After the Ex Games (The Ex Games #4)(16)
Author: J.S. Cooper

Chapter 10

Greyson

“What’s going on, Greyson?” Meg swallowed hard and gave me a questioning look.

“I don’t know what to say.” I walked towards her. “Patsy told me some things I didn’t know today.”

“What things?”

I pursed my lips and stared at her.

“What things, Greyson?”

“Patsy slept with Brandon.”

“What?” Her jaw dropped. “No way.”

“She thought that was the reason I ended things with her.”

“What?” Meg’s hands flew to her face. “I can’t believe this. When did he sleep with her?”

“I don’t know exactly.”

“Are you upset?” She looked into my eyes and studied my face.

“I don’t care,” I sighed. “Yeah, it was a shady thing to do, but Brandon and I were both f**ked up back then. I never loved her. I never wanted to be with her. I never should have slept with her. I regret it.”

“He never told you?”

“No.” I sighed and shook my head. “I suppose he didn’t really know how.”

“What was she talking about when she mentioned Maria?”

“I’m not one hundred percent sure.”

“But you have an idea?”

“I do.”

“What did you guys make Patsy do?”

“I don’t know.” I grabbed her hands. “I’m sorry, Meg. I can’t talk about this right now. Brandon needs to—”

“I’m done waiting, Greyson.” She pushed me away and my heart broke. “I can’t deal with this shit anymore.”

“Meg, please. You know I don’t want us to start our relationship with any more lies.”

“You could have fooled me. It seems like all you have is lies. Lies and excuses.” She stared up into my face. “I’m not Katie. I’m not just going to accept your silence and live with it.”

“I think Katie is pregnant, Meg.” I grabbed ahold of her, hoping that she would understand. “I don’t want to be the one to break up what they have. Brandon is the one who has to come forward. Please understand that.”

“Who told you she’s pregnant?” Meg’s eyes were wide and full of hurt and sorrow, and I knew it would be a long time before she would ever forgive me for not coming forward with the full truth right away. I wanted to, more than anything, but I also knew that I owed it to Brandon to hold back until he was ready. Then her eyes went blank and I felt my heart sinking.

“Brandon told me.” My fingers pinched into her arms, wanting to get more of a reaction from her. I wanted her to scream or shout at me. I wanted her to hit me. I wanted her to do something that would show me that she still cared. That she wasn’t apathetic towards me. Apathetic meant that she had given up. I couldn’t have her giving up.

“I see.” She looked away from me for a second. “I guess you know what’s best.”

“Just until she tells him about the baby. Then we can come clean.”

“Hopefully by then it’s not too late.” Her words broke my heart, but I didn’t know what to do or say.

I wanted to tell her everything, but I had promised myself a long time ago that I would never look out for myself above Brandon again. Not after everything that had happened.

I heard a noise outside the office and walked over to the door to see if anyone was outside, but the hallway was clear. I punched the wall as I realized that Patsy might have heard what we’d been talking about.

“Fuck it.” I was pissed at myself.

“I’m glad you want to do what’s best for the baby.” Meg adjusted her top. “I agree with you. The unborn baby is the most important person in this equation.”

“You are the most important person to me, Meg.”

“No, I think that’s Brandon.”

“Meg, how could you think that?” I grabbed her face and stared at her. “I love you. You are everything to me. I want to tell you, I really do.”

“I need to find Nancy.” She pulled away from me. “I need to make sure she’s okay. If crazy Patsy has a hold on her…” She shuddered.

“Meg, there’s something you should know.” I took a deep breath. “There’s something you need to know about Nancy.”

“Oh.” She froze and stared at me. I felt like my heart was going to break as I stared at her. What I was about to tell her felt like the biggest betrayal of all.

“Nancy’s not who you think she is.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Brandon and I already knew Nancy.” I lifted my fingers to her hair, but she pushed them away. “We knew her before she got the job at the club.”

“What are you saying, Greyson?”

“She’s eighteen.” I closed my eyes.

“Oh my God, Greyson. Please tell me you’re not in a relationship with her.”

“No.”

“Were you though? Were you in a relationship with her?”

“It’s not me.” I bit my lip, hating that I was doing this but knowing my relationship with Meg was more important than anything else in my life. “It’s Brandon.”

“Brandon is in a relationship with Nancy?”

“No,” I groaned and my stomach clenched. “He’s not now. I can’t explain. We have to wait. Brandon has to explain.”

“He just can’t keep his hands off the young girls, can he?” Her jaw dropped. “Katie is never going to forgive him for this.”

“That’s what he’s afraid of,” I sighed, and I heard my voice crack. “That’s what we’re both afraid of.” I looked at Meg’s white face and didn’t know what else to say.

She still didn’t know my role in this whole charade. She didn’t know that it was all my fault. I didn’t know how to tell her. I was worried that once she knew, that would be it. She’d never be able to forgive me and I’d be all alone again.

“I’m not staying there tonight.” Meg’s voice cracked. “I need time to think.”

“We can stay here,” I offered softly, hoping she was still willing to stay with me.

“Yes, we’ll stay here tonight.” She looked at me then, and I could see the pain in her eyes. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore tonight. I don’t know if I can take any more, Greyson. I just don’t know.”