Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 131330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 657(@200wpm)___ 525(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 131330 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 657(@200wpm)___ 525(@250wpm)___ 438(@300wpm)
“Then get your head out of your fucking ass and make it up to her,” I snap. “Do you have any idea how much she’s hurting because of the bullshit you’ve been throwing at her? It’s killing her, and you’re too caught up in your own feelings to even see what you’re doing to her.”
“Stop talking about my sister like you fucking know her. You don’t.”
“I do.”
“Oh, that’s right. Because you think you’re suddenly in love with her? She let you fuck her a few times and now you’re declaring your undying love?”
I grab him by the scruff of his shirt and pull him in. “You might be my best friend, but talk about her like that again, and I won’t hesitate to drop you,” I tell him before releasing my hold on his shirt and shoving him away. “This isn’t something that’s going to go away. I want to be with her. I want to start a life with her, and fuck, maybe even one day, if she’ll have me, make her my wife. This isn’t just some stupid phase, Austin. When are you going to see that? Do you really think I would put twenty-five years of friendship on the line if this didn’t mean anything?”
Austin clenches his jaw. “What kind of life do you think you’re going to give her?” he questions, not impressed. “You’re not right for her. You own nightclubs and want to expand across the country. What’s that supposed to mean for Aspen? Is she supposed to spend her life following you across the world, watching you chase your dreams while she sits back twiddling her fucking thumbs? Fuck no.”
“Honestly, I don’t know, but what I do know is that she deserves the right to decide that for herself rather than having you decide it for her. You’ve clearly shown that you don’t actually give a shit about what she wants. These past three weeks have more than proven that.”
“So what? I’m just supposed to accept that you’re together now?”
“Yeah,” I scoff. “That’s exactly what you’re supposed to do. Because while I can handle you pulling away and treating me like shit, she can’t. You are the fucking sun in her sky and these past few weeks you’ve forced her to live in absolute darkness. She needs you now more than ever, so get the fuck over it. Swallow your pride and be there for her.”
Having said what I needed to say, I go to walk away when he calls out behind me. “And you?”
I stop and turn back, too fucking tired for this. “Honestly, I don’t give a shit anymore. You might despise me for going behind your back to be with her, and up until two hours ago, I would have done anything to earn your forgiveness, but now I’m wondering if that was for her sake or yours,” I tell him. “I betrayed your trust in the worst way, and I’ve spent the past two months hurting her over and over again because of the crippling guilt I felt for what I’d done. But you’re supposed to be her greatest supporter. You’re supposed to want the world for her and help her achieve everything she’s ever dreamed of, and seeing the way you’ve treated her over these past few weeks . . . I don’t know, man. You’re not who I thought you were. So yeah, I’m sorry I betrayed your trust and went behind your back, but I’m not sorry that I fell in love with your sister and found something so fucking real that it hurts just to be away from her. If you can come to terms with that and learn how to be in her life without tearing her down, then great. If not, then I’m done. I’m going to be with her with or without your approval, and I really fucking hope that you can get on the right side of this because it’s not going away. I love you like a brother, Austin, and it would mean the world to both of us if we didn’t have to keep this from you.”
“So, that’s it, huh? You’re just throwing away twenty-five years of friendship?”
“Nah, man. You are,” I tell him. “You’re choosing to believe that I’m not good enough for her, that I’m too fucking broken to offer her anything real without even trying to dig a little deeper and see what’s right in front of your eyes, and because of that, you’re punishing all of us.”
“You’re really that in love with her?”
I nod. “Yeah, man. I am.”
He lets out a heavy breath, nodding. Not because he agrees, but because he’s trying to hear what I’m saying, and with that, I finally turn and walk away, hoping like fuck he’s able to make the right decision and return to Aspen as the loveable brother she’s always idolized and adored.