Stripped (Travesty Book 2)

by Lawson, Piper

  “Does that mean we’re sisters?” she’d asked hopefully.

  I’d frowned. “I have a sister.” Kate was a know-it-all.

  “I don’t have any sisters. Or brothers.”

  I’d taken in her face, the sadness, and said the only thing I could. “Yes. It means we’re sisters. Want sparkles on your picture?”

  Little did my four-year-old brain know I’d made a decision that would change our lives.

  “So here’s where we stand,” Lex was saying as she sat across from me and Jordan at Lindy’s. “The LA stores are optimistic about the fall line, based in part on the Claire skirt. We’re backordered on it in stores and online. If everything goes well once the full collection hits the shops next month, they’re expecting to grow their orders for spring.”

  “That’s great!”

  “It is, but they need to see the designs. Then we need things ready to ship by …” Lex checked her calendar and named a date. “Where are we at on distribution?”

  Jordan pulled up a document on her phone and enlarged it so we could see. “I renegotiated our contract but we’d need designs a week earlier.” She looked at me for confirmation.

  I froze, a piece of bagel halfway to my mouth. “Are you kidding? I only have half the patterns.”

  “Ava!” Lex’s head looked like it might explode. “You said you’d have everything for us to look at next week. We’re supposed to do a retail preview in six weeks.”

  “It’s OK! I’ll have prototypes of everything,” I insisted. “Promise. I have all the sketches.” Even though I wasn’t happy with the current ones, I couldn’t let my best friend down. Not the way she was looking at me.

  We wrapped up our business an hour later and said goodbye to Jordan, who went to catch the subway.

  “How’re things with D?” I asked Lex as we turned toward home.

  Instead of the happy response I’d expected, Lex sighed. “You really want to know?”

  “Of course!”

  “OK. I didn’t want to dump this on you because you’re his sister and it felt weird—”

  “Lex?” I interrupted. “I may be a Cameron by blood, but we’re sisters by choice.”

  She smiled, but it seemed to take effort. “In that case, the long distance sucks. I thought we had it all worked out. When we’d talk, and text, and visit. But I didn’t account for the fact that Dylan’s completely focused on his internship. He’s missed a couple calls since we moved, and I tried to understand. I mean, shit happens, right? But at least I figured I’d have his full attention when I went home.” She paused as we waited for the light to change. Stuck her hands in the pockets of her boyfriend-cut jeans. “I wanted it to be a surprise, which is why I didn’t tell him. And he was surprised, and happy. But he ended up working most of it and we had almost no time together. I ended up feeling like the idiot.”

  Nope, you’re not the idiot. I mentally kicked my brother. For a smart guy, he could be pretty dense. “Lex, he wanted this so badly. That’s all he said for months.”

  “Yeah.” She looked frustrated. “We’d even started talking about the future. You know, what we’d do when he finished school. After we get a year or two of Travesty under our belts. But now it’s like he’s zoned out and we’ve taken three steps back. I just wish he’d talk to me.”

  I hated hearing her like that. I’d no idea the move had been so hard on their relationship. It made sense, though, going from seeing someone every day to not even every month. I couldn’t imagine being in that position.

  “Lex, I won’t defend him, but you know Dylan can be … intense sometimes. And he loves you like crazy. He’s done more nice things for you than I’ve seen him do for anyone.”

  She absorbed my words, turned them over. “True. But maybe it’s just too much, trying to make it work. I’m under a lot of pressure here, and Dylan’s trying to get into one of the top engineering firms …”

  “Maybe it’s too soon. Maybe you’ll grow apart. Maybe Stella McCartney will renounce fashion and take up roller derby. Anything’s possible, Lex. The thing is, I’ve never met two people more head over heels for each other.”

  Lex turned to face me as we waited for the light to change. “Thanks, A.” I could tell she was still worrying about it, but I wasn’t sure what I could do. “Anyway, enough about me! What about you? Did you go out with Josh again?”

  So much for taking the focus off me. Ugh.

  I sucked in a breath as I held the front door of our building for her. “Yeah.”

  “And?”

  “And we went to a baseball game. It was … great.” I tried to sound excited as we pushed the button for the elevator. “Did you know that Yankee Stadium is made from eleven thousand pieces of limestone? You can add that to your trivia bank up there.” I glanced at her forehead.

  “Wow.” She looked at me like I was nuts.

  “What?”

  “If you liked this guy you’d be shouting it from the top of a building instead of telling me about one.”

  “Well,” I said defensively, “he’s new. It might take some time, right?”

  Lex eyed me. “Maybe. Speaking of lawyers, John said you were ready to murder one in the deposition.”

  The elevator opened. Given how much the universe had been throwing Nate in my face lately, I half expected him to be there.

  Finally, some luck. It was empty. We stepped in and hit the button for our floor.

  “Nate might have rescued me the other night when I locked myself out.”

  Lex was more worried about me than the keys. “I don’t like the thought of you locked out in New York and having to knock on doors to get in. It’s dangerous.”

  “It’s hardly door-knocking, Lex. He’s our neighbor,” I reassured her as we stepped off the elevator.

  “Still. It must’ve been awkward.”

  My eyes lingered a second too long when we passed his door.

  You have no idea.

  ~

  “What’d you do to her?”

  “Huh?” My brother’s disoriented voice came down the line.

  “To Lex? What did you do? Or say?” I whisper-hissed, not wanting Lex, in her room, to overhear.

  “Ava, I’m kind of busy.”

  “Then why did you answer your damn phone?” I asked petulantly.

  “I thought it might be an emergency.”

  “Well, it is! It’s a freaking four-alarm fire, Dylan. So yeah, I’m going to call you when my best friend comes home practically in tears over you.”

  “What are you talking about?” He was paying attention now.

  I explained the highlights of our conversation, not wanting to give away any details that would betray Lex’s confidence. I’d gotten pretty good at it the few times I’d had to play go-between.

  “Dylan, whatever you’re doing, stop. Because I know Lex. And she’s worried you’re not as invested in this as she is.”

  I could hear the wheels turning in his head.

  “It’s not like that, Ava. School’s been busy. Of course I want to see her, but I can’t just drop everything.”

  “Don’t you think she gets that? Lex is the queen of busy. But she always finds time for the people she cares about.”

  I could practically hear him thinking.

  “I’ll fix it.”

  “Good. And D? If you fuck this up, there are about a thousand guys in midtown alone who would line up to make time for Lex. I’m not saying that to scare you, because she’d never do anything. I’m saying it because it’s true. So get your head out of your ass and fix this.”

  Dylan cursed. “Thanks for the pep talk.”

  Chapter 15

  Nate

  When my father called asking to meet for coffee Sunday morning, it was completely out of the blue. But I didn’t mind the last-minute scheduling. Or the fact that I’d hardly slept the last two nights.

  Growing up it seemed like he was always around, but the last few years I’d barely got to talk with him. Whenever I s
aw him in the office, our conversations inevitably focused on work. So I’d take whatever one-on-one time I could get.

  When I arrived at my father’s office at five minutes to ten, I was greeted by two people instead of one. An unfamiliar man in his fifties with short dark hair and a charcoal suit was sitting in one of the two chairs facing the executive desk.

  “Nathan.” My father stood in the doorway, extending a hand the way he always did. “I’m glad you could come, particularly given the short notice. Thank you.” He gestured to the empty chair. “Tricia, can you get Nathan a coffee?”

  I glanced behind me to see my father’s assistant. If she was working on a Sunday, something was definitely up.

  My dad didn’t waste time getting to it.

  “I’m announcing my candidacy for Senate in a few weeks. Bill—” he gestured to the other man “—is going to run my campaign.” The skin around my dad’s eyes crinkled. “I wanted you to be the first to know.”

  The news wasn’t a surprise, but it took a minute to sink in. It also didn’t escape my attention that I was at least the fourth to know. My father wouldn’t have done this without telling my mother. And Bill and Tricia evidently were in the loop.

  But I ignored the hint of irritation. “That’s terrific. You deserve this. I’m so proud of you.”

  “It’s not just about me. You and your mother will be a big part of the coming months,” he replied, glancing at Bill.

  Bill leapt in without introduction. “My job is helping you make the most of that.”

  Two hours later my head and hands were full of material on what would be expected. A schedule of appearances. Do’s and don’ts. Cautionary tales of people who’d fucked up before.

  We hadn’t talked about anything personal. Still, I reminded myself, this needed to happen. If my father was elected to the Senate, he’d do a damn good job. He’d know every detail of every one of his constituents and work his ass off to ensure the important things happened, even if they weren’t easy.

  I checked my messages on my phone on the car ride home, hoping by some miracle Ava had texted.

  To say what?

  I’d practically spilled my guts the other night in the hall. And she’d told me to get lost.

  My cell rang as I walked in my front door. “Still on for today?” I asked after glancing at the number and hitting “accept.”

  “That’s why I called,” Josh said, regret in his voice. “Can we hit the gym tomorrow after work? Something came up.”

  “Yeah. Sure.”

  We had standing plans and Josh almost never canceled, so it didn’t bother me. I’d go on my own, work out some of the frustration I was feeling.

  I changed from the sport coat and trousers I’d worn to meet my dad into shorts and a T-shirt. Gym bag slung over my back, I was locking my door when I nearly collided with someone in the hall.

  “Sorry, man.” The guy was younger than me. Taller, though, with dark hair and broad shoulders. What my fourteen-year-old cousin Emma would’ve called dreamy.

  He was hovering in front of the door across the hall. “Are you a friend of Ava’s?” I asked.

  The other guy grinned, flashing dimples. “Something like that.”

  I had a sudden urge to hit something.

  Finally, “Just messing with you. I’m Dylan.” He stuck out his hand. “Cameron. Ava’s my sister,” he said meaningfully.

  “Nate.” I shook his hand, the aggression melting away. “She’s my … neighbor,” I finished lamely.

  “Yeah, I see that.” A knowing look crossed Dylan’s face. “So you’re the lawyer, huh?”

  “The— What?” I was confused. Had she talked about me?

  “Lex told me about the lawsuit. That the guy across the hall was pulling the strings for the prosecution.”

  I wanted to ask whether Ava had said anything but resisted the temptation, realizing if I did I’d be ten shades of desperate.

  But Dylan was still watching thoughtfully. “I’m biased, but if I were you, Nate? I wouldn’t want to get into it with these girls. They don’t back down and they don’t give in.”

  “Yeah, I’m starting to get that,” I said wryly.

  The door opened, ending our conversation. Alexis appeared first, then Ava. Ava’s gray tank, pink sports bra, and tennis skirt revealed a body most professional cheerleaders would be proud of. My eyes cut back to Dylan and I cleared my throat.

  He leaned over. “Long as you’re checking out my sister and not my girlfriend, we’re good.” He said it jokingly, but I had a feeling he was serious. The truth was, Alexis could’ve been wearing a bag and I wouldn’t have known.

  “OK. We’re going to shoot some hoops, want to come?” Dylan asked, louder.

  “I better not.” I gestured to my gym bag.

  “Come on,” Dylan insisted. “The new guy my sister’s dating is going. We can put him through the wringer.” He winked.

  “Dylan, he said no,” Alexis protested. “Besides, this is the guy who’s suing us.”

  “Technically, Bryson’s suing you,” I offered for no good reason.

  “See?” Dylan grinned. Then lowered his voice and tugged Alexis toward the side of the hall. “We need a sixth. It’s just basketball; how much harm can he do? We’ll wipe the court with him.” He wrapped an arm around her, tucking her head under his chin. She grudgingly let him.

  “Sounds like you’ve got a day pass,” Dylan remarked. “What do you say?”

  If I hadn’t known better, I’d have said Dylan was in my camp.

  My eyes cut back to Ava, and I started to say no. She’d given me a pretty clear message the other night. But something stopped me.

  “Josh is going?” I asked, turning back to Dylan.

  “You know him?”

  “Your sister only dates my friends.”

  “It’s all right. I only date my sister’s friends,” Dylan replied, unconcerned by the tension. “So what do you say?”

  It pissed me off that Josh would bail on me to be with Ava. And it wasn’t like I’d promised to stay away. I wouldn’t intrude. Just … observe. See what was between them.

  “Sounds good. I’m in.”

  ~

  “Girls versus guys?” Dylan suggested.

  We’d arrived at the park to find Josh already on the basketball court, talking with a blond who’d introduced herself as Jordan.

  I pretended not to care when Josh came up to me with a sheepish grin. “Sorry to bail, man. You get it, right?”

  “Sure.”

  I did get it. But that didn’t make me like it any more.

  Once we started, it became obvious quickly that Jordan was the only one who kept the girls in the three-on-three game. We weren’t playing all out, which left my brain to chew on other things. Like whether Ava actually liked the game, was trying to impress Josh, or was just going with the will of the group.

  After thirty minutes, I could tell it wasn’t the first. Ava called a break and pulled Alexis and Jordan off the court. The girls made a beeline for a Starbucks on the other corner and Dylan headed for a picnic table at the side of the court. “Sorry, guys. I’m three hours behind and still have a cramp in my leg from the plane. That’s what happens when you take the red eye,” he groaned.

  Josh and I traded a look. He was ready to go despite the heat and lack of audience. And I sure as hell was.

  Josh stripped off his shirt and tossed it on the picnic table behind Dylan. “Anytime, princess,” he said to me, grinning.

  I followed suit, feeling a surge of adrenaline. “Try to keep up, sweetheart,” I grunted as I stole the ball and drilled down the court, putting it off the backboard and into the net.

  Basketball brought out my competitiveness, and today, I was beyond edgy. The world fell away and I went head-to-head with Josh, dodging, feinting.

  We’d played together before, on the same team and on different ones. I’d even briefly considered a career in it when I was offered a basketball scholarship at two smaller sc
hools. In the end, I’d decided on my dad’s alma mater to set me up for law school.

  After playing hard for a few minutes, Josh held up a hand. “So what do you think?” he asked as he pulled up in front of me, resting the ball on his hip. He was still short of breath.

  “About what?” I was winded too.

  “Her.” Josh tipped his head toward the picnic table, where the girls had rejoined Dylan, drinks in hand. Ava was perched in the middle of the girls, laughing at something Jordan said while Dylan and Lex seemed to be in their own world. She looked happy and alive, like she didn’t have a care in the world.

  I wondered if he knew how good she was to the people she cared about, how protective and compassionate.

  “I think you’re a lucky shit,” I said honestly, wiping the sweat out of my eyes.

  “Yeah.” He grinned lazily. “I mean, look at her. I’ve been going out of my mind the way she’s making me wait. Maybe tonight.” Josh winked. “Pray for me, man.”

  Chapter 16

  Ava

  “What’d you bring me?” Dylan asked as we made our way back across the road to the picnic table.

  “Water. Like you wanted.” I passed it to him. He eyed Lex’s Frappuccino.

  “You don’t like these,” she reminded him. “And it’s too hot for coffee.”

  “You guys are ganging up on me,” he complained, pulling Lex beside him. But he looked at me over her head and mouthed, “Thank you.”

  He meant for calling him and making him drag his ass out here at the last minute. That was what family was for—telling you when you had your head so far up your ass you couldn’t see what was right in front of you.

  Best-friend-and-brother crisis averted, my eyes went back to the court.

  The stakes had just gone up. Both guys were shirtless, and damn if it wasn’t fascinating.

  Surfers trying to show off were one thing, but lawyers on the basketball court were a different breed. There was a desperation to it, like everything mattered just a little too much.