“I heard enough,Jack.”
“Don’t be calling me that, babe. I’m Ryder to you. Always have been.”
“Like I said, I can’t believe a single thing that comes out of your mouth.”
“Kat, that’s not—”
“All this time, I’ve been torturing myself over wanting you both. And you knew. You both knew. Well, you had your fun, I’m done. I never want to see either of you again.”
I refuse to look at them, too focused on trying not to break. Not giving them the satisfaction of seeing me fall apart.
“Kat,” Styx’s voice cracks. “It wasn’t like that.”
“Were you comparing notes? Egging each other on? Seeing who could make me fall in love first?” Tears prick the corners of my eyes “I can’t believe I’ve been so stupid. Just get out. Get out. GET OUT.” My voice echoes off the walls and a nurse bursts into the room.
“What on earth is going on here?” she frowns.
“They won’t leave.”
“You want your brothers to leave?”
My brothers… Jesus.
“Yes, I want them gone. And I don’t want to see them again.”
“Fuck that,” Styx snaps. “I’m not leaving. We need to talk about this, we need—”
“Come on, brother. Before she calls security.”
“You can’t be serious. She needs—”
“This isn’t helping.” Ryder’s expression gutters as he runs a hand down his face.
“Fine,” Styx snaps. “But we’re not done here. We need to talk about this.”
“Actually, we don’t.” I close my eyes and wait for them to leave.
The second their heavy boots disappear out of the room, the nurse says, “Do you need me to call protective services?”
“What? No. It was a misunderstanding. But I need some space.”
She gives me a skeptical look, moving around me to check my stats.
“You suffered a nasty contusion. Getting yourself worked up won’t help aid your recovery.”
What about a broken heart, I want to ask but swallow the words.
How could I have been so foolish?
Of course it was all a game. Some macho pissing contest to see who could win my affections first.
I’ve never felt more stupid in my life.
“Are you sure I don’t need to call protective services?” the nurse asks, and I shake my head.
“I’m fine. You’re a minor sweetie, if those men,” she emphasizes the word and it makes me wince, “are causing you problems—”
“Like I said it was just a misunderstanding.”