Savior Complex: A Small Town Love Triangle Romance

I look at the table, trying not to fume. I have no right to fume. I fucked her fiancé, and she just got rid of a dusty old blanket, among a couple other things.

“I liked the blanket,” I say, “and neon is kind of my thing.” I wave my hand over my outfit of the day as an example. Today it’s lime-green leggings and an oversized purple sweatshirt. My hair is now a beautiful shade of fuchsia.

“I love your style,” Jordy says. “I should have kept that in mind when I decided to do something nice.”

“No, you should have talked with Nina first,” Brayden cuts in. Jordy looks at him again, and there seems to be some kind of unspoken message being passed between the two of them. Brayden’s jaw pulses, and I can see he’s irritated. More than he should be. The look increases when she takes his hand in hers. She flashes a smile at me, but his face lets me know he wants to be anywhere but here.

I am just trying not to look at his mouth, remembering all the ways he dragged those lips across my body, tasting every inch of me as if I were his personal snack. The corner of his mouth upticks, and I avert my eyes quickly, looking back at Jordy.

“I should have talked with you first,” she agrees, completely ignorant of the eye fucking that just happened. Fuck, that was close.

I should just call it fine and move on, get out of here as soon as I can and leave these two to enjoy their stupid happy lives together. But something makes me stay. Part of it is that I actually miss Jordy, in spite of all the things about her that piss me off. I miss what we used to have, and I miss what we could have had if I hadn’t kicked her out.

And I miss the fuck out of Brayden.

I don’t dare look at him as I pretend to be engrossed in my pastry and latte. But I’m so aware of him. The way he smells. The sound of each breath he takes. The way his fingers touch the table, reminding me of how he touched me. How, after weeks of feeling completely rejected, my body still wants him.

I don’t know how to reconcile the two. How can I crave the close relationship I once had with my cousin while also craving everything about her fiancé? Because I can’t have both.

But I do get to choose. I look at both of them, really take them in. I focus on the relationship they have, and even though my heart hurts so horribly, I make the conscious effort to accept that he belongs to her.

Not to me. Never to me. What we did was wrong, and it can never happen again.

“We could make it right,” I say, shifting my focus to her. She lights up, her face erupting in a grin.

“Fuck yes! When do we start? How about now?”

“We could, but I also have an idea I need your help with.” I tell her about the clothing boutique idea, how Claire has already contacted interested designers, and Mac found some leads on prime locations.

“I know the styles of clothes I want, but I’m having a hard time envisioning what the shop will look like. I don’t have your design sense when it comes to my home or shop. So, if you’re up for it, I’d like to hire you to design the shop, and also to help me figure out a style for the house that’s a lot more like me.”

“Are you serious?” She looks at Brayden, then back at me. “You want to hire me?”

There are actual tears in her eyes, which feels like such an extreme reaction. “Jordy, it’s nothing. I just trust you more than some stranger working on this new venture.”

Trust. What an ironic sentiment.

“No, it’s not that. It’s just…” She pauses, then she takes Brayden’s hand back in hers. “We’ve been having some serious conversations about where to live after the wedding. It’s actually been a place of contention, because Brayden’s home is here, but my dream has always been to move to New York so I can do more high-end jobs. But what if I stay local? Your shop could be a new direction for my business. I could expand beyond designing homes by also partnering with businesses by refreshing their layout.” She squeezes Brayden’s hand, which I notice because my eyes keep drifting there. “We won’t need to make any hard choices because my business would be here while Brayden continues running the ranch.”

I look at Brayden then, risking a quick glance. His eyes are on mine, but this time there’s rage there. I look away, unsure what the deal is. Is he mad I’m hiring her? Does he hate that I’m even here? Maybe all this was a huge mistake.

Or maybe it’s a great way to pay him back for playing with my heart, then crawling right back in Jordy’s arms.

“That’s great!” I say, even though I realize this means I’ll never escape the two of them. Not if they stay in Sunset Bay, and definitely not if I hire Jordy as my personal interior designer. I glance back at Brayden, and this time I flash him a winning smile, like there’s not one thing wrong in the world. Not one fucking thing.

“Let’s start making plans tomorrow. Swing by the house around ten.” I finish my chai and stand up, taking one last glance at Brayden. “It’ll be fun, just us girls.” I say, making it clear who is not invited.

Chapter Thirty

Brayden

“What the fuck was that?” I ask, once Jordy and I are in the truck. She rolls her eyes and gives me a withering stare.

“That was coffee with my cousin, and I have a job now. Stop being so dramatic. Can we just go home now?”

Every time she refers to the ranch as home, I cringe. For the past few weeks, she’s been staying in one of the cabins—which was my mother’s idea. Both of my parents are well aware that Jordy and I are no longer together. After I came back from Jordy’s room at the Sandpiper Inn, I let them know we broke up, but that she didn’t want to announce it yet. Of course, Jordy had a fit when she learned I’d told my parents. But I could give a fuck. I just can’t wait for this nightmare to be over, and if that means dragging this out for a few more weeks, then fine.

But hearing Jordy tell Nina about her plans to stay here with me? It made me realize just how toxic this whole arrangement is.