The Rivals - Dylan Allen Page 0,412

whisper

“You don’t remember?” I laugh in surprise.

“No, God, but I want to.” My laughter dies at the plea in her voice. I don’t know what she sees when she looks at me. But when I look at her, my breath feels like it’s tangled around my heart. I feel like I’ve fallen back through time. Back to when I was sure she was going to change my life and was stupid enough to pin my hopes on it.

“Aww,” Celine sighs and claps loudly. “And then you grew up and became this man…she says and grabs my biceps. “I’m guessing you’ve got a huge appetite.”

“Uh, I need to get dessert out of the freezer.” Regan stands. practically runs back into the house.

Chapter 53

Bleeding Love

Regan

“Did you eat my ice cream?” I stalk back out to the backyard, an empty carton of Bluebell’s Pecan Pralines ‘n Cream in one hand, my eyes fixed on the back of Tyson’s head.

Like a shot, Remi is on his feet and rushing toward me. Kal is hot on his heels.

Tyson’s guilty ass turns around and when he sees me, instead of begging for mercy, he grins.

“Yeah, man, I can count on you to have Pralines ‘n Cream on deck—”

As I get closer, and he sees the tears on my face, his smile falls away.

“Reggie, hey, are you okay?” Remi steps in front of me and I slam into his bare chest. I cross my arms and glare up at him.

“I am so sick of you assholes coming over here, eating all my fucking food, and then leaving me with nothing,” I bellow. Remi’s jaw goes slack and he takes a huge step backward.

“Hey Reggie, what’s wrong?” Remi asks in a voice that’s too tender, and too patient and too pitying.

“You left and didn’t say goodbye. You didn’t call me once in almost six months. How could you?” I ask him.

His expression turns stricken. “Oh, Regan. I’m sorry.”

I barely hear him before I whirl to face Tyson. “And you. This is my favorite. And you ate it all anyway. And then you left the empty carton in my freezer knowing that drives me nuts. Do you want to see me lose my shit? Will you stop hurting me if I let you see me bleed?” I shout.

Tears blur my vision. For the first time I can ever remember, Tyson doesn’t have anything to say.

“You think because I’m calm, I don’t have a heart?” I direct this question at all of them.

“I do. And it is oceans deep, and right now, so empty I can hear it echo. You never think about me. You just do whatever the hell you want.” A sob wells in my chest. But I hold it.

I will not cry in front of these people.

No fucking way.

I lift my chin. “I’m going to bed. You can stay as long as you’d like. But clean the fuck up before you leave.”

As I turn to leave, my gaze falls on Celine. “And yes, Stone has a huge appetite. When we were in Mexico, he couldn’t stop eating my pussy.”

Kal’s startled gasp is the last thing I hear before I close the doors behind me.

Chapter 54

Drunk In Love

Stone

Pandemonium breaks loose in the backyard. Everyone is talking at once and I’m torn between running after her and dealing with the fallout of what she said.

“Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.” Tyson paces with a fist pressed to his mouth.

“What the fuck did she mean about you eating her pussy?” Remi’s voice explodes behind me and my heart nearly stops. I turn with my hands out to block any sudden swings. “I can explain.”

“Save that shit. I already know it all.” Tyson stops pacing and rests a hand on each hip, his head tipped skyward as if he’s searching for an answer.

“Know what?” Remi presses, his entire body turning rigid, his shoulder tense, and his hands ball into fists, like he’s ready to swing.

“That Stone’s the dude with his hand on Reggie’s ass in that picture,” Tyson says as if it’s common knowledge.

“The fuck you say?” Remi’s eyes, so like his sister’s, spark black lightning right before he starts toward me. I stand my ground, ready to do whatever. He’s got a couple of inches on me, but I can take him.

Tyson suddenly jumps between us and to my surprise, instead of joining his brother, he puts his hands on Remi’s chest and forces him to stop. “Stop, man. Stop. Come on. It’s Stone fucking Rivers. He’s the best man