Tristan’s eyes flickered open and focused on mine.
“Mornin’,” he whispered.
“Mornin’.” I smiled back at him.
“I could lie here forever with you,” he said as his thumb worked small circles on my waist. His touch had goosebumps running up and down my body.
“Me too,” I said honestly. I wanted to break myself in two. I wanted to give my heart to both of the men in my life. I wanted to give Kyle the part of myself that needed the safety and comfort of his arms, and I wanted to give Tristan the piece that craved the sense of lightness and happiness he made me feel.
I stared into his beautiful eyes and I wanted to choose him badly, but I was terrified that I couldn’t trust him with my heart. My heart already held enough pain to last a lifetime and I was sure it couldn’t survive another heartbreak.
“Kyle is coming tonight,” I murmured.
“Yeah?” Tristan’s gaze never wavered from mine. I could sense his question. I knew he wanted to ask. He wanted to know what that meant for us.
“I don’t know what to do,” I trailed off and finally broke my gaze from his.
“I know what I want you to do,” he trailed his fingertips up my ribcage and his thumb brushed against the underside of my breast, causing my heart to thud erratically. I looked back into his eyes and felt waves of emotion swirling between us. His eyes implored me to choose him, choose this moment. I’m sure my eyes revealed that I wanted that too, but I’m sure they also were a window into the pain and anguish I felt at telling Kyle. Leaving Kyle.
“I need to tell him, but I don’t know if I can this weekend.”
“You can’t put it off, Georgia. It’s not fair to anyone, especially him.” His jaw clenched and I could feel the air shift between us. The tension was back. I was also a little angry with the notion that Tristan cared about what was fair to Kyle, because when he’d slept with me, flirted with me, he hadn’t been concerned.
“I just need time,” I whispered, my eyes searing into his, silently pleading with him to understand. “I can’t spring this on him when he’s been working so much, we’ve been apart for so long…he won’t expect this from me. It would ruin him. I just need time.”
“He’s a fool if he doesn’t expect it,” Tristan said through gritted teeth.
“What?” My mouth hung open in surprise.
“There’s a reason you’re down here without him. A reason you bought the house without even telling him. Don’t kid yourself, Georgia.”
“How can you say that? You don’t know. You have no right to make assumptions.” The truth was Tristan was right. Kyle and I hadn't been working for a long time.
Starting in college Kyle had taken too many classes, picked up internships, spent late hours at the library or in his advisor’s office studying and setting the wheels in motion for his future. For nearly a decade I'd heard 'Just let me get through this semester, just 'til I graduate,' and then it’d become 'When this internship is over, after my first promotion.'
“I need you to make a choice.” Tristan's strained voice tore me from my thoughts. “And if not now, when? The end of the summer? Will you string us both along for that long? Sleep with me on the beach and have him waiting back in the city?” The anger in his voice struck me to the core.
“I’m not listening to this. I’m telling you I need time.” I pulled away from him and grabbed my shirt, slipping it over my head before I stood and shimmied my shorts over my legs.
“Georgia, please, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you, but I need to know. I can’t keep living like this. I can’t see you in the house and not touch you. Not be with you. I need to know,” he whispered the last sentence, his own eyes now pleading for me to understand. Tristan stood and reached for me, wrapping a hand around my cheek and threading his fingers in my hair. “Choose this, Georgia. Choose us.”
I bent my head to stare at our bare feet in the sand.
“So this is it for the weekend?” He lifted my chin up to meet his eyes. Tears pooled behind my eyelids as I watched his green depths blazing into me. I felt pulled to him, some forcefield at work between us. No matter how hard I tried, no matter how hard we tried to be apart, we couldn’t. It was an impossibility.
“I’ll miss you,” he said sadly as his thumb ran across my bottom lip. His eyes flicked across my face, into my hair, his fingers gently kneading the nape of my neck.
“Me too,” I said quietly before he placed a chaste kiss on my forehead. His lips lingered, pressed to my skin for a long moment before he pulled away and dropped his hands.
“I’ll get this.” He nodded at the blanket twisted in the damp morning sand. Silence ballooned in the distance between us. He was waiting for me to say something.
Anything.
Everything.
But I couldn’t. As strong as my pull was to him, the fear I had that he would shatter my heart was just as strong.
“Okay,” I forced a smile to lift my lips while my heart ached in my chest. I turned and walked back to the house and up the stairs, heading straight for the comfort of my own bed.
* * *
“GOD, I'M SO glad you’re finally here.” I leapt into Kyle's arms before he had a chance to shut the car door. I wrapped my legs around his waist and he held me. I nuzzled into his neck and inhaled the familiar scent of his cologne. “I’ve missed you so much.” Tears streaked down my cheeks. I’d been a bundle of anxiety all day, torn between Tristan and Kyle. Life was so much easier when they could be kept separate. My past and my present were colliding this weekend and I was a ball of nerves over it, guilt burning in my chest and choking my throat. But with Kyle standing right in front of me, it was so easy to jump into his arms and take comfort like I always had.
“Georgia,” he whispered and ran his hand down my hair soothingly. “Don't cry, I’m here now, baby.” He shushed in my ear and the tears only came faster. I held him as my body shivered. He waited patiently, rubbing my back and stroking my hair. It felt good to be in his warm and comforting embrace. It was the one thing I’d been missing more than anything all summer.
“Why did it take so long for you to come?” I whispered when the tears finally subsided.
“I know, I’m sorry, but I’m here now. I’m here.” He set my feet on the ground and held me in his arms. I smiled up at him through teary eyes and then gave him a playful smack on the cheek.
“Do it again and I’m kickin’ you to the curb,” I said sternly before smiling. He smiled sweetly at me and pulled my face to his, taking my lips with his own. I opened and my breath caught as he slid his tongue into my mouth, our kiss lingering and easy and reassuring. Kyle was always what I needed, always what made me feel better, and right now was no different. All thoughts of Tristan fell from my mind as I embraced the sense of calm and serenity that came from being back in Kyle's arms.
“So introduce me to these roommates of yours.” Kyle finally broke our kiss and swatted me on the bottom. I smiled and pecked him on the lips one final time before he followed me into the house with an overnight bag on his arm.
I introduced him to Gavin who was typing on his laptop feverishly at the dining room table. Silas and Drew were playing cards and had already started on margaritas. I wasn't at all disappointed that Tristan had been on his boat for the day. I think he was giving me the time I’d pleaded for earlier this morning. I knew I’d need to introduce him to Kyle at some point this weekend, but I hoped Tristan would make himself scarce. I felt a pang of guilt for wishing Tristan would stay away after everything we’d been through this summer―everything we’d shared. But this was Kyle. This was the boy who'd captured my heart at the age of twelve and held it in his strong and steady hands.
“Mexican and margaritas tonight.” I wrapped Kyle’s hand in my own.
“Sounds great, baby. I’ve missed your cooking.”
“Hope that isn't all you’ve missed,” Silas grumbled while Drew huffed. I shot them both a death glare but neither met my eyes. I wasn
't sure if Kyle heard, but he ignored them if he did.
“Sit and play cards, I’m going to throw the enchiladas in the oven. I’ll bring you a margarita.” I said before kissing his lips tenderly.
“Play cards, Kyle. Let me cater to your every whim,” Silas mumbled under his breath. I was sure Kyle had heard that but like the good boyfriend he was he chose to ignore it. He wasn’t one for confrontation, and even so he would never put me between him and Silas.
“You sure, baby?” Kyle slid an arm around my waist and pulled my body flush with his.
“Positive.” I said before Kyle pulled away and slid into a dining chair next to Silas.
“You in, Kyle? $100 buy-in.” Silas grinned.
“Silas,” I hollered from the kitchen. They knew Kyle was shit at poker and could take him for all he had.
“They’re not playing for cash, Kyle. Don't let Silas bullshit you.” I glared at my best friend who only winked back at me.
“Don't you have another roommate?” Kyle asked before taking a bite of the steaming Mexican food a short while later.
“Did I miss dinner? I knew you were making Mexican tonight, Georgia―I wasn't about to miss it.” Tristan burst through the door and then halted when he saw the new guest at our table.
“Speak of the devil,” Drew murmured. I bit my lip and glanced to Silas who had a shit-eating grin on his face.
“Kyle, this is Tristan Howell. Tristan, Kyle Collins, my boyfriend.” I forced a smile as my insides rolled over.
“Kyle.” Tristan nodded as he took a seat.
“Tristan.” Kyle held his hand out to shake. A lump rose in my throat as their hands locked together. “Dig in, Georgia's a great cook.” He nodded to the platter of enchiladas on the center of the table.
“That she is,” Tristan said. His eyes scanned the table and fell on mine for a lingering moment before he shoveled food onto his plate. “So how long you in town for, Kyle?”
“Just the weekend. It's hard for me to get away, I’m up for promotion at the firm and it was tough for me to get this weekend off but I know Georgia's been missing me so I made it a priority.” He grinned and slid his hand up my thigh lovingly. I smiled and turned back to my food.
“Surprised she finally made the list of priorities,” Drew whispered to Silas at the opposite end of the table. I wasn't sure if they'd meant for me to hear or not but I had and shot them a dirty glare. I would need to talk with them; they were only making a bad situation worse.
“Well, great timing. We’re having a party tomorrow night, watching the fireworks from the beach, should be great.” Tristan continued the conversation flawlessly.
“Party, huh? Georgia's not usually much of a party girl,” Kyle said.
“I had to cajole her. She's a tough cookie, but with a little sweet talk, I had her.” Tristan's eyes met mine, his lips curling slightly as if amused by a private joke. My cheeks heated and I took a long swallow of my margarita. Was everyone in this house pushing for Kyle and I to fail?
“Georgia's always been easily swayed,” Kyle said sweetly, as if he were talking about a child. Was he always this condescending? I didn't recall it ever bothering me before.
“You think so? She seems to be pretty capable of standing her ground when she wants. And stubborn as hell some days,” Tristan said. I knew this conversation carried much more innuendo than Kyle realized. If Tristan was going to be like this all weekend, we were going to have major issues. I took another swallow of my margarita and emptied it, stepping back from the table hurriedly to refill my glass. I needed to escape that conversation.
“We should take a walk,” I said with a smile at Kyle.
“Sounds great.” He wrapped an arm around my hips as I stood next to him at his chair. “I’ve got a call to make but then I’m all yours.” He placed a protective hand on my bottom before standing and making his way to my bedroom. Drew and Gavin headed out to the deck while Silas meandered down the hall to his bedroom.
“I’ll help you clean up,” Tristan said as he pushed back from the table, his plate in hand.
“No, I got it. Thanks.” I flashed him a tight grin.
“I insist. Least I can do to repay you for the delicious meal.” That sexy smile of his lifted at one corner of his mouth. I stood at the sink rinsing plates and loading them into the dishwasher.
“Kyle seems nice,” Tristan's breath caressed the sensitive flesh under my ear. He trailed a tentative fingertip down my neck, past my shoulder blades, dragging the hair to one side and over my shoulder. He placed a soft kiss in the middle of my neck before whispering in my other ear. “Tell me, Georgia, does he make you come so hard you forget your own name?” His fingertips slid up the back of my thigh tantalizing every nerve until they slipped under the hem of my shorts. “Does he make you feel like this, Georgia? Do you shiver when he touches you? Does your heart pound and your breathing accelerate?”
I bit my bottom lip and held my back rigid. “Don't touch me,” I gritted through my teeth.
“Ah, definitely not what you were saying last night.” His fingertips trailed higher under my shorts between my thighs until he'd almost reached my very center. I swallowed and meant to turn and push him off me when suddenly his fingers were gone. I shut my eyes tightly and took a deep breath before opening them to turn and tell him he couldn't do things like that but he was gone. He'd disappeared like a dream. A fantasy. A nightmare. I wasn’t sure which.
“Fuck,” I whispered to the empty room.
“What was that, babe?” Kyle walked in and wrapped an arm around my waist. I leaned into him and sighed, but less out of comfort over being in Kyle's arms and more out of frustration for the havoc Tristan wreaked on my body.
* * *
“MORNING.” I WOKE the next morning curled around Kyle's body, his arm beneath my head, my hair spread across my pillow and his chest. I inhaled deeply and a bright smile crossed my face.
“Morning,” I smiled and tucked into his shoulder further.
“Beautiful as ever in the morning.” He placed a kiss on my head.
“I missed waking up with you,” I whispered.
“I missed it too, baby,” he said as he stroked my hair with one palm. We sat silently for a few minutes, the waves crashing outside of the open window a constant hum to the soundtrack of my new life on the beach. I loved it.
“Open your eyes.” I could feel his lips moving against my hair. I inhaled a deep breath of his skin before my eyes fluttered open. I turned to look up into his face but my eyes landed on a black velvet box sitting on his chest.
“Kyle.” My mouth dropped in shock.
“I missed you, Georgia. So much. I hated coming home and you not being there. I want you to always be there. This was the longest we’ve been apart and I never want to be apart again.” He lifted the box with his free hand and snapped the lid open. “Will you marry me, Georgia Hope Montgomery?”
Tears welled in my eyes as I stared at the stunning oversized princess cut diamond shining back at me.
“Kyle.” My eyes rocketed to his and I got lost in their chocolatey depths. I saw emotion pooled in them and I flung myself onto his chest and pressed my lips to his. “I missed you so much.” The levees burst and tears streamed down my face, but I refused to remove my lips from his. He kissed me back, holding my head tightly, his fingers twisted in my hair.
He finally pulled away. “Is that a yes?”
“Kyle, I don’t know. I want to spend my life with you, but this is all so much. This summer has been so hard―”
“I know, baby. That’s why I’m here. Being apart from you made me realize how much I need you. How much I’ve missed you―missed us -- over the last few years. I’m not going to work as much. Once this promotion business is off the table, that’s it. We get married, we move to the ’burbs, and we have babies. That’s what I want, and I want it with you.” His eyes held mine, pleading, searching, waiting. My emotions swirled, the thoughts spun through my head. Glimpses of my life pla
yed before my eyes. Kyle when we were young, kisses in the parking lot before school, summer nights under the stars, high school graduation, college graduation, finding him bleary-eyed at the dining room table hunched over law books, the beach house, Tristan, sailing with Tristan, reading with Tristan, the vineyard with Tristan. The laughter, the smiles, the flirting―all with Tristan. Kyle had soothed my soul, been my reason for living for many years, but I couldn’t deny that in the recent past there’d been a shift. Kyle had come to represent sadness and bitterness in my life, and Tristan had been the one to shine a light. There was also my life at the beach house. A life that Kyle wasn’t interested in and never would be because his job, his career, the career that he wanted―the one I could never ask him to leave for me―was in D.C.
“I want that too, but I need time, Kyle. It’s been hard being apart from you this summer. I’ve missed you more than anything, but things have been hard for me, and they’ve been that way for a few years now―”
“I told you, Georgia, no more long hours―”
“It’s more than that, Kyle.” I leaned away from him and traced my fingers along the line of his stubbled jaw. “It’s just that…” I said sadly. Do I tell him? The words were on the tip of my tongue.
It’s Tristan. I don’t know what I have with him, but I don’t know if I can let him go. I don’t know if I want to. I slept with him.
The words sat on my lips, begging for release. I opened my mouth to say something, anything. Apologize because I couldn’t say yes? I wasn’t sure.
“Don’t answer now. You can have time. Take time, Georgia. We can have a long engagement, no pressure.” I could tell he was begging. He wasn’t letting me get a word in for fear that word would be a no.
I opened my mouth to say I wasn’t sure before he interrupted me. “Just try it on, Georgia.” He slid the ring on my finger. I looked down as the diamond caught the light, refracting it in a million directions. My hand sat in Kyle’s, his thumb caressing my skin. “I can’t wait to marry you, sooner or later, whatever you need. I’ll wait as long as you need me to, baby.” He lifted my hand and kissed the ring on my finger, never breaking eye contact. “Will you wear it?”
Sweet Alibi Page 17
