Joshua Healy (The Mitchell/Healy Family #10)(39)

I close my eyes and pray she gets the hint. “If you feel nothing for me, why won’t you look at me?”

“Because you’re naked and I have a girlfriend.”

“There isn’t a ring on your finger, so you don’t belong to anyone.”

I stand, pushing her back until she’s almost falling on her ass. “My heart does.” I rush out of the room, and make it halfway to my uncle’s house before stopping.

This hurts.

It’s like daggers shoved into my heart. I’d rather have my dick chopped off then look at either of them and break their hearts, yet I’m doing it, and I feel disgusted over it.

I’m agitated when I come upon my cousin Jax. He’s unhooking a bucket from a tractor in order to attach another farm tool. He skids out and stands, brushing off the dust as I approach. “Hey, cuz. You look like you’re about to lose your shit.”

“How would you know that?”

“Cause I have the same expression when it happens to me. What’s up with you?”

“I love Tamsyn,” I announce out of the blue.

“Okay. We all figured it was serious. You don’t keep chicks around for this long.”

I shake my head. “Liv just came onto me.”

“Liv? Wes’ sister? That Liv? The one you swore up and down that there was nothing going on between you for years?”

“Yeah, that Liv.”

“So, did you hit it?”

“No!” I scrunch up my face. I’m aggravated he thinks I have.

“What’s the problem, dude?”

“This was a mistake. Never mind.”

Jax stops me before I make it halfway to the barn. “Hold up. I think I know what’s going on. I think most of us do. All these years. You’ve been holding out on us haven’t you?”

“She didn’t want anyone to know. Nothing personal.”

“Damn. Does Wes know?”

“Not really.”

“So she’s back and she wants you?”

“Apparently.”

“But you love Tamsyn?”

“That’s what I said.”

“And you still love Liv?”

“You’re f*cking genius, Jax. Tell me something I don’t know.”

“Holy shit. I’m the last person to ask for advice. Jake’s more loyal. You should ask him.”

“Ask me what?” Jake peeks his head out from the barn. “I heard my name f*ckers. Don’t hold out on me. What are you signing me up for?”

This is terrible. Now they’re both involved in my problems. I shake my head and let Jax give his twin the rundown. Then we’re all three standing around with our thumbs up our asses.

Jake comes up and puts his hand on my shoulder. “Tell that bitch to take a hike and stick with Tamsyn. You’ve got something good. Don’t f*ck it up.”

Jax interjects. “Or he could hit it one more time to get her out of his system completely.”

“Like a goodbye f*ck?” Jake adds.

I’m rolling my eyes. I should have gone to my dad before talking to these two fools. “Can you two be serious? This is my life.”

“Look,” Jake begins. “You’re in a committed relationship with Tamsyn and you love her. Either move on and have a life with her, or end it and go back to Liv. You can’t have both. I mean, you probably can for a time, but it won’t end well.”

“I told Liv to leave me alone.”

“Then you’re good.”

“She was naked in my room when I left. She’s probably still there.”

“Well shit on a stick. Naked?”

“Yeah. She’s more desperate than I’ve ever seen. For the first time in our lives I feel like she’s being genuine.”

“Tamsyn’s out of the country right?” Jax asks.

Jake stops his brother. “Imagine it’s Amber. Would you cheat?”

“She’s my wife. We’re talking about our single cousin.”

“Tamsyn is in Mexico with her parents for five more days.”

“Then you have four days to make a decision. If I were you, I’d think about the future. A goodbye f*ck could ruin everything you have with Tamsyn. If she ever found out, well we all know what good girls do when us men f*ck up and screw around,” Jake explains, while Jax pretends to cut his throat to add.

“I’m going to tell Liv she has to leave me alone. I refuse to stoop to her level. It’s over between us.”

“Good choice.” Jax says.



When I return to my house, eager to get my point across, Liv is gone. I sigh with relief. It’s quiet, and for once I feel like I’ve made the right choice. I went with my heart.

I find my mom in the kitchen. She and Dad are playing a serious game of cards. They have real money in between them, both of their faces focused on their hands. “Am I interrupting?”

They stop when they hear me. “No, sweetie. Did Olivia leave?” Mom asks.

“Don’t know. Don’t care.”

“That’s not very nice, Josh.”

I lean on the counter and finally get the courage to explain. “Long story short, Liv came her to see if I’d sleep with her for old times sake. It’s about time everyone knows the truth. I’ve been in love with that girl since we were kids. She broke my heart, and now she’s back because she knows I’m happy. I’m not having it. If she comes here again, don’t let her in. I don’t care if she’s with Wes.”