Page 114 of Rumor Has It

Chapter 25

Boone

Since the night of the reunion, Reed has spent an obscene amount of time with Mackenzie and Rumor. I’d love to say it doesn’t bother me, but it’s driving me insane.

I’ve started staying at my parent’s house a few nights a week, knowing he’ll be over at Mackenzie’s until late. I don’t to interfere. Reed has taken up complaining about how close I am to Rumor, and I guess he’s right.

“You doin’ alright, man?” Riley nudges my shoulder before sitting across from me.

I point to the door. “Chord’s on his way.”

“Walker too.” He nods when the waitress sets his drink on the table. “Thank ya. I ordered when I came in.”

“I considered double fisting them.” I clink his glass with mine, slamming it back, I finish it off, and slam it on the table.

Riley shakes his head. “I hate this for y’all.”

“No more than I do. I told her he would do this, he’d use every angle he could to come between us. I haven’t even seen them in three days. I’m dying.” My shoulders curve with the pain in my chest.

Walker and Chord saunter through the door together, grabbing drinks in advance. They slide into the seats opposite from us. My friends sit there, allowing me to wallow in what once was my world.

“Tell me you’re not going to let him do this to y’all?” Riley breaks the silence around us.

I throw up my hands. “What choice do I have in it?”

“You should talk to Mackenzie about it.” Chord smashes his mouth into a thin line.

I drop my head. “And say what? I’m jealous as hell. Let me come home?”

“I think you should try the truth.” Walker taps the table with his finger.

“Yeah, what do you think that is?” My eyes are no more than a slit.

Walker’s body vibrates with laughter. “That you’re scared as hell, and you don’t want to lose them.”

“She’s afraid Reed will push my buttons, and we’ll get into. He’s holding so much over her head that it’s no less than extortion.” I pound my thigh with my fist thinking of Reed’s face.

“What’s he playing at, Boone?” Chord straightens in his seat.

I rub the back of my neck. “He told her he believes Rumor is his, and that me being there is keeping them from bonding.”

“She bought that shit?” Riley grumbles.

I lift my shoulders, letting them fall easily. “Any time she brings up testing him, Thorton reverts to custody, and she knows he’ll do it. He’d rather take Rumor to hurt us than because she might be his daughter.”

“Sounds like extortion to me. Can’t we do something about it, Walker?” Riley’s head snaps to his brother.

Walker shakes his head. “No, not a damn thing.”

“This is so fucked up.” Chord runs his hand through his hair.

“I’m losing them again, no matter what Kenzie says to me. I can see it. It’s as plain as the writing on a wall.” I bury my face in my hands. Riley sucker punches my arm, and I gasp, grabbing it.

“Is this déjà vu? I feel like this has happened before…” He cranes his head around and glares at me. “Because it has! Why aren’t you fighting for them?”

“I’m not sure I’d win this time either.” There, I said it. My chest concaves with pain and the image of them walking away from me. Forever.

Walker leans forward. “Unless you talk to her, she’ll not have all the information she needs to make a rational and heartfelt decision.”