I laughed and looked back at her. “Thanks for the outfit, Lee.”

“I saw Aiden helping you inside . . .” She drifted off, her voice full of meaning.

“Nothing happened, and nothing is going to happen. I told you, he’s just not it for me.” Kinlee scoffed, but before she could say anything I jerked my head toward Jace, Brody, and the two women they were standing with. “What’s going on over there?” And why does Brody look pissed?

“Oh, that’s my mother-in-law. Every time she sees Brody, she tries to get him to leave Olivia by setting him up with someone else. I guess Julia is the poor soul she’s set her sights on this time.”

I was going to throw up. Or yank Julia away from Brody. I hadn’t decided yet. Forcing myself to unclench my jaw, I tried to sound like I didn’t care either way. “Why do you say ‘poor soul’?”

“Because every time his mom tries to set him up with someone else, the girl gets excited at the thought of being with Brody, only to be turned down. We all want Brody away from Olivia, we would love to see him with anyone else. But no matter how much he hates that woman, he’s never going to leave her.”

Throwing up. Definitely throwing up. My heart was currently residing in my stomach, and my stomach was churning. It wasn’t a good feeling, and throughout all of it I had to retain my unaffected facade.

Brody looked over at me for a few seconds, before looking back to his mom, who was animatedly talking about Julia’s successes. But in those few seconds I saw everything I was feeling reflected back at me.

Swallowing down my anger, I turned and grabbed Kinlee’s shoulder as I gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I forgot something in my car, I’ll be back. Happy birthday, Lee.”

“Do you want Aiden to help you?” she asked too loudly.

I cringed and turned to see both Aiden and Brody looking at me. Aiden’s expression was expectant, while Brody’s was livid.

“No, I’m fine. It’s just my purse.” I waved Aiden and Kinlee off and tried not to look at Brody again as I turned and walked quickly across the kitchen, through the dark dining room, and to the entryway. As soon as I was outside I let out an angry huff and balled my hands into fists before pressing them against my churning stomach.

Putting a hand to the passenger side of my car for a couple minutes, I held myself up and dropped my head as I took deep breaths in and out. As if it wasn’t enough what Brody and I were already doing . . . what we were already going through . . . now I had to watch his mom try to push other women on him?

My biggest worry for tonight had been keeping myself away from him when he would be so close to me. It hadn’t occurred to me that I’d be silently fighting for him.

Straightening up, I mentally shook myself and opened the door to grab my purse sitting on the floorboard before shutting the door and locking my car again. I couldn’t let this rule my night. Tonight was about Kinlee. Letting my situation with Brody get in the way of her birthday wasn’t fair to her.

As soon as I walked back into the house a warm hand clamped down on my wrist and pulled me into the darkened dining room. His full lips pressed against mine, and for a few seconds I let myself get lost in that kiss. But then I remembered where we were, and who was with us.

“What are you doing?” I hissed when I broke off the kiss.

“Why did you come with Donnelly?”

“Are you kidding me, Brody? He pulled in behind me and helped me in. Nothing more.”

His eyes roamed my face for a few seconds. “Jace said Aiden—”

“I don’t care what Jace said!” I cut him off. “Why didn’t you tell me your mother is trying to set you up with other women? Why didn’t you warn me that would be happening tonight?”

Brody sighed and pressed his body closer to mine. “I don’t know, I wasn’t thinking about it. To be honest, all I could think about was that Aiden would be here tonight and my sister-in-law and brother want you with him.”

“Well, it looks like we’re even tonight then. You don’t like that they want me with him, and I don’t like that I have to watch your mom push another girl on you.”

Despite my anger, he smirked and brushed back some of my bangs. “Who knows? Maybe one day she’ll push you on me.”

Putting my hands on his chest, I tried to shove him away, but he didn’t move. “That’s not funny, Brody, and you know it,” I said through gritted teeth.

“Kam, it was a joke.”

“I don’t want to be this person. I don’t want to be seen as the girl who breaks up a marriage, you know that. So don’t make light of something that you know is killing me.”

“Babe. You’re not breaking up a marriage. You’re making me feel alive for the first time in years. I’m sorry for joking, but if we can’t joke about it, it’s going to keep driving us crazy and put more strain on our relationship until we can be together.”

I cleared my throat and shook my head as a sad smile pulled at my lips. “There is nothing about us, or our situation, that can possibly be found funny.”

“Kamryn,” he whispered. “I—”

“I need to get back to Kinlee,” I said suddenly, and this time when I pushed, he let me go and stumbled back.

I didn’t want to hash out everything with Brody right now. If we did, I would undoubtedly end up crying, and that would raise questions. I needed to focus on my best friend. Yes . . . I needed to focus on her and for a few hours try to forget about the pain, heartache, jealousy, and guilt that were slowly unfurling in my stomach—even with Brody here.

Brody

June 15, 2015

AFTER SHUTTING AND locking the front door, I trudged into the kitchen and dropped the box of cupcakes on the island. Tonight had been a disaster. I’d been so on edge watching Kamryn and Aiden, ready to rip him away from her if he touched her, that I’d been shaking for the better part of the night. But whenever Kamryn’s eyes would meet mine, the adrenaline would quickly fade from my body and a deep ache would fill my chest as those blue eyes reminded me how much I’d fucked up earlier.

I hated that she’d seen my mom try to set me up with Julia, a girl I’d grown up with. I hated that I’d made it worse by joking about it. I hated that the woman I loved had to go through so much pain because of me. And I hated that I still hadn’t told her I loved her.

We both knew. If we weren’t in love with each other, we wouldn’t be doing what we were doing. We showed it in touches, kisses, and looks. But realizing I hadn’t told her as she walked away from me tonight had made it nearly impossible to go the next three hours without grabbing her and telling her in front of everyone.

Rubbing my hands over my face, I walked back to my room and stripped my clothes off before taking a hot shower. The entire time my body and mind were willing me to get back in the car and go to her.

But Olivia was home, and even though I hadn’t seen her, she’d probably heard me. If I left again at eleven at night, I had no doubt she’d be calling me screaming within minutes.

As soon as I was done with my shower I dried off and pulled a pair of shorts on before going back to the kitchen. I stopped midstep and my blood ran cold when I saw Liv sitting on the counter in nothing but a bra and underwear. She was holding one of the cupcakes and sensually licking the frosting off her finger as her eyes bore into mine.

“I’ve missed you, Brody,” she whined, and her lips formed a pout.

“What are you doing, Liv?”

She spread her legs, but I never looked away from her face. “I thought we could have some fun with the cupcakes you brought back for me.”

I didn’t even bother telling her they weren’t for her. That would just make her start screaming sooner.

“Mmm, God, these are so good.”

My stomach turned at her over-the-top moans, and I forced myself to take calming breaths so I wouldn’t get sick.