Page 44 of Golden Ruin

Tiffany hesitates, looking like she’s ready to take the bait. Marla seems to sense that all it’ll take is another small nudge, so she pushes more.

“Wait, you don’t think she’s still into him or something, do you?”

We’re all silent. Watching, waiting.

But Marla’s clearly disappointed when Tiffany shrugs and ultimately decides to stay tightlipped.

For now, at least.

Because who the hell knows when Tiffany will stop being silent, and I can only guess what she’ll say.

“I get it,” Marla sighs. “It’s all still kind of fresh. But when and if you ever want to spill the tea… you know where to come. My listeners would be more than happy for me to have you on a second time.”

Dez closes out of the link before Tiffany can speak again, and I stare at the black screen, having too many thoughts and feeling cycling through me at once.

Starting with the realization that Sterling’s engagement ended around the time Jax and I got here, and he’s been pretending everything’s okay.

Pretending he’s okay.

While I’ve been so wrapped up in my own shit that I didn’t even notice.

It hits me that my prevailing emotion should be anger, but that’s honestly secondary. Mostly? I feel guilty, responsible for his life falling apart.

“I hope that bitch gets what she deserves,” Dez mutters.

“A dildo with itching powder while her hands are tied behind her back,” is Jules’ response, earning her looks from all of us. “What?” she shrugs, drawing a laugh out of everyone but me.

I’m still in my head, still wondering if Tiffany was on to something. I mean, I’m by no means a fan of the girl and would never admit this out loud, but… what if she’s right? What if my being here is to blame for Sterling’s heartbreak?

I told him this would be an issue, but he insisted on me and Jax moving in.

Now, his kindness backfired.

I’ve already been looking for my own place, but now that I’m aware of what my being here has cost him, I have to speed up my search.

Sterling’s the kind of guy who’d never make someone feel like they’re a burden, but when it’s been so blatantly thrown in my face, I can’t ignore it.

Tonight, when he gets home, we need to talk.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Lexi

This conversation won’t be fun by any stretch of the word, but it’s necessary.

I’m grateful Jaxon sleeps like a rock, because I’ve been pacing his room the past hour, going over what I’ll say to Sterling, talking myself into believing I can do this. We need to talk about the podcast, his relationship. Or, more precisely, the impact my staying here has had on his relationship.

The alarm chirps when he opens the door, and my heart stops. I step out into the dimly lit hallway to the sound of his steps echoing across the tile down in the foyer, bouncing off the vaulted ceilings. Then, he’s on the steps, and every breath I take feels more intense than the last.

Until he comes into view, and I stop breathing altogether.

He stops when he sees me, and there’s so much emotion behind his eyes, written across his face.

I’m not sure I can do this.

We don’t talk about personal shit for a reason. There’s too much history between us, too many wounds that didn’t heal right. But here I am, preparing to set aside my dislike for Tiffany because I care about him. I may not love his choice, but I respect it.

And she’s his choice.