Page 75 of Pieces of Us

‘I don’t know what to do. Someone tell me what to do.’

‘Do you have feelings for him?’ Jagger asks. ‘Because he sure as fuck is in love with you.’

‘How do you know?’

‘He wanted to beat me to a bloody pulp when he found out you rode my dick.’

I gasp as Lily and Rome laugh.

‘Payback’s a bitch,’ Lily smirks.

‘How…why? Why would you tell him that?’ I didn’t lie to Linc. He never asked. Plus, it really was none of his business, but I look hypocritical as fuck for calling him out on all the sluts he’s fucked over the years.

‘Jag…’ I groan. I could never be ashamed of finding solace in my best friend, but it just complicates things further.

‘For what it’s worth, I think he knows he made the biggest mistake of his life. Just like you, he’s not the same kid you grew up with. If you’re still this twisted up over him, maybe there’s still something there worth salvaging?’

How Jagger manages to stay so humble and down to earth, I’ll never know. God seriously created the perfect man.

Lily reaches for my hand to give it a squeeze.

‘I think maybe you should just get everything out in the open.’ Rome is always the voice of reason.

‘I don’t think there’s ever been a lack of love between the two of you.’ Lily says.

‘How can I trust him not to break me again?’

‘He’s bared his soul to you since you’ve been back. He’s stuck up for you to Billie.’ Rome makes two very convincing points.

‘Oh. Oh, and he’s told you he is in love with you and wants you,’ Lily snaps her fingers, interjecting.

Warmth penetrates my skin as I feel smooth stones being strategically placed down my back. The weight of them pin me to the bed, anchoring me to face my true feelings.

‘I think—no, I know—I love him. I think I will always be in love with him.’ As I let the words escape my mouth, I feel a shift in the air around me, like I can suddenly breathe again.

‘So, what are you going to do about it?’ Jagger asks, grunting as his masseuse places the stones on his back.

‘I’m not sure. I know I have to talk to him when I get back. I don’t want to keep going around in circles, and I’m sick of running.’ It’s a murmur of a confession, or a promise.

‘You’ve got this, chicka,’ Lily pumps me up.

As the massage comes to an end, Jag pulls me away, taking me on a long hike. Our little ritual when we go away is always finding hidden gems wherever we are and going skinny dipping. Some of those times, we’ve captured, but the majority of the time, we’ve kept them for ourselves. More often than not, we’d just finished having sex before we took the leap into whatever body of water we found.

The lush greenery seems more vibrant the further we find ourselves in the tropical rainforest. We’re on the hunt for a secret waterfall. Regardless of if we get naked or fuck—which I don’t intend to do either—it will still make a killer content backdrop.

‘Penny for your thoughts, angel?’ We’ve told his bodyguards to take the afternoon off, so I know there is no one around to overhear the secrets we share.

I’ve been quieter than usual, taking in the tranquil sounds around me. The melodious chirps and calls of birds echo through the forest canopy, adding to the gentle rustle of leaves. The forest is alive with a vibrant ecosystem of crickets and cicadas, but it’s the gentle babbling of water cascading over rocks that is centring my thoughts.

‘I don’t know how to let you go. You’ve been my lifeline for so long, and I feel like I’m going to fail without you.’ I’ve been overcome with grief at the thought that Jagger won’t be my safety net like he has been if I get back with Lincoln. It’s not fair on either of them to want to keep them both.

I stop in the middle of the trail and heave over, resting my hands on my knees. A gentle touch sweeps my sweaty back, rubbing soothing circles as I break down in the middle of paradise.

‘Angel. Do you really think I would let that happen? He’s not replacing me in any way. I’ve been your caretaker while both of you found your way back to each other. I’m not going anywhere.’

‘Promise?’

‘If Lincoln loves you like I know he does, he won’t keep you from me.’

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