Of course Faith would finally admit guilt in their life long sibling rivalry as she walked out of Heaven’s life. Which is what she planned to do. And Heaven couldn’t stop her.
“You’re gonna rock New York, Faith. I wish you the best.”
“Yeah, likewise. Good luck with the wedding. I hope Layne doesn’t turn into a big problem for you and Dylan.”
As she walked away, Heaven felt a piece of herself going with her. Faith couldn’t leave for God knew how long on a sarcastic goodbye like that.
“I will miss you. Regardless of what you think.”
Faith stopped near the door. As she gripped the knob, every ounce of her energy pulsed with a need for escape. But she didn’t leave. Her hand fell from the door. When she turned around, moisture glistened in her eyes. “And I really do wish you the best.”
No sarcasm hung in her words. For a change. Maybe this experience with Layne became the wake-up call she needed.
Making her way to her sister, Heaven reached for Faith, wrapping her arms around her. “If you won’t visit, at least keep in touch. I know how much you use social media.”
A rumble of Faith’s laughter passed between them. “I will. You know I’ll want to rub it in your face about how much fun I’m having. You’ll be stuck with one guy. I’ll have dozens of hot—”
Faith’s energy shot out at Heaven, entangling itself with hers. Her skin burned yet tingled, like she’d brushed against an exposed wire. The spark in Faith’s eyes increased the feeling.
“Oh. My. God” The words slipped from Faith’s mouth as her eyes watered. With lips parted, she searched Heaven’s face, like she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. “You little bitch!”
A swift push had Heaven stumbling back, scraping her hip against the corner of the dresser. She gripped the edge, fighting to keep her balance without ripping her gown. “What is wrong with you?”
“You couldn’t wait until I was out of the picture. My God, is Dylan in on this or are you about to marry him without telling him you kissed Layne?”
A flash of heat rushed through Heaven’s face, leaving an icy trail behind it. “How…how do you know—?”
“I take back everything I said. I hope Layne makes your life a living hell. The same way he’s made mine. If Dylan isn’t a part of this, God help him.”
The door smacked against the wall as Faith stormed out. She shouted a few obscenities as she moved through the house. Even screamed for Hope to get the hell out of her face or she’d punch her.
A moment later the door slammed behind her. But not before Anna came running into the room. “What just happened?”
Heaven couldn’t speak. She tried moving past her mother, hell-bent on running to Dylan. This wedding couldn’t go on until she did.
* * *
Layne fumbled with the buttons on his shirt, dreading the thought of fastening the top one. He found it difficult enough to breathe without the added frustration of dress shirts or ties. The more he thought about Heaven, the more his chest constricted.
Feeling the weight of a heavy gaze, his eyes shifted about the room, finding the guilty culprit. Heaven’s father. He stood beside Dylan, pulling the bottom of his tie in place as he adjusted the knot.
The crease in his brow only added another level of weirdness to his staring. No matter how many times he chatted with Dylan, his attention kept returning to Layne.
He offered what Layne presumed to be a forced smile before focusing back on Dylan. “Are you all set?”
Dylan nodded, buttoning the cuff of his shirt. “Yes, sir.”
Nicholas leaned closer to him, as if he didn’t want Layne to hear the conversation. Not that it worked. “No matter what life throws at you, always remember one thing. You and Heaven were created for each other. You are meant to be with her. Even if there are times that it doesn’t feel that way. Take it from someone who knows.”
“I can’t imagine my life without her, sir.”
The answer seemed to please Nicholas, even though his jaw flinched when he gazed back at Layne. “I’m going to go check the grounds then find my daughter. We’ll see you shortly.”
They shook hands as Nicholas offered him one more smile before turning toward the door. Once he disappeared behind it, Dylan faced Layne. The grin covering his face faded a second later.
“What’s wrong?”
Layne eyed the large, oak door Nicholas just passed through, wondering if he’d really left or if he lurked outside the door, eavesdropping. Had Faith talked to him? Told him about what happened between them. Maybe that’s why he kept looking at him like he knew something.
Either Nicholas wanted to know his side of the story or beat his ass for hurting his daughter.
Walking away from the patio door, he moved toward the edge of the couch, leaning against it as he stared into the kitchen at Dylan. “It’s Heaven’s parents. They keep looking at me weird. Like they know something about me. It’s creeping me out.
Half a chuckle worked its way from Dylan’s mouth. “Trust me, after everything I’ve learned in the last week, I don’t know what to expect anymore. Heaven’s going nuts, too.”
“Have you talked to her since last night?”
“No, I haven’t.” Dylan’s eyes moved past him, toward the window. Weariness wavered within them. “But I know she wants to talk. Everything happened so fast. We haven’t had a moment alone in days.”
“So sneak over and see her. We have half an hour before the wedding.”
With folded brows, Dylan cast his gaze back to him. “Um, no thanks. I’m not stepping foot in that house. Between Hope, Anna, and my mom, I’d be lucky to make it to the door before they pounced on me.”
“Yeah, I guess you have a point.” Layne forced himself to laugh. At least Dylan had kept his sense of humor through all the craziness. Layne wished he could do the same.
“Something else is bothering you.”
A whole hell of a lot still bothered him. Not that he could share any of that with Dylan. He promised Heaven he wouldn’t. But if he didn’t tell his friend something, he’d continue to ask questions.
“I can’t believe I’m standing here. After doing what I did to help your dad. I haven’t been the greatest friend.”
“You have your issues, dude. But like I said before, you’ve always had my back. Learn from your mistakes and move on. Heaven and I need you to move on.”
He wanted to move on, too. Past the drama with Faith. The mistakes he’d made with Nate. His feelings for Heaven. Could he move past it? Keep what happened with Heaven from Dylan. Let his best friend get his wish. To marry the girl of his dreams. Literally.
Telling Dylan the truth would ruin everything. But could he continue to spin his web of deceit? That the only reason he’d kissed Heaven is because he’d been drinking. That he wouldn’t have been drinking if Faith hadn’t lied to him, hid her pregnancy, or had an abortion.
There was only one way to find out. He hoped Heaven wouldn’t hate him for not waiting.
“I want to help you protect Heaven, Dylan, but I need to tell you—”
The knock on the door vibrated like a roll of thunder. Neither he nor Dylan had time to react to the sound before the door swung open, cracking the side of the wall. There before him stood a sight he didn’t expect to see again. Or at least he hoped he wouldn’t.
Faith walked through the archway, hands clenching her hips as she swept through the room. Brows drawn. Eyes piercing. Mouth spewing her normal sarcasm.
“Well isn’t this sweet? Heaven’s two saviors. The fiancé and the lover.”
Well, fuck.
CHAPTER 23
“Ah, Christ.” Dylan mumbled the words low enough that only Layne could hear him. Not that Layne acknowledged what he said. His eyes darted to the door the moment it smacked the wall, revealing Faith. They hadn’t left her since.
Dylan couldn’t believe she’d come considering she never answered his text on whether she would. Which is why he didn’t bother t
elling Heaven when they arrived. He didn’t want to invite Faith in the first place. Wouldn’t have bothered had it not been for Hope.
Now she was here, making her way across the living room floor. She stopped less than a foot from him and Layne, cocking a brow as she studied his best friend. The way she tapped her fingers against her hip, even the way her lips puckered said she’d come here with one goal in mind. To wreak havoc.
Not if he could help it.
He ignored the words flowing from her mouth. What she had to say didn’t matter. Getting her out of there before she ruined the wedding did. “I’m surprised to see you here, Faith. If you’ve come to cause trouble, you’re wasting your time.”
Her eyes flashed from Layne to him. While he couldn’t get a good grasp on her energy, he did know one thing. Anger fueled her purpose. Which couldn’t be good after everything that happened between her and Layne.
“Believe me, I wish I hadn’t come. Being around you freaks is beginning to rub off on me, so I won’t be staying. Not that there will be something to stay for anyway.”
“Beg your pardon?”
Refocusing on Layne, her eyes trailed up his body, finally stopping on his face. “Wow! I can’t believe I wasted any of my time on you. It’s a good thing I never loved you. My heart would be broken if I had.”
“Guess that makes two of us, Faith. I didn’t love you, either.”
“I know, you son-of-a-bitch. You’re in love with my sister.”
Dylan barely had time to comprehend her words before Faith drew back her fist, delivering a blow to Layne’s jaw. He stumbled into the couch, almost flipping over the arm.
The altercation didn’t leave time for Dylan to react to her confession. Not when he had to pull Faith off Layne when she continued toward him, swinging both fists. Stopping her attack didn’t come easy. He had to dodge a couple punches himself when she turned on him.
“Guess you’re in on this, too. I knew you three had some type of kinky shit going on behind my back.”
“What the hell are you talking about, Faith?”
“This little ménage you and Heaven have going on with Layne. You do know he kissed her, don’t you?”
The words were like a punch in the gut. He gazed over at Layne, who’d not only regained his balance, but also stared at Faith like he could kill her for spreading lies. Or the truth.
No. It couldn’t be the truth. Layne would never hurt him like that. Nor would Heaven. Faith just wanted to cause problems for all of them. Whatever happened between her and Layne left her with the need to ruin his life. Ruining her sister’s would be an added bonus.
“You’re full of shit, Faith. This is a lousy way to get back at him. It’s over. Accept it and move on.”
Stepping back toward the bar, dark curls brushed her shoulders as she shook her head. “Don’t be so quick to dismiss me. Ask your best friend if what I’m saying is a lie.”
Dylan snorted at the thought. He turned to Layne, raising a brow as he looked at him. “She’s lying, right?”
When Layne didn’t meet his gaze, his heart kicked up a notch. Why wouldn’t he look at him? Why would he let Faith spread these lies if he hadn’t…
“It’s not what you think, Dylan. Faith hasn’t given you the whole story.”
What the—
“Did you kiss Heaven?”
Layne finally met his gaze. For a moment. Then his eyes pressed together as he parted his lips, preparing to answer.
“Dylan?” A desperate whisper came from the doorway. Dylan turned toward the familiar sound, shocked to see Heaven standing before him, in her wedding dress, energy wound so tight he struggled to take a breath. Tears streamed down her face as she entered the room. His mother and Anna followed behind her. Hope brought up the rear.
Ah, hell.
He fought back the first jolt of rage coursing through his body, praying this was all a big misunderstanding. Yet something in his gut thrummed a warning. More secrets surrounded his life. Secrets he didn’t want to learn.
“You’re too late, Sis.” Faith seethed as she turned to look at Heaven. “I just shared your amazing news.”
“Someone get her out of here before I hurt her,” Dylan grumbled.
“Oh, don’t bother. I did what I came to do. Enjoy your wedding. If there still is one.”
Faith made it to the door when Hope jerked her arm. “You’re not going anywhere. Come with me.” Both women brushed past Chelsea on their way out the door. Dylan hadn’t noticed her arrival. Didn’t really care that she was there after every thing that happened.
He met Heaven’s watery gaze, fighting back the urge to go to her. He couldn’t. Not until he knew what had happened between her and Layne. “Someone better start talking.”
Heaven pressed her quivering lips together as she nodded her head. But the words filling the air didn’t come from her. They came from Layne.
“It’s not what you’re thinking, Dylan. Like I said, Faith didn’t tell you the whole story.”
“Does the whole story contradict everything she just said? If it doesn’t…” He clenched his fist at his side, holding down the instinct to smash it into something. At this point, Layne’s face looked like the best place. But he wouldn’t. Not until he heard what he had to say.
“Let me tell him, Layne,” Heaven sobbed from the kitchen.
“No! I’ll tell him. I should have told him in the first place. All of this is my fault.”
The more they talked the more Dylan’s world started to crumble. How could his best friend and the woman he loved more than his own life keep a secret from him? A secret this devastating.
“When did this happen?”
“The same day Faith moved out of my house. I found out she—” Layne’s eyes moved about the room, hesitating on Anna before he refocused on Dylan. “Faith was pregnant.”
“Was?” The crack in Anna’s voice drew all eyes on her as she braced herself against the bar. “As in she’s not anymore?”
Layne’s eyes fell to the floor. “No, ma’am. She decided she didn’t want it. She didn’t even tell me. I wouldn’t have known if she hadn’t tried to pry a box from my hands. When the box ripped, everything fell to the floor. Including a pregnancy test.”
“Are you telling me that my daughter terminated her pregnancy?”
“You’re daughter did more than that.” Layne’s eyes went to Heaven, who crossed the threshold into the sitting room, nodding at him through each sniffle. “She made me think the baby was mine, left me to deal with the fact that she’d aborted it. I couldn’t deal with it.”
“So the baby didn’t belong to you?” Dylan asked, drawing Layne’s focus back to him.
“No. I didn’t know that until I talked to Heaven.”
As he said her name, Heaven took a step closer, wiping the tears from her face. “He showed up at the house, drunk. Told me what happened with him and Faith. I didn’t come right out and tell him what Faith told me. That she’d slept with someone else. But Layne figured it out. He was upset. Wasn’t thinking clearly. That’s when he…”
A rush of anger flooded Dylan. Anger that stemmed from Faith’s deception. From Heaven hiding what happened. From Layne kissing…“So you did kiss her?”
Nodding his head, Layne gazed at Heaven once more before hanging his head. “It was a stupid, drunken mistake, Dylan. I’m sorry, man.”
Dylan fought against the wicked thump in his head. Fought against the way the news gripped his heart, pulling it in different directions. If his chest constricted any tighter, he wouldn’t be able to breathe.
“I don’t know what to…” The tug of her energy took his next breath as he stepped closer to her, pushing against her soul with his. “How could you hide this from me?”
“I tried to tell you,” she sobbed, “but the minute you came home, you dropped your own bomb on me. We haven’t had a moment alone since.”
Gripping her upper arms, he leaned in closer, staring her in the eyes. “You should have t
old me the minute it happened. Hell, I was trying to text you. Trying to call. Is this why you didn’t answer? You were too busy making out with my best friend.”
“It wasn’t like that,” she said, reaching for his face. He dodged her hand, releasing his hold on her as he stepped back. “I didn’t want to upset you while you were gone.”
“Is this why you agreed to marry me sooner?” He regretted asking the question as soon as the words left his mouth. Her answer didn’t matter. The only thing that did was the pang in his heart. “Forget it. I don’t want to know. I don’t want anything from you. Either of you.”
She reached for him again, but he stepped away, making his way for the door. He tuned out the pleas for him to stay. Even brushed off his mother’s hand when she attempted to stop him from walking out the door.
The moment the sun cast its rays down on him, he sucked in a deep breath, wincing when his chest tightened. So much pain thumped through their bond. Heaven’s pain. His pain. He wanted it to stop.
And it did.
The throbbing energy of their connection fell to a hum. Maybe he kept losing his connection with her for a reason.
Maybe he and Heaven were the unfortunate pair.
* * *
The sound of Heaven’s sobs buzzed in Layne’s ears. He hadn’t lost sight of her from the moment Dylan gripped her arms. It had been hard fighting back the urge to step between them, not just because he wanted to protect Heaven. He wanted Dylan to take his anger out on him. This was his fault, not hers.
The last sob sent Heaven to the floor. Her knees met the carpet as she curled forward, rocking back and forth. Each time her chest heaved, her dark curls swept across her leg.
He hated seeing her in pain. Hated knowing his stupid actions caused it.
The murmur of a soft voice drew his attention to Anna. She and Delia were talking, yet their words evaded him. He didn’t care what they had to say. Only cared about the woman kneeling across from him.
Leaving the mothers to their conversation, Layne pushed back the fear of them questioning his intentions toward Heaven. A few strides across the carpet brought him to her feet. He didn’t care what anyone thought of him. Never had, save her and Dylan. Now Dylan hated him. Did she?
What the Heart Needs Page 24
