“He didn’t.” I wiped the tear that trickled down my cheek and smiled at the little boy, who looked just like his father—brown curls, caramel skin, green eyes. “It was so nice to meet you both.”
I walked away and into the elevator. The minute the doors closed, I started to cry.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Pilar
On top of everything else that had fallen upon me, we’d just received confirmation that two of my four tires had been slashed before the accident. There were no longer any lingering doubts in my mind. I knew for certain that Kayla had been behind it. Would there be a way to prove it? I didn’t know. What I did know was that I wanted her arrested for it. I wasn’t a vindictive person, but my brother was still recovering from the accident. Aramis could have died. I could have died had I been driving. My lower lip quivered at the thought of it. When my phone rang again and I saw Ben’s name on the screen accompanied by a picture of us together on the balcony in Ibiza, I thought I might lose it all over again.
“You can’t just ignore his calls forever,” Joss said.
“I don’t understand how we didn’t know he had a son. The only thing I found on him was his brother’s death. I thought that was awful, but this…” Adeline said in a whisper. She glanced at Elias. “Did you know?”
“No.” Elias looked at Aramis, whose face fell as he nodded.
“I knew.” Aramis shut his eyes briefly as we all stared at him. “In my defense, Ben told me when we were both out of our minds, wasted. We had a heart-to-heart about it, and I didn’t give it much thought afterwards. I never met the kid. I just figured he didn’t want him around me because I was always flanked by photographers when we were together. My guess is that he doesn’t want his son in the spotlight.”
“Obviously.” Joss rolled her eyes. “That doesn’t excuse him from not telling Pilar about him though.”
“I thought you two were casual,” Aramis said.
“We are. We were,” I snapped. I swore my brother could get on my nerves faster than anyone. “That doesn’t mean I like being lied to.”
“Did he lie though?” Elias asked.
“I seriously cannot stand either of you right now. I was trying to make this a girls’ night, and you two invited yourselves over. As if anyone wanted you here. And you’re really annoying me.”
“The only reason you wanted to make it a girls’ night was so you could have people to commiserate with.” Aramis raised an eyebrow. “Since girls are haters.”
“We are not,” Joss jumped in.
“No?” He shot her a look. “You hate on me all day, every day.”
“That’s because you’re arrogant and annoying.” She took a deep breath. “And honestly, I don’t know how I’m going to play matchmaker and find someone who will actually want to put up with you.”
Aramis bit his lip as he looked at Joss, but no amount of lip biting could ever keep him from speaking his mind. So I braced myself when I saw him open his mouth. “You sure it’s not because you’d rather be the one warming my bed?”
“Oh my God.” Joss blushed as she stood up and stomped over to the door, glancing at him before walking out. “I can’t stand you.”
Aramis laughed loudly as the door slammed behind her.
“You’re such a jerk,” I said.
“She’s too easy to rile up.” He grinned momentarily before turning his attention to Elias. “See? No one wants to be responsible for this matchmaking idea of yours.”
“Well, she will be responsible for it, and you will settle down even if it’s just for pretenses,” Elias said. “You’re supposed to be giving yourself time to heal. You’ve only been out of the hospital for two weeks and the only thing you’ve done with that time is get piss drunk and sleep around more than you ever have.”
“No more than I have before,” Aramis argued.
“Can we get back to the issue at hand?” I slammed my hand on the side table. “The man I’m dating has a son that I didn’t know about, and I don’t know what to do with that information.”
“Maybe speak to him about it,” Adeline suggested.
“He should have spoken to me about it already.”
“I agree, but I’m sure he had his reasons for not doing so.”
“Maybe he doesn’t trust me.” The thought brought tears to my eyes.
“Just give him time,” Elias said. “We’re not exactly known to be the most forthcoming family.”
“But I am. I was. I’ve always been honest with him.”
“So, talk to him. Hear him out,” Aramis suggested. “You’ll see him on Sunday anyway.”
My shoulders slumped. Sunday would be the first Sunday dinner in a long time. Elias and Adeline were taking over for my mother. She hadn’t wanted to host them since my father passed away, which was understandable. Still, Adeline and Elias thought it was important to keep it going, and I understood that. Sunday dinners had become modern-day Court, where we invited old friends and new to share food and drinks with. It was so much fun and was the one place I could sneak glances at Benjamin Drake for hours without him noticing. Now, having him in the same room felt suffocating. A child. He had a child with someone. The only reason I’d been able to get this far with him was by ignoring the fact that he had a colorful past, but a child made that impossible to ignore. And the boy was adorable and looked like a carbon copy of his father. Still. A child. I still thought of myself as a child. I couldn’t even pretend to think I’d be a good stepmother to one. I grabbed my purse and stood.
“Where are you going?” Aramis asked.
“Out. I need to think, and this little meeting is doing nothing for me.”
“See you Sunday.” Aramis gave me a hug and cringed when I did the same. I let go quickly.
“I’m sorry. I keep forgetting.”
“I don’t.” He shot a look at Elias. “But when I drink, it’s tolerable.”
“You need to figure out healthier ways to deal with your pain,” Adeline said, raising an eyebrow. “Like yoga.”
“Yoga.” Aramis scoffed.
“She’s not wrong.” I put my hand to my mouth and blew a kiss at the room. “See you Sunday.”
“Pilar,” Elias called out. I turned to face him again. “We’re having her arrested tonight. Quietly. We’ll question her and go from there.”
“You mean the police will question her,” Adeline said, raising an eyebrow. “You’re not going to be present for that, Eli.”
“We’ll see.”
“She’s right, brother. You want all of us to play our part in pretending we’re just one big, happy, non-dysfunctional, family, then you need to play your part as well and let the police do their job without your meddling.” That was Aramis. Surprisingly.
“I want justice,” Eli said.
“So do I,” I said. “I’m sure Aramis wants that, too. But let them do their jobs.”
With that, I left.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Ben
It was day two of no communication with Pilar, and I didn’t like it. I still had practice and Asher with me while Tamara helped Jack move into her apartment. I thought about showing up at her place, but I would have to take Asher with me, and I wasn’t sure how we’d be received. The last thing I wanted was for either of them to be put in an awkward position. Well, it couldn’t be more awkward than what Tamara had explained to me. She’d said that Pilar had tears in her eyes. It made me feel awful, only made worse by the fact that she wouldn’t answer my calls or texts now. I glanced at my phone again just in case. Still nothing. My living room looked catastrophic—toys were everywhere. Asher and I had gone from racing mini cars, to playing cards, to drawing, and now putting together a puzzle. Typically, David’s OCD-driven self was here, picking up as we went, but since I’d given him the day off, it was just Asher and I and the pizza we would order in later.
“Is it true she’s a princess?” Asher asked.
I blinked up from the puzzle piece in my hand. “Wha
t?”
“The lady we saw the other day leaving your flat. Mommy said she’s a princess.”
“She is a princess.”
“Wow.” His eyes widened before narrowing. “She didn’t have a princess dress on though.”
“She didn’t, but she’s definitely a princess.”
“Does she live in a castle?”
“No,” I answered slowly. This was surely not going to help me prove my point. “But her brother, the king, does.”
I didn’t bother to explain that Elias didn’t actually live in the castle. He was supposed to. He should, but he only took his appointments there. He slept in a private residence that was as big as a castle, so I guess it didn’t matter that it wasn’t the castle everyone wanted to believe he slept in.
“Her brother is the king?” Asher shouted. “Like a real king?”
“Yes.” I bit my lip to contain my laughter. An excited Asher was always adorable.
“Do you know him?”
“Yes.”
“Can I meet him?”
“Sure.”
“You don’t sound sure.” He walked up to where I was on the floor in front of the puzzle we’d been building for the better part of an hour and sat on my lap. He put his arms around my neck and squeezed. “You look sad.”
“Not anymore. Your hugs make me instantly happy.” I kissed his head. He squeezed me harder.
“Does the princess make you happy?”
“She does.” I felt myself smile.
“Am I going to see her again?”
“Maybe. I hope so, buddy.” I exhaled, ruffling his curls as I leaned against the sofa behind me. “She’s a little bit sad right now too.”
“Does she have kids?”
“No.”
“Maybe I should give her a hug too then.”
“Maybe.” I smiled wider and pulled him against my chest. “I’m so lucky to have you.”
“I know.” He yawned.
I closed my eyes, and we both fell asleep right there on the floor in the midst of the chaos.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Pilar
More than anything, I wished Kayla would stop talking to the press. It seemed she’d tapered off after she made her initial announcements, but nope. That was wishful thinking. Now every single tabloid had her face on the cover. What was worse, it was her face and Ben’s. Some of the photos she’d sold were of the two of them kissing and holding hands. Even though he looked very young in them, which helped to prove that he wasn’t lying about them not being together, it didn’t make it any less hurtful to see him with another woman. Kissing her. Holding hands with her. I reminded myself about the child and sighed heavily.
“You need to stop looking at these.” Joss shook her head as she walked over to my bed and began collecting the tabloids. “Who brings you this crap anyway?”
“Amir.” I shut my eyes and fell onto my pillow.
“Why would he—?”
“Because I told him he had to.” I sat up quickly. “I want to know what people are saying about all of this. There are photos of me with Ben, and then Ben with Kayla and I just…” I sighed again. “I don’t know what to think anymore.”
“You know what’s odd?” Joss sat down on the edge of my bed. “There are no photos of his ex or the boy. Anywhere. Not even Kayla has mentioned them.”
“I know. I found it odd as well.”
“It’s weird.”
“I agree. I just wish he’d trusted me with the news. I wouldn’t have gone to the tabloids with it.” My voice weakened. “I can’t believe he didn’t tell me.”
“Have you given him a chance to explain himself?”
“No.” I shook my head slowly. “I don’t think I can hear his voice or see him without crying.”
“Okay, let’s talk about this.” She stood and walked over to me, sitting down beside me. “What exactly bothers you? Is it the fact that he didn’t tell you, or that he has a child with someone else?”
“Both.” My voice broke. “Both. It’s so dumb. The boy is like five, and it’s not like I ever thought I’d get together with Ben. I dreamed of it, yes, but I didn’t think it would happen, and now I find out he has this experience with another woman. This life-bonding thing. She’ll always be in his life.”
“As she should be, P.” Joss set her hand on mine. “That’s a good thing. It means he’s a good, decent human being.”
I wiped my face. “I hadn’t thought of it like that.”
“Well, you should. He’s a good man, that one. And he really likes you, P. The man of your dreams. Heck, of all of our dreams. And he likes you.” She emphasized that last part. I grabbed a pillow and threw it at her.
“He better not be in your dreams any longer.”
“Only sometimes.” She put her hands up. I threw another pillow at her. She laughed. “I’m just joking.” She stood up.
“Joking about what?” Aramis asked, walking into my bedroom. He had a black walking cast on now that he flaunted as if it were the Pope’s bloody shoe.
“Does no one knock?” I rolled my eyes, exhaling.
“What are we joking about? I’m up for jokes today.” He walked over to my bed and sat down on the edge.
“Joss was saying that she still dreams about Ben,” I said.
“Still dreams about Ben?” Aramis’s eyebrow rose. “You dreamed about him in the past?”
“All the time,” Joss said, winking at me so I knew she was joking. She walked toward the door.
“And what happened in these dreams?” Aramis asked.
“Dirty things,” she said.
His expression darkened. “Really?”
“You asked.” She shrugged a shoulder and walked out.
“It’s true,” I said. “You asked.”
He shrugged both shoulders and stared off into the distance, the way he did when he was sulking. Something he was always doing when Joslyn was involved, whether he knew it or not.
“What are you doing here anyway?” I cleared my throat.
“I was in the area, so I figured I’d check on you.”
“Shouldn’t I be the one checking on you?”
“I just left my physical therapist.” He smiled. “I’m fine.”
“How are your burns?”
“There.” His lips flattened. “I don’t think they’re something I’ll ever get used to, but who knows. Maybe it’ll be like tattoos. People get used to those.”
I didn’t bother mentioning that he’d never wanted tattoos because he was always particular about marking his perfect skin. His words. I scooted over and gently put my arms around him.
“I love you, Aramis.”
“I love you, sis.” He laid his head on my arm. “Have you spoken to Ben yet?”
“No.” I pulled away and looked at him. “I know it’s dumb, but I can’t get over it.”
“You’re going to see him soon.”
“I know.”
“I don’t even know what to say about this, to be honest. I never saw you together. What I do know is that he’s a great friend, and he’s been asking non-stop about you.” He shot me a look. “The man doesn’t ask about anyone, Pilar.”
“Like you said, he’s a great friend of yours. Of course, he’s going to ask you about me.”
“He may be a great friend, P, but Ben’s a free spirit when it comes to women. He’s a take-’em-or-leave-’em kind of guy. He doesn’t sit around sulking, and he’s definitely sulking now, whether he knows it or not.”
“Sounds familiar.” I raised an eyebrow.
“What is that supposed to mean?” He frowned.
“You sit around sulking every time Joss even mentions a new guy.”
“That is…” He started shaking his head and rolling his eyes before finishing his sentence. “That’s stupid. I don’t sulk. I just enjoy bothering Joslyn. She’s an easy target.”
“Yeah, okay.” I shrugged, then sighed. “Look, I get it. You don’t want to see your friend h
urt.”
“No, I don’t want to see my sister hurt. I also don’t want my sister to walk away from a good man just because she has reservations. I just think you should hear him out. Talk to him.”
“We’ll see.” I bit my lip. “Like you said, I have to see him tomorrow anyway.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Pilar
Sunday dinner was awkward for me. When the trumpets sounded out, and Benjamin Drake was presented, I didn’t even look in that direction. In fact, I looked in the complete opposite one. I was trying to do as my brother had said. I was attempting to remember that Ben was human like the rest of us, and he had been trying to get ahold of me. I was attempting to not be upset about the fact that he’d hidden a son from me and an entire past that I should have been privy to. Why, though? Why should I have been privy to it? Because I was in love with him? I gasped inwardly. Was I in love with him? Instead of joining the crowd the way I normally did, I walked outside. Today’s Sunday dinner was being held at Versailles. Quite fitting for a gossip mill. As I walked the grand halls and took the stairs quickly, I couldn’t help but think about how many of my ancestors had suffered the same fate of trying to escape being the talk of the party. How many of them had run outside for fresh air to escape a lover’s presence in Court?
It didn’t matter. Unlike them, I didn’t have an obligation to be here. I was here because it was my brother’s first Sunday dinner, and Adeline had asked me to come. I was here because without this, I’d probably be in bed moping. And honestly, I needed to face Benjamin sooner rather than later. I just really, really didn’t want to face him at all. I knew the moment I stood in front of him, I’d crumble. My heart would give in to his charms and good looks, and I’d bend to his will. But I couldn’t. It was more than just the omission. I honest to God didn’t think I could be with a father. A single dad. My heart broke even thinking about it. Not that he was a single father. I respected that, but I wasn’t ready for what that would entail for me.
I was lost in thought and had reached the entrance to the labyrinth when I heard movement from behind me.
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