Page 15 of Captured Love

The game starts again, and I find myself drawn into the drama unfolding on the screen. At least it can distract me from the shit that is going on in my life right now.

“Why were you at the gym so late anyway?” Asher asks. It’s then I realize that my hanging up on him on the way home wasn’t enough to stop his line of questioning. And knowing Blaise, he’ll double down on the inquisition.

I wipe my hands on a napkin that was left under the plate of wings, stalling for a moment. “Just trying to stay in shape. You know how it is.”

Asher leans back, crossing his arms over his chest. His gaze is more piercing than usual, like he's trying to see straight through me. “Yeah, but there's staying in shape and there’s working out to avoid shit.”

“I'm fine,” I say, perhaps a bit too sharply. The room goes quiet; even the hum of the television seems to dim. I sigh, trying to soften my tone. “Working out keeps my mind and body in check so I do it.”

Blaise pauses the game, and I can feel both of their eyes on me. Even when things got rough with Asher for a while, they were my boys and always will be. They’re supposed to understand this. Then again, how could they when I barely do?

“Knox,” Asher starts, but I cut him off.

“Seriously, I'm fine.” I lean back in the chair and stretch, trying to play it cool. “Just tired is all.”

Blaise shrugs and unpauses the game. The sounds of virtual carnage fill the room, but the sound of unanswered questions lingers. However, they both seem comfortable with giving me the space I crave.

My phone buzzes in my pocket again and I close my eyes for several seconds. I take it out slowly, almost dreading what I’llsee. The screen lights up and I confirm it’s the person I would rather not hear from again.

“Knox?” Asher’s voice pulls me from my thoughts.

I look up to see him staring at me. Blaise is focused on the game, but I can tell he’s listening too.

I shove the phone back in my pocket. “What?”

“You sure you’re okay?”

Fuck it. I can let them in on part of what is going on inside my brain. “Tessa, my ex from high school, texted me this evening.”

Asher's eyebrows shoot up, and Blaise momentarily loses his focus on the game, his character taking a fatal blow. He doesn't even bat an eye, which is a first.

“What does she want?” Asher asks cautiously. He knows the history, knows how deep that wound went—or still goes.

I rub the back of my neck. “I don't even know. She just said, 'Can we talk?’ and I’ve been ignoring her.”

Blaise sets the controller down, turning his full attention to me. “Are you going to respond?”

After a moment I say, “I don't think I should. There’s nothing but trouble there.”

“Probably best if you don't,” Asher agrees. “You don't need to go through all of that bull shit again. Wait… her name is Tessa?”

I know he's right and I know that means I’ve made the right choice. However the last part of his sentence made me do a double take. “Yes, why?”

Asher places the game controller down. “I saw her recently. Well, assuming that there aren’t a lot of women named Tessa around here.”

Wait what? I mean Crestwood’s campus isn’t enormous, but also…what? Blaise’s gaze is jumping between the two of us as if he can’t believe what he’s seeing or hearing.

I turn to Asher, confused. “Where?”

Asher hesitates for a moment, then shrugs. “At Isla's place. I went over there a few weeks ago to see her.”

And that's when it clicks. Isla is Tessa's roommate. How had I not put that together before? Isla is Selene's best friend, and Selene…

Fuck.

7

SELENE