Page 102 of The Forbidden
The Funeral, by Band of Horses plays softly in the background. Ironic really, considering it feels like the walls are closing in and the lights are dimming the further Anais gets away from me.
I’m not usually one for dramatics but this feels like an omen of things to come. Like I might have fucked up in the worst way possible and there’s no way back from this.
Swallowing, I shake my head, denying that fleeting thought.
There’s always a way back. Always a chance. I won’t accept anything less.
The sound of heavy footsteps behind me pulls me from my depressive thoughts. A shadow falls over me, and I don’t haveto look to know who it is. I can feel the anger radiating from him.
“You’ve got some fucking explaining to do,” Harrison growls, his voice laced with fury. I can’t even blame him. If one of my friends messed around with one of my sisters, I’d fucking kill them. Double standards, I know. But it is what it is.
Years ago, when Aria – the oldest out of all the girls - hit eighteen, we all agreed our sisters were off limits.
And now I was so fucking far over that line, it was a dot on my radar.
Finally, I climb to my feet and meet his gaze. I’m bigger than Harrison, in both height and muscle. I could easily take him, but I never want it to come to that. We’ve been friends since we were in the womb. Though I disrespected our friendship by going behind his back with Anais, I hope we can get past this. I hope he understands it wasn’t a decision I took lightly. That I love her. I want to be with her.
Crossing his arms over his chest, Harrison grits out. “You look like shit.”
Shaking my head, I snort, running a hand through my hair as if that will make my appearance any better. “Yeah, no shit. I just ran down thirty flights of stairs.”
“And why was that?” His jaw tightens.
He already knows the answer; he just wants confirmation.
With my eyes locked on his, I swallow down the panic as I prepare to say the words I haven’t even said to the person that deserves to hear them. “I-I,” I stammer, and by the way Harrison’s brows jump to his hairline, he’s as shocked as me. I’m a fucking mess right now. “I love her, man.”
The shock on his face morphs into red hot rage. The next thing I see is his fist flying toward me, slamming me right in the face.
Pain explodes through my jaw. I stagger back, collapsing in a heap on the floor.
I’ll allow him one hit.
“What the hell were you thinking? Of all the women in this city, you chose to fuck around with Anais?” Rowan mumbles, handing me a towel filled with ice and a tumbler of whiskey.
We’re back in the privacy of Harrison’s apartment – the women my friend invited long gone - not wanting anyone to witness our fight, or worse, see it splashed across the front pages of some trashy gossip rag. The vultures would love this. I can see the headlines now.
Rift amongst American Gods? What happened?
Nah, as much as Harrison is pissed at me, and deservedly so, he wouldn’t want our issues out for the world to see.
“Clearly, I wasn’t,” I mutter sardonically.
Glancing around, I watch as the housekeeper cleans up the mess. My gaze flicks to Harrison, who paces the floor, shooting me looks that promise retribution. Not wanting to get in the middle of our fight, the rest of our friends stand, cautiously waiting for what happens next. I rub at my jaw, surprised it’s not broken after Harrison’s punch. Tomorrow, there’ll definitely be a bruise.
Harrison stops dead in his tracks, his gaze swinging to me. His jaw tightens, and I can almost taste the anger rolling off him. He steps closer, pointing a finger at me. “I fucking know you, Maxwell.” He pales, going deathly white. “If you fucking took my little sister to Elite,” he chokes the name of the club out, “I swear to every fucking god, I will kill you.”
Running a palm across my jaw, I exhale, trying to remain calm. It’s an honest statement. He does know me. Harrison’s been with me through it all. From losing my virginity, to threesomes at Elite. He has every right to be pissed but it still turns my vision red. “Give me some credit,” I bite out through clenched teeth. “I never fucking took her there. I’d never disrespect Anais – or you, for that matter – like that.”
He laughs; the sound humorless as his body vibrates with fury. “You fucking disrespected me the moment you thought sticking your dick in my sister was a good idea.”
“Don’t fucking talk about her like that,” I snap.
He glares. “Well, it’s the fucking truth.”
I shake my head. “It wasn’t like that.” Except it was. At least at the start. “I love her.” Those three words taste foreign on my tongue. “Aminlove with her.”
The whole apartment goes silent. So quiet you could hear a pin drop. I’m not sure, because I’m not looking at her, but I think even Mrs. Greer, Harrison’s housekeeper, stares at me with wide eyes.
