by Sandra Marie
“Nah.” Ashton tugged at the bottom of his sleeves. “Wouldn’t want to ruin my suit.”
“Likely story.” Gavin smirked. “Want another scotch?”
“I’m going to head back home and spend time with my girl. Between the expansion and the gala, I feel like we’ve barely had a minute without talking about work.”
“My have times changed.” Ashton used to live, breath, and eat work, and nobody could get him to take a break. Lily May wasn’t only a sweet girl, she was exactly what his brother needed. Even though their own relationship hadn’t always been rainbows and sunshine, he was happy to have Ashton back in his life. “I can still count on you to be at the gala, right?”
Oh, that gala. The one time a year Gavin had to don a monkey suit and rub elbows with all the elite assholes Ashton dealt with on a daily basis. It was as fun as what he imagined getting a back wax would be. But it was an event Ashton started because of their dad’s struggle with diabetes. The gala was less about Ashton and Seattle’s elite and more about spotlighting a cause that affects hundreds of thousands of people and had affected their own family. Raising money for research, providing medical care for the less fortunate and for children was the real reason Gavin bit his tongue and made an appearance. He might not have liked the life Ashton lived with the high-power career and endless streams of money, but Gavin appreciated what his brother did with it. He wasn’t just a jackass who stuffed his own pockets. He gave back, and the least Gavin could do was show up.
“I’ll be there.”
“Good. Have you gone by to see Dad and Pops?”
“I haven’t had time. Besides, I’ll see them at the gala.”
“That’s a week away.”
“So?” Gavin doubted much would happen between then and now. He could catch up with them then when other people were around to distract them from asking him too many questions about his life.
“All I’m saying is it wouldn’t hurt to drop by to see them.”
Gavin held up the check. “Thanks for the money. You can add it to my loan.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“I’m paying you back whether you want me to or not.”
“Just get it taken care of.”
“I plan on it. I don’t want anyone else getting hurt.”
“What do you mean anyone else?” Ashton’s voice deepened to his boardroom tone.
“A friend of mine, Lauren, you might have met her. She tripped and hurt her foot.”
“How bad?”
“It’s just a sprain. She went to the doctor.”
“She went to the doctor? How am I just hearing about this now?”
Gavin looked at Ashton like he was insane. “It wasn’t that big of a deal. I took her, and she’ll be fine.”
“Not that big of a deal? You do realize who I am, right?”
“How can I forget? You seem to remind me every single chance you get.”
“Then you know how people go out of their way to sue me for any little thing just so they can get their hands on a slither of my fortune.”
“Lauren isn’t going to sue you.”
“How do you know that? How well do you actually know this girl?”
Gavin’s anger rose, his fingers clenched, his nails dug into the calluses skin of his hands. “She’s friends with Lily May for crying out loud. Besides, I know her well enough, and as far as I’m concerned this conversation is over.”
Ashton held his hands up in front of him as if that would be the needed peace treaty to make Gavin’s heightened anger simmer down. Ashton was out of his damn mind if he thought that would work. He came into Gavin’s bar and was now talking about his girl!
His girl… that was something he’d have to think about later, but right now he needed to deal with his jack off of a brother.
“Look,” Ashton said. “I have had people I thought I could trust come after me for less. Money makes people do stupid shit. I want to believe that this girl isn’t one of them, but I’ve been screwed one too many times to not be suspicious.”
“That sucks, but Lauren isn’t like that.”
“How do you know?”
Gavin’s blood boiled over. “Because I do!” he yelled, his voice echoing through the bar, his veins feeling like they were going to break free of his neck and ricochet off the damn walls. “I just do.”
Ashton held his hands up again, and the skin along Gavin’s jaw tightened.
“I’m sorry I just need to cover all my bases here. This would be a media frenzy, and I can’t take any chances right now especially with my international deal about to be finalized.”
“You have my word your precious business will be fine,” Gavin said through clenched teeth.
“Don’t get pissy with me.”
Gavin crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the bar. He hadn’t even begun to get pissy. If Ashton accused Lauren of malicious intent one more time, he would show Ashton what it was to be pissy.
“I’m going to take your word for it, but if you think for even a second that she might have an ulterior motive, call me.”
“I can promise you I won’t be calling.”
“I sincerely hope so.”
Gavin didn’t believe that for a second. Ashton loved when Gavin found himself in a bind and needed Ashton to dig him out. “I’m sure you do. You would love for this to backfire on me so you can play the damn hero.”
Ashton picked up his coat and slid it on. “I hate that you think of me that way.”
Gavin scoffed. “I have reason to.” Ever since Gavin turned down Ashton’s offer to work with him, he felt like Ashton secretly hoped Gavin would fail.
“I thought we were over this bullshit.”
“I thought we were too.” Gavin might have felt that Ashton was rooting for him to fail, but deep down Gavin knew it wasn’t true.
Ashton caught his eye. “So what you’re just going to hate me again?”
Gavin let out a breath and shook his head. He didn’t want to hate Ashton, he didn’t even want to be mad at him, but sometimes Ashton was really impossible to understand. Still he tried to put himself in Ashton’s shoes. He was a self-made billionaire who fought through hell to get to where he was today, and so many people tried to take that away from him. He’d spent countless dollars killing stories and settling with liars out of court just to make them go away. It only made sense that he would be suspicious of everyone. If Gavin wasn’t mistaken, he was pretty sure Ashton was suspicious of Lily May when they first met. It’s just who he was, and Gavin could accept that even if the accusation pissed him off.
“No,” he said. “I don’t hate you again. I’ve never hated you.”
“Just wanted to piss in my Cheerios.”
“Something like that.”
“Does that mean we’re good then?” Ashton asked.
“We’re good. Get the hell out of here and back to your girlfriend.”
Ashton held his hand out to Gavin, and he accepted the friendly peace offer. “Get that fixed,” he said, motioning to the area as he headed to the door. “And if you need money stop being a stubborn asshole and just call.”
Before Gavin could throw a sarcastic retort in his direction, the door closed and the bar was silent.
It was still three weeks until their next book club meeting, but since Lauren was holed up in bed, the girls decided to have an impromptu meet up. Lauren had finished their book club read two days after their last meeting so she was eager to talk about the book.
Ginny was the first to arrive, and Lauren grabbed her crutches to meet her at the door. “What are you doing up?” Ginny asked.
Lauren sighed. “I’m going stir crazy. Seriously if I have to stay in bed for another minute, I might lose my mind.”
“You should’ve called. I would’ve come over sooner.”
Lauren didn’t want to be a pest. “You’re busy with work. I didn’t want to bother you to come entertain me. Where’s Jemma?”
“She’
ll be here once she gets off of work.”
Lauren motioned to the bowls on the counter. “I put some chips in a few bowls. I’m going to make the dip now.”
“You go sit down. I’ll take care of it.”
“The last time you were left in a kitchen you nearly burnt it down.”
Ginny held her finger up. “First of all, that was technically not my fault, and secondly, I wasn’t actually in the kitchen.”
“No, you were outside falling in love with Steven.”
A sappy look spread across Ginny’s face. “That’s irrelevant. Now go sit down.”
“I got it, it’s no big deal.” Just because Lauren had a little ankle injury, didn’t mean she wasn’t capable of making a little dip.
Ginny sighed, resting her back against the counter. “You’re hurt and should be resting. I’m making the dip.”
“But I can do it.”
Ginny shook her head. “I don’t doubt that, but let me handle this.”
Lauren jutted out her bottom lip. “Please don’t ask me to go sit. I may lose my mind.”
Ginny pointed to the corner by the sink with a smirk. “Fine, you can stay, but stand over there so you’re not in the way.”
Ashlynn walked into the kitchen and dropped her bag on the counter. Without a word she went in the fridge and grabbed the wine. She didn’t even bother with a glass, popping the cork and drinking right out of the bottle.
“Rough day?” Lauren asked.
“Rough would be putting it lightly.” She took another swig from the bottle.
Lauren laughed. “Good thing we have more wine. You’re about to drink us out of house and home.”
Ashlynn took another swig, then put the bottle down, swiping a hand across her lips. “Nope, I’m good now.”
“You okay?” Ginny asked.
“Fine.” Ashlynn tossed her hair over her shoulder. “But don’t be surprised if I wind up on the five o’clock news for murdering my coworker.”
Lauren winced. “That bad, huh?”
“I want to physically hurt him.” Ashlynn rolled her eyes. “He’s just so smug like he’s God’s gift to the world. If anything, he’s God’s way of punishing me for every wrong doing I’ve done in life.”
“Just ignore him,” Ginny said.
“I wish I could, but today my boss put me on a project with him, so I’m stuck dealing with him for the foreseeable future.”
“Sorry,” Ash.” Lauren had lucked out. She loved everyone she worked with.
“No biggie. I’m a big girl. I’ll deal with it. Now that I’m feeling good, what do you need me to do?”
“We’re just getting chips together,” Lauren explained.
Ashlynn waved her hand toward the living room. “Go sit down, and I’ll take care of it.”
Lauren’s jaw tensed, teeth clenched.
“Dangerous words,” Ginny warned. “Watch out or she might hurt you.”
Ashlynn held her hands up. “I come in peace.”
“Sorry, I’ve been holed up in my bed all day.”
“You love to stay in your bed though.” Ashlynn glanced at her. “It’s the first place you go when you get home and you would stay there all night if we let you.”
“I know! I have no idea what’s wrong with me.”
“I do,” Ginny said.
Lauren cocked an eyebrow in her direction, and Ginny smiled but didn’t say anything.
“I bet if I was home in bed on my own things would be different, but because I’m being forced to be here it’s different.”
Ashlynn shrugged. “If you say so.”
“We’re here,” Jemma called from the front door. She came into the kitchen with Olivia trailing behind.
Olivia rested her hand on her stomach. “I just have to change out of these dress pants before this button pops, and I take out an eye.”
“Please do,” Jemma said. “I like both of my eyes exactly how they are, thank you very much.”
Olivia disappeared to her room, and Lily May showed up with and overfilled charcuterie board. Lauren didn’t even know how she managed to carry it into the house without the help of a crane. She clicked over to the coffee table in her sky-high heels and placed it down. “Dig in!”
Everyone dove right in, gathering a collection of meats, cheeses, and crackers on their plates before taking their usual spots around the living room.
Lauren ate a piece of prosciutto wrapped around some kind of cheese that was the equivalent of cheesy goodness and immediately went for another.
“I think Olivia might have got taken out by her own pants.” Jemma laughed. “Maybe someone should go check on her.”
“She’s probably checking her notifications. Liv!” Ashlynn called out, her voice echoing through the living room.
“While we wait,” Lily May adjusted her top. “Lauren, what are you wearing to the gala?”
Lauren looked at her, eyebrows pulling together. “I’m not going to the gala.”
“Gavin hasn’t asked you?” Lily May asked.
“No,” Lauren admitted. “But I thought he was going with Rae?”
“He was, but I invited Tommy, so technically he no longer has a date.”
Lauren shrugged, trying not to let the disappointment that was tugging at her gut show. “Maybe he wants to fly solo.”
Lily May appeared unconvinced. “The whole reason he signed up for that dating app was to find a date.”
“And he did. He found Rae,” Lauren said.
Olivia walked into the living room and grabbed a plate. “I thought Rae was dating Tommy.”
Jemma rolled her eyes. “She is, but before they started dating, Gavin and Rae matched up on a dating site, and Gavin asked her to the gala. Lily May has since invited Tommy. Sheesh keep up.”
“I’m trying, but this is more complicated than an episode of Jerry Springer.”
“Please don’t compare my life to Jerry Springer,” Lauren said.
“Just calling it as I see it,” Olivia said.
“What Olivia is trying to say,” Ashlynn interrupted. “Is that it seems complicated, but if Rae and Tommy are both going to the gala then that means Rae won’t be going with Gavin, which means Gavin needs a date, so why hasn’t he asked you?”
Lauren shrugged. “I have no idea.”
“He’s been here like every day since you hurt yourself,” Olivia said, plopping down on the couch and taking a bite of a cracker.
He had been. Every morning before the bar opened, he would stop by with breakfast and that adorable smile. He’d ask her about her ankle, then look at it himself because he never took her word that she was okay. He needed to see it for himself. He would get her an ice pack if she needed it or help her get a mug down for her tea. It was the best way to start her day, and she was sad when she would have to go back to work. She was getting used to their routine.
She thought what they had was special, but maybe it wasn’t all that special. Not special enough to invite her to the gala at least. Who knew, maybe him coming over had nothing to do with the fact that he liked her, and more to do with feeling guilty that she got hurt in his bar and he felt marginally responsible.
She’d read one too many books and she was letting her imagination get away with her. Gavin wasn’t the type to deceive her like that. He had a lot on his mind, especially now with the St. Patrick’s Day event at the bar; he probably wasn’t even thinking about the gala.
There was no reason for Lauren to think about it either. Besides, that’s not what tonight was about.
“Can we talk about the book now?”
“The guy was a moron,” Jemma said, and Lauren smiled, sinking into the couch.
Gavin pulled up to his childhood home and killed the engine. He loved his dads more than anything on the planet, but coming home, seeing them, he had always felt like a failure who lived in the shadows of Ashton, the golden boy whose success went beyond anything Gavin could ever dream of.
He hated feeling that way, but he
had no control over it. Even if he forced the thoughts to the back of his mind, they still managed to pop up at the most random time, reminding him that he would never be the one who their dads were proudest of.
Ashton was right though. Gavin hadn’t been by to see them in a while, and it wasn’t fair to them that he couldn’t get over his own insecurities because despite his feelings of failure, Dad and Pops never once ever made him feel inferior to Ashton.
He got to the front door and rang the bell. He could have walked in, but since he hadn’t been by for some time, he almost felt as if he no longer deserved to just stroll into their lives unannounced.
The door flung open, and Pops’ eyes widened. “What are you doing here?” he asked, throwing his arms around Gavin with so much gusto he practically knocked Gavin back out onto the street.
“Been a while,” Gavin said. “Thought I’d stop by. Hope it’s a good time.”
“Stop that! It’s always a good time. And you don’t have to ring the bell.”
“I didn’t know if I’d be interrupting something.”
“You are always more important than whatever we’re doing. Now come in. Are you hungry? I can whip something up for you.”
“I ate before I left.”
“I’ll get a few bags of chips then. Nothing big, just something to snack on.” Gavin didn’t bother to argue. Pops loved to feed people, and the more you told him you weren’t hungry, the more he would try to make you eat something.
“Chips would be great,” Gavin said.
“Follow me to the kitchen then.”
Gavin did, looking around the house and trying to figure out where Dad was. He expected him to hurry in from wherever he was to greet him, but there was no sign of him.
“Where’s Dad?”
“On the phone with Lily May, going over a few things for the gala.”
Gavin forced a smile and darted to the fridge before Pops could start questioning him about his date and what he’s planning on wearing. He grabbed a bottle of sparkling water and shut the fridge ready to change the subject, but he didn’t have to. Pops clearly took the hint.
Pops opened a bag of chips and dumped the contents into a large china bowl. “How’s being a business owner going?”
