by L A Cotton
Callie batted her eyes at me, pouting in that sexy way she did when she wanted something. “I haven’t been to the spa in forever and we’ll have all week together.”
“Fine, whatever.” It wasn’t like if I asked her to stay, she would.
Callie shrieked, throwing herself down on the bed and kissing me. “Thank you. I’ll make it up to you, I promise. And think about the boat trip, okay? I really want you to be there.” Callie got up and smoothed out her blouse. “I’ll leave my spare key on the counter, make sure to lock up before you leave.”
“You’re leaving right now?” I wasn’t even dressed.
“Yeah, Sam’s on her way.” She shrugged as if she wasn’t abandoning me—and our conversation—for her best friend and fucking facials. “I’ll text you later.”
With a muted groan, I closed my eyes as she left. A few minutes later, she yelled 'bye' and silence filled the apartment. I grabbed my cell phone off the nightstand and scanned my messages. Deacon had texted to say he was going home for a few days, Micah had already left for the week, and who knew what Brian was doing. He came and went like a shadow. I texted Deacon back and then dialed Mom.
“Trey?” She answered on the second ring. “I was beginning to think you’d forgotten about us.”
“Sorry, things have been—”
“I’m joking, son. How’s school and Callie?”
“Good. Actually, that’s why I’m calling. Callie is spending the weekend with her friend, and the guys all have plans, so I was thinking I could come home.”
“Trey,” her voice softened. “You don’t have to ask. It’s your home. It will always be your home. I’ll tell your father, I’m sure he’ll be pleased to see you.”
I doubted that, but whatever. “Oh, and we have an invitation to Kyle and Laurie’s engagement party. Engaged, at their age, I still can’t believe it,” she went on. “But we can all go together since I’m sure you’ll want to be there to celebrate with them.”
“I—” Fuck. I’d forgotten all about the party. The one I’d already said I couldn’t make.
“Trey, honey, is everything okay?”
“What?” I blinked, rubbing my temples, feeling a headache coming on. “Yeah, fine. Everything is fine. I’ll get showered and have breakfast and be on my way. See you later.”
“You too, honey.” We hung up, but I stared at my cell as if it was the devil. Scrolling through my messages, I found the text Kyle, one of my good friend’s from back home, had sent me a few weeks back.
Kyle: Big news, fucker. Me and Laurie got engaged. We’re having a party at The Coastal, March 6th. Let me know if you can come. It’d be good to see you! Bring Callie, we’re all DYING to meet her
I’d said no. Made up some excuse about having plans with Callie because I knew she’d be there. Kiera Lessinger. Kyle’s half-sister. The girl who had haunted my dreams for the last eighteen months. I hit reply and started typing. This was a bad idea—the worst.
Me: Change of plans. I’m coming home this weekend, so I’ll see you at the party!
My finger hovered over the send button. The smart thing would be to stay in Westwood and have a pity party for one while Callie hung out at the spa with Sam, and my friends back home celebrated without me. But Kyle was a good friend. And Maverick, his stepbrother, would be there and maybe some of the other guys from my old high school basketball team. It would be good to see them all. To spend time with Mom. It wasn’t like I was going to see Kiera—that ship had long sailed. I was going to see my friends.
Fuck it. I could be in the same room as her without losing my cool. Whatever was between us was done. In the past. She had moved on, and me, well, it was a work in progress. But we weren’t the young kids we were back then—her a feisty fifteen-year-old, and me a guy heading off to college thinking he was the shit. It would be fine. Everything would be fine.
I always was an excellent liar.
Chapter 3
Kiera
“Don’t you think you’ve had enough?” I scowled at Jack as he took a long pull on his beer.
“Lighten up, K, it’s just beer. Besides, it’s a free bar and I intend on making the most of that shit. Am I right, dude?” He tipped his bottle toward Nick who looked at him like he’d lost his mind.
And I was beginning to think maybe he had.
“You’re crazy if you think I plan on getting drunk in front of their whole family. Maverick already hates my guts,” Nick added.
“He doesn’t hate you,” Summer said, pressing her hand to his chest.
Nick rolled his eyes clearly unconvinced. “He tolerates me, barely.”
“You know how he gets, and I didn’t know he was coming home that night he—”
“I love you, but if you repeat what happened in front of our friends, I will never speak to you again.” Nick looked so cute trying to remain serious while Summer fought a smile.
“But it was funny.”
“There was nothing funny about Maverick finding me... nope”—Nick shook his head—“not talking about it. Please change the subject.”
Summer and Nick were like poster children for the American Dream. Gorgeous—Summer with her long blonde hair and blue eyes, and Nick with his brown mop and dimpled smile—obscenely loved up, and secure in their relationship. Childhood sweethearts, they’d been dating since ninth grade and I could easily picture them married with a couple of kids and a big house in the suburbs. Nick would work in music production in the city and Summer would stay home and look after the house and annoyingly beautiful kids. And despite it not being my dream, a tiny part of me couldn’t help but envy them. To be so sure of one another at our age, so together.
“Sisters,” Kyle appeared, his easy smile brighter than usual. He slung his arm around me and Summer drawing us into his sides. “I see you found the free bar.” He gave Jack a disapproving look.
“I’ll behave, scouts honor.”
“Just remember you’re all under age. Dad said he didn’t mind us having one or two. That doesn’t mean drink the bar dry, Jack.”
“Yeah, yeah, Stone. You don’t have to worry about me.”
“This is insane,” I said ducking out of his hold, and glancing around the place. White linen covered the round tables, and pale pink and silver balloon clusters were placed strategically on every other table. Waiters wandered around handing out flutes of champagne and trays of canapes while a three-piece jazz band serenaded the crowd. It was so over the top and ostentatious, but to be honest, I’d expected nothing less.
“Blame Rebecca.” Kyle shoved his hands in his pockets looking a little uncomfortable. “She got carried away.”
“You think this is bad, imagine the wedding.” Jack laughed, but Kyle’s eyes went wide.
“One step at a time.” He gave us an easy smile, but that was my brother, always playing his part to perfection. “Well, I guess I should go schmooze. Remember, I’m watching you.” He jabbed two fingers in Jack’s direction before whispering to me, “Have fun, but not too much.”
Kyle winked before melting back into the sea of people. It was like the Who’s Who of Wicked Bay. I didn’t recognize many faces, but even if I had, it wouldn’t have tamped down my unease at being amongst these people.
“Hey.” Jack nudged me with his shoulder. “You good?”
I forced a smile. “Yeah, let’s find a table or something.”
His eyes lit up with mischief. “I’ve got a better idea. There’s an outside bar too and it is a lovely evening.”
“How romantic.” Sarcasm dripped from my voice, but I let Jack lead me to the doors to outside all the same.
Anything to get some fresh air.
TWO HOURS LATER, MY plan for fresh air had backfired, becoming nothing but a giant headache.
“Maybe I should take him,” I said to Nick as we dragged Jack’s heavy body out of the side entrance to The Coastal.
“I’ve got this,” he said. “If Kyle knows you’ve had to take him—”
“Y
eah.” I grimaced, imagining how badly the shit would hit the fan if Kyle saw Jack in this state. Luckily for me, though, Laurie liked to dance and had her fiancé locked down on the dance floor. “You’re right. I can’t believe he got so drunk.”
Nick craned his head around Jack and arched his brow. “Really?”
“I just...” I thought tonight would be different. I thought he might be able to hold it together for a change. We’d sat outside for a while, the four of us laughing and talking; Jack and Nick sharing stories from their childhoods. But then Jack had disappeared to get more drinks, returning half an hour later, his eyes bloodshot and his speech slurred.
Obviously the waiters didn’t get the memo to cut off the kids after two drinks.
“Ugh, my head...” Jack groaned, the words coming out as a garbled string of syllables.
“We’re almost there,” Nick said, hoisting Jack up. “And this is why I stayed sober.”
“Why do you do it?” I asked quietly, hoping Jack was too wasted to remember this conversation.
Nick regarded me for a second and shrugged. “He’s my best friend. Do I need any other reason?”
“No.” It came out quiet.
We finally made it to the parking lot and Nick dug his keys out of his pocket. “Help me get him inside.” He propped Jack against the door, leaning around to yank it open. Between us, we managed to wrestle Jack onto the back seat. I was just about to close the door when his hand shot out and grabbed me. “K, is that you, baby?”
“Ssh, Nick is taking you home, okay? I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
“Stay, just stay a little while.” His eyes rolled into his head and I managed to untangle my hand from his. His arm flopped against his body with a thud. My eyes lingered on the drunken boy in front of me. He looked so vulnerable, so broken. I should have been pissed with him, annoyed that he’d embarrassed me in front of the partygoers. But all I felt was sympathy.
My feelings for Jack were confusing.
“I’ll stay with him.” Nick squeezed my shoulder. “Make sure he doesn’t choke on his own puke.”
“You’re a good friend,” I said, my lips pursed.
“And you’re a good girlfriend. Between the two of us he might stand a chance yet.” Nick gave me a warm smile. The kind of smile that only two people on an inside joke could share. “You’ll be okay getting back into the party?”
“Yeah.” I tucked my hair behind my ears. “Thank you, for everything.”
“Anytime. Tell my girl I love her and that I’ll call her tomorrow.”
“I will.”
“You know,” he said. “It isn’t always easy being on the edge of their world. If you ever need to talk, I’m here.”
I gave him a small nod, too choked to reply. I stayed there until Nick’s car melted into the darkness, hugging myself tight. Then I walked back to the side entrance we’d slipped out of. It wouldn’t take long for someone to know I was missing, and I didn’t want to ruin Kyle and Laurie’s night. But I couldn’t go back inside yet either. So I walked around to the back of the building where there was a huge decked area leading to a sprawling lawn. It really was beautiful, like something out of a movie. A group of people gathered on the deck smoking and drinking, so I stayed on the periphery, leaning against the railing overlooking the lawn. Close enough that if anyone looked hard enough, they’d find me, but far enough I could catch my breath.
Just for a second.
I stared up at the blanket of stars, glittering down on me like tiny diamonds. I’d been dreading the party ever since Kyle told me about it, but it wasn’t like I could worm my way out of coming. I was Kyle’s sister. They’d even asked me to be a bridesmaid for Christ’s sake. I was family now and that was good enough for them. But tonight was just another reminder I didn’t belong in their world. I’d seen people watching me, judging my appearance, whispering about Kyle’s sister from Rotunda Heights, as if that defined me.
As if it somehow made me unworthy.
Unworthy to breathe their air and drink their champagne.
“They’re looking for you,” a familiar voice washed over me, settling deep in my bones. There had been a time when his voice made my heart flutter and my tummy clench. Now though, it made me weary. I exhaled a long breath, steeling myself to face Trey Berrick.
“You weren’t supposed to be here,” I said, ignoring the way my heart betrayed me at the sight of him standing there in jeans and a black button down. He looked good.
Too fucking good.
“I wasn’t going to come.”
“So why did you?” I internally winced at the harshness in my voice but quickly brushed it off. He deserved no less.
Trey’s eyes seemed to plead with me; for what, I didn’t know. Eight months ago, he’d broken my heart; cast me aside like I was nothing but a girl with a schoolgirl crush.
“Honestly,” his voice was low. “I don’t know. Can I sit?” His eyes dropped to the empty chair beside me.
No.
Say no.
The word was right there on the tip of my tongue, but no matter how hard I tried to say it, it didn’t come. I didn’t owe him anything. He didn’t deserve me to say yes.
But that’s exactly what spilled from my lips.
Trey sat down, silence stretching out before us. Thick and heavy with the secrets of our past. There had been a time when being around him left me breathless for other reasons. Now, I just didn’t trust myself to speak.
“So Stone is getting hitched,” Trey finally broke the silence. “I’ve got to say my money was on Rick and Lo taking the plunge first.”
I finally sat down but kept my eyes on the lawn, watching the shadows dance across the lush greenery.
“But when you know,” he added. “I guess you know.”
My eyes slowly slid to his. “What are you doing, Trey? Why are you out here?” With me, I wanted to add, but didn’t.
His eyes shuttered, his chest rising and falling with a deep sigh. He looked like a guy at war with himself. But what could he possibly have to be conflicted over? He chose. He made his choice.
And it wasn’t me.
It was never going to be me.
So him finding me in my moment of self-doubt and crisis only seemed like a giant 'Fuck you' from the Universe. But that about summed up our entire relationship—if you could even call it that.
Trey and I didn’t have a relationship. We had a series of moments in time. Snapshots of lust and longing. Of stolen kisses and secret touches. But life wasn’t built on fairytales. And there would be no happy ending for the two of us.
At least, not with each other.
I stared at him, willing him to answer. Not because I thought his reply would change anything but because, even after everything, I still felt comforted by his presence. And part of me still clung to what could have been.
“I don’t know anymore,” he breathed out, dragging his chair closer until our knees knocked together. Trey leaned in, his face almost touching mine. I wanted to move away. I needed to move away. But the gravitational pull I felt whenever I was around him still existed. Crackled between us like electricity.
“Kiera, I am so fuck—”
“Kiera?” Lo’s voice was like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing everything I’d felt only seconds before.
“Hey,” I stood up a little too quickly, sending the chair crashing into the railing. “I was just about to head back in. Nick took Jack home.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Trey straighten at the mention of Jack’s name. Part of me rejoiced at the idea of him being jealous, but the other part was just tired of it all. Lo lingered, unsure of what to do, but I made the decision for her, not sparing Trey a second glance as I brushed past her and made my way back inside. I was sure I heard him call my name, but I didn’t look back. I couldn’t.
Because if I did, I was pretty sure I’d make a huge fucking mistake.
The kind there was no coming back from.
I MANAGED
TO AVOID Trey for the rest of the party, but I couldn’t escape Macey Prince. “We need to talk.” She grabbed my arm and led me out of the room and down a narrow hall to the bathroom. She flicked her head and waited for me to go inside, following me.
“Let me guess,” I sighed. “Lo told you.”
“What the hell were you doing out there with him?” Her eyes were wide, wild. Macey hated Trey almost as much as I did. Okay, I didn’t hate him. I was pretty sure there had been a time when I’d loved him. Loved the idea of him. But now I mostly felt numb when it came to him.
“Chill.” I folded my arms across my chest. “He found me. You really think I’d search him out, here, of all places?” My brows shot up and she backed down.
“I’m sorry. I was just so shocked to see him here. I was worried about you. I didn’t want all your progress to be unraveled.”
“Progress? I’m not a science project, Macey.”
“You know what I mean. After Lake Tahoe—”
I held my hand up. “Let’s not talk about Lake Tahoe.”
Macey leaned against the glittering marbled counter. “So, what did he want?”
My shoulders lifted in a slight shrug. “To talk, I guess. I don’t know. It was weird.”
“I don’t like it. You’re in a good place now. Things with Jack are... better?” Her question hung between us. We both knew things with Jack were complicated. But she was right. He was trying, and so was I.
“I appreciate your concern, I do, but I’m not about to let Trey ruin me again. You have nothing to worry about.” But the second the words left my lips, I knew it was a lie. And from the look on her face, so did she.
“He promised Lo he'd stay away,” she huffed indignantly.
“And he has.” Until tonight there had been no more drunk texts or phone calls in the middle of the night.
“Okay.” The tension in Macey’s expression lifted. “I won’t murder him then, not tonight at least. But I can’t promise I won’t knee him in the balls if I see him around campus.” She gave me a wry smile.
