Chapter 1

CHAPTERONE

Jaxon

We’re finally done putting the new heavy bags in place, even though Ryder complained the whole time, but it was necessary. The old ones were already worn out, and we want the best equipment for our customers at all times. We head out to the reception area to find Chris and three coffees waiting for us.

“Well, look at that. They’re for us?” Ryder smiles at Chris, but she looks concerned.

“Yeah, Liv brought them over for you guys.”

“That’s nice of her,” River says, turning his head in search of her. “Where is she?”

Chris frowns. “She left. She was agitated and crying, telling me that she had to leave and that I should tell you guys she’s sorry.”

“What? What happened? Why didn’t you come for me?” I ask her, maybe a bit too aggressively.

“Calm down, Jax. It just happened a minute ago. I haven’t had any time to—”

She doesn’t finish her sentence as I run out of the studio, searching the parking lot for Liv’s car, but it’s not there anymore. I come back to the others, shaking my head.

“Already gone.”

“What exactly happened, Chris?” River asks her, while Ryder holds his phone to his ear, apparently calling Liv.

“I don’t know. She came in with coffee for us, smiling and asking for you guys. I told her you were busy with the heavy bags and that Chase was already in the studio, so she went to bring him his coffee but came back quickly. I gave her a letter that was sent here for her and asked if she found Chase, but she was already crying.”

I feel a knot in my stomach. What did Chase do?

* * *

Chase

I can’t believe Tyler did that. I’ve told her multiple times over the past few weeks that I’m not interested in her anymore. We had some quick fucks in the past, but she was just a convenient hole to stick my dick in. I was a fucking player, and looking back now, I regret being so careless. My past actions are haunting me now.

Since I met Liv, no other women have interested me anymore. At first, there wasn’t anything between us. She just intrigued me, so much so that all the others lost their appeal. I didn’t even go on that fucking date I’d arranged to get her out of my head. I just rode my bike for hours. Now, after last night, nothing compares to her anymore. I had a taste and became addicted.

That’s why I’m even more concerned about how she left last night. I wanted to bring her home, maybe even to my bed. I know it was after three am, and she was clearly dancing that late because something was bothering her and she couldn’t sleep. I was inclined to leave her alone when I saw her come in, but after watching her dancing so seductively on the camera feed in my office, I just couldn’t stay away.

As soon as Tyler comes onto me, I push her off. “You can’t do that, Tyler. I told you our fling is over. I’m not interested anymore. I have a girlfriend.”

“Chase Miller doesn’t commit. At least not really,” she retorts.

“The fuck I don’t, and even if I didn’t, I’m done with you. Consent goes both ways, Tyler. Keep your hands and mouth away from me,” I say before storming out of the studio, not giving a damn about the class that starts in a few minutes.

As I reach the door, I nearly trip over a coffee cup left carelessly on the ground.

“Who the fuck leaves their coffee on the floor?” I mutter to myself, trying to contain my anger.

I make my way to the reception desk, finding Jax and the twins standing there with Chris.

“Jaxon, I’m done playing nice with my students if they abuse it like this,” I say, my fists clenched. He senses that something is off and immediately approaches me.

“What happened?” he asks.

“Tyler, one of my students, kissed me without my consent, but I pushed her away immediately,” I say, my tone still agitated.

“Locker room Tyler?” Ryder asks, getting to the point.

My frustration increases at the mention of her name. Chris, who’s been standing there quietly, speaks up after cussing under her breath.

“Liv may have seen this when she brought over the coffee earlier,” she says, concern etched on her face. The guys exchange a worried glance, while Jaxon paces back and forth, his anger building.

“I can’t believe this is happening. We need to find Liv and make sure she’s okay,” he says.

Ryder ends his call, looking at the others. “Her phone is off. I tried to call her a few times, but it just goes straight to voicemail.”

“I mean, I get that she’s hurt, but why would she leave like this? You guys are still in the friend zone, right?” River asks me, and I stifle a groan before answering.

“I may have fucked up last night.”

* * *

Jaxon

“In my office, now,” I command, and they all file in with bowed heads like naughty schoolboys. As soon as the door is closed behind us, I turn to Chase and ask, “What do you mean you may have fucked up last night?” I try to stay calm, but my words come out between clenched teeth.

“I was staying late, going over the books, when she came in to dance again,” Chase explains. “She wasn’t dancing like she does normally. It was hot and seductive, and I couldn’t stay away from her. One thing led to another, and…yeah.”

“Chase,” I say, struggling to keep my cool. “I’m trying really hard not to punch you right now.”

Chase lifts his palms in a gesture of surrender. “I know we said we’d take it slow, but I’d like to see any of you say no to her when she’s coming on to you.”

“She started it?” Ryder asks.

“I mean, I wasn’t discouraging it…” Chase admits sheepishly.

I ignore that and ask, “You did it in the studio, where anyone could have walked in?”

“The cameras,” River says, swiping a hand down his face, and I curse under my breath. He goes to my computer and tells us, “I need to delete the files before they get uploaded to the security server.”

Chase’s eyes widen. “I didn’t even think about that. I swear. Fuck, I’m so sorry. Can I help?”

River frowns at him. “No, I’m going to do it as quickly as I can, and I’m not going to let any of you look at the footage. I’m trying to protect her privacy, not stalk her like a perv.”

The room falls silent as River works to delete the footage. Chase is leaning against the wall on the opposite side of my office when River jumps up from the desk chair and charges towards him, landing a punch on his face.

I’m impressed. I’ve never seen River hit someone, but his form is perfect.

“What the fuck, Riv?” Ryder asks, now holding his twin back after reacting too slowly, while Chase just holds his jaw in pain.

“You didn’t use protection! You’ve slept with half of the city’s female population and didn’t use a condom! Does her health mean nothing to you? Is she just another one of your fucking conquests? If you ruined this for us, you are dead to me, Chase,” River yells at him, angry as fuck. I’ve never seen him like that before.

Chase’s face falls. “I know, man, I messed up. I realized it right after she left me standing there. I’m so sorry. I’ll do anything to make it right,” he says, his voice heavy with regret. “Believe me when I say I’ve never slept with anyone without a condom before. I just forgot, but that’s not an excuse. I forgot because she’s not just a conquest. She means everything, and I couldn’t think about anything else. I’m going to get tested right away to make sure I haven’t fucked up even more.”

I believe Chase, and honestly, I don’t think he would have intentionally done anything to hurt her. We should all go get tested to make sure we are careful with her.

“We get it, Chase,” I say. “But now we have to think about another potential problem too. Is she on birth control?”

“We don’t have to worry about pregnancies, just STDs,” River spits out, frowning at Chase.

“Why?” Ryder asks.

“She has an IUD,” he says.

“And how do you know that?” I ask him.

“She told me when we talked about her period,” he says, shrugging.

Ryder barks out a laugh. “You talked about her period with her?”

“Shut up,” River says, pulling himself out of his twin’s grasp. “I was concerned about her well-being, like all of you should be. It’s the twenty-first century. Men can talk about periods. Get a grip.”

My eyes widen. I like this new River, but we need to get Liv back to keep him.

* * *

Ryder

I’m still reeling a bit from the realization that Chase slept with my girl and River punched him in his face for it. Well, that wasn’t on my life bingo card, but we still have the problem of Liv being gone.

“What do we do now? Does someone have a plan?” I ask.

“River, can you check the security footage for the section where Tyler kissed Chase?” Jaxon asks. “Maybe if it’s clear that he didn’t consent to it, it would be good to show Liv.”

River gets to work, and after a few minutes, he lifts his head.

“I’m sorry bro, I wasn’t fair,” he tells Chase.

Chase just nods, and we all gather behind Riv to see the footage. It’s clear that Chase didn’t do anything to encourage Tyler’s advances, and he quickly pushed her away. We can also see Liv standing near the entrance, watching. She turns back to the doors so quickly that she just didn’t see Chase rejecting Tyler.

“Fuck,” Chase mutters. “In her eyes, not even six hours after we slept together, I’m kissing another girl in the same place like she meant nothing to me.” He buries his face in his hands. “Fuck!” he yells, kicking the desk.

Jaxon puts a hand on Chase’s shoulder, trying to calm him down. “Hey, it’s not your fault. Liv just misunderstood the situation. We need to find her and talk to her, explain what really happened.”

River nods. “We need to make things right with her, and, Chase, I’m sorry I punched you earlier.”

“No man, it’s fine. I deserved it,” Chase replies, shaking his head.

“So, any idea where she could have gone?” I ask.

“Let’s check her apartment first,” Jaxon orders.