The Certainty of Deception Read Free Page A

surprise, and my heart leapt from my chest.  “You mean there’s still hope for me?  I still have a chance.”
    He knelt down in front of me and placed his hands on my shoulders. “Of course there’s hope.  Drew, she loves you.  Take it from me.  I watched her with Nate.  She never once looked at him as she does you.”  Jared hung his head down, diverting his eyes from mine.  “She’s never looked at me the way she does you.”
    A sense of pride puffed out my chest.  Mickie loved me more than she ever loved her ex-boyfriend, Nathaniel Fuller.  I hated that bastard for the hell he put her through and I’d never even met him.  He didn’t deserve McKenzie’s love after leavi ng her alone to grieve for the loss of their child.
    However, there was a piece of me that felt sorry for Jared.  He looked almost as lost as I felt.  It struck me that by her moving back to Texas, I wasn’t the only one losing her.  He was too.   I licked my lips, tasting the salt of my tears.  “How do I win her back?”
    Jared chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck.  “Well for starters, you drinking and acting like a crazy person is only going to push her further away.”
    “Finally!” Gavin exclaimed.  “Please, listen to the man.”
    My eyes darted back and forth between Jared and Gavin.  They both carried the same stern but caring expression. 
    “Sober up.  Yeah, I’ve been on that wagon before.” 
    Furrowed brow and squinted eyes exemplified Jared’s questioning mind.  I waved him off, not wanting to go into detail as to what I meant.   He curled his lips and he cocked his head, glancing at my brother.  Gavin shook his head once and Jared shrugged. 
    “You also need to remember you’re not the only one hurting here.  McKenzie has it in her head that if she leaves, you and Olivia will find a way of bonding in order to create a happy life for the child.”
    “That’s preposterous!” I exclaimed.  “There’s no way in hell I’ll ever want Olivia.  Mickie’s it for me.”
    “That might be , but Drew, you have to look at it from her point of view.  While we both know I think Olivia is the spawn of Satan,” -I snickered at the remark- “McKenzie considers her to be a dear friend.  Since Olivia has made things clear to her that she sees a future with you, and with her carrying your child, well, you get the gist.”
    I covered my mouth.  Either the alcohol was playing the mambo in my stomach or the thought of having a future with Olivia had curdled it.  Whatever the case, I had the sudden urge to vomit. “Seriously?” I gagged.
    Jared nodded, “Yeah.  Olivia told McKenzie that you were willing to work on your relationship for the sake of the baby.”
    “I never...” I started. 
    Gavin lifted his hand.  “She told Morgan the same thing, little brother.”
    “She lied!” I cried, rubbing my hands over my face.  “I told her I would care for her and the baby, but that’s where we ended.”
    Jared pinched the bridge of his nose.  “It doesn’t surprise me at all.  Olivia is crafty when she wants something.  She’s manipulated many a situation to keep McKenzie where she wants her.  That’s why I’ve always been so crass toward her.  But McKenzie is a stubborn one.  She follows her heart, not the truth.”
    “That she does.” My stomach churned faster and faster.  I swallowed, but the metallic flavor on my tongue only added to the nausea.
    “Wait?” Gavin interjected.  “You’re telling me this is a pattern for Olivia?”
    “That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Jared confirmed.
    “Then, maybe Drew’s right.  He should talk to McKenzie.”
    “It won’t work.  Trust me.  I know how McKenzie thinks.”
    “So, what do I do?” I raked my fingers through my hair, tugging at the tangled locks.  I couldn’t remember the last time I combed it.
    Jared returned his hands to my shoulders and gave them a good squeeze. Tilting his head, Jared’s eyes darted back and