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Gavin tossed his phone next to hi for the twentieth ti relentless at this point, and Gavin didn’t give a flying fuck Finishing the last bottle of beer in a six-pack, he h the television channels The cool liquid slid down his throat, working its way into his body However, the only thing he could taste or feel running through his veins was Emily No matter how hard he had tried the last couple of weeks, Gavin couldn’t reh it desperately took every bit of self-control, he didn’t attempt to contact her Still, that didn’t stop her fro every sleeping night he’d ever known

The sound of the clock ticking away on the wall gained Gavin’s attention He glanced at it and pictured E of her and Dillon’s rehearsal dinner Gavin had no desire of letting Dillon knoouldn’t be attending None of it fucking mattered He didn’t knoup at the church or the dinner would surely sink hi In less than twenty-four hours, the woether with, the woht would hold his child in her arer be Emily Cooper She would be Mrs Dillon Parker

All of it wasfrom the couch, heinto a second six-pack It was then that a knock caerator, he padded over to open it Taken slightly off guard by his visitor, without saying a word, he walked back into the living room and settled himself onto the couch

"You look like shit," Olivia noted, entering the penthouse "I , and tell me if I am, but I’m pretty sure you have the funds to buy a razor blade Has the one bankrupt?"

"You’ve never been short in the hu in her direction as he continued channel surfing "Shouldn’t you be at the rehearsal dinner?"

After dropping her purse to the ground, she peeled off her coat and scarf "Asonto a leather chair "You weren’t at the church, and you seriously don’t look dressed for the party Coet ready Oh, and I’ll drive since it’s apparent you’ve been drinking"

Shaking his head, he plucked a bottle fro pull froave her a look that was nothing short of threatening

"What?" she asked in one of the most innocent tones he’d ever heard her exercise

"Oh, givebreak, Liv" He narrowed his eyes on her "You know I’"

She cocked her head to the side, her brown eyes wide "Wow, Gavin, I thought you had a little ht left in you You’re a powerful man in every aspect of your life except for when it comes to this? When it coave a casual shrug and crossed her legs "Hht I did"

"Fight left inthe television off, he tossed the re Olivia juht for someone who doesn’t love me back? I’m fucked up over what happened Believe me, you have no clue the ideas that have spawned the her being one of the die, but I’ sap Your friend’s a little ined"

Olivia studied him for a moment as he paced the room back and forth "Warped? You do realize who opened your door showing off pretty red panties theafter you dropped Emily off, correct?" He shot her an icy look, but she continued "She’s ripped to pieces, Gavin You have a long history of fucking wo them My friend’s hurt because you fucked around behind her back Did you expect a different reaction froh his hair, Gavin squeezed his eyes shut "I didn’t fuck around behind her back!" When he opened them, he could see the shock on Olivia’s face, but he didn’t give a shit at that point "You ht you did, but you do know the uncaring animal that I’ve turned into the past few years Why the fuck would I go to her job, trying to get her back? Why would I pour irl? For a piece of ass?" He chuckled, but that chuckle held no hu into his pocket, he pulled his cell phone out and tossed it to her

"Da Look in e of ass that’s eagerly available to me It’s plentiful I make a phone call, and I can fuck for days if I wanted to Gina ca me her father died Yes, maybe I shouldn’t have let her in Yes, maybe I should’ve thrown her out onto the street like the anih, he sat back down on the couch with his elbows on his knees as he gripped his hair "But I didn’t," he whispered "I didn’t, and now Eirl I love doesn’t believe irl I used to love into my house She fell asleep on my couch with her pants off I didn’t even want to touch her to get her out of here that night because she wasn’t dressed I didn’t wanther because my hands had just touched Emily"

He lifted his head and looked directly at Olivia where she sat unh that I would do it over again - pain and all - just to hold her again But I didn’t do anything wrong other than let Gina in So, no, Olivia, it has nothing to do withto do with the fact that Emily doesn’t believe me, and most of allshe doesn’t loveto take in everything he had said, Olivia stood up and sat herself next to him She placed her hand on his shoulder "She does love you, Gavin She - "

"Co for his beer He finished it in one gulp "She told me she didn’t Do you need me to quote her words? They’re as fresh as fuck in my mind Buzzed or not, it shouldn’t be a problem"

"I knohat she told you" She took the empty bottle from his hand and placed it on the table "But I also knohat she told ht" He went to speak, but she silenced hiainst his lips "You’re correct that she doesn’t believe you right now But you’re incorrect that she doesn’t love you She said those things to you to try to hurt you the way she felt you hurt her She’s been a mess, Gavin," she whispered, her eyes soft "Her nerves are shot She’s been depressed, quiet, and throwing up over the whole situation Even though she thinks she’ll be able to rid you from her mind and fall back in love with Dillon, anytiover you"

"You say she loveshi she had just said

"I knohat you’re thinking, but - "

"Oh, do you? Because I’ht now," he said, rising to his feet Beer wasn’t doing its job at this point Stronger He needed so the cabinet door open, pulling out a bottle of bourbon and a shot glass

Olivia stood up, crossing her ar, dick?"

"I’m a cheater and a dick now? Sure, why the fuck not?" he replied, his tone thick with sarcas it back, he sether and looked at her "What kind of shit are you handingiota of it does"

Moving to the kitchen, Olivia flipped her golden hair to the side and looked at Gavin as if he had ten heads "What part don’t you understand, Blake?"

Now he returned the same look, but she continued

"Dillon was a safe bet when she moved out here with hiht it, the girl never stood a chance against you, Gavin Forget about the way you two h escaped her lips "You had her from the moment she saw you Believe me, I had to hear all about Mr Tall, Dark, and Fuckable Handsome"

Gavin couldn’t help it, but he drew up a curious brow at that stateh with Dillon, you then became her safe bet But now, that’s been ripped fro Dillon is indeed the safer bet"

"Stop saying safer bet," he grunted as he poured another shot, still intrigued by the nicknah and rolled her eyes

"So let ainst the counter, a lopsided s the consolation prize that happens to be the prick that really cheated on her?" He then paused and let out a chuckle Though his pain re up to him "Wait Apparently, I’m the prick that cheated on her"

"Consolation prize?" she asked, her brows furrowed "Is this a gaht now"

"Fuck no, it’s not a ga life, and it’s what should’ve been ether" He chucked another shot down his throat, wiped his lass on the counter "I’uess, you still think I fucked around behind her back Go ahead Tell me you don’t believe me either"

"To tell you the truth, buddy, when I first got here, no, I didn’t believe you," she answered, looking to her watch She brought her eyes back to him "But now I do"

"Oh, do you?" He s "And why do you believe hty queen, Olivia?"

She stared at hirab her purse, coat, and scarf She made her way over to the door and turned back to look at him "Because even when you were at your worst after Gina," she whispered, her expression pained, "you weren’t asfucked and tortured-looking as you appear to be right now"

Swaying slightly, that smirk dropped from his face as he peered at her

"I love you both You’re my second brother, and she’s the sister I never had" She let out a deep breath "And it’s killingthe way that you are"

Tossing his hands through his hair, he perched himself on a barstool "What do I do?" he asked, his voice low and his heart sinking lower "For the first tiround He then slowly brought his gaze back to hers "God, for the first time in my life, OliviaI don’t knohat to do She doesn’t believe h he couldn’t see it fro back down to her watch, a timid smile crept over her mouth "Then make her believe you, Gavin You have less than twenty-four hours to change the course of both of your lives" She slung her purse over her shoulder and opened the door "I hope I see you there," she said, stepping out into the hallway Gavin watched as she poked her head back in "Oh, and if you do decide to go get our girl, do yourself a favor and shave You’re definitely a cutie, honestly, but I’ot going on right now"

Gavin let out a deep sigh "Anything else?"

"Yeah, as a ainst her cheek "Drop the whole jeans and sweatshirt thing you got going on, too Love ya, my brother"

Gavin shook his head and watched as she closed the door behind her

Tiht, ti at the clock on the wall once again, Gavin sat there for a few minutes His mind was literally rocked from the conversation He sat there for a few- to h his unease of never being with Eht of showing up, only to get turned down again, made him know that the decision he was about tothat he needed her He needed her like the veins in his body needed blood and his lungs needed air However, this time around, Gavin would rather suffocate than have to look Eain No He wouldn’t go tonight

And, just like that, Gavin knew he’d changed the course of his and Eh a feeeks had gone by, E a fine line between sanity and lass, and a s away at her She was sure that at any second she would shatter into aDillon - cut into her flesh The smaller slivers - Gavin - stuck under her skin Either way, both were slicing into her heart, leaving her a bleeding corpse of the wo herself froer in control of the path she alking As she stared at her reflection in the mirror, she couldn’t deny there was a small sense of relief that had washed over her once she’d arrived at the church to see Gavin hadn’t shown up - yet, her ache for hi elusive She was trying to fuse back together what’d been broken between her and Dillon, knowing a huge amount of their relationship had crystallized into dust Still, she needed solis for Dillon back to where they used to be

She needed to fall back in love with hiood liar herself lately, playing into her own game of staunch resistance to the obvious She now felt like theto delude herself into thinking that she’d be able to forget Gavin Forget every stolen glance they had shared, every accidental brush of their flesh, and every ht down to the second she knew she loved hi to convince herself of would never be enough to keep her heart fro the scars and stitches of theback at the hollow shell of the woman she had now becoet her into herthought, and wondered how long she could fool herself

Trying to coaze from her reflection when Fallon walked into the restroo her way over to her "Or are you still feeling nauseous?"

Emily shook her head and cleared her throat "No, I’ht now" She tucked her lipstick into her purse "Is Olivia here yet?"

"She just textedshe’d be here in twoEmily her purse She walked into one of the stalls "She had to stop off soo?" E their purses on the counter

"When we got here, he realized he didn’t have any cash on him," she called out "He ran up to an ATM"

Drawing in a deep breath, E her hands It was then that Olivia popped into the restroo her scarf froo?" Emily probed and reached for a paper towel

She plopped her belongings onto the counter and studied her reflection in the et cash"

"Why does everyone think they need cash while they’re here?" Eht"

"To tip the servers" Olivia shrugged "You, out of all people, should know that"

"Oh, yeah, I guess I should," she answered absently, her voice trailing off

"Your head’s not where it should be I get it"

E look

"I know Dickhead hasn’t noticed your act lately since he’s been consuain, but I have" Emily started to speak, but Olivia continued "I have to ad late But, hey, you seeht?"

Eh "Oh God, please don’t start with ain, Liv" She plucked her purse from the counter "Not now I can’t, and I won’t"

"I’rabbing her by the elbow, Olivia effectively stopped her fro in her eyes, Emily looked at her "You’re in love with so another man Stop Take a step back Honestly, just stop and think about what you’re about to do"

E her lip and noticeably uncomfortable, Fallon stepped out fro her hands She quickly dried theonna leave you two alone," she said, walking to the door Olivia nodded "I’ll see you guys inside"

"You don’t have to do this," Olivia whispered, looking back to Emily after Fallon walked out "Even if you don’t believe Gavin, you don’t have to marry Dillon"

"I love Dillon," she answered, looking down, her tone low

Taking her chin in her hand, Olivia lifted her face "I have no doubt in er in love with him and to think that you can make yourself fall back in love with him is completely delusional, friend"

Emily swiped a tear off her cheek "I can fall back in love with hiaround, she sniffled and shook her head "I’ him tomorrow, Olivia You can supportit"

With that, Ein to compute the conversation that’d just taken place, her eyes locked on icy blues - those inable heartbreak, confusion, and her now rapid breathing Frozen Literally feeling frozen to her spot, Emily couldn’t move as she stared at Gavin from across the lobby of the restaurant He looked ined, but it didn’t stop her body froly pained face staring back at her Al within her chest, felt the tiny beads of sweat crawl across every pore on her skin, and felt every hair on her body stand on end Although guests from several different parties floated across the lobby, their eyes never unlocked from one another With his hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans, Ean to istered the sound of the restrooed

"You have to talk to hi a hand on her back

Before Eht in front of her With the s her nose and his eyes intent on her, she was sure she was going to pass out

"You look beautiful," he whispered, stepping closer And, God, she did Her wavy auburn hair falling over a white button-up blouse paired with a short red skirt and black knee-high leather boots had Gavin fighting for control He was a fool to think he could’ve stayed away after what Olivia had told hiet her back

Sing hard, Eainst Olivia’s chest "Why are you here?" she breathed out She nervously tore her gaze fro around for Dillon "You have to leave"

A sad smile tipped the corner of Gavin’sparty But I think it’s apparent why I’m really here" He stepped closer It was then that Emily could smell the liquor on his breath "And, no, doll, I’ until we talk Do you understand me?"

Shocked, she didn’t answer In fact, she had no words at all Emily simply stared at him

Gavin flicked his eyes in Olivia’s direction "You’ll keep an eye out for Dillon?"

Olivia nodded "I checked on my way in There’s an e to a door adjacent to the herself away from Olivia, Emily narrowed her eyes "You set this up?"

Olivia gave a casual shrug

After pinning Olivia with a lethal look, E to you," she scoffed as she went to walk away

He caught her by the elbow "Then I guess you’re going to force ht here at your party"

"You wouldn’t do that," she huffed, pulling her arm away from him

"Mmm, that you’re incorrect about," he chuckled as his body swayed He turned his attention to an olderpast the

The gray-haired gentleroup - looked at him "Can I help you?"

"Yes, sir You see, I’ a problem I’m absolutely in love with this beautiful wo to Emily Her eyes widened in disbelief at his actions "And she won’t give me a fewWould you have any suggestions as to how I should handle this?"

Appearing not at all in the least bit interested, the man shook his head and walked away

"Fine," E you two h the doors to the room

Gavin looked to Olivia "Keep hi as you can"

She nodded

Upon entering the e at him with her arms crossed in obvious annoyance In the darkness of the space, lit only by the opulentfire behind her green eyes As he walked toward her, she backed away and nearly stumbled over a tower of stacked chairs

"Don’t walk away from me, Emily," he commanded, his voice low as he moved closer

"Don’t you dare tell me what to do," she spat with her chin tipped up in defiance She continued to back away frohout the room She wanted to be impenetrable to his sot - under the cool gleam of those blue eyes - that would be impossible

Undeterred, he continued his carnal pursuit until he had her backed against a table E breath as he slowly ran his hand over the curve of her jaw, up the side of her ear, where it ulti his lip, he bent his head and stared at her, their breathing both heavy

"When I wanted to call, I didn’t, but I almost did When I needed to see you, and Jesus Christ, I’ve needed to see you so fucking bad, I got inhis free hand down the side of her waist "Tell me you love me, E and falling

He s her face closer so it wasa lie" Gripping her waist tighter, he pulled her into his chest, the thruainst one another’s "You think you can just rid hts? You can’t You’re rowled

Emily didn’t think She couldn’t It was impossible Before she knew it, she threw her arms around his neck and jerked him down to her mouth With her hands white-knuckled in his hair, she ainst his lips This wasn’t a passionate kiss No This kiss brooked no roory and possessive on both parts Hot, sweltering, pent-up aggravation transferred fro to each other Lips still locked, Gavin picked her up off her feet and sat her on a table, spreading open her thighs while he pushed his Erabbed the back of her knees and hooked her legs around his waist The sweet taste of alcohol lingering in his roan ruue swept over hers The harder Eed at his hair, the harder Gavin kissed her The harder he kissed her, the further she fell - forgetting where she was and who she was, forgetting space, forgetting ti how he’d hurt her so

"Tell me you love me," he snarled, the words spoken into her mouth as his hand slipped under her skirt

When he yanked her panties down, all E to lick through her - and that feeling was threatening the last shreds of her self-control His hand curved over her hot flesh He slid two fingers into her syrupy wetness as his thuasp, she tore heraround his neck as her breathing flew past her lips, coer, love, passion, and hurt, she bit down and sank her teeth into his skin She wanted blood She wanted hiony and pain she had felt every day since that devastating roaned out, and with his free hand, he fisted the back of her hair and tilted her head up, her back now taut as a bow His eyes bored into hers With his breathing heavy and his fingers still sliding in and out of her, hisHe crushed his lips over hers again

"If I could, I’d rip ht his lips up, nipping at her ear, and she nearly caers "Fuck, Ime, Emily"

"You bastard, you don’t love me I hate you, Gavin I hate you," she cried out and tried to push hih He snaked his are of the table, his fingers never stopping their delicious onslaught inside her pussy Thrusting her hands back into his hair, aher neck in all its beauty Gavin took the opportunity and buried his face against her collarbone He traced a wet torrid line up her neck, nipping and sucking until his ain

"I wish I could hate you - it’d be easier - but you have no idea howin her botto it "And that’s not hate you’re feeling forthat didn’t happen Fucking hityou don’t loveto yourself You’re tearing us apart"

Still clinging to his hair, she pulled her lips away fro for air as they burned holes into one another’s eyes With one hand still buried in his hair, she s throughout the room At the saers slip out fro torturously bereft by their absence

"I hate you," she cried out as her entire body braced itself for battle

"No, you don’t You love lowering back at her He brought his hands up and cupped her cheeks "Hit ain and get it all out"

She didn’t hesitate She s deep inside as angry tears spilled down her cheeks

Pulling her by the waist off the table, he set her on her feet and crashed his lips over hers again "Leave with ht now Don’t do this Don’t ainst her lips Grabbing fistfuls of his sweatshirt, Emily’s eyes rolled back into her head as she sank into the familiarity of his kiss, his sether I told you I wouldn’t let you do it alone Ginato me anymore I shouldn’t have let her in, but for fuck’s sake, I didn’t do anything with her"

Pain

There it was again, sweeping as fresh as an open wound through her soul It bled out with no sign of letting up Whispering his sords of seduction while trying to veil the bitter taste of the ugly truth, he was trying to break her down into nothing but tiny particles of dust Like a whip, the harsh reality of what he was trying to do cracked through her chest, disturbing her thoughts with its potency Iates around the fortress of her shattered heart closed Thepieces

She shoved hard against his chest, effectively pushing hi to pull her panties back up, she couldn’t see the shock on his face Without a backward glance, she headed toward the door In a few quick strides, Gavin was at her side Not intending to let her leave the rooht her by the ar tears away from her hooded eyes, she looked up at hi out for her to believe him, his expression creased painfully "I’ve never felt so heartbroken and so in love at the same tioing to break my heart - and that days, months, or even years would pass, that I would still be hurting like this - it wouldn’t have stoppedin love with you," he whispered, his voice cracking "But I would’ve done one thing differently, and loving you any less isn’t one of the the tears away from her beautiful confused eyes, his voice soft "I wouldn’t have let her in That’s the only thing I would’ve changed, E let her in"

As her body tre at hi open

Olivia poked her head inside "Eht now," she whispered, her tone urgent

Sniffling, E to shreds in the process Her mind was no less confused than when she’d first stepped in there with hi to calm herself down, she took a deep breath, sh her hair, and walked out of the roohts no less fucked-up either

Emily looked to him as Olivia hastily handed her a tissue "You have to leave, Gavin"

Shocked by her words, confusion and anger clouded his eyes "I’ anywhere" He shook his head "I’"

She glared icicles at hi to hurt htly "Maybe I a to hurt you asis that while I was in there begging you to stay, I didn’t fucking realize you were already gone So, yeah, I’h every second of it as much as I will Deal with it"

After her ape, Emily spun around in the direction of the bathroo her by the arht now, Em" She plucked the tissue fro off the strea her cheeks

Watching her intently, Gavin set about the lipstick that’s smeared all over her"

Eht? There’s no lipstick left oninto a full-watted s kissed by women who claim that they don’t love me -out a heavy sigh, Olivia handed Emily her lipstick

"Ohan asshole," E for the lipstick She quickly slid it across her lips

"M his hand through his unruly black hair "I have a feeling I’ht" He went to walk away but turned back around "And, if I recall correctly, I think I told you once not to bring any attention to those pretty little lips Put the lipstick away or else I’ll drag you right back in that rooue over his mouth while his eyes shimmered with insatiable lust

Olivia raised a surprised brow as Emily’s mouth dropped open

Heart broken into pieces, he turned in a leisurely pivot, tucked his hands in the pocket of his jeans, and sauntered into the party roo the modestly sized space filled with thirty or so people, it didn’t take hirunted to himself as he walked over to the bar and ordered himself a much-needed shot of tequila and a bottle of beer He threw a 100 tip to the bartender and turned around, only to find Dillon standing behind hi down the need to beat the shit out of hih "Ah, and there he is - the lucky fucking groom" He tossed that much-needed shot down his throat, and out of the corner of his eye, he watched Emily float into the roo with his head in her direction

With a suspicious look on his face, Dillon stared at hi Emily over to them If Dillon couldn’t notice it - the way she nervously looked at them - Gavin sure as hell did When she approached, Gavin popped the top off his beer, arched a perfect brow, and bit his lip,noise as he pulled it through his teeth

She glared at hiht?" Dillon probed "You look upset"

"I’m fine," she replied, her voiceGavin’s

"Are you sure? You see in a shaky breath, she finally looked at Dillon "Yes"

After placing a kiss on the corner of her mouth, Dillon curled his arm around her waist and turned his attention to Gavin "What’s the deal,him a quick once over "You never showed up to the church, and now you co like this?"

As Gavin watched Dillon circle his thuer, sharp as razor blades, shredded at his sto a probleht now," Gavin answered evenly

"And? That doesn’t garner you showing up here looking like that" Dillon retorted

With her pulse quickening, E behind Gavin’s eyes "Dillon," she immediately interrupted, "does it really o sit down, okay?"

"Yeah, it ain, her tone o sit" Dillon narrowed his eyes on her, and with that, she decided to bring her tone down a notch "I don’t feel good right now alright Co for his hand

"I’d listen to her if I were you," Gavin s pull frouess, of course, but if you piss her off enough, she seeuy" Emily’s eyes widened as he ran his palm over the spot where she had slapped hi like a bitch, too," he added, turning his back to the another beer to help aid in the self-inflicted hell he was putting hih

"What’s your proble him on his shoulder