Unbreak My Heart (Rough Riders Legacy #1)(28)

“Because it’s some big secret?” Realization dawned on her face. “Did everyone know about this but me?”

Jesus. This was spiraling. “No, just Kyler.”

“So, you managed to tell him the truth, but you f*cking lied to me?”

“Look, it’s not what you think—”

“I think nothing changes with you.” Her bitter laugh sliced through me. “You manipulative bastard. The tour of Phoenix was to check out housing areas for you, wasn’t it? Not for a friend.”

“My army buddy Raj and I will be sharing a place, so technically…” Don’t offer excuses; offer her an apology. “Sierra, I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to find out this way. I told you we needed to talk—”

“Omigod! You are not blaming this on me.”

The hurt in her eyes was more than I could take. “I’m not blaming you. Let’s go someplace private where we can hash this out.”

“No. I can’t do this with you, Boone. Not again.” She started to back up. “I have to go.”

“Now? In the middle of our goddamn conversation?”

“It’s not a conversation. It’s you trying to justify your dishonesty.”

“You’re right. I—”

Sierra silenced me with talk to the hand as she brushed past me and disappeared down the stairs.

I waited, half-hoping she’d storm back up after remembering something else she wanted to knock me down a peg for.

But I heard the distinctive sound of a door slamming hard enough to rattle the rafters.

Then I heard nothing but the silence of my own stupidity.

I slid down the wall until my butt hit the carpet. I rested my forearms on my knees, tempted to hang my head between my knees too.

From down the hallway, Anton yelled out, “Way to go, Romeo.”

I held up my middle finger.

Hayden crawled out of his room and sat across from me. “Dude. You suck at this. You need some serious advice on how to deal with women.”

Before I could tell him to f*ck off, because Christ, he was nineteen, and I hated that he was right, Anton said, “No, he needs a damn reality check. Boone. Buddy. Why are you doin’ dumb shit to screw this up with Sierra?”

“I’m not doing it on purpose.”

“Really? So it was an accident that you lied to her about finding a place to live for your friend? An accident you lied to her about how long you’ll be in Phoenix?” Hayden said skeptically.

My head fell against the wall. “When you put it that way…”

“There is no other way. You lied.”

“Twice,” Anton inserted helpfully. “What were you thinking?”

“Within five seconds of walking into her office the first day, I f*cking knew that even if it took me two goddamned years to convince Sierra we’re meant to be together, it’d be worth any lie in the short term for a chance at the long term with her.”

Silence.

I glanced up.

Hayden pretended to knuckle away a tear.

Asshole.

“Why didn’t you tell her that just now?” Kyler said.

“What was I supposed to do? Tackle her, sit on her and make her listen to me?” I snorted. “Right. Like you guys would’ve let that happen.” I pointed at Hayden. “Dickhead there already warned me tonight that I’d better watch my step around the precious. And it’s not like I don’t already have another contract out with you psycho McKay motherf*ckers for maintaining good behavior with her.”

“Explain that, West.”

I relayed my deal with Gavin, which in hindsight meant I provided them with a legit reason to make fun of me for the rest of my f*cking life and to beat the f*ck out of me.

After they finished laughing, Kyler crossed his arms over his chest. “Now that this is in perspective for us… When she stomped off? That’s when you should’ve taken her in hand and put it in perspective for her.”

“Taken her in hand?” I repeated.

Kyler shrugged. “Taken her someplace private, explained what you needed to and dealt with her attitude.”

“You’ve had experience with that?”

“A time or two.” He smirked. “A woman like Sierra? She’ll see how far she can push you. She expects you to push back.”

“That’s why you need to keep her guessing where that push back line is,” Hayden added.

“If that doesn’t work, buy her something,” Anton suggested. “Just not a puppy.”

“Or jewelry. That’s like saying ‘please wrap this necklace around my dick and assume you now own it,’” Hayden said with a shudder.

I looked from Hayden to Anton to Kyler. “You guys don’t have a f*cking clue about women, do you?”

Hayden cheerily said, “Nope.”

Anton said, “Does anyone, really?”

“Awesome. Thanks for nothing.”

“Ah ah ah. But we are gonna give you something,” Hayden said.

“What?”

“Another chance with Sierra, cynical f*cker,” Anton said.

“Come over Sunday night after you get off work for food and football,” Ky said. “Be ready to explain everything to her. Sierra gets mad fast, but she’s not unreasonable.”