“Aren’t you Sebastian Beaumont? With the Sharks?” she asked.
“Yeah,” Sebastian answered politely but with a hint of dismissal.
“Can I have an autograph? My brothers are crazy about you!” She said brothers but her hand strayed on his shoulders to indicate they weren’t the only ones interested in him.
Smooth as always, Sebastian said, “Maybe later. We’ve got some things to go over here. I’ll sign something for them on my way out, how’s that?”
Perhaps sensing the curtness in his tone, she nodded and walked away.
Jaya’s brother had a way of looking at him like he was a frog sprawled out on a dissecting table, curiosity tinged with distaste on his features. Maybe it was a big brother thing. Sebastian wouldn’t know since he was an only child and never, not once, had dinner with a girlfriend’s family. And without the girlfriend, even.
They exchanged bland pleasantries. When the drinks plopped before them, both reached out as if grabbing life jackets. Feeling some of the tension release after his first sip, Sebastian attempted an easy topic.
“Sorry you’re too busy to make a game this weekend. Have you had a good conference so far?” He was attempting to move the vibe away from study Sebastian like a critter to actual conversations.
“It’s not because I’m too busy,” Rajiv said matter-of-factly. “I just refuse to cheer for that asshole captain of yours.”
Sebastian nearly choked on his beer. “Sorry?”
“Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed. Noah’s an asshole.”
So much for easy topics. “Honestly, I’m not around him enough to give a shit. Great defenseman, though.”
“Consider yourself lucky. Jaya put up with that jerk for years.”
Sebastian waited to see if he would add to the disturbing statement.
He pushed for more information, prompting, “Jaya never talks about those years. And she certainly never talks about Noah. What do you mean he was a jerk to her? What did she have to put up with, exactly?” He tried to keep his voice steady. Rajiv raised his brow in response to the low growl underlining the questions.
“You’re not gonna get details from me, man. Besides, I’m more interested in the guy my sister is dating today. How’s that working out for the two of you?”
“Why? Did she say anything?”
Rajiv ran his hand over the stubble on his tight jaw. “That’s the problem. She’s been kind of dodgy about everything. Let’s just say I didn’t need to go to a conference in Florida. Hell, I didn’t think I would ever need to go to Florida. I figured if she wasn’t ready to talk about you, I’d talk to you myself.”
Sebastian’s spine stiffened. “What do you want to know?”
The man leaned forward, suspicion etched on the lines around his mouth. That feeling of being dissected hit Sebastian hard. “Why’d you agree to the fake dating? The very first morning you guys went viral as a couple, she told me it was bullshit. Unlike everyone else around her, I fucking believed her. I always believe her. But here’s the thing. I know why she felt pressured to do it. The campaign, the kids, and all that. But you? What’s your skin in the game?”
“The campaign, too, obviously. That stuff matters to me.”
Rajiv took another sip of his martini. “Maybe so. It just seemed convenient that right in the middle of all that attention from the media, you got called up and boom, a nice trade that will almost guarantee a fat contract at the end of the year. You didn’t have a spot in Buffalo because they had enough centermen. Probably the only reason you didn’t get called up to the NHL sooner. In Florida though…I wouldn’t be surprised if you’re a starter soon.”
Sebastian could feel the stirring of anger because anyone who questioned why he wanted to be with Jaya deserved his wrath. But mixed in with that anger was a measure of guilt since, as his agent predicted, the publicity got him noticed with sponsors and scouts. Rajiv was both wrong and right. At this point, though, things were too entangled to figure out which way was up without shaking the guy in front of him. Bad idea, that—shaking his girlfriend’s brother. Sebastian opted for civility.
“I see where Jaya gets her hockey IQ.” Maybe if he complimented the guy, he would back off. At least till there was food in front of them. Where the fuck was the food?
Rajiv snickered. “You think I taught her anything about hockey? You must not know her very well. Besides, I’m not saying anything about hockey. I’m talking about the business of it. The shit show of it. The way I see things from this angle, you took advantage of her. And if there’s something you should learn about me right now, I’m here to make sure no one takes advantage of Jaya, ever again.” The words were harsh but delivered in muted, controlled tones. For Sebastian, the detachment of Rajiv’s disdain felt more demeaning than if he screamed.
“That’s bullshit,” Sebastian sneered. “I don’t care if you’re her brother, and fuck knows I came here hoping we would get along, but anyone who questions how I feel about Jaya…that’s a person I’m going to have a problem with.” His voice was barely a whisper, but it seethed with heat. If this was the last thing he said to the guy, Sebastian was going to make it count.
A pause before a tentative offer to cool things down. “She said she loves you.”
Sebastian felt his blood pressure ease slightly at the sound of that. “I hope so,” he answered. “She knows I love her. It doesn’t matter how things started. We’re together now and you’re better off not getting in the way of that.”
The main courses arrived, and the second round of drinks with them. The men dug in, not speaking. The aggressive food poking and the wheels turning in their heads could be heard one table over.
Food cleared and the third round of drinks later, both men sat back a little, settling into the comfortable slouch brought by a full stomach.
“I won’t get in the way, Sebastian. Besides, have you met my sister? She’s not one to take orders about who to love. If she does something, it’s because of love. That’s always been her problem. She loved too hard, too much.”
Sebastian felt like he was sucker-punched. “You mean Noah.” Fuck it hurt even more to say the words out loud. But he needed to untangle the knotted mystery of Jaya’s past.
“Everyone thought Noah was the catch. A superstar. The husband lottery. But she was the one who boosted his confidence, took care of him, helped him with school, learned the game with and for him. When things were tough with his family in high school, Jaya and hockey became his family. He got a lot of scholarship offers, but he chose Michigan because she was going there, too.” The man stopped speaking momentarily as if lost in thought. He ran a finger over the base of his martini glass.
Sebastian cleared his throat. He wanted to hear more. Needed to know more. Rajiv continued, “I’m not saying Noah isn’t talented or hard-working, but you should know by now what it is to be the focus of Jaya’s attention. To be the person she dedicates her life to. To be the one she loves with everything she’s got. That girl leans the fuck in. Noah got used to it and resented anything or anyone that caught her attention or needed her help. He depended on her so much, everything was a threat.”
It took a moment to take in that information, to slot missing details into the gaps of understanding Jaya. “First of all, I’m not a narcissistic asshole. I would never expect Jaya to dedicate her life to me,” he said.
Though it was the thought of Jaya loving someone else so completely that crawled up his spine like a poisonous snake. Is that why she never talked about Noah? Because it hurt too much to lose a love that deep? Sebastian didn’t voice his questions because he wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answers.
He shut down his insecurities and declared, “She’s committed to helping the kids. That’s never been in question. I’m man enough to accept her career as the priority.” The thought of asking her to give up her work, as Noah did, was sickening. And as hard as it was to live far from her, Jaya’s dedication was part of what he loved about her.
/> “Maybe.” A raised brow and eyes over the rim of glass accompanied the curt response.
Sebastian shook his head and had to release a light yet wary snicker.
“What?” Rajiv asked.
“The first time I met Jaya, she practically told me to get the fuck out of her office and stop being such a shit fighter on the ice. Are all the Patels this great at first impressions? Just asking because I heard I’m about to meet a whole lot of them at your wedding.” His delivery was so deadpan, it sounded bored.
Jaya’s brother looked at him with wide eyes before a smile crept over his features, turning into a full and hearty laugh. “Of course she told you to fuck off.” He shrugged, not bothering to hide his amusement at the thought of Sebastian’s discomfort. “Honestly, if you can’t take this kind of questioning maybe you shouldn’t go. Because you’re right. There’s a lot of people who care about Jaya and who’ll want to know if you’re good enough for her. Maybe my wedding is just one too many Patels for you to handle.”
“Not a chance, Rajiv. Because that’s something you should learn about me right now. If I have to convince your parents along with every one of the aunts that I’m serious, or kowtow to an entire clan for a week or, shit, be nice to you after this hostile interrogation, I’ll do it if that makes her life easier. I go where Jaya wants me to go. I do what she needs me to do.”
The man across the table nodded solemnly and his jaw relaxed. “That’s good enough for me. For now.” He gestured for the waitress to bring the check but when it came, Sebastian snatched it.
“You’re my guest,” he insisted.
“Thanks, but you don’t have to host me. I’m the one who wanted to meet you.”
“You’re Jaya’s brother. I’m glad we met. Though I should warn you, if you’ve got an open bar at your wedding, you better believe I’m using it.”
Rajiv chuckled. “There’s a reception at the conference tonight. The wine is shit but the best and brightest in pharmaceuticals are sure to be exhilarating company.” Random sarcasm was clearly a family trait.
“If they’re as nosy as you, I’m not sure that’s the kind of company anyone needs.”
“True enough.” He was quiet again, looking at Sebastian less like a critter and more like a companion he didn’t choose but didn’t hate either. A resigned breath later, Rajiv asked, “Wanna head to a bar and get wasted?”
Now this brother, Sebastian could get used to.
CHAPTER 19
The first bouquet delivery came the Friday of her return from Florida. Everyone assumed it was from Sebastian, but she knew better. She opened the florist’s envelope with shaky hands. Because she knew. In her gut, she knew a rusty Pandora’s box opened and her old demons were hovering.
It was so good to see you. You know my number. I never changed it, Jaya. Call me.
What a fucking asshole. She deleted that number years ago. But it was the same one he had since they were in high school so, yeah, somewhere in her treasonous brain those numbers were etched. It was just another scab from the mental wounds inflicted by Noah Rawlings.
She ripped up the card and carried the arrangement to the front desk. Might as well fancy up the lobby, even if she grimaced every time she looked at the flowers.
“Is that from Sebastian?” the receptionist asked.
“For the office,” Jaya answered vaguely.
That was weeks ago.
Since then, Noah had sent so many flowers and gift baskets, the FCC looked like a hospital.
At first, she tried to handle things herself. She texted a simple word. Stop. And then blocked his number.
In response, he upped the social media nudges from his popular account. Retweets to boost the campaign and the FCC profile. Comments of encouragement and lots and lots of likes.
And then, unsurprisingly, Noah secured her home address. That’s when other packages came. More personal. Baklava from her family’s favorite bakery in Detroit. His Florida jersey, signed so it was clearly going to be worth a shitload one day. A framed picture. It was of Jaya in full hockey gear but with her helmet off. She was flushed and laughing, bent with her stick leaning on her knees like she would be during practice. It came with a note: I’m so sorry, Jaya. I’ll never forgive myself for taking this away from you.
It struck her that although Noah truly believed he was sending gifts that mattered to her, they all somehow pointed to him.
The Baklava was his go-to gift to her parents when he came over for dinner. He loved that dessert just as much as anyone. Who wouldn’t? His jersey was a rather heavy-handed way to remind Jaya of his success. Finally, the reference to her hockey career, well, even taking credit for ending it was such a Noah thing to do.
She kept the picture though. Because her breakup from hockey was so entangled with her breakup from a toxic relationship, she didn’t allow herself a daily reminder of that time in her life. Her parents kept plenty of news clippings and pictures and trophies to memorialize her time with the sport. This framed photo of Jaya would be the first reminder of hockey that ever graced a house she called her own. She was almost grateful for the gesture. Almost.
But then the letters started coming.
She didn’t open them, though she registered their heftiness, their significance. The weight of his words and their memories sat uneasily in her palm before she shoved them in the garbage. She had thrown two thick envelopes, filled with paper and what felt like printed pictures. Unopened but just as disturbing. No, that wasn’t it. Those letters were fucking infuriating.
She had hoped her silence would be enough to stave off his attention, but it wasn’t enough. Someone had to loudly tell Noah to fuck off. She trusted one person to help her.
God knows everyone from their hometown community, including her parents, never understood why she broke up with him because she didn’t advertise the mental abuse. Corey knew some of the circumstances of the breakup. If she heard that Noah was harassing Jaya, she would rage publicly and embarrass everyone. Her brother, too. Rajiv swore that if Noah ever bothered her again, he was going to personally pummel the hockey player. No disrespect to her strong and valiant brother, but he didn’t really think that through. Noah was a professional athlete and would never go down without a fight. And a lawyer.
So, Patrick it was.
“I can’t believe it’s been weeks of this and you haven’t told anyone!” Patrick on the phone screaming did nothing to ease her nerves.
“I don’t need a reminder of how long I’ve had to deal with Noah. Are you going to help me or not?”
He sighed. “I don’t mean to sound like a jerk. Of course, I’ll help you. I just wish you weren’t…dealing with this shit all by yourself again. Doesn’t your boyfriend know?”
She didn’t miss the derisive inflection in his reference to Sebastian. “Like I said, no one knows because the whole thing is so stupid, no one needs to know. Except you. I need you to explain to him, in slow and clear terms, that he needs to stop. That I’ve thrown away every one of his gifts and letters. Tell him how pointless all of it is. That’s it.”
“Happy to do it, Jaya. But why haven’t you called and told him directly?”
Why? Because no one triggers my insecurities and threatens my self-esteem like Noah. Because five minutes with him and I will begin to doubt everything I’ve built for myself these last few years. “Because he doesn’t listen to me!” was her answer to Patrick’s inquiry. That answer was the truest of all.
If it was a simple case of calling him and telling him to back off, if it was a situation that could be nipped in the bud, if it was anyone other than Noah fucking Rawlings who could play her compassion like a fiddle, Jaya would have handled it quickly and definitively. But Patrick had a point.
“Do you really think he needs to hear it from me?”
“Yes!” Patrick exclaimed. “I’ll call him too, I promise. I just think it won’t be the same unless you tell him just as clearly.”
She sighed. She was no longer a
high school kid or a floundering undergrad. “Fine,” she told her friend. “I’ll call him now. I need you to follow up right after.”
“I will. Good luck, Jaya.”
“I’ll need it.”
When she hung up, she didn’t hesitate. Dialed his number and waited. One ring and Noah’s self-satisfied voice was on the line. “Hi, Jaya.”
“I’m going to make this quick, Noah. I didn’t read any of your letters and I threw out everything you sent. Stop bothering me.”
“Jaya, it’s so good to hear your voice.”
“Are you even listening to me?!” Alarm and anger spiked her blood pressure.
“I just want to be friends again. Seeing you made me realize how much of a history we had. You don’t want to throw that away, do you? Writing about it made me understand that…”
Click. Nope. Just as she predicted, Noah was going to continue his selfish ruminations and manipulative mind games. She was done.
***
The gang met at a local bar, walking distance from the Columbus arena. During the hockey game, Shirley, Jaya, Carlos, and Jake sat together and screamed their heads off, cheering for the visiting team. Columbus won, but all Jaya could think about was being with Sebastian tonight. Preferably alone.
They agreed to meet at the bar for a quick drink so Sebastian could see his old friends. But they were both restless and horny. It took all of Jaya’s restraint not to suggest a quickie in the bathroom. If they didn’t leave in the next ten minutes, she still saw it as a viable option.
Jake arranged for the group to be in a quiet alcove, somewhat detached from the rest of the bar. In their corner, she could feel Sebastian’s hand under the table, rubbing her inner thigh, the heat of his fingers searing through her jeans. She leaned into the sturdiness of his chest as his other arm claimed her shoulder and pulled her tight. She could feel his stare like a summer sun that warmed her body and healed her spirit.
The Love Campaign (Romantic Revelations Series Book 1) Page 22
