Page 7 of Blindsided By the Enforcer

“Sorry you’re hurting, but you need to stay strong. Scarlett doesn’t deserve you.” My friend is right, I am hurting, but not for the reasons he thinks.

“I had a feeling you guys didn’t like her,” I say, but I didn’t realize how much.

“It’s not like that. If we all thought she was faithful to you, then we would have accepted her more. But we saw her for what she was. You should finally accept it too. As much as it hurts, it’s better off it happened now. Imagine you married her and had kids, meanwhile, she was sleeping around.”

I wince and a cold shiver runs down my spine. I move my hair off my face.

“Sorry, bro, I don’t want to be harsh. I also don’t want you to think of taking her back,” Aaron says.

He’s a good friend, he cares. Scarlett and I were complicated. She did me a favor by cheating, but I don’t share that with my friend. Aaron is right though, this arrangement with Annie is a smart move.

“Thanks, bro. Keep the thing with Annie on the low. I don’t want the guys talking,” I urge him.

“I got you,” he assures clapping my shoulder. “When are you headed to Mexico?”

“Not until the 24th,” I reply.

“Your parents booked you out on Christmas Eve?” he asks.

“I’m going home and flying out with them,” I explain.

“Good, you’ll have some relaxing time,” Aaron says.

“You can head out. I’m fine,” I assure my friend, since I think he is still hanging around because he is worried about me.

“’Kay, see you later.”

He leaves and I head up to shower. When I get out, I am feeling a little better. I get dressed and head to the kitchen, where I find Macklin cooking.

“Whoa, what is going on here?” I ask because the dude never cooks.

“Fuck off,” he cusses, side-eyeing me with a smirk filled with mirth.

I hop onto the island since Finn and Charlie are at the table eye-fucking each other while eating their ramen noodles.

Luc walks into the kitchen and Macklin warns him, “If you say one fucking thing, you won’t be eating.”

“Chill, bro,” Luc defends. He takes a seat at the table next to Finn and Charlie. “You guys coming up for air?”

“Yes,” Finn answers.

“We needed food,” Charlie adds.

Ruby and Hayden walk into the kitchen.

“Why is everyone hanging out here?” Hayden asks.

“Because Mack is cooking. We’re all curious,” I retort.

“Mack is a good cook. We’ll leave it at that,” Ruby announces to everyone. She would know because she grew up with him.

Ruby takes a seat at the table and talks with Charlie.

“If we had avocado, I could’ve made guacamole,” Macklin adds being a showoff.

“It’s good, bro. At least I know we won’t go hungry next year with Finn gone,” Aaron laughs.

“True that.” I fist bump him.

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