by Scott, S. L.
I kneel, thinking this might be a while, and I’m not in such a hurry to leave anymore when I’m learning so much about Tealey.
Marlow says, “I don’t know anymore.”
“You’re beautiful, Marlow, but you're more than your looks. You have this great way of convincing anybody to get what you want. Look at your gallery. You put it on the map by talking reclusive artists into showing their work. You have incredible style and fantastic taste in friends. If I do say so myself.” I can just make out Tealey through the crack of the door. “But you’re smart, so clever, and funny. And though you don’t often show it, you have a big heart for those you care about. You’re always there for me, and I can tell you anything.”
“Tealey?” Marlow starts and then goes quiet. I hear a pillow being tossed to the floor, and she sits up. “I’ve been keeping a secret from you, and I feel awful about it. It’s not even that big of a deal, so I don’t know why I’ve been mum.”
Tealey sits up, resting her hand on the bed. “What is it?” I hear the worry in her tone, and I can’t help but feel somewhat sick to my stomach as well. What is she going to tell her? Now I feel bad for staying. Should I cover my ears? Thinking Marlow deserves the respect of privacy, I raise my hands.
“I’m dating Rad.”
I freeze—my hands not having a chance to reach my ears.
What the fuck?
I get to my feet, ready to explain, but stop and still again when I see Tealey stand and cross her arms over her chest. Shit. Shit. Shit.
I absolutely hate the pain I can see in her eyes. She believes Marlow. Fuck. Glaring at Marlow, Tealey grits her teeth. “What do you mean you’re dating Rad?”
22
Rad
“For my father,” Marlow says, like everyone should know what the hell she’s talking about.
Fucking hell.
I knew this arrangement would come back to bite me in the ass. I just thought it would be professionally. Meanwhile, Tealey appears rather calm after this bombshell was just dropped on her. Still, not moving a muscle, except her eyes, she shoots me a hard glare, and then she says, “Explain. In detail.”
The woman’s got the patience of an angel.
Marlow stands and starts pacing, making this worse by dragging this out. Fucking tell her, Marlow! She finally speaks. “I asked Rad to come with me to dinner with my dad.”
Tealey’s silence on the matter worries me. What is she thinking? Are we done before we’ve begun? Talk about having the worst timing. I want to be kissing her again, but instead, I’m tucked between a towel warmer and the shower, spying on her through a one-inch crack of the door with panic rising like bile as Marlow feeds her bits and pieces of the story.
Tell her it’s a favor.
Tell her it’s pretend.
Tell her we aren’t really dating.
Tell her the truth, dammit!
If I had my way, I’d clear this up in two point four seconds. Not drag it out for dramatic effect like Marlow loves to do.
Tealey says, “You hate dinners with your dad, so I’m trying to understand how this is different? You had a date with Rad, or he was there for moral support?” Thank God. This will finally be cleared up.
“What’s wrong with your chin, Teals? You’re all red.” I lean forward to see Marlow leaning close to Tealey.
“It’s nothing.” Tealey touches her chin, but then says, “I must be breaking out. Tell me about Rad.” Come on, Tealey. Don’t doubt me. Please don’t doubt us.
“He was there for moral support.” Phew! I sink back and take a deep breath. “My dad has always loved him, so I felt he could temper the fires between us.”
“I’m missing something. Is there more to the story or was all that just for dramatic effect?”
Marlow sits back down on the bed next to her. “My dad adores him. Thinks of him like the son he wished he had instead of me.”
“I’m sure that’s not true. Your father dotes on you.”
“Maybe.” Sadness drips from her sigh. Go on . . . “He’s really come around, but it’s sort of, kind of come at a cost.”
“Which is?”
“He told me he’s getting his divorce but was thrilled to hear Rad and I were together.”
“Why would he think you and Rad are dating?”
Thank you, Tealey.
“I don’t know.” Marlow shrugs. “He just did, and neither of us rushed to correct him.”
“Rad didn’t?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because Rad gets something from it. Why else? Guys never do anything unless there’s something to gain.”
No. No. No. I growl. Don’t do this, Marlow. Don’t plant those doubts about me.
Marlow laughs, but there’s no humor in the sound. “If we play along, like the happy couple, we both gain something for it. Why else would he agree?”
“He agreed?” Tealey walks to the dresser. With her head dipped down, she rubs her brow. “Agreed to what?” She spins back and snaps, “Give me the short version, Marlow.”
“Geez, you’re so moody, Teals.”
“It’s late, and I’m tired, and a big part of this story is still missing. Are you dating, or was he there as moral support?”
“Moral support but for the sake of my dad, we’re dating.” Thank. Fuck. I didn’t think she’d ever get to the truth. “For some reason, the man who can’t seem to settle down wants me to. I don’t know. It’s probably to get me off his payroll.”
“You work for your dad?”
“No, I just get an allowance. I was speaking metaphorically.”
When Tealey starts pacing toward me, she squints to spot me in the dark. Not sure if she does, but I mouth, “I’m sorry.” Just in case.
When Tealey whips back around, she says, “So this scheme you’ve thought up is about money?”
“It’s about an apartment in Tribeca, actually, and I didn’t make this up. As I said, my dad assumed we were together and offered to buy my apartment as a gift, a nest egg, for us.”
Rubbing her temple, Tealey stares at Marlow like she’s grown a third eye. “This makes no sense.” She releases a hard breath. “I think we should continue this discussion in the morning.”
“Okay.” Marlow stands and then throws her arms around Tealey. Tealey doesn’t make a move. Shit. I have a feeling the option to kiss her all night might have just flown out the window.
Marlow takes a step back, and this time, she’s the one staring at her friend. “Are we okay?”
Tealey gives her a nod. “Fine. I’m just tired.”
“Okay.” Marlow walks to the door and turns back. “You seem tired.”
Another nod but no words are spoken, so Marlow keeps talking. “I thought you’d get a kick out of me and Rad dating. As if . . .”
“Yeah, completely unimaginable.”
Marlow’s head jerks back. “I wouldn’t go that far. We have a lot in common.”
Tealey crosses her arms over her chest, and I’m praying she doesn’t take the bait. This will only end badly for all of us. She asks, “Like what?”
Marlow needs to read the room and her best friend’s temperament. Nothing good, Marlow. Walk out now, I will with my mind.
Never willing to take anyone’s advice, she replies, “We both come from money and well-known families. There are differences that only we understand.”
“As opposed to the average suburban family, like mine?”
Oh, fuck. Do I let this go on?
“Well, yeah. Like—”
“I don’t want to hear anymore tonight.” Tealey holds her hands up in front of her, putting an end to this torture . . . for both of us. “I was tired before, but now I have a headache.”
Is that for Marlow or me?
“Okay, well, good night, Teals.”
“Night.” The door is shut, but I don’t see or hear any movement. When the lock catches, Tealey says, “You can come out now.”
I’m careful, each s
tep tentative as I walk into the bedroom. I’m not greeted with a smile, and there’s no relief found in her expression. Her arms are crossed, and she asks, “You’re dating Marlow?”
That I’m having to address this at all as if I’ve done something wrong, I reply, “I’m not dating Marlow. Not officially.” I reach for her, but she takes a step back. “Not like how I want to date you.”
Her eyes go wide, her head thrown back from a scoff. “Me? We’re not even dating, and now you’re telling me you’re with her, but you want to be with me?”
Tangled webs are really not my thing. Ever.
Most of all, I don’t want to lose Tealey because of this absurd charade.
“Will you listen to me with an open mind?”
“It will be a struggle, but I’ll try.”
She moves to sit at the head of the bed and crosses her legs. She appears calm, willing to hear me out. Calm is good. Listening is great.
Keeping my voice down, I say, “I went along with his assumption to ease tension between her and her dad. I guess he assumed we were together because none of you were there, like usual.” I shrug. “It’s weird that he’d think that because nothing was going on and still isn’t.” Distracted by those sexy lips of hers, my thoughts muddle.
“Rad?” Two snaps.
“Huh?”
“You were saying that nothing is going on and . . .?”
I rack my brain as to what we were talking about, and the words miraculously reappear. “I’m dating Marlow so she gets the apartment and I make partner at the firm.”
“So you are dat—”
I hold my hand up this time. “I’m not really dating her. He thinks we’re dating. Actually, he thinks we’re getting married.”
“What? You’re engaged now?” She huffs and gets out of bed while shaking her head. “This is too much, Rad. I don’t know what’s going on here, but I think it’s best if you leave. We can discuss this tomorrow.”
I stay right where I am. “No, I want to talk about it now because you’re making assumptions—”
“Me?” She points at herself in disbelief. “I’m only going off what the two of you have told me. Apparently, you’re tangled up in some weird love affair in a scheme to make money and get property. Is that the gist of it?”
Stepping forward, I take hold of her hands. She reluctantly lets me. “Not at all. We agreed to pretend only in front of him through his divorce and him giving her the property deed.” Holding her hands to my chest as if she’ll slip away if I don’t, I say, “You can think I’m a terrible person for making the best out of a bad situation, or trust that the thing with Marlow is nothing more than what we’ve said. I’m not interested in being with her. She’s not interested in me.”
“Rad . . .” Her eyes turn down, and her head follows.
“I’m right here, Tealey. Right here with you. You’re all I want.” She looks up, so I beg, “Please believe me.” When I have her full attention, I kiss her cheek and whisper, “I’ve waited a lifetime to be with you.”
Any anger that she was harboring in her eyes disappears. I don’t get one of her beautiful smiles, but her fingers fold around my hand. “I really don’t know what kind of deal you two have made, but the truth always comes out, so I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt. Tomorrow, I want the full story with both of you sitting there. But tonight . . .”
“Anything, Tealey.” I brush her hair behind her ear, still holding her hand to me.
“I just want it to go back to how it was before Marlow said anything.” Taking her hand from mine, she then stretches her arms around me. “I can’t say when I started having feelings for you, but I can’t stop them either. All I can ask is that you please don’t hurt me.”
Engulfing her in my arms, I kiss the top of her head. “I won’t.”
She looks up, her chin on my chest. “I don’t need a rushed response. I want you to think about it.”
Sitting on the edge of the bed, I pull her closer until she’s standing between my legs. “I don’t need time to figure it out. I already know the answer. You’re giving me a chance, and I won’t blow it. I promise not to hurt you, Tealey.”
A gentle smile finally slips into place, and she says, “After what just happened, is it wrong to want you to stay?”
“What does your heart tell you?”
Her smile blooms brighter. “To kiss you again. What do you think I should do?”
“I think you should listen to your heart.” She leans in, and I cup her face. We come closer with only an inch or two between us, and I say, “I need you to make me a promise.”
“Okay.” Her breath is heavy, but her expression is light and playful, intrigued by the suggestion.
“If I stay, you’re going to have to promise you won’t ravage me.”
Already laughing, she rolls her eyes as she pushes away. I catch her hand and pull her to my lap, wrapping my arms around her. She tilts her head as giggles escape her. “You’re ridiculous, Welly. You know that?”
“I do know, but women find me irresistible. What about you?”
Rubbing the back of her hand along my cheek, she says, “Utterly irresistible.” This time, she cups my face and kisses me. When we roll back on the bed with her on top of me, I know. I just know . . . Tealey Bell is going to be the death of me.
23
Rad
The problem with lies is they multiply.
Sneaking out of Tealey’s room just as the sun begins to rise, I almost make it to my room before everyone wakes. Almost . . .
“What are you doing up so early?” I whip around like I’m a burglar busted. Cammie’s eyes are still tired, but her smile–unsuspecting, thank God—is there.
“I, uh, wanted to watch the sunrise.”
Looking down the hall through the window, she says, “It’s just rising.”
“Yeah, it was great . . .” I reach for the doorknob to my room. “I’m going back to bed. Seen one, you’ve seen them all. Good night . . . technically morning.” I slip into the room and shut the door, ashamed of all the lies I’m caught up in. What am I doing?
I have this thing with Marlow hanging over my head that needs to play out. Also, I figured Tealey and I would be taking it slow until we figure out what we’re doing. I know neither wants to alienate us if things don’t work out. That means I need to find some time to talk to her privately today before we get carried away, which I’m finding is way too easy to do.
Until we can have that conversation, is it worth lying to everyone to be able to be with Tealey?
Hell-to-the-fucking-yeah.
Okay, Wellington. Settle the fuck down.
That feels like an entirely impossible task, considering I just spent hours kissing my dream girl until our lips went numb. Not really, but as soon as I had the chance to hold her in my arms, I took it. I don’t think I’ve slept that well in years. The short number of hours don’t matter. I found peace wrapped around her.
After climbing in bed, I toss and turn, the bed feeling colder without Tealey next to me. How can such a small thing take up so much room . . . in bed . . . in me?
It’s just not the same without her, so I finally give up, get dressed for the day, and go downstairs. I see Cammie and Cade are on the back porch through the large windows framing the lawn and ocean in the distance. My mom is in the kitchen putting the finishing touches on platters of fruits and pastries. Glancing up, she smiles. It’s the kind that makes me feel like a kid again—loved—and, although I proved her wrong many times, like I can do no wrong. “Good morning, son.”
“Morning, Mom.”
“How’d you sleep?”
Images of Tealey on top of me, her fingers running through my hair, and our bodies against each other come to mind. Fuck. Don’t get hard. I could have come through my clothes, but we’d stop, she’d giggle, and then we’d kiss again, doing it all over again.
“Like a baby.” Coming around the large island, I kiss her on the cheek. “You?”
>
“I love having you under my roof again. It gives me a sense of peace, knowing you’re safe.”
“I’m always safe even when I’m not here.”
“You’ll understand one day if you decide to settle down and have kids.”
She’s never pressured me to get married or give her grandkids, but she’s not shy about her dreams of it happening one day.
“I need to accomplish a few things first.”
That gets her attention. “First. I like that. Also, you don’t need to accomplish more. You’re very accomplished already. So, I have a feeling it’s not a need. It’s a want.” She turns to me and holds a honey bun up to my mouth. “I want you to leave your troubles in the city and try to relax this weekend.”
I bite the bun and nod. “Yes, ma’am.”
When she starts carrying a platter to the table, I follow with the other and then seek out the caffeine I need. I pour a cup of coffee, missing the routine I’ve fallen into of choosing a punny mug to make Tealey smile each day. I didn’t even realize we had a routine to miss until now when faced with a sea of white cups.
The mugs are funny, but it’s the company I’m craving the most. Our mornings begin with a quick chat in the kitchen before work, and most nights, she falls asleep on the couch when it gets late. I don’t wake her right away because I like the sound of her peaceful breaths at midnight.
I don’t want to miss any of it, not even for a weekend. I glance at the stairs, hoping to catch a glimpse of her coming to fill the Grand Canyon–sized hole in my chest again.
When I don’t see her, I walk to the buffet, wondering if eating enough honey buns will do the trick.
“Good morning, Amanda.” From just hearing the sound of Tealey’s voice, I’m smiling before I even look up. When I do, I’m not disappointed.
Wearing a yellow sundress hitting just above her knees, she walks across the marble floors in little white sneakers. Her hair is loose with soft waves streaming past her shoulders. Those beautiful blue eyes stare into mine, and if I’m not mistaken, her lips are swollen from our kissing. I try to act normal, but she makes it damn hard not to stare.
