trust them alone together, but I’d been too into Braxton to notice anyone else. If they fought without me to break them up, neither would stop until the other was dead, and I’d spend the rest of my life failing to piece the victor back together once the guilt tore them apart.
That’s what happens when two competing powerhouses refuse to give up control—Houston had trouble letting go, and Loren hated being told what to do.
I…just wanted my best friends back.
We used to smile whenever one of us walked into a room. Of course, everyone thought it was weird, but we didn’t care. And until I fucked that up it never mattered who was in our life at the time. All we had were each other.
“You ready to do this?” Houston grilled.
Braxton nodded, knowing he was speaking to her even though he refused to make eye contact. Meanwhile, she avoided Loren’s penetrating gaze at all costs. I knew I wouldn’t stop fixating over what happened between them, just like I knew I wouldn’t like the answer.
Had they slept together?
Loren might behave like a pig, but he didn’t squeal like one, and for once, I wished he was one to kiss and tell.
Houston and Brax started toward the stage. I watched as Houston said something too low for me to hear, and Braxton’s spine straightened as her hands made fists.
Yeah, I’d bet Bound’s net worth that she’d be taking a swing at him before the tour was over.
Making Houston bleed was sort of our unspoken initiation ritual. Calvin had always been too much of a chump to try. God fuck his soul. We’d never actually sat down and discussed why we couldn’t accept him. We never had to. We just lived and bled on the same page and never strayed.
That is until Calvin got his revenge before snorting himself to death.
Good fucking riddance.
Someone handed me drumsticks and handed Loren the bass he called Sharon for no reason at all, and together we made our way to the stage.
“So, are you going to tell me what happened between you and Brax, or are you going to wait until it’s awkward for everyone?”
He summoned an arrogant look that only Loren James could. “What makes you think I planned to tell you at all?”
“Because I know you? Because you never seem to keep your mouth shut?”
“When have I ever kissed and told you shit, motherfucker?”
That stopped me dead in my tracks.
Loren was already hysterically laughing, which caused Braxton to peer over her shoulder. Whatever she was thinking, I couldn’t pinpoint as her bored gaze moved between Loren and me. Deciding this discussion was better had without Braxton overhearing, I shoved Loren backstage again, even though we were already late.
“You kissed her?”
He peered down his nose at me even though he only had two inches on me. “Maybe she kissed me.”
“Bullshit,” I spat back. “If something happened, it’s all on you.”
Yup, I was angry at him.
I wanted to fight my best friend over pussy that wasn’t even mine.
“I’m sorry to burst your weird fantasy bubble, but Braxton isn’t as innocent as you think.”
My heart stopped in my chest.
He fucked her.
He fucking fucked her!
How else could he have known? Forcing myself to relax, I started to ask him when he read the look on my face and beat me to the punch. “She told me herself, bro.”
“What makes you think she was telling the truth?”
The look he gave me was half bewilderment, half exasperation. “Why the fuck would she lie?”
“How many extra fingers would you need to count the virgins who told you their cherries were popped so you’d screw them?”
Slipping a stick of gum in his mouth, he said, “Point taken. I don’t think she was lying, though.”
“How do you know?”
“Why does it matter?” He smiled sneakily before blowing a bubble and popping it with his teeth. “You got a secret fetish or something?”
“Get fucked, Loren.”
“I tried,” he mumbled, pushing air from his nostrils. “Believe me, I tried.”
Hope shot through me at hearing that. “She turned you down?”
“We wouldn’t be here if she hadn’t.” The joy that suddenly overtook my expression was wiped away when he said, “She’s got the softest thighs. No way would I leave them this soon.”
Loren walked away before I could demand to know where else he had touched her, and I had no choice but to follow. I could hear the crowd outside getting restless. The show had already begun but little did I know, it wasn’t one that would be