“Five months. ” His words are bare-wired with sorrow and the frown that is displayed on his face is sadder than Pierrot Clown. “I was kind of relieved that she cheated on me.”

“Why?”

“It was an excuse to leave her. I wasn’t going to dump her. I would have married her even if I fell out of love with her.” He pauses. “She stuck by my side when I found out my mom was sick, and she was there for me and supported my dreams.”

He’s loyal. Too loyal.

“That doesn’t mean she deserves your last name. Sounds like she was a selfish bitch and that you’re too loyal and she knew it, so she took advantage of it.”

We’re quiet for several beats, lost in our own thoughts.

“You should go to the wedding to prove that you don’t care about her. My mom used to tell me, the best revenge is showing someone you don’t care about them anymore. And if you want? I’ll go to the wedding with you as your friend. That way she’ll look stupid at her own wedding. Plus, you’re going to have to see her eventually.”

He reads my face like a newspaper, tucking a hair behind my ear. So foreign. So intimate. He nods slightly. “Sounds like a plan.”

I hear the front door slam and Jasper stomps through the living room. Frustration litters his face and he frowns. Nothing really gets under Jasper’s skin so the anger he’s sporting on his face tells me that someone pissed him off to the max.

“I can’t believe this sh-,” he pauses as he eyes Felix, crinkling up his nose. “I didn’t know you had company, normally I’m the one who brings my booty calls home.”

Felix glares at him like he killed his cat, and he doesn’t respond but tension builds in his shoulders. I understand the reason why Felix doesn’t feel comfortable with Jasper being my roommate and best friend.

“Why are you home so early? I thought you were leaving with Stacey and Anthony to the Bahamas?”

“I canceled the trip, they were bickering over dumb shit. I rebooked my flight for early in the morning, I’m going by myself.”

He goes to the fridge and grabs himself a bottle of beer and tears the cap off. I feel Felix’s arms wrap around my waist, yanking me on his lap and his erection digging into my lower back. Heat nibbles on my neck. He’s making it known to Jasper that I’m his, and I’m irritated and turned on at the same time. Jasper stares at him and shakes his head.

“I’ll see you two love birds later.”

Normally, Jasper would kiss me on the cheek and give me a hug before going to bed, but he refrains from it since I told him about how Felix responded last night.

Then it’s me and Felix. Alone.

Felix’s face turns red as blood, but he tries to keep a stoic expression. “How did you meet Jasper?”

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