Page 83 of The Vengeance You Crave

"I get it, okay. I fucking get it. And if you sit here right now and tell me that you're done with football, that you're going to walk away from all of it, then I'll support you all the way."

"Well, shit," I breathe because I was not expecting that. I thought he was going to be angry that I'd even consider walking away from it all.

"I'm not the bad guy here, Luc. I'm on your side, always."

"Did you just happen to forget that when you fucked Letty?" I mutter.

"Fuck, man. You need to let that go."

"I know. It just hurts that you both lied to me. We don't do that, Lee. We fucking don't."

"So tell me why Peyton really left town."

I stare at him, the words right on the tip of my tongue, her accusation word for word how she told it to me. But I can't do it.

"If I do, then it leaves you wide open, bro."

All the air rushes from his lungs.

"Yeah, exactly as I thought. We all have our secrets, Lee. Until I know the truth. Until I know for sure that she did lie to me that day, I'll keep it locked down. Trust me when I say that you don't need to hear the words unless they are one hundred percent the truth because if that's the case, it's going to change things for us."

He narrows his eyes studying me as if he'll be able to read the words in my head if he searches long enough.

"That's bullshit."

"You'll thank me if it turns out to be bullshit. You don't need that poison in your head. And trust me, I ain't letting you lock her in a pool house. You've already got game with my girls."

He throws his head back and laughs. "I swear to you, Luc. I've been nowhere near Peyton and I promise I never will. Well… unless she really begs."

"She can beg all she likes," I mutter.

"Aw, bro, you wouldn't even share with your twin?"

Images of the girls we've had between us over the years flicker through my mind before they morph into Peyton.

Could I do it? Could I share her like we did with those nameless jersey chasers, with Letty?

No. I'm pretty sure I couldn't.

"Touch her whether I'm in the room or not and I will fucking kill you."

"And there's the answer to my first question."

My breath catches. "Fuck you, bro. Fuck you."

"So are you coming back or is your new life plan to be a hobo who lives at the end of the beach?"

I look around at the tree-covered hideaway that I could call my home.

"I dunno. It's pretty sweet here."

His eyes lift from me and I know the second he spots it because he sucks in a sharp breath.

"How about you come back, talk to her and you can make some new memories instead of having to relive the old ones like a loser."

"I'm not a loser," I argue.

"Sure. Whatever you say."