“Reid loves that kid, what the hell am I supposed to do with this?” I ask, my shoulders sagging.

  “Ask Jade how she found out?”

  “How did you find out?” I ask.

  “I overheard Reece and Mia talking before the fight,” he says, looking down at the table.

  “This is a clusterfuck,” I say, puffing out a breath. “You look like shit, Silas. Go home and rest. And… stop punishing yourself,” I say softly.

  He makes a scoffing sound. “If only, Summer, if only.” He gets up and walks out, without looking back.

  Right here and now I decide, there's no way in hell I can ever tell Reid about this.

  He’s not mine to worry about anymore anyway, right?

  I force myself to study for a few hours and then head home. When I see Ryan’s motorcycle parked at my house, I’m extremely surprised. I walk into the house a little warily, not knowing what to expect.

  “There you are,” he says, standing in the kitchen drinking a juice box.

  “Hey.”

  “How you holding up, babe?” he says, his eyes softening.

  “I’m okay.”

  “You don’t look okay,” he says knowingly.

  “That’s not very nice of you to point that out,” I snap.

  “He’s gonna realise he fucked up,” he says.

  “And he’s gonna be too late,” I reply softly, walking to the couch and sitting down. Animal Planet is on, Ryan’s favourite channel.

  “He was hurt, babe, he'll get over it.”

  “You’re not mad at me?” I ask, turning my head to follow his movements as he walks towards me and takes a seat next to me.

  “No. Xander told me what happened, not your fault, babe,” he says, pulling gently on a lock of my hair.

  “I’m not working for you anymore,” I announce.

  “Babe-”

  “I’ll stay for two weeks so you can find someone else.”

  “Stubborn.”

  “I’m serious.”

  “We’ll see babe, two weeks is a long time,” he says with a sly smile.

  “Where is he?” I ask.

  “At home in his room, sulking.” I lean forward and wrap my arms around Ryan’s stomach.

  “I’m glad you’re not mad at me. I thought you were gonna cut me out of your life,” I admit.

  “Cos my brother overreacted? Don’t think so.”

  “Love you, Ry.”

  “Love you too, Summer, babe,” he says, holding me in his arms.

  Chapter Twenty Two

  Four days later, I’m getting dressed for work, dreading having to see everyone, when there’s a knock on my door.

  “Come in, Xander!” I call out, looking under my bed for my shoe. I find it and cheer, and then glance up at the door.

  Reid.

  I get up off the floor and scowl. “What are you doing here?” I ask. He looks good. Definitely isn’t pining away for me, that’s for damn sure.

  “We need to talk,” he says, rubbing his right hand through his hair. He’s cut the sides off even shorter, and the top is thick and full, pushed back on his head.

  Fucking hot.

  “I’m pretty sure you said all that needed to be said,” I say, sitting down on the edge of my mattress.

  A flash of remorse passes over his expression. “I fucked up. I saw him, you were touching him, and I lost it.” I don’t say anything so he continues. “We got into a fight before you and Ryan arrived. I hit him, he didn’t even fight back, he just stood there and took it which pissed me off even more.” He closes his eyes.

  “You realize choosing to fight comes with certain consequences. Silas didn’t get into that ring with a plan to kill anyone.”

  Reid’s jaw tightens at my defence of Silas. “I know,” he admits quietly after a few tense moments of silence.

  “Do you?”

  “I’m trying.”

  Well, that’s something, at least.

  “Okay, thank you for coming by to explain, Reid,” I say, picking up my handbag.

  “That’s it?” he asks, frowning.

  “What, you expected me to run back into your arms after you spoke to me like that? Treated me like that? I’m sorry for what happened, Reid, and I don’t know what girls you’re used to. But as far as I’m concerned, this right here is done. Now excuse me, cos I gotta get to work,” I say, waiting for him to move away from the door.

  “I fucked up, baby, it’s gonna happen. I’m sorry, I never should have spoken to you like that. I love you so fucking much-”

  “I gotta go to work, Reid.”

  “I’ll follow you there,” he says, trailing me as I walk out.

  Xander looks at me and Reid curiously, arching a brow. “Bye, Xander.”

  “Bye, sis.”

  I drive to work and Reid follows me on his bike. I turn up the volume on T-Pain's ‘Booty Wurk’ trying to block out the image of him in my rear view mirror, looking sexy as hell on his bike. I park and exit my car swiftly, walking into the bar without even looking around.

  The first people I see are Jade and Tag, who both throw me sympathetic glances. Ryan told me to take a few days off, so this is my first day back at work. The bar is completely dead and spotless. These two must have been bored.

  “Hey,” I say as I walk in and shove my handbag under the cash register.

  “Hey, how you holding up?” Jade asks, looking concerned.

  “I’m doing fine, but if someone asks me again, I won’t be responsible for my actions,” I say, giving them both a threatening glance.

  Tag chuckles. “That’s the spirit.”

  Reid takes that moment to walk into the bar, his eyes only for me. I ignore him completely, and start to pour myself a vodka sunrise.

  I dare him to say anything about it.

  “Happy hour, is it?” he asks, looking amused.

  “Figure I’m gonna need it. Jade, Tag?” I raise the bottle in question. They both decline, looking back between Reid and me. All they need is popcorn.

  “When are you gonna forgive me, baby?” Reid asks bluntly, getting straight to the point.

  “I’m not.”

  “Beauty…”

  “Mia was right about me, you said. So what exactly did she say about me?” I ask, deciding that if he wanted to have it out right here right now, so be it.

  Reid looks uncomfortable and I find myself enjoying watching him squirm a little. “I said I was sorry.”

  “That isn’t what I asked.”

  “Baby, fuck Mia, who cares what she-”

  “Clearly you do since you brought it up that night,” I snap, my eyes narrowing.

  “She said you were young, immature, untrustworthy... shit like that,” he reluctantly admits. And all this coming from a lying, cheating whore. How rich.

  “And you agree with those things.”

  “Summer-”

  “You keep saying you fucked up, Reid, but you more than fucked up, you broke my fucking heart. Now, all I need to do is get through these last few shifts, and then I’ll never have to see you again.”

  With that parting comment, I turn and head out the back.

  When I return, Reid is gone. Tag stands there watching me and I know he's dying to say something.

  “What?”

  “I’ve known Reid for a long time, and I’ve never seen him put himself out there for a woman like that. You shut him down cold, that was harsh, girl,” he says, looking a little disappointed in me.

  “You don’t know how he treated me that night,” I say slowly, my eyes starting to water.

  “No, I don’t, but when you fight you don’t need to fight dirty, you’re better than that.” He walks over and wraps him arms around me. “It’s empty here. Why don’t you go sit out front for a little while?”

  “Okay,” I say, taking my drink with me. I take a seat in one of the outside tables, sipping on my drink. I see Reid walk towards me from the car park. Guess he didn’t leave after all. He takes the seat right next to me, our shoulders almost touching. I smell a hint of his cologne, and it makes me feel homesick. So close, and yet so far.

  Right next to me, but worlds apart.

  “You’re it for me,” he finally says. “I’m not gonna give up on you, ever.”

  I don’t reply.

  “I’m gonna go see River. I’ll come and see you tonight,” he says, his blue eyes studying me.

  River.

  My heart shatters.

  Jade walks out, looking scared and confused. She gives me a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes before walking up to Reid.

  “Can you drop me home?” she asks.

  He pauses for a moment. “Sure, come on, I’m leaving now.” He lowers his head and kisses me on the forehead before he leaves.

  I skull the rest of my drink, and then get back to work.

  *****

  My phone rings in the middle of the night, over and over again. I reach out to pick it up from the side table, but knock it to the ground instead.

  “Mother effer.”

  With an exaggerated groan I get out of bed, and get down on my knees reaching under the bed blindly. I finally find it, only for it to stop ringing. I slide back under my sheets, trying to get warm and comfortable again, when it rings again.

  “Yeah?” I answer.

  “River isn’t mine,” Reid says, his voice cracking.

  I’m suddenly wide awake.

  “What?”

  “Jade, she knew, fuck, Summer. I love him, I fucking love him,” he says.

  I sniffle a little. “He’s still your brother’s blood, it's okay to love him.”

  Silence on the other end. “How did you know it was Reece’s baby?”

  Fuck.

  Fuck.

  Fuck.

  “Reid-”

  “Great, my own fucking woman knew, and I didn’t, and she didn’t even fucking tell me,” he growls, his tone a mixture of hurt, pain and anger.

  “I found out the day after the fight,” I say softly.

  “Can’t trust anyone these days, can you? My brother was fucking my girlfriend behind my back, and my girl knew and she didn’t even tell me,” he says bitterly. Salty tears drop down my cheeks.

  “I love you, Reid, I’m sorry. I know you love River; I didn’t want to be the one to break your heart,” I say.

  “Yeah, well, you just did break my heart, Summer.”

  “Reid...” I plead.

  “I’m done,” he says, and he hangs up on me.

  He’s never hung up on me before.

  I quickly call Ryan.

  “You knew?” is his answer.

  Wow, Reid was quick to tell him that.

  “Yeah, I found out the day after the fight,” I say.

  “This has fucked him up, Summer,” he says, sounding worried and a little frantic.

  “I’m coming over,” I say as I hear a crash in the background.

  “Come soon,” Ryan pleads softly.

  “I’m coming,” I say before I hang up. I shove on some track pants under Reid’s T-shirt I was sleeping in, and slip my feet into my flats. Grabbing my keys and bag, I drive as quickly as I can while staying under the speed limit. When I get to their apartment and I don’t see Reid’s bike, I curse. He’s driven off somewhere, angry and hurt.

  I walk up to their apartment and see their door left wide open. I run through, to find Ryan sitting there at their dining table, his head in his hands.

  “Ry?”

  He turns to me, and I see the pain in his eyes. I rush over and wrap my arms around him. “Where did he go?”

  “I don’t know, he just drove off.”

  “He'll be alright,” I try to convince the both of us.

  “You didn’t see his face, babe.” And I don’t think I’d want to.

  Ryan and I fall asleep on the couch, waiting for him to return.

  But he doesn’t.

  Chapter Twenty Three

  I’m on my way to work when I get an unusual call from Ryan.

  “Have you left yet?”

  “I’m on my way, why?”

  “Well, it’s kinda dead here right now, so you don’t needa come in,” he says. From his tone alone, I can tell that he’s lying.

  “Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  The relief is his voice is palpable. “Bye, babe.”

  I keep driving, wanting to know what the hell is going on. After Reid left that night he hasn’t been back to town. It’s been a month. He called Ryan twice, and that’s about it.

  He didn’t ring me at all.

  My confrontation with Mia wasn’t a pleasant one. She came into the bar, looking for Reid. I punched her in the face. Is there underground fighting for women? I may have a career there.

  When I see the bar car park full of cars, I scowl. Definitely lying to me. That’s when I see it.

  Reid’s bike.

  I park my car and run into the bar. As soon as I walk through the doors, I know why Ryan didn’t want me here, and I love him for it.

  I wish I'd listened.

  Reid is sitting there, with a girl on his lap, straddling him. His hands are on her ass, and his lips are attached to hers. They're basically attacking each other, putting on a big show. His hair is longer, shaggier, and he obviously hasn’t shaved since he left.

  I look away as I feel tears start to pool in my eyes.

  Ryan and Tag both spot me. Ryan’s face looks pale, almost as if he can feel my pain. Tag looks straight out pissed off, throwing looks of anger in Reid’s direction. What feels like an hour, but has only been a few seconds, pass, and I turn around and leave, needing to get the fuck out of there.

  Is this what he’s been doing for the last month?

  While I’ve been worrying about him every day?

  Instead of going home I go for a drive to clear my head. After driving for an hour, I realise where I'm unconsciously heading.

  To my home town.

  I message my dad, Xander and Ryan, so they won’t worry about where the hell I am. I know I’m going to lose reception soon because a lot of the drive is going through nothing but farm land and bush. I message my friend Sandra, too, to let her know I’ll be dropping in. She’s gonna love it. I put my favourite car CD in, and continue to enjoy the drive.

  Reid

  “What do you mean she’s gone?” I ask, rubbing my eyes. I sit up on the bed, ignoring the pain in my head. Definitely drank too much last night.

  After spending the last month driving from town to town on my bike, living like a drifter, trying to get my mind straight, I decided to come home. I can’t hide and run forever. It’s time to face the facts.

  River isn’t mine, but he is my brother’s.

  There's a piece of Reece left on this earth, and no matter how he came about, I still love and adore River. He shouldn’t have to pay for the sins of his parents.

  “After she saw you at the bar last night, she left town,” Ryan growls. He starts to pace, running his fingers through his hair, a sure sign of his agitation.

  “Why did she leave?” I ask, my mind still foggy from sleep.

  Ryan gives me a look I’ve never seen before from him, and for the first time in my life I wonder if my brother hates me. He stares pointedly at the bed, and I turn my head to see what the fuck he’s on about.

  A woman.

  In bed.

  With me.

  Fuck.

  It all comes back to me.

  I’d come back into town, and gone straight to the bar. Everyone had been there, the usual crowd. Mia had also been there. She’d told me, in detail, just how she and Reece hooked up.

  How it happened.

  Why it happened.

  It seemed it hadn’t even been a one-time thing. My brother and girlfriend were having a full on affair.

  And I had no fucking clue.

  Then I started drinking. I glance down at the woman in my bed, wondering how the hell I'd fucked up so bad. I put my hands in my face and groan.

  Summer. My beautiful Summer.

  Fuck, how I’ve missed her. She didn’t deserve this shit. For the first time in a month, I begin to see things clearly. I might not be able to change the past, but I can’t keep living there. I need to live for now, for my present and my future.

  Summer. I need to live for my Summer.

  I stand up with renewed determination.

  I gotta fix this and get my girl back.

  Chapter Twenty Four

  “I wasn’t the one who got us in trouble, you were!” Sandra yells, followed by giggling.

  I laugh, and lean back on the log I’m sitting on. We’re sitting outside around a campfire, having a few drinks and reminiscing about old times.

  “Is that how you remember it? Cos it’s not how I remember it,” I say, laughing some more.

  Sandra tilts her head back, taking a huge gulp from her bottle which is still wrapped in a brown paper bag. We're so classy. Sandra’s short dark hair is tied on the top of her head, her dark eyes framed in her wide glasses.

  “It’s so boring without you here,” she says, sighing.

  “I wish we could see each other more often.”

  “I know, I’m always bloody working,” she complains, taking another swig of wine. Sandra works as a personal assistant and is pretty much always on call.

  “Your boss needs to loosen his strings,” I say, my mouth falling open when I see the look on her face. “What was that face for? What’s going on with your boss?”

  She looks embarrassed. “We slept together!” she blurts out.

  I still. “Sandra what are you thinking?” I scold.

  “Like you can talk!”

  I think it over. “Touché, Sandra, touché.”

  We both start laughing again.

  “Well, here’s a face I didn’t think I’d see again,” comes a sexy drawl from behind me.

  I turn my head. “Quinn! How have you been?”

  He looks the same as he did the last time I saw him, except for the fact that his lean, almost lanky build has filled out a little. Tallish with dark shaggy hair, piercing blue eyes and a ring through his eyebrow. Quinn is still a looker, and the boy I gave my virginity to when I was eighteen.

  “Good, when did you get back into town?” he asks, kissing me on the cheek and sitting down next to me. I broke up with him a month before I left, after we’d dated for a year. We departed on good terms because I think we both knew we loved each other, but weren’t in love with each other. As cliché as that sounds, it was the truth with us.