Page 23 of One Little Spark

Jory’s mouth dropped open, pain etched on his features. “You’re choosing him over family?” His voice cracked. “Over me?”

Hazel’s heart plummeted to her feet. “No. It’s not like that.”

“That’s exactly what’s happening. After everything, you still put yourself first. You don’t care who you hurt.” His face went cold, and he glared at her, hatred in his eyes.

A sob caught in her throat. “Jory,” she called as he turned and left the room. She tried to go after him, but she tripped over the sheet and ended up on the floor. She heard the front door slam and then burst into tears.

Aiden bent down to help her up, but she batted his hands away. The last thing she could deal with right now was Aiden being kind to her. They’d fucked up royally. They never should have slept together. It was so stupid. Now she’d hurt Jory. He was the last person she wanted to hurt. He’d always been there for her, even when her mom couldn’t be. Even when she was being an ass, Jory had always been there. How did she repay his kindness? By sleeping with his best friend.

It didn’t matter that she was an adult and could sleep with whoever she wanted. It didn’t matter that Jory had no say over her sex life. What mattered was that she should have told him before she jumped into bed with his best friend. Not asked his permission but told him. Given him a heads up. She didn’t blamehim for being angry. If the situation was reversed, she’d be hurt too.

She tried to wipe her tears with the back of her hand. Aiden handed her a wad of tissue. She blew her nose and wiped her eyes. She knew she looked like shit, but she didn’t care anymore. She’d always wanted Aiden. Always. But now she just felt like the lowest of the low for being with him. As much as she’d enjoyed it—no, reveled in sex with him—she had to face facts. Sleeping with the man had been a colossal mistake. She’d hurt her brother, and he was right. It was selfish to not at least give him a heads up.

She struggled to stand, and Aiden leaned over and helped her up. “Hazel, I— “

She held up a hand. “Aiden, it was a mistake. We never should have slept together.”

“Yeah, I know. I forgot Jory had a key. It never occurred to me that he would come in. I should have thought of it. If we hadn’t fallen asleep—"

She shook her head. “No, I mean not just the sleeping part, the whole thing. We never should have had sex. It was a mistake. Jory is right. It was selfish of both of us. You are—were—his best friend, and that meant you were off-limits. It’s my fault. I should have said no. As much as he annoys the hell out of me, I know he does it because he loves me. Now I’ve hurt him. He’s my brother, and I hurt him badly.”

Aiden stared down at her. “You don’t really mean that, do you? That our being together was a mistake?”

She bit her lip but nodded. “Yes, Aiden, I do. It was a mistake. We hurt Jory. That never should’ve happened.”

“But what about you and me hanging out and getting to know each other over the last two years, wanting each other for that whole time? What about the absolute best sex I’ve ever had? You’re telling me it was a mistake?”

“Yes. The cost is just too high. Jory’s my brother.” She bent down and grabbed her shirt off the floor.

“And he’s my best friend—"

“Then you know we shouldn’t have broken that sacred bond. We screwed up.” She bent down again and grabbed her underwear. “I mean, yeah, it was definitely the best sex ever, but that can’t be important next to hurting Jory. It was a mistake. We were a mistake.” She stood back up and glanced at Aiden. His face had gone flat, and his eyes were stormy.

“I’m sorry you feel that way.” Aiden’s voice was formal, stiff.

Shit.“Aiden, I didn’t mean—"

“No, I think you were pretty clear. Your brother was right. You should move back home with your mom.” He turned and walked into his bathroom. The door closed softly, but there was no mistaking the distinctive click of him locking it.

Tears sprang to her eyes. She’d hurt the two people she cared most about in the world.Stupid.She grabbed her jeans and shuffled out of the room. The whole thing was her fault. If she hadn’t moved in here in the first place, none of this would have happened.

She closed her bedroom door and sat down on the bed. Who was she kidding? Sex between her and Aiden had been inevitable. She’d wanted him too much for too long for it not to happen, but she hadn’t stopped to think about the consequences. Aiden was…amazing in bed. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t just about sex. That she really cared for Aiden. More than she’d like to admit if truth be told. What mattered was that she jumped without thinking about the consequences again. She’d hurt her brother, and that was not acceptable.

She wanted to take a shower, but the sooner she was gone from that house the better for everyone. She quickly got dressed and threw some stuff in a bag. She went down the stairs andpulled on her shoes. When she’d moved in two weeks ago, she’d thought this was the beginning of something good. Now it had turned into the end of everything good. She went out the front door and closed it softly behind her.

Chapter Eleven

Aiden stayed in the shower until the water turned frigid and his skin was shriveled. He needed Hazel to be gone when he got out. He’d rubbed himself raw with the soap and wash cloth, trying to eliminate the tantalizing scent of her. He could still smell her as if she was standing next to him. Just the thought of her was making him hard. Last night had been…mind-blowing in so many ways. Hazel was amazing, and the sex was the best he’d ever had by far. They just fit together perfectly.

He’d thought when they’d drifted off to sleep after round four, that life was finally really going his way. He had a job he loved, good friends, and now a woman he loved that loved him back. Instead, he woke up this morning to a disaster.

Giving up, he turned off the water and toweled himself dry. They should have told Jory. No,heshould have told Jory. Hell, if he’d known what was going to happen, he would have. He’d honestly thought he could survive Hazel being in the house without giving in. Looking back now, it was stupid. He should have known better. He should have been honest from the beginning. Now Jory hated his guts and, apparently, so did Hazel.

Maybe not hated him, but she certainly regretted what had happened between them. Her words had cut him deeply. Icy fingers had shredded his heart. Maybe to her they were just fucking, but to him, it had been the culmination of him lusting after her and then falling for her over the last few years. It had been the beginning of something awesome.

Unfortunately, Hazel did not feel the same. She’d called their time together a “mistake.” He plucked a black sweater from his chest of drawers and then pulled on his jeans. He had to go to work.Fuck. It was going to suck. Jory was on for this shift aswell. He looked at his reflection in the mirror above his dresser. He’d fucked up. He’d let his friend down and lost the woman he’d been falling in love with all in one fell swoop. Now he was going to have to face the music and apologize to Jory. He owed his friend that.

He cautiously opened the bedroom door and listened. The house was empty. He knew it instinctively. He went down the stairs and rounded the corner into the kitchen. He came to an abrupt halt.Shit.No wonder Jory had come up looking for him.

---