Chapter 38

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Landon

Listen to The Waffle House

by The Jonas Brothers

I met with my girls for a late breakfast the day after Adam and I were together.

I’d practically stumbled into my place the next morning doing a full walk of shame. My head spun from his closeness and his scent imprinted all over my body. I didn’t want to take a shower right away, so I walked around the rooms, sipping coffee, and going over every second of our encounter. I touched the bruises at my hips where he’d gripped me; the soreness between my thighs at his endless appetite; my swollen mouth he’d kissed and bit, remembering how deep his tongue thrust between them.

It was a night I’d never forget. The hungry, raw fucking transcended any type of sex before Adam. Already, an hour later, I craved to be back in his bed, open for anything he wanted to do. But it was bigger than the physical connection. Afterward, lying in his arms, I confessed secrets I’d never told before. It was as if I wanted Adam to have a piece of me, and that was scary as fuck.

He’d ruined me. And I couldn’t tell a soul.

Finally, I forced myself to wash up and get dressed. My girls were worried about me and I owed them an appearance. I headed out, dressed in my Lulemons and sneakers, my wet hair twisted into a tight knot. They were already there, and I gave Daisy and Elle a hug, blowing kisses to Gabby who was squashed against the wall in the booth.

“Thank God, you look good,” Elle said worriedly, her gaze raking over my face and body. I winced inwardly at my intention to lie to her face. If I couldn’t tell my best friends about us, was this connection even real? Or a simple fantasy that would fade with the light of day?

Unfortunately, it was too late to change course. I was committed to my path until I figured out a way to either tell my friends, or break it off with Adam and die with the secret.

Daisy pushed over a chipped flute. “We got you a mimosa to start, and ordered you the egg white omelet you love. Tell us what happened last night. Gabby was waiting for you.”

I shot her a grateful look, for both the drink and not stealing my story. It was the little things I really loved about Gabby. She never needed to own the spotlight, and seemed to hold no jealousy within the group. It was one of the hardest hurdles to conquer for someone wanting to be our friend. “It was awful,” I confessed, taking a sip of my drink. “Max was such an asshole. He was literally acting like he had a right to be jealous, and that just by apologizing I should forgive him.”

Elle sputtered a curse. “I can’t even look at Coop’s face,” she said. “I know he kept Max’s secret, which meant he lied to me. It’s not good.”

Daisy sighed. “Noah, too. He said he knew about the video but he hadn’t been involved in the Long Beach thing—it was only Coop and Max. And Adam.”

I stiffened. I hadn’t even asked Adam if he’d been at the party. I assumed he knew about the video, of course, and covered for Max. But the idea he watched Max fuck that girl and didn’t give a crap still gave my temper a good hard tug.

“Tell them what happened with Randy,” Gabby prompted.

I launched into the story with full details, ending with me going back to my place to sleep it off rather than Adam’s. “I don’t know how we’re going to handle all this,” Daisy said sadly. “How can we all be together again?”

“I have to tell you something, Landon.” I glanced over at Gabby. “I saw Max last night.”

We all gasped together. “What do you mean?” I asked suspiciously. Had I been wrong about her? Was she after him now that we’d broken up? Had she been pretending to be my friend?

She drained her own mimosa and gave me a level stare. “Max texted and begged me to meet him after work so I went. I was so pissed off, Landon. At the crap he was throwing at you so soon after. He didn’t even give you time to process! So, I told him straight out you’d never forgive him.”

My eyes widened. “You said that to him?”

Gabby nodded. “I bitched him out and said what he did was unforgivable.”

Elle grinned. “Good for you!”

“What did he say?” I asked.

“That he’d do anything for you. That he didn’t want the group to break up because of his mistakes. He went on and on for a while about how he wanted you to forgive him and rebuild a friendship while he proves he’s changed.”

I gave a snort. “Too little, too late.”

“That’s what I said. Then I asked him if he would still behave if he found out you were fucking Randy.”

Daisy’s jaw dropped. “Are you?”

“No!” I said, half laughing. “I can’t believe you said that to him. Did he freak?”

Gabby gave a smug grin. “Yep. Which proved my point. I told him if he wanted to hang with us, you’d fuck anyone you wanted, right in front of him, and he couldn’t say a word. I gave it to him straight.”

I looked at her with admiration. Max would hate feeling out of control with me. He was possessive and jealous, but it had never bothered me before. I wasn’t a cheater so I knew how to walk the edge to keep him on his toes, but never push him over. The memory of me in Adam’s bed made me shudder. It was the one thing I doubted Max could handle. But I liked the way Gabby pushed him, especially if we didn’t want to lose the group’s tight dynamics. “I’m sure he couldn’t handle it,” I murmured.

“Actually, he said he could.”

I stared at Gabby in shock. “No way.”

She nodded. “I think he’s finally seeing the big picture. If he can’t act like a man and take responsibility, we’re not going to see each other again. How can we be together if Max is torturing you? But if he can truly leave you alone—and settle for friendship—this is the perfect opportunity.”

I glanced at my other friends who seemed hopeful. Our group was a bit incestuous, and everyone was affected by the other. Maybe Max realized the stakes were higher than he imagined. I knew he’d hate to lose me, and I doubted Elle and Daisy would want to hang with him if I didn’t.

But the decision would also be up to me. Could I handle hanging with Max while I slept with Adam? Could I forgive Max for his betrayal and try to salvage a friendship for the group?

“Landon, whatever you decide, we’re with you,” Elle said. “Take your time. I already told Coop I’m not comfortable going out with Max. We had a big fight.”

“I had a fight with Noah, too,” Daisy admitted. “It was very icky. I was afraid if Max could do something like that, maybe any of them could. Especially if they were drinking, which they always are.”

Gabby nodded. “Adam and I haven’t even talked about it, but we’re not in a relationship. We’re just friends.”

I studied my besties and realized their own relationships would suffer if Max and I couldn’t come to peaceful terms. As much as I hated it, I’d committed my own betrayal. Thinking of Adam when we were together, and sleeping with him last night didn’t make me an innocent. We’d both made mistakes. Maybe this whole video thing was a sign. Better for us to break up now, before we moved in together, entangling our bills and lives even tighter.

“I’ll talk to Max. I don’t know what will happen, but I’ll give it a try. For all of us.”

My friends reached over and we all clasped hands in solidarity. I blinked away the sting from my eyes at their support. They were my family; the people who had my back. I had to be careful what I decided to do next. Because if they found out about Adam, they may never forgive me.

Not if I lied to them.

My stomach twisted hard. “I love you, guys.”

“We love you, too,” Daisy said.

“More than you know,” Elle said with a teasing glint in her eye. “I gave up sex for you. Let’s just say I wore out my vibrator batteries during this fight. Coop is pissed at Max, too.”

We all burst into laughter and ordered another round of mimosas.

I was leaving the diner when my phone buzzed. I glanced at the number and stiffened. My heart pounded in my chest, and I took a breath, preparing myself for the conversation.

I listened in growing shock.

Then realized my life would never be the same.