Unbroken (The Disclosure Series Book 2)

by R. E. Hunter

  “Embry.” He couldn’t bear to watch her leave again.

  She shook her head, and a single tear slid down her cheek as she picked up her bag, straightened her sweater and walked out the door.

  Embry swiped at her cheek, removing any evidence of her emotions as she made a hasty escape, bursting through the doors of the school. Thoughts of Luke plagued her on the drive home as she replayed their encounter in her head.

  Her fingertips moved of their own volition, ghosting over her bruised lips. That kiss. The sweet taste of his mouth on hers, his woodsy scent surrounding her, she could’ve stayed in that moment forever. She wanted to. Wanted to forget the reason they weren’t together in the first place, forget the fact that the reason was here now, in town, and Luke had seen her.

  That reality slapped Embry in the face, and the picture of his arms around someone else made her stomach lurch. She was torn in two. If Sydney was back, then why was he kissing Embry? More importantly, why had she kissed him back? Though the answer to that was easier to come by than she cared to admit. Because being with Luke felt like coming home. Being wrapped in his arms was the first time she’d felt normal in over a week.

  But now she was more of a mess than she’d been when the day had started. She’d known that would happen. Of course the minute she saw him she’d be ruled by her hormones, all rational thought erased by her desire and his stupid blue eyes. His stupid, beautiful, piercing, intense blue eyes filled with nothing but longing for her.

  She sighed. When he was in her space like that, she couldn’t think straight—couldn’t think at all. There was only need. Her brain was mush. And now she was left with more to think about than she wanted.

  Sydney’s here. What did that even mean? Didn’t she live in Georgia? Had she come for Luke? Followed him to New York? Her bipolar thoughts were giving her whiplash. Angry one minute, missing Luke the next, she was driving herself crazy.

  Digging her phone from her bag, she dialed Morgan.

  “I’ve got wine,” her best friend chirped into the phone.

  Embry let out a long sigh. “I think I need more than wine for this.”

  “More than wine?” Morgan asked, her words clouded in confusion. “What more is there?”

  Embry shook her head and chuckled. “I need to clear my head. Find my center and all that.”

  “Oh no,” she started to argue. “I’m your best friend. I will provide you with wine and a shoulder to cry on—it’s in the job description—but I draw the line at yoga.”

  “Come on,” she begged, stretching the word. “Please, Morgan.”

  “I get that you need to get your mind off of Luke, but is twisting your body into a human pretzel really the answer?” Embry could practically hear Morgan’s face twisting in displeasure.

  “Yes. It’s a distraction and it’ll help me think clearly. Wine equals bad decisions.”

  “And fun ones!” Morgan added.

  “Pleeeeeeease, M,” she did her best to goad her friend over the phone.

  “Ugh. Fine,” Morgan relented with a grunt. “Brett likes my ass in yoga pants anyway.”

  “Yes! Thank you!” This was just what she needed. She was feeling better already.

  “You owe me, Jacobs,” Morgan muttered. “And I will call in this favor in the most obnoxious way possible.”

  Embry didn’t care. “Deal.”

  An hour later, Embry was concentrating on the soothing sound of the instructor’s voice, letting her body flow into the poses as Morgan flopped around on her mat, huffing and puffing.

  “I don’t understand how anyone does this voluntarily,” she whined.

  Embry shook her head as she breathed out and pushed up into downward dog.

  Morgan threw her ass into the air, elbows bending awkwardly under her weight. “I’m serious. This is unnatural.”

  Glancing past her outstretched arms, Embry shot her friend a reproachful look. “That’s because you’re doing it wrong. Pay attention.”

  “And you’re doing it right?” Morgan scrunched her face up. “It doesn’t look too good from over here.”

  Embry ignored her, focusing on her balance.

  “Down into plank,” the instructor chimed as she strode quietly around the room. Embry moved into position. “Back into downward dog. Now, I want you to challenge yourself here. Lift your right leg, with your toe pointing down, and come into a one-legged down dog.”

  Embry maneuvered her body into position, her arms shaking as she focused on keeping her balance. Her concentration was shot to hell when a distressed noise sounded beside her. Peeking over, she saw Morgan wide-eyed and mouthing help me as the instructor cupped her hip in one hand and held her raised leg in the other, while calmly whispering, “Align your body, and focus on keeping your shoulders squared.”

  The look on Morgan’s face was priceless as the instructor contorted her form. Embry couldn’t hold her pose any longer. Losing her balance, she crashed to her mat in a fit of laughter as Morgan fell beside her. A murderous stare from the instructor caused a blush to rise on Embry’s cheeks. Busted. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled as Morgan continued to roll around on her mat, snickering uncontrollably. “I’m so sorry. We’ll just go.”

  Embry grabbed her mat and water, and dragged her obnoxious best friend from the studio, but not before Morgan could shout “Namaste!” from the top of her lungs.

  The girls grabbed their coats and keys in the locker room and burst from the building, laughing hysterically. “I cannot believe you just did that!” Embry stared at her friend at a complete loss for words.

  “That’s what happens when you mix Morgan with yoga.” She bent at the hips, hands on her knees. “Give me a minute,” she groaned as her laughter slowed. “My sides hurt.”

  Embry rolled her eyes and tugged her coat against her. “From laughing, maybe. It sure as hell wasn’t from the yoga. You lasted a whopping twenty minutes. I should’ve known better.”

  Morgan’s shoulders lifted innocently. “You knew the risks going in.”

  “Come on, let’s go.” Embry led them toward her car.

  “Wait a minute.” Morgan stuck her hands in her pockets, hunching against the cold. “You still have to catch me up.”

  “Hot chocolate?” Embry suggested.

  Morgan grinned. “Perfection.”

  The girls veered away from the car and strolled down the block to the corner coffee shop. A few minutes later, they were settled on a worn leather couch with two steaming mugs of hot chocolate.

  “So…” Morgan prompted.

  “We kissed,” Embry blurted out.

  Morgan gasped and swatted Embry playfully. “You whore! At school?”

  Embry confirmed with a rueful nod.

  “Why do you get to have sexy school encounters?” Morgan complained good-naturedly. “I want one!”

  Embry narrowed her eyes. “Be serious.”

  “Have you met me?” Morgan shot back.

  Crossing her arms over her chest, Embry gave Morgan her best glare. “Unfortunately.”

  “Okay, okay. Details.”

  Embry told her how she’d gone to Coleman’s office for a meeting to find Luke there, and filled her in on the events leading up to their kiss. “Things got intense, fast.”

  “They always do when it comes to you two,” Morgan observed.

  “I pushed him away,” Embry offered.

  Morgan held out her hand for a high five. “Good job!”

  Embry left her hanging. “And then I pulled him right back in again,” she groaned.

  Her friend started chuckling. “You’re fighting against the tide, Bree, and you’re gonna get pulled under.”

  “Stop trying to be philosophical.” Embry rolled her eyes.

  Morgan’s hands shot up in surrender. “What? You two are like magnets. Or better yet, like peanut butter and jelly, bagel and cream cheese, bread and—”

  Embry palmed her forehead. “Please stop.”

  “Sorry, I got carried away.”
Morgan smirked. “But in all seriousness, you can’t deprive yourself of the southern sexy. That’s why this is happening. It’s the reason diets don’t work. Deny yourself chocolate cake and all you want is that moist, chocolaty dessert. Refuse Luke and all you can think about… want… desire… is that sweet, southern goodness.”

  Embry raised an eyebrow. “Are you finished?”

  Morgan cocked her head, contemplating. “I think so.”

  “Great, thanks.” Embry let out a sigh.

  “Happy to help.” Morgan quipped, then smiled sincerely. “Really, Bree, you know what you’ve gotta do. Your love is bigger than this. I know it’s hard, you’re avoiding the truth because it’s gonna hurt. You’ll get past it, though. I hate him for lying, but I love him for loving you. Anyone can see what you mean to him.”

  Anyone can see… Was Morgan right? Still, it didn’t change what he’d done. “It’s hard to feel that way when he seems to lie so easily,” Embry said bitterly.

  “I’m sure it wasn’t easy for him,” Morgan defended Luke. “He’s not Jack. And we’ve gone over this. Men are morons. Especially when the ‘L’ word is involved.”

  Embry nodded, considering Morgan’s words. It made sense. And she wouldn’t be able to make a decision either way if she didn’t at least hear what Luke had to say. She was sick of her conflicting emotions. One way or the other, maybe it was time to get it over with. “I think you’re right.”

  A smug smile split Morgan’s lips. “Wait, can you please repeat that?”

  “Shut up.” Embry chuckled. “You’re right. I have to talk to him. I’m gonna call him tonight.”

  Embry stood outside her apartment, juggling her yoga mat and water bottle in one hand as she dug through her bag for her keys. Just as she pulled them out, her phone began to ring. She rolled her eyes, assuming it was Morgan calling to check up on her. Not bothering with the caller ID, she accepted the call and balanced the phone between her shoulder and ear as she opened the door. “Can’t go twenty minutes?” she quipped.

  “Embry?”

  She froze as his velvety voice wound around her, warming her from the inside out. Deep, southern rasp—check. Butterflies immediately taking root in her stomach—double check.

  “Luke. H-hi.”

  “Is this a good time?” He sounded so serious.

  She moved into the apartment, kicking the door closed behind her and dropping her things on the floor. “Um, sure. Okay.”

  “Listen I—”

  “Actually, can you come over?” she blurted out. No time like the present, right?

  “I—what?” He sounded surprised, confused.

  Shrugging out of her coat, she moved into the living room and sat on the edge of the couch. “I was hoping we could talk.”

  “Oh.”

  The stiffness of their interaction made her heart ache. What she loved most about Luke was how easy he was. She wanted that back. Wanted him back—without the lies and the hurt. Reaching up to smooth her messy hair, she glanced down at her yoga outfit and decided the only way to get that was to face it. “So, can you come over?”

  “Now?” Uncertainty was clear in his voice. She pictured his strong hand moving anxiously to rub his neck, and a small smile forced its way across her lips. “You sure?”

  She shrugged. “As I’ll ever be.”

  When she hung up with Luke, Embry started to pick up around her apartment. She was surprisingly calm, until she glanced in the mirror and saw what she looked like. Crap! Luke would be here in just a few minutes. She began to panic, wringing her hands. Her makeup was somewhat intact, but the rest of her…

  She let out a long sigh and frowned at her reflection, her long waves piled high in a messy bun on top of her head, strands sticking out every which way. Her hot pink yoga pants and black workout tank weren’t helping, either.

  She reached up, about to pull out her bun and fix her hair, but thought better of it.

  Hmmm…

  Looking like a sweaty mess might have its advantages. Maybe it would keep her hormones in check and Luke at bay. Right. She was delusional if she thought that would work. Grimacing, she realized she didn’t have time to shower, so she pinched her cheeks, swiped on deodorant and misted her perfume before heading back into the living room.

  The doorbell rang a minute later, and she stood staring at the door. Her calm from earlier was nowhere to be found, but she pulled in a breath, steeling herself, and swung open the door. “Hey.”

  Luke’s eyes burned into hers. “Hi.”

  His gaze dropped, raking down her body and taking in her spandex-clad form. Heat warmed her cheeks and pooled at her core. Suddenly staying in her yoga clothes didn’t seem like the best idea.

  “Coming in?” she asked, breaking his spell.

  His head shot up and a sheepish grin crossed his face. “Sorry. Yes, please.” He stepped inside.

  Embry made her way to the kitchen and pulled open the fridge, grabbing two bottles of beer. As she turned to offer him one, she bumped right into his chest. “Oof.”

  “Look, I just have to say this and get it out of the way.” His words rushed out, and he was so close she could barely breathe. “I’m sorry for today, Embry. I’ve got a lot more to be sorry for, I know. But I shouldn’t have treated you that way. I got caught up in the moment and I never should’ve—”

  “Stop,” she cut him off, shoving a beer into his chest and wiggling away from him to gain some space. “It’s fine. I was there. I didn’t do anything I didn’t want to.”

  He grabbed the beer, his eyes questioning. “Okay.”

  They moved into the living room and Embry sat on the couch, taking a long swig of her beer. She had a feeling she was going to need a few more for this conversation.

  Luke sat down opposite her, setting the bottle on the coffee table.

  She looked at him expectantly.

  “I lied to protect you,” he began, his fists clenched in his lap, his eyes clinging to hers. “I lied because I didn’t want to cause you more pain. I lied because I didn’t want you to question anything that happened between us because of my past. I lied because I was scared—of what you meant to me, of what I felt, of the possibility of ever losing it.”

  Tears threatened and Embry squeezed her eyes shut, fighting them back. The truth was written all over his face, and she knew his feelings were real. But she needed time to digest his words, make sense of his explanation.

  “Those are my reasons, Embry. But still…” He hesitated, his face clouded with regret. “I lied to you. Worse, I didn’t protect you. I hurt you, and for that, I’ll never forgive myself.”

  She shook her head, knowing the answer to the question she was about to ask would break her heart all over again, but she needed to hear it. Unable to make eye contact, she twisted her hands in her lap. “What was she to you?”

  He swallowed hard, his brow furrowed. “Embry, I really don’t think—”

  “I need to know everything,” she interrupted, her voice cracking.

  He reached out, his finger gently lifting her chin and bringing her gaze to his. “She was nothing. Is nothing.” His eyes begged her to believe him.

  “Then why? How?” It didn’t make sense. Why had he hidden it? Why had he lied?

  Luke scrubbed a hand down his face and reached for his beer, nearly draining the bottle in one gulp. “I don’t want to do this, Bree.”

  “You owe it to me.” Her tone was strong, harsh. She was determined to get answers.

  His gaze hardened. “I owe it to you to hurt you? Because that’s all this’ll do.”

  She was already falling to pieces on the inside, but she refused to let him see her crumble. Reaching for his hand, she attempted a brave face. “Please, Luke. Just tell me. Nothing you say can be worse than what I’ve imagined.”

  He shook his head. “It was one night. I was drunk. She was there. That’s it.”

  His casual answer shattered her fragile veneer. Tears coursed down her cheeks as her emotio
ns flew into overdrive. “That’s it?” she reiterated. “That’s it? How can that be it? You tore us in two! You destroyed us—betrayed me—over something so small and inconsequential as a one-night stand? I don’t even believe you. I can’t believe that you’d do that to us if that was all it was. If that was all she was. Tell me the truth, Luke. All. Of. It.”

  He stared into her jade green eyes shining with tears, and his heart constricted in his chest. He had done this. And now he had to make it right, no matter the cost.

  He had to make it right, even though it meant breaching a non-disclosure agreement, breaking his family’s trust, and reliving painful and embarrassing memories. Nothing was more important than fixing this.

  He reached out, gently cupping her cheek and using his thumb to brush away the tears. He couldn’t bear to be the cause of any more of them. “God, I’m so sorry.” He shook his head and stared at his lap. Steeling himself for what he was about to do, he took a deep breath and looked back up, trapped in her gaze. “I’ll have to start from the beginning.”

  “My dad’s a self-made man,” Luke said, his tone serious. “He grew up with nothing. Everything my family has is because of him. Well, and because he married my mother.”

  Embry looked confused, but he continued.

  “He built a successful business, married well, and started rubbing elbows with all the right people. He involved himself in local politics, contributed to the right campaigns and moved up the societal ladder. He made the Brody name a significant one in Georgia, both for the company he kept and the corporation he ran.”

  Embry wrinkled her nose. “I don’t mean to stop you, but I’m not sure what this has to do—”

  Luke held up a hand. He loved that even when she was pissed off and demanding, she was still sweet, polite. She belonged in the south.