Page 97 of Heart Sick Hate

It was her finding a man beneath the sickness I thought had fully taken hold.

Her palms press to Rhett’s chest and curl on his shirt. I don’t know if she’s pushing or pulling, only that the whole scene rips me apart.

She’s choosing him while I’ve been waiting for her to make the right decision.

“Cute couple, right?” Some chick stops beside me.

She’s tapping a water glass with her long red nails that match her lips.

Her nearly black hair is in long waves over her shoulders, and her eyes are dark, focused on Echo and Rhett.

“That’s not what I’d call it.” I take a drink of my nearly finished beer.

The girl hums, continuing the tapping on her glass, as the crowd cheers. Her eyes narrow as she watches Rhett hold my girl.

My fucking girl.

And while everyone else seems excited for the happy couple, this chick seems to share my feelings.

She’s probably one of the girls screwing my brother. Her dark hair, wicked eyes, and polished perfection arehis type. And the way she clenches her drink until Rhett and Echo break apart tells me everything.

“On that note.” She downs her water and glances up at me. “Good luck to you too.”

Then she disappears into the crowd, leaving me with an unsettling feeling. This entire night has me twitching like a raw nerve, and that’s not who I am. I’m the one who inflicts pain so I don’t have to feel it. But right now, Echo’s stabbing me in the heart.

Looking up, I’ve lost sight of her and Rhett. They’ve molded into the crowd and are probably basking in congratulations.

Some stupid part of me thought I could fix this for her. That I could be enough for her. That she’d choose me, and this entire thing would never happen.

Now she’s wearing his ring, while hers burns through my fucking chest.

I hand my beer to a passing waiter and fight through the crowd. I can’t be here anymore where the walls are closing in. Where I’m forced to face the fact that I’m losing her, and I don’t know how to fix it.

In the ring, I’ll win every time. But here—Rhett’s pulled one I didn’t see coming.

Stepping into the empty foyer, a hand wraps my arm, stopping me.

“Crew, wait.” Echo’s voice sounds so small in this big, dark house.

I stop but don’t turn around. I’m not sure I can look at her when she’s the mirror that forces me to face myself.But it doesn’t stop her from circling until she’s standing in front of me.

“You’re leaving?”

It’s either that or I walk over to my brother and shove a knife in his throat.

“Bothered I didn’t stay and say congratulations? Please give my brother my apologies.” I try to step around her, but she just moves, blocking my path.

“Not right now, Echo.”

“You’re upset.” It’s not a question, more of a realization. Something that surprises her, like she wouldn’t have guessed it.

“What do you expect me to be? Happy the girl I’m losing my fucking mind over just said she’d marry my brother?”

“You knew this was coming.” She crosses her arms over her chest. “And I didn’t actually say yes.”

“Really? You’re going to go with technicalities right now?” I can’t help but laugh as I try to walk around her. But she gets in my path.

“I’m sorry, okay?” She grabs my arm. “You knew I had to do this. When I offered—”

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