“You okay?”
I wipe my hair out of my face and roll over, looking up at her. “How’d you know I was awake?”
“Woman’s intuition.”
I recognize the pictures on the nightstand and realize we’re in Bryce’s room.
“He moved you to his bed the second he stormed in the door,” she tells me without my asking. “Nate let it slip you were here when he found him. From what I heard, he broke every speeding law to get here, scared you’d left.”
Loud voices come through the door, and I strain forward to listen. As if she reads my mind again, she goes to the door and cracks it open. We both crouch down next to the opening.
“I’ve calmed down, but I’m going to ask you once again WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED?” my brother is enraged.
“Nothing!”
“It doesn’t sound like nothing! You weren’t here. You didn’t see her. Saying she was a wreck is an understatement. Something was said, something fucking whacked. She not only looked tweaked, she looked dead, like she was literally dying.”
“Jesus, what the fuck did I do?”
“That’s what I keep asking. What did you do?”
“Nothing, I swear. I was trying to be nice. I’m always trying to be nice. Liza took it the wrong way. I had no idea what she had planned. This is a fucking disaster.” Bryce sounds resigned, and I feel him hurting.
“I’m waiting to hear, man, and losing the last shred of patience I have. It will suck, but I’ll knock your ass to the ground again if you don’t start talking.”
There’s a loud sigh, and I can picture Bryce running his hands up and down his face. “I think I need to talk to Devon first. She deserves to hear it from me.”
“Listen, you’re my brother. You know this. I’ve told you for months to shut that bitch down. It’s obvious to everyone but you, and now she’s caused pain to someone I love more than anything. You didn’t hear it, but from the first time that cunt spoke to Devon, she’s been planting seeds of doubt.”
I suck in a deep breath while Nate tells him about my break down last night. Jamie holds my hand and gives me a weak grin I can’t return.
“She told her she wasn’t cut out to be a Navy wife? She told her I’d cheat? Why the fuck didn’t Devon talk to me?”
“She trusted you and didn’t want to let Liza think there were holes in your relationship. Now, Liza’s cut her deep, regardless of what you did or didn’t do.”
A chair scrapes across the floor, then there’s the unmistakable slamming of a fist through a wall. Glass falls and shatters, and the anger in the room seeps through the whole house.
“I’m handling this shit. Watch Devon. Don’t let her leave. I’ll be back in an hour.”
The front door opens, and Nate yells, “Stop! Bryce, I’m coming with you. Furious or not, I’m not going to let you ruin your career.”
At his words, I scatter to my feet and try to rush out to stop him. Jamie’s hands grip mine. “Nate’s got him,” she tries to reassure me.
The door slams, and I slump down and fall back in bed. “What time is it?”
“Five a.m.”
“Nate is supposed to be at work.”
“He switched shifts.”
“What a mess. I’ve ruined everyone’s New Year’s.”
“Not really.” She looks away, and her cheeks turn pink. “There’s something uber-sexy about a man who will drop everything for his sister.”
I cough out a small snicker that turns into a loud laugh. After about ten seconds, I’m sobbing again. She leans in and lets me cry on her shoulder until I’m gasping for breath.
“You don’t know me, but Bryce is the love of my life, and he cheated on me.”
“I don’t think he did,” she says soothingly. “That man doesn’t strike me as a cheater.”
“You should’ve heard what they were saying.”
“I don’t have to hear them. I saw the devastation they caused.”
“What do you mean?” I back away and catch her eyes.
“I shouldn’t judge. I don’t even know them well.”
“How is that? Nate mentioned you guys don’t hang out.”
“I’m not sure. The one time we talked about hanging with his friends, he said we’d plan something soon. He was elusive, withdrawn about the whole thing. I assumed he got sick of being with the same people all the time. The only one he ever talks about is Bryce. That’s why we’ve met. And I’ve heard all about you.”
Nate’s face at Christmas flashes in my mind, when I walked out and threw the coats at them, irate about Liza. He wasn’t aggravated with me. He was repulsed. Then in the truck yesterday and when he found me last night, he wasn’t shocked. His words from a few minutes ago replay in my head.
“I’ve told you for months to shut that bitch down. It’s obvious to everyone but you, and now she’s caused pain to someone I love more than anything.”
“Nate knew. That’s why he shields you. He didn’t trust them.”
“From the little bit he told me last night, he doesn’t trust a few of them. I think the guys are fine, but the women make him uncomfortable.”
“Wish like shit Bryce picked up on that.”
“I do too, hun. I do too. But after last night, I don’t care if I ever meet them.”
We sit in silence, and I rub my chest where it aches. There’s a ringing in the other room, and Jamie gets up. She talks low so I can’t hear. When she comes back, she sits next to me and gives me an encouraging grin.
“Nate’s on his way back. He’s going to get his clothes and take me home. According to him, you and Bryce need some privacy, but I’m not sure he’s right. Your call. You want us to stay, I’ll insist.”
“I don’t know what I want. Well, that’s not true. I wish like hell the last day didn’t happen.”
“I’ll put my number on the kitchen counter. You need me, I can be here in less than ten minutes.”
“Thank you, Jamie.”
She hugs me loosely then leaves me alone without another word. I curl into a ball on the bed and cry, knowing that even if nothing happened, Liza may have irreparably damaged my relationship.
I wake feeling watched. Sunlight streams through slits in the blinds, and the clock reads eight a.m. I turn and find Bryce sitting in a chair in his bedroom doorway. One hand holds a glass filled with whiskey, and the other hand holds the bottle. I rake my eyes over him, taking in his slouched posture and wrinkled clothes. His face is pale and emotionless, sending a chill down my spine. I sit up slowly, watching him close.
He takes a sip of the whiskey and then leans forward, putting his elbows on his knees.
“Go ahead and ask me.” His voice is so cold; I don’t recognize it.
“Did you sleep with Liza?”
“Biblically, no. Physically, yes.”
Pain twists in my chest.
“Did she give you a blow job?”
“She tried.”
“Were you naked?”
“She was. I was wearing boxers.”
I nod, not knowing if I can take much more. My stomach rolls, threatening upheaval again.
He drains his glass and pours more. When he finally locks eyes with me, I cover my mouth and whimper. His gaze traps mine but not in the loving desirable way I’m accustomed to. Instead, his eyes are hollow and empty.
“The bitch fucked me. I tried to be kind, understanding, supportive. She seemed lost and needed a friend. She’s known about you from day one, always knowing you held my heart. Somewhere after OCS, she got the idea in her head I was a roamer. Apparently, from experience with her dad, she thought all men strayed.
“I never led her on. But looking back, the signs were there. After the Shawn situation, she seemed to be around more, getting closer to Nicole and always invading the guy’s nights. Even though she never blatantly came right out and did anything, she was slowly setting me up.”
“How?”
“I’m a fucking idiot, Devon, but you need to hear some
thing before I tell you the rest. Can you trust me on this? I don’t deserve your trust but give it to me one last time.”
I nod, and he takes out his phone, presses a number and growls, “Now!”
He switches to speaker, and Dani’s broken voice comes across. “Devon, it’s Dani. I’m so sorry you overheard what you did. Liza embellished the whole story, and now, I know why. I was at Tommy and Nicole’s, and nothing happened. Liza tried hard. She was pathetic in her attempts to seduce Bryce, but it didn’t work.”
A single tear slides down Bryce’s cheek. “Tell her the rest.”
“Bryce was drunk, like really drunk. Liza had been telling us girls all night that she’d finally broken through and he admitted how he felt about her. Said he called her beautiful and talented. She was happy he finally saw the real her. She was pretty convincing. During the night, she found a way to keep taking pictures with him, even falling on his lap for a shot. When Tommy announced Bryce was staying the night because he couldn’t drive, Nicole went to get the air mattress. Liza went with her, and she was glowing, her intentions clear.
“I knew it wasn’t right, so I stopped drinking and pretended to sleep on the couch. When everyone went to bed, Liza thought I was passed out, but I saw and heard everything. She laid on top of Bryce, and he called out your name. She got pissed but then started kissing him. He didn’t really participate but pecked her a few times and rolled over. During the night, he stripped to his boxers and Liza got naked.”
“Oh my God,” I gag into my hand. Bryce’s eyes flash with concern, but he doesn’t even flinch.
“I never slept, Devon, and can tell you nothing happened on Bryce’s end. Early that morning, Liza started kissing along his chest and downward. She got close to pulling down his boxers, and he started groaning. Then he sat up, looking around. When he saw her on her knees, he jumped up cussing her out. She sat back, still naked, and told him to chill out. He threw on his clothes and left. After a few minutes, she started giggling and fell back on the mattress, reaching under his pillow and pulling out a phone. I assumed it was hers.
“I’m so sorry you heard what you did the way you did. We had no idea you were on speaker. I was ready to confront her but didn’t want to cause a scene in the bar. I was leaving to find Bryce to tell him what I witnessed the night before. Then he walked into the bar, and you know the rest.
“I can’t confirm, but I think she planned this. Heard Nicole get up and used that moment to try and seduce Bryce with a witness.”
I drop my head and try to stop myself from hyperventilating.
“Bye.” Bryce cuts the call and throws the phone to the floor.
“Here’s the clincher.” He leans back and locks eyes with me. “She didn’t know you were in town. She thought you were at home, hearing her spew her lies.”
“Why would she do this? What’s wrong with her?” My voice cracks.
“Nate and I think she had this planned. Her plan was detailed and elaborate. She assumed that you would cancel your trip and confront me by phone. I wouldn’t be able to dispute anything. She has the pictures and the witness in Nicole of her between my legs. If Dani hadn’t paid attention, I’d be more fucked.”
“She sent those pictures to me from your number. They are on your phone!”
“Liza forwarded them. I had no idea they existed until Nate told me. When I scrolled through my messages and saw them, my heart stopped. Hearing what she said and knowing you saw those… I can’t even explain what went through my mind.”
“This is sick.”
“Do you believe me that nothing happened?”
“Did you call her beautiful and talented?”
His already ashen face falls, and I know I’m not going to like the answer.
“Yes, but not in the way she portrayed.”
“Beautiful and talented can’t really be taken out of context.”
“I’m an idiot and take full blame.”
“Tell me all of it.”
“We all scheduled to meet for a drink after work Wednesday. There’s a bunch of us who have a college football pool going. Liza showed up, and she was torn up about a confrontation she had earlier with a colleague. She joined us, and by ten, we were the only two left. She unloaded on me, and I tried to reassure her she had a place in command. She said something along the lines of always feeling frumpy because of the uniform and being a slacker because she didn’t have a degree. I made an off handed comment that she was beautiful and talented and shouldn’t let people get to her.”
Somehow, even with the situation, this doesn’t upset me. That’s one of the reasons why I love Bryce; he respects hard work and always tries to boost self- confidence.
“Telling people the truth is a part of your charm,” I tell him honestly.
He hmpfts. “Yeah, until she turned it around on me.”
“That’s what I can’t understand. You’ve been manipulated before. You’ve seen the consequences. She’s been a problem since day one! I’ve told you repeatedly, but you kept making excuses for her. Goddammit, Bryce, I’m fucking furious! You may not have actually done anything with that skanky, nasty, calculating bitch, but you put yourself in a situation that allowed her to pounce. She’s been waiting for her chance. For months, we’ve had words about her. Even Nate knew she was up to no good, but you blew it off. What did you think would happen? Didn’t you see any of this?” I scream.
“No, I didn’t see it because she means nothing to me! I kept telling you that! I was a stupid, blind, fucking dumbass. No one hurts more than me right now. I hate myself for what I’ve allowed to happen,” he yells back, his face turning red. He balls his hands into fists and then pounds one on his knee.
We sit quietly, his heavy breathing filling the room.
“Tell me the rest. I need to hear it all,” I finally say.
He looks up, and his eyes pin mine. “I should have paid closer attention to you at Christmas. You were right to be suspicious.
“The night at Tommy’s was a blur. We’d had a great test procedure on the ship and were all hyped. We went to a bar, but then Tommy insisted we carry the party back to his house. I should have come home with Nate, but he had plans with Jamie, and I missed you so fucking much I didn’t want to be alone. Watching you on TV at the game with those guys seemed like a good idea. It’s always fun to brag about you being mine, so I accepted the invitation.
“We did shots all night. Liza was overly affectionate, but I tried to ignore her. I made the mistake of getting drunk. Somewhere along the line, I realized no one was surprised by her aggressive behavior. My mind was spinning, and I knew it wasn’t right, so I asked Tommy if I could crash. You know the rest. I swear to God, I don’t remember kissing her even if it was a peck. In my dreams, it was you. It’s always you. Your bright green eyes, the soft blonde hair, the pouty lips— you are all I dream of. I’m disgusted with myself.”
“Oh, Bryce.” I curl into my knees. His pain slashes through me, and I weaken a little, realizing we’re both victims here.
“Devon, can I come to the bed? I need to be near you.”
I don’t answer but nod, still lying in my fetal position.
He crawls in front of me, wraps his arms around me, and presses his body firmly against mine. We sit like this for a while, me trembling with rage, hurt, and hate. Several times, his breathing increases as he fights his own fury.
He squeezes then leans back, gently lifting my chin. His eyes swim in pure agony and anguish. I lean into his forehead and suck in hard, trying to control my breathing.
“Jealousy, envy, immaturity… whatever I felt toward her, you knew, and yet you still put yourself in a position for this to happen. That’s not fair to me. Regardless of her motives, I need to be able to trust you! I can’t go through this ever again. The thought of you both naked, her mouth on you while you got off, in the living room of people I thought were our friends?
“Do you have ANY idea what that did to me? Knowing you were with her at all?�
��
“I’m so sorry, baby. So fucking sorry. I should have listened to you. You were right the whole time. I misjudged the situation and did what I swore would never happen again. I swore you’d never hurt because of me. She’s officially out of my life. Forever. There’s no more pity or sympathy. She’s dead to me. Tell me you’re not leaving me.”
“I’m not leaving you,” I rasp. “I’m really fucking angry, but I’m not going anywhere.”
Without another word, he curls around me again and lets out a deep breath. Then he starts to shake. There are no tears, only silent cries of relief. I grip harder and sob into him. We don’t let go as we try to heal the heartbreak.
Chapter 28
A cold cloth brushes over my face, and I blink rapidly, trying to open my swollen eyes. Bryce’s lips touch each eyelid softly, and he hushes me.
“Go back to sleep, angel.”
I finally get my eyes open and focused on Bryce leaning over me.
“I’m okay but thirsty.”
He reaches over and hands me a bottle of water. I drink eagerly until it’s empty. “What time is it?”
“Seven.”
“P.M .or a.m.?”
“P.M.”
“So it’s still New Years?”
“Technically,” he answers sadly.
My stomach growls embarrassingly loud, and I burrow in the pillow.
“Someone needs to eat.” Bryce kisses my stomach lightly.
“Do you have any peanut butter?”
He grins and lifts me up, carrying me into the kitchen. I smell the astringent scent of cleaner and faint Italian, and my hunger disappears.
“Oh my God. I need to clean your living room.” I remember the mess and scramble down.
“Jamie did it.”
“Poor Nate. I’ve made the worst impression on his girlfriend. She’s going to think I’m a nutcase.”
“No, she’s a tough woman and full of sweetness. He’s found a good one.”
I search his face, and for the first time, notice the bruising on his jaw. My fingers run lightly over the discoloration, and he flinches.
“My brother?”
“Yeah, but I deserved it and so much more.”
Finding Our Course: Collision Course Duet Page 32
