Bad Romance

by Jen McLaughlin

  Derek flailed and scratched at Jackson’s arms, but Jackson didn’t let up. Derek went pale, then red, and then pale again. I watched with horror, struggling to get to my feet, but my long dress kept tangling around my legs. When I finally got to my feet, Derek’s lips were turning an alarming shade of blue, and I finally snapped into motion.

  Grabbing Jackson’s hard, unyielding arm, I pulled as hard as I could. “Jackson, stop! You’re hurting him!”

  Jackson growled at me over his shoulder, breathing heavily, nostrils flared, and murder written all over his face. “He deserves it.”

  Derek gurgled, his hands dropping to his sides as the fight slowly left him.

  “Stop, please.” I choked on a sob. “You can’t kill him. He’s my fiancé.”

  That seemed to pull Jackson out of his trance. The murderous rage left his eyes, and he dropped Derek like yesterday’s trash. “Yeah. He is. Isn’t he?”

  Just like that…

  He walked out of the closet.

  And out of my life.

  Chapter 22

  Jackson

  I hadn’t slept a second last night. I stood in the foyer, ready to leave Lilly and everything in Arlington behind, but something held me back. All night long, I sat in the living room, waiting for her to come home. I owed her an apology, if nothing else. An explanation. I had truly wanted to kill her fiancé….

  And if she hadn’t stopped me, I just might have.

  Something had snapped in my brain, and I wasn’t in that closet anymore. I was back overseas, fighting for my life, and Derek had stood in my way. I lost myself in that closet, as well as my tight grip on reality that I always held close to my chest, and nothing had ever been more alarming than that. I had almost killed a man.

  What the hell was I supposed to do with that?

  I needed to get the hell out of here. Away from Lilly, who threw me into such an unsteady emotional state that I could snap at the blink of an eye. I needed to leave this feeling that I would never be happy behind me. I needed to…

  Leave Lilly behind, too.

  Once I knew she was all right.

  What would be the ramifications of us getting caught? Would she still marry Derek? If not, would her father kick her out? Give her a chance to live her own life? I had to know. Had to make sure she was okay, even though I wasn’t.

  The door opened and I lurched to my feet, heart thumping loudly in my head. It was the only reason I knew it hadn’t shattered apart yet. That steady beating that wouldn’t shut up. Footsteps sounded in the foyer, and I knew right away they weren’t Lilly’s. They were too long. Too cocky.

  When I saw who rounded the corner…

  I stiffened and wished I were anywhere but here. “Mother. Walt.”

  She rounded the corner behind Walt. Her hair was in a severe bun, and she wore a black cotton dress. Her lips were stained a light red, and she grasped a small purse with white knuckles. “You’re still here.”

  “Yeah.” I shoved my hand through my hair. “I was waiting to see—”

  “Lilly,” she finished for me, crossing her arms and casting a quick glance at Walt. “She’s not coming, and I think that’s best. She’s had a long night at the hospital with Derek. You nearly crushed his trachea.”

  Walt didn’t speak. Just stared at me.

  They were likely waiting for me to apologize, but that wasn’t going to happen. I wanted to ask if the wedding was still on, but I didn’t want to hear the outcome of my betrayal secondhand. I wanted it straight from the source, so I remained silent, steadily staring at my mother and ignoring Walt. “Why did you come here?”

  “Lilly needs clothes.” Her nostrils flared. “She doesn’t wish to see you, so I came in her stead. Walter drove me, because I’m too fraught to do so myself.”

  I stepped back, out of the doorway, ignoring my mother’s gibe. I wouldn’t believe a word she said, not when it came to Lilly. “I’m sure you know where her room is.”

  Mother started up the stairs, her back ramrod straight and her head held high. Halfway up them, she stopped, gripping the bannister tightly. “Are you pleased with yourself, Jackson?”

  “No.” I gritted my teeth. “Not at all.”

  “You need to leave here. And don’t come back.” She glowered at me. “Not until you’re married to someone else, and Lilly is safely married, and you’re both ready to behave like adults. Until then…stay away from her. From all of us.”

  I said nothing. Just stared back at her.

  Shaking her head, she climbed the stairs. I turned to Walt and waited. He wore a crisp gray suit and light blue shirt, and had his hair styled to the side as always. As soon as we were alone, he did exactly what you would expect a man like him to do. “How much is this going to cost me?” he asked.

  I blinked. “Excuse me?”

  “For you to go away and leave Lilly alone,” Walt said, pulling a checkbook out. “How much money will it take?”

  “I don’t want your money,” I said through my gritted teeth. “Put your damn checkbook away.”

  A muscle in Walter’s jaw ticked, and he stepped closer. “I didn’t spend my life working as hard as I did, and as much as I did, to lose it because of a little punk like you. We both know you’re the type of guy to take the check. Take the money. Leave our lives. Don’t ever come back.”

  Shaking my head, I grabbed my bags. “You’re wrong about me. You’ve always been wrong about me. And I’m not taking a damn thing from you except your daughter—if she’ll have me. So you can go to hell.”

  Suitcases in hand, I headed for the door. It was time to leave this life behind me, but first, I had one last stop to make. Nothing, and no one, would prevent me from making it. Not even him.

  Lilly

  I sat at my father’s table, staring at nothing, and had been for God only knew how long. It felt like a lifetime, though. Last night ended up being a blur of getting Derek to the hospital, convincing him not to press charges, breaking off our engagement, and getting screamed at by my father for eight hours straight.

  The whole time, I sat there. Taking it. Listening to how horrible of a daughter I was. How terrible of a human being I was. Because I knew I was going to leave.

  Once Jackson showed up, I was out of here.

  I never considered that he might leave town without talking to me first, like he had last time. Not after all the things he’d said to me, and what happened in that closet. He wouldn’t leave without coming to see me first. I had to believe that. Had to believe in him. He wouldn’t leave me without a proper goodbye.

  And, little did he know, he wouldn’t get a goodbye at all.

  He was getting something entirely different. I already knew I wanted to go with him. Leave Arlington. But hours in the hospital to think and reflect on how much time had passed since Jackson came into my life provided me with knowledge of something I hadn’t even realized was happening, or possible.

  And that knowledge?

  Yeah, it was life-changing.

  Smiling, I pressed a hand to my jittery stomach, because I was finally free, and I had Jackson to thank for that. After hours of me sitting by his side, Derek had formally withdrawn his proposal. He was fine, and the doctors gave him a clean bill of health, but he was milking it for all it was worth. Deep down, I think he was grateful for the reprieve. Maybe now he’d find the courage to fight for his happiness, too.

  Hastings International was now in jeopardy, which Daddy reiterated nonstop since Lucy did exactly what I expected her to do. It was my fault. I owned that. My actions had led to this, but the thing was, they were mine. My choices. I didn’t regret them, or my feelings for Jackson. I refused to.

  Yawning, I sat up straight, leaned my elbows on the table, and picked up the hot coffee the housekeeper set in front of me. I think she pitied me. No one else did. They all hated me, but…

  Where was Jackson?

  Footsteps sounded behind me, and I mentally prepared myself for the next screaming match. Because I r
efused to back down, and do as told. And that was driving my father insane. “Daddy, can we please take a break? I’m sorry you’re upset, but—”

  “I don’t want you to be sorry,” an all-too-familiar voice said. “I’m the one who’s sorry.”

  My lids flew open, and I struggled to my feet. “Jackson, I—”

  “Your dad offered me money to leave you. To walk away.”

  My jaw dropped. I knew Daddy didn’t like Jackson, but to insinuate he could be bought off like that? That I was some sort of paycheck for Jackson, and nothing more? That was an all-time low. I pressed a hand to my stomach. “No. He didn’t.”

  “He did.”

  I swallowed hard. “What did you say to him?”

  “What the hell do you think I said to him?” he snapped, anger turning his brown eyes almost black. “I told him to go to hell.”

  “I—”

  He shook his head. “Did you actually think I would take the money? That I used you like that?”

  “Used me?” I asked, confused. “Who said anything about—?”

  “I’m still that guy to you. The guy who used you and left you.”

  I stared at him, because he wasn’t making any sense. “What? Where’s this coming from?”

  “You thought I’d take the money.”

  Oh. Oh. He thought I actually thought he was that kind of guy, and that couldn’t be further from the truth. I was just curious what his response was. If he told him to stick it where the sun doesn’t shine—like I wanted to do.

  “No.” I shook my head. “I didn’t. I just wanted to know—”

  “I’m leaving. For good.”

  I swallowed hard. Did that mean he didn’t want to be with me anymore? “Okay…”

  “I just wanted to make sure you’re okay, before I go.” He stepped closer, his shoulders tense and his hands fisted at his sides. “Are you? Okay?”

  “I-I am.” I pressed a hand against my churning stomach again. “Derek called off the wedding.”

  He flinched. “I’m sorry for my part in that. I never meant to take your choice from you like that. It makes me no better than Walt.”

  “You didn’t. I—”

  “Wait.” When I opened my mouth, he held up a hand and stared at me with beseeching eyes. “Let me speak. I have a lot to say, and I don’t know how long we’ll have. All this time, I’ve been trying to accept that you don’t—”

  “You.” As if on cue, Daddy stormed into the kitchen with fire burning in his eyes. “How dare you come to my house? Get out! Get out now!”

  “Walter, honey, your blood pressure!” Nancy said softly, from behind him. “Jackson, I told you not to come here.”

  “Yeah.” He shrugged. “Only someone in uniform can tell me what to do.”

  Daddy stalked toward Jackson with murder written all over his expression. “I’ll give you a—”

  “Everybody, sit down,” my stepmother snapped.

  Jackson snorted. “I’m not sitting down anywhere. I’m leaving.”

  “Good riddance.” Daddy threw a check at Jackson. “You forgot your money when you left the house.”

  Jackson didn’t catch it, so it fluttered down to his feet. He stared down at it coldly. “No. I didn’t forget a damn thing. And I already told her about the money.”

  “Did you tell her you took it? That you used her again?”

  Jackson laughed and shook his head. “You just won’t quit till you’ve made her think the worst of me, will you?”

  “Daddy. Don’t—”

  Daddy stepped forward, finger pointed at Jackson’s chest. “She should think the worst of you. You cost thousands of people their jobs today. You’re a disgrace to this family, and always have been.”

  Jackson laughed. “Yeah, because you’re just so great, right? You and your hypocritical—”

  “Stop!” I cried out, trembling. “Both of you. Stop this.”

  Jackson watched me coldly.

  “You heard her.” Daddy pointed to the door. “Now get out of my house before I call the police.”

  “Gladly,” Jackson said, his shoulders stiff. “Lilly?”

  I blinked at him, not moving.

  Nodding, he headed for the door. “All right, then.”

  “Wait, I—” I stepped forward to follow him, but Daddy grabbed my arm. I tried to jerk free, but he didn’t release me. “Let go. I need to talk to him.”

  “Let her go,” Jackson growled.

  Daddy didn’t. If anything, his grip tightened. “If you walk out that door with him, you’re through. You’re no longer my daughter. You’ll no longer be a Hastings.”

  Chapter 23

  Lilly

  The silence lasted too long. The shock that hit me when Daddy threatened to disown me still hadn’t left me, but it never would. That he could be so cold and so callous toward me—his only daughter—shouldn’t have surprised me. But it did.

  It really did.

  I finally opened my mouth and formed words. But they weren’t for my father. They were for the furious man standing to the left of him. “Jackson, can you give me a minute?”

  Jackson opened his mouth, closed it, nodded, and left.

  I knew how much control it took for him not to say what he thought of this whole mess. But the thing was, it was my mess to begin with. I had to handle this one on my own.

  And he respected that.

  “I mean it,” Daddy said, his tone hard. “You walk out, I’m done with you.”

  I swallowed. “Daddy, I—”

  “No,” Daddy snarled. “There’s no wiggle room here. You either let him walk away, or you walk away with him—permanently.”

  “You don’t mean that,” I said, my voice barely a whisper.

  Jackson’s truck started in the driveway. I glanced out the window.

  My father slammed his hand down on the table, making Nancy, and me, jump. “I mean every damn word. Sit down.”

  “Daddy—”

  “Enough from you,” he shouted, pointing a shaking finger in my direction. “After what you did, you will sit there silently, unless directly spoken to. Think of all those poor people without jobs.”

  I lowered my head, but then lifted it right away. “You’ll find a way to save them. To save the company.”

  “You’re damn right I will. Actually, I’m already working on it.” Jackson’s truck still hadn’t pulled away, and it took all my control not to run out there after him. I needed to take care of my past before I chased after my future. “With any luck, we’ll find a replacement, and your wedding will still be on.”

  I lurched back. “But—no.” There wasn’t a chance that I would agree to another marriage after narrowly escaping the last one. “Daddy—”

  Daddy crossed his arms and curled his lip. “Don’t worry. Despite your transgressions, we’ll find someone else. Do you remember George Stanton from the club?”

  I pressed a hand to my chest. Oh, Daddy, no. It felt as if he’d ripped my heart out and stomped on it. If not for the thumping against my palm, I would’ve sworn he had. Already, he was preparing to sell me off to the highest bidder…again. “I met the guy once, I’m certainly not marrying him.”

  “Well, we could arrange more meetings between the two of you,” my father said, completely oblivious to the fact that I was about to explode. “I haven’t asked him yet, but he’s always spoken of you with respect and high regard. He could be a likely candidate. Or maybe—”

  “No!” I practically shouted.

  My stepmother paled.

  Daddy’s jaw dropped.

  I had no idea what I looked like, but it was as if I weren’t me anymore. It was as though I were a bystander, watching the scene unfold from the sidelines, and I couldn’t move.

  Boom. Boom. Boom.

  That was all I heard, echoing in my head. My thudding heartbeat. “No. I’m not marrying anyone.”

  My father lurched to his feet. “The hell you’re not. You’ll—”

  “Walter,”
Nancy said, her tone harder than I ever heard it before.

  “No,” I said again, louder. More firmly. “I refuse.”

  Daddy turned red. “Then get out.”

  “Just like that?”

  For a second, just a second, he hesitated. “If you’re choosing him over me? Yes.”

  “Over you?” I said to my father, shaking my head at him. “I gave you everything. Did my best to make you happy. Tried to be a good daughter. Never asking for anything in return.”

  “Funny, because here we are after you ruined the one thing I asked you to do.”

  “One thing?” I laughed, and I sounded a little bit crazy. Maybe I was. Like father, like daughter. “You controlled my whole life. My clothes. My friends. My choices. My job. Even my spouse. I did everything you told me to do.” I shook my head and laughed again. “And this is how you repay me? By selling me off again? I never asked you for anything.”

  Daddy laughed. “Until you wanted him. Your own brother.”

  “He’s not my brother,” I said slowly. “And I’m leaving with him. If you want to disown me because of that, and act as if I never existed, be my guest. And if you let Hastings International go under because you are too damn stubborn to have your lawyers file the amendment paperwork, I swear to God I will go to the media and tell them everything.”

  “You’re no better than he is,” Daddy growled. “Get out.”

  “You’re wrong about him, you know.” I stood up, trembling. “He’s a good guy. A hero. A brave soldier. A man any man should be proud to call his stepson.”

  Daddy looked about two seconds from falling over. “I’d rather die.”

  “You will, eventually. We all do.” I shrugged, trying my best to hide the pain that coursed through me at his rejection. “But you see, you’re sending all of us away, so when you do? No one will be there to hold your hand. No one but your pride, and your precious company. And you’ll have only yourself to blame, because I’m done trying to make you see what’s right in front of your face.”