Nic's Devotion: An Endless Series: Book One (49 page)

     April backed up in alarm at the hard fury in Blake’s
tone. “Uhm…” Her eyes flickered away from him to Nic, maybe looking for some
support, but she wasn’t getting any sympathy from that corner because he was
looking at her with the same expression.

     Blake took a step toward her and my heart jumped in
apprehension. “Blake.” I protested softly. I didn’t think he’d really hurt her,
but he was looking extraordinarily incensed. 

     He seemed to pull himself back with effort. “You will
make a list of everyone you told this lie to as will Tammy, and then the both
of you will go to each and every one of them to correct this lie you’ve been
spreading around.” April’s eyes widened, perhaps in horror at the thought of
admitting to people she’d lied, or possibly because the list was too long to
contemplate, or maybe just from the look on Blake’s face.

     “But…there’s no possible way…” She stammered.

     Blake interrupted her. “If you don’t then thirty
teammates of mine will have some vicious rumors of our own we won’t hesitate to
spread. So you can either be known as spiteful story tellers who are trying to
clear a girl’s good name or both of you can join her and be known as even
bigger sluts.”

     April gasped and her eyes teared up. “But Blake, I
didn’t know it was a lie. It came from one of your own teammates.”

     “I don’t give a shit who it came from. Curt lied. If
you had come to me I would have told you it was a lie. That you didn’t come to
me tells me you probably had some doubts about the story being true but
couldn’t pass up repeating what you heard to whoever would listen.” Blake was
yelling at the end of his tirade.

     Tears flowed down April’s cheeks and I was actually
starting to feel sorry for her even though she’d had a front row seat in
ruining my reputation. I shifted to stand up but Nic held me down and gave a
shake of his head.

    “But…” I began to say.

     “Let him handle it, okay baby?” Nic squeezed my
shoulder and gave me a grave, yet tender look.

     I sighed looking at April’s tear-filled face again. She
glanced my way, resentment in her gaze, and that had me relaxing easier under
Nic’s directive. Was she really blaming me for the predicament she was in? I
was the one wronged!

     April sobbed. “I don’t know how you can blame me Blake.
It was Curt who started all this. You should be having this conversation with
him and make him fix the lies he’s started.”

     “Oh, don’t worry; Curt will be doing his part, but if
you think that you can leave it up to him to fix the whole thing…don’t. The
team is going to be backing Carrie and letting everyone know you’ve all been
lying, so if you keep your mouths shut than it will only make you both look
worse.”

     “This isn’t fair.” April cried.

     Blake looked at her in disgust. “What’s not fair is
what you’ve done to Carrie. She didn’t deserve any of this shit, but do you see
her crying. You’re first thought should have been to apologize to her but
instead all your worried about is yourself. Maybe after this you’ll keep your
fucking mouth shut instead of spewing ugly rumors about people. Now I suggest
you get out of Nic’s house, I doubt he still wants you here.”

     “Hold up, Blake.” Nic broke in. Blake looked at Nic in
angry confusion while April looked hopeful. “If she goes down stairs looking
this upset Curt might get suspicious and light out fast. I don’t want him
leaving just yet.”

     April’s hopeful expression fell.

     I didn’t think Blake’s expression could get any angrier
but I was wrong.

     “I take it you have a plan, because I tell you I have
several myself.” Blake growled. 

     Apprehension flooded me. I didn’t want either one of
them getting in a fight. What if Curt brought charges against them? I jumped up
clutching at Nic’s arm. “Nic, Blake, please don’t beat him up. He could file
charges and have you guys arrested or get you kicked off the team.”

     Nic wrapped his arm around me. “Shhh, Carrie. I’m not
going to beat him up.” He kissed my nose tenderly; however, the look in his
eyes was utterly unholy. “But I am going to make his life fucking miserable.”

     My eyes widened at his expression and words. Jeez
Louis, what was he going to do!?

     Nic took his phone out of his pocket and text
something. Ten seconds later he got a reply. “The boys should have him in a
minute and then she can leave.” Nic stated coolly.

     “Blake, I came with you. How am I supposed to get
home?” April sniffed.

     “Ask your friend Tammy. You and her need to get
together to compare lists anyway, the sooner the better.” Blake’s voice held no
sympathy at all.

     She stepped closer and said under her breath. “We’ve
been together for six months. Are you really going to throw that away because
of one mistake I made?” Nic and I could still hear her though. It was a
relatively small room for a private conversation.

     “That one mistake tells me what kind of person you are
and I’m not liking it. If you had appeared even slightly remorseful about what
you did I might have shown some sympathy, I’d have still broken up with you,
but I would have been nicer about it.”

     Blake’s voice finally showed some emotion beside anger
and my heart hurt thinking he might be breaking up with someone he loved. 

     “She can go now.” Nic spoke up after receiving another
text.

     “Blake,” April pleaded.

     “Go, April. We’re done.” Blake said in a hard voice.

     April rushed out the door crying.

     I watched her go with mixed emotions. I did not like
what she’d done, but if Blake loved her than I would try to get past it. I
stepped in front of him and took his hands in mine. “Blake, if you really love her
you should try to forgive her. Love is precious; don’t let it go in anger and
over one mistake.”

     Blake looked at me in astonishment. “Carrie, after
everything she did how can you want me to forgive her?”

     “Don’t break up with her because of me. I can let it go
if you truly love her, and if she helps to fix it than everything will okay.”

     Blake shook his head and looked at Nic. “Is she for
real?”

     I frowned and looked at Nic as well. What did Blake
mean, ‘Am I for real’? I was trying to be altruistic here in circumstances that
would probably have other women screaming.

     Nic smiled and stepped up behind me to wrap his arm
around my waist. “Completely and perfectly.”

     I scowled at him. I was not perfect. Being unselfish
about this was really difficult, but all I could think about was what if Nic
hadn’t forgiven me for something I did? I would be heartbroken.

     Blake switched up our hands so he was holding mine.
“Carrie, I really appreciate that you would do that for me, but I’m still
coping with my mother’s deception. I can’t deal with the duplicity of someone
else close to me.”

     My heart pinched at being the cause of strife between
him and his mother, and now his girlfriend. Things were happening just like I
thought; the people around me were having to deal with repercussions revolving
around my problems.

     Blake squeezed my hands. “I see that look of guilt in
your eyes, but it’s not your fault. It’s entirely my mother’s, and April’s. Do
you really believe I would want to be with someone that would do what she did
to you? Even if you weren’t my cousin I would find her actions reprehensible.”

     I wasn’t prepared to let this go yet. “But do you love
her?”

     Blake sighed. “I cared for her, but with how easy it
was to let her go I know I didn’t love her. I’ve known you for less time than
her and I care for you more than I do her after six months of dating. So,
please, don’t worry about her anymore.”

     Well, that was just too…I had to swallow the lump in my
throat. “I wasn’t worried about her, I was worried about you.”

     Blake’s eyes warmed and he leaned down to kiss my
forehead. Nic’s arm tightened around me and I think I heard a growl come from
him. Amusement crossed Blake’s face. “Thanks, but don’t worry about me either.
We have something else we need to focus on tonight.”

     I had almost forgotten about that…which would have
improved my night tenfold.     

     Blake looked over my head at Nic wearing a smirk.
“Dude, she’s my cousin.”

     “The hugs are sometimes too much for me. Seeing anyone
else’s lips on her just doesn’t work for me.” Nic growled.

    Blake laughed and shook his head. “If you two are the
example for love than I’m confident I’ve never come close to experiencing it.
It makes me feel envious, terrified, and sick to my stomach at the same time.”

     I smiled at Blake’s analogies; love was both amazing
and scary at the same time, and it was something everyone should strive for.

     Nic turned me to face him. “Carrie, I’m pissed that you
have to deal with any of this crap, you don’t deserve it, but we’re going to
start fixing it right now. Seth and Landon have Curt in their sights, he’s not
going anywhere. I’m going to out his lies tonight in front of everyone. Most of
the team is here and I want them aware of what he did, and the rest of the
people here tonight will hear about his lies and correct what’s being said
about you.” He rubbed my shoulders and his gaze was hesitant. “Do you want to
stay up here or do you want to come down and watch the show?”

     I had to think about that for a minute. It was bound to
be uncomfortable, but I’d been dealing with uncomfortable all week. Actually,
uncomfortable had been my role for a lot longer than a week given that I had to
live with my mother all those years. However, it wasn’t just my discomfort I
was going to have to watch. This Curt guy was going to have his lies exposed to
a whole house full of people and I wasn’t one to find glee in other’s pain and
humiliation no matter how much they deserved it.

     Hiding in Nic’s room just seemed weak though, and I was
done being weak. “I don’t want to hide in your room.” I declared.

     Nic gave me a smile filled with approval and pride.
“Have I told you recently how awesome you are? Seeing you stand up to three
guys today and now this. You’re my hero.”

    I smiled and shook my head.

    “What three guys? Shit, has she been dealing with the
backlash of these rumors all week since that article came out?” Blake asked.

     “Uhm…” I hesitated still not pleased about sharing my
problems that I thought I was handling satisfactorily. 

     “Yes, she has.” Nic confirmed for me. “I came upon her
today surrounded by three guys harassing her.” I groaned inwardly at being outted.

     Blake’s gray eyes turned stormy. “No fucking way. Did
you take care of them?” He looked over my head at Nic.

     “Regrettably, Carrie latched onto me so all I could do
was threaten them with bodily harm the next time I saw them.” 

     “Well, tonight should send a message that Carrie’s
under the protection of the whole team. That should put fear in a lot of
people’s heart’s making them think twice about messing with her.” Blake
grumbled angrily.

     That feeling of contentment that had been slowly growing
in me deepened with Blake’s words, and emotions nearly choked me. I had to
admit that it felt great knowing so many people would be backing me.

     “Let’s go get this taken care of. I promised Carrie a
fun night which has tanked big time, now I just want to get it over with.” Nic
took my hand and I walked side by side with him out the door with Blake on my
other side.

     It was one of the best feelings in the world.

Chapter
Forty-two

Nic

     Eyes flying open I sat up fists clenched in fury my
gaze winging around the room searching for the danger my mind was telling me
was there. However, as my eyes focused and fixed on each familiar item in the
room I slowly became aware that I’d woken from a dream and the danger was
residues of anger from last night.

     I looked to the left of me to see Carrie sleeping
peacefully. Thankfully, I hadn’t woken her with my abrupt movements. Easing
back down I stayed to my side of the bed even though I ached to curl up against
her, but my heart was beating a mile a minute and I was actually a little
clammy which would only transfer to her making her restless. Taking even breaths
I laid there trying to get my heart rate back under control.

     I couldn’t remember the dream that had woken me, just
the emotion behind it…tremendous anger. Last night Seth and Landon had
positioned Curt at the bottom of the stairs clueless to what was going to
happen. Even Seth and Landon hadn’t known why I’d asked them to collect Curt.
They’d just done it because I’d asked. When Carrie, Blake, and I had walked
down those stairs Curt’s expression had flared in alarm displaying an ‘
oh
shit
’ expression.

     Blake had stepped to the side with Carrie as I’d faced
off with Curt. He’d grudgingly allowed me to be the one to confront him. Curt’s
face had already been sweating bullets in the ten seconds it taken us to reach
the bottom. I’d called the room to silence which had taken a couple minutes
because I’d wanted as many people listening as possible. Other rooms around the
house had gone comparatively quiet as people on the fringes spread the word. I
had then proceeded to enlighten the entire house of Curt’s lies and the
resulting consequences to Carrie.

     Curt’s face was white by the time I’d finished and the
atmosphere in the house had been thick with a multitude of emotions, the main
ones fury and outrage. Looking around the room I’d seen on every teammates face
the same desire I had, to beat the ever living shit out of him.