Page 47 of The Truth of Our Secrets

“And you think I will?” He’s so hypocritical when he’s the one lying to her.

“I do.” He shrugs.

I won’t argue because he won’t believe me. “So are you saying you don’t approve of us being friends? Are you that controlling that she can’t have friends you don’t like?” I’ve spent my life with uncertainty and I can’t live with any more than I have to. I’m going to ask the questions, so I’m sure of where I stand. Not playing a guessing game.

“I think you moved past the friend zone when we all kissed.” He kisses the side of Madyson’s head.

“Then why did that happen? What do you want from me?” I ask again to get the answer to my question.

Both of them stare at me like I’ve blown the circuits in their minds.

I stand. “When you can answer those questions, let me know. I’m not a play toy you can use and discard.”

“Emmet, we would never.” Madyson reaches for me but drops her hand as I step back. “Would you be interested in seeing us?” she asks, twirling her hair nervously. “Romantically,” sheclarifies, and when I don’t answer, she says, “I guess we all have things to think about.”

My head swims with more questions, but they’re irrelevant if they can’t figure out what I am to them.

“Get back to me when you decide.” My feet can’t get me out of there fast enough. If I don’t escape, I’ll drown in her eyes and end up doing whatever she asks, like the last time I was here.

Chapter eighteen

Madyson

“Ican’t let him go,” I say as soon as the door shuts behind Emmet. I place my palm on the door as if willing him back, hoping he changes his mind.

Jayce wraps me up from behind. “We have to talk about this. It might not be our choice. He has to choose us back.”

“I hate not being able to control things.” I allow him to draw me over to the love seat and curl up in his lap. It’s my favorite place to be unless we’re naked somewhere.

“I want it to be him. My intuition tells me it’s him or no one.” It’s not a flippant statement. My soul screams with the truth of my words.

“You have a tendency to change your mind,” Jayce says gently, sweeping my hair back to kiss my neck.

My impulse is to argue, but seeing it from his perspective, I get his point. I made the rule that if we brought a third person into our relationship, it would be sex only. I’ve changed the rules more than once.

“You’re attracted to him. You can’t lie about that.” My voice is more defensive than I intend.

“I am, but I’m more concerned about protecting you.”

“If you know something I don’t, you need to tell me.” He’s not usually this stubborn. He’s an overprotective caveman, and I love that part of him. But this is something more. Something he’s not telling me.

“He punched me. Several times. And I only blocked his blows. I never hit him back.” He sucks my neck, distracting me.

I don’t want to ask Jayce, but if we can’t figure this out, then Emmet will never want to be with us.

“Was that on purpose because of me?” My voice sounds small.

His lips stop kissing and his breath feathers over my wet skin. “Yes.”

“Did you try to get him to hit you?” I suck in a gulp of air.

“I didn’t have to try. He wanted to hit me. I have what he wants.” Jayce’s lips return to my collarbone.

His words ring true, but he’s still holding back. I sigh, frustrated he won’t tell me more until he’s ready. He’s always been like this. He can’t admit when he’s done something wrong. I blame his father.

His father constantly berated him and he never got rewarded for telling the truth. So Jayce doubles down and denies. If I’m patient, he’ll eventually tell me.

“But if I’m safe, you’d consider him as a partner?” I press.

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