Page 75 of Unforgivable

Was this fucker for real? I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt that maybe he'd misheard Rhys about my staying with him, but also fuck that. He knew exactly what he was doing. I waited on the razor edge of my sanity for Rhys' answer. He wouldn't just ditch me for this dick, right?

“Uh, that's nice of you to offer, but?—”

“Rhys, come here for a minute!” Gran yelled out from behind us. Rhys looked at both of us nervously and I smiled softly to reassure him.

“I'm sorry, I'll be right back,” Rhys said, darting off to talk with Gran. I reluctantly turned back to the waste of space in front of me, and the disdainful look he was giving me said the feeling was mutual.

“So, do you go to UT with Rhys?” he asked, attempting to smile, but it came off more as a sneer.

“Yeah, we do.” I gave him my best smug smile. “It's been really great getting to see where Rhys grew up, and his Gran's been awesome. It's gonna be a busy week, that's for sure.”And there'll be no time for you, dickweed.

Connor's sneer-smile fell a bit and his gaze narrowed. “Well, I don't know how long you and Rhys have beenfriends,but we've been close for years. I'm pretty sure Rhys will make time for me. He always has,” he provoked. The way he said “friends” had my spine stiffening and I bit back a growl. It was obvious he thought Rhys would roll over for him, but that shit wasn't going to fly with me.

“I would say we're a bit more than just friends,” I retorted. “And I wouldn't be so sure about that since we both know you haven't always made time for him. Funny seeing as how the two of you were so…close.”

His brows pinched together and anger sparked in his eyes. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“From what I've heard, you ditched Rhys for a hot piece of tail over a year ago, ghosted him and everything. Plus I know you treated him like your hidden mistress while you two were fucking around in high school. You even took a girl to prom over him even though you were doing the backdoor boogie together. I mean, you were seriously committed to the whole “doesn't mean I'm gay” cliché, weren't you?” I scoffed, letting the sick satisfaction of pissing him off roll over me.

“You don't know shit about me and Rhys,” he bit out.

“I know more than you think. I'm also curious how he managed to be bullied repeatedly if you were supposedly so damn close with him,”I pondered aloud. It was a suspicion that had been flickering in the back of my mind for a while, particularly after hearing about Rhys' prom night.

Connor flushed a deep red, his angular jaw clenching so tight I could practically hear his teeth grinding. I pushed on without giving him a chance to respond.

“See, I think you didn't care about Rhys quite as much as he thought you did. He was probably so hung up on you that he'd forgive you anything, even leaving him to be targeted by shitheads at school. Did you ever stand up for him? Did you ever once try to stop it? Or did you really not see how broken and alone he was?” Every word I spit at him had my rage bubbling a little more, wanting to hurt him for not being the best friend Rhys needed back then. Someone who would protect him, cherish him, help put him back together. The kind of someone I was desperately working to be for him now.

“I didn't fucking know how bad it was. Rhys kept it to himself, and he seemed fine,” Connor snapped, but I could hear the undercurrent of nerves. “And don't you dare say I didn't care about him! You don't fucking know how I feel about Rhys or anything that went on between us. Also he didn't give any indication you two are boyfriends. Seems to me like you're just a fuck buddy, if you're even that, so who are you to judge?”

His jab hit its intended target because I couldn't argue that fact. Despite what I secretly wished, it didn't feel right lying about what Rhys and I were to each other. I honestly couldn't afford any more bad karma where he was concerned.

“What we are is none of your business. The only reason your history with Rhys is mine is becauseheis my business. By the way, where is this cute little girlfriend I heard about? She must really be something for you to toss Rhys overboard and fuck up years of friendship. I'm not one to complain about that though seeing as how I greatly benefited from your shitty decision,” I replied, shooting him a wink. I realized I was being a monumental dick, but oh fucking well. I never claimed to be a saint.

My last remark seemed to dig right under his skin. He stepped closer, only several inches separating us. His nostrils flared and I fought to keep my features unaffected.

“She's in the category that's none ofyourbusiness,” he snarled. “And don't forget who Rhys' first love was. You know what they say, younever forget your first and Rhys won't forget me. When he gets over you, which I have no doubt he will, I'll find my way back in. Enjoy it while you can.”

His eyes flicked over my shoulder and I sensed Rhys behind me before he appeared back at my side.

“Hey, sorry about that. Everything alright?” he asked, gaze flitting between us worriedly.

On reflex, I ran my hand over his back in a soothing motion and he shuddered under my fingertips. I loved how my touch still affected him, no matter what barriers he tried to hold between us. My blood was still pumping wildly with fury at Connor's assertion that Rhys would somehow go back to him. And his belief that he was Rhys' first love made me want to deck his balls with boughs of poison ivy. That'd be nice and festive, right? But I didn't want to upset Rhys, so I gave him a tight smile.

“Absolutely. We were just chatting. You ready to head back home?” I asked, trying like hell not to grin when I noticed Connor bristling at the mention of us going home together.

“Actually Rhys, do you mind if I talk to you really fast?” Connor rushed out, glancing at me for a second. “Privately?”

Over your dead and buried body, motherfucker.

“Umm, sure? Is that okay, Cal?” Rhys asked. My stomach soured at his answer. My instinct screamed at me to haul him over my shoulder and carry him far away from this rejected Chris Pratt clone, but that wouldn't win me any points with him. Contrary to what every cell in my body told me, Rhys didn't belong to me. I couldn't stop him from talking to his…old friend. Granted that friend wanted back in his pants, but it didn't change the facts.

“Yeah. No problem,” I muttered. Connor's shit-eating grin fueled my ire, but I was frozen in place as he slid a hand up Rhys' back and led him away. Dark images of shattering that hand and making him do a handstand on it filled my head, and I gave zero fucks if that made me a monster. He was touching Rhys.

My. Rhys.

However, if he was ever going to truly be mine, I had to start earning him. Trusting him with his ex was part of that. There was always a risk I could lose him to Connor, but I had been fortunate enough not to lose him any of the other dozen times I screwed up. Against all odds, Rhys had forgiven this villain and gave me a chance torewrite our ending. I hoped with everything I had that my luck would hold out.

But when I saw Rhys grab Connor's hand and squeeze it tightly, eliciting a smile from that prick, I recalled one very important thing.

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