I frozen momentarily and swallowed hard. “How long?”
“Nakyra—”
“How long?”My voice louder this time.
“A year.” Lauren answered.
Blinking slowly I processed what she said. My eyes swivel to his parents. They didn’t look bothered by the confession. “And you two knew.” That was more to myself.
Lauren released an annoyed sigh. “Call me if they can fix your spine.” She turned to leave. Her heels clicked on the tile floor. I stood there stuck, blinking slowly as she strutted past me. The news should have made me feel mad or even sad, but it didn’t. I felt nothing. It was like I was numb to the things that came with dealing with Rome.
“Nakyra.” Rome called my name, bringing my attention to him. I stared at him blankly. He looked agitated. His face was balled up—brows furrowed and cheeks puffed out.
“Where did you meet her? How?”
Agitation filled Rome’s face. “She’s my parent’s best friends daughter. It just happened.” It pissed me off that he didn’t even sound remorseful as he spoke.
I jumped when a hand landed on the small of my back. I didn’t need to turn around to know it was Creed. I leaned back into his touch.
“Creed? When did you get here?” his mom asked.
Creed ignored his mom and his breath brushed against my ear as he whispered, “You okay?”
The hairs on the back of my neck rose as I nodded. “Yeah.”
Confusion passed over Rome’s face when Creed’s arm circled my waist. Naturally, my body melted into his. “What the hell is going on?”
This wasn’t how I’d wanted him to find out about us, but at this point it didn’t matter. I glanced over my shoulder. “One second,” I whispered.
Creed nodded and I pulled out of his hold, stepping toward the bed.
“I came here to get an update on your condition and talk to you about something,” I started, scanning his body. Pulling my hand out of my pocket, I opened it and eyed the ring. “I’m glad you’re okay for the most part, but I can’t do this anymore.” Stepping closer to the bed, I reached for his hand, opening it and placing the ring into it. Rome’s eyes shifted down then darted up to me.
“Oh this is rich,” Deacon grunted. “You’rebreaking up withmyson?”
“I am.” My eyes stayed locked on Rome. I backed up until I was close enough for Creed to embrace me again. He kissed the side of my face and rubbed my arm. “I hope you recover quickly. Let’s go.”
There was nothing else left to say. On the way here I had a whole spiel in mind, but now, none of that mattered. Rome had been cheating on me for a year and that was just further indication it was time to move on.
“Are you fucking my brother?!” Rome blurted when we went to leave. I paused.
His mom gasped. “Creed, how could you do that to your own brother?”
“Let’s just go,” I whispered. I didn’t owe Rome anything, not anymore. Creed, however, didn’t feel the same.
He turned and faced his family again. “While it wasn’t planned, I fell in love with Nakyra, and it might be wrong how it happened, but I’m not going to apologize for it.”
Air got caught in my lungs and my pulse quickened. It felt like my heart was about to beat out of my chest from how hard it raced.
“I knew you were nothing but trouble the moment my son brought you home. He should have left you in the trash where he found you!” Deacon declared, glaring at me. “And you.” His eyes went to Creed. “You’ve been nothing but a disappointment your whole life. You were so envious of your brother you had to go and sleep with his fiancée while he was in the hospital fighting for his life. You’re a disgrace!”
“Say what you want about me, but don’t talk about her like that!” I grabbed Creed’s arm when he stepped toward his dad. The last thing I wanted was for this to get even more blown up than it was.
“I just learned your son has been cheating on me and you both encouraged it, don’t look down on me for moving on.” I turned to Rome. “I put up with a lot of shit from you for too long. Creed makes me happy and you or your parents won’t make me feel guilty for it.”
“He’s my brother! Uh.” Rome flinched and grabbed his head.
“Rome!” His mom rushed to his side.
