CHAPTER TWO: Shameless.

~MAREN~

Sandra flinches at my voice, eyes snapping to the doorway. The moment she sees me, she presses a palm to her chest and exhales.

“Jeez, Mari. Keep your voice down. You almost gave me a heart attack.”

I just stare at her, stunned by her own nerve.

“That’s it? That’s all you have to say?”

Her eyebrows knit together. “What do you want me to say?”

“You’re sleeping with Kade. At your own engagement party. Wearing Caleb’s ring.” I point at her hand. “Does that make any sense to you?”

She glances down, twisting the diamond like she’d forgotten it was there. Then she meets my eyes, dead-on. “And?”

Unbelievable.

“He’s my stepbrother,” I snap, stepping further into the room. “You had no right to drag him into whatever twisted game you’re playing.”

Sandra rolls her eyes, tossing her hair over her shoulder as she reaches back to zip up her gown. “Don’t be so dramatic, Mari. It’s just sex. Besides, it’s not like you and Caleb are even a thing anymore. Why bother yourself over nothing?”

How does someone get this shameless?

“Dramatic?” My voice cracks, hands curling into fists. “You lied to me about Caleb for six months. You wrecked what we had. And now I find you sleeping with my stepbrother in the same hotel where you’re supposed to marry him.”

Sandra pauses, fingers freezing on her zipper. She turns slowly, expression hardening. “Is this really about Kade? Or are you just mad I’m the one marrying Caleb, after you spent all of last night crying to me about how you still love him?”

The words land like a slap. Heat floods my face, instant and humiliating.

“That’s because I didn't know—” I stop myself. I won’t give her the satisfaction of seeing me squirm. “Forget it. Enjoy your little circus of a party. I don’t even know why I bothered showing up.”

I turn sharply for the door.

“Hey, Mari, wait!” Her tone flips instantly, back into that sweet, coaxing whine I grew up with. She’s behind me in two strides, hand gripping my arm. “I’m sorry about Caleb, okay? And about Kade. But that part isn’t even my fault. You know how he is. Once he decides he wants you, there’s no saying no.”

“Is that supposed to excuse it?” I pull my arm free and turn to face her. “You were like a sister to me, Sandra. Right now, I don’t even know what you are. But you could’ve at least respected me enough to say no to him.”

“Wanna try that?” A low voice cuts in from across the room.

I glance over. Kade’s still sprawled on the couch, wearing that same infuriating half-smile, chest bare.

“Shut up, Kade. I’m not talking to you.”

He lifts both hands in mock surrender. “Whatever you say, sis.”

I roll my eyes and turn back to Sandra, who gives me an innocent look. I hold her stare until she sighs and drops the act.

“Fine. Like I said, I’m sorry for sleeping with your stepbrother.” She grabs both my hands, squeezing tight. “But please, promise me you won’t tell Caleb. This is my day, Mari. I don’t want to ruin it.”

I blink at her, completely out of words.

If I tell Caleb now with no proof, I look like the jealous ex who crashed his party. If I don’t, she gets away with it. Both options feel like losing.

I go back and forth before I land somewhere.

“Fine. I won’t tell.” I don’t even sound convincing.

“Thank you.” She beams, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “That’s why you’re my best friend. I know I owe you an explanation, and I’ll give you one. Just not here.”

“I don’t need one.”

“Yes, you do. I’ll tell you everything at the ballroom, and I’ll apologize publicly too, if that’s what you want.”

“It’s too late for that,” I say flatly.

“It’s not. I value our friendship. Let me fix this.”

I don’t answer. She studies my face, and something shifts. “Were you crying?”

I break away and swipe the back of my hand across my cheek, angry at myself for the tears more than at her. “I’m fine.”

“This is about Caleb, isn’t it?”

“Why would I cry over Caleb?” It comes out too fast, too defensive, guilty even to my own ears. “It’s nothing.”

She doesn’t buy it. She steps closer, brushes a tear off my cheek with her thumb, then laces our fingers together again, acting like we’re still the inseparable pair we’ve spent a decade pretending to be.

“I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you about Caleb,” she says, softer now. “But don’t worry, you’re a great person. You’ll find a better man.” She squeezes my hand and turns her back to me. “Zip me up. Let’s go meet my wedding guests.”

I stare at her bare back. I should leave her half-naked and let Caleb find her exactly like this. But I just want out of this suffocating room. My hands move on autopilot as I zip her up.

Before I can even pull away, she spins around, hooks her arm through mine, and drags me toward the door.

“Wait.”

A deep voice stops us cold.

We both turn. Kade hasn’t moved an inch from the couch, still sitting there, completely naked—like he’s waiting for me to look. One arm’s draped along the back of the cushions, the wolf tattoo on his forearm shifting as he flexes his hand.

Fuck this. Why am I even looking at my naked stepbrother?

I drag my gaze up fast, but the damage is already done.

The last time I saw him like this, I was nineteen and completely wasted.

We crossed a line that night—one mistake I spent months trying to bury. I avoided him afterward, drowning the guilt by getting closer to his best friend, Caleb.

Kade didn’t take it well. He slept with Caleb’s girlfriend and blew their relationship apart. After that, I finally had the excuse I needed to cut him out of my life for good.

He left town. I finally breathed.

Now he’s back, dragging every bit of that chaos with him.

He flashes a smile, like he knows exactly how hard I’m working not to look.

Heat crawls up the back of my neck. I hate that my body still reacts to him after everything.

“Seriously, Mae? You’re just gonna leave like that?” His head tilts, dark eyes glinting with amusement. “Not even a hug for your long-lost brother?”

I want to ask where he’s been all this time. I swallow the question anyway. It’s safer not to know, not tonight, not with whatever’s still simmering under that smile. I don’t know how much worse he’s gotten since he left.

Who am I kidding.

Who else shows up at someone’s engagement party and sleeps with the bride, if not Kade freaking Voss?

“A hug with you naked? Not a chance,” I say, keeping my voice flat. “What are you even doing here?”

“Specially invited guest.”

“Impossible. You and Caleb can’t stand each other. He hates you.”

“I invited him,” Sandra chimes in, waving a hand, unbothered. “Ran into him at a club this week. Figured why not.”

I stare at her, horrified all over again. “You invited my stepbrother to your engagement party and slept with him during it? That’s insane, Sandra.”

She rolls her eyes. “Yes. I invited him, and yes, I slept with him. Happy? Can we go greet my guests now, or do you want to keep doing this?”

I hesitate. Part of me wants to warn her—Kade isn’t someone you play games with. But after everything she’s put me through, I find I don’t care if he burns her life down the way she tried to burn mine.

I shrug. “Fine.”

I let her pull me out into the corridor, refusing to look back, though I can feel Kade’s stare burning into the back of my neck the whole way down the hall.

Sandra chatters mindlessly the entire walk, rambling about floral arrangements and seating charts, and I nod along without processing a word of it—until her voice drops low.

“We’re best friends, right?”

I don’t answer.

“And you can always tell me the truth, right?”

I still don’t answer. Where the hell is she going with this?

“So tell me.” She studies my face, something calculating flickering behind her eyes. “Are you actually mad about Caleb, or are you jealous Kade slept with me? Because I caught this weird little charge between you two back there. Him watching you, you forcing yourself not to look back.” Her eyes narrow. “You hypocrite. Have you two been fucking?”

The question stops me cold. Heat floods my face so fast it feels like shame.

I pull my hand free from her grip. “You’re disgusting.”

I don’t wait for her answer. I walk away before she can see my flustered face. She’s too good at reading meaning into everything.