Page 74 of Stick Handled

His shit-eating grin widens, infuriatingly casual. “What’s the big deal, man? She looked like she was enjoying herself. Lexi’s always been good at—”

I lunge forward, and he stands, his smirk vanishing as I shove him back into the couch. “You don’t get to fucking joke about this, Rowan,” I say, my voice low and venomous. “You don’t get to send people to my house and pretend like this is some kind of game you want to win. You’ve lost your bloody mind.”

Rowan straightens, brushing off his shirt as if my shove was nothing, but his eyes are sharper now, colder.

“I don’t know what you’re so mad about. It’s not like you haven’t fucked her before,” he counters. “Just like my sister—”

“Don’t you fucking dare play the victim,” I snap, cutting him off. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” I can feel the last thread of my control snapping. “You just shattered your sister’s trust for no reason but to get back at me. How the fuck do you justify that?”

That makes him flinch—just barely.

His jaw tightens, his fists clenching at his sides.

“I did what I had to do. I won’t let you fill her head with bullshit, Damien. She doesn’t need someone like you screwing her up.”

“You’re the one who screwed her up.” I point a finger at him. His jaw tightens, but he stays quiet, watching me. “I saw her, Rowan,” I grind out. “Through her window. Curled up on her bed, sobbing her fucking heart out because ofyou. Do you have any idea what you just did to her?”

“Don’t,” he warns.

“Don’t what?” I snap, stepping closer, refusing to back down. “Don’t tell you the truth? Don’t make you face the fact that you broke your own sister’s heart to prove some shit point that couldn’t be further from the truth? That youhurt herjust to take a swing at me? What kind of sick shit is that, Rowan?”

His fists clench at his sides, his breathing heavy, but I don’t stop.

“You think you’re protecting her? Is that what you’re telling yourself? That this is for her own good? Because what you’re doing isn’t protection. It’s sabotage. It’s fucking cruel. And it’s not about me; it’s aboutyou. About your goddamn pride and your need to control everything around you.”

“Shut up,” he snaps, his voice cracking like a whip.

“No.” My voice rises, raw and unfiltered. “I won’t shut up. Because you’re my best friend, and you need to hear the truth. I’m in love with her, Rowan, and I don’t give a fuck if that makes you hate me. You can throw your punches, you can send Lexi, you can send a whole damn brothel, do whatever you want to me, but you crossed a line the second you dragged Avery into this.”

“You are the one who dragged her into it.” Rowan takes a step toward me, his eyes flashing. “You’re not a saint, Damien,” he shoots back, his voice sharp. “You’re the opposite.”

“Not with her,” I snap, my chest heaving. “Never with her. She’s not a conquest, Rowan. She’s it for me. And if you weren’t so blinded by your own immaturity, you’d see that.”

“Immaturity?” He steps closer, his voice rising.

“Yeah,” I fire back, not missing a beat. “Because what kind of man uses his sister’s heart as a weapon? What kind of brother manipulates her, makes her doubt herself, just to get back at someone else? You’re not protecting her. You’re punishing her. For what? For falling in love with me?”

Rowan freezes, his fists still clenched, his chest rising and falling like he’s holding himself back.

“She’snotin love with you,” he growls.

“You want to hate me for it?” I step closer, my voice quieter now but no less fierce. “Fine. Hate me. Blame me. Fight me. But don’t youdaretake it out on her. She deserves better than this.”

The words hang in the air, heavy and unrelenting. For a moment, Rowan doesn’t move, doesn’t speak. Then he takes a step back, running a hand through his hair, his jaw clenched so tight I’m surprised it doesn’t crack.

“You’re wrong,” he mutters, but the fire in his voice is gone, replaced by something quieter. Something that almost sounds like doubt.

“No,” I say, my voice steady. “I’m not. And deep down, you know it.”

He doesn’t respond, and for the first time since I walked in, the silence feels like a victory.

“Fix this, Rowan. For her. Because if you don’t, you’ll lose her. She’ll retreat even further away. And that’s on you.”

“So, you think you’re the guy for her?” he asks mockingly. “You’re no good for her, Damien.” He laughs. “You know it. I know it. Hell,sheprobably knows it. You’re not the kind of man who sticks around. You go through women like they’re disposable, and now suddenly, you think you’re boyfriend-material? For my sister?” He shakes his head, laughing bitterly. “I did what was inevitable. I ripped the fucking Band-Aid off before you could break her heart and leave her for dead like you do with everyone else.”

His words hit me like a sucker punch, and for a second, I just stand there, stunned at how far off the mark he is. Then, the disbelief burns away, replaced by pure, unfiltered rage.

“You’re out of your fucking mind,” I snap, stepping closer. “Is that what you’re going to tell yourself to sleep at night? That you’re saving her from me? From the big bad wolf?”’

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