"I'm doing it now. I came back out to my apartment and decided to spend some of the day cleaning things up. I had a message from Krista's dad that he would be by sometime today to get her stuff." She sighed softly as if trying to hide just how hard the situation between Jake and Krista had been on her. Having her closest friend go off her rocker and stab their other friend over being rejected by him was over the top.
Damon shook his head at the thought of anyone dropping off the deep end that bad.
"You need me to come over there to help you out when he gets there?" Damon nodded at the valet as he got into his black Mercedes and buckled up.
"No. I'm fine. He's a good guy. A lawyer, actually. He and Krista used to get along great, so hearing that they're not speaking, or haven't been..."
"Things change, right? People change." He knew the minute he said it he shouldn't have.
"Oh yeah? You changing over there, Mr. Bryant?" She was trying to be cheeky and failing miserably at it.
"Nope. I'm fully dressed, you naughty vixen." He smiled and pulled out into the mid-afternoon traffic.
"I'm only naughty for you."
"This better be true." He glanced over his shoulder and held back the information about having lunch with Kendal. Bethany was TA'ing for him over the next semester and already seemed to be a little too interested in Damon's old friend. He was being overly protective, but couldn't help it. There hadn't been too much in his life he'd wanted to hang on to, but Beth seemed to make the cut.
"Are you coming to Kent's now?"
He was grateful she didn't refer to his father as hers. It was an odd situation, but ignoring it seemed to be the best way to deal with it, at least in his mind.
"No. I'm going back to the office, but I'll try and come out there later tonight. We have a lot of shit to sort through over several large projects."
"You want me to come in?"
"Nope. I would have told you if I did." He turned on his blinker and jerked in front of someone. "I gotta go, baby. See you later."
He dropped the call and tossed the phone in the seat next to him as Kendal's words rushed across his mind. Maybe three weeks was too fast. His mother and father had gotten married after a few months of dating, and that had been fine for a few years.
Pain laced the center of his chest as the sound of her moaning for another man filled his ears. He reached up and rubbed his chest as he growled.
"Stop it. Leave that shit in the past where it belongs." He pressed harder on the muscle above his heart and made the last turn that would lead him to the office. His mother's infidelities shouldn't have fucked up his love life so much, but they had. He almost expected to find every woman he dated in bed with another man. It was a sick thought, and one he hadn't been able to shake until Beth.
Something about the way she spoke to him, looked up to him, respected him. She was in it for the long haul, or so he hoped. She had a ring on her finger that should have made the promise more firm than it was.
"As long as I don't fuck it up," he mumbled and pulled into the large garage next to their building. "Or she doesn't."
The former seemed more likely.
Chapter 22
Bethany
The large diamond sitting on her hand seemed surreal. Had Damon really proposed after three weeks? Warmth flooded her over the thought, quickly followed by a million reasons why he might decide his offer was a mistake. The man was as fickle as any she'd ever met but so worth the effort. Having been raised to be independent and fight for everything, she wasn't used to wanting to belong to anyone or anything, but Damon was different.
Belonging to him felt good, right. Like he might have the ability to patch the holes in her past and give her a future that looked far brighter than the one she was forcing herself into. Work was going to become her only focus, much as school had been for the last four years.
A knock at the apartment door caused her to jump. Krista was still in jail, and though Bethany should have visited her close friend, she simply didn't have much to say to the other girl. Having lived together for four years and not knowing that Krista was manic bipolar was beyond concerning. Had she missed the signs or simply ignored them?
Bethany peeked through the peephole in the center of the door and let out a sigh. Jake and his father. She opened the door and forced a warm smile on her face. Tears were the alternative, but she refused to make him uncomfortable.
"Hey! What a great surprise." She moved back as his father wheeled him into the living room. Seeing him in a wheelchair pulled at her heart strings even more. "What are you doing over here?"
"We were headed home from the hospital, and this guy wouldn't let up about stopping by the apartment to get his game system. God forbid he read or something." His father smiled and moved over to give Bethany a quick side hug. "Thank you for helping Jake through this."
"Of course." Bethany's vision blurred with hot tears.
"I'm not sitting in a bed for two weeks with nothing but old classics to read. Someone kill me now." Jake snorted, in far better of a mood than anyone expected of him. After being repeatedly stabbed in the chest, Bethany could only imagine what his body looked like. The thought caused her heart to contract painfully. Love had the power to do crazy, fucked up things.
"So you decided to stop by here because?" Bethany moved over and gave Jake a hug as best she could.
"I saw your car sitting out front. Ain't nobody missing that beat up piece of shit." He chuckled and grimaced as his hands came up to press against his chest.
"Take it easy, buddy, and watch your language." His father walked to the door. "I'll give you guys a few minutes while I make a call. Be back in five."
"Thanks, Dad." Jake waved and turned his attention back to Bethany as his facade faded. "Damn, I'm glad to see you. I swear it's been a nightmare having to sit in that hospital bed and have people poke and prod at me."
Bethany dropped to the couch and motioned for him to move up until their knees touched. She squeezed his legs softly.
"I was terrified that you were-" She lost the volume to her voice.
"It's okay." He reached out as a soft sob left her. "Come here."
Bethany nodded and moved up farther, leaning in and letting him hold her. "Don't hurt yourself. I'm just being sensitive. It just scared the shit out of me."
"It's by far the craziest thing I've ever been involved in or heard of." He brushed his hand down the back of her head. "I'm okay though. The tough part is coming up."
Bethany moved back and took his hands in hers. "The court case?"
"Yeah." Jake glanced down at their hands as a sheepish look crossed his face. "I'm not angry at Krista. I should be, but we've been friends for so long. I knew she had a few issues, and my mother is bipolar. Getting off her meds was a stupid thing to do, and I know most of the shit that happened was caused by her not taking them. I should have read the warning signs and gotten her help."
"I agree, but the fact still remains that she attacked you and almost killed you." She squeezed his hands and released him to slump back into the couch. "I hate the idea of testifying against her, but she's dangerous. Obviously."
Bethany wiped her eyes and studied Jake's pasty composure. His blond hair was a little longer than she'd seen him wear it, and his cheeks were hollowed out.
"That's true, but still... those medications after taken for so long are a huge part of keeping someone stable." He shrugged and grimaced. "She needs to be under supervision to take them, and I assume that's what her attorney is going to push for."
"If her father lets them." Bethany ran her fingers through her hair before working the long strands into a messy bun. "He's coming over soon to grab her stuff, or sending someone. You know he's rich as hell. I doubt he'll come himself."
"I met him a few times. I think she puts an evil spin on him because he's wealthy and forces her to stay in school, but he seemed like a good guy." Jake shrugged and winced again before chuckling. "I keep forgetting that any movement tugs
at all these stitches."
"I'm so sorry, Jake. I feel so fucking guilty about not having answered the phone when you called in a panic. I could have stopped-"
"No, you couldn't have. You'd have been stabbed half to death too. She was out of her mind." He got a faraway look in his eyes before shivering. "Anyway. What's going on with this new guy of yours? Is he treating you well? The wedding go good?"
"Everything was great. He's a great guy." She slipped her hands under her legs, grateful that he hadn't said anything about the ring on her finger. He had to be a little out of it not to notice. The ring was beautiful and sparkled like crazy in the light. Jake not noticing was a good thing. One less fight to have.
"Good. Make sure he stays that way." Jake turned a little and groaned as his father walked back in.
"You ready, son?"
"Yeah, I guess." Jake turned back toward Bethany and smiled. "Dr. Tarrington is going to let me TA alongside you until I get back on my feet. The university has been good to us through this crap, but I don't want to get behind. Is that all right with you?"
"Heck yes." Bethany got up as Jake's father pulled him back toward the door. "I'll be right beside you no matter what you need. You putting off your master’s this semester?"
His father spoke up, "Hell no. I tried to tell him that one semester wasn't going to make or break him, but you know he's an overachiever."
Bethany laughed and wiped at her eyes again. "He's in good company. I'll help out where I can."
"Study dates twice a week like we used to?" Jake winked and wiggled around in his wheelchair as if trying to get comfortable.
"Only if you're buying coffee." She opened the door more fully and moved back to let them out.
"Him buying the coffee?" Jake's dad chuckled. "You mean me?"
"Are you offering?" Bethany teased him and closed the door as they waved their goodbyes. The thought of what Jake must look like under his loose T-shirt and sweat pants caused her to cringe. Krista had almost succeeded in taking his life, and thank God she hadn't, but he was forever changed. Every time he changed clothes or got naked in front of a girl, they would see the excessive scarring all over his chest and stomach.
"Unbelievable." She tried to discard the thought, but it lingered as she cleaned up the apartment and packed up the rest of Krista's stuff. Both of her friends’ lives were forever changed, and hers as well. Fear over what love could do tugged at the edge of her thoughts and tried hard to force her to step back from what could possibly be the greatest love story of her life.
***
The visit with Krista's dad wasn't nearly as bad as Bethany had prepared herself for. He was very much the guy Jake said he was. Friendly and grateful for her help. They loaded everything up in his Lexus, and he apologized for the two-hundredth time before driving off.
Bethany made the quick decision to go over to Kent's in hopes of seeing Damon. With all he had to catch up on, there was no way in hell she was going to bother him. Things had changed a little, and yet not nearly enough for her liking. The ring on her finger should have been the open door for her and Damon moving in together and planning their days together, but it wasn't. They were back to dating with the promise of moving toward something more solid in the future, or so she hoped.
She got in the car and buckled up before hitting the button for Matt on her phone and sliding the device into hands-free mode.
"Hey. Hey. Hey." Matt's boisterous voice filled the confines of the car and caused her to smile.
"Hey, you. Are you out at dad’s?" She backed up and hit the brake hard as a biker sped across the parking lot behind her.
"Yep. Already here."
"Shit!" Bethany barked as the guy waved like 'no big deal.' Him eating the back of her bumper would have been a big damn deal.
"You don't want me here?" Matt chuckled.
"No. Some idiot just drove his bike behind the car while I was backing up. I swear."
"Kids nowadays!" Matt sounded like an eighty-year-old with an agenda for changing the next generation.
She laughed and let out a quick puff of air. "I'm glad you're over there. Is Damon there by chance?"
"No. I haven't talked to him since yesterday. I'm hoping you have?"
"Yeah. We spoke earlier. He's at the office, trying to take care of things before your dad gets home on Thursday."
"Your dad too."
"Don't remind me," she grumbled and pulled onto the main street on campus. "That means Damon is officially my brother."
"You're so risqué." Matt had so many personalities it was damn near impossible to tell what was going to come out of his mouth next.
"I'm not sure that's the word I would use, but moving on... Are we still planning on going up to Seattle this weekend with you?"
"Yep. You and Damon both. I know you guys might have to work a little from what he said, but I'd really like it if you could go with me to the gallery. I've never shared my full portfolio with anyone. It's a little nerve-racking."
"We'll be there with you, or at least I will. I'm not sure if Damon has something big he has to take care of up there." She stopped at the stop light at the edge of campus and glanced around, feeling a bit excited. One more year and she would be done with school and ejected fully into the real world. She'd been waiting her whole life to take ownership of her future and her situation, and it was right in front of her. As much as she loved her mother, the last ten years had been beyond rough. Never again would either of them go to bed hungry. Bethany wouldn't allow it.
"Erica is going to join us too, I guess," Matt huffed.
"And you're not happy about that? You big baby." Bethany smiled as the light turned. Matt was smitten by Erica and intimidated beyond belief. She was a force of nature, but Matt could hold his own. If he tried.
"This coming from the girl that said yes to marriage after three weeks of knowing some weirdo at the office."
She laughed. "He's the hottest weirdo I've ever seen in my life, so sue me."
"You're broke like me, and I'm pretty sure hot isn't the best criteria for a spouse. Those looks will fade, honey."
"Doubtful, and even if they do, I love him enough to remember what he used to look like."
Matt pretended to gag. "You guys are too much. Get over here and help me finish off this gallon of cookie dough ice cream."
"I thought you were working to keep your girlish figure?" She pulled onto the freeway and settled down into the comfy seat that fit her like a glove.
"I am. That's why I'm going to start jogging with you every day."
"No, you're not. That's my quiet time. I need to get back to it."
"Yes, I am. I can be quiet."
"Lies. You Bryant boys are just full of lies."
"Amongst other things."
Chapter 23
Damon
Frustration sat heavy on his shoulders as he drove toward his father's mansion on the far side of town. Having wanted to be just like his dad his whole life, now was his chance, and yet it didn't seem nearly as thrilling as he hoped it would. People were childish and irresponsible, and that was on a good day.
Between the fuck ups his Seattle team made on the Zarpeth inventory and the Kissinger tax audit coming up, he was beat. The trip to Jamaica had been good for him, maybe too good, but returning to another crisis wiped away the positive effects he hoped to hold on to for a few more days.
He pulled up in the circle drive and parked his Mercedes, but didn't get out. Bethany's beat up Honda sat beside Matt's old green truck, both of them looking like something the pool boy might drive. A smile lifted Damon's lip at the realization that Bethany was a lot like him, but a lot like Matthew too. There were parts of her past he wanted to explore, but that would come in time. He didn't have the words to offer if she brought up something devastating. He was still fighting his own demons and had spent far too many years not getting emotionally involved to just dive in head first as he promised her they would.
It was a promise made i
n the heat of the moment and a stupid one. It's the type of action that emotionally free people took. Neither of them was free.
The sound of Matt and Beth laughing as he walked into the house caused something to loosen in his chest. He worked his jacket over his shoulders and hung it up near the front door, pausing to listen to his brother tease his soon-to-be wife.
Wife? Odd...
"You guys having fun without me?" He walked toward the smell of garlic and butter as his stomach rumbled. His lunch with Kendal had been light and quick. He was needed in the office to play his role and his father's. That he was taking the evening off was a miracle, and one he would surely pay for the next day.
"Never." Bethany glanced over her shoulder and smiled.
Her white shorts and blue top looked good on her. Long legs that went on forever, and handfuls of silky brown hair. His body reacted the minute she turned and walked toward him.
"Good. I don't wanna get jealous. I'm not a very nice guy when I do." He slid his hands down her arms as she wrapped them tightly around his neck and lifted to her toes to press her lips to his.
He ran his hand down her back, cupping her rear as his other moved to get lost in her thick tresses. He pressed his tongue against her lips and tightened his hold on her as she opened up, letting him in deep. She was compliant and everything he wanted to be tucked beneath him in bed. No matter what happened in their struggle to make a life together, sex would be the common meeting ground.
"Damn, guys. Really? I know it's new and stuff, but shit." Matt's comment caused Damon to break the kiss and smile.
"Stop being jealous and bend Erica over a table somewhere. She'd love it, and you need it." Damon moved his hands up to cup his girl's pretty face. "How was the rest of your day?"
Mister Big Stuff_A Single Mom Friends to Lovers Novel Page 61