Page 41 of You Were Always Mine
If I hadn’t agreed to come, maybe it wouldn’t have happened at all.
If I hadn’t been so desperate to prove Kai wrong…
A sob chokes me raw. I press my forehead to my knees, shaking so hard I can barely hold myself together.
Because the ugliest thought of all is the one I can’t shake — Kai was right.
He warned me, but I didn’t listen.
Now I’m alone — broken, drowning in shame I can’t wash off — wondering if maybe this is what I deserve.
Kai
The bass rattles through the floor, the living room packed wall to wall with bodies, laughter, smoke curling into the ceiling. I stand at the edge, drink in hand, pretending to be present, pretending to give a fuck.
Then the front door slams open.
And there she is.
Scarlett.
Her hair tangled, her mascara streaked, tears crawling down her face in rivers she can’t hide. She shoves past people without seeing them, her whole body shaking, until she disappears up the stairs.
The sight punches the air right out of me. My chest caves, rage and panic clawing at my ribs.
‘Yo, man.’ Jax’s voice cuts through, pulling me back. My best friend claps a hand on my shoulder, grinning drunk, oblivious. ‘What the hell was that? She looks wrecked.’
Idon’t answer. My eyes are still locked on the staircase, the ghost of her wet face burned into me.
Jax laughs under his breath, shaking his head. ‘Damn, Kai. I didn’t know your sister could party that hard. Guess she can’t handle her liquor, huh?’
My jaw tightens so hard it aches.Sister.The word makes me sick. She didn’t look drunk. She looked broken.
‘Hey.’ Jax nudges me, searching my face. ‘Seriously, what’s up with her?’
I force a shrug, the lie scraping my throat. ‘Don’t know.’
But I do.
I know enough, and seeing her like that—eyes wet, shoulders trembling, lips pressed tight like she’s holding in a scream—breaks something in me I can’t put back together.
Jax takes a long swig from his beer, eyes flicking towards the stairs where Scarlett disappeared. ‘She’s hot when she cries, though.’ He smirks, elbowing me like it’s a joke. ‘Bet half the guys here wouldn’t mind?—’
The red hits me before the words even finish. My fist curls so tight around the neck of my bottle it creaks.
‘Don’t,’ I grind out, low and sharp.
Jax blinks, caught off guard. ‘Relax, man. Just saying. She’s not a little kid anymore?—’
I turn my eyes on him so hard he finally shuts his mouth. ‘Drop it.’
The smirk fades. He studies me for a beat, confusion flickering. ‘Jesus, Kai. Fine. You’re wound tight tonight.’
I force a laugh that tastes like blood, tip the bottle back to my lips, and swallow hard enough to choke. ‘Yeah. Guess so.’
He claps my back, already turningtowards the music, pulling some other guy into conversation, forgetting me in seconds.
But I can’t forget.
