by K. Langston
Barrett dropped a chin to my shoulder, wearing a proud grin. “Gifts shut her up. Good to know.”
Spinning around, I threw my arms around his shoulders, fighting back the tears of joy trying to escape. I lifted my eyes to his “It’s beautiful.”
“You make it even more beautiful,” he said, kissing my nose.
My God, I love it when he does that.
“Ready?”
“Yeah, just let me grab my bag.”
When I returned a few seconds later, I found Barrett with puzzled look on his face, one hand stroking his scruffy chin. “What’s with all the boxes?”
Shit.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
SHIT!!!
“Oh, Maddie left some things and she wanted me to ship them back to her.”
Thankfully, the lie rolled easily off my tongue. It was a shitty lie, but it was all I had. Why hadn’t I thought about the damn boxes?
Because you’ve been living in a fantasy world that’s why.
“We’re going to be late,” I said shutting off the light, hiding like a coward from his trusting eyes.
We pulled up to the Mandarin and I thanked my lucky stars that I splurged on a new dress. Barrett buttoned his coat as he walked around the car, handing off the keys and a tip to the valet. Threading his fingers tight with mine, he led me inside.
Walking into the Oriental ballroom, I was blown away. For the first time I wondered who this party was actually for, and why I hadn’t thought to ask before now. Soft lighting and beautiful white and red roses coated every surface while a stunning woman crooned Lovesong next to a piano.
“If I forget to tell you later, because I’ll be too busy using my mouth for other things, thanks for coming. My family is going to love you,”
His family?
I choked on my words before I finally found them. “Your family?” I collected a step back. “Barrett, whose party is this?”
I’m such an idiot.
“My sister Mia’s engagement party. I thought I told you.”
“No jackass, you didn’t say anything about an engagement party, let alone it being your sister. You just said you needed a date to a party. What the hell is wrong with you?!”
He hadn’t mentioned his family much. I knew he had two sisters that drove him crazy, and a nephew named Dylan whom he adored. He’d told me his father was a brilliant man that he admired more than anyone in the world. Oh, and his mother was a saint. That’s all I knew. “That’s right… I had my tongue in your throat. Sorry, guess I forgot to mention that minor detail.” I slapped his arm with the back of my hand.
Minor detail my ass.
There was no time to digest the fact that I would be meeting Barrett’s family before a leggy blonde who only had eyes for the man next to me, stopped in front of us. She was wearing a killer black dress with a fabulous pair of fuck me heels. “Barrett,” His name flowed from her mouth, all breathy and sweet. I had to clench my jaw shut to keep from snarling at her. I stepped into him closer. I felt like a territorial bitch in heat. “I was looking for my date when I saw you walk in. The party is amazing and Mia is positively glowing.” She finally found enough courage to slide her eyes to mine.
Barrett’s fingers dipped beneath the fabric of my dress, pressing incredible heat into the skin of my lower back. “Amanda, I would like you to meet my girlfriend, Tabitha.” Shock and a spark of jealousy flashed in her wide eyes. Barrett smiled proudly down at me, that dimple he owned winking at the top of his cheek.
You are so dead!
I turned my attention back to Amanda, who still held a look of disbelief on her face. “Pleasure to meet you, Tabitha.”
I nodded.
Swinging her eyes back to Barrett, she gave him a seductive smile. “Well, I better go find my date. Enjoy your evening.”
She sauntered off, but not without glancing back over her shoulder.
Stepping out of his embrace, I fisted my clutch. “What the hell was that?”
He had the nerve to look clueless and cute. “What?”
“Hmm…let’s see. That woman either wants to fuck you or she already has, and you introduced me as your girlfriend.” I gritted, trying to sound angry when I was anything but.
The son of bitch smiled and I thought my panties would catch on fire. “You are my girlfriend.”
A small laugh escaped my lips. I had to admit, I liked that he’d called me his girlfriend, especially when he introduced me to her. Still, the fact remained. “I am not your girlfriend.”
“Let me break this down for you. I’ve been coming inside of you for three weeks now. Made you breakfast in bed. Gave you a stone that costs more than my car. Now I’m about to introduce you to my entire family. Baby, you’re my girlfriend.”
I opened my mouth to object, but was interrupted. “What are you doing loitering in the entrance?” The older man standing in front of us was about a foot shorter than Barrett with eyes that were sharp and steady, just like his son’s. He held two glasses of champagne. “And who is this lovely young lady?” he asked, offering me a glass.
I didn’t give Barrett a chance to answer. “Tabitha Warren,” I informed him, taking the glass. “Thank you very much.”
“My girlfriend,” Barrett added with a cocky grin.
“Well it’s about damn time, son.” The resemblance was remarkable. “Corbin Shaw,” He gifted me with a familiar smile and I saw a glimpse of the future, and what Barrett would look like with more age. “That’s the first time I’ve ever heard him use that word. You must be a very special woman.”
The urge to run had never been so strong. I didn’t want to be someone special to him. I didn’t want to be his girlfriend. I didn’t want any of this.
Did I?
There is no remedy for love, but to love more.
~ Henry David Thoreau
I wanted everyone to know she was mine. If I wanted her heart, I had to take it. She would not give it up without a fight. I looked at my watch, thinking of any excuse to call it an early night, but I didn’t want this moment to end either. Watching her interact with my family only intensified the feelings I had for her, making them stronger. Any remaining doubt she was the one, after tonight, had been completely eliminated.
“She’s amazing.” Mia gave me a playful nudge to my shoulder. She could tell. Hell, everyone could tell. Tabitha was still in deep conversation with Dylan about his impressive Ninja Turtle collection. Pure happiness beamed from my mother’s face as her gaze caught mine. “I’m so happy for you, Barrett. I always knew this day would come. Just takes the right woman,” Mia said, rubbing her hand up and down Brent’s leg. He leaned over and kissed her on the neck.
My stomach rolled and the bitterness I had towards this relationship intensified. I had first-hand knowledge of every depraved thing this man had ever done, even participated in a few ruthless acts myself. No matter how hard I tried, I could not accept the fact that he was a changed man. Could love really change a person that much? I had to acknowledge it was possible, considering I myself was a changed man. Brent leaned forward, catching my eye before nodding towards the lobby.
I dropped a kiss to Tabitha’s shoulder before moving my mouth to her ear. “Be back in ten, then we’re out. I’m fucking dying to be inside you.” The gasp I earned was well worth the stares I received when I excused myself from the table.
Walking into the lobby, I found Brent near the grand stair case, looking down at his phone. “Make it quick,” I ordered, shoving my hands inside my pockets.
“Look, I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but I need it. You can’t help who you fall in love with man, it just happens. Can’t we just put all this shit behind us and be a fucking family?”
Just as I thought, another desperate attempt at salvaging the friendship we once had. “Actions speak louder than words, Brent. Prove you’re worthy of my sister, only then will I be able to overlook the past.”
“I’ve more than proven myself.” He took a step closer as
blood rushed my ears. “Maybe you should take a look in the mirror more often. Wonder if Mia would feel the same about her perfect big brother if she knew about those two bitches we tag teamed in Cancun five years ago. How we got them both so messed up they could hardly walk, and then took them back to our hotel room and fucked them like animals.”
Yet another reason I could never trust this asshole again. I hadn’t thought about that night in a long time. I didn’t want to. I don’t remember having sex with either of those women, and I swear to Christ I think he not only slipped something in their drinks, but mine too. I woke up the next morning tangled in a pile of limbs- Brent’s included, with a dozen used condoms scattered on the floor and one hell of a headache. The man I knew and the man Mia loved were two completely different people.
“You haven’t changed at all. You’re still the same asshole you’ve always been. You better hope like hell your intentions with my sister are no less than honorable.” I took a step forward, placing a finger to the center of his chest with a sharp jab. “If you hurt her, I will spend the rest of my life making yours a living hell.”
“Barrett?” Tabitha’s voice broke through my angry fog. She gently placed her hand on my forearm, pulling it away from Brent’s chest. “It’s time to go.”
“Yeah, Barrett. Your bitch is ready to go.”
Red tinted the world around me. “What the fuck did you just say?”
“Barrett, stop!” Tabitha clawed at my arm when I wrapped my fingers around his throat.
My chest heaved for air. “I’m only going to tell you this one time so listen up, brother-in-law. Stay the fuck away from her.”
“Barrett please, you’re causing a scene.” I looked around to see a few of our colleagues and their wives whispering with their wide eyes glued to us.
I found a calming breath, releasing him. “Crazy motherfucker,” he said, massaging his neck.
“Call her anything besides Tabitha again, and next time, you won’t be able to breathe when I release you.”
Clasping my hand with hers, I led her up the stairs. “You ok?” She looked over her shoulder, worrying her bottom lip.
“Yeah, I’m good. Just don’t want that piece of shit marrying my sister, that’s all,” Her feet stopped moving when we made it to the first landing. “What’s wrong?”
Squeezing her eyes shut, she released a heavy sigh and looked down at her feet. “Barrett, I need to tell you I…”
“Baby,” I wrapped her in my arms, kissing the soft skin of her neck before moving my mouth to her wine flavored lips, drowning my frustration in her taste. “Only thing I need right now is you.”
There were so many more words I wanted to give her, so many things I wanted to say, but I wanted her beneath me before I whispered them upon her lips.
Sometimes the truth hurts.
And sometimes it feels real good.
~ Henry Rollins
So much had happened in the span of a few hours, I was still trying to catch up as we stepped inside the suite of the hotel. Not only had I unknowingly been invited to meet Barrett’s entire family, who were all completely amazing, but I’d been slapped in the face with my past. Of all the people for Mia to be engaged to, it had to be him. Now I carried the knowledge that he’d cheated on her, and with me of all people. Could my life get any more fucked up? What the hell was I supposed to do now? I couldn’t let her make what could be the biggest mistake of her life- right?
Right.
I set all of this knowledge aside the moment his hands were on my skin. Standing in the middle of the room, I closed my eyes to the heat of his fingers dragging fire down my spine. God, I was going to miss this. My heart ached at the thought of what I would leave behind. He unzipped my dress, pushing it from my shoulders with a kiss to each shoulder blade.
“Tabitha.”
My name on his lips was a plea and a devastating blow to the chest. I knew this would hurt. I knew it wouldn’t be easy, but as he moved to stand in front of me, I felt like it was impossible. How could I ever breathe without him inside of me? How could I walk away from the only man who ever made me truly happy? Those eyes on me held far more than the promise of pleasure. Those blessed windows to his soul begged for me to give him my heart. But what Barrett didn’t know was that in exchange, I would ultimately break his.
The sun is gone, but I have light.
~ Curt Cobain
Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I made my way to the door.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
“Hold the fuck on, I’m coming!” Squinting through the peephole I saw Mia crying, shuffling back and forth with a fire extinguisher in her hands. I threw open the door, blinded by fear and the bright lights of the hallway. “Shit Mia, what the fuck?”
“Brent,” She dropped the fire extinguisher and fell into my arms, her trembling body overwhelmed with grief.
“What the hell happened? He put his hands on you?” I did a quick scan of her body, slowly walking her to into the living room. Once I had her settled, I retrieved the fire extinguisher and shut the door. I ran a hand through my hair, pulling it down my face. “Why are you banging on my door, with a fire extinguisher, in your pajamas at 6am?”
Wiping her face with the sleeve of her hoodie, she sniffled. Then she brought her red swollen eyes to mine, sucking in big gulps of air every time she breathed. “You were right.”
Well… no surprise there.
A grin curled my lips as I chewed on my sarcastic reply. “About?”
“Ev… everything.” She was on the verge of hyperventilating.
I took a seat next to her, pulling her into my arms. “Just tell me exactly what the hell happened please.”
I gave her a few more minutes to gather herself before finally…
“Tabitha called me from your phone a few hours ago.”
“What are you talking about?”
Mia lifted her head from my shoulder, wiping fresh tears from her eyes. “She told me her and Brent had a one night stand a few months ago at a hotel on the other side of town. She even told me which credit card he used. I didn’t believe her at first, I was so pissed. But after checking his credit card statement online, I discovered she was telling the truth. So I woke his ass up and confronted him about it.” My dry mouth refused to form words. This had to be a dream.
A fucking nightmare.
Mia continued. “He said he thought he could be faithful, but it’s just too hard. He’s been cheating on me the whole time we’ve been together.” She hiccupped again, another wave of tears rolling down her soaked cheeks.
My body grew thick with rage, mentally listing the ways I wanted to destroy him. Mia sobbed, drowning in his deceit and lies. “Why didn’t I listen to you? Why didn’t I listen when you kept telling me he would break my heart? You knew him better than anyone.”
I stood up, claiming a solid breath. “Call Farrah. Have her come pick you up.”
“What? Why?”
“Just do what the fuck I said.”
Running into the bedroom, I took in the rumpled sheets before dashing into the bathroom and back out. Scanning the bare floor, I clutched my stomach, searching for the air to breathe. A ray of sunshine peeking through the center of the drapes bounced a blinding light off the dresser. I knew what it was, but took three steps to confirm. A necklace lying on top of a white slip of paper holding a single word.
Goodbye.
“I’M GOING TO KILL YOU, MOTHERFUCKER!”
I have never been a violent man. I’d never even thrown a punch until my freshman year of college, and that was because Brent was fighting off an angry boyfriend who’d caught him screwing his girl. I felt like I could kill this son of a bitch with my bare hands. He’d broken my sister’s heart. Had his hands on what was mine.
I wanted him to bleed.
I left Mia back at the hotel, hauling my ass straight to her apartment where I found Brent already packing his shit. My anger had completely taken over and before I realized what I was doing, I ha
d him pinned against the wall. “How could you?”
“I want you out.” he said.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“You’re finished, Shaw. Over.”
Pressing my forearm to his throat, I applied more pressure. “You better start making some fucking sense soon.”
Brent struggled for air. “Let… me go,”
Adrenaline sparked hot in my veins at the thought of snapping his neck in two. Luckily, my conscience decided to join the party and I released him, but not without landing a solid left hook to his jaw. I retreated several steps, adding enough space between us to prevent myself from putting my hands on him again. Afraid if I did, next time, I wouldn’t let up until he stopped breathing.
Working his mouth with a groan, he spit blood on the floor. “You always thought you were better than everyone else. Even when we were younger, you were always so fucking perfect; you always had to win at everything. Everyone thought you hung the goddamn moon, including my ole man. Anytime I did something good, you did something better. Anytime I won a case, you always won one bigger.” Hollow eyes stayed fixed on mine, continuing in his carefully controlled tone. “I knew you wouldn’t walk away. I knew you wouldn’t let it all go without a fight. So I had to find a way to force you,” Brent pulled a jump drive from his pocket, tossing it on the bed. “Keep it, I have plenty of copies.”
“What’s that?”
“America’s favorite lawyer fucking two unconscious women.”
Blood drained from my face. “You son of bitch! You drugged me.”
He shrugged with a calculated smile. “Maybe, but you willingly participated, and that video shows you enjoying every second of it.”
I ran a rough hand through my hair. “What do you want?”
“Walk away and that video will never see the light of day.”
