“You shouldn’t just give important things away,” he grumbled.
“Then let’s consider it a loan. The day you no longer recognize its beauty, once you’re senile and old, then give it back. As soon as you no longer find an ounce of joy in seeing it on your wall, then it can go right back into a box under my bed. But for now, I think we both know it deserves a spot here.”
“It’s a loan,” he reiterated. “Don’t ever be so foolish as to give something like this away.”
“I’m no fool, Cliff. I promise you. Just another soul in the universe like you who thinks this clock deserves to be seen. Let’s just leave it at that.”
I swear he cracked the slightest smile.
“Thank you for allowing me to come back,” I said politely. “All these people here – the ones you think are messing up and interfering with your world – I’m not here to convince you otherwise, or to convince you I’m not one of them. I’m just simply passing along one antique piece to another whom I know will treasure it. Nothing more.” I offered one last sincere smile, then headed back outside to the patio, leaving Cliff alone with the clock. I could see him tracing the carvings as I shut the door behind me.
“I didn’t hear a scream,” one of the aunt’s teased.
“I think he likes me,” I said with a shrug, heading back over to the food table.
“Nice try, but that man doesn’t like anybody,” Ashley replied. The other ladies all laughed. It was probably true, but in my mind, I wanted to believe I could crack him. I wanted to believe he would look at that clock on his wall and eventually smile.
I stood over the food table, trying to decide between a piece of strawberry pie or a slice of chocolate cake.
“You must be Lexi,” a deep voice said from behind me. A tall guy with light hair stood next to me at the table, reaching for a handful of pretzels.
“What gave that away?” I asked, turning toward him.
“Easy,” he replied, sliding one of the pretzel rods into his mouth. “He always picks the pretty ones.” He winked and walked away from me, heading back into the house.
He always picks the pretty ones.
Suddenly I was back in the bank all over again, standing next to a man wearing a black ski mask holding a gun.
He always picks the pretty ones.
OMG. Luke’s brother…the robbery… Every single hair on my bare skin prickled and my legs were weak. I dropped the cake knife.
I felt like I was going to faint.
Chapter 15
“My brother is such a jackwagon,” Luke commented, stepping into the backyard. “It wasn’t the alternator at all. His gas gauge is broken. The idiot literally ran out of gas.”
Luke’s mom made a comment and everyone else laughed, but I didn’t hear it. I was too disoriented to pay attention to anything around me.
“Lex, did you meet my brother?”
I turned around to face Luke with a blank expression. My entire body felt numb.
“What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Are you okay? Are you dehydrated or something?” He reached out and touched my face, but I couldn’t feel his fingertips. “You’re trembling. What happened?” He looked concerned, turning his head back and forth from me to his family still sitting at the patio table.
“Lexi, all the color is drained from your face.” His mom stood up, taking the paper plate from my hands.
“Yeah, uh, I don’t feel well,” I stammered, unsure what to do. I wanted to walk away from the party, get back in my car, and drive far, far, away from here, but my legs wouldn’t work. I didn’t budge.
Beckett. Oh no, my brother was right. He really did overhear that last name after all – although it wasn’t Luke they were talking about, it was his brother. Was that possible? Did Luke’s brother rob my bank?
Of course he picked the pretty one.
It wasn’t just his phrasing, either. The tone of his voice was exactly the same. I felt like I was going to pass out.
“Here, darling, sit down in this chair,” Carol directed, trying to get me to sit in the patio seat she was occupying just a minute earlier.
“I…I really think I should go,” I said in an unsteady tone. I looked around at all of the faces staring back at me, thankful that Luke’s brother wasn’t one of them. He must’ve still been inside. “I didn’t get much sleep last night. I was out in the sun all day today, and I didn’t eat much earlier…” I was listing off every excuse I could think of at this point. “My friend, Olivia, she’s been sick lately. I probably caught it from her.” Now I was just full-on lying, but the words kept falling out of my mouth.
“Do you want to lay down inside for a minute? I’ll get you some water,” his aunt Deana suggested.
“No, I…I just think I should head home. I’m so sorry, it just hit me all of a sudden. Sorry to leave like this, but I…I think it’s better if I go.”
“Lexi, you’re shaking like crazy. Come here.” Luke pulled me into his chest, wrapping his arms firmly around me. “I’ll drive you home, but maybe you should sit for a minute. You’re really pale. Let’s get you to stop shaking first, and then I’ll drive you home.”
“Olivia was shaking,” I continued, pulling back out of Luke’s embrace. “Yeah, she had the chills for like three days. It was bad. I really think it’s better if I go now in case it’s contagious. Thank you so much for having me. It was lovely to meet all of you. Sorry for the way I’m leaving.” I tried to feign a smile, but I’m sure it didn’t actually show up on my face. I walked quickly back to the wooden gate, not even turning around one last time as I slipped through it. Luke wasted no time in following me out.
“Lex, I’m serious. Just sit with me for a minute. You can’t drive like this. I’ll take you.”
Tears slowly filled my eyes, and I knew I only had mere seconds before I completely fell apart.
“I’m fine, really. I just need some space.” I swiftly brushed the first tear as it slid down my face.
“Come on. Talk to me.” He reached out for my hand, but I brushed it away. “What happened? Did someone say something to you? Was it my grandfather? I swear, if he offended you in any way, or made you feel bad, I’m gonna…”
“It’s nobody’s fault,” I cut him off. “It’s me. I just need a break.”
“You need a break? I don’t even understand what that means. You need a break from the party? Or from me? Did I do something wrong? Did I say the wrong thing, or…”
I studied his face for a moment. Did he know? Did he have any idea his brother was involved in the robbery?
I thought back to that morning, standing behind the counter. I’d never felt pure fear like that throughout my entire body. The other robberies I’d experienced there were minor in comparison. I never saw a gun during those. I wasn’t specifically targeted. But this one, it was different. It felt personal.
Why’d he have to pick the pretty one? It was as if I was singled out. Wasn’t I? The only miniscule amount of calm I felt that morning was making eye contact with Luke.
Luke. He was there at the exact moment his brother was robbing a bank? My head was spinning.
Within seconds, I was bent over on my knees, throwing up all over Luke’s shoes.
*****
I opened up my eyes, pulling off a damp washcloth that was draped over my forehead. I was laying on a couch in Cliff’s dark living room, and Olivia was leaning over me.
“Lex. Look at me. I’m taking you home.” Olivia was gently pulling at my arm, helping me to sit up.
“How did you…” I couldn’t finish my sentence. I felt completely disoriented.
“Luke called me from your phone. He said you were fine one minute, then the next you were pale and shaking. He said you got all weird, then started barfing everywhere? Not a great first impression on the family,” she said with a giggle, trying to make me feel better. “While you were puking, you kept saying ‘get Olivia, get Olivia,’ so he called. Did you tell him I was sick too? When I showed up,
he commented that I didn’t look sick at all. It was weird. What’s going on?”
“My brother…” I shook my head, unsure where to begin.
“Oh great, this involves your brother? What did he do now? He’s always coming into town and screwing you up.”
“No. That’s the thing. He was trying to warn me.”
“Warn you?” Olivia’s voice turned serious. “Lex, what’s going on? I’ve never seen you like this. Are you in some kind of trouble?” She was almost whispering as she said it, even though we appeared to be the only two people in the room.
“I need to get out of here,” I replied quietly, using her arm to steady me as I stood up.
“Follow me.” She led me out through the front door, where we were surprised to be greeted by half of Luke’s family. I expected them to still be in the backyard for some reason.
“She’s feeling a little better,” Olivia announced as she led me past the group. “But the worst is still coming. I was laid up for days. It was terrible. I’ve got this handled.” She sounded confident as she said it.
Luke stepped forward, putting his body between me and Olivia’s passenger door. “Lexi, I want to help you. Can I follow you back? Or can I at least drive your car back for you? I can take care of you tonight.” He reached out and gently touched my face.
“She’s staying at my place tonight, so there’s no need to follow us back,” Olivia answered for me. She climbed into the driver’s seat. “I’ll send someone to get her car. Stay here with your family Luke, she’ll be fine. I’ve got this covered. It’s crazy contagious,” she added, as if that would be enough to get him to back away from the car.
“If that’s the case, I would already have it from last night,” he said with a smirk. He reached down and grabbed my hand, still hoping I wouldn’t climb into the car. “I’m sorry you’re not feeling well. I just want to make it better.”
“I wish it were that easy,” I said softly, trying not to look directly into his eyes. They always pulled me in, and that was the last thing I needed right now.
“What?”
“You can’t fix everything, Luke.”
“What does that mean?”
“We’re going, Lexi,” Olivia interrupted, pulling me into her vehicle. “Enjoy the rest of your party,” she called out as she started the ignition.
Luke rested his arms on the open window. “Will you call me later? Please? So I know you’re all right?”
“It’s going to be a while before I’m okay,” I said earnestly. “Goodbye, Luke.”
Olivia backed the car out of the driveway before either of us could say another word.
Just like that, in a matter of hours – after one simple sentence, this day transitioned from one of pure perfection in the early morning hours into complete and utter heartbreak.
I began to sob in the passenger seat as Olivia turned onto the highway, moving me further and further away from Luke Beckett than I ever imagined possible.
Chapter 16
“Tell me everything,” Olivia began as I collected myself, wiping all of the tears off of my face with a fast food napkin from her glove box. “I swear I’m going to hurt him. Whatever he did to you, he’s going to get it so much worse. Do you know how hard it was to control myself back there? I could tell by your face it was something bad.”
“Luke’s brother, Casey,” I began, wondering how I was going to explain the entire thing. “He showed up to the party and he said something to me. He said something about Luke picking the pretty one – and it hit me like a brick wall. You know when I heard that last? When I was robbed at the bank.”
“Wait, what? The robber told you that you were pretty, and then Luke’s brother said it too?” She wasn’t understanding me.
“It was the same exact voice, Olivia. He was the one who robbed me. He had a gun pushed into my skin. I know it was him. It was the same voice.”
“Are you serious? Luke’s brother robbed you? Holy hell, Lexi, are you sure?”
“I’m certain. I know it was him.”
“Unbelievable. Does Luke know?”
“That’s just it.” I hesitated, unsure I really wanted to say the words out loud. “Luke had to know. He was there. He walked into the bank just a minute or so before it happened. I want to believe it’s a coincidence – but I don’t believe it. It all happened so fast, but…it’s too connected to be a coincidence.” I replayed that morning again and again in my mind.
“So what, he was in on it? He knew his brother was going to rob the bank? He showed up at the exact same time to check up on you, to make sure you weren’t hurt or something? So he could look like a hero?” She hit the steering wheel. “That’s BS, Lexi. Why would he do that to you?”
I rehashed everything in my head. There was one thing that really messed with me – the look on Luke’s face when he walked into the bank. He was surprised. Confused. Caught off guard. “Maybe he didn’t know.”
“He didn’t know his brother was robbing the bank at the exact moment he walked in? In another town outside of Grand Harbor? Come on,” she said incredulously.
“No, not that. I mean maybe he didn’t know I would be there. When he walked in, he looked – shocked. He was mindlessly walking toward the counter, but when he looked up and we’d made eye contact, he paused for a second, like he was stunned. He wasn’t expecting to see me.”
“Is that better or worse?” Her voice was shrill, and I could tell this was really firing her up. “So your boyfriend meant to rob another bank, but surprise, uh oh, my girlfriend’s in this one, oh well, brother – go get the money anyway?”
“I don’t know,” I said, shaking my head. I rubbed my temples. My hands were still shaking and everything else in my body still felt numb. My stomach was in knots. “I need to find my brother.”
“Wait. What? What does he have to do with this? I swear, Lex, if he was in on this robbery too, I’m going to completely lose my mind and I’m going to burn Grand Harbor down.” She was gripping her steering wheel so tight as she said it that her knuckles were completely white.
“He called me this afternoon. He knew something about it. Well, he overheard something about it I should say. He tried to warn me. He told me Luke was involved and I totally shut him out, even though he was positive he overheard some guys talking about “Beckett’s” involvement in the robbery. It didn’t make sense to me, and I wasn’t having it. I think I said a lot of mean things to him. I’m such an idiot.”
“Your brother’s never totally innocent either,” Olivia pointed out. “Don’t feel guilty over that. He’s cried wolf too many times, so he shouldn’t expect his word to mean much. That’s not your fault.”
She turned the car into her condo’s parking lot, shutting off the engine as soon as the vehicle was parked in her designated spot. “Sophia is meeting us here in a bit. Miles will be gone pretty late tonight, so we can have an impromptu girls night.”
“He’s gone this late on a Sunday?”
“He keeps weird hours. You know that. He’s playing cards with some brokers tonight, at my dad’s house actually, to make things weirder. It’s still kind of strange to me that they work together in some capacity now. Anyway, you’re staying here. I’m not taking no for an answer, there’s no way I’m letting you go home tonight. We can soak in the hot tub and come up with a plan.”
“A plan for what? How to fix my life?” Another tear slid down my cheek.
“No, crazy pants. Your life is gonna be just fine. You’re beautiful and twenty-four. This is your peak. You will find someone better and hotter who isn’t an SOB bank robber. I’m not worried about all that, you’re gonna have a grand life and someday we’re going to look back and laugh about all this. What I meant was, we need a plan to take down that douchebag and his douchenozzle brother. Revenge.”
“No arson,” I teased, finally smiling for the first time tonight. “I need sugar. Carbs. Wine.”
We made our way into her condo and she wasted no time heading i
nto her room and returning with some nylon running shorts and a black t-shirt. “I still have my suit on from earlier today. You get changed and I’ll meet you out on the back deck with all the carbs. Sophia will be here in five minutes. Go.”
I felt beaten, exhausted, rundown – I wanted to fold myself up into a tiny little ball and hide in a small dark space where no one would find me for at least a week. Or a month. Or some other good length of time until I could come up with some better explanation for all of this. I wanted so badly to be wrong about all of it. I wanted loopholes. Rationale. Anything to make this not be true, but Casey’s voice played repeatedly in my ears and I couldn’t shake it. I was sure it was him. There was no mistaking that.
Olivia, Sophia, and I soaked in the hot tub, drinking wine and shoving excessive amounts of brownie batter in our mouths. I still felt awful – but I had to admit, all of this was helping a little.
“I’m such a fool,” I groaned as I shoved another spoonful of batter down my throat.
“Don’t do that to yourself,” Sophia said firmly. “We always do that to ourselves. Somehow it’s our fault when someone lets us down, right? But it’s not. It never is. His flaws are not a reflection of your own.”
The Weight of Perfection: Grand Harbor - Book Three Page 12
