“What did he say?” I ask, my heart pounding.
Shit.
Maybe I don’t want to know what he said…
She grabs her phone off of the table and unlocks it before handing it to me and my hands tremble as I start reading through his messages from last night.
WyattL23:
I don’t know what kind of fucking game you think you’re playing but
ambushing me with my whore of an ex-wife is fucking low.
Which is a shame since you seemed like such a cool girl.
Tears well up in my eyes and I flinch as I read the message again, the words “my whore of an ex-wife” echoing through my head.
EdiePB09:
I know. I’m so sorry…
I just thought it would help.
WyattL23:
Help what?
EdiePB09:
All I can say is that you don’t know everything about why
Piper left you and she still loves you.
“Eden,” I hiss, staring at her last message in horror before I look up at her and she sheepishly flashes me a smile.
“I’m sorry…”
My muscles tense as anger pulses through me and I don’t even know what to say to her right now so I glance back at the phone and continue reading.
WyattL23:
What the hell is that supposed to mean?
EdiePB09:
I can’t say anything else. I’m sorry.
If you want to know the truth, ask Piper.
I stare at the message, reading it three times as my heart pounds in my ears and anger races through my veins. My head snaps up and I lock eyes with Eden as she holds her hands up in surrender.
“I know, Pip, I know and I’m sorry. I was just still trying to help.”
“This is help?” I ask through clenched teeth, whipping the phone around to show her the same messages I just read as the reality of the situation crashes down on me.
Holy fuck.
What has she done?
Chapter Eleven
Wyatt
If you want to know the truth, ask Piper.
Eden’s words run through my mind again, just like they have on repeat for the last two days, tormenting me and making me question everything I thought I knew. And when they’re not running through my head, I’m reading those damn messages, trying to find a clue hidden in her responses to tell me what the hell to expect but there’s nothing. I’ve spent more hours than I care to admit trying to remember everything that went down ten years ago, searching for a clue there that might provide me with an insight for what Eden meant when she said I didn’t know everything but I’m officially stumped. If I want answers, I have to talk to Piper again and I just don’t know if I can. Sighing, I run my hands through my hair and resist the urge to rip it out.
Goddamn it.
What are these girls trying to do to me? Piper left because she cheated on me and fell in love with someone else. There isn’t much else to the story so I have to wonder if this is all just another game dreamt up by Eden and possibly Piper, just like the surprise reunion a couple of days ago. Shaking my head, I blow out a breath. As much as I’d like to believe the worst of Piper, I don’t think she had any clue until she showed up to the date because just like me, she looked shell-shocked and for all of her faults when we were together, I never would have accused Piper of being manipulative or someone who liked to play games. Which leaves Eden… God, this is fucking insane. I’m officially losing my mind over a single message from a woman who has already crossed a line when it comes to Piper and me. She clearly has boundary issues and likes to play games with people so why can’t I stop obsessing over her words?
What is the truth?
What is Piper hiding from me?
Why do I even fucking care?
Suppressing a groan, I scrub my hand over my jaw and stare out at the parking lot as everyone else sets up for the barbecue Blaze decided to throw tonight. Everyone is coupled up except for Streak, who is probably still locked away in his room, and me and seeing them all together, displaying their love and happiness for the world to see makes me feels like drowning myself in a vat of whiskey. My chest aches and my mind spins. I have been off balance since I saw her in that restaurant, looking better than even my best fantasy could remember, and as much as I want to drop this and move on with my life, I can’t figure out how. Goddamn it. I was so fucking close and then just one look from her and she embedded herself under my skin like a goddamn parasite. The worst part is I’m afraid there is no way to get rid of her.
“Hey,” Streak says, slipping into the seat next to me as he holds out a cold bottle of beer and I grab it, nodding in return before turning to stare out at all of the couples milling around as they set everything up. “Makes you sick, doesn’t it?”
I glance over at him before shaking my head. The last thing I need is my brothers knowing just how tormented I am by all of their happiness. Not to mention, it’s not fair to them. “Whatever. They seem happy.”
“Sure, I guess,” he scoffs before taking a sip of his own beer. “But you won’t ever see me looking like these assholes.”
“Famous last words, Streaky boy,” I tease and he shakes his head, making a face as he leans back in his chair.
“Hell, naw, not gonna happen.”
Turning, I study him for a second before taking a sip of my beer as I fight back a smile. “Gotta be honest, I never really saw you as the type to go for dudes but if that’s what you’re into, man…”
“Fuck you, douchebag. I don’t swear off women in general, I just swear off relationships. They don’t vibe with my lifestyle.”
“What the hell does that mean?” I ask with a laugh and he sighs.
“It’s like this, I’m up all hours of the night in front of three computer screens digging up shit for y’all and I rarely even leave this goddamn clubhouse all of which isn’t conducive to developing or maintaining a relationship. Believe me when I say, everyone is better off if I don’t ever fall in love.”
I shrug as I turn back to the rest of the group and take a sip of my beer. “Maybe you just haven’t met the right one.”
“You’re one to talk,” he fires back and Piper’s face pops into my mind again, her smile blinding me as the ache in my chest grows. I shake my head and blow out a breath as I try to shove her from my thoughts. As much as I need answers, I can’t obsess over her anymore tonight.
“By the way, have you come up with anything on Mitch?” I ask in an effort to distract myself and he groans, slamming his forehead against his open palm.
“No. Dude is a goddamn ghost.” He glances up at me. “I’m honestly impressed with how low of a profile he has online and if I had to guess, I would say he’s into some heavily illegal shit.”
“Hmph.”
Well, shit.
There goes that idea.
“Rodriguez did bring him in for questioning once, though. Right after Dina died.”
I nod. “But he didn’t find anything?”