by Nora Cobb
“We’re postponing it a day,” he replies. “I have prior plans with the family. How about you?”
Uncle Phil smiles and tosses the bag over his shoulders. “I’m not supposed to know about it, but Ray is taking me to a sold-out concert.”
“Who’s playing?” I ask.
“Some nineties rock band. That’s part of the surprise.”
“That sounds nice,” I smile, “and romantic.”
“I have a boyfriend, too, Nat,” Uncle Phil winks as he heads out the doorway. “And I’m keeping him happy.”
“Looks like he’s keeping you happy, too,” Lucas calls out. The front door opens and shuts, and Lucas pushes my tablet across the table. “I’m glad your uncle is into physical fitness.”
“So we get more time alone?” I scoot my chair near him.
“Of course.” With a teasing smile, Lucas pulls me into his lap. “You should encourage him to train for a triathlon, so we’ll get even more time alone.”
Lucas stares into my eyes, and I eagerly wrap my arms around his neck. His gaze shifts to my ready lips, and his lips part as I move closer toward him. His breath grazes my cheek as I close my eyes.
“Whoa, I only stopped by for breakfast, not a show.” The two of us pull away as Troy strolls into the kitchen unannounced and ruins the mood with his snarky comment.
“What do you want, Troy?” asks Lucas as I slide off his lap. “And how did you get in here?”
“Phil was leaving for the gym,” he replies, poking his nose into a pot of oatmeal on the stove. “He’s a dedicated man when it comes to looking twenty.” Troy pours himself a cup of coffee, skipping the eggs but grabbing a croissant. “So what have you two been doing?”
He grins like a maniac, and I groan. After Troy sits at the table, I hold out my hand. “Give me your phone,” I demand.
He’s clearly confused but hands it to me anyway. I grab it and put my number in it. He smiles like it’s a gift. It isn’t. “You have no excuses now,” I say, “not to text before you show up. Okay?”
He shoves his phone into his back pocket. “If I call, will you invite me over?”
“Not likely.” I sit down on the opposite side of the table, far from Troy but close to Lucas. “It won’t matter because you’ll show up anyway. But I’d like to know when you’re coming.”
Troy smiles like a fifth grader with a dirty picture on his phone, but he doesn’t dare make a joke. Lucas eyes him while chewing his toast, annoyed with our squeaky third wheel, but doesn’t comment either. Averting his gaze, Lucas arches a brow and takes another sip of his coffee. I still don’t get why the boys tolerate one another. Troy has so few redeeming qualities, but yet my uncle allows him into the house, and Lucas and Jacob hang out with him. It can’t all be about money?
Troy shifts his interest to Lucas, and I sit back, waiting for it to start. “I’m not here to see you, Natalie,” Troy informs us both. “I’m here to talk to you, Lucas. Your lawyer’s been busy with a calendar filled with new clients.”
“Not my lawyer,” a blasé Lucas takes another sip of coffee, “my father’s.”
“And is it a coincidence that your lawyer works for Phil Page now?”
“My father’s lawyer has numerous clients, Troy.”
Troy helps himself to the fruit salad on the table, and it stings me to watch him so comfortable in my home. I want to snatch that spoon out of his self-confident hand and pour his hot coffee onto his groin. One day, I’ll really get him. Sure, I helped Uncle Phil and it got the Saunders good, but Troy and I haven’t evened out our personal score yet.
“Why are you talking to him?” I ask. “You should be talking to me about the lawyer.”
“Why is that, Natalie?” Troy sounds bored, as if I’m a child interrupting the adults.
“Because I helped my uncle hire the lawyer, and I told him to divide the shares.”
Troy pauses, but he covers up his surprise well by hiding his grimace behind his coffee cup. He obviously thought Lucas had orchestrated everything alone. Troy underestimated me because he believed the lies told about me since the day I arrived at Montlake. Lies he helped create. I’m blonde but far from dumb and oversexed. I’m nothing like him.
“You hate being outmaneuvered.” I smile like I’m the wicked one. “And I liked doing it. It was almost better than sex.”
“Not with me, it isn’t,” laughs Troy. He tilts the corners of his mouth in a way that makes my hands ball into fists.
Lucas glares at Troy until Troy looks away, backing down. Lucas places his hand over mine, claiming me and making me off-limits. Troy watches the signal that tells him to behave in my home.
For a moment, Troy gazes at me with icy eyes that are unreadable. I feel a cold chill crawl up my spine, and I take a deep breath to center myself. I can’t hide my anxiety, and the energy rising in me. I hate that Troy can get a reaction out of me, and I force myself to take it down a notch. Troy shouldn’t overshadow Lucas’ presence, but he does. I want to slap him, kick him, bite him, and I’m angry at myself for wanting to focus on him and not on Lucas.
“One lucky break,” Troy says, “is hardly a win.”
“You can think that,” I point my finger at him, “but I’m not to be messed with. You may have physical strength, but I’ve got brains, and you’re no match for that.”
Troy tries to smirk as he holds his jaw tight, and I’m surprised that it doesn’t split at the hinges. A nerve has been struck with the deft precision of my sharp tongue. Troy and I aren’t in any classes together, and maybe he’s not the smart student he ought to be at Montlake. It’s easy for any fool to put selfies online. But how easy would it be to tap into Montlake’s office computers and share records online to the student body? Troy’s disciplinary records might overshadow my selfies.
“Maybe you should go, Troy,” Lucas stands and places himself between us. “And maybe you should stop dropping by unannounced.”
I place my hand on Lucas’ lower back and feel the hard muscle under his soft Montlake sweatshirt. My hand rubs his back, and the muscles are knotted hard under the red fabric. I want to shush him and soothe like a child and let him know that it’s all right. I can handle Troy with him by my side.
“It’s okay,” I continue, speaking softly to Lucas. “He can stay. Troy is welcome in my home.”
Troy’s eyes widen as if I’ve slapped him hard in the face. I haven’t touched him, and there’s no need to manhandle him now. He places his coffee cup down as his cheeks turn beet red. Troy refuses to look at Lucas, and it’s hard to believe that the two boys are on friendly terms.
I may feel a bit braver, but I’m not stupid. I’m moving into position, so I have to keep Troy on my board. If I send him away, I can’t watch him, and now, I realize why Lucas and Jacob keep Troy as a friend. I get, in a flash, that it’s easier to watch Troy as a friend than as an adversary. Handling Troy shouldn’t be too hard for me as a woman. I’ve met his mother, I know his girlfriend, and I’m learning what women do to control him.
Lucas smiles kindly at Troy, and that tips Troy over the edge. “Neither of you should gloat,” Troy says. “Not if you knew what you’ve started.”
“What have I started?” Lucas’ tone is smug as he sits back down and crosses his leg over his knee. His bare foot is on display as he bounces it in the air. Slyly, Troy glances around the floor, but he doesn’t ask or voice his conclusion. Everyone close to Lucas knows he’s only relaxed in bare feet. His shoes could be anywhere in the house. Just because they’re not in the kitchen doesn’t mean they’re in the bedroom.
“You’ve started a shitstorm, Lucas,” replies Troy. “The wedding between Arielle and me, it’s over. Her parents canceled it. They’ve lost interest in my family.”
Lucas’ back tenses under my touch and the worried expression on his face gives something back to Troy. I don’t dare move a muscle, and I force my face to remain a blank mask. Troy leans back in his chair, and his lips bend into a knowing grin.
“I wasn’t under the impression that you wanted to get married,” I state calmly, “at least, not to your mother’s pick.”
“I didn’t,” Troy replies, “that was obvious when you were in my house.” Troy ignores me again. “Lucas, Arielle has canceled the wedding, but she intends to get married.”
“Well, cheers.” Lucas lifts his cup in a mock toast. “It won’t be to either of us.”
Troy loses interest in his half-eaten food. He never leaves a plate in this house until it’s clean. His lips move stiffly, “Arielle told me that her parents are expecting her to marry before her nineteenth birthday, or they’ll arrange it.”
I can hardly breathe, and the hairs lift on the back of my neck, but Lucas seems unconcerned as he finishes his coffee and rises to make another cup.
“They’ve already arranged two weddings,” Lucas stretches his arms above his head, and then hits the button on the coffee maker, “and it all went to bust. Why should we be concerned?”
Troy’s face hardens. “Arielle will have to marry the man they choose, and I suspect he’s not an American. Arielle doesn’t want to live abroad. She only leaves the state to go to New York to shop. Can you imagine her away from home?”
Lucas swallows, and the thought makes him pause. “Well,” he replies casually, sitting down with his cup, “then she may have to go abroad, because I won’t marry her.”
“Lucas,” I interrupt. “This doesn’t sound good.”
They both look at me like I’m a squirrel in the yard singing pop tunes in English. WTF. I know I’m not stupid, but Troy’s staring at me like I shouldn’t have a clue in my blonde head. He’s a blond, too. Give me a break. His lips press together tightly. Finally, he believes that I actually may have had something to do with bringing together Uncle Phil’s non-voting shares.
It’s incredible that Lucas refuses to believe that Arielle would trap him again. “No, Taylor hates Arielle,” he replies. “Arielle tried to convince my mom that I was the one whoring around Montlake.” Lucas scoffs. “The Blackwater name is good, but it ain’t gold. My parents are past that crap.” It’s a bad sign when Lucas lets his language slide. He’s becoming emotional.
“Lucas,” I try again.
“She’ll try to sweet talk me,” he smiles, “but I’m taken.” Lucas leans over and kisses my cheek. Suddenly, he pulls away and looks at me oddly. My skin is heated because I’m worried.
“Their contract is broken, right?” I ask Troy.
He shrugs his shoulders as he focuses his attention away from Lucas and on me. “Not unless it was ended in writing. Or all copies were destroyed, and there’s no physical proof of it. Look, I may be jumping to conclusions, but I got dumped, and she still needs a husband. Unless she plans to hook someone in college, which she may do ...” Troy looks at Lucas with concern in his expression. “I’d watch my back and call your freakin’ lawyer.”
We’re lost in thought as the conversation lags to a stop. I wrap my arms around me and shiver. Lucas ignores Troy and scrolls through homework message boards. Troy picks at his plate, and now, he seems aware of our icy welcome. Troy stands up to leave, and I look at the clock. He usually hangs for an hour or more. But less than forty minutes have passed.
“Troy,” I say to him before he can leave the table, “I’ll walk you to the door.”
His eyebrows lift, but he nods his head and waits for me to stand. I run my hand along Lucas’ shoulders as he continues to read his tablet. He barely says goodbye to Troy. The conversation bothered him more than he wants to admit.
“What do you think Arielle will do?” I ask as we walk to the front door.
Troy lifts his eyes to the ceiling and considers the thoughts in his head. “I don’t know, Natalie. She could go after Lucas or you. She may even strike out at me.”
“You?” I’m shocked. “Why would she do that?”
He grins. “Arielle likes to kick people when they’re down.”
“Are you down?” I look hard at his expression, and there’s no sarcasm in it. If anything, Troy seems pensive. I’m not used to him being serious and deep, and it worries me even more.
“No, Natalie, I’m relieved.” He holds out his hand and waits for me to take it. It’s odd holding his hand in mine. I’m at a loss as to what to do, so I grasp his hand firmly and shake it.
“Well played, Natalie,” he says. “I didn’t think you would figure out the code, but maybe I was wrong about you.”
I see an opportunity to ask a question I want answered. “Why do you come here so much?”
Troy shrugs his shoulders. “I just wanted to piss you off at first, but after a while ... I liked sitting in a calm house.”
Wow. I wasn’t expecting a sharing moment. Not with Troy. I’m speechless, and I can barely recover. He puts on his letterman jacket and opens the door. I back away from the cold wind as he steps onto the walkway.
“Just do me a favor?” he asks.
“What’s that?”
“Don’t get smug, Trashalicious.” He winks and licks his lips.
I slam the door. I’m comfortable with that Troy, and in a way, I’m glad he returned at the last minute. I can deal with that rude boy. But the new Troy? What was that all about?
CHAPTER 16
Lucas
I drive up to my house and see a black SUV with tinted windows that I don’t recognize. The plate is also unfamiliar. Maybe my parents are entertaining out of town guests. My father often entertains potential clients at home. But I don’t really know, and I don’t really care. I step into the main hall and hear voices laughing from the living room, but when I step into view, the laughter stops.
Arielle and her parents, Carson and Yvette Blackwater, are seated on the sofa, and my parents are seated across from them in the cream-colored high-back chairs. An older man I’ve never met is sitting alone on the curve of the sofa. The coffee table is littered with glasses and bowls of dried fruit and almonds as if they’re having a party. My parents would never party with the Blackwaters. What would they have to celebrate?
“Hello, Lucas,” Carson stands and shakes my hand heartily. “Good to see you again. You’ve been a stranger. I hear that your team is in the championships. Come, come sit down. Tell me about it.”
The only available place to sit is by Arielle. I don’t want to sit near her, so I stand. “That’s okay. And yes, we made it into the championship.”
“Lucas, this is my brother, Joel Blackwater. He is a judge in Newark.” I shake hands with the man. He has a firm grip, but his smile is crooked and doesn’t reach his hard eyes.
“Lucas,” Arielle bats her lashes at me. “Sit down. I’m not going to bite.”
There’s polite laughter as I sit down next to her, literally on the edge of my seat. The conversation immediately lags, and the silence is uncomfortable as we all stare around the room. I don’t know where to look, so I look at Taylor and wait for an explanation.
“What’s going on?” I ask my mom.
“Lucas,” Arielle places her hand on my forearm. “May we speak in private?”
“I’d rather we didn’t,” I reply. “What do you have to say?”
Arielle looks to my father for guidance, and he nods his head. I don’t understand the look that passes between them, but obviously, I was the topic of conversation before I entered the room. Arielle clears her throat and sits up in her seat, wiggling her back as if she’s about to recite a poem to a drama class. If she were, she’d get an A+ for BS.
“Lucas, our family lawyer has gone over the marriage contract at my request. And there’s a clause that both parties must consent before breaking off the agreement.”
My skin is cold as Arielle continues to speak words I don’t hear. Troy suspected something terrible was about to happen. Now, I understand the conversation that we had. I thought I had time. He wasn’t goading me. Troy was trying to warn me. He knew that this might happen, and it’s happening today.
“I wasn’t engaged to someone else,�
� I shoot back.
Arielle clears her throat. “But you were dating someone else.”
I stand up quickly. “Before or after you slept around?”
“Lucas,” My father’s tone is sharp. “Arielle is our guest.”
I laugh. “She’s also a—”
“Lucas,” Arielle’s voice rises over mine. “I made a mistake,” her voice cracks, “but I never wanted to marry anyone else but you. You broke our agreement.”
“No, we broke the agreement,” I reply, “after you announced your engagement to Troy Saunders.”
“Not legally. Your parents didn’t end the agreement legally.”