The Cruel and Beautiful Series Boxset

by A. M. Hargrove

  Shannon wilts like a flower in the middle of the August heat. She looks at Drew with her big puppy eyes and says, “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize to me. It’s Cate who deserves the apology.”

  Then to my absolute shock, Shannon turns to me and says, “I’m sorry, Cate. I didn’t really mean it.”

  I want to say, “Yes you did, you little brat.” But I don’t. I nod and smile instead. Shannon flashes me her perfect little grin that she uses on Mom and Dad all the time and turns it on Drew.

  In a voice dipped in sugar, she asks, “So, Drew, will we get to see you tomorrow then?”

  “Yeah, I’ll be here for dinner.”

  “You will? Can I sit next to you?”

  Oh, god. Not only do I have to worry about my hypochondriac dad, I now have my sister crushing after him, too.

  “I think you need to check with your mom on that.”

  “Yeah, okay, I’ll do that right now,” she says, as she skips out of the room.

  Shaking my head, I say, “And the drama never ends in the Forbes household.”

  “She is a bit much, isn’t she?”

  “Uh, yeah. And my parents do nothing to contain that mess. It’s ridiculous the disrespect she shows them, too. Eric is fine. At least for now. All he knows and cares about are sports. My worry is that one day, he’ll wake up and it’ll be other things, and Mom and Dad will be oblivious to it. But Shannon sure responded to you.”

  “It’s only because she thinks I’m cool. One day I’ll be a pain in her ass and I’ll have no effect at all.”

  “Hey, I’ll take what I can get when I can get it.”

  “Does that include another kiss?” He laughs.

  Pressing my hand against his chest to stop him, I ask, “What time to we need to be at your house? I don’t want to be late.”

  “We’re fine.” He skims his lips over mine right as my mom walks into the room.

  “Oh, Drew, before you leave, I wanted to let you know that dinner tomorrow will be at three.” She’s told him twice already.

  “Thanks, Mom, I think he’s got it.”

  “I’ll be here before then, Mrs. Forbes. I can’t stand to be away from my girl that long.”

  My mother actually blushes. For the love of god, will someone just help me here? Then she gushes, “Ah, that’s so sweet, Drew.”

  Now it’s my turn to blush, because I’m embarrassed for my mother.

  “Okay, Mom, we’ve got to go now. I’ll be back later.” Clamping my fingers around Drew’s bicep, I literally drag him out of the house.

  As we’re leaving, I hear Drew calling out, “See you tomorrow Mrs. Forbes.”

  Flying into his car, I slam the door closed before he has the chance. He gets in and says, “I think this is becoming a habit here.”

  “Oh gawd! My mother, acting like an adolescent … no. Just no.”

  “She wasn’t that bad.”

  “Yes, she was. She batted her eyelashes at you. Do you have this effect on all women?”

  Drew is backing the car up but at my question, he puts the car back in park, turns to me and says, “Cate, I don’t care about the effect I have on all women. I only care about the effect I have on you.”

  My heart seriously falls to pieces and liquefies into one big giant puddle of goo. I unbuckle my seat belt and fly across the console straight into his arms. “This is only one of the many reasons why I love you, Drew McKnight.”

  “Well, hell, if I’d have known that was all it took to get you to fall for me, I would’ve told you that a long time ago.” His blue eyes twinkle and we both end up laughing. “Now are you gonna get back over to your seat and buckle up so we can go to my parents’, or are we gonna sit in your driveway and make out like a couple of teenagers and entertain your family again?”

  I climb back into my seat and say, “I’d like nothing better than to make out, but there’s no way I’m letting my family in for that show.”

  “Maybe I’ll have to sneak you up to my room later tonight, and pretend I’m showing you something, like I used to in high school.”

  “Oh, is that how you worked it?”

  “Yeah, but my parents monitored my time, so I’d have to be quick.”

  “Hmm. I’m sure you were.” Then I start thinking about it. “I bet you had a ton of girlfriends in high school,” I tease. “I bet they were all over you, like ants on honey.”

  He shrugs and says, “I had my share of them. Except for a few, they were actually more bothersome than anything else.”

  Knowing Drew, he was probably too kind to tell them to get lost. “So, did you have a special one?”

  “Not really. I went out with Jilly Rivers probably the most, but other than that, just, you know.”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “What about you, Cate?”

  I shake my head. “None for me. I was the one that had all the guy friends. But I didn’t go out with any of them. I was too busy with school, too.”

  He gives me a quick glance and then his eyes are back on the road. “That’s very hard for me to believe. I have this vivid image of dozens of hormone driven boys knocking your door down, trying to get to you.”

  “That’s a good one, but far from the truth.”

  About this time, we pull into his parents’ driveway. “Oh, no. Aunt Edna beat us here. I was hoping we’d get here first.”

  His descriptions of her have me so intrigued, I can’t wait to meet this woman. “I swear Cate, don’t be shocked or surprised by anything that comes out of the woman’s mouth.”

  “Drew, look who you’re talking to. I had to warn my dad not to bring up his hemorrhoids to you and my sister drools in your presence, not to mention my mother’s eyelash batting. I live in the house of loons.”

  “Oh wait. You haven’t seen loony yet.”

  And he’s right. Aunt Edna sits in a chair and I do a double take at what she wears. It takes me awhile to figure it out, but I think she’s taken Christmas place mats and sewn them together to create a vest. Each one is depicts different scene, so she’s quite the holiday image. She also wears a baseball hat encrusted in red and green sequins and other sparkly things. Under the hat her hair pokes out in various curls here and there, creating the old I just stuck my finger in an electrical outlet look. Red pants and black boots, similar to what Santa Claus would wear, complete her ensemble. No doubt, Aunt Edna certainly has the Christmas spirit. The only things missing are ornaments and lights. I’m truly speechless.

  Drew and I have decided to exchange gifts privately, but I’ve brought a gift for his parents. It’s nothing fancy, but a lovely picture frame. Those are something everyone can use, so after discussing it with Drew, we both decided to give the same thing to each of our families.

  During the exchange, they are very gracious when they open it. Then Letty opens Aunt Edna’s gift to her, and Drew pinches my thigh. “Check it out.”

  Inside the box is something that may resemble a purse. I’m not sure. It looks like it might have been a Clorox bottle at one time, but it was cut and holes were punched into it, and then red and green yarn was woven into it to create the purse effect. It’s so hideous, I have to cover my mouth to prevent the snort that threatens to explode out of me.

  Drew leans over and whispers in my ear, “What the actual fuck is that?”

  That’s my undoing. I bend in half and try to cover up my snort with a cough.

  “Cate? Are you all right?” Drew asks.

  He damn sure knows what’s wrong with me. He grabs me and hauls me out of there to the kitchen where I proceed to die laughing.

  “Oh my god! That was the worst she’s ever given, I swear,” he says.

  A response isn’t possible as I gasp for air. When I’m capable of pulling air into my lungs, I say, “I’ve never. That was awful. She reminds me of Aunt Bethany in the movie Christmas Vacation. Are you sure she doesn’t have a cat wrapped up in a box somewhere?”

  He starts to laugh again and says, �
��It wouldn’t surprise me. Maybe I should check the house. Didn’t I warn you? A new kind of crazy, right?”

  “True, but don’t ever whisper again. That’s when I lost it.”

  We rejoin the family, me with a glass of water in hand. Drew’s parents eye us as his mom winks. We share one of those looks and continue with the opening of the gifts. Ray’s gift isn’t quite as bad. Aunt Edna gives him one of those gigantic inflatable block pillows you use for flying. You’re supposed to put it on your lap and rest your head on it during the flight. The only problem is you look like an absolute dork if you do.

  Now it’s Drew’s turn. He unwraps his box and inside is a huge pair of Playtex yellow cleaning gloves. He’s clueless until Aunt Edna pipes in.

  “I heard how important it is for you doctors to keep your hands clean so I thought these would come in handy for you when you examine your patients.”

  This time, I shake as I hold my laughter inside. I don’t dare look at Drew as he thanks his aunt, but I can tell how his voice squeaks, he’s about to lose it. Just when I think we’re done, I look to see a box under my nose.

  “And here’s one for you, dear,” Aunt Edna says, as she wobbles back to her seat.

  Shit!

  “Why thank you! But you didn’t have to.”

  “Aw, just open it.”

  So I do and inside is a hand knitted scarf by what looks like a kindergartener. It’s the thought that counts, Cate. Unfortunately, the colors are horrific. Red, green, purple, orange, rust, a blend of clashing shades, it pains my eyes to look at it.

  “Oh, it’s so … lovely. Thank you so much for thinking of me.”

  “Why, you’re welcome.”

  I lay the thing on my lap and hear Drew snicker, so I don’t dare look at him. But as I’m staring at the scarf, I notice something else. It’s literally covered in cat hair. And I mean layered in it. Now I really want to laugh. But I can’t. So I put the thing back in the box and fold my hands in my lap.

  “Well, I think it’s time for some holiday cheer,” Ray announces.

  “I’ll drink to that,” Aunt Edna declares, and the celebration begins.

  Others begin to arrive, cousins and aunts and uncles, and I lose track. By the time all are present, there are a total of twenty-four here. Everyone brings a covered dish, as is the southern tradition, and Letty handles all the meat dishes and desserts, along with the bar items. It’s quite an affair.

  When the dinner is over and the relatives have gone, Jenna and her brother, Ben, show up. I haven’t seen Ben since the party where Drew first laid eyes on me.

  Ben man-hugs Drew and says, “Glad you two hit it off so well.”

  “Like there was ever any doubt?” Drew asks.

  “You were so damn persistent about it. Did he tell you, Cate?”

  “Yeah, he did. So did Jenna.”

  “He drove me crazy for a while. I didn’t know what I was gonna do if you hadn’t gone out with him.”

  “We don’t have to worry about that now, do we?” Drew asks, pulling me to his side.

  I glance up to see Drew looking down at me, grinning.

  “We certainly don’t,” Ben says. “And I’m happy to say you two look perfect together.”

  That seems odd coming from Ben. I wonder if Jenna told him to say that, but when I look at her, she’s staring at Ben looking like she just swallowed a glassful of vinegar.

  “Ben Rhoades, when have you ever said anything like that to anyone?” Jenna asks.

  “Probably never. I’m a dick when it comes to this sort of thing. But Drew is my best friend and I happen to know how he feels about Cate. I’m happy he found her and that she makes him happy and it’s about damn time.”

  I look on as Drew says, “Thanks, dude. That means a lot to me.”

  “I would’ve told you over the phone, but I knew I was gonna see you here so I decided to wait. And besides, I wanted to actually see you before I said it. I’ve known Cate almost as long as I’ve known you, so I have to say,” and he does this funny thing with his hand that I think is supposed to imitate a religious blessing, “I bless this relationship.”

  Drew tosses an empty plastic cup at him. “You’re off the ledge, dude.”

  “Nah, I’m trying to be serious here. I am glad you two are together. And bro, Cate here is so much better than Rebecca.”

  “Fuck. Did you have to spoil the night by bringing that up?”

  That surprises even me. Rebecca is Drew’s old girlfriend, the one that broke his heart. Jenna told me all about her and that Ben hated her. I look at Jenna and she’s trying to mask her grin. What’s so funny about that? I think it’s kind of tasteless. Then I look at Drew and a slow grin spreads across his face.

  “Okay, I’m completely off the trail here, lost in the woods,” I say.

  Drew throws his arm over my shoulders. “Ben always hated Rebecca. I defended her constantly, but then when I figured out he was right, I was … well you know the story. I told you at the beginning when we started dating. What I find funny here is I never thought I’d wave the whole Rebecca thing away, and now, here I am with you, and I could totally give a shit about her. That’s why I’m smiling and I figure it’s why they are too. She was always a touchy subject around me, but not anymore.”

  I beam at his words. Drew always knows exactly what to say to make me smile. Our conversation moves to how long Drew is in town to how long I’ll be in Indy, to when we all can get together again. Soon they depart and it’s only Drew and me. I want to curl up next to him somewhere, but it’s getting late and I know I need to be getting home soon.

  “Yeah, I know,” he says, reading my mind. “Weren’t we going to exchange gifts tonight?”

  “Yeah. Do you want to do it now?”

  “Hell yeah. But I have to go to my room. You wanna come?”

  “Is this the deal where you tell your parents you have to show me something?”

  “You bet it is.”

  “Then I’m in.”

  There’s a bag I brought in and I snag it before we run up the stairs and go into his room. He shuts the door behind us. His hands slide under my skirt, and glide along my thighs as he follows it up to my unders.

  “Cate, I need you. I’ve been thinking about this constantly.”

  “What if someone hears? I don’t think I can.” I bite my lip, worrying, as anxiety gnaws at me.

  “I know. We can’t. We’ll have to live frustrated for a while and I hate this.”

  “So do I. Maybe we can do car sex again?”

  “Yeah, but tonight, I want to give you your gift.” He walks to his closet and comes out with a ginormous gift bag. “Merry Christmas, babe. I love you.”

  “I love you, too, and thank you.”

  “Open it.”

  I spread the top of the bag apart and inside there are several things. First, I see a big box, so I pull it out, unwrap it, and laugh. “Oh my goodness! Will you help me?”

  “All the way.”

  “Good, because if I put these skates on, I’m sure to bust my ass like crazy.”

  “Cate, I’ll always catch you if you fall.” His blue eyes catch mine and I know he’s not talking about that kind of falling.

  “Drew, I won’t let you fall either. We’re in this together, you know.”

  He leans in and kisses me. “There’s more in there.”

  My hands dig down, and I pull out another fairly large box. I unwrap the most luxurious bathrobe known to man. On one side is soft terry and on the other side is silk. “Oh my, this is amazing. I love it.”

  “You do? I noticed you didn’t have one.”

  “I do now and I absolutely love it. It’s perfect! Thank you!” I lean over and kiss him.

  “One more and you’re done.”

  I fumble in the bottom and find the last box. When I pull it up, I know it’s jewelry. I give him the I can’t believe you did this face. He shrugs. “Just open it,” he says.

  When I do, I fall in love all over again.
It’s an exquisite necklace, very delicate gold filigree surrounding a center diamond. The design is simple yet elegant and I couldn’t love it any more than I do.

  “Cate, don’t cry. It’s only a necklace.”

  My fingers fly to my cheeks, because I hadn’t even realized tears were falling. “Now that’s a surprise,” I say, brushing them away.

  “The necklace or the tears?”

  “Both, I guess. Drew, this is gorgeous. I love it.”

  “Let me put it on you.” He takes it out of the box and puts it around my neck. “Perfect,” he says. Then he pulls me to my feet and walks me to a mirror. “See?”

  It’s beautiful. “I’ve never owned anything like this. It’s so pretty. Thank you for everything.” And I kiss him. “Now for yours.”

  I hand him a prettily wrapped box. I hope he likes it. It’s not as extravagant as what he gave me, but everyone I spoke with told me to go with it. My fingers are crossed.

  He unwraps it and I watch his expression change from perplexed to pure excitement and joy.

  “You didn’t? You scored Blackhawk tickets?”

  “I did. For the week I’ll be with you.”

  He stands and pulls me off my feet, twirling me around. And then he stops, puts me down, and rubs his face.

  “Stop worrying. You don’t have call that night. I got it all cleared and you’re off.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me. Look on your computer and check the schedule if you don’t believe me. You’re good. We’re going. And the rest of your present includes, if you didn’t read it …”

  “I did. A hotel and dinner that night. Cate, it’s too much for you.”

  This is the tricky part. I screw up my face and say, “I know. I was gonna go halvers with you.”

  “That’s perfect.”

  “But Drew, I feel terrible because you got me so much and I was only able to get you …”

  “Stop that train of thought. I love your idea and the Blackhawk tickets are perfect. It’s the best gift ever. Now, kiss me.”

  Right before I do, I say, “Merry Christmas.”

  Seventeen

  Past