Young Love Dies Hard: The Young Brothers, Book 1 by Nikki Lane (old books to read txt) 📗

“Who was that?” Rich asked.

“None of your business.”

“You know, I don’t get you. What happened between us? I thought we were friends?”

“Friends?” I said with a snort. “You don’t want to be my friend.” I tried to sidestep around him, but he blocked my way.

“Wait a minute. Just talk to me for a second.”

“It’s finished, Rich. What we had is over.” I desperately searched the parking lot for Jacob’s face.

“Don’t tell me it’s over, Maeve. You tease my dick every time I see you at that club—”

“And then you pay me for it,” I said. “It’s my job.” I rubbed my temples, feeling my heartbeat throb in my forehead. “Look, I’m not interested in being friends…or anything else. I’m not that girl anymore.”

“Not that girl?” He sneered. “You are most definitely that girl. That’s who you are, Maeve. Just because you’ve convinced someone that you’re not, doesn’t make it true. I know that, and you do, too.”

A searing pain burned me from the inside out. I refused to let him know he’d uncovered the root of my uncertainty. That he’d peeled back with such ease what I had been clinging on to with bloodied fingernails.

“It’s not true.” My voice cracked, and I swallowed hard.

“It is true,” he said. “Does he know?”

“Does who know?”

“Your boyfriend.”

I tried to hide the terror I felt inside. This was the thing I’d feared. I knew it was bound to happen. And to put the cherry on my sundae, I spotted Jacob walking toward the restaurant. Our eyes met, and the look of confusion spread across his face.

“Just please,” I said, trying not to sound like I was begging. “Leave it alone.”

Rich noticed me looking at someone, and it made him turn around. He spotted Jacob walking toward us.

“Hey,” Jacob said, his brows creased. “What’s going on?” He looked to me first and then glanced at Rich.

“Nothing,” I said. “Let’s go inside.”

“Hey,” Rich said, offering his hand to Jacob. “We’ve met once before. Rich.”

Jacob hesitated but eventually returned the gesture. “Yeah, I remember.”

“Maeve and I were just reminiscing. Weren’t we?”

My knees felt wobbly, and I couldn’t keep my body from shivering, even though the night air was mild. I didn’t know what to say, so I just kept my mouth shut.

“About New Year’s Eve,” Rich continued. “Crazy night, huh?”

My heart sank into my stomach.

Jacob’s eyes widened just enough for me to register the blow of that statement.

“Crazy, crazy, crazy,” Rich said. “She’s a crazy girl, this one. But I guess you already knew that, huh?”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Jacob asked.

I’d seen Jacob lose his shit only a handful of times, but I recognized the tension in his jaw, the tone of voice he used when he wasn’t happy.

“Rich, please,” I said. “Just go.”

“You don’t know?” Rich prodded. “He doesn’t know,” he said to me. “Maeve, here, has fucked just about every guy on campus.”

“What the hell did you say?” Jacob said through gritted teeth.

“Sorry to disappoint, man. Just thought you should know. She just can’t be domesticated. Trust me, I’ve tried.”

And that’s when Jacob lost it. He lunged for Rich’s shirt collar and crumpled it in his clenched fists until his knuckles were white.

“Jacob,” I cried. “Don’t. He’s had too much to drink.”

Rich didn’t look fazed at all by Jacob’s aggression, and it made me think he probably got his collar pulled a lot. I noticed some of the valet guys staring at us.

“Jacob, please. Just let him go.” I reached for one of his arms, but it was like trying to move a steel beam.

Jacob held on a few seconds longer before releasing his grip.

Rich readjusted his collar. “Don’t worry, Maeve. Your secrets still safe with me.”

“Just go, Rich,” I said.

He sauntered off, leaving Jacob and I alone.

“What the hell is going on?” Jacob asked. “What’s he talking about?”

I opened my mouth to speak, but the words got caught in the back of my throat. What the hell did I say? How did I explain this?

“Maeve?” Jacob cried, bringing me out my stupor.

I gently shook my head and met his gaze.

“What the hell is he talking about?” Jacob said.

“I-I don’t know.”

He wrinkled his face. “What secret?”

I shook my head. “I don’t know what he’s talking about.”

“You don’t know?” He looked back at Rich, who was waiting for the valet to bring his car around. “He comes and sees you at work?”

“Well…” The panic button had been hit. My brain was too busy trying to calm my thrashing heartbeat to form a coherent sentence. “I can’t control who comes to my job.”

“The fuck you can’t,” Jacob said. “You’ve been doing it to me this whole time.” He paced a few seconds and scraped a hand over his face. “New Year’s Eve, Maeve? You spent New Year’s Eve with him?”

“I was working, Jacob. It’s not like we had plans.”

He froze and let out a heavy breath. I approached him slowly and held his hand.

“Please, don’t let this ruin our night. Let’s just—”

“It’s too late for that, trust me.” More pacing. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

Goosebumps covered my arms. “No…of course not.” It scared me how quickly the lie fell from my mouth. But I wasn’t sure what terrified me more—telling Jacob the truth and risk losing him, or perpetuating this lie a little longer until it consumed us both. “Rich and I used to date—”

“Date? I thought you didn’t date?”

“Not date, date. You know…”

He closed his eyes for a few brief seconds and shook his head.

“And anyway, he’s been after me since we’d stopped, which was a long time ago.” I flopped my arms to my sides. “He’s just upset because I keep refusing his advances.”

Jacob stared at me, like the truth was written all over my face.

“Please, Jacob.”

“Let’s just forget dinner tonight.” His tone was calm and quiet. But it only made me feel more nervous. “I’ll see you back at the apartment.”

He pulled his hand free from mine, and I watched him walk away.

Chapter Twenty-Three

It had