Three Pucking Ex’s Brothers (Forbidden Hearts #10)

Chapter 1 Nora

NORA

Everything needs to be perfect, especially today.

At least that’s what I tell myself as Abby rakes her fingers through my wet hair, massaging the sweet-smelling shampoo into my scalp. I close my eyes on impact as the familiar kiwi scent fills my lungs.

“Are you nervous?” Abby asks, and I feel my shoulders tense.

“Of course,” I tell her. “I mean, I’d be nervous if it was any guy, but Brett Sterling…”

I breathe my boyfriend’s name like it’s made of hot, melted chocolate.

“I still can’t believe you guys have been together for a whole year. I mean, you’re practically a hockey wife at this point.”

The smile that spreads on my face is irrefutable.

“Yeah…speaking of wife…”

“He did not—” Zayne pipes in as Pam smacks him in the arm.

“Let the woman talk, Zayne.”

I can’t help but laugh, because this is just par for the course with them.

I’ve known Abby my entire life, and of course I’ve known her mother, Pam, forever as well.

I’ve been coming to Pam’s salon since I was old enough to get a haircut, and now I work here.

Though Zayne—who graduated two years behind me—and I didn’t necessarily run in the same circles in school, when Pam took him on as a stylist we quickly connected and became adult besties.

Though Zayne is a gossip hound in general, I know I can trust him to keep a secret just as well as I can trust Abby.

“I think he’s going to propose tonight!” I say, feeling my lips spread into a wide grin.

“Shut up!” Zayne says, his voice elevating as Pam mutters something I can’t entirely hear with my head under the water.

Abby’s fingers slip through my hair as she rinses me.

“How can you be sure?” she asks.

“I mean, it’s just a feeling…but…we’ve been together a year and he’s made plans to take me to Francisco’s tonight, which I told him—you know in casual conversation you have to drop clues—that it would be the perfect place to propose to someone.”

Zayne chuckles. “Subtle, much?”

I can’t help but giggle back. “Well, he is a man. And a professional hockey player, so sometimes you have to spell things out.”

“Yes, because all the pucks to his head have shaved off a few brain cells,” Abby says snarkily.

“Abby!” Pam smacks her as she skitters to the back. Likely to mix some color.

“What? Just saying…” Abby glances down at me with a smirk and I can’t help but grin.

Tonight is going to be amazing. I can feel it in my bones.

Abby gently sits me up, towel-drying my hair as Zayne and I go back and forth creating all the different scenarios in which Brett will pop the question. Even Krystal, the shampoo girl they hired recently, gets in on the conversation.

When they’re done, Abby spins me in the chair, and I gasp at my reflection.

My bright blue eyes stare back at me, and my hair looks amazing.

Not only is that perfect shade of natural red heightened with a fresh gloss, but the curls make me look like some romantic princess.

Abby removes my cape and the hair falls over my fair, freckled shoulders.

The deep green satin dress I’ve chosen—for luck, of course—coupled with my skin tone and my gorgeous hair and my freshly manicured nails—a woman can never be too careful if she thinks a man is going to propose…

Well, I can’t help but feel like a million bucks.

“You look stunning,” Zayne says, wrapping an arm around me as Abby beams with pride at my reflection.

“I know. Because I’m amazing,” Abby says with a smirk. I give her a soft, appreciative look.

“That you are,” I tell her, and I don’t miss the faint blush in her cheeks.

Pam gives me a knowing smile. “Eleanor Sterling. Definitely has a nice ring to it.”

“Is it too early to say ‘she shoots and scores?’” Zayne says and we all laugh.

“Never,” Abby says as she hugs me.

Today is perfect. Tonight is going to be even better.

Starting with my surprise for Brett.

Pam gives me a soft smile. “You don’t have any other clients today, Nora, you can head out early.”

I turn to look at her in surprise. Usually, I like to hang out until the end of my shift if only in case walk-ins come through, but…

“Are you sure?” I ask.

Pam nods. “Of course, sweetheart. Today’s a special day for the two of you, and I wouldn’t want anything to get in the way.” She says the words sweetly, but also with a hint of sarcasm.

“Shit, maybe I should get engaged and you’ll give me the night off,” Zayne bites, and I watch in the mirror as Abby smacks him.

“Ow!” he whines.

“Shut the fuck up, Zayne.”

I giggle, and Pam rolls her eyes as Zayne lets me go and Abby heads to the door to let in Mrs. Walker, one of our regular roller sets.

“Go.” Pam nods to the door. “Before the natives get restless.”

I nod, heading to grab my purse because I’m not going to argue with her.

I’d planned on meeting Brett at the restaurant since I was originally scheduled to work until five, but showing up at the house early to surprise him feels like the icing on the proverbial cake.

I get into my car and take a deep breath. I look amazing. I feel amazing. Nothing can go wrong today. Not when I know that this is it. Everything in my life is about to change; I can feel it.

So I turn the radio up and embrace the poppy beats of Sabrina Carpenter, and head off toward our house.

Well, technically it’s Brett’s house, but I’ve been living there for six months, which has been amazing.

It’s spacious and warm, and I know it will be the perfect place to raise our kids when the time comes.

Brett might be known as a bad boy on the ice, but despite his reputation, he’s been more than successful.

When I pull into the driveway, his car is already there, so I rest easier. He must’ve gotten out of practice early. I know he’s not expecting me, which makes this surprise all the better.

I park and take my time tiptoeing up to the door, expecting it to be locked, but when I get there, I’m surprised it isn’t. In fact, it’s ajar.

I carefully push it open and look around, thinking maybe he just didn’t realize it didn’t shut fully. No matter, I carefully push it shut and try my best to be light on my feet so he won’t hear me.

When I get to the hall, I hear his deep, loud moan.

“Fuck,” he hisses, and my insides twist.

Oh, even better. Not only am I going to catch him by surprise, but I’m going to catch him in the middle of his me time, which I can totally use to my advantage.

“That’s it,” he moans. “Fuck…”

His moans go straight to my loins, and my blood rushes in my veins as I approach our door, and then I hear a woman’s moans.

Must be watching porn again, even though we talked about that. But I guess I’m in no position to ask him not to do it when he’s alone, since it’s his private time…

The words are unintelligible as she curses, and then I open the door.

And scream.

Because there’s my boyfriend, lying on his back—his hands on some other girl’s ass as he lifts her and slams her down on his cock. “Fuck!” he calls out. “I’m coming!”

It takes all of two seconds for me to notice the familiar twitch of his cock.

His bare cock. Pulsing inside her.

My heart shatters into a million pieces, and tears sting my eyes. No, no…this can’t be happening.

And then they turn to see me.

“Shit,” he says as his cock slides out of her.

It’s like time stops completely around me. I can’t move, or look away. I can’t tear my eyes off his cum, dripping out of her.

We’ve been using condoms for the last year…because he told me he didn’t want to get me pregnant. But now…

Now as I watch my boyfriend’s cum seep out of some woman’s pussy, I know it was a lie. Was it all a lie?

I watch as he shoves the girl off of him onto our bed. But he doesn’t get up. He just looks at me, his glistening semi-hard cock a beacon of betrayal.

I don’t think, I just react.

I run.

I run through the house as fast as I can and get into my car, slamming the door shut like it’ll somehow protect me from what I just saw. Like somehow, it’ll erase the sight of his twitching cock or his cum dripping out of her.

I think I’m going to be sick.

I shove the nausea down and turn the car on, needing to get as far away as possible from here. But I can’t go back to the salon, not now. I don’t know if I can face Abby and Zayne. I’m not sure I can even face myself.

Why?

Why would he do this to me? To us? How long has this been going on? Is she the only one? What does this woman have that I don’t?

Why would he fuck her without a condom when he was so insistent we use them?

The nausea resurfaces, and I have to pull over because I do think I’m going to throw up.

Thankfully, it’s just a dry heave. Sweat forms on my brow, and I push some thick red hair out of my face, my curls still soft and bouncy from my fresh blow-dry and style.

I thought things were good…that we were good…

That Brett Sterling was going to be my happily ever after.

I pull my legs back into the car and shut the door, wrapping my arms around myself as a shiver ransacks me. I realize that not only did I just leave Brett—alone with another woman who he’d already fucked—but I left my home too.

I can’t go back there. Not now.

Even if she’s gone, he’ll still be there, and I can’t look at him right now. I can’t look at our bed right now, knowing what I know. I’ll never be able to unsee that.

But where can I go?

The salon isn’t an option. At least, not until I can get my bearings and figure out what to say, what to do. I need a plan.

I can go to my brother’s. He’s the closest, for one, and he’s out of town right now. I’ve already been going over there every day on my lunch break to feed his cat, Pickles, his treats, and it seems like the best option to lie low for a bit until I can figure out my next move.

My next move.

Sadness and guilt hit me hard as I realize I’m already planning for the fallout, when I’m supposed to be planning for my future. Tears slip down my cheeks, uncontrollable and inconsolable.

This…this wasn’t supposed to be how the story ended. Brett was supposed to be my happily ever after. But happily ever after apparently doesn’t exist, at least not for me.

I wipe my tears and focus on the drive to my brother’s house.

It’s not a long drive by any means, but it feels like an eternity until I pull into his driveway.

I get out of the car, shutting the door with a soft thud, and hold myself with care.

The leaves are changing and the sun is shining and the world is so beautiful around me, but inside everything feels dark and twisted and wrong.

So not beautiful.

I walk slowly up the sidewalk and pull out my key from my purse, my hand shaking as I slide it in the lock. The memory assaults me once more of Brett’s heady moans, his glistening cock pulsing as he came.

Inside her.

I push it away, not wanting to think about it. I heard those moans, and I thought they were for me—or for the porn I thought he was watching—and my insides had twisted with delight.

Until I saw the truth staring at me, that is…

I shut the door as Pickles comes tromping up to me, his sweet meow a balm to my soul. I don’t think, I just pick him up and hold him to my chest, and I cry.

I cry like a damn baby because today is the worst day of my fucking life.