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“I’m not some trashy skank looking to bed hop. Why would anything he says make me change that? What’s the point of being together if you think that little of me? I told you, I’ve got a handle on it. I’m fine!”

Jake raised an eyebrow. “Are you fine, Piper?” His voice was low, his tone misleadingly soft. “How fine? You so set on doin’ this cake ‘cause you like spendin’ time with Green? Hearin’ all the things he wants to do to you? I know you email with Jet and the guys all the time, sendin’ shit to them wherever they are.”

I threw my hands up in frustration. “Yeah, ‘cause we’re friends.”

“Maybe you really are just a fuckin’ act. No one’s this naive.”

“I’m not—”

As he prowled towards me, I backed away until my body hit the side of the building. Not in fear.

In heartache.

“Slummin’ it with a fuckin’ mechanic gettin’ old for you? Does it turn you on to have famous rock stars hard for you? Knowin’ they jack off thinkin’ about you? Make you wanna go all groupie on their rocker dicks?” Jake’s voice was malicious as he fired off his questions in rapid succession, each one hitting like a physical blow.

“Whoa, too far, man,” Xavier barked before I could say anything.

“Step back, dude,” Kase warned, wedging himself between Jake and I.

After all we’ve been through, this is what he thinks of me? What he thinks of us?

Ducking to the side, I stumbled as I moved away.

Jake shifted to steady me, but Kase blocked him.

Though I wished I sounded fierce, my voice was small and shaking. “Fuck you, Jake.” Tears blurred my vision as I turned and ran to my car as fast as my wobbly legs and heels would carry me.

My fingers shook as I tried to fit the key into the ignition. Involuntarily, my eyes focused out the window to see Kase toe-to-toe with Jake as he got in his face.

I started the car and put it into reverse. Every instinct I had screamed at me to slam the car back into park, but I ignored them.

We needed a break.

Chapter Thirteen

Killer Insecurities

“I’m sorry, Jake. I just think it would be best if we ended this now,” I said through the crack in the door.

He’d tried to gently push it open to get to me, but that wasn’t happening.

It was too late.

“What the fuck are you talkin’ about, Piper?” Jake asked, his brows drawn down.

Even Kase looked stunned. Though he was giving us space, he was still there to have his boy’s back. He must’ve given Jake a ride since we’d taken my car that morning.

Has it really been less than an hour since I left him?

“Things just aren’t going to work between us. Here.” Wiggling my engagement ring off my finger, I held it out to him.

Adding a head tilt to the lowered brows, Jake glanced blankly at it and then back at me, like he didn’t comprehend my words or action. He made no move to take it.

My sweat slickened fingers shook so badly that I lost my hold on it. It fell between us, hitting the ground with a ping.

Neither of us looked to see where it landed.

“But you’re mine.”