The waitress filled our coffee cups. Lake added a splash of cream and Corbin handed her two packets of sugar. The morning after her prom, four and a half years earlier, she’d wanted to drink coffee just because I did. Now, she looked like a regular caffeinator. While I ached for the old Lake, it was as if I were meeting a new side of her, and that was something I’d never thought I’d get.
“Is it your first time in New York?” Corbin asked, stirring his coffee, the spoon clink clink clinking against the sides.
“Yeah.”
“How do you like it?” he asked.
Fast-paced wasn’t my speed. I wasn’t sure how to feel about the city yet. It was dirty, cramped, and noisy. Orange County was paradise by comparison, and even that could sometimes get to be too much for me. Even though my time at Camp Young Cubs had ended in handcuffs, I sometimes wished to be back in Big Bear—that time had stopped the night Lake and I had sat under the stars. Before the arrest. Before any of this.
“He won’t like it here,” Lake answered for me, dropping her eyes to the buttons of my dress shirt. “I can’t picture it.” She didn’t like the suit. It didn’t align with how she saw me, and she looked different to me, too, so I understood. She was a little older, not as put together, and definitely not as trusting. That didn’t mean I didn’t want her as she was, though.
“I might. I’ve barely seen it,” I said to her, hoping she’d understand that I could accept this new life of hers. That I wanted to be part of it. “I only arrived late last night.”
“And Lake’s apartment was the first stop you made?” Corbin asked.
“I had something to give her.” I shifted my gaze to Lake. “And it’s time-sensitive.”
Corbin looked between us. “Well, what was it?” he asked her.
“When Cathy found out I was coming,” I said, “she asked me to check on Lake.” I took the Broadway tickets she’d given me from inside my suit jacket and showed them to Lake. “The show is tonight. Miss Saigon—”
She snatched them. “I told my mom I wanted to see this.”
“It’s too bad you can’t go since you work tonight,” Corbin said, his arm still behind her as he played with her hair. I’d just gotten that golden silk in my hands for the first time in years, and he’d been running his fingers through it all this time? Fuck him.
“Oh, yeah.” Her shoulders slumped as she set the tickets on the table. “I totally forgot.”
Corbin shifted against the vinyl, his lips thinning into a line. “You should’ve told me you wanted to go. I’ll take you another night,” he said to her while looking at me. “Lake and I have been to lots of shows. Cathy knows that.”
I took the tickets back. Lake’s disappointment was palpable, but I wasn’t going to push it in front of Corbin. I’d get her to the show, even if I had to reschedule for a different night next week. “Not a problem,” I said.
She sucked in a breath like she was going to protest, and then seemed to think better of it. “I’ll call my mom and thank her. It’s been a while since we spoke anyway.”
Now Lake wasn’t only disappointed, but sad, too. I was close to her family, and the gap between them was great for no good reason. Lake had to have missed her parents, just like they missed their daughter, but until either Charles or Lake swallowed their pride and made the first call, it would stay that way.
“She works so damn hard,” Corbin said, pulling her into his side. “This one has two jobs on top of her auditions, not to mention she was in class several hours a week up until recently. She loves staying busy, but she deserves a break.”
I kept my eyes on Lake. All I heard was Corbin speaking for her the same way her dad had. I’d once wondered if this prick was better for Lake than I would be, but if he treated her anything like Charles had, then I wouldn’t feel an ounce of guilt stealing her out from under him.
“I don’t work any harder than you,” she said to Corbin.
I turned my attention to him, seeing an opening to learn more about the person I’d be going up against. “What do you do?” I asked him.
“Finance.”
“What’s that mean?” I got bits and pieces about Lake from Cathy, but out of self-preservation, I’d sometimes tuned out specifics when it came to Corbin.
“Since I graduated last year, I’ve been an investment analyst at a hedge fund. I shadow a portfolio manager—”
“I see.” I didn’t see. As it turned out, I didn’t care. I’d already decided Lake could do better. “What’s a hedge fund?”
“Oh, okay.” Corbin sighed. “Let me back up. Basically, my boss manages capital—that’s money—pooled by these investors who, like, they’re big time . . .”
Lake noticed me staring at her and blushed. God, it felt good to be back in her presence. To have put my arms around her and been close enough to practically taste her breath. It was like the first lick of what could be a never-ending cone of my favorite ice cream. She might’ve told me to stop because she was fighting herself—and me. She had every right to. I wanted her to give in, but I needed her to be sure about us before anything happened, because once I started down this path, I wouldn’t be able to turn back.
When I realized Corbin had stopped talking, I asked Lake, “And what do you do? I know you were enrolled in Tisch, the art school, and that’s about it,” I said. “Your parents don’t even know what line of work you’re in.”
“Line of work?” she asked, failing to suppress a laugh. “I work part-time at an animal shelter for minimum wage.”
That didn’t surprise me. Lake had a scar on her arm from trying to extract a scared kitten from a bush, and though I didn’t really see the connection between acting and animals, at least it suited her. “That sounds all right,” I said.
“And the other part of the time, she works the graveyard at this twenty-four-hour Ukrainian diner,” Corbin added.
“Corbin,” Lake muttered under her breath.
It took a moment for that to register. I hadn’t thought her situation could get any worse, but I was wrong. By the way she looked at her lap, Corbin wasn’t kidding, and Lake knew how I’d feel about this. “The graveyard?” I asked, my voice bouncing off the booth.
Lake chewed on her thumbnail. “That’s what we in the industry call the nightshift . . .”
“I know what the goddamn graveyard means.” I took a soothing breath to keep from exploding like her dad, because that had sent her thousands of miles away. “How did this happen?” I asked.
“Well, typically you fill out an application, have an interview with the manager, and—”
“Lake.” I leaned my elbows on the table, leveling her with a glare that made her sigh.
“It’s not that bad,” she said. “It’s only a few avenues from my apartment, so I can walk there.”
“You walk,” I deadpanned. “In the middle of the night?”
“I met her after work the first few times,” Corbin said, “but it’s tough because I’m sometimes pulling twelve-hour days. Good thing I figured out pretty quickly that she’s tougher than she looks.”
“Stop talking about me like I’m not here,” Lake said. “I don’t work because it’s convenient. I do it to pay my rent and loans. That’s all there is to it. End of discussion.”
“See what I mean?” Corbin winked at me. “I’ve got an eye on her, though,” he said before leaning in to whisper in her ear.
He had an eye on her. He was staking his claim, and not just with his arm on her shoulder. By the ease of their intimacy, it was clear they’d been together awhile. Maybe since the wedding, even. He’d seen her through the hard times I’d caused, taken her to shows, walked her home from work in the middle of the night . . .
Made love to her.
My stomach churned. I’d never so much as kissed Lake, but I knew one night with her would change everything—it was the reason we’d never had that one night. Was Corbin to Lake what Tiffany was to me? A safe kind of intimacy? Or did he give her more?
&
nbsp; Did he give her as much as I could?
The idea of it felt so wrong that my throat closed, and my scalp heated. I wanted to reach across the table and pull him off her. I had to talk myself down before I made a mistake. Maybe she’d needed to get him out of her system to know it wasn’t meant to be. I knew Lake would never wonder about another man if she had me, but maybe she didn’t know that. She didn’t think I was coming for her. How could she? I hadn’t known I would until recently. As much as I’d fought it, as wrong as I knew it was, I still loved her. As I’d looked around that shitty apartment, I’d seen all the ways I’d fucked up. From day one, I’d wanted the best for her, and if this was it, I knew I could do better. The longer I was in her presence, the more certain I was I had only one option left—tilt the universe until she fell into my arms.
Lake shook her head at her lap in response to whatever Corbin had whispered to her. “No, it’s okay. It’s fine.”
Corbin wanted me out, too. He was right to. Rationalize as I did, I still couldn’t help the flush of heat working its way up my chest as Corbin said something else to make her smile. His fingers drummed against her shoulder. Their relationship was my fault. I had no right to get angry, but I was. I wanted to send him packing but not before I knocked him cold for getting parts of Lake I didn’t even have the pleasure of knowing about. Yet.
The waitress rescued me, dropping our food at the table and forcing Corbin to remove his arm from Lake.
The “number one” Lake had ordered me was a double-decker egg sandwich with bacon, avocado, and sauce. It came with a side of toast and fruit and was probably enough food for two people. In other words, it was perfect. Two bites in, I groaned with satisfaction, and it was only then that Lake stopped watching me and started eating her oatmeal and hash browns.
I glanced at my watch. I needed to leave soon for another sales meeting or I’d be late. I’d been in New York less than twenty-four hours, and I was ready to blow off everything to spend more time with Lake.
“You here for work?” Corbin asked, noticing I’d checked the time. “Man, my dad would’ve loved for me to go into pharma. So much money there, but then again, Wall Street’s got me doing all right.”
“Sure,” I said, swallowing.
“You knew he worked with your dad?” Lake asked Corbin. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You’re always saying you don’t want to know anything about home.” He sipped his coffee and shrugged at me. “Where’d they put you up?”
“The W. In Union Square.” I washed down my food with some coffee. “I think it’s new.”
“Oh, yeah. I’ve seen it. Your schedule must be packed. I doubt you came all this way without lots to do.”
I ripped off part of a bacon strip with my teeth, looking between them. Corbin was right, but I was finding it hard to care about work. I couldn’t say that in front of him, though. “I’ve got a busy schedule,” I agreed, chewing. It’d been the only way I could prove to Charles I needed to be in New York. “I wanted to make sure I checked in on things, though. For Cathy.”
“For Cathy.” Corbin nodded, then glanced at Lake and laughed. “Lake, babe,” he said, “you already got ketchup on yourself.”
Lake pulled her sweater taut to see the stain. “Damn it.”
“At least you have time to go home and change before work . . . unlike the Upper East Side mixer incident.”
She rolled her eyes as she patted her top. “Only me.”
“I took her to a party hosted by my firm,” he said to me. “First time I introduced her to my colleagues, and she spilled champagne all down the front of her Versace dress. The one I’d just spent hundreds of dollars on.”
My patience was growing thin. I’d had enough of Corbin’s peacocking, his inside jokes and expensive taste, and his fucking hands all over her.
Like old times, Lake seemed to pick up on my irritation. She put down the napkin. “I have to get home and shower if I’m going to get to work on time.”
“I’ll walk you,” I said.
“Where’s your next meeting?” she asked.
“Not around here,” I said. “It’s in Manhasset.”
Corbin’s eyebrows rose. “That’s a drive.”
“Yeah, it’s not technically a sales call. I’m playing golf with a client of mine from Orange County, because he’s going to introduce me to . . .”
Lake looked at me as if she didn’t know me. I didn’t blame her. I’d had things to take care of the past few years, like a wife and a mortgage, and if golf was the answer to getting more clients, I had to play the game. I’d once told Tiffany I’d never become her dad, but the commission structure Charles had put in place for me made it impossible not to want more and more. Truth be told, I’d never dreamed of living the life I was now—owning my home, having a pool, surprising Tiffany with expensive gifts that she bragged about to her friends. This doctor I was meeting today could set me up with another three or four sales appointments while I was in town, and if I wasn’t letting Lake go again, that meant I had a divorce in my future, and knowing Tiff, that would get fucking pricey. “It could be pretty lucrative for me to hit a tiny ball around for a few hours,” I explained.
“Oh.” Lake frowned. “Well, if it’s lucrative.”
“Hope you’ve got a change of clothes,” Corbin said.
“I’ll pick something up at the club.”
Lake and I held each other’s gaze as Corbin signaled for the waitress. “Are you coming over tonight?” he asked Lake.
“I won’t be done at work until late.”
“What about after?”
She finally turned to him, her head tilted. “It’ll be close to midnight.”
“Yeah.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I guess.”
I removed my wallet, but Corbin waved me off. “I’ve got this,” he said, taking the bill up to the cashier.
I didn’t need to make a show of paying for the meal. If Corbin wanted to give me time alone with Lake, I wouldn’t argue. “The show’s at seven tonight,” I said to her.
“I already told you I have to work at the diner.”
“Then quit.” I hoped she’d say yes, but she didn’t seem as outraged about her graveyard shift as I was. “Or fake a stomachache. I thought you loved Broadway.”
“I do, but . . . I don’t see the point of spending time together when it’s only going to . . .” She swallowed down her words. She’d done that a few times already in the apartment, and all I could do was stand there and watch. It took every ounce of self-restraint not to take her in my arms and promise her the world just to ease the sadness in her eyes.
“Cathy made me promise I’d take you,” I said. “She had a whole plan to keep it from Charles and Tiffany, just so I could make sure you were okay—and show you a good time.”
Lake looked at the table. I didn’t want to make things harder on her, but we needed one-on-one time. If I had to play the Mom card, I would.
“Let me get you a cab, Manning,” Corbin said, calling us to the front of the restaurant. “Hailing one is kind of an art.”
Lake got up, so I followed. As we made our way outside, I lowered my voice. “I’ll pick you up at six. Unless you want dinner before rather than after.”
Lake met eyes with Corbin. “Will you get my coat from the check?” she asked him.
“Of course.”
As soon as he left, she turned her eyes on me. “I thought it was just a show.”
“You need to eat, don’t you? It would mean a lot to Cathy. She wonders all the time about how you’re eating.” I held open the door for Lake, but she only eyed me, skeptical. “One Sunday night, I found your mom crying into a roast. She worries nobody’s cooking for you. She worries a lot, Lake, and . . .” Corbin was headed back our way. “So do I. I need this, too. A few uninterrupted hours with you.”
Lake shot a glance in Corbin’s direction and lowered her voice. “Okay, fine.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe I’m—it’s for my
mom, all right? Don’t mention it to Corbin.”
I guessed maybe her boyfriend wouldn’t be too happy about our date tonight. That was fine by me. A weight lifted from my shoulders knowing I’d see her later. I was going to be late for golf, but it was worth it.
Outside, I took my Nokia from my suit pocket so I could call the client once I was in a cab.
“You have a cell phone?” Lake asked.
I gave it to her. I liked watching her turn it over in her hands. I didn’t have to ask if she owned one—they were expensive, and I only had it for work.
“It looks like Corbin’s,” she said with a smirk, handing it back to me. Although I hated hearing his name from her mouth, her sudden attitude was kind of cute. Very cute, actually. I was so engrossed with her that I didn’t hear a car pull up.
Lake looked behind me. “You’re taking a taxi all the way to Manhasset?” she asked. “How much does my dad pay you?”
I turned around. Corbin had already flagged down a cab. “Thoughtful of him,” I uttered. I couldn’t be too upset—I’d get Lake all to myself tonight—so I smiled and thanked him.
“No problem,” he said. “Hope you have a nice stay. I’ll keep trying to get Lake to come home with me for the holidays. Maybe next year.”
Lake blew hot air into her fists, and I wondered why she wasn’t wearing gloves. “Even if I were welcome,” she said, “I wouldn’t go.”
“You know you are,” he said. “Charles just needs some—”
“Corbin,” Lake gave him a look that’d shut me right up, “don’t.”
“All right.” He held up a hand to wave at me. “See you around, man.”
I hoped not, but in a few hours, Lake would be all mine. “Six o’clock,” I mouthed at her before forcing myself into the taxi.
4
Lake
At five in the evening, I stood on the balls of my feet in front of the bathroom mirror, doing my best to admire my floor-length, strappy black velvet Calvin Klein dress. I’d bought it secondhand under Val’s guidance last fall but hadn’t yet worn it. My first thought as I’d slipped it over my head was that Tiffany would say it was old and “so over.” I didn’t own many nice things, though. I’d left most of my clothing in California. Moving across country with two suitcases had been hard to do, but I’d also needed to shed that old life. Start over. Now, I didn’t have much. Corbin made good money even though he’d only held a paid position at his company a year, but it didn’t feel right when he tried to take me shopping. He always overspent. The two nice dresses I owned were gifts from him he hadn’t let me refuse. Tonight, I wanted to wear something I’d bought myself, even if it wasn’t new, even if it was a bit too fancy for where Manning and I were headed.
Something in the Way: A Forbidden Love Saga: The Complete Collection Page 56