Page 171 of Finding Hope

“Joe.”

I narrow my eyes as the adrenaline zings through my veins. My hands open and close reflexively.Talk about a tell;I know for damn sure Britt watches them. She knows I’m about to use them.

“Jack, it’s not–”

“Did you guys plan this?”

“No!”

“Just a happy coincidence, then?”

“Jack, it’s not like that–”

“You’ve been extra busy, huh? All those extra staff meetings must be tiring. It’s handy you had each other to lean on.”

“Stop.”

“No, I don’t think I will! Those meetings seemed to increase while I was away.” My angry eyes turn to Brad. “You warm my side of the bed while I was gone, asshole?”

“Jack, you need to stop–”

Something akin to an explosion in my brain goespop!when Brad throws his arm around Britt’s shoulders.

“I’ll drive you home, babe. I told you all along he was unstable,” his eyes lift to mine, “riffraff.”

Big fucking mistake!

Storming forward before my brain catches up to my actions, I tear his arm off of her and barely notice her cries of pain when her hair catches between us. Taking him by the lapels of his fancy coat and using every ounce of strength I have, I toss himthroughthe opposite wall.

“Jack!”

I swing back to her with feral anger coursing through my blood. “Hetold you all along?”My snapped words freeze her as she steps towardhiscrumpled body. “You’ve been talking aboutmewhile fucking him?”

“No!”

“A man goes outta town for a week, and he can’t trust his girl to not fuck around on him?”

“I didn’t–”

The engagement ring in my pocket burns and makes me want to cry.

I’m a fucking fool.

Stephneverwould’ve made me feel like this. She never made me doubt her loyalty for even a second.

“I’ve tried, Bambie. I’ve tried to get your attention, your love, your loyalty. I shouldn’t have expected too much; you did fuck me before you even knew my name. I just figured you being my girl exclusively would buy me a little…” I laugh humorlessly. “Well, exclusivity.”

She steps up to me, as brave as any man. Slamming both hands on my chest, she pushes me back a step. “I’mnotyour girl! I’m not your anything except a one-night-stand and second choice!”

“You’re right.” I acknowledge quietly. “You’re not my girl. You’re not my anything…” I swallow past my heartbreak and self-loathing. “You’re just a whore. Get your boyfriend to drive you home.”

“Jack–”

“Go fuck yourself, Brittany.”

36

JACK

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