Almost Easy (Sinister Ascent Book 1)

Home > Other > Almost Easy (Sinister Ascent Book 1) > Page 6
Almost Easy (Sinister Ascent Book 1) Page 6

by Brittany Clark


  The others started talking around me asking me about my honeymoon, which I finally started answering. But I didn’t want to talk about it. For once I felt guilty talking about another woman in front of Chloe. Blaze obviously felt the same way about Chloe hearing about my wife because he got to his feet keeping her in his arms and began carrying her out of the room bridal style.

  “Where the hell are you two going?” Axel called out with laughter in his voice.

  “My girl is hungry, see you all later. Zane, it’s good to have you back,” Blaze shouted back and with that the two of them were gone.

  My eyes followed them out, I had a strange feeling going on inside of me. It was a feeling I couldn’t place, but it hurt all the same. Chloe shouldn’t be in Blaze’s arms. But why did I feel like I had any claim over her? I sat back in my chair with that thought running through my mind, and not once in that time did I think about my wife.

  5

  ZANE

  An hour after Blaze and Chloe left the studio I was home and storming into my house. As the minutes ticked by I had way too much time to think up all sorts of things that the two of them could have been doing together. Since I had an over reacting imagination I was in a very bad mood. Was Chloe letting Blaze touch her the way that she used to ask me to? I groaned out slamming my front door as I went. I walked straight into the living room where I found my sister and a very upset looking Mrs. Wolfe. This was not what I needed right now, especially the second I walked into my front door. I was already in a bad mood and I didn’t need whatever problems were going on between the two women in my life. It seemed that Jessica and my sister Violet had hated each other from the second they met. They were always fighting with each other, and I fucking hated that. I loved my sister and I wanted her to like the woman I was with.

  “What’s going on in here?” I asked giving my sister a kiss on the head before walking over and sitting down next to Jessica. The second my ass hit the couch Jessica immediately latched onto me and clung. I couldn’t remember if she had always been this needy, and if she had why the hell hadn’t I noticed it before. I hated women who were like that.

  “She won’t let me look at the photo’s she took of our wedding,” Jessica pouted sticking her bottom lip out and attempting to look cute. I hated when she did that. She thought she looked cute, however she definitely did not. I thought it made her look like a spoiled child.

  “I’ve already told her that I lost the file when I updated my computer. She won’t believe me, for some reason she thinks that I’m keeping them from her in some immature gesture. I don’t see why she just can’t wait for the professional pictures to come anyway,” Violet responded shooting Jessica a look that could stop traffic before looking at me with a face that dared me to try and contradict what she was saying.

  I knew my sister well, it came from living with her for more than half my life. If she was keeping the photos from Jessica there was a damn good reason for it, and I wasn’t going to make Violet show them to Jessica. I sighed knowing that this was going to make my wife mad but my family meant everything to me and I wasn’t going to betray my sister for Jessica.

  “Jessica, Violet doesn’t lie. If she says she lost the photos then they’re gone. The other photos will be here within the next couple of days, so just wait,”

  Jessica looked up at me with fire in her eyes before she got up and stormed out of the house. I winced when I heard the front door slam but I made no move to go after her. She was throwing a huge temper tantrum right now because she wasn’t getting her way and that shit was not cool with me. I was not going to feed into it by following her, there was no way that I could let her think that I would give into her every time she acted like a child. When I heard her car drive away I looked at Violet.

  “Spill Violet, why won’t you show her the pictures?”

  Violet sighed before grabbing her computer and walking over to me. “These are not going to be easy for you to see Zane,”

  “Why not?”

  “You’ll see,”

  Before I could ask her to elaborate, Violet had pulled up the file on her computer of my wedding. I took the computer from her and hit the arrow button flipping through the photos aimlessly until I got to one that had my finger hesitating to move forward. It was a shot of me in front and my friends standing behind me. But it was Chloe’s face that had stopped me cold as pain lashed through me like a sharp blade. Her face looked as if the very sight in front of her was killing her. I was unable to handle seeing her face so I quickly flipped to the next one. But the more I went on the worse the photos got. Slowly Chloe’s eyes lost all warmth, I was able to pinpoint the exact moment I said ‘I do’ because Chloe’s eyes lost all warmth and went dead. The pain radiating from her was almost palatable.

  I stayed focused on that photo for longer than the rest, feeling as if my heart had been torn in two. I knew that I had hurt her but now I was able to see just how badly. Not being able to see that tortured face any longer I flipped to the next one and felt my blood run cold. In that picture Blaze had his hand placed on Chloe’s waist and she was leaning back into him as if she would fall without him there to support her. It was made crystal fucking clear in that moment that I had driven Chloe into his arms by hurting her repeatedly. Violet took her computer away from me and shut it down before turning her heated eyes at me.

  “You see why I couldn’t show your wife Zane? She asked me with venom dripping from her every word. I winced again brining my hand up to rub over my heart in a vain attempt to ease the pain I felt.

  “Are the professional photos going to look like that?” I wondered aloud,

  “No, Chloe was very brave. She kept a mask over her face until she saw the photographer taking a break. That was when I started shooting only her. You destroyed her Blaze, how the hell could you ask her to stand beside you as you vowed yourself to another woman?”

  “I wanted my best friend beside me, I didn’t think about how badly it would hurt her until after it was already too late,”

  “Were you able to see the moment you said I do?” She whispered

  I nodded resting my head on the back of the couch and closing my eyes. “It’s obvious when that moment was. Her face became tortured and it was as if all her dreams and hope died. Her eyes went blank. I didn’t know that I had the power to hurt her that bad,”

  “Don’t lie to me Zane. Lie to yourself all the fuck you want to, but don’t do it to me. You knew, you just didn’t care. But it seems to me that you’re starting to care now, but it is way too late,”

  I nodded again then remembered the picture of Blaze with his hand wrapped around Chloe, “I drove her into his arms,”

  “No shit Sherlock. She needed comforting and Blaze knew what an amazing woman Chloe was,”

  “Do you think they will stay together? Will I ever have a chance again?”

  Violet looked at me like I grew two heads before she brought her hand up and smacked me upside the one head I did have. My eyes shot open before I yelped in pain and shot my sister an evil look.

  “What the hell was that for?” I yelled rubbing my now sore head.

  “Are you stupid? How the hell can you ask if you will ever have a chance with her again when you’re a fucking married man? Chloe will never get with someone who is married, which is something that she warned you about over and over again. But you didn’t believe her. You will never have a chance with her Zane, because you’re not single any longer. And honestly I think her and Blaze will work out and last a long time. Especially when she realizes how she should have been treated,”

  “What the hell does that mean?”

  “You treated her like shit, unless you were in friend mode. But when you wanted sex you would treat her somewhat alright, but then you would fuck her and leave not even bothering to spend five minutes with her after. Blaze is a great guy. Hell he already takes her out on damn dates, or just simply holds her hand. She’s starved for affection and Blaze is giving her all that she nee
ds. Soon she’s going to realize just how bad she had it with you,”

  I brought my hands up into my hair and tugged as I let out a groan. Everything that Violet just said was true, I did treat her like shit. Unless we were in friend mode. When I was simply being her best friend we would hang out and watch movies or go out to lunch, or dinner together. We talked about everything or simply sat there in silence as the hours ticked by. Then there was the times that I wanted to get into her pants. I would say whatever the hell she wanted to hear until she caved. Then I would get my dick wet and walk away.

  But Chloe was so fucking blinded by her love for me that she hadn’t ever complained about it. And the only time I showed her any type of affection was when we were in that damn friend zone. Which was what had earned me her heart in the first place. She loved me when I was just me. She was in love with me when I was the outgoing fun friend, but she put up with me when I wanted her body because all she wanted was to feel close to me. Now I was more grateful than ever that I had gave her the real me that last night that we were together. The night before I ruined both of our lives by marrying a woman that wasn’t Chloe. Maybe that would work to my advantage in the future.

  “I would treat her like a queen now,” I murmured more to myself than to Violet, but she heard me.

  “You’re too late, Blaze already does,”

  “I can’t let this happen. Violet she’s mine, she’s not his,”

  “How wrong you are my dear stupid brother. She can’t be yours, because you have never and could never be hers. You’re Jessica’s now remember?”

  “I’m just starting to realize my mistakes. Now I need to fix them,”

  “I know you’re hurting Zane, But please don’t do this to her,”

  “What do you mean?”

  “If she finally has a chance to be happy don’t take it away from her. She’s so in love with you that if you asked, she would run away with you without thinking twice. But unless you’re one-hundred percent sure, all you’re going to do is keep hurting her. Blaze is a great guy and he will treat her how she deserves. She’s been hurt so badly that she deserves to be treated great. Don’t ruin what they have growing between them out of jealousy,”

  “It isn’t just jealousy. I’m not sure what I’m feeling but it isn’t just jealousy,”

  “Then at least wait until you are positive about your feelings before you do anything,”

  I hesitated before slowly nodding, “You’re right, if I’m just jealous of seeing her with another man, then I will hurt her again in the long run. So I’ll wait, but Blaze better not expect to keep her for long,”

  I saw Violet go to speak before she hesitated and then closed her mouth. “Okay I’m taking off now, but before I go I have some food for thought.

  “What’s that?”

  “You took my side over Jessica’s, why was that?”

  “Because you’re my family and ultimately more important,”

  “Right, now what if that was Chloe, would you have sided with me over her?”

  “Not in a million years,” I said then smiled when I realized what she was getting at, “I care about her more than I do my own wife,”

  “Duh, dip shit. Glad to see you’re finally realizing it even if it is too late. See ya later, love you,”

  With a wave of her hand she was gone leaving me to think over everything I was just now starting to understand. Violet had said that I was too late, I was now left praying that that wasn’t true. But I would keep my promise to her and not do anything hasty until I was sure of my feelings. As much as I hated my next thought I knew that it would have to be done. I needed to be sure that what I was feeling wasn’t simple jealousy. In order for me to be able to figure that out I was going to have to set up that damn double date with Blaze. I doubted I could make it through an entire dinner watching the two of them together. Before I could talk myself out of it I shot a quick message to Blaze asking him and Chloe to dinner tomorrow night. Then I put my phone down and waited for a response.

  Then once again I went back to my thoughts. At this time I was almost hoping that whatever I was feeling was just simple jealousy. I didn’t want it to be anything more than me simply not wanting Blaze to play with my toys. Because I was damn sure that if I had stronger feelings for Chloe, that I could never do anything about them. I fucking destroyed her, and used her over and over. And I know that we’re at the point where she is finally done with me. So if I wanted something more from her, it damn sure wouldn’t be easy for me to get it. And I had no one to blame but myself for this, I had brought it all on myself, never thinking past the moment of pleasure between Chloe’s thighs, to acknowledge that I could have been destroying my future happiness. I was pulled out of my thoughts by a message from Blaze.

  “Tomorrow works for the two of us. I will make reservations,”

  I clenched my teeth and squeezed my eyes shut at the use of the word us in his message. He already thought of the two of them as an us? She wasn’t fucking his, she was mine. She had been since we were teenagers. I was her first, and she would never forget me even if she wanted to. Fuck! Why the hell was I such an idiot? And why am I only starting to realize that I might have more feelings for Chloe now that I’ve lost her?

  “God, please don’t let me be too late,” I whispered out into the silent room.

  6

  ZANE

  Jessica and I walked into a restaurant the next night and my teeth instantly clenched when I spotted Blaze and Chloe instantly. They were sitting at their table leaning towards each other and sharing what appeared to be a very deep conversation. Now more than ever I was hating myself for agreeing to this damn double date. The only fucking reason I had said yes was because of that stupid promise I made my sister. If sitting through this dinner and watching my girl with her new man was what I had to endure to make sure that it wasn’t simple jealousy I was feeling then I would do it. I owed it to Chloe to at least try to do this. However I had barely spotted them and was already filled with anger and pain. Blaze was leaning over in his seat so that he could whisper into Chloe’s ear. She was smiling at whatever the hell it was he was saying. I walked up to the table and felt the air around us change. Had it always felt this powerful when I was around Chloe? And if so had I just blocked it all out?

  I pulled out a chair for Jessica and waited to sit until she was seated. When I sat down my eyes instantly connected with Chloe’s. She looked nervous, and I could still see the pain that was swirling in her eyes. I hated myself in that moment. I was a piece of shit. Who in their right mind would hurt someone as amazing and perfect as Chloe over and over without a second thought? Chloe broke eye contact with me first and ducked her head. I wanted to comfort her, just to touch her in some way and let her know how fucking sorry I was for hurting her. Because I was watching her so damn closely, I was able to catch Blaze moving his hand across the table so that he could link his hand with Chloe’s. My teeth clenched tighter, if I wasn’t careful I would be toothless before this was all over.

  “Oh I just realized that the two of you are together. Are you dating?” Jessica asked beaming first at them and then up at me.

  “Yes we’re together,” Blaze answered shooting a smile straight at me. Keep gloating fucker, she won’t be yours for long.

  “Isn’t it just great that the two of your best friends are dating? Oh and if they end up getting married you can be Chloe’s maid of honor,” Jessica said clapping her hands together.

  I felt the color slowly drain out of my face as my blood ran cold. I ignored everything that Jessica was saying and thought of only what she had said. Emotions were swamping me, but gut wrenching pain and fear were the two biggest ones. Now I knew exactly what I had done to Chloe. I could never stand at her side as she said the words that would link her for the rest of her life to another man. My eyes sought hers out and then held when they caught. I was trying to let her see exactly what I was feeling. If anything I wanted her to know how fucking sorry I was. And in this
moment I knew, without a fucking doubt, that what I was feeling wasn’t simple jealousy. I had feelings for Chloe. Feelings that had always been there, but that I had buried so deep that I hadn’t even realized myself that they were there. Before I could think further on what I had just discovered Chloe was talking.

  “I wouldn’t ask Zane to be my maid of honor, I’m pretty sure Blaze would want him on his side anyway,” Chloe’s response earned a laugh from Blaze, as I cursed.

  “I seriously doubt that Blaze is thinking along those lines. They have only been dating for a few weeks,” I hissed

  “Actually Chloe and I have been together for a little over a month now. As for everything else I can see myself thinking about that. Chloe is an amazing woman. Any guy would be insane to let her go if they were ever lucky enough to get her,”

  I could tell that Blaze was intentionally goading me, but I took the bait anyway. I knew that I was a fucking stupid man for letting her go, and I hated that Blaze was shoving that in my face. I hated it more that he had her. This was exactly what I was afraid that was going to happen if the four of us got together. But I had to go and prove to myself that he could be okay with Chloe and Blaze dating. It only took me ten fucking minutes to prove that not only could I not handle it, but that it would kill me to see them together all the time. Now I was stuck here for the rest of the dinner.

  “No guy has ever been good enough for her, that’s why she’s still single,” I shot back.

  “You’re right about no one being good enough for her, but I think that’s changed now,” Blaze responded instantly. I walked right into that one, but I didn’t have to take it.

 

‹ Prev