Page 47

Adrian

W e made it back a day early. Troy had suggested giving Elena one more day before we went to see her. I reluctantly agreed, even though every inch of me wanted to run straight to her apartment and pound on the door until she answered.

Instead, we spent the day unpacking, eating a real meal, and sleeping in my bed—something that had become as normal as breathing. We had to touch one another even when we napped in the car. We held hands during our damn naps.

Neither of us questioned it. This was our lives now.

That night, we went to bed quietly, neither of us saying a word as we fell asleep to the soft sound of a movie playing in the background.

The next morning, I woke up to pounding on my door. Whoever was on the other side sounded like they were about to bust the door down and storm my living room.

I groaned, sitting up as Troy mumbled something beside me .

The pounding didn’t stop. If anything, it intensified.

“Who the fuck?” I snarled, rubbing my eyes as the knocking continued.

I swung my legs over the bed and trudged to the door, scrubbing a hand down my face as I yanked it open, my irritation at an all-time high.

Immediately, I regretted opening the damn door.

Fucking Amanda.

Dressed in designer everything, she stood staring at me. The only thing the bitch was missing was her broom.

Her lips turned into a deep frown, but I could tell it wasn’t because of real grief. It was because she was about to throw a tantrum. Just like she always did when she didn’t get her way. Then Troy would bow to her every fucking need because he felt terrible, and the cycle would begin again.

She flipped her hair and crossed her arms. “I need to see Troy. Now."

I sighed and turned my head, calling for him. “Troy!”

I typically would have slammed the door in her face, but he needed to sort this shit because we were going to see Elena today and didn’t need Amanda hanging over his head yet.

Troy shuffled out of my bedroom, still shirtless, his pajamas hanging low on his hips. When he saw Amanda, a look of pure annoyance passed over his face.

How she knew he was here was beyond me. Maybe Chase had told her.

Before he could say a word, she ran straight for him and threw herself against him, sobbing hysterically.

“Oh my God, Troy! I missed you so much! You have no idea what I’ve been through! I was so scared! I called your dad, who kept telling me he had no news. I thought you were dead!”

Last night, we’d finally checked social media past our pages online. The first thing we saw was Amanda’s posts, claiming she and Troy were engaged and she was heartbroken at his disappearance. To an outsider, she appeared like she cared, but I knew the bitch. She was milking it for all she was worth.

Troy had never commented on it, but I knew he’d been angry. I just prayed Elena hadn’t seen it. It would fuck everything up. I was sure Troy had the same thoughts, even though neither of us voiced them. It was too scary a reality to exist in. We were already struggling with getting her to talk to us. Any more added shit could be the final straw.

Problems, like they often do, seemed to find us again, so I watched as Amanda clung to Troy, sobbing like a damn child who had been told no.

She cupped his face and kissed him, pressing against him in a lewd way that made me see red. I didn’t like anyone fucking touching him. No one but me and Elena.

That was new…

Much to Troy’s credit, he didn’t kiss her back. I was sure I’d have lost it if he had.

He just stood there, his arms at his sides, his entire body tense.

Amanda pulled away, frowning.

“Baby? What’s wrong?” she asked, voice high-pitched. It reminded me of nails on a chalkboard.

I stayed put. I wasn’t about to leave them alone for this.

Troy visibly swallowed.

“Amanda,” he said finally.

She perked up immediately, eyes wide and hopeful as she stared at him.

“Why are you here?”

Her face twisted in confusion.

“What do you mean? I’m here because I love you!” she exclaimed, reaching for him again.

Troy stepped back. He exhaled, running a hand through his hair.

“We need to talk,” he said.

Her entire demeanor shifted, and her breath hitched. She shook her head, and her eyes filled with tears again.

“No. No, Troy, please. Don’t do this,” she begged, her voice rising. She’d had this talk before. I sank onto the couch and continued to watch. Troy would have told me to beat it any other time, but times had changed.

“Amanda, I think breaking up is best,” Troy said.

She let out a strangled sob.

“No, you don’t mean that!” she wailed, gripping his arm. “You’ve been through so much! You’re not thinking clearly! You just need time! You’re just traumatized?—”

Troy gently untangled himself from her grip, his expression resigned. He put some space between them.

“I’ve had time,” he said softly. “And I’m not the same guy I was before. You deserve better than this. Better than me. I’m not going to use trauma as an excuse. I’ve been feeling this way for a while now. We’re done, Amanda. I’m sorry.”

She shook her head violently, her nails digging into her palms. “No! I don’t want better! I want you!” she screamed.

Troy’s eyes darkened as muscle worked along his jaw.

“Amanda, it’s over,” he said. “I’m sorry. You need to go.”

Amanda stared at him. Suddenly, her expression twisted into something cruel. Something I’d seen on her face whenever she was working on hurting some innocent person who had gotten in her way.

Her entire body trembled with anger.

“This is about her , isn’t it?” she sneered, voice dripping with venom.

Troy tensed. I steeled myself. If she were talking about Elena, I’d throw her ass out myself.

Amanda’s lips curled into a bitter snarl. “It’s that bitch Elena,” she spat. “Isn’t it?”

I got to my feet immediately and took a step forward, ready to shut this shit down, but before I could say anything, Troy moved between us, sensing my incoming meltdown.

“I bet you were fucking her on that mountain, weren’t you? Messed up in the head, losing your mind, clinging to the first slut that spread her legs for you?”

That was it. I took another step forward, my fists clenching. I loved Troy, but I’d shove him aside and take this bitch out if I had to.

Before I could throw her out myself, Troy exploded.

“I’m in love with Elena! Is that what you wanted to fucking hear? Will it make this easier for you? Huh? To know I want my fucking little sister, and she’s all I’ve thought about whenever I’ve been with you? Does that make it easier to hear?” He roared at her, his face red.

Amanda stilled, eyes wide with shock. Her mouth opened and closed, her entire body trembling .

Troy’s chest heaved, his fists clenched.

“Yeah,” he continued. “I love her. I made love to her on that mountain. I made her mine. She’s the one I want. Not you. Not anymore.”

Amanda’s face crumbled.

“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “No, you don’t mean that.”

“I do,” he said softly. “I love Elena.”

Silence stretched between them before Amanda let out a guttural scream of frustration.

She shoved him hard in the chest.

“You’re a fucking asshole!” she shrieked. “A piece of shit, cheating ASSHOLE! I’m going to fucking make you famous for being such a piece of shit! Everyone is going to know how you fucked your sister . Disgusting! You fucking disgust me!”

Troy didn’t flinch.

She ripped off her engagement ring and threw it at him.

“Go to hell,” she hissed before storming out, slamming the door so hard the walls shook.

Silence descended around us.

I exhaled slowly, running a hand through my hair.

“Well,” I muttered. “I think you dodged a bullet.”

Troy barked a bitter laugh as he stared at the engagement ring.

Finally, he lifted his head, determination in his eyes.

“Let’s go get our girl.”

My heart pounded, and a slow grin spread across my face.

“Hell, yes. Finally.”