Page 80 of Inseparable
“Ayd,” Devin says in a throaty voice, realizing we have company. “It’s not exactly what you’re thinking.” We share a look, and he’s letting me know he’ll do the talking. “Last night was the first night we’ve spent together.”
A muscle ticks in Ayden’s jaw. “Don’t treat me like I’m an idiot.”
Devin pulls me into his side, sliding his arm protectively around me. “I’m not. I’m telling you the truth. We kissed at Thanksgiving, but Ange pushed me away. She didn’t want to start this until she had spoken to you.”
Ayden folds his arms across his broad chest, his eyes skimming over us in disgust. “Yeah, it sure looks like she tried real hard.”
I know he’s hurt, and he’s every right to be. This shouldn’t have happened like this, but I can’t rewind the last few hours, and I don’t want to. Last night was magical. But I hate that we’ve hurt Ayden. He doesn’t deserve that. I need to try and make him see it from my perspective. To salvage our friendship before we collapse under the carnage. “I did try, but we can’t deny our feelings any longer. Neither one of us meant to hurt you, and I hate that you’ve found out like this, but you’re the one who walked away without giving me any warning, without any discussion of whether we were still together or not. I know it doesn’t excuse what we’ve done, but I haven’t been with anyone while you’ve been gone, not until last night. And let’s not pretend like we had this great love affair. You barely touched me half the time.”
He stalks into the room, putting his furious face right up in mine. “So, this is about sex? If you wanted to be fucked like a worthless whore, all you had to do was ask.” Color blooms in my cheeks. “Excuse me for wanting to treat you with more respect than that.”
“Don’t you dare speak to Ange like that,” Devin hisses.
“Screw you, asshole. You’re in no position to interfere.” He prods his finger in Devin’s face. “That’smygirlfriend you’re in bed with.” He sends me a contemptuous look. “Did he fuck you good? Did he fuck your brains out until you screamed the place down? I hope you got your fill, because you know he’ll toss you to the curb now. You’re nothing but another easy lay. Another whore to fuck while he tries to plug that ugly hole in his chest.”
“Ayden.” My gasp is laced with shock. I know this is hurt speaking, but he can’t talk to either one of us like that. We’re in the wrong, and we’ll totally own that, but it doesn’t give him the right to abuse both of us like this.
Devin jumps up, rounding the bed, butt naked, shoving Ayden back. “You know that’s not the truth!” he yells. “You fucking know how I feel about her! How I’ve always felt about her!” He jabs his finger in Ayden’s chest, but Ayden roughly pushes him aside. Devin stumbles a bit, and I get out of bed, wrapping the sheet firmly around my naked body. Lining up behind Devin, I thread my fingers in his. His entire body is shaking; every muscle and sinew locked in a heady rage, and he’s primed to rip through Ayden. He’s beyond furious, spitting his words out as if they’re laced with airborne venom. “You purposely stole her from me! I know you planned this whole thing. Don’t try and pretend otherwise.”
Ayden glowers at Devin. “You know shit.”
Devin straightens up, and the tone of his voice is scarily menacing when he speaks. “I know you convinced me I had to stay away from her. That it was the best way to protect her.”
“And knowing what you know, are you still denying that?”
Devin’s jaw is taut. “It might have been for the best, but you used it to your advantage.”
“Like I said, you know shit.”
I finally find my voice. “Look, let’s get dressed, and then go out for breakfast and talk about this when we’re all calmer.”
Ayden snorts. “Yeah, I don’t think so, Lina. There’s nothing to talk about.” He glances at the wrinkled sheets on the bed. “You’ve already made your bed. Now you can lie in it.” He stalks to the door, bending down and swiping his bag. “Have a nice life together,” he tosses out over his shoulder, storming toward the front door.
I run after him, almost tripping in the knotted-up sheet. “Ayden, please,” I beg. “Don’t go like this. Please. Even if we’re not together, you’re still one of my best friends, and I don’t want to lose you.”
He turns around, one hand on the door handle. “You should’ve thought of that before you jumped into bed with him.” A look of intense pain spreads across his face as he stares at Devin. Devin wraps his arm around me from behind, pulling me into the protection of his body.
“I came back determined to let you in. To tell you what’s been going on with me, but this… this fucks everything up.” He presses his forehead to the door, and his breathing becomes erratic. “I’ve lost everyone. Nothing’s changed, and everything’s changed.”
Devin and I trade concerned looks. “Ayden.” His name is a whisper on my tongue.
He lifts his head up, and the look on his face as he turns to us one final time sends chills down my spine. “There’s nothing you can say that will make this better. I want you to leave me alone. Both of you.”
It’s early evening, and we’re in a corner booth of the diner, silently picking at the cold, untouched food on our plates. My eyes are still sore and bloodshot from crying. “He’ll come around,” Dev says. “He’s just hurt now. He didn’t mean what he said.”
“What if he doesn’t?”
“We just need to give him time. I know what it’s like to lose you, and he’s in hell right now.”
I push my uneaten plate away, scowling. “If that’s supposed to make me feel better, you suck at it.”
Reaching across the table, he takes my hands in his. “Babe, we’ll work through this. We’ll fix it. I promise. Once you and me are okay.”
I worry my lip between my teeth. “I feel so guilty.”
He sighs. “I know, me too. It was a shitty way for him to find out.”
“This is all my fault. I’m the one who lunged at you.”
