I will the emotion to stay off my face, but I don’t know if it works. It’s hard not to give away the surge of my stomach to my throat. I screwed this up. Rich knows our lie, and now I can’t even think straight. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’ll be honest—I was fishing a little earlier. I knew about Myla and the redheaded nurse, but neither would talk to me to confirm anything. But then when Sabrina came to my room crying, I knew, I knew you and Carter weren’t for real. I mean, it seems he has a thing for redheads.”
What? “What about Sabrina?” I think I might throw up on my shoes.
“Sabrina came to town to do a story a month ago.”
“I know she did.” I swallow back bile. It’s all coming together, and I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. Sabrina’s confusion about how long Carter and I have been dating, her nosing around about the status of our relationship. He slept with her.
And because Carter and I were supposedly dating then, she thinks he cheated on me. It’s not fair that I feel hurt. We weren’t together. We weren’t even pretending to be.
“This is excellent. She didn’t think you knew, and it looks like she was right.” Rich lazily scratches his bare stomach. “And even though your boyfriend’s fake as fuck, you hate the idea that she slept with Carter. You and your cousin are something. Still fighting over men after all these years.”
Rich is a liar and manipulator. Don’t fall for it. “This is ridiculous. You know nothing about me and Carter. You can’t stand the idea that we’re together—can’t stand that there’s no way you can worm yourself back into my bed—so you’re throwing out conspiracy theories.”
He stands and steps toward me. “So you’re okay with the fact that your boyfriend has fucked at least three other women in the last month.”
“We started as friends. He stopped seeing them when we got serious.”
He cocks a brow and takes a step closer. “But he never told you about Sabrina?”
I shrug. “It doesn’t matter.” This is my fault. I knew Carter wanted to talk to me earlier, and I ignored all the signals because I was too afraid of missing this meeting and Rich punishing me by sharing those pictures. “Will you please delete those pictures? That’s all I want from you.”
“How badly do you want that?” With a flick of his wrist, he releases the button on his jeans. “What would you do for it?”
My nostrils flare, my fists clenching at my sides. “Cut off your dick? Sure, Rich. Let me grab a knife from the kitchen. I’ll be right back.”
He chuckles softly, completely unfazed by my threat. “God, I’ve missed that mouth of yours. And I know you’ve missed mine too. I remember how much you liked it.”
“Fuck. You. If I wanted you, I knew where to find you. Anyone else would’ve caught on by now.”
“You did want me.” His jaw ticks. “You wanted me so badly you let me take you in his bed. You wanted me when you were still wearing your funeral dress.”
My eyes burn, but I’ll be damned if I let him see me cry. “Don’t throw that in my face.”
“I wouldn’t. Not when I’m the only one who understands your guilt, and the only one who really knows you don’t deserve to feel that way. You and I both know you’d have done anything to make him happy. You proved it, and it’s not your fault he didn’t know himself better.” He lifts a hand and drops it before he touches my face. “But it’s been years, and I’m tired of seeing you—”
“Hey, Rich, have you seen . . .” Carter steps into the room, and I spring away from Rich. As if I’ve done something wrong. As if I have something to be ashamed of. “Teagan,” he says softly, meeting my gaze for only a beat before his eyes dart around the room, taking in the scene. The two wine glasses on the desk I didn’t notice before. Rich’s bare chest and unbuttoned jeans. Carter’s Adam’s apple bobs. “Sorry. The door was wide open.”
“Told you we should close it,” Rich says, smirking at me. “I’m sorry, Carter. Teagan and I were talking. Memories, you know. There are some things only our oldest friends understand.”
“Right.” Carter takes a step back. “I’m going to the room, Teagan. See you later.” He doesn’t even spare me a final look over his shoulder as he strides away, pulling the door shut with a harsh clunk behind him.
“Fuck,” I say, rushing after him.
“Teagan—”
I spin on Rich. “Don’t. I’m sorry about everything that happened. I’m sorry I ever made you believe we were meant for each other. I’m sorry I let Heath push me into something I didn’t want. But mostly, I’m sorry you don’t understand how fucking controlling and manipulative you are. We’re never getting back together, and if you don’t move the fuck on, I’ll file a restraining order. I don’t care if that means you plaster the internet with those pictures and tell everyone what a whore I am. I’m done with you. Done.”