Kenna’s reaction wasn’t as easy to unpack. It was like reading a blank page. Nothing was there. I waited to see the recognition, but she just blinked.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Grayson blurted out. “What the fuck, man?” He was naturally pissed, but not nearly as fuming as I was. My rage went deeper than jealousy and broken trust. “This better not be what it looks like,” he warned. “Because if it is, I have no choice but to kick your ass.”
“Brock?” I prompted in a dry tone, waiting for him to explain this.
He frowned, running a hand through his dark hair. “It’s not what you think.”
My eyes narrowed, and I snapped, “Really? Because the evidence looks pretty fucking damning.”
“Jesus, seriously.” Grayson groaned, shaking his head in frustration.
“It’s fake, right? This didn’t happen. You wouldn’t do this.”
He looked torn. “I didn’t.”
“So, you’re saying he altered this photo, like the others?” I pressed, not letting his expression deter my anger.
His gaze never left mine, and I saw the regret and guilt within his. “Not exactly.”
“What the fuck does that mean?” Grayson hiss-shouted between gritted teeth, careful not to raise his voice too loudly but still get the severity of the situation across. “It either did or didn’t happen. It’s cut and dry.”
“It’s my fault,” Kenna blurted, drawing our attention.
A beat passed before Grayson said, “Why am I not surprised. You can’t keep doing this shit.”
“It’s not like I planned it. I can’t help the way I feel,” she defended, her temper flaring.
The acknowledgment that the photo was real caused dread to bottom out in my gut. I hadn’t realized how much I’d been clinging onto the hope that the picture was fake.
“When was this?” Grayson demanded.
I love that my brother grilled them with all the questions I wanted to know. It saved me from expending the energy of having to ask them myself. Besides, I didn’t trust anything to come out of my mouth just now.
“A few days after I came home,” Kenna admitted, looking down into the tub of whipped cream still in her hands.
“And what? You just stood there,” I spluttered at Brock, locking my phone. I didn’t want to see the photo again.
He grimaced, lips pressed together tightly. “It wasn’t like that. I did push her away. But she isn’t just any girl. She’s my best friend's sister. I didn’t want to hurt her.”
His explanation cut through me. “You just have girls throwing themselves at you left and right. I’m sure it is such a hardship for you.” I started to turn away, craving the solitude of my bedroom.
Brock wasn’t letting me leave. His fingers wrapped around my arm, stopping me from leaving. He looked affronted. “I haven’t done anything that would make Kenna believe there is something more between us other than friendship.”
I fucking hated that Carter made me doubt the person I loved most. Brock gave me no reason not to trust him, not when it came to matters of the heart. Keeping me and the Elite safe, that was another matter. He’d been straight with me, even about the Ava shit. So why was I having such a hard time with this?
I’d heard him turn Kenna down with my own ears.
The primal jealousy within me was making it difficult for me to accept this.
“It’s true,” Kenna piped in. “He has told me more than once that he doesn’t have feelings for me like that, regardless that it’s been difficult to accept. But I swear to you, I haven’t done anything since that night I went to his room.”
Brock glared at the phone. “All he sent was the photo? Nothing else?” he asked skeptically, and with good reason, glancing back up at me.
I was hurt and mad enough to actually lie. But not with my words, just with my actions as I nodded my head. I couldn’t say why I didn’t tell Brock about the text. Deep down, a part of me wanted to see the other proof. Brock claimed he had no feelings for Kenna. Was this all Kenna’s doing? Was she the one who kept throwing herself at him? Did he really push her away?
Grayson’s brows pinched together. “It makes me wonder who else this asshole is mind fucking with these texts.”
The words no sooner left Grayson’s mouth than three sets of eyes shifted to Kenna. If we were going to make a list of all the people Carter would harass, she was at the top. He wouldn’t be able to resist.