Page 91 of Dirty Little Mistake

"Oh my god!" My voice was lost in the chaos of shouts echoing off the walls. Syn pressed herself against the wall to my left, her hand covering her mouth. Harlow had disappeared—probably to get help. The hallway felt too small, too crowded with bodies and craziness.

My heart thundered against my ribs as I searched for an opening to intervene.

Jaxtyn burst through the stairwell, his broad shoulders filling the space. He shouldered past me, wrapped his arms around Trystan's waist, and hauled him backward. Trystan's feet skidded on the hardwood as he fought against Jax's grip, still trying to reach Owen. "What the fuck is going on?"

No one said anything.

"I don't know what's going on—" Jax's voice cut through the chaos. The words fell into the sudden silence, heavy with authority"—but this ends. Now."

Blood dripped steadily from Owen's split lip. Trystan's chest heaved against Jax's restraining arm, each breath sounding like it was being torn from his lungs.

"Then tell your fucking friend," Trystan's words came out ragged, "not to call my girlfriend a whore."

The word 'girlfriend' landed like another punch in the hallway. Jax's scowl deepened as his gaze tracked from face to face, piecing together the story written in our expressions, our positions, our silence.

"Wait." Understanding dawned in his eyes, followed quickly by something like resignation. I'd come here as Owen's girlfriend, and now I was with Trystan. "Your girlfriend?"

"He fucking cheated on her."

"Okay," Jax said, pushing Trystan's chest and forcing him to take a step back. "Listen, this can't happen right now. Kaia's pregnant and already stressed about the wedding. So all of you need to let whatever this is go for the weekend."

My gaze flashed between all of them, waiting for one of them to say something.

"Do you understand me?"

"Yeah," Owen finally said. "I got it."

"Trystan?" Jax asked.

"Yeah."

"Everyone, go back to your rooms and cool off. Just stay away from each other." No one moved. "Go," Jax roared. Trystan's shoulders stiffened, but he stormed off back to the bedroom, and Owen bolted down the stairs, leaving Jax and I alone in the hallway after Harlow and Syn retreated to their rooms.

"Do you know what you're doing?" Jax asked, his voice gentle.

I shook my head, throat tight. "No." The truth felt like glass in my mouth. "I just know I can't lose him again. Either of them." Because that was the real problem—Owen had been my safetynet, my best friend before anything else. And Trystan... He was Trystan. The fantasy I'd been obsessed with forever. Who broke my heart and now swore he was ready to repair it. The one I was head-over-heels in love with.

"You need to figure it out, Cam." Jax's words landed heavily on my shoulders. "Before they kill each other."

Or before I destroyed us all.

Chapter 44

Camryn

Wrapping my arms around myself, I stood on the terrace, staring into the distance as the sun began to set behind the ocean. This morning had gotten so out of control, but thankfully, we'd all managed to behave like adults for the rest of the day for the sake of Kaia and Jax.

Kaia, Syn, and I spent the day running last-minute wedding errands while Jax, Trystan, Owen, and Harlow did... Well, actually, I had no idea what they were doing, but I hadn't heard about a murder, so I was taking it as a win.

A shadow cut through the evening light below, drawing my attention. Owen's familiar silhouette emerged from beneath the terrace, his bare feet slapping against the concrete of the pool deck as he made his way toward the beach.

My gaze followed him until his feet hit the sand, and my chest tightened with the realization that I needed to talk to him, and I needed to do it without Trystan. I wasn't sure if enough time had passed for everyone to cool off, but I needed to try.

I rushed for the door, desperate to catch him before he disappeared down the beach. But just as I reached for the handle, it swung open, and Trystan's tall, lean frame filled the doorway.

His face lit up, dimples appearing in both cheeks. "Hey."

"Hey." I shifted my weight, unable to match his warm smile. "I need to go do something really quick."

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