***
We sat awkwardly at breakfast after we ordered, the two of them watching me like I was a new species about to crack from a fucking egg.
"What?" I barked as I glared at both of them. Being mean was so much easier than feeling the devastation that I knew was coming again.
"Matt. Did you talk to her?" Damon leaned in a little, his eyes kind. "She's not a whore. There has to be more to the story. The woman has wanted you for two fucking years."
"No. And I'm not going to." I snorted. "What would I say exactly? Why did you wax Mitch's cock? Mine wasn't enough?"
The sound of several shocked gasps reached me, and my cheeks burned.
"You don't know if she slept with him, Matthew. I'm with Damon on this one. You need to at least hear her side of the story." Sophie leaned back in her chair and shook her head. "You know that things aren't always as they appear to be. If you love her-"
"Loved her. I did love her."
"You still do." Sophie leaned closer. "Otherwise you wouldn't be so fucked up over this. You're not a prideful guy like this bastard." She pointed to Damon.
"Hey! I'm right here." He grinned over at me.
I gave him nothing. "I'm not talking to her guys. There is no reason to."
"You know what? Let's go to the office. We'll talk to Mitch and see what the hell is going on." Damon wiped his mouth and stood up. "Let's go. You want to close the door on this? Let's do it like men."
"Finally." I stood up and walked out of the restaurant with them behind me. We reached the car, and I got in the back, so tired all of a sudden. I pulled out my phone and scanned through my text with Erica over the last few months.
There was so much love. So much promise, and yet it seemed to be completely gone now.
Mitch had to be the answer. If I couldn't force myself to talk to her, then Damon was right. I could at least get in the old bastard's face and figure out what happened. Was it him or her?
Did it matter? Yeah. It kinda did.
We got to the office in record time with Damon behind the wheel. It was nice to know that my brother supported me, even when I was acting crazy.
"Let's talk to him in his office first, okay? No dragging him out into the hallway and beating him to death until we know what's going on."
"Fine, but if he's the one that started this with Erica, I'm going to kill him." I got out of the car and walked with purpose toward the office. Never in my life had I wanted to be violent with someone, but the old fucker who stole my woman was at the top of my list.
"Matt. Maybe we shouldn't do this here." Sophie jogged up next to me, her eyes filled with worry as she slipped her arm into mine and slowed me a little.
"I have to know, Soph. I need to start moving toward getting over this." I got into the elevator, grateful that we were the only ones in it. "You would want to know too."
"I know. I'm just worried about you making a big scene at your dad's office. That's all." She pressed her cheek to my shoulder as she leaned against me. "I wish I could take this from you. I would."
I reached out and took her hand. "I know you would. It's my problem to deal with though. I just need to deal with it."
"Agreed," Damon grumbled as he stood at the front of the elevator, facing us. "If this bastard is at fault, you can whoop his ass. I'll fire him."
The door opened, and I moved around my brother. The sound he made let me know he wasn't too thrilled with me taking the lead. I didn't care.
Mitch's voice rose up as we approached his office. "Absolutely. We'll get those packets over to you this afternoon. Nothing to worry-" He paused as we walked in.
I glanced over my shoulder and nodded toward the door. "Get out. This is my conversation to have."
Damon nodded and took Sophie's hand, pulling her out. They closed the door, and I turned to face Mitch.
"Alright, well, have a great day, and we'll be in touch." He put the phone down and lifted his eyebrow. "Matthew."
"What happened between you and Erica?"
"Have a seat." He motioned for me to sit down, but I couldn't force myself to take a step forward. All I could see was red. I'd thrown him out the window ten times in my mind since stepping foot in his office.
"Answer my question. Now."
He nodded and slipped his hands into his pocket, looking like such a nice guy. "I asked her to break things off with you before we started out love affair, but it would seem that she didn't."
"Who started your love affair, Mitch?"
"She did." He shrugged. "I, of course, found her attractive. Who wouldn't." He walked around the desk toward me. Brave mother fucker.
"And she just decided to date both of us at the same time." I crossed my arms over my chest to keep from reaching out and strangling him. "And you were good with that? Knowing she had her lips around my dick just a few days ago. That shit sits well with you, hm?"
His shoulder tightened, and a look of intense disapproval moved across his face. This mother fucker could be my dad. How could Erica find that shit attractive?
"I didn't know she was with you a few days ago. I hadn't seen her since the art event we attended with your friend Jonathan."
"Right. The night your little ruse was up." I tilted my head to the side. "So you're telling me that she came to you? That she started your relationship even though she was still in one with me?"
"I am." He held my gaze. "And I'm sorry that you were hurt in the process of this. I didn't want that to happen. Your father is one of my oldest friends, Matthew."
"I wonder what he would think about this sudden change of events." I glanced back as someone knocked on the door. Damon poked his head inside. "Mitch. I want to talk with you when my brother is done."
"I'm done." I turned and walked toward the door, letting Damon in before I walked out. I didn't have anything else to say. If Erica wanted a man like Mitch, then she could have him. I couldn't compete, and I was too tired to try.
"Matt. Hey man!" Lewis walked down the hall toward me; his hand lifted in a high five position. We clapped hands, and he pulled me into a warm hug. "Fuck, dude. You just quit and disappear? We missed you like crazy around here."
"Sorry, man. I had to stay true to who I was. You know?" I moved back, glad to see him, but suffering so damn much internally.
"I know it's true. I'm glad to see you inspired boss-lady to do the same. We're going to miss her so fucking much too." He nodded toward Erica's office.
"What?" I stiffened. "Erica left the firm?"
"Yeah, man. We just got word this morning." He shrugged. "She needs to get out of here though." He popped me in the chest. "So you guys can live your dreams of being painters together." Realization raced over his expression. "Wait. You didn't know she left?"
"No. We broke up on Sunday. She was fucking Mitch." I motioned toward Mitch's office. There was no need to save face for the whore that ripped my heart out. Everyone should know what a piece of shit she was.
"What? No way, man. I don't believe that for a minute." He moved closer to me. "He creeped her out completely. She didn't love anyone but you."
"Right. Tell that to her and Mitch." I reached out and squeezed his shoulder. "Good to see you. Take care of yourself."
"Matt. You're wrong, brother." His voice followed me as I walked back to Sophie and got into the elevator. His eyes were wide, pleading with me. "Matt. Listen to me. Something was up. I promise you, man."
The door closed and I leaned my head back and let out a painful sigh. Who was telling the truth and who was a fucking liar?
I wasn't so sure anymore.