Free Restless (Relentless Series Book 2) by Alyson Reynolds

my arm, tugging me in the opposite direction. Surely the innocent kiss that Rhys gave me hadn’t caused all this. He was just trying to make me feel better.
    “I normally try to stay out of your business, Taylor, but I can’t stand by and let you hurt Stephen any more than you already have. You’re fucking with his head. Decide if you want to be with him or not, quit stringing him along. You either love him or you don’t. Figure your shit out.”
    “What the fuck are you talking about Jaxon?”
    “He showed up, listened to you sing, and then watched from the side as Rhys kissed you.”
    My throat tightened. “He was here?”
    “He was. Was being the keyword in that sentence. He left as soon as you finished. You’ve got to fix this because I can’t watch Vi agonize between being loyal to her sister or her best friend.”
    I stared at his retreating form. Did Jax not realize that I was crying on stage in front of all these people because I missed Stephen so much? Fuck, I didn't even realize he was here and that killed me. Stephen didn't understand that I was singing to him, but he should have. I've never wanted someone so much that it physically hurt me to be away from them.
    Rhys was a friend and nothing more, but Stephen didn’t know that and he wouldn’t stick around long enough for me to explain. I was sick of everyone blaming me for all of our problems. My fists clenched at my sides and I marched over to the bar.
    “Whiskey, please and lots of it.”
     
     
    My body felt heavy and everything sounded like it was underwater. Gage said something, but I couldn’t focus. I squinted my eyes, and he chuckled.
    “You’re completely schnockered, aren’t you?” I nodded miserably. He looped my arms around his neck and picked me up. My head rested on his chest and I tried to hold back the tears. “Oh hell, are you crying?”
    “N—No,” I sniffled.
    “Let’s get you home first. Then you can cry all over me.”
    “I don’t have a home,” I slurred. “Stephen kicked me out and Jax is pissed at me.”
    His chest bounced as he chuckled and I wrapped my arms tighter around his neck. He grabbed my purse off the bar next to me and made his way out to the parking lot. I didn’t want to get into his car in case I threw up, but he dropped me into the seat and buckled me in anyway. The drive back to his apartment was quick. Before I knew it I was settled onto his couch with a glass of water in my hand.
    I really was wrecked. Gage was fucking awesome for taking care of me. My drunk ass didn’t deserve his kindness, but I would sure take advantage while he offered it up.
    “Don’t take this the wrong way, but why are you doing this for me?”
    “You helped me out after I broke up with Arianna.” He shrugged and looked away.
    “I think there’s more to it than that, but I’m too drunk to figure it out.”
    Gage leaned back into the cushions of the couch and pulled me into his side. He turned SportsCenter on and we listened as the announcers talked about spring training. My eyes started to droop, and he took the glass of water out of my hands, placing it on the coffee table.
    “I know how you feel kid. Sometimes we make the wrong decisions when the correct ones are right in front of us.”
    My eyes stayed closed. “Does it ever quit hurting?”
    He tensed and waited a beat before answering. “Maybe eventually. Just don’t let him get away forever, kid. You’re lucky enough that you have two men willing to fight for you, but that won’t always be the case. Choose wisely.”
    “Stephen’s not fighting for me,” I mumbled. “He hates me.”
    “He showed up tonight. He’s fighting, even if you don’t get it yet.”
     
     
    When I woke up my head ached, and I was so nauseous that if I moved I might throw up. Gage moved me from the couch to his bed during the night. There were two aspirin and a glass of water on the nightstand next to me. All things considered, I was in a much better place than what I