Chapter 34 Fake Betrayal
THIRTY-FOUR
Fake Betrayal
Jack
“Do you think Elle bought it?” I peeked through a crack in the curtains, and all I saw was darkness.
Elle had turned off her light. The image of her crawling into a cold bed all alone to cry herself to sleep destroyed me, but this was for the goddamn best. I ripped her heart out of her chest and stomped on the organ to save her from me.
I cursed and glared back behind me at the couch.
“Of course she did.” A brunette glanced back over her shoulder with striking brown eyes and swirled wine in her glass. “But you’re an ass for letting her go, big brother.”
“Fuck off with the sass, Sage. I don’t need it,” I grumbled.
I let go of the curtain as my little sister uncrossed her legs and stood up.
She walked over toward me while I stared off into space and hated the man I had become.
I was a goddamn prick who caused the woman I loved more unbearable pain than anything else in this world, and it was all my fucking fault.
I never should’ve fucking touched Elle, not once should I have had any fucking prohibited thoughts of her or any unrealistic notions we could be anything more than fucking enemies.
Fuck. Fuck! Fuck!
“Oh, Jackie, come here,” Sage pouted and hugged my arm. “You did the right thing.”
“Did I?” I asked.
“No, you dumbass.” Sage swatted my arm. “You pushed Elle away and acted like you don’t love her when you obviously do. Now you’ve pushed her further away by pretending to be with someone else.”
“Ouch...” I rubbed my arm. “Way to rub it in, sis.”
“Well, men are stupid and need women to set them straight. I think you made a huge mistake.” Sage crossed her arms and shrugged. “I told you this was a bad idea.”
“I had to, Sage. It was the only way to make Elle stop.” I ran a hand down my face. “I couldn’t be with her and have Gabe hate me.”
Sage raised an eyebrow. “So instead, you hurt the woman you love?”
Cursing out loud, I pressed my back against the wall. I slid down until my ass hit the floor and placed my forearms on my knees. I was the lowest of the low. A complete scumbag.
Elle hated me. I had destroyed the one person I grew to care about more than anything else in this world. No. Fuck. Make that two people. The damn kiddo next door.
A pain seared through my chest and burned a hole in my icy heart. The thought of never being around Faith again killed me because I cared about her. So damn much. I fucking loved her too.
“What the fuck have I done?” I sighed in defeat.
Sage slumped down beside me and leaned her head against my arm. “Love makes us do crazy shit.”
“Love sucks,” I grumbled.
Sage huffed. “You don’t have to tell me twice.”
I planted a kiss on my sister’s head, her hair tickling my nose. “Thanks for being there for me.”
Sage pulled her head up and peered at me with a half grin. “Anytime, big brother. Timbers always got one another’s backs.”
“Yeah. But this time I put you in a tough spot.” I leaned my head back against the wall.
“Ah...” Sage waved her hand. “I’ll be fine. But you? I think you’ve got some crap to figure out before you make any rash decisions.”
The pain in Elle’s eyes came back to haunt me in constant flashes.
The tears streaming down her cheeks and the echoing memory of her cries, demanding I admit my devotion for her, made me crumble into a man I didn’t recognize.
A weak man, who wanted nothing more than to be with her and love her for the rest of my life.
I wanted to be the fucking happiest version of myself that I never imagined I could be until I met her.
“Fuck me. I do...” I whispered and closed my eyes. “I seriously do.”
“I didn’t know you had it in you, Jackie.” Sage touched my cheek.
I popped my eyes open. “What?”
“Crying,” Sage whispered while she showed me the wet streaks on her fingertips. “Elle’s made you into a softie.”
“No.” I cursed, pushed myself up off the wall and wiped my hand across my face. “She hasn’t. I’m fucked up.”
Sage got up too and patted my shoulder. “Face it, big brother. You’re whipped.”
I pushed her hand away. “Am not.”
“Are too.” Sage crossed her arms across her chest.
“I’m not. I’ll fucking prove it to you,” I said.
“Oh, yeah? What are you gonna do?” Sage raised her eyebrows and tapped her foot on the floor. “Sleep around until you can get the love of your life out of your bullheaded mind?”
The idea of being with anyone other than Elle scared me.
I was petrified of getting over her when all I wanted was for her to be under me.
I wanted to be on top of her, dominating her with kisses, care, admiration, and caresses.
Not to mention tons of amazing sex. Life with anyone who wasn’t the woman who possessed my dreams was pointless, but I had to avoid her at all costs.
“Keep Noelle Evergreen as far away as possible.” I marched out of the living room and headed straight for the front door. “It’s time to go now. I’ve got stuff to do in the morning.”
Wood to chop. Frustration to burn. Time to kill.
“Fine...” Sage put on her coat and flicked up the collar. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
I opened the door.
My sister held her head up high, stubborn as always—a common Timber trait—and strutted out the doorway. There was no point in walking her home because I could see her damn house down the street. Sage trotted through the snow until she was safely inside the warmth of her home.
I caught a For Sale sign on the front lawn next door to hers.
Odd. I hadn’t known her neighbors were moving. Sage hadn’t mentioned it, but I was too consumed with my damn miserable circumstances. I fucking prayed she got along with whoever moved in next to her. My sister was a tough cookie who didn’t crumble under pressure, and neither would I.
“I won’t,” I grumbled and slammed the door shut.