Page 57 of Sixty Days Of Summer

“Yeah, she’s gone. It’s just us and the fucker now,” he says, his eyes boring into me like they could set me ablaze.

“Put Nate on speaker,” I demand, refusing to back down. If we’re diving into this shitstorm, I’m not about to waste my breath by repeating myself.

Theo takes the phone away from his ear and switches it to loudspeaker.

“I know I shouldn’t have crossed that line,” I start, nervously rubbing the back of my neck. “I never meant for it to happen.”

“Yeah, right. More like you never meant to get caught,” Nate cuts in, his tone dripping with disdain, and I can feel the weight of his judgment.

“Look,” I say, trying to find the right words. “It’s different with Scarlet. I don’t even know what the hell it is, but—” I let out a long breath, stumbling to find the words.

“Look, I don’t give a shit about your existential crisis,” Theo snaps. “Or whatever the hell you’re trying to sell us. Save it, Ace. We’re not interested in your bullshit excuses right now.”

I take a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me, knowing I’m walking a tightrope here. “I get it. I know it’s hard to believe, but this thing with Scarlet, it just fucking happened. All I know is that this isn’t some groupie bullshit. I just—fuck, I don’t know how to put it into words.”

Theo’s eyes narrow, but he stays quiet, listening as I struggle to put my feelings into words.

Nate’s voice comes through, sharp and loaded with anger. “How long has this shit been going on?”

I take a deep breath, steeling myself to come clean. “Since Xander and Poppy’s wedding.”

The room sinks into a heavy silence, thick enough to cut with a knife. Theo’s gaze pierces me, unwavering and brimming with rage, while Nate’s voice crackles over the phone, sharp and frosty. “Since the fucking wedding? Are you fucking kidding me?”

Then it’s Theo’s turn to unleash his anger. “You’ve been sneaking around and fucking her for that long? Behind our backs?”

“Stay the fuck away from Scarlet,” Nate warns, his voice low and menacing. “You’ve really fucked up this time, Ace. Don’t even think about going near her again. You and I have a serious problem, and when I see you again, I'll kick your fucking ass.”

Theo steps forward, his anger ready to erupt like a volcano. “Yeah, what Nate said. If you come near her again, you’ll fucking regret it.”

His eyes bore into mine with a final, seething glare before he lands a solid punch to my jaw that sends me staggering backwards. He doesn’t wait for a response—he just storms out of the room, slamming the door with a final, explosive bang.

Chapter 20

Scarlet

It’s been two days since Theo barged into Ace’s room and treated me like some high school girl in need of saving. The whole thing was infuriating. What’s even worse is that Ace cast me aside, telling me to get out as if this whole situation didn’t involve me. Since then, I’ve been avoiding them all—dodging their calls and ignoring Theo’s relentless texts. I can’t help but wonder what they said to Ace, especially considering he's now closed off to me.

But I can still feel his eyes on me. It’s maddening. Why can’t my brothers get it through their heads that I’m a grown-ass woman, not someone they need to protect all the damn time?

With drumsticks in hand, I’m in my hotel room tapping out a beat on the coffee table, my mind a whirlwind of frustration. Why is this so fucking hard? Why can’t they just stay out of my business? I’m dying to know what they said to Ace, to figure out where things stand, but I refuse to be the one to ask. I’m too angry, too hurt. Yet deep down, I know that if he touched me, kissed me, all this frustration would melt away in an instant.

After another killer performance last night, I should be riding high, but this shit just keeps looping in my head. My phone pings, and I glance at the screen to see another text from Theo. I ignore it. I know he’ll take my silence as a rejection, and maybe it might sting a little, but I need to make a point. They can’t keep doing this to me forever. I need to set some boundaries.

I’ve never felt this alone, and it’s infuriating because Ace and I were finally starting to bond. This time was different—different in the way we connected, in the way he opened up to me about the things I know weigh on him. It didn’t feel like just another casual hookup. Thinking back, I realize he didn’t give me his usual bullshit line about being nothing more than a quick fuck. And the way he looks at me now—it’s not just lust. There’s something deeper there, like he sees me in a way no one else ever has, like I’m the most beautiful thing in his world.

I know from what Ace told me the other day that he’s never really had love in his life—never had anyone who truly saw him for who he is, flaws and all. And here I am, feeling an undeniable connection between us, but I can’t shake the thought that it may never reach that point. I don’t even know if he’s capable of letting himself fall for someone, especially after everything he’s been through.

A knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts, interrupting the rhythm I’ve been tapping out on the coffee table. I get up off the floor, leaving my sticks behind as I take a deep breath.It’s probably just Theo. I remind myself to maintain the distance between us, even though it hurts just as much to keep him at arm’s length.

I pull open the door, surprised to find Ace standing there. Hands shoved into his pockets, hair tousled and falling over his forehead, looking sexy as hell. Just seeing him causes my heart to race. His eyes sweep over me slowly, like I’m a goddamn feast, and it’s clear I’m affecting him. I see it in the way his tongue darts out over his bottom lip, like he’s fighting not to lose control. And honestly, that’s exactly what I want—I want him to completely come undone.

“Hey,” I say casually, turning away, feeling smug that I’m still wearing my tight sleep shorts and a snug top that barely covers my stomach. I know that if I glance back, his eyes will be on my ass. Instead, I head to the couch and sit down, deliberately avoiding his gaze, though I can still see him out of the corner of my eye. He walks over and sits beside me. That’s when it hits —the scent of him, a captivating blend of rich leather and cedarwood. It stirs something deep, making it hard to focus. All I want is to get lost in him, but somehow, I maintain my composure.

Both of us remain silent, waiting for the other to speak, the clock ticking away like a countdown. He runs his hand through his hair, tension radiating off him as he searches for something to say that might ease the silence. But after he told me to leave the room like I was nothing, I refuse to be the one to break the silence. I’m used to my brothers treating me like this, but I never expected Ace to do the same. It stings more than I care to admit, the realization that even someone I care about could dismiss me so easily.

Finally, after what feels like the longest, most awkward silence in history, he speaks. “I’m sorry about the other day, Scar, and I’m sorry I’ve been keeping my distance.” He turns hishead, and I can see the truth in his eyes. “I’ve been an asshole, and I know it.”

“Yeah, you have,” I reply, not giving him an inch. My whole life, I've been treated like I don’t have a brain to make my own decisions, and having the man I love do that too, it hurts like hell.

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