Page 7 of Madden

Brix and Tysin chuckle and Trey shakes his head.

“Over the years, yeah, I think that would be true. We’re all still young and figuring out what we want in life,” Brix says.

Tysin nods. “I’ll speak for myself in saying I made some mistakes before Kyla came back into my life last year. You learn a lot about who you are and what you want in life when you get out, date around, and meet new people. After a while, though, I realized I was chasing the wrong things. Lord knows it got us into some trouble along the way too,” Tysin adds.

“You guys have been talked about a lot in the media as of late,” Brielle says, changing the subject. Her eyes move to each of us before landing on mine. “Is there anything you’d like to say about the rumors? Anything you’d like to clear up?”

“We’ve talked about this in previous interviews. It’s starting to feel like the only stories that get attention are the ones painting us in a bad light,” Trey shares.

“Before I started seeing Layken, I’ll be the first to admit I wasn’t going down a good path. I believe now that joining the band and seeing her again out on tour saved my life. I don’t think the road I was going down before would’ve led me to a good place. I’ll admit I made mistakes both before we were together and even early on. The stories about going to strip clubs and even the fight I got in back in Nashville were twisted in a way that almost seemed like they were intentionally trying to tear us apart and bring me down.”

I nod. It was hard watching what Trey and Layken went through. We’ve had drama stirred in the media before, stories circulating about Brix stepping out on his relationship with Ivy, and even Kyla and Tysin, when Kyla’s engagement to her ex, Canon, was ending.

He’s in the media a lot too with his motocross career, so it added an extra layer of interest, focusing all eyes and attention on us.

Those stories were easy to shrug off. The stories about Brix were a load of bullshit. There’s no way he’d ever cheat on her. Old photos resurfaced and were made to seem recent when they weren’t.

As for Tysin and Kyla, it was bound to happen. News got out about Kyla’s engagement ending, and it wasn’t long before Tysin and Kyla were spotted together.

They fought against their feelings for years and weren’t going to wait any longer. We all knew it was something we’d have to get through.

It was different for Trey and Layken. Every word posted online caused a lot of hurt between them.

“We’ve started to look at the people we have in our lives, who we trust and allow in our space,” I add, and Brielle’s eyes connect with mine. “Forgive me for how this may sound, but it’s situations like this. Inviting you here, into my home, is like inviting you into my life. When you leave here, you could walk away and write whatever you want based on your opinion of us, and who knows what sort of effects that could have.”

Brielle crosses her arms in her lap, her gaze roaming over my face. Something about her posture and her stoic look tells me I may have said the wrong thing.

“I’m here to do a job and do it well. Between all of us, I’m not here to get on your good side to squeeze information out of you only to smear it through headlines later. If I’m being honest, I have no interest in getting close to you at all.”

She purses her lips, and my eyes lock on them. My dick hardens in my pants.

She looks like she’d get off on verbally sparring with men, destroying them into a million pieces and living off their remains for days.

Brix clears his throat, and Tysin chuckles. I want to knock their heads together and tell them to shut up.

“What’s so funny?” She narrows her eyes on them, and they go silent.

“He’s usually the one who manages to sweet-talk women. It’s funny to watch him be put in his place for once by someone other than his sister.”

“Will you shut the hell up?” I add, and Trey joins in, laughing with them.

The guy working with Brielle, I don’t think I ever caught his name, leans down and whispers in her ear. She stares at the floor, as if taking in what he says, and jerks her head into a nod.

“I think that’s all the questions we have for you today.” She attempts to paste on a sincere smile, but I see through her phony facade.

“We would like to get a few photos of you together for the article, if that’s okay?” the man says.

“Yeah, man, no problem.” Brix reaches his hand out to shake his, and I hear him introduce himself as Davis.

“Actually, I’m sorry, but is it possible you could come by tomorrow instead? Something came up last minute and we’ll need to wrap up.” I cross my arms in front of my chest, never taking my eyes off Brielle.

She, on the other hand, looks ready to shoot daggers at me.

“We’re only in town for the day. Our flight takes off tomorrow.” Her jaw tightens. It’s clear I’m getting under her skin.

“Great, we can plan for tomorrow before you take off. It shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

Davis glances at me and over to Brielle, then back at me. I hear him mutter under his breath about how they could come over in the morning before their flight leaves.

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