Chapter 339
“It’s not nearly enough!” Noah pushes back.
I stare at him because really? Does he not know when to shut the fuck up and leave?
I get that this must come as a shock to him—not that I care—but it’s a shock to all of us. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d end up dating one of his best friends… but then again, I only ever knew Gunner as his best friend, and with Gunner, it’s different. He’s more like a brother.
“Can you just leave?” I grit out.
I need to talk to Adrian, and I’ll be damned if I do it in front of him.
“Why?” Noah asks. “I have every right to be here, considering my best friend is dating my woman p>
A laugh slips out before I can stop it.
“Since when was I your woman, Noah?” I shoot back. “Or have you forgotten all the times you trampled on my love and chose someone else p>
I hate people who do this. People who conveniently forget the choices they made and then come back acting like the past never happened.
Noah is trying to erase everything. Trying to pretend the pain doesn’t exist. Trying to force his way back into my life like he never broke me. He’s trying to claim me, like he wasn’t the one that pushed me away time and time again, and that makes me hate him even more.
“So this is revenge?” he asks. “Dating my friend because I chose Chloe over you p>
Before I can even think, my hand swings and the crack of it echoes as it connects with his face.
“Don’t you ever say something like that about me again,” I snap, my voice shaking with fury. “Unlike your bitch of a wife, I don’t take pleasure in hurting people p>
Noah stares at me, shock flashing across his face before it’s quickly replaced by realization, then remorse.
It’s like he didn’t think before speaking. Like he just let the words spill without considering the damage, but it’s too late because once words are out, you can’t take them back.
“Just leave!” I snap. “I don’t want to see you p>
He hesitates for a second, something pained flickering in his eyes, before he turns and walks toward his car.
I don’t spare him another glance. Instead, I spin on my heel, grab Adrian’s hand, and pull him toward the house.
The moment we’re inside, I shut the door and turn to face him only to freeze because he’s looking at me like he’s evaluating everything about me. Everything about us.
“You didn’t know?” he asks slowly.
My heart drops. The fact that he’s even asking means he’s already doubting me. Doubting the truth… and that? That fucking hurts.
“Adrian p>
“You didn’t know who I was friends with?” he cuts in.
“I didn’t know it was him,” I say quickly. “I swear I didn’t p>
He studies me for a long moment like he’s trying to decide if I’m telling the truth. Like he’s trying to decide if I should be trusted or not.
“And you expect me to believe that?” he asks. “That all of this is just one big coincidence p>
“Yes,” I throw my hands up, frustration spilling over. “Because that’s exactly what it is, Adrian. I didn’t know you knew Noah, much less that you were friends p>
He scoffs, shaking his head. “How am I supposed to believe that? this looks way too convenient to be anything but planned p>
My breath catches and I take a step back because honestly, it feels like he’s just slapped me.
“Was this some kind of revenge?” he continues
Everything inside me stops. Even my fucking heart, and for a minute, I cling to the idea that I didn’t hear him right.
“What?” I whisper.
“Did you think getting with his friend would even the score?” he continues, his voice rising slightly. “Because if that’s what this is p>
“It’s not!” I cut him off, my voice shaking now. “How can you even think that p>
When the truth hit me, I imagined a lot of things, but this wasn’t one of them. I never thought for one second that Adrian would start doubting me. Would believe that I planned something like this.
“Because I don’t know what to think right now!” he snaps. “How am I supposed to believe this is just a coincidence when I know the kind of history you have with Noah? How am I supposed to accept it when, after everything he did to you and after he asked you to get rid of the baby, it would be so easy for you to want revenge p>
Silence slams between us so thick it feels suffocating. I try to blink back the tears, but they fall down anyway. He almost steps toward me like he wants to comfort me, but then his fists clench, his jaw tightens, and he stops himself
“I swear I didn’t know,” I repeat, my voice breaking slightly. “I didn’t plan any of this p>
“Tell me something, Sierra,” he says, his voice tight. “Did you know who I was when you walked into my clinic p>