Page 147 of Messy Strokes (Wrecked Roommates)

I stand there, paralyzed as my entire world falls apart. Unable to move. Unable to breathe. Unable to do anything except watch the love of my life slip through my fingers because of me.

My mistakes.

My lie.

Marty laughs, and the sound of his amusement echoes down the hall. Suddenly, Milo lunges for him, grabs the collar of his shirt, and yanks him closer, more pissed off than I’ve ever seen him. “What the fu––”

With lethal precision, Milo slams his fist against Marty’s face, and blood spews from his nose, splattering across the white wall in a ribbon of crimson.

Milo’s grasp on Marty’s shirt disappears when he turns on his heel without a backward glance, walking out of the hall and into the main exhibit area.

Leaving me alone.

And more broken than I could’ve ever imagined.

“Not one word,” Donny reminds Marty, his heavy hand slapping against his son’s shoulder as he guides him out of my sight.

Wiping beneath my eyes, I’m frozen in place, staring at the stained white wall and curious strangers who are bold enough to peek around the corner. They must’ve heard the commotion. They must’ve known I was still here.

So this is what it’s like to have your past catch up with you. To have your entire world fall apart. To have your heart obliterated.

I don’t recommend it.

38

Milo

Grabbing Jake’s shirt, I drag him away from his sister and grit out, “We’re leaving.”

“What? Dude, the gallery––”

“I don’t care about the fucking gallery. Meet me at SeaBird. Now.”

I let him go, stalk toward the exit without giving Jake a chance to argue, and drive like a bat out of hell in hopes of drowning out my sorrows and the image of Maddie tangled in the sheets with someone who isn’t me.

It used to be a turn-on. Seeing a woman lost in a haze of lust. But when I met Maddie, the novelty wore off instantly.

The truth is, the only person I wanted to see bring her to the edge wasme.

Andonlyme.

Sharing her with Gibson was one thing. I did what I had to do to be with the only person I wanted. But finding out Marty was sleeping with her too? I always knew it might’ve been the case, and seeing the fear flicker across Maddie’s face over the past few months only fanned my suspicions, but to find out Penny might not be mine?

It’s a new level I’d never anticipated.

I slam my hand against the steering wheel and push the gas pedal a little harder. The speedometer inches up a few more notches until I’m positive I’m gonna lose my damn mind.

Or maybe I already have.

* * *

Slappingmy palm against SeaBird’s counter, I yell, “Two shots, Sam.”

Sammie, the bartender, sets a pair of shot glasses in front of me and fills them with amber liquid. I swallow them down, one after the other, letting the warm burn spread from my throat to my stomach as I settle onto a barstool.

“You okay?” she asks.

“Two more.”

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