only silver lining was that Braxton wasn’t a doormat.
Clearly, she was going to do whatever the hell she wanted, but Houston was arrogant enough to believe her submission was a sure thing.
Whatever happens next, the two of them deserved each other.
“Rich—”
“Whatever you’re about to say, don’t. It became meaningless the moment you spread your legs for him.” I’d only admit to myself that my disappointment had little to do with Loren. He really liked her, but so had I.
“Back off her.”
I couldn’t hide my shock at Houston coming to her rescue. Shaking my head, I wondered how we got here. “You’re unbelievable,” I mumbled.
“Can we please talk about this later?” Braxton begged.
“Why?” I snapped at her. It was her turn to look surprised since I’d never been unkind to her. “Don’t want Loren finding out that you’re not worth his time?”
I couldn’t change that I’d been dealt that blow.
Braxton blinked at me until the tears she tried to hold back slipped from her big, brown eyes. I felt the apology on my lips and swallowed it back. I was sick of being sorry for the way people made me feel. Not this time. She made me believe she was someone I could hold on to. Why not let her suffer the consequences?
Braxton excused herself, disappearing onto the bus. A couple of minutes later, Loren finally stopped being a fucking chatterbox and showed his face.
Immediately sensing something was up, his smile turned into a frown. “What’s up?” he questioned as soon as he saw my face. He was clutching the food bags with the takeout he’d brought back for Braxton. He was already doting on her when it had never been his style. “Why do you look like someone shit in your cereal, bro?”
“Ask him.” I tilted my head toward Houston. I doubt he regretted fucking Braxton, but at least he didn’t look smug. He’d perfected his blank expression so well that when he spoke, his confession was the last thing I expected.
“I fucked Braxton.”
“What?” Loren’s head swiveled between Houston and me. I could already tell he wouldn’t let himself believe it. That’s how far gone he was, and she just—I forced my fists to unclench. “What the hell is he talking about?” Loren asked me. Before I could answer, he’d already turned back to Houston. “You fucked Brax?” he echoed. “When?”
“Just now. Right here.”
Loren’s gaze narrowed to slits. “You’re lying.”
“Regardless, I’m not interested in convincing you. From this point forward, you two should have no problem concentrating on the tour. If you want to get laid, snag a groupie. They’re all around.”
If I’d had an inkling of how low Houston would stoop just to keep control, I would have warned Braxton. He’d used her, and the worst part was that she still had no idea.
Loren stepped toward Houston until they were nearly chest to chest. “You think because you fucked her first that makes her untouchable?”
“We both know you’re too full of yourself to settle for my sloppy seconds. Get back on the bus.”
“Fuck you. Maybe I’m done taking orders from you.”
Houston’s eyebrow perked before he taunted, “You got a better option?” He already knew that Loren didn’t. None of us did. It wasn’t about the wealth we’d obtained but the connection to another human life. Without each other, we had no one.
“Maybe I do,” Loren returned, making my heart stop. What the hell was he talking about?
“If you want to run back to your daddy’s lap, be my guest, but don’t kid yourself into thinking the grass will be greener. Oh, and we won’t take you back this time.”
The air was dipped in so much tension I thought the sky might crack open from the strain. Loren was silent, but his rage rang loudly. Houston was taking a huge gamble. Loren would have appreciated it if it weren’t his pride and sanity on the table.
I didn’t exhale until he walked away but not before he shoved the bag of takeout that he’d bought for Braxton into Houston’s chest. We watched helplessly as Loren stormed away in the opposite direction of the bus.
“Don’t,” Houston commanded when I started after him. “Loren’s not going anywhere. He’ll be back.”
“I hope you know what you’re doing,” I said, voicing my hope that this was all part of his plan to bring us back together. I missed my friends.
Scrubbing his hand down his face, Houston gave me a tired look. “I’m doing the best I can, Rich. What more do you want from me?”