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“Yeah,” he sighs. “But not irreparable. And when they let you in, it’s like nothing else you’ve ever experienced.”
“Nathan is the one who broke them.”
Chris shifts so we’re facing each other a little more rather than both looking at the backyard in front of us. “He is.”
The door of the pool house opens behind us and Rose walks out fuming.
“And here I was, thinking only one of my brothers was an asshole,” she mumbles before putting a cigarette between her lips. “I’m going to Rachel’s. I’m letting you know since, apparently, Jake now wants to keep tabs on my exact surroundings.”
She walks past us and into the yard without a look back.
“How did you all end up at yours?” Chris asks me.
“Nathan was sleeping at mine. Rose just…showed up.”
“With Sam,” he sighs.
I shrug. This is not even my lie to tell so I keep quiet.
Chris runs a hand behind his neck, massaging the tension knotting above his shoulders.
“I know this is going to sound crazy but…he seemed protective over her,” I admit.
He might not believe me, but I saw how Samuel was every time Nathan tried to hurt her. I saw the regret in his eyes when she said she would never forgive him. He cares for her.
“He is,” Chris confirms. “Too much.”
I can’t help but wonder what kind of relationship Rose and Samual have. I guess it doesn’t matter anymore anyway.
“Bet she won’t be hanging out with him now,” I say.
“If only,” he murmurs to himself. “I’m going to go back to the house. You’re welcome to tag along.”
I look down at myself, realizing I’m still wearing Nathan’s top and my leggings.
“I think I’m going to head home.”
“You don’t have to, Jamie. There’s more than enough room here for you. I understand if you don’t want to be alone at your house.”
I shake my head. “It’s okay.” It’s not but I can’t be around them. I can’t be around Jake. Not now, not like this.
“If you change your mind, you know where to find me.”
He walks away to the main house and I turn back to the pool house. I need to get my phone in there, and I’m not sure how I feel about being alone with Jake.
I let out a shaky breath before opening the door and walking in. No one’s in the living area.
“Jake?”
After a few seconds of silence, I get my phone on the kitchen bar and turn back around toward the entrance. I’m about to put my hand on the door handle when his deep voice startles me.
“How long?” he asks so calmly it freezes my blood.
I close my eyes and swallow before turning back around. When I open them, Jake is standing in the doorway leading to the hallway. He took off his bloody shirt and stands topless in his jeans only. He must have put ice on his face because it’s not that swollen, just bruising. There’s another deep purple bruise on his ribs.
“We shouldn’t talk about this,” I say.
“But we are. So, how long have you been seeing him?”
