Page 79 of Next to Everything We Wanted

Thank you, please enjoy it. *Wink*

Still wrapped in my towel, I stormed into the living room, where Phoenix and Forrest were playing video games on the console.

“What the hell did you say to her?” I snapped as soon as Forrest’s face came into my sight. “And more importantly, what did you do to her?”

“I’m guessing you’re talking to Forrest because the only girl I’ve been around is Celeste, and we’re good,” Phoenix said, his eyes still on the TV screen.

“If you want to yell at me, Gavin, can you do it later?” Forrest asked as his character fell to the ground. “Phoenix is already kicking my ass hard enough.”

“And I’m about to kick yours with my foot.”

He paused the game and threw his controller on the table. “Fine. I told Sienna to stop playing games with you.”

“What games?”

“We’ve already been through this, Gavin.”

“No, no, whatgames?” I sat in the chair and crossed my arms.

“If you two are going to be freaking ridiculous over this girl, then maybe we shouldn’t network with her,” Phoenix said as heplaced his controller down. “I won’t sit here and listen to another fight that will go in circles.”

I drew in a breath and faced Forrest. “Just because you’re concerned about my privacy doesn’t mean you get to treat people I care about like crap.”

“Right,” he muttered. “Because I’m always the one who does something wrong. Not you, who goes around screwing things up, who we bend over backward for. You’re going to take that girl’s side instead.” He shook his head in disapproval. “You’re going to regret it. When things fall apart with her, you’re going to come crying back to me like you always do.”

“And what makes you think that? What makes you think that if things go wrong, I’ll come back toyouwhen you’ve been nothing but?—”

“Enough!” Phoenix shot up from the couch. “You two have been incapable of having a civil conversation ever since this girl came into the picture, and I’m tired of it. I’m tired of both of you.” His cold, dark gaze went to me. I never realized how scary his eyes looked when he was mad. “You’ve been acting differently lately, and I know there’s more going on than what you’re telling me.” His head snapped toward Forrest. “And you’ve been over the top with being a jerk. Ellis, Celeste, and I are tired of both of your crap.”

After a few painful breaths, my lungs close to bursting, I finally spilled my guts. “Sienna and I kissed at the concert . . . and we both liked it. I likeher.”

Regret immediately washed over me as Forrest’s and Phoenix’s eyes bulged out of their skulls, their jaws hitting the floor.

How many times could I come close to getting murdered?

Forrest was the first to speak. “I don’t take back a single thing I said.”

His words stung, but I held my head high as I stood up from the chair, leaving a water stain. Right, I was fighting with him while practicallynaked.“I don’t take back anything I said, either.”

Phoenix sighed, most of the anger gone from his face. “You’re waist-deep into this now, Gavin. It’s good to branch out and not isolate yourself. But if you don’t tell her the truth . . .”

“Why should he tell her the truth?” Forrest hissed.

“I wouldn’t want to date someone and hide something so big from them,” Phoenix said, shooting a glare at Forrest. “Even if it doesn’t affect the relationship that much, it’s still a huge part of me and the way I live my life. And for someone as popular as Gavin, it’s even bigger.”

“So, you want me to tell her?” I asked.

Phoenix sighed again. “I think hiding it from her will do more damage. And, in that case, I agree with Forrest—you’ll regret it.”

I swallowed, the back of my eyes stinging. I knew he wasn’t being a jerk, but hearing my fears come true, that I couldn’t be more than friends with Sienna and not tell her the truth, made me feel like an idiot. I’d let things get too far, crossing that stop sign. And if I kept speeding, I’d get pulled over by the cops.

“I’m going to bed.” My voice broke, and I stormed into the bathroom, slamming the door. Tears seeped from my eyes, and I wiped them away with tissues.

I looked at my reflection in the mirror. There I was again, that broken boy who was locked in a life he couldn’t escape. But this time, it hit differently, like there was no chance of freedom this time.

It was a cycle I’d always be stuck in.

Sienna texted me during my sleep, but I didn’t answer her when I woke up. I still couldn’t decide what to do about our friendship. I needed to decide quickly, though, because I couldn’t lead her on like this.