Page 130 of Double Dare

“Because she’s jealous of Laken,” I tell him. “You’ve always known that, you just looked past it.”

“Anyway,” Hardin cuts back in. “This isn’t even Laken’s old account. Look. There’s a dot out of place.” He shows the photo to Gar. “That wasn’t her username. This is fake, man. Even her new account doesn’t have this username. Amber’s playing you.”

I watch it happen. I watch Gar try to make sense of the photos and how he has them. I watch him put it all together, realize he’s been played, and then I watch his face fall and his shoulders slump, realizing that the one and only relationship he’s ever had has been full of lies and manipulation.

He tries one more time. “But she texted me a few days ago, accusing me of believing Amber over her.” He pulls up the conversation, showing it to Hardin. “See? Three days ago.”

“Yeah,” Hardin laughs. “I’d be careful having that chick in your house, Gar. You’re way too cute to get chopped up and frozen.”

Gar crinkles his brow. “What?”

“She’s a creep, man. Laken doesn't have that phone number anymore, which means Amber has a phone with that number and she’s using it to fool you.”

Jesus, this chick knows no bounds.

But when it happens, it happens. Gar goes from being heartbroken to being heartbroken and hating himself. “Fuck! I got so…I thought someone finally…fuck! Where is she?”

Now we’re getting somewhere. “Up there,” Jed and I say at the same time, looking at the mountains. That’s where Laken goes when she needs to get some perspective and peace. “But you aren’t going near her until you’re ready to grovel. I mean that shit, Gar. On your knees.”

Mm, yes.

He nods, almost looking like he wants to tear up a bit. His eyes are glossy. “What do I do?”

“Catch her in the act, or find the second phone,” Hardin says, passing Gar his phone back. “Or just end it now.”

Gar nods. “Someone give me Laken’s new number?”

Jed gives it to him. “Don’t ever question her when she hasn’t given you any reason to again, Gar.”

Gar nods again, looking down. “I’m sorry. I’m…I’ll make this right.” He sighs, leaving us on the front porch.

We might all watch his ass as he walks away.

Hardin snaps out of it first. “What’re we doing about Aunt Candice? I don’t care if Freya is pregnant, I’ll set her loose on that bitch. If she’d been there and heard all that, she would have hit first and asked questions…never.”

I grin at that. So true. Freya’s a spitfire.

“Let’s grab Dom and Liam and get the fuck outta here,” Jed says. “We’ll come back tomorrow.”

I look at the snowy peaks again, hoping Laken is alright.

Hardin ended up staying the night at Freya’s, but Dom and Liam are here again, and Laken still hasn’t come home. She texted to say she was alright, and even sent a selfie of her on her board, so at least we know she’s doing okay.

I’ve never felt as protective of someone as I felt today. It started with Laken and came back to that chat I had with Mom on the front porch about not being able to do anything to protect her from her vulnerabilities, and then it turned into something deeper. It wasn’t just her I wanted to defend, it was my whole fucking family. The way Aunt Candice talked about Dom and Liam, Hardin and Freya, and worst of all, our parents, it just…I don’t even know. I saw red, but more than that, I felt protective of my whole upbringing.

So many people have shit parents! So many, and we weren’t those people. We were born and raised in the best family in the damn country, and I’ll forever stand by that. My parents are the shit, and so many kids who feel like outcasts, uncertain about themselves, or the least bit unsure about life or the direction of it would be lucky as fuck to have them. I need to get my mind off it because it’s doing nothing but pissing me off again.

“Alright, I’m taking Liam in the hot tub,” Dom announces, also agitated.

“Don’t get cum in my water,” Jed says.

Liam’s already heading down the hall to borrow a pair of swim shorts, snapping at Dom to hurry up.

“Can’t keep this one off my dick,” Dom says, grinning and opening up for the first time in too long.

“He’s already such a Dare,” I laugh.

“Fits right the fuck in,” Jed laughs.