Page 68 of Second Shot

A surge of panic swells in my chest. Not really sure why, I just know something isoff.

I go to Noah’s room, holding my breath when I open the door, expecting to find the cribempty.

But I hear his little sucking noises, see his tiny little form spread out, the moonlight catching the shimmer of blondehair.

I finally find Brynne sitting in the dark in the living room, staring out at the city lights, a half-empty bottle of wine on the coffee table in front ofher.

“Hey. Didn’t you hear me comein?”

She doesn’t answer, just takes a sip of herwine.

“I’m sorry about earlier with Blake. I wanted to come back,but-”

“But what?” She looks at me then, and even in the dim light I can see the accusation in hereyes.

Every damn wall that I’d spent the past few weeks trying to tear down is backup.

“I can explain about thismorning.”

She laughs. “I’m sure you can. You’ve always been good atexcuses.”

“Brynne,” I warn, not in the mood for a fight, my patience already hanging on by athread.

She picks up her phone, presses something, then tosses it to me. “Unfortunately for you, pictures don’tlie.”

I scan the article that pops up, cursing when I see the photos of me and Kiley outside the parkinggarage.

The entire article is a bunch of bullshit, but then so is the website that postedit.

I don’t know who I’m more upset at, the person who leaked the pictures, the person who wrote the fucking article, or the woman I love that could even for a second believe the bullshit written aboutme.

Anger simmers, boiling to a point where I know it’s going to explode if I don’t walkaway.

I toss the phone back at her, thenturn.

“What? Not going to defend yourself, Madden?” she says, and I can hear the couch creak as she gets up, her footsteps followingme.

“Shouldn’t haveto.”

“You promisedme-”

“I promised you what?” I stop and spin towards her. She’s so close she bumps into me. “Tell me, Brynne. What do you think I did? What promise did I break?” My voice goes icy, a tone I’ve never really used with her. “I want you to think real hard before you accuseme.”

She sways a little, reminding me that she’s been drinking. But it’s not anexcuse.

“Who is she? Your dealer? An ex? You gave her money. You can’t denythat.”

I hold her gaze, seeing every accusation she doesn’tsay.

“Yeah, Brynne. She’s my fucking drug dealer.” Sarcasm and bitterness drip from my words, but despite that, I can tell she believesme.

Hurt twists in my chest. And I know she’ll never really trust me. No matter what I do, I’ll always be the guy who killed herbrother.

“Enough.” I take a step towards her, but she holds her ground, jutting her chin up at me. “No more, Brynne. I’m sick of this. Sick of you always thinking the worst of me. I can deal with a lot of shit. But not this. Not from you, and nottonight.”

“Don’t act like you’re the victimhere-”

“Is that what you think you are? A victim?” I snort and drag my hands over myface.

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