Page 64 of Toxic Obsession

Nothing...

Sadie had classes earlier today, so my bet was she was either in the bedroom studying or passed out. I strolled toward the back of the house, stopping at the closed bathroom door, when I heard frantic whispers wafting out.

Leaning in, I listened. It was Bri and Sadie.

I didn't bother knocking. I twisted the handle and shoved the door open to find Sadie and Bri sitting on the countertop with makeup scattered around them.

My gaze flashed from the mess up to Sadie and Bri's bruised and battered faces.

"What the fuck?" I surged forward. I scanned over the dark marks discoloring Sadie's face, immediately thinking Sadie's mom had found her.

"Jay," Bri warned, dropping her feet to the bathroom floor. "Don't freak out."

"Who the fuck did this?"

"I'm fine," Sadie whispered. My gaze flicked to Bri, who had the same markings across her face.

"What. The fuck. Happened?" I shouted, anger coloring my tone.

Sadie's gaze flicked back to Bri, and I knew at that moment this was somehow her fault. Of course, it was. Bri was a troublemaker. I thought it was a phase she'd grow out of, but it wasn't. It was just who she was.

I stepped back out of the claustrophobic space of the bathroom. "Get out, both of you, now," I ordered, pointing down the hall. I followed both of them down the hall and into the living room. "What the fuck happened?" I repeated.

"A friend of mine needed help," Bri said. "And I couldn't help her by myself, so Sadie came to help me, and then my ex showed up."

It took me a minute to process exactly what she was saying.

"You went to your drug house?" My teeth clenched hard enough to send an aching pain through my jaw. Why would she do something so stupid. "You took Sadie to your drug house?" I balled my fist at my side, trying to control my anger.

"Jay," Bri said.

"There is no helping you, is there? You are never going to change." Anger flashed across my face. "Get your shit and get out."

"Jayden." Sadie's brows slammed together. "She was helping her friend, not doing drugs."

"Yeah, and you could have been hurt," I said, sliding a hand around the back of her neck and pulling her to me. I brushed my thumb across the bruising on her face. "You are hurt."

"Omigod," Bri whispered, and the room went quiet. My gaze met hers, and I knew she knew. She knew that I was falling for Sadie.

"Jay." Bri scowled, shaking her head. "No." I whipped around, storming out of the house and slamming the door in Bri's face. I didn't realize she'd followed me.

"Not now, Bri." I huffed out in one breath.

"Is everything okay?" Sadie asked.

Bri and I both looked up. "Go inside," I ordered. "Stay inside." She didn't move for a long minute as her gaze flashed between Bri and me, but she eventually caved and backed into the house, closing the door behind her.

"Jay," Bri said. "I like Sadie too, but you can't fall for her."

"I'm not," I lied. "She's just something to pass the time."

"No," Bri shook her head. "You were ready to throw me out for her, and I don't blame you because I would do the same thing for someone I loved, but you can't love her."

"I don't.—"

I don't know how this got all fucked up. Sadie was supposed to be a challenge I conquered, and once I did, it should have been over, but it wasn't. I couldn't make myself stay away from her.

"It should have been you," I reminded her.

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