Page 46 of Dirty Little Mistake

She shot me the kind of look that could freeze hell, then turned back to the darkness stretching over the water. "Probably a three." Her arms tightened around her knees, making herself smaller.

I traced patterns in the sand with one finger. "I guess I deserve that."

"Just tell me that the reason you didn't invite Cam had nothing to do with me at the Cages."

There it was. The question I knew was coming. It was the question I was mentally preparing for. It actually had nothing to do with the Cages, but I couldn't tell Kaia the real reason. Icouldn't tell her I'd been so jealous that Cam had gone home with Owen that I made a deal with the devil. I knew what she'd say.

I sucked in a deep breath holding it for a minute before slowly exhaling. "I'm angry Cam went to the cages because she could have been hurt, and even if we aren't together, I still care about her. She went to the Cages to get back at me because she knew I wouldn't want her there. I'm even madder she dragged you down with her, but..." I paused, trying to find the right words as my tongue swept out, wetting my dry lips. "No, that's not why I didn't invite her. There's a lot more to the story that you don't know, Kai, and I prefer to keep you out of it."

"Then don't put me in the middle of it." She glared at me. "I was never mad you didn't invite her. I was mad you left it up to me to tell her."

I closed my eyes and shook my head. It never occurred to me that Kaia would be the one to deal with me not inviting Cam. Whether I wanted to keep her out of what was going on between Cam and me or not, she was in the middle, and so was Jax.

"Sorry about that." I sighed. "I guess I didn't think about that."

"Maybe next time you will."

Forcing a smile, I nodded.

Kaia and I sat under the stars, catching up for what felt like forever. Talking about her and Jax and Jax and I's childhood before she came into our lives.

Sand crunched under familiar footsteps. "You're hiding from your own party."

"You know me, bro." I pushed myself up, brushing sand from my jeans. "I like my solitude."

Jax extended a hand to Kaia, pulling her up. "What are you two doing out here?"

"Just catching up." The moonlight caught the soft curve of Kaia's smile.

Jax's fingers drummed against his thigh. "Kai, do you mind if I talk to my brother for a minute?"

"No." She brushed sand from her legs, already turning toward the house. "I'll be inside cleaning up." Her footprints trailed behind her, disappearing into the shadows beyond the porch lights.

Once Kaia's footsteps faded into the night, I turned to face my brother. "What's up?"

Jax kicked at the sand, sending a spray of crystals into the darkness. "You should know that Cam was really upset when she found out you didn't invite her."

"Yeah." A hollow laugh escaped my throat as I shrugged. "Well, I was really upset when I found out she went home with Owen."

Jax's brows slammed together, his face hardening. "What?" He raked his fingers through his hair, taking a step closer. "What are you talking about?"

"You told me that after the Cages, Cam went home with Owen."

"What the fuck?" Jax snapped. "No, I didn't. I said she left with him. He took her home because I told him to get her out of there. They both went home alone."

The world tilted sideways as Jax's words sank in. All this time, I'd been carrying this image of Cam and Owen together, letting it eat away at me, using it as an excuse to push her away. And it wasn't even real. My chest constricted like I was back on stage, lights too bright, air too thin. "Fuck," I managed, the word barely a whisper. My fingers pressed against my forehead.

"Sounds like you heard what you wanted to hear." My gaze flashed to his, and I nodded. He was right. I was looking for an out, and I didn't know why. I wanted Cam, but I guessthat scared the shit out of me. "If they are hanging out now, that's because you fucked up and pushed her away, but thus far, they've only been friends that I know of."

"I gotta go," I said. "Do me a favor and let the band know I'll meet them in Orlando for the next show." I twisted to walk away.

Jax's hand wrapped around my arm, stopping me. "Where are you going?"

"I don't know yet, but you should go fix things with Kaia before you make the same stupid mistakes I did."

He released my arm and nodded. "Good luck."

I strolled down the beach, and Jax disappeared inside the house. My phone's glow carved a harsh circle in the darkness, bright enough to sting. Cam's unopened message waited like a loaded gun.

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