A few hours later, my eyes opened and I glanced at the clock. It was seven in the evening and the day was shot. My cell phone buzzed on my nightstand and when I checked the screen, I saw it was Bobbie Jo.
“Hey, yeah, I’m home.”
“Must have been quite a trip. I’ve gotten tons of emails from Patricia. They seem excited to share these whales with us.”
“Yes, they are, Bobbie Jo. It’s costing us a pretty penny to move them, but I’m happy you’re happy.” I rolled onto my back and blinked my eyes. They felt sticky and tired.
As usual, she was all business. “Did you order the press release? I’m going to need that ASAP.”
“Yeah, I did it before I left. I’ll call Sophie and see if it’s ready yet…or you could call her yourself? Her number’s on my desk.”
“Oh, no. That’s all you, big guy. I’ve got my hands full here with all the daily stuff. Are you coming in tomorrow or are you taking another day off?” she teased. Bobbie must have felt overwhelmed now that she could see all the details that needed her attention. The biggest problem was locating a regular source of the right food for our two new residents.
“Hey! I wasn’t off today—I just wasn’t there. I’ll be in tomorrow morning so don’t do anything until then, okay? Tell the Sea Crest people you have to wait on me. That should keep them happy for a day, at least.”
“Sounds good. Talk to you then.” She hung up, no doubt happy to leave the problem-solving to me. That was kind of funny, considering how badly she wanted my job. Now it seemed that Bobbie Jo had lost interest in being the boss and sometimes I wondered if she didn’t make a big deal out of small things just so she’d look better for the board, but I wasn’t sure. I didn’t do politics well and believed I’d won the job because I was the better candidate. I wished she’d get over it and simply work with me, but I guess that was never going to happen. In Bobbie Jo’s mind, the decision had been wrong.
I tapped on the phone and called Sophie. I hoped our conversation wouldn’t be as frosty as the last one. “Hey, Sophie, it’s me. Gabe.”
“Hey, Gabe. Good trip?”
“Yes, everything went well. Did you get a chance to finish that press release about our partnership with Sea Crest?”
“Yes, I did. It should be in your inbox.”
“Thank goodness. Bobbie Jo needs it.”
“Would you like me to send a copy to her?”
“Could you? That would be great.”
“I’d be happy to.”
“Thanks, Sophie.”
“No problem. Sending it now. Anything else?”
“Can’t think of anything.”
“Great, have a nice day.” Then she hung up the phone and I just stared at it. No idle chatting this time. No friendship. I read her loud and clear—strictly professional and I breathed a sigh of relief. It was weird, but if that’s the way she wanted it, okay.
I got up and headed into the shower. My eyes still felt sticky but the steam and warm water helped. The plan was to get cleaned up and go see Pepper. She’d gotten some bad news—well, disturbing news anyway—and I wanted to be there for her. I dried off and grabbed some blue jeans and a t-shirt, then I checked my phone—still no call from Pepper so I slid on my shoes and jogged down the stairs. My parents still weren’t home yet and I guessed they were probably socializing at some non-profit fundraiser or volunteer get-together. I was still disappointed in their response to the news that I was dating Pepper and I’d never have dreamed they’d be so judgmental about someone they hadn’t even met. When did that happen? They’d always given everyone the benefit of the doubt, but not this time.
Well, once they’d met her themselves, I was convinced they’d see her as I did—a warm, kind and intelligent woman. I planned to arrange that, maybe have some dinner here at the house, just the four of us. If I liked her, they would have to, right?
I got back into the car and made the short trip to the Anderson estate. I paused at the gate and spoke briefly to the guard, who wanted to know who I was. That was a new thing as I didn’t remember a guard being there the last time I’d visited. I guessed that meant the paparazzi were hanging around again and when the gates opened, I drove up the circular drive to the front of their mansion. Pepper’s car was in the driveway along with Mills’ new Mercedes, so I parked behind her and walked to the front door.
Mr. Anderson opened the door, saw me standing there and smiled.
“Hey, Gabriel. Good to see you. Please come in.”
“Hi, Doug. Thanks.”
“I noticed you have a guard out front. Something going on?”
“Gabe? What are you doing here?” It was Pepper, her hair mussed and her eyes red.
“Hey, Dolphin Girl. Just came by to see how you were doing.” I smiled and was surprised when Pepper rolled her eyes and walked away without saying another word. Doug watched the two of us then closed the door behind me.
“Okay. Well, I’ll be in my study if anyone needs me.” Then he left me standing there and strolled down the hall. Now, I had a choice—follow Pepper and find out what was going on, or walk out the door. My heart wouldn’t let me leave so I sighed and walked behind her, determined to show her that I cared about her. I surmised that she couldn’t be thinking clearly right now and I had to give her the benefit of the doubt.
“Wait, Pepper! Are you mad at me? Did I do something? Please don’t just walk away. I’m sorry I couldn’t be here, but I had to go California to sign the contract for the whales I told you about. Don’t you remember?”
“Yeah, I remember. I have a brain. Did you and Sophie have a good time?”
“Sophie? What are you talking about?”
“You know what I mean, Gabriel. I may not have letters after my name, but I’m not stupid.” She stomped away again and walked out onto the balcony, but I wasn’t ready to let this go so I followed her outside.
“Hey, will you please stop walking away from me. I have no idea what you’re talking about—not in the least—and I haven’t been anywhere with Sophie. I went to Sea Crest in California to finalize the deal with the whales...on my own.” She didn’t answer me so I kept talking, “Look, I know you’ve been through a lot lately, but I am here for you, believe it or not. Let’s talk.”
She spun around on her bare feet with her blonde hair flying.
“Oh, now you’re here! I don’t need your sympathy, Gabriel Gregory—Mr. Perfect, with his perfect family! Why don’t you go back to Sophie and leave me the hell alone!” She walked back inside, paused in the doorway and yelled again, “And don’t follow me!”
“Pepper!” I called after her, but she’d already gone. I walked back into the house when Doug came walking down the hall from his study.
“Gabe, I think you’d better leave, son. I don’t think Pepper’s in the right frame of mind for visitors right now. She’s been moody all day.”
“I can tell. I’ll call her later. Good to see you, Doug.”
“Gabe,” he replied with a nod.
He saw me to the door and closed it behind me. I looked up to Pepper’s window in case I could see her, but there was no one there. I wasn’t going to beg her to talk to me so I’d let it go for a day or two. She clearly didn’t want me around and I had too much work to do. Hopefully, this would all straighten out—and soon.
Chapter Six — Pepper
Mills sat on the edge of my bed and looked a little put out by my behavior. “What are you doing, Pepper? Why did you send Gabe away?”
“Leave it, Mills. I don’t want to talk about it right now. You wouldn’t understand.”
“Right, because I don’t know anything. I’m just your sister.” It was clear she wasn’t going anywhere by the way she hunkered down on my bed and sat crossed-legged next to me. “You can’t do this, Pepper. Don’t push the people who love you away. It’s not our fault this happened but we’re here for you.”
I smashed the pillow with my fist and buried my face in it. Last night I’d cried for hours, but
apparently there was no end to my tear supply. Mills stroked my hair with her petite hand as she tried to comfort me. “You seemed okay yesterday when you got back from Aven’s. What happened since?”
My heart broke inside my chest. How could I explain how I felt about all this? I was an orphan, a ship without a sail. I turned on my side and wiped the tears from my eyes.
“I can’t pretend this didn’t happen, Mills. I’m not an Anderson—I’m not even your real sister. Who knows who I really am?”
“Does it really matter?”
“What do you mean? Of course it matters.”
“Really? Regardless of who your biological parents are, you are my sister and if I remember correctly, it was you who taught me how to swim. You were the one who showed me how to put on eye makeup and I’m pretty sure it was you that taught me how to drive, how to cook a panini, how to pass my English lit class. That’s what a sister does and you did that, Pepper. You’ll always be my sister, so shut up about it. It’s like you don’t want to be my sister anymore or something.” Her big eyes filled with tears and her bottom lip trembled.
I sat up on the bed and put my arms out to her. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. Of course I want to be your sister. I love you.” I hugged her for a long time.
“Now tell me why you sent Gabe away.” I told her the whole sorry story about Gabe’s unfriendly mother—and about Sophie. “Gee, that doesn’t sound like Gabe at all. He’s so…so…honest.”
“Men aren’t always what they seem, Mills, and the sooner you figure that out the better off you’ll be.”
“You sound like Mom when you talk like that.” I curled my lip up in a snarl and shook my head. “Listen, Pepper, I know you have a lot going on but I…” My phone rang on the nightstand and I snatched it up, secretly praying it was Gabe, but it wasn’t. The text was from Church.
Thinking about you, sexy lady. Are we still friends?
A few days ago I wouldn’t have answered his text, but what did I have to lose now? Obviously, I wasn’t good enough for Mr. Gabe Gregory—his mother made that abundantly clear. Maybe I deserved to be with Church. We were, after all, two birds of a feather—or at least that’s what I’d heard so I sent him back a quick text.
Thanks. Yes, we’re still friends.
Mills peered over my shoulder and stared at the screen. She made the same noise that I’d made earlier when Gabe tried to talk to me then got up from the bed and walked to the door.
“Wait, where are you going? What were you saying?”
“Never mind, it can wait. I can’t believe you’re texting that moron back.”
“Mills, it’s nothing. We’re not getting back together or anything. He’s just a friend.”
“A friend? Now you do sound like Mom. I’ll talk to you later, Pepper…when you come to your senses.” She left me alone and didn’t hide her disappointment in me, but what did she know? I wasn’t a kid anymore and I could see whoever I wanted. I loved my sister, but she had no idea what I was going through. How could she? She didn’t have a care in the world. I was the screw-up—so much of a screw-up that my father got me a job with a guy who took me on as a project.
A. Fucking. Lame. Project.
Now I’d found that I wasn’t even his daughter—just some fucked-up charity case and I wondered how she’d done it. How did Evangeline manage to talk him into adopting me? It had to be her idea—no way would Doug Anderson have initiated a search for a kid. Not in his ordered, structured life.
Although I’d been devastated by the news, it was also a relief to discover that I wasn’t the biological child of the Andersons after all. I thanked my lucky stars that Evangeline’s blood didn’t run through my veins, but I was sorry that I wasn’t Doug’s child, either. My train of thought just brought me back to square one though. The question still remained, whose kid was I? Who did I belong to?
I flopped back on my bed and felt my phone vibrate in my hand with an incoming text.
I just heard the news. How cool is that?
Great, Church knew the gossip as well now and I guessed it was probably moving like wildfire through our circle of friends now. I imagined the party invites and guest lists were having my name scrubbed off them right now. Let’s shun the adopted peasant. She doesn’t belong here. I fired off a reply.
How is that cool? That I’m nobody’s kid?
He gave me his typical response. LOL
Everything was a big joke to Jonathan Church. He really had no compassion at all and I didn’t answer him, but after a couple of minutes he wrote.
Want to get high?
I stared at the screen in disbelief and rolled my eyes.
Hell, no. I could use a drink, though.
Meet me at the crib
I immediately responded, K but we’re not having sex.
I stayed there for a few minutes and debated whether I would really go and meet him or not. I knew it was a bad idea. How was vodka going to help? My phone dinged again and this time it was Bobbie Jo.
I need you to turn in those Sea Lab shirts, ASAP. Nothing else. No, ‘I miss you,’ or ‘Singh misses you.’ Whatever, Bobbie Jo. Fuck you, too.
Yeah, vodka sounded really good right now. I grabbed my bag, keys and shoes and left the house. This would probably end badly but I didn’t give a damn. For the next couple of hours, I could forget about Sophie, Gabe and the fact that I was an orphan.
I pulled up to Jonathan’s back door—he had two homes and this one was much less formal than the other. His parents had gifted him that one when he graduated high school, but he was hardly ever there from what I heard. This house, which he liked calling ‘the crib’, was a gray and white, three-story beach house with a blue-gray roof and I liked this place. Despite his gigolo ways, Church had great taste and he’d taken the time to decorate the place just how he wanted it. In keeping with the color scheme, it was full of fabulous gray furniture, crystal and mirrors. Sounded gauche, but the way it all came together was super stylish.
I turned off my convertible and sat in the car for a minute. Well, I'm here now. Might as well go have one drink. I grabbed my stuff, got out of the car and saw Church looking down at me from his balcony. He had a smug smile on his face and of course, he looked like a million fucking bucks. Typical Church. He wore his trademark white button-down, half-open to show his chest, and a pair of dark blue jeans. His feet were bare, his hair was damp and no one could deny that Church was ridiculously handsome. In the past, those smoldering, dark looks would have seduced me with little effort, but those days were gone and no way was it happening now. I would never forget that he screwed Evangeline, when he thought she was me. Yeah, right. I’m that gullible. Not!
“Hey,” I said when I reached the top step of the stairs that led to the balcony.
“Hey, yourself. Nice to see you, stranger. Come on inside. Did you eat yet?”
“No, but I’m not hungry.”
“Suit yourself, but I think it’s probably smart to eat something before we mix drinks. There’s a party at the Hangout I want to take you to later and I don’t want you to get caught on an unauthorized ‘Girls Gone Wild’ video. It’s almost spring break.”
Church opened the door and we walked into his flawless beach house. The first thing I noticed were the flickering candles he’d lit and placed all around the room—something he liked to do when he looked forward to having sex. He knew I’d already told him that wasn’t going to happen in my text, but he made it obvious that he was planning to try and change my mind. He wasn’t going to succeed, but that was just how he was, always over-confident of his superiority and charm.
“I’m not dressed for a party, Church. You didn’t say anything about that. I’m here for one of your famous drinks, not a party.”
“It’s the Hangout and everyone there will be wearing what you’re wearing. Casual clothing is fine, and if you’re worried about what people think, don’t be. Adoption is the style now—you know, like that Kardashian chick, or one of Brangeli
na’s brats.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? Is this all just a big joke to you? People don’t want to find out that they are adopted. Especially the people in our circle of friends.”
Church set a plate of salad in front of me and the crisp lettuce, grilled chicken and balsamic drizzle did look tempting. I sat down, tucked my legs up under me and reached for the plate. It wouldn’t hurt to put something in my stomach, then I’d have a couple of drinks. He sat on the opposite couch with an imported beer in his hand and I was grateful that he didn’t break out any drugs. I hated them and even though I’d only tried a few things, I hadn’t enjoyed any of them. Now, vodka? Loved it.
“You know how people are—they have short memories. Stop worrying about what people think and, by the way, what does your boyfriend think about you being here with evil old me?”
“Gabe isn’t my boyfriend—he’s just a friend. Or he was a friend.”
“Oh, I see,” he grinned, and rubbed his finger around the rim of his bottle.
“Church, despite what may or may not be happening between me and Gabe, I haven’t forgiven you for Evangeline. I can’t get it out of my mind and like I said in my text, we’re not having sex. I hope that’s clear to you. If not, I’ll leave now.”
Church put his bottle down on the glass table in front of him. “You don’t think much of me, do you? I’m not going to defend myself all over again. I told you what happened and no, I am not sitting here hoping you’ll have sex with me. That’s already been taken care of, Pepper.”
“Oh…” was all I could say. I guessed he was telling me that he’d already had sex with someone else. “So why text me?”
“We’ve always had good times together and I wanted to have a good time. Is that so hard to understand? I don’t have many friends—and that’s my choice—but I consider you one of them.”
I put the plate down and smiled. “Thanks, Jonathan. I need a friend today.” I took a deep breath and felt relieved. I couldn’t take another confrontation right now.
“Keep eating and I’ll make you that drink. You’ll never guess who’s playing at the Hangout…”
Destiny Undone 3 Page 5