Page 18 of Undeniably Enemies

Because of him.Forhim.

And now she fucking hates my guts because of it.

I’m her villain. The guy who took her virginity in all the wrong ways and continued to do wrong because I didn’t know how to do right by her. He turned me into the bad guy, and I am not the fucking bad guy! He is. For lying and hiding what he was doing with Estlin.

“Jack, stop!” Estlin cries, racing over, but Keegan and Wren hold her back as Vander, Stone, and Mason now stand in between me and Owen. Mason is practically right in front of me, all six-four, two hundred twenty pounds of NFL quarterback. He’s not saying anything, but he doesn’t have to. His size and expression say it all. Only fuck him. He’s not part of this.

This is between me and my best friend.

“I won’t stop,” I seethe at her before turning my wild eyes back on Owen. “Did you think I wouldn’t find out? Did you think I wouldn’t care when I did?” He knows what I’ve been through. He knows. And yet he did it anyway. No one cares enough about me to put me first when that’s all I’ve ever done for everyone else. Him especially.

“What’s going on?” Wren questions, glancing back and forth between me and Estlin, her brows knit together.

“Can we go somewhere else and talk about this?” Owen asks meaningfully.

“No. We can’t.” I turn to Wren, my eyes bleeding into hers, needing her to feel the same outrage I am. “What’s going on is your brother has been messing around with my little sister,” I snarl before turning my unrelenting gaze back on Owen. “And from the looks of it, I’m not the only one you were keeping this from.”

“Is that true?” Wren asks plainly, and why isn’t she more upset? How is she not going as crazy with this as I am? Her indifference adds accelerant to my already blazing fire. I know it never would have worked. I know she was too young, and our lives were in completely different places. But I… fuck.

I wanted her.

And she wanted me. I know she did. Both as Cinderella and the girl who begged me not to stop. And like everything else in my life, I lost her before I even truly had a shot. My life is a series of never-meant-to-bes. How long have I hated myself for betraying Wren and betraying Owen? Yet here he is, sleeping with my sister and betraying me the way everyone else has.

I scrub a hand up and down my face, dragging myself away from that night and those memories. Owen and Estlin are happy and in love, and I want that for them. It fills me with joy to see them together. To have Owen truly as my brother. Even if the sting of their betrayal still hurts. Another nick in my skin and a scar added alongside all the others.

Me: You met me years ago. Obviously, since our first text exchange is very old.

Wren: I can’t stand this. You’re evil.

That alone should tip her off.

I rub the top of my head. She has no idea. I am evil to her.And I shouldn’t be toying with her now. Generally speaking, I don’t get off on fucking with women’s minds. But I like getting a rise out of her. Sue me. She’s not in front of me, and that makes this easier, but it’s still Wren. And since she’s already suffered enough at my hands, it’s wrong. Still…

Me: I’d apologize, but I won’t.

I shift in bed a little, finding myself smiling and wondering why I’m entertaining this. Probably because it’s been way too long since I’ve had anything or anyone make me smile. Christ, I can hardly remember the last time I had sex. I’ve become an antisocial workaholic.

And in my case, all work and no play makes Jack an asshole.

Wren: Maybe this is why I didn’t text you again.

Me: Hey, you’re the one who texted me first. I’m simply trying to keep up. Some might call this making the first move.

Wren: Are you trying to flirt with me?

That pulls me up short, and I drag my thumb across my bottom lip as I think about how to respond. Was I flirting with her? No. I wasn’t, right? I don’t flirt with Wren. Argue, ignore, patronize, despise, yes. Flirt? Absolutely not.

Me: Maybe.

I close my eyes and blow out an uneven breath. Why did I type that? Why did I send it? When she learns it’s me, she’s going to rip off my balls and hang them on her Christmas tree as ornaments.

Wren: I’m not sure how I feel about that.

Me: Me either.

At least I’m honest.

Wren: I got a new phone tonight, and in the process of cleaning out my old stuff, I came across your number. I almost deleted you before I made my move. I still could.

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