Page 126 of One More Betrayal

“Em, leave it alone.” Kellan’s tone is lethally calm, but there’s something under the surface that gives even me the chills. I’ve never heard him talk that way to her.

Her replying scowl is enough to turn most men to ice. It doesn’t faze my brother.

“It doesn’t matter if I love her,” I respond, not even slightly entertained by their standoff this time.

Emily’s expression brightens, and a smile curves her mouth. “Sure, it does. Love always matters.”

Despite everything, I chuckle, a rumble deep in my throat. “You always were the romantic.”

“Even though it hasn’t done me a lot of good.” She raises her vodka cooler as if to propose a toast. “But we’re not talking about me. We’re talking about you. If you love someone, you fight for them. You don’t give up. You don’t date or have sex with Katelyn.”

“I’m. Not. Dating. Katelyn.” Dammit. How many times do I have to repeat it before they believe me?

“So you’ve said. But you haven’t actually denied sleeping with her. Does that mean you did sleep with her?”

“Did I wake up with her naked and asleep next to me? Yes. That happened. Do I remember having sex with her? No. Most of last night is a blur.”

Kellan still doesn’t look particularly thrilled by tonight’s revelation. No one does.

Has Jess heard the rumor about me and Katelyn? This is a small town. If she hasn’t already heard the speculations, she will have by tomorrow.

An urge ignites inside me to go out on the balcony and scream at the stars. I douse it. I don’t need everyone, including Zara’s neighbors, to witness my frustration. I feel sick. Sicker than this morning when I woke up with a hangover.

“Can we just start the game?” I ask, wanting to get the night over with.

Zara removes the pack of cards from the box and shuffles them.

An hour later, everyone in the room has whipped my ass in poker. It was a targeted attack. Of that, I’m positive.

Not in the mood to play another round, I call it an early night. I don’t even wait to get home before sending Katelyn a text.

Me: Just a reminder. We’re not dating

I turn over my engine and head home.

A text comes through while I’m driving. As soon as I park the truck in the garage, I kill the engine and read it.

Katelyn: Is the reminder for me or you?

Me: Your friends. You might want to tell them we’re not dating. They seem to think we are

Katelyn: Okay

Katelyn: Do you want to come over tonight?

Me: I’ll see you Sunday for the wedding

Katelyn: Okay. Goodnight, Troy

Maybe I should date Katelyn. If the woman I’m in love with isn’t interested in me, why should I stay single? Why shouldn’t I have sex?

Maybe next time I fall for a woman, she won’t be too afraid to take a risk on love.

Fuuuuuuck.

I slam my hand hard on the steering wheel, giving myself another reason to curse. Out loud this time.

Christ, I don’t know what I’ll do about Jess…and I don’t know what I’ll do if Katelyn can’t convince her father to change his mind about the sponsorship.

---