Savior Complex: A Small Town Love Triangle Romance

“She’ll be pissed,” I say. “She’ll never speak to Nina again.”

“She’s already pissed,” Levi points out. “And if you and Nina are truly meant to be together, she’s going to find out eventually.”

“She’s going to be so hurt.” I look down at my feet.

Jake gets up and crouches next to me. “This will be messy,” he says. “Whether she finds out now or she finds out later, there’s really no way around it. The question is, are you willing to sacrifice a chance with Nina just to prolong the inevitable with Jordy?”

I look out at the ocean, at the quiet waves rolling in under the late afternoon sun. A pelican is off in the distance, diving into the waves and then pulling out. Completely fearless. I think of myself these past few weeks. Months. Years. How I have lost so much of myself trying to please everyone around me. Trying to please Jordy.

“What’s done is done,” Jake murmurs. I look at him. He nods back up the beach toward the ranch. I scramble to my feet as the guys cheer me on. As Sara carries me back home, I let the wind strip away any lingering doubts.

I’m getting my girl.

Chapter Thirty-One

Nina

The doorbell rings, and I sigh, knowing I specifically requested a contactless delivery from DoorDash. Since Claire and Maren cleaned up my depression disaster, I’ve been working really hard to keep the place just as clean, along with taking care of myself by eating better foods. But after today’s visit with Jordy and Brayden, I knew nothing would make me feel better than something hot and greasy and completely horrible for my health.

Just this once.

I tell myself as I trudge to the door, not really keen on seeing anyone, even a delivery guy. But when I open the door, there’s Brayden, holding my food bag with a sheepish look on his face.

I grab the bag and go to close the door before he can make a move. I’m not quick enough, though. His foot catches in the jam, and he swears as I continue trying to close it.

“Move,” I say, pressing against it with more force.

“Nina, please hear me out.” Both of us know that he could force his way in, that my strength is no match for his. But he doesn’t push on the door, the only intrusion is his foot that I’m working to sever with my weak strength, and I guess this is why I finally give in, stepping back from the door and letting it open.

Lord help me, the man looks like something I could wrap myself around. His cheeks are flushed, as if he ran the whole way here. His baseball cap is on backwards, which is a whole look in itself. He looks like he hasn’t shaved in a week, making me ache with need to run my hands over his stubble. His lips are so plush, ready for the taking. He’s wearing that flannel jacket I’ve always loved, one that smells of hay and wind, even from my safe distance away. I want to bury my face in his chest and just breathe, breathe, breathe, and never exhale.

But he’s not mine. He’s hers—and I’m done playing this game where I’ll be the only loser.

I scowl, turning away from him and entering the kitchen. I hear the door close gently behind me, and his footsteps follow me. I sit at that damn uncomfortable bistro table, and kick the other stool to the floor, leaving me on the only upright seat. It was supposed to be aggressive and angry, but his chuckle as he rights it has me fighting a smile as I dig into the bag for my burger. He sits, and I properly ignore him, not even worrying how I look as I sink my teeth into the ciabatta roll and half pound patty in between, barbecue sauce and cheese oozing out as I do. It’s a fucking mess, and I’m delighted—both at the taste and knowing this might knock me completely out of the running in the battle for Brayden’s heart.

He’s said nothing so far, so after a few more bites, I finally clear my mouth with some soda and ask him why he’s here.

“I don’t know where to start,” he says.

“How about the part where we have a magical weekend together, and you end it by riding off into the sunset with your fiancé?” I say, batting my eyelashes at him. Then I glare and go back to my burger.

“I suppose you’d see it like that since you haven’t read any of my texts.”

“My phone must be broken,” I say dismissively. “It doesn’t accept messages from assholes.”

He chuckles again, which is both so aggravating, and also drives me crazy. Something about him being here makes me want to stop being mad at him, to curl up in his arms and let him take the pain away. But what good will that do? Once he leaves, I’ll be right back where I started, nursing a broken heart while he goes home to fuck my cousin.

He fishes his phone out, and I shake my head.

“No,” I say, “I don’t want to read it. I can’t do this anymore. We never should have done anything to begin with.”

He continues, unlocking it.

“Are you even listening to me?” I push it away when he holds it out to me.

“Please just read it. If you still hate me afterwards, I’ll go. I’ll never contact you again. But please, just give me this one thing and read it.”

“I owe you nothing,” I say, narrowing my eyes at him.