Savior Complex: A Small Town Love Triangle Romance

“Oh fuck, she knows?” I hide my face in my hands, unsure how I’m ever going to face his mom again. He takes my hands in his, laughing at me.

“Yes, she knows. My dad does too. They figured it out when the chairman called and repeated my bullshit story. While they’re not thrilled about what I did to Jordy, my parents are happy to know it’s you I’ve fallen for. They love you.”

I laugh even as I narrow my eyes in disbelief. “Your dad said that?”

He cocks his head, as if to ask, are you serious? “I don’t think my dad has ever expressed a positive emotion in his life, but I know he likes you. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t even pay attention to you. When he’s gruff with you, that’s when you know you’re on his good side.”

“So your parents are all keen on us being together, right?”

He squeezes my hand. “They’re just sitting back and letting me figure out my own life. They want me to be happy, and I’m happy with you.”

It’s not exactly an answer, but there’s hope in it. If his parents feel any reservations about us, I can’t blame them. They’ve spent the last five years getting close to Jordy, imagining their son’s future with her. Now we’ve gone and switched the narrative. A change like this wouldn’t be easy on anyone.

“So, you’re still going to the wedding as Jordy’s date.”

He winces, his expression clearly pained. “I can get out of it,” he says. “It was stupid to even agree. I should—”

“No, I get it,” I say, even though my insides are completely twisted at the thought of seeing them together even for just one more day. “If you knew our family…well, you do know them. Her mom is just—I mean, my mom is a complete bitch, but Aunt Lil puts so much pressure on Jordy to be perfect. If my aunt finds out you guys broke up…” I realize what I’m saying, that there’s so much more at stake here. “If they find out I’m the one that broke you two up—”

“You didn’t, though. I mean, yeah, meeting you sped things along. But you saved me from an expensive divorce, because that marriage was not going to last. It was never meant to be. So it wasn’t you, it was my decision to end things.”

“They’ll never see it that way, though. I’m the whore of the family, the one who was handed everything, thanks to my grandmother, and still manages to ruin everything. They will only see this as another way spoiled Nina inserts herself into a situation and takes what she wants.”

“And is that true?” Brayden asks.

I look at him, my eyes narrowing. “What the fuck?”

“I don’t think it’s true,” he says. “But do you?”

I shake my head. I’ve believed a lot of things about myself, but not this—at least not now. “I’ve asked myself so many times if I did anything to deserve what happened to me.” I don’t mention the rape by name, but the sympathy in his eyes lets me know he understands. “I know now that it was not my fault. But back then, it was more confusing. Especially when my mom turned on me, calling me a whore.” I shake my head. “That’s really where all of this started. She was embarrassed by me, her broken daughter. She’s the one who suggested I move in with Nanna for a fresh start. But when she saw how much her mother cared for me…” I sigh out a breath, feeling shaky as tears spring to my eyes. I swipe them away. “Whatever it was, her treatment of me spread like wildfire. She claimed I was difficult, and it didn’t take much for the family to believe that of me. So when Nanna Dot left me everything—” I pause, clenching my fists at my side. “Let’s just say the groundwork was laid to completely write me out of the family.” I look at Bray, nearly breaking at the way he’s looking back at me with so much compassion, so much concern. “I guess I shouldn’t care. They already think so little of me.”

“It’s okay to care,” Brayden says. He takes my hands, unfolding them both before lacing his fingers with mine. “Of course you care. We’ll do whatever makes you feel comfortable. I’ll stand by you in everything.”

“Well, first you’ll go to the wedding with Jordy. I don’t think I could handle unleashing the drama that day, either. I don’t want to ruin Ethan and Claire’s day, even though they already know.”

This time it’s his turn to balk. “They know? You told people about us?”

“Was I not supposed to?” It does seem like our little secret is becoming less of a secret every moment. How many people know already? The five guys, Brayden’s parents, Maren, Claire, and probably Ethan. And soon…

“God, soon the whole world will know.” My voice shakes a little, realizing the implications. Once my mom knows? What will she say?

“I want the whole world to know,” he laughs. “I love that you’ve told people. I want you to tell everyone.”

“Even Jordy?” I ask, a teasing glint in my eyes.

“At this point, I’d be fine if you told her too. She’s going to find out anyways, because I’m not letting you go.

“Oh really? Don’t I get some say in this?” I push against him teasingly, but he wraps his arms around me.

“You get all the say,” he murmurs, his lips coming closer. “Anything you want, I’ll do it for you.”

“No,” I say firmly, backing away while still safe in his embrace. “That was your last relationship. In this one, we’re partners. We work together. Sometimes I’ll be happier, sometimes you will. But hopefully—most times—we’ll fall in the middle.” I run my hands over his chest, my fingers grazing against his bare skin just above the button line. “But we can’t tell Jordy yet. I agree, she’ll know, and it’s not going to be pretty.” I bury my head in his chest. “Ugh, especially since I already hired her.”

“I wanted to kick you under the table for that one,” Brayden laughs. “What the fuck were you thinking? If you’re looking for ways to make this more awkward and painful, you’ve done it.”

“I know.” I look up in his eyes. “But it has to be done. Once this wedding is over, no more secrets. No more hiding who we are or what we want. We live the truest lives we can, and whoever sticks around can be our family.”

He leans down and kisses me. Tenderly. As if we have all the time in the world—and for a moment, we do. For a moment, I forget the outside world and all the consequences and everyone who is bound to hate us by the end of next week. Right now, there’s only us standing in my kitchen, wrapped in each other’s arms.