Page 72 of Break

“Want my advice?”

“Sure.”

“Walk away.”

My body locks as my heart slips out of me and splatters on the polished floor. “What?”

“Walk away, Nicole. Leave everything behind and follow your heart. Wherever it leads you, that’s where you belong.”

The fact that I thought he was telling me to walk away from Kerrington and Landon, and the visceral reaction my instincts had to it, is a wake-up call.

“I don’t think I know how.”

To walk away from my entire life would be easy. But to walk away from my family too? I don’t think I have the courage. I love my parents. Whether or not I’m good enough for them, I still love them. I still want them in my life. The idea of them not supporting me and my choices guts me as much as the thought of cutting them out of my life does.

But they’ve never supported me the way I’ve needed, so why do I care so much? Besides, they’ll never accept me having two men in my life.

“What if it’s fleeting?” I ask, letting him see the raw fear I’m clinging to. “What if I’m just a phase for them, Mason?”

I’ll have given up my whole world and they’ll only use me up and spit me out when I’m too boring, too annoying, or too frustrating to deal with.

“Does it feel like it’s a phase?” He cocks his brow at me.

“It feels like it’s too soon for this conversation.”

Mason does this little side nod thing that tells mehe might just agree. “What if I told you they’ve been in love with you since college?”

That’s impossible. I was horrible back in those days. Completely unlovable. “I’d say you’re reaching, and that’s unhelpful.”

“I’m telling you the truth.” He deadpans me. “They never touched you because of me. I’m no longer an issue, so they grabbed you the first chance they could.”

At the gala.

My mind reels thinking about that night again. We were so perfect. So right. So happy. I’d gaslighted myself so many times into believing that it was just a wild night where we could each be someone we’re not. It was a fantasy. A rebellious act that wasn’t meant to last.

But that’s not the truth.

We were ourselves. We were real. And we were so. Fucking. Happy.

“Walk away,” Mason says again. “You won’t regret it, Nicole.”

Kerrington’s laugh brings me out of my head. Filling three glasses with ice water, I tuck them against my chest and carry them into the bedroom. Landon’s pulling sweatpants on and Kerrington’s drying off his hair.

My heart bubbles with joy at seeing them like this.

“I have water.” Hurrying to Landon first, he takes two of the glasses and hands one to Kerrington. “Thank you, sweetheart.” He kissesmy forehead, making me feel precious, and I almost spill the beans and tell them everything I’ve been holding back.

But my cell phone suddenly rings and I shut down automatically when I see the number.

TW.

My blood runs cold.

“Are you going to answer it?” Landon asks, innocently.

Not a chance.

Chapter 23

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