Page 74 of Trust Issues
“Banished the fuck out of her. I don’t need to have sex with her. I already know she can’t top Kyle. There is no topping Kyle. How do you top a best friend and a girlfriend all rolled into one?”
Owen shrugged his shoulders as he tried to contemplate what I’d said. “I don’t think you can, Max. You may have found the one.”
The one.
My skin prickled with warmth and my brain conjured up every fucking memory possible of Kyle. The way she laughed, the way she smelled the way she moaned my name when I was deep inside of her. The way she wanted what was best for me and wouldn’t stop pestering me until I listened.
“Maybe…” I leaned back in my seat and pulled my train of thought back on track. “I’m having trouble coming right out and saying that to her. A part of me is still hung up on shit that happened in the past that doesn’t have anything to do with Kyle.”
“Are you talking about that shit with Elle?” No matter how much I insisted on not using or hearing her name, Owen disregarded my wishes. Every letter of her name still left a sour taste in my mouth.
I shot him a pointed look and he groaned. “You gotta let that shit go. Kyle isn’t like that and you know it.”
“I know. I didn’t say she was. I said I’m still hung up on it. Kyle is my first relationship since…her.”
“Elle?” Owen said, lowering his chin a bit. I grit my teeth together until my temples began to pulse from the pressure. “How are you going to get over it if all you do is block it out? It happened. It was fucked up and you didn’t deserve that. You gave her everything and she shitted on you.”
“She wasn’t alone,” I said.
“I know. I know. What Nate did was equally fucked up. He knew better. I don’t have the answers but I know you have to find a way to get past it or you’re going to fuck up the only good thing you’ve had in a long time. I don’t want to see you and Kyle split up. I like y’all together. Then I’ll be left wondering whose apartment I should hang out at.”
“Yeah, Owen, the last thing we’d want is to make you choose sides in a custody battle.”
“I’m glad you’re being considerate. Seriously though, don’t fuck things up with her. Besides the fact that she’s really a good girl, she seems like she’s not above cutting you and finding a loophole to avoid jail time.” He was right about that. I couldn’t argue. I made up my mind that I would tell Kyle how I felt about her. I’d tell her that I was falling in love because no matter how much I tried to avoid the truth, I couldn’t.
I was tumbling head over heels for Kyle.
I stayed and talked to Owen for a couple of hours before I decided to go back home. I’d actually gotten a text from Kyle saying she was on her way back. I wanted to beat her home.
I was on the way to my car when I saw a familiar black Audi pull into a parking space nearby. I slowed in my stroll and glanced at the driver.
It was Nathaniel.
My first inclination was to keep going. Get in my car, drive off and never look back. I promised Kyle when I got the chance I’d at least be cordial to my big brother though. We caught each other’s gaze and I stopped beside my car trying to gather the patience to be polite.
Nate stepped out of the car and looked at me. I returned the stare. It was like looking in a mirror when you loathed your own reflection.
“Hey, Nate can I ask you something?” Those were the first non-combative words I’d uttered to him since I found out he fucked my fiancé. He blinked a few times then stepped towards me as if he weren’t sure I was speaking to him. He even placed his hand on his chest. “Yeah…” I nodded. “Unless there’s another Nathaniel Parker out here.”
…who likes to fuck their little brother’s fiancés.
My tongue burned with the need to say what was rattling around in my head. I kept it quiet though.
“What’s up?” He said skeptically.
“You fronted Owen the money to start his own shop, didn’t you?” Nate’s eyes dropped to the ground and he shrugged.
“I did. He needed a jumpstart and I had it, so why not? You gonna bite my head off for helping our brother?”
“No,” I said, flexing my jaw. “I want to make sure you don’t end up fucking him with the loan you handed out. He needs to be able to legitimately pay you back and he needs to work it into his business budget to do so.”
“I know that. I looked over his business plan and his five-year projection. You’re the financial expert though. I can send you the paperwork if you want.”
“Yeah, that would be fine,” I said.
“Max, I’m not trying to screw Owen over. I want to help him. He’s good at what he does he just needs a push. While being a mobile mechanic is fine, he needs a shop.”
“I agree. As long as you have his best interest at heart, I’m cool,” I told him honestly.
