You Will Be Mine (Forever and Ever #7)(39)

My heart fell. “You think he’s over her?”

“No,” he said immediately. “Definitely not. Cayson forgives Skye for everything because she can do no wrong in his eyes, but this…this is different. It’s a lot of agony to just forgive.”

I hadn’t thought of that. “I know Cayson loves her. He’ll take her back.”

He shook his head. “I really don’t know, Trinity.”

“Well, you need to try.”

He looked into my eyes for a moment while he rubbed his knuckles. “I will. But I have no idea how that conversation will go. He might hate her even more.”

“He won’t,” I said firmly. If I believed in anything in this world, I believed in Cayson and Skye.

“And what will Cayson do even if he does take her back?” he asked. “Move back here and act like nothing happened?”

“That’s for them to decide, not us. He needs the truth.”

Slade glared at me. “He wasn’t entitled to that before?” He’d never been this angry with me before. “You and Skye played him like a damn puppet. He’s the best guy I know and doesn’t deserve to be treated like that.”

“I know—”

“No, you obviously don’t.” He stared me down, the rage burning in his eyes. “How would you feel if this was reversed? If Cayson did this to Skye?”

I wouldn’t like it at all.

“Answer me.” He smashed his fist into the table.

“I wouldn’t be happy about it.”

He clenched his jaw and sighed. “This is so fucked up.”

“Just talk to him, okay?”

He was quiet for a long time. “Why did you wait so long to tell me? What’s changed?”

I shrugged. “It’s been three months and she’s still a wreck. She originally went back to tell him the truth, but when she arrived on his doorstep, some girl opened the door wearing his t-shirt.”

Slade’s eyes narrowed. “What?”

“She was so hurt, she left. She just told me that a few days ago.”

Slade shook his head. “Cayson hasn’t slept with anyone.”

“You know that for a fact?”

“I do,” he said defensively. He stared out the window again. Then he turned back to me, his eyes bright. “He has a roommate, Mitchell. It must have been one of his girls.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. “I hope you’re right.”

“I am,” he said firmly. “I know my best friend.” He rubbed the back of his neck.

We sat in silence while people around us kept eating. Slade wouldn’t look at me. Anger still burned in his eyes. He was tense and uncomfortable. I could read him better than anyone.

“Are you going to call him?” I asked.

“Why doesn’t Skye tell him?” he demanded. “She’s the one who pulled the trigger. She should clean up the mess.”

“She won’t do it,” I said. “I already tried.”

“Fine,” he said through ground teeth.

I was anxious for him to make the call. “When are you going to call him?”

He glared at me. “You think I’m going to tell him this over the phone? How cold do you think I am? I’m not just dropping a bomb on him with no warning.”

He had a point. I stayed silent.

He shook his head with disapproval. “I can’t even look at you right now…” He rose from the booth.

I stayed in my seat and didn’t chase after him.

He walked out without looking back.





Chapter Ten


Theo


Christmas was over and it was back to reality. My jeans were a little tighter from all the pie I ate. When my mom put delicious food on the table, I had a hard time saying no. Anyone would.

Returning to Cambridge was always hard. I had to return to work and school, both of which were boring. But now it was more unbearable because I’d have to see Alex. She turned my world upside down and made me loathe my job.

Our last conversation wasn’t pleasant, and I somehow made our relationship more strained. I shouldn’t have been such a dick in the locker room. I was normally a nice guy but she brought out the worst in me.

I should just make nice with her and apologize for my behavior over the past few months. That would make the most sense and make my life easier. But for some reason, I was undeniably stubborn around her. Just looking at her ticked me off.

And now she challenged me in front of all my coworkers. I was certain I’d win this time. I was prepared and I wouldn’t go easy on her.

I was sitting in the library thinking about it when Conrad sat across from me.

“I wish the break wasn’t over,” he said with a sigh.

“Ditto.”

He opened his textbook and stared at it blankly. Then he shut it again. “I can’t wait until I’m done with school.”

“How’d it go with Beatrice?” I asked.

“Fine,” he said with a shrug. “Like I said, she and I are just friends.”

“That you invite to meet your parents?” I asked incredulously.

He lowered his gaze. “Just a friend,” he repeated.

“Whatever.”