Page 63 of Faking with Three

Olivia jerks back like I’ve slapped her, her lips slightly swollen from the kiss, her eyes wide and filled with something I can’t place—shock, hurt, maybe both. But it’s Marcus who reacts first, turning toward me, his face hardening.

"Ethan, don’t?—"

"No," I cut him off, my voice rising again, the knot in my chest threatening to explode. "You don’t get to act like the good guy here, Marcus. You’re no better than the rest of us. You think you can just walk in and?—"

"Ethan," Olivia says, her voice shaking. She steps between us, her hands out like she’s trying to hold back an avalanche. "Stop it. Just stop."

But I can’t stop. The words are spilling out now, fueled by the frustration, the jealousy, the sheer disbelief of what I’ve walked in on.

“We…I think we were together,” I say.

She sighs.

“Wait, you too?” Jax says, stepping forward.

Olivia groans. She obviously didn’t mean for this to be out like this. “I was going to explain.”

“What? That you slept with all three of us?” Jax says, looking at Marcus for confirmation. He doesn’t protest, which is a reply.

Fucking hell.

"First me," I say, looking directly at Olivia now, the bitterness sharp in my voice. "Then Jax. Now Marcus. What’s next, huh? Who’s next, Olivia?"

Her face crumples, her lips parting like she’s about to say something, but no words come out. I immediately regret saying it, the sting in her eyes hitting me like a sucker punch. But I can’t take it back. It’s out there now.

"That’s enough, Ethan," Marcus says, stepping in front of her like a shield. "You don’t get to talk to her like that."

"Don’t tell me what I get to do, Marcus," I snap back, my voice low and venomous. "You think you’re some noble protector, swooping in to save her? Give me a break."

"This is ridiculous," he says, his voice sharp. "All of this. We’re not going to stand here fighting over her like idiots."

"Then what do you suggest?" I shoot back, the sarcasm dripping from my words. "We take turns?"

"Ethan, shut up!" Olivia’s voice cuts through the tension, loud and trembling. She steps forward, her hands shaking as she glares at me, then at Marcus and Jax. "What is wrong with you three? This isn’t about you!"

She’s right. God, she’s right. But I can’t bring myself to say it. The knot in my chest tightens.

“I can’t deal with this right now,” Olivia says, walking past me. “I need to leave.”

My hand shoots out, grabbing hers as she walks past me.

“You’re not going anywhere,” I say firmly, the words spilling out before I can think them through.

Her steps falter, and she turns to face me, her eyes wide and searching. There’s a strange expression on her face.

I hold her hand tighter, my chest pounding with words I can’t quite string together. All I want to do is pull her closer, to kiss her senseless, to remind her that I was here first, that I’ve wanted her longer than either of them could even comprehend. But I can’t.

Instead, I say, "We’re not done here."

"Ethan," she says softly, her voice tinged with exhaustion. "I can’t do this right now."

"Yes, you can," I reply, my voice barely above a whisper. "You have to."

From the corner of my eye, I see Marcus step closer, his jaw tight, his shoulders squared. "Ethan’s right," he says, and Iglance at him in surprise. "We can’t keep doing this, Olivia. Not without…clarity."

Jax scoffs, leaning casually against the doorframe, but there’s tension in his stance. "Clarity?" he says, his voice laced with sarcasm. "That’s what you’re calling this mess?"

"Shut up, Jax," Marcus snaps, and for once, I find myself agreeing with him.

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