The Love Square

by Jessica Calla

  Clare’s phone chimed, and she checked the screen. Dylan’s name and annoying, beautiful face flashed at her. She opened his text.

  Dylan: Sorry.

  “Argh,” she screamed as she threw the phone on the bed. Sorry? He made her want to pull her hair out.

  She checked the progress on her bath and thought she heard her phone ring again. She ignored it, shut off the water, and then sank into the warm bath.

  Clare shut her eyes and commenced breathing exercises. Just as she started to relax, she heard her door click open. The cleaning people? She couldn’t remember if she had hung the ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on the door. Then she heard her name.

  “Clare?” Darn it. She’d forgotten Dylan had her second key. Maybe if she hid in the bathroom, he’d think she was gone. She stayed silent, cursing herself for leaving the bathroom door open a crack.

  “Clare?”

  She arranged the bubbles to hide her naked body as Dylan pushed open the bathroom door. He had changed into a T-shirt that stretched the span of his shoulders. His sunglasses perched on his head, holding his hair off his face, and his desert tan made his eyes seem even more gold and flecky.

  Clare forced her gaze away. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m in the tub.”

  “I did notice,” he said, scanning the water. “I wanted to apologize. You didn’t answer your phone.”

  “I’m not ready to accept your apology.” She lifted her knees and wrapped her arms around them to hide her body. Her kneecaps stuck out over the water line. “Now get out.”

  “I want to talk.”

  “I’m not exactly in a position to do that right now.”

  He half grinned. “I don’t mind in the least.”

  “Sheesh, Dylan. Well, at least turn around.”

  Dylan turned away, and she stretched her legs in the tub.

  “I’m sorry,” he said.

  “You act like this obnoxious big brother who…who…” Clare struggled to find the words. “…annoys me.”

  Dylan leaned against the sink, still with his back to her. She really had no choice but to check out his ass. It’s right in front of me.

  “You think of me like an annoying brother?” He shifted his hips again, and Clare bit her fist. “Really?”

  “Hmm,” she said, more about the view than his words.

  He looked over his shoulder.

  She darted her eyes upward. “Oh, um, yes. A super-annoying brother.”

  He turned to face her, and she remembered her state of undress. She pushed the remainder of bubbles toward her upper body.

  “You would kiss your brother like you kissed me on the plane?” He smirked and crossed his arms over his chest, watching her.

  Her entire body tightened. Get it together, Clare. Being naked and talking about kissing with your lusty gladiator probably isn’t the best idea right now.

  She shook her head, clearing her thoughts, and pointed to a towel. He handed it to her.

  “We have to be at your girlfriend’s competition in less than an hour. Can you stop about the stupid kiss?”

  “Kisses,” he said. “Plural. Stupid kiss-sizz.”

  She scooted up, quickly wrapped the towel around herself, and stepped out of the tub. “Yes, big deal. Kiss-sizz,” she emphasized. “I don’t know how many times I have to tell you they don’t mean anything. You have a girlfriend who you just spent the night with. Any casual kisses between friends should not even be on your mind.”

  “But they are,” he said.

  Don’t do it, Clare. Don’t melt into a ball of mush. He’s not yours. “Get them out,” she continued, waving a wet hand around. “Or considering how you berated me for being a slut, perhaps you can add those kisses to the evidence list.”

  “Stop,” he said, watching her tuck her towel so it would stay up over her body. “I didn’t mean that. I should have known…it’s just…honestly? I was jealous.”

  Jealous?

  “That’s enough,” she said, holding up her hand. “Don’t say any more. We’re about to see your girlfriend. Get your mind straight.”

  When he leaned against the sink again, this time facing her, she repressed the urge to open her towel and wrap him in it with her. His hotness aggravated her today, but so did his brooding. To move things along, she blurted, “Fine. Apology accepted. Can you leave now?”

  “We need to talk about this,” Dylan said as he left the bathroom, “when we get back to California.”

  “Please just go,” Clare begged, holding the towel tight against her body, acutely aware of her nakedness underneath. She needed to put space between them.

  He must have sensed her needs because without another word, he left.

  Clare dressed and packed her camera and lenses. After a last quick look in the mirror, she fluffed her hair, grabbed her bag, and headed down to the ballroom.

  Sooner or later, she would have to tell Dylan she’d broken off her engagement and planned to stay in California. She knew he’d be happy she was staying, but she didn’t want her decision to be about him. The whole point of coming to California was to gain her independence, figure herself out. Throwing herself into something with Dylan wouldn’t achieve that goal.

  Not to mention Jenna. Obviously, they cared for each other, and she couldn’t imagine a better match—the movie star and the dancer.

  She shouldn’t take Dylan’s talk about kisses and jealousy seriously. They all needed to get on with their lives.

  ***

  In the ballroom, Clare avoided conversation by fiddling with her camera and checking out the lighting and the setup. Soon enough, people shuffled in as the judges seated themselves at the table at the head of the dance floor. Unlike the tango competition that took place on a lighted stage, today’s dances would be performed on the ballroom floor with the audience gathered around. Clare considered the lighting and the crowd to plan her shots.

  She jumped when someone grabbed her waist. “Hey, Clare from Nebraska,” Alex said from behind her. She smelled his aftershave before she turned around and checked him out.

  He was handsome in an athletic way, with that dark-haired, blue-eyed combo like the men on the covers of romance novels. With Dylan, Clare could stare in awe all day, wondering how any person could have such a chiseled face and beautiful skin, such a perfect shade of thick hair, and flecky, gold eyes. Eventually, you’d think about undressing him and discovering every inch. Alex was more the type of guy you looked at and immediately wondered what he’d be like in bed. Dylan was California dreamy and swoon-worthy, but Alex was New York rough-and-tumble sexy.

  “Hey, Alex from Brooklyn,” she said. “You smell good.”

  He glanced over her black pants and the sheer shirt over her black camisole. “You clean up nice too. Whatcha doing?”

  “Measuring the light, checking angles for good shots. I wanted to frame a couple for Jenna and Scott. Hey, nice move abandoning me at the pool. Dylan yelled at me for being a slut.”

  “D-Barnes? I don’t think he’s ever used that word. We must have really rattled him. Yeah, I snuck away like a coward. I thought you two could use some alone time.”

  “Gee, thanks. We got in a big fight. Where are you guys standing?”

  Alex pointed to Dylan, who was directly across the floor. Dylan noticed her and waved.

  Clare smiled as the lights dimmed and the announcer introduced the first couple. Alex darted across the dance floor to Dylan while Clare squatted in front of the crowd on the edge of the floor and waited for Jenna and Scott’s turn.

  As she watched the dancers, Clare occasionally glanced at Dylan across the dance floor. When he caught her looking, he’d wink or make a face, reminding her of her art gallery show.

  Clare’s face warmed. Dylan must be crazy if he was jealous over her. She was nothing special compared to Jenna. Could Dylan be into me that way? He did kiss her back when she made her moves at the art gallery, then again on the plane. What am I thinking? He’s a gladiator and I’m a—


  Clare snapped back to reality when the judges introduced Jenna and Scott. Jenna took the dance floor in a stretchy red dress and black shoes, Scott in black pants and a matching red, satiny shirt. As they stood in the spotlight waiting for the music, Clare snapped a shot. Jenna looked beautiful, confident, and elegant. Not nervous at all. When the music started, they glided around the floor, and Clare took picture after picture until they stopped in front of her.

  With the spotlight shining on them, Clare was able to see across the dark room to Dylan, Alex, and Dom. Dylan beamed, Dom looked nervous, but it was Alex who Clare found the most interesting. She pointed her camera across the floor and took his picture.

  Chapter 29

  Jenna

  After dinner, the six friends, including Dom who’d arrived from New York in time to watch them dance their last dance, lingered in the restaurant, drinking and celebrating. Scott and Jenna had taken third place overall, in addition to their first place finish for their tango. Champagne flowed, voices carried, and soon they became the rowdy table.

  When Scott and Dom left for the poker tables, Jenna switched seats with Dylan so he could talk to Alex without shouting over her. She settled next to Clare, and they turned away from the men.

  Jenna knew there was no way Alex would have hooked up with Clare the night before. First of all, she was nowhere near as trashy as Alex seemed to like them. The women he took home screamed one-night stand. Clare screamed marriage and a white picket fence. Still, her natural look and her inquisitive eyes made her attractive in an understated way.

  Jenna asked her how she liked Vegas.

  “I love it. Last night, Alex and I walked up and down the Strip. Gosh, there are so many people. The hotels are beautiful. I could spend days going in and out. Alex is hilarious too. He had me laughing all night.”

  “Yeah, he’s a riot. Dylan wasn’t happy to see you two together this morning,” Jenna said, fishing.

  “He yelled at me. Called me slutty,” Clare said before sipping her drink.

  “He did not!” She rubbed her earlobe between her thumb and forefinger. “What is he? Your father?”

  “I accused him of acting like an annoying big brother.”

  The women jumped at the sound of a crash. Dylan and Alex’s pitcher lay shattered on the table, beer trickling off the tabletop. The men didn’t even flinch. They laughed and threw napkins over the mess.

  Jenna stood up and moved away from the spilled beer streaming toward her. She bounced around on her toes, restless while they guys attempted to clean up. She looked to Clare. “You want to get out of here? Just us girls?”

  Clare blushed and darted her eyes toward Dylan. “I can’t steal you away from Dylan on your last night together.”

  “Trust me,” Jenna said, “he’s going to be too drunk for me to deal with tonight, and hungover tomorrow. I really need to get some fresh air. What do you say?”

  “I am a little sick of boys,” Clare said, grinning.

  Jenna smiled. “Let’s go.”

  ***

  Three minutes after they left the restaurant, Jenna’s phone rang. Two seconds later, Clare’s did.

  “I got Alex,” Jenna said.

  Clare showed Jenna her phone with Dylan’s name and picture flashing.

  “Good luck,” Jenna told her. Then she touched her phone.

  “Where the hell are you two?” Alex asked.

  “We left. We’re having girl time. We’ll catch up to you later. Kiss Dylan for me.”

  “On the lips?” Alex teased. “Come back. We miss you.”

  “See you later,” Jenna said before hanging up.

  She listened in on Clare’s side of her conversation with Dylan. “Geez, Dylan, we are fine. We’re just going out for a few drinks.” Clare rolled her eyes at Jenna. “We don’t need bodyguards. I’m hanging up. Tell her yourself. She’s right here.” Clare held out the phone to Jenna. “He wants to talk to you.”

  She took the phone. “Dylan?”

  “Hey, beautiful. Does this mean you won’t be spending the night with me?”

  “I’ll see you later. I needed to get out a little.”

  “Are you feeling sick? Alex said you haven’t been eating—”

  “I’m okay. I want to hang out with Clare.” Jenna winked at Clare and then borrowed her line, “We’re sick of boys. Bye.” She hung up.

  “Funny, when we’re sitting right next to them, they couldn’t care less. Now that we’ve escaped, they are all over us,” Clare said.

  Jenna nodded. “How’d Alex even make it here without the team cutting him?”

  “He faked a stomach virus,” Clare said. “Puke and all.”

  “Did he really? He’s insane.”

  “I like him,” Clare said. “A lot. He’s fun.”

  They walked a few more blocks and stopped at the fountains of the Bellagio. Jenna had never seen the display and watched with wide eyes.

  She didn’t know what she would do if what she suspected was true. She watched the water fly into the sky and asked the universe for strength.

  As if Clare could read her thoughts, she asked, “What’s on your mind, Jenna?”

  Jenna twisted her hair up away from her face. May as well go for it.

  She took a deep breath. “Are you in love with Dylan?”

  Clare smiled, and flashes of green sparked from her catlike eyes. “Is that a trick question? Yes, I love him. He’s my friend.”

  “That’s fair,” Jenna said.

  “Do you love Alex?”

  Jenna froze.

  “Hey, you asked me. Fair is fair.”

  “Is that a trick question?” Jenna retorted, borrowing Clare’s line again.

  Clare shrugged without answering. She scrolled through the images on her camera, and when she found the one she wanted, she handed the camera to Jenna.

  Jenna held up the camera and focused on the little screen. Alex appeared on the display. Not the goofy, boyish, irritating Alex she knew. The Alex that Clare had captured looked peaceful, content, and serious. His chin was tilted just a bit, and his smile looked intense—not the big, toothy grin she was used to seeing.

  His eyes were focused, as though he was studying something. Jenna had never seen him look at anything like that before. Even when he listened to her or told her a story, he’d try to make eye contact but would always break it, looking around, animated and always moving. Seeing Alex like that, frozen in front of her, so focused, reminded her of the night he kissed her, when she got a glimpse of the peacefulness and stillness buried deep within him that he hid from the world.

  Clare spoke softly. “That’s Alex watching you dance today.”

  Jenna inhaled sharply.

  “I’ve never seen anyone look at someone like that,” Clare said, peeking over Jenna’s shoulder at the camera screen.

  Tears pooled in Jenna’s eyes. The Alex in the camera had looked at her with pure love. There was no denying it. Seeing it made her feel happy and sad all at once. Jenna couldn’t separate her heart from Alex. He was a part of her in a way she didn’t think any other man could ever be.

  “Are you going to break Dylan’s heart, Jenna?” Clare asked.

  Without answering the question, Jenna handed her the camera and started down the Strip. Clare caught up as Jenna wiped a tear away.

  “I didn’t mean to make you sad,” Clare said. “I thought you should see the picture. And I care about Dylan. I know how happy he is with you and that he’s been hurt before. He really wants this to work out.”

  Jenna knew she should tell someone her concerns. Someone who knew Dylan. Someone who wasn’t Alex. Someone who could help her figure it out. Clare seemed like a good option, so she squeezed her eyes shut and blurted it out. “I think I may be pregnant.”

  When the silence lasted more than a few seconds, Jenna opened her eyes to see Clare staring at her blankly. “Are you okay?” Jenna asked.

  “Did you say—?”

  “Pregnant. Yes.”

>   Clare raised her eyebrows. “Dylan?”

  Jenna sighed and spun, then started up the Strip, Clare on her heels.

  “I’m sorry,” Clare said behind her. “I didn’t mean…I just wanted to make sure I understood. It’s only been a month or so. Are you sure?”

  Jenna stopped walking and glared down at her. “I’m not sure. But if I am, I’m sure it’s Dylan’s. I don’t sleep around.”

  “I didn’t think you did. But before Dylan—”

  “There was no ‘before Dylan.’”

  “Didn’t you guys use protection?”

  Jenna sighed, feeling the tears well in her eyes. “Of course we did. I don’t know what happened. I never got my period. I thought maybe because of rehearsals, and I checked the calendar, and now I’m tired as shit, I don’t want to eat…”

  “Did you take a pregnancy test?”

  Jenna shook her head. “Not yet. I just figured this out a few hours ago.”

  “Does Dylan know?” Clare’s voice shook when she asked.

  “No. If I am…pregnant…I’m not sure I’m going to have it,” Jenna said in just as shaky a voice.

  Clare’s big eyes seemed to double in size. “What? No, Jen, Dylan would be a great father. You…you…you have to talk to him before you decide…”

  Then, of all things, Clare started crying. She dabbed at her eyes and said, “I’m sorry.”

  Jenna plopped down on the curb and let the tears fall too. “I don’t know what to do, Clare. I can’t have a baby. I don’t even have a driver’s license.”

  “Shit, Jenna,” Clare said and sat down beside her. “You’re going to have to tell Dylan.”

  Jenna hid her face in her knees. She wasn’t sure she wanted anyone to know. Where is this going? Dylan had asked.

  Clare put an arm around her shoulders. “It’s going to be okay,” she said. “Dylan’s a good man. He won’t let you do this alone. Family means everything to him.”