Page 103 of Fashionista's Playbook

Annoyance twisted my lips, the liquid in my mouth turning as sour as my mood. “Thislifewasn’t why she left.”

“What? Does she have some other lame ass excuse? That shit with Ward man, he was out of bounds. She can’t hold you responsible for any of that.”

“She didn’t.” I turned away from him, struggling to control my temper.

“Then what? I know you. You’re not a cheater or a liar, hell you’re the golden boy of the family.”

I laughed without humor. “Nah, it’s more what I didn’t do.”

The more Vin made light of the breakup, belittled Moriah’s emotions, the more I saw all the things I’d overlooked. She was right, not that it did me any good now. His attitude toward her had run more than skin deep—but why?

“Look, you just want to fix her. That’s what you do, the knight in shining armor shit is who you are. But she’s a grown woman, she doesn’t need fixing or saving. I got drunk and told Lyrical and Kari about that shit Moriah’s sister told me. It was a mistake, but I did you a favor. There’s a spotlight on you bro, she couldn’t handle it.”

The cavalier admission was more than I could take.

“Nah.” I rubbed my lips together and clenched my hands into fists. “She left because of you.”

There was a flash of emotion in his eyes, something I hadn’t expected—fear. “I’ve always got your back, every day since Mom and Dad died.”

“You’re going to milk that every day of your life, aren’t you?”

“What do you want me to do, Travis? Your girl left. You can mope about it, flush your career down the toilet, throw away everything I did for you—or get over it. This life you created for us, the hole you dug us out of, man you can’t let stupid shit ruin that.”

“Everything you did?” The anger inside vibrated across my skin. “I’ve been paying that shit back every day since I signed my contract. Hell, I lost a scholarship because of you and never once complained.”

“That was some bullshit I—”

“Own that shit.” Moriah was right, it was time Vin grew up, took responsibility for the carnage he created.

“Like you did?”

I sneered. “Want to play it like that? Want me to tell the world?”

Vin turned away, because he didn’t, we both knew what would happen. My career would end, his money train would reach its final destination. And I’d be left with nothing.

Without Moriah, I didn’t even care.

That emotional punch sent me reeling. I could lose football, the endorsements, the money, and none of it would matter if I still had her.

“How much do you want from me, Vin? How many times do I have to repay you before you start living your own life and let me live mine?”

“Whoa bro. That party wasn’t my idea.”

Everything inside me went cold in a way it hadn’t since my parents died. This was like standing at the scene of an accident, examining the wreckage of my life, and knowing that I would never be whole again.

It had taken almost twenty years to feel like I could truly be happy. And Vin’s jealousy had stolen that from me. I should have fixed this a long time ago, before Moriah walked out. Maybe it would have saved us both some heartache.

“You did enough.”

For the first time his body slumped, and he wouldn’t look me in the eye.

“I didn’t think it was that big of a deal. I didn’t know Tatum was pulling Ward in on it.” He was talking so fast I couldn’t tell if he was trying to convince me or himself.

“You were scared Moriah’s place in my life would change our relationship.”

My older brother was rarely speechless.

“She didn’t do that, you did.”

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