Page 95 of Break

“Fine.” Tim yanks his arm out of Landon’s grip. “Fine! I won’t go near her again.”

“We’ll know if you do,” I warn. “And god help you if that happens.”

Tim tugs on his winter coat and stares at the ground. “I didn’t mean for it to go this far. I just…” He blows out a long sigh. “Fucking hell. I have no excuse. I was just greedy and power hungry and stupid.”

“Get therapy,” Landon says in a dull tone. “Because if you step out of line again, you won’t be meeting us in a café or an alley. You’ll be a goddamn coffin.”

Tim backs away. “Yeah. Okay. Alright.” He bumps into a stack of cardboard boxes and catches himself. “I’m sorry, okay? Tell her I’m sorry and she won’t have any problems with me again.”

“Yeah, see, that’s not good enough.” I stalk towards him, peeling my coat off and dropping it on the ground. “You still have to apologize for trying to push yourself on her in her office.”

Landon and I work like two wolves circling dinner.

Then we close in.

Chapter 29

Nicole

Kerrington’s cell going off wakes me from our little nap. Wait. Where are they?

His cell dings again and then it rings. Snagging it from the bedside table, I stare at a number I never thought I’d seen on Kerrington’s phone.

“Mom?”

“Oh, thank heavens!” she exclaims. “Nicole, we’ve been worried sick!”

Sighing, I cover myself up with a sheet, even though I know she can’t see me. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you. I just needed a break from everything and came to Mason’s for a little while.”

“Don’t lie to me, Niki. You’re not there for Mason.”

The silence between us makes me feel like a child in trouble and I have to give some sorry excuse for my actions. But I won’t. I’m going to fess up and tell the truth.

Then I’ll take Mason’s advice and walk away.

My heart is already breaking because I love my parents, and I don’t want this to be the end. But I know when I say what I want, and what I’m going to do, they’ll disapprove, make me choose, and my life will become very different moving forward.

“I’m in love with Kerrington…” My mouth runs dry. “And Landon.” The pause while I wait for her response is enough to make me break out in a sweat. “Did you hear me, Mom?”

“Of course, I heard you.” Her voice is too calm, and that makes me scared. “And how do they feel about you?”

“They love me too. We want a life together.”

“The three of you?”

“Yes.”

“At the same time?”

“Yes.” How else did she see that going? “I’m sorry.”

Again, another long pause. Then my mom sighs and I can hear her pouring a drink for herself. “Sweetpea, what on earth are you apologizing for?”

“I’m sure this isn’t how you thought my life would go.”

“True, but that doesn’t mean you owe anyone an apology for it. It’syourlife, Nicole. Your father and I only want what’s best for you.”

“And you thought making me marry Mason was best? OrJackson?”

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