Page 52 of Wilder Love
“I’ve never seen Remy fall apart before. We’ve been through a lot of shit. Her more than me. But she’s never broken down like that before. She wasn’t eating. Wasn’t leaving her bed. She’s still a wreck. Because of you. She loves you. You deserted her like every other asshole in her life.”
“She cheated on me,” I said, my voice an angry growl. I hadn’t meant to say that and instantly regretted it. Not cool.
He stared at me like I’d grown three heads. “She wouldn’t do that. No. Fucking. Way. She would never have cheated on you. Don’t you know Remy at all?” He shook his head like he was disappointed in me. “Maybe I gave you too much credit.”
“Why would she tell me that if it wasn’t true?”
“If she pushed you away, there was a reason. She doesn’t believe that she deserves good things in her life. She thinks she’s just like our mom. And she’s not. If you really loved her, you wouldn’t have let her go without a fight.”
“You never wanted us to be together. Why the change of heart?”
“I’m losing her, and I don’t know how to bring her back. But maybe you do. If you care about her at all, talk to her.”
He was asking for my help. I knew that it had taken a lot for him to swallow his pride and come to me. Remy and Dylan didn’t ask ‘outsiders’ for help.
Having said all he needed to, Dylan walked away. The St. Clairs were so damn good at turning your life upside down and then just walking away.
I scrubbed my hands over my face.
If it wasn’t true, if she hadn’t slept with someone else, why would she have told me she did? If she still loved me, why would she push me away?
Why did I have to fall in love with you, Remy?Why?
* * *
I hadevery intention of opening that metal door, crossing the roof, sitting down next to her and talking. Just talking. Like an adult. Like a sane man who was in control of his emotions. A sane man who had a handle on his feelings and could have a normal conversation. But that’s where it all went wrong. When it came to Remy, I had no control over my emotions.
I did not, however, expect to be eavesdropping on the other side of the door, straining my ears to hear the conversation through the small crack.
It all started when I heard the words, “Shane can never find out. He can never know what I did.”
So, I didn’t open the door. I stood behind it, and I listened. I heard it all. Every fucking thing she didn’t want me to know.
It wasn’t until she was done telling her whole sordid tale that I pushed open that door and walked onto the roof.
“Shane.”
Sienna took one look at me, squeezed Remy’s hand and told her to call if she needed her.
I raked my hands through my hair and held the back of my head. “Why, Remy? Why would you do that? Do you honestly believe I wouldeverwant you to do something like that?”
“I don’t know what you’re—”
“Don’t lie to me,” I gritted out. “I heard everything.”
“You were listening to my conversation?”
“Why, Remy? Why would you go along with that?”
“He threatened to call the police. He told me he was going to report you. And I was scared it would ruin your career.”
I’d heard that part. I just couldn’t believe she would have gone along with it. “And you thought that was more important… that I would choose my career over you? That I would choose a lie over the truth? Don’t you know me at all, Remy? I never would have let you take the fall for me. That was all on me.Iwas the one who needed to take responsibility for my actions. All you had to do was talk to me and I would have—”
“You would have what, Shane? What would you have done?” Her eyes flashed with anger.
“I would have told the truth,” I yelled. “I would have done whatever it took to make it right.”
“Don’t you see? That’s what I didn’t want. I’m the one who begged you to have sex with me. I’m the one who forced—”
