Chapter 30
Payton
N o, no, no. This isn’t fucking happening right now.
“Darling, I’m sure you’re great and all, but you gotta get the fuck out of here.”
How did he even get in here? I wish I could slide into the dishwasher and pretend that he never saw me.
The new visitor talks again, but this time, I think it’s more to himself. “Did anything I fucking said yesterday get through to him? Bringing a booty call back to his house, and my sister’s car is in the fucking driveway. I’m going to kill him.”
Oh, he might kill him when he realizes the truth. But I might get my shot in, too, for calling me a booty call. Also, before Hollie, what sort of booty calls was my brother bringing home that did house chores?
After quickly weighing my options—which are honestly slim to none at the moment—I figure out the best option is to come clean. My brother will not like this, but I’m left with no other choice, unless an alien would pick this exact time to kidnap either of us.
I take a few steadying breaths in and out as, slower than molasses, I rise to my full height and spin around.
My eyes are closed, and I pray that when I open them, I won’t be face-to-face with Ollie.
However, when I open my eyes, my big brother is staring at me.
His face is pale as a ghost, mouth agape.
“Payton?”
If we were in any other situation, I would wave my hand in front of his face and say, “Earth to Oliver,” but I think we need a little distance between us right now.
Well, at least Rhyland is upstairs. Maybe there’s a chance I can get my brother out of here before— fuck you, world.
As if I summoned him from my mind, I hear footsteps thudding on the stairs.
No, no, no. Go back upstairs , I mentally beg while continuing my Wild West standoff with my brother.
“Hey, babe, Princess and I want to know if you’re coming back to bed?”
Ollie’s eyes nearly bulge out of the sockets when his eyes connect with his best friend, who is currently shirtless and holding my daughter.
His gaze then bounces between me and Rhy, and his brows furrow when he realizes my shirt doesn’t belong to me.
There’s no way I could play it off that it does, not only because I am swimming in it but because I realize I’m wearing a shirt from a concert I know they attended together.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” Ollie raises his voice, and he looks like it’s taking all his power to hold himself back.
“I live here.”
“Why are you shirtless?” he asks, gathering venom by the second. It’s clear that he’s putting two and two together yet acting like a fucking idiot and asking dumb questions.
“Again, I live here. I think the better question is, what are you doing here?”
Ollie completely ignores his question and begins pacing back and forth. Every time his eyes continue to bounce between Rhy and me and our various stages of undress, I feel as though I’m getting smaller and smaller.
Yeah, he definitely knows now.
“When you said you wanted to help my sister, I didn’t think you meant with your dick,” Ollie spits out before turning his attention back to me.
“Please tell me you’re only in his shirt because you’re an irresponsible person and it’s laundry day, leaving you with nothing else to wear, and my best friend is such a gentleman that he literally gave you the shirt off his back. ”
His assumption, or maybe more so his hope, is quite comical, but I know if I let out a laugh, it will only make the situation worse. And all I want to do is get Ollie out of here.
My brother takes my silence for what it is. He slams his hands onto the island, causing me to jump. “Someone better start fucking talking.”
Rhyland closes the distance between us, almost standing as a shield between me and Ollie.
I know my brother would never hurt me or Gabby, but I haven’t seen him this angry in—well, ever.
I don’t recall him this mad when I told him what happened between Joel and me, and he was pretty fucking pissed over that situation.
It’s not just rage swirling in his eyes but betrayal. This is his best friend—the same man that he hasn’t kept a single secret from since before I was born. And now, this isn’t just a secret, but it involves his little sister.
With Gabby still in one arm, Rhy wraps the other one around me, securing me to his chest. I’d imagine to my brother, we look like a happy little family. Aren’t we?
Ollie shakes his head continuously. “No. No fucking way. You took advantage of my sister, man.”
“No, he didn’t. I’m a big girl.” This time, I step in front of Rhy to protect him. He is not the one to blame here, and I refuse to let my brother say otherwise.
“You’re a big girl, huh? And you think that jumping from guy to guy is proving that?”
“Excuse me?”
“Come on, Payton. First Joel to that mystery guy you wouldn’t tell any of us about to now my best friend?
Do you really think finally experiencing your whore phase is making you a wonderful role model for your daughter?
Gonna have another shotgun wedding? Hey, maybe if you get two divorces, you can get the third one free.
Quite the hypocrite, huh, Pay? Keeping secrets from those you love.
Maybe you’re more like Joel than you think, and you two deserved each other. ”
My heart falls to the floor into a million pieces with no chance of repair. That was a low blow, and I can’t believe my brother just said that. Who the hell is this man in front of me?
“Don’t you fucking dare call her a whore. You might be my best friend, but I’m not afraid to hit you or kick you out of my house.”
“Holy shit, it’s you,” Ollie says before laughing maniacally, all the pieces finally clicking into place.
I’ve never seen Ollie like this before.
“You’re the mystery guy. You’ve been fucking him under my nose this whole time?
I think it’s funny that you still call me your best friend but that you would act like that.
I came over here to check on you because I’ve been worried.
You haven’t been acting like yourself lately.
You get into fights at work—hell, you fucking called out today for no reason at the last minute.
That’s not you at all, man. And I was fucking worried about my best fucking friend. ”
Thank God Gabby isn’t talking, or her first word might be “fuck.”
“And it turns out that you’re totally fine just living your best life whoring it up with my baby sister.”
“I told you already, do not call her a whore. I fucking mean it, Oliver.”
“Fuck you,” my brother spits.
In the blink of an eye, my brother lunges, and I scream. Rhy places his hand protectively over Gabby and just misses Ollie’s punch. Gabby’s cries fill the silence in the room.
My mama bear instincts kick in. I rush over and quickly grab Gabby from Rhy and cradle her to my chest. Is my brother out of his ever-loving mind?
“Stop it, both of you,” I shout. “You’re scaring Gabby.
” My breath comes is harsh pants as I turn my attention to my brother.
“You come in here on your high fucking horse but you literally just threw a punch at the man holding your niece, you jackass. Who even are you? Get the fuck out! You’re not welcome here if you’re going to act like this. ”
“Of course you’d choose his side,” Ollie mutters under his breath.
But when he sees that I’m not budging on this, his shoulders deflate.
Sorrow replaces the fury in his eyes when his gaze drops to Gabby.
My brother runs his fingers through his hair and tugs on the ends.
Part of me worries, with his grip, he might pull out actual chunks.
“We’re not fucking done here.” He points his finger in Rhy’s direction.
“But Gabby and Payton don’t need to see or hear what I think of you.
I care about their well-being, unlike you. ”
I can’t help but scoff. Is he serious? He cares about our well-being, yet he was the one who lunged for Rhy while he was holding my daughter. He’s driving the bus to crazy town.
Ollie completely ignores me and continues, steam coming off him in waves. If looks could kill, Rhy would be dead, buried, and decayed by the look Ollie is giving him.
“You fucking took advantage of my sister when she was most vulnerable. I’m not sure I can forgive you for that. You and me, we’re through.”
With one last look of disdain at both of us, he disappears from the kitchen. Tears I tried to keep at bay roll down my cheek with the slamming of the front door. I hug Gabby tighter to my chest as I try to calm my heavy breathing.
I turn away from Rhy when I can feel his eyes on me. Ignoring my feelings, I focus on my daughter. “Shh, it’s okay, baby girl. It’s okay.” I’m not na?ve enough to believe the words, though, but I’ll do and say anything to ease her at the moment.
My brother called me a whore and basically said that my actions were terrible for Gabby. He all but called me a terrible mother.
Fuck him. I’ve single-handedly done all this for myself.
Being a parent in general is hard, but being a single parent is a whole new level.
Even after everything Joel put me through, I did the damn thing.
I somehow balance raising Gabby, having a job, not falling apart.
Fuck him for not letting me have one thing for myself.
But there’s something in his words that latched on to my insecurity of not being enough and pulled it to the forefront of my mind.
I know it’s not true, but what if he’s right?
If we hadn’t kept this a secret, then Ollie wouldn’t have lashed out and gone after Rhyland while he was holding Gabby.
My brother was completely in the wrong, but it all circles back to me.
I was the one who wanted to keep this a secret.
Rhy went along with it and wanted to tell everyone, but I also kept putting it off. This is on me.
A newfound loathing of my brother forms that he made me feel this way. He put that doubt in my head. Pot meet kettle because he’s not much better than Joel either in that respect.
“Payton,” Rhyland breathes, but I need a moment. I hold my hand up to force him to stop.
Cradling Gabby closer into my chest, I slowly put distance between us.
“Payton, baby, don’t leave like this. What Ollie said—”
I shake my head over and over.
“Gabby and I are going to go over to my mom’s, and just…I need a minute.” When Rhyland opens his mouth to speak, I plead. “Please.”
He snaps his mouth shut and concedes, stepping back, and nods. The look in his eyes breaks my heart.
“If that’s what you want.” No, it’s not what I want, but it’s what we need at the moment. How could this possibly be what I want?
But as I leave the kitchen and take Gabby upstairs to pack a small bag for her and me, my brother’s words can’t stop playing on a loop in my head.
Whore.
Shotgun wedding.
Terrible role model for my daughter.
No better than Joel.
I thought I had built up a strong wall and that nothing could hurt me, but every mean thing my brother said catapulted rocks into my hard exterior, creating cracks for doubt and shame to leak through.
Ever the gentleman, I find Rhyland waiting for us at the front door. I’d say I’m surprised, but I’m not, because that’s just who Rhyland is. He holds his hands out to take the car seat once I have Gabby buckled in her seat.
He quietly follows me out to my car and gets Gabby settled in the back seat. I hesitate to get in the car.
Don’t do it. Don’t leave. Why are you leaving?
“Payton,” he pleads, and I sniffle back the tears fighting to fall as I turn to face him. He is so close that his calming scent swarms around me.
“I meant what I said this morning, baby.” He doesn’t elaborate, but I know exactly what he is referring to. I won’t give you up.
His finger tips my chin upward at the exact moment the tears fall again. His gaze feels so intense, as if he were crawling into my soul to hold his heart in my hands.
“Take all the time you need, but remember to come back to me.”
He leans forward and brushes the smallest kiss to my lips before placing a second one on my forehead, then stepping back.
I should reach out to him, grab him and cling to him, and never let him go.
But there’s a reason my brother’s words stuck to me like glue, and I need to just take a moment to fully grasp what is going on in our world now.
Even if that means I’m breaking not only the man I love’s heart, but mine as well.
But as I get in the car and look in the rearview mirror, I have to remember that the most important thing is Gabby—forever and always, she must come first.
One thing my brother had wrong is that I’m not choosing sides. For me, there is no Team Ollie or Team Rhyland—I’m solely Team Gabby.