Best (Change Series Book 3)

by Melanie Jayne

Veronica chuckled. “Oh, your son offered me a glass of wine and a little…conversation.” She laid her hand on my thigh.

  Inwardly, I groaned. This was getting ridiculous. First, she sounded like she was reading from a poorly written script. Secondly, I didn’t like her touching me in front of my old man. It was a little too provocative and possessive.

  Jesus Fuck, I was stupid. I was in one mess and trying to get out of it by making another with a woman who was definitely messy. Slowly, I stood. Her hand fell. “Sorry to cut this short, Veronica, but I need to talk to my dad, and then I have some work to finish.”

  Anger flashed in her eyes, but she quickly recovered. “Oh sure, I understand. Two busy men…”

  I walked her to the front door.

  “You could see me home...” she said, trailing a fingertip over my hand still holding the doorknob. Her hoodie was now unzipped to below her bra. When had that happened? Fuck, had my father seen?

  “You were going to run in the dark, but now you’re telling me you can’t make it across the street?” I tried to grin so the words didn’t come off as rude.

  “Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  Jesus, would she ever get the hint? “Maybe.” Nope, not going to happen.

  She stood on her tiptoes and kissed my cheek.

  After I closed the door, I wiped my hand over the spot she’d kissed. Then I returned to the living room and gathered up our glasses and the bottle. My dad followed me to the kitchen.

  After I put the glasses in the sink and the bottle on the counter, I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contacts. “What do you want on the pizza, dad?”

  “Meat.” He pulled two beers out and sat at the table.

  I placed our order and joined him.

  He gave me a measuring look. “I’m not going to even ask what has happened. I’m just going to tell you flat out, that whatever I walked in on, it’s a mistake.”

  I stared at him coolly. I had no reply, because he was dead right.

  He raised his bottle in the direction of the door. “That one’s a viper. Do you hear me?”

  I finally nodded.

  He took a drink of his beer and settled back into the chair. “I don’t like it that you’re here without Billie, but I can’t say that I haven’t missed ya.”

  That’s why I love my old man. He makes me crazy, but he loves me. “Yeah, about Billie...”

  He held up his hand. “Just give me the facts, and then I’ll sort you out.”

  And now we were back to the driving me crazy part.

  That talk was delayed by my answering a call from of all people, Skeeter. The asshole saved me.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Billie

  Tye finally called late last night. So late, that I couldn’t help but think he’d waited purposely, hoping the call would go to voicemail. We made small talk, but there were awkward pauses. Most disturbing, he didn’t make plans with me for today. He spoke vaguely about having to take care of some things. I didn’t press. I didn’t have to. I knew what was happening. And I was devastated.

  At two, Zoe and Layla arrived with the girls. We had a Skype session with Ramsay about our dresses for Tye’s New Year’s Eve party. They were beside themselves with excitement, and I tried my best to get into the spirit of things. Our fashion consultant instructed us on how to take our measurements properly, and then watched us do so, while shouting out corrections if she thought the tape wasn’t held taut enough or was draped incorrectly. It was decided that Layla would wear a gown with an Empire cut, which would be more forgiving to her post-baby body and any changes that would come. Zoe requested something sexy. I knew she wasn’t uptight and worried about her body’s bigger size, especially not after the Halloween costume. I could tell Ramsay liked the challenge.

  I stepped up in my bra and panties. After recording the measurements, my best friend exclaimed. “You’re smaller. I mean, your waist is a size smaller.”

  “Not my boobs,” I muttered as I pulled my long-sleeved T-shirt over my head.

  “How many times have I told you?” She took on her lecture tone. “Big boobs, well within reason, can even out a thick bottom half. Boobs can be your friends.”

  That reminded me of Tye. I wondered for the fiftieth time, what he was doing. Could I fix things between us?

  “Billie needs the best dress you can find,” Layla said. “She’s attending with the host of the party, so all eyes will be on her.”

  “Especially his,” Zoe added with a knowing smile.

  “Billie?” Ramsay’s eyes widened with curiosity.

  I hadn’t told her anything about Tye. Now, maybe there wasn’t anything to tell. I rolled my eyes. “Don’t listen to these two. They have hot husbands and beautiful daughters. They want everybody to be in love, because they’re so blissfully happy.”

  Ramsay’s look said she wasn’t buying my too casual tone.

  “Tye and I are friends. Totally in the friend zone,” I told her and myself.

  “Yeah, that was why she straddled him the other night in the limo. Very friendly, if you ask me,” Zoe said, then giggled like a madwoman.

  Suddenly, I wanted to cry, and not just a few tears. I wanted to throw myself on the bed and sob. Ramsay must have seen something in my face, because she briskly promised an update and photos of ideas within a week and signed off.

  While I closed my laptop and placed it on my chest of drawers, nobody said a word.

  Then Layla approached and pulled me into a hug. “I can tell you’re hurting,” she said softly.

  God, she gave the best hugs. I loosened my tight hold on my emotions and started to cry.

  “Oh Billie.” I felt Zoe rub my back. “I was teasing. I’m sorry.”

  That made me sob harder.

  “Honey, what is it?” Zoe sounded a little frantic.

  I pulled away from Layla and choked out the words. “I love him. We’re supposed to be friends only, but I fell in love with him, and now… I pushed and he’s gone.”

  “He’s not gone, Billie,” Layla rushed to assure me.

  “I pushed too hard. I shouldn’t have done that in the limo. I know he doesn’t want me like that.” I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to stop the tears.

  “Let’s sit down and go over this.” Zoe grasped my hand and pulled me into the living room.

  Layla followed us with Lucy’s baby carrier. Livy was sound asleep in the middle of our...my bed, fenced in by a million pillows.

  After we sat down, they gave me time to organize my thoughts.

  Layla sat Indian-style and looked at me expectantly. “Look, I’ve wanted to ask questions for weeks about what was going on with two. Forde made me promise not to push, so I didn’t, but it’s been really hard.”

  I looked at her. “What would you have said? About me being with Tye?”

  “That I thought you made Tye a better man.” She gave me a sweet smile. “Content.”

  “Why?” I breathed.

  “Tye has always had an edge to him. I love him, and Forde considers him to be his brother, but he’s always seemed to be out of sync, so unsettled. I think he’s been searching for something for a long time.”

  Zoe leaned toward me. “I know all about edgy, but Tye took it to another level. I personally believe it’s because he’s always been the smartest guy in the room. He’s handsome and can be charming when he chooses. I don’t think he’s had to work very hard for his success.” Zoe then gave Layla a nod to take over.

  “He is really good at his job, and he’s helped a lot of people, but he was never happy. It was like an energy surrounding him.” Layla paused, and then gave me a gentle smile that I’d come to think of as her “mother look”. “Then I started to notice the way he talks to you.”

  “I think the guys warned him within an inch of his life that he wasn’t to come on to you or pressure you in any way.” Zoe gave a one shoulder shrug. “So, he did it the right way. He talked to you, and you got to know one another.”

>   Layla shook her head. “God, the first time I saw the two of you together, I thought I was going to go blind. It was dazzling.” She sighed. “I liked—no, both Forde and I liked—seeing Tye getting to know you—a nice, intelligent woman—and then after hearing your story, it only made things better. You’re strong, yet Tye is so protective of you. Other women in his life have been disposable. He never once connected to any of them the way you two are.”

  “Except for Holly,” I interrupted.

  Zoe frowned. “I’ve thought a lot about the Holly thing, and I’m convinced that Tye saw what Forde had, and he realized he was missing something. Holly was available and always up for doing something. They were very much alike in that way, always having to be busy. But she was the wrong choice for him.”

  “She couldn’t connect with him on any level except physically,” Layla said, “and Tye doesn’t deserve to be with someone who isn’t one hundred per cent into him.”

  “He’s not over their thing,” I blurted.

  “What? No.” Layla frowned.

  Zoe shook her head. “No, you’re wrong about that.”

  While it didn’t feel right talking about Tye, they needed some insight. “Give me a second to explain. I think he’s over Holly. I’m pretty sure that as soon as she rejected him, he cut her out of his life.”

  “So what’s his problem?” Zoe inquired.

  “What he’s not over is that he thought he could make a life with her. When he figured out she was wrong for him, well…he realized he’d almost made a huge mistake. He knows you all figured it out from the start, and…and…”

  Layla let out a groan, “He hates to be wrong. It would be doubly bad if he thinks we all thought he was making a huge mistake.” She shook her head and frowned. “Forde should have seen this and talked to him.”

  “Give the guy a break,” Zoe said. “He was focused on you and the pregnancy.”

  Layla did a half eye roll because Zoe was correct. Then her gaze locked on me. “You liked him from the start, didn’t you?”

  “What’s not to like? I mean he’s awesome,” I said. These women were my friends, too. Later they might choose sides, but for now they were here, and I needed them.

  Zoe shifted and pulled her knees to her chest, looping her arms around them. “So you agreed to be just friends so he’d stay around.”

  “First of all, don’t make it sound like an accusation, like I somehow tricked him by making a false promise. He kissed me and told me I wasn’t his type, because I was the relationship type.” I paused remembering how that kiss had felt, how turned on I’d been after wondering for months whether I could ever stand for a man to kiss me again. “I wasn’t sure I could handle a relationship. The sex part…and the closeness. I honestly thought that I couldn’t. I told him I wasn’t ready for anything like a relationship. So, we decided, together, that we’d be perfect as friends.”

  “But you fell for him...” Zoe’s tone was gentle this time.

  “Yeah.” I dropped my head into my hands.

  “Billie, I’ve seen the way he looks at you. You need to be honest with him and tell him how you feel,” Layla said, patting my shoulder.

  “Oh, sure, like that’s so easy,” I said sarcastically.

  “It’s not. It’s terrifying and so awful that it feels like your guts are being ripped out.” Zoe bit her lip for a minute. “I had to do it, so I know firsthand. We were at a point where if I hadn’t, I would’ve lost Tony.” Her eyes had gone huge and I could tell that it was a truly difficult event in her life. “And he didn’t make it easy.”

  “Me, too,” Layla agreed. “My situation wasn’t as dramatic as Zoe’s, but Forde was way ahead of me from the start. It was like once he decided I was the one, we were together. He told me he loved me way before I could even imagine a life with him or any man.”

  “I’m sure Tye has no idea how you feel,” Zoe’s expression was grave.

  “Yeah, because dry humping him the other night was so subtle.” Lord, I’d screwed up.

  “I need to ask...” Zoe dropped her legs. “Have you guys been sexually active?”

  I felt my cheeks flame. “We kissed that one time.” I felt frustrated and angry with this situation. “Friends only,” I said, bitterly.

  Layla raised her voice. “Let me get this straight. Tye’s been with you every night except last night, in the same bed, and nothing was happening? Are you fucking kidding me? Our Tyler Burke?”

  I stood up and started to pace. “I know it’s weird, but it helped. When Tye slept with me, I could sleep. Otherwise, I’d have nightmares and, uhm, episodes. I think it’s because I felt safe with him beside me.” My voice was rough as I said the next words. “I haven’t slept like that since everything happened.” With my shoulders slumping, I returned to my chair.

  “I’m glad you found someone who can give you that kind of peace.” Zoe’s eyes were shiny. “Tony still struggles.” She licked her lips. “Not often, but when he has problems, he says that holding me helps.”

  “I shouldn’t have put the moves on him like that in the limo,” I said, feeling stupid. “I crossed a line, and it made him uncomfortable.”

  “Is that what you want, Billie? A relationship with Tye?” Layla’s voice was gentle.

  “Yes.” I felt like I had a rock lodged in my throat. I swallowed hard. “I thought I would never want to be intimate with a man. I was too damaged after everything.”

  “Honey, no,” Zoe moved closer to grip my hand.

  “I don’t mean dirty. I thought the biggest hurdle for me would be letting a man see the real me, being vulnerable without any walls. I didn’t think that I could ever do that.” I bounced my knee up and down. “He’s… Hell, he’s seen me at my worst—when I had a bad episode. And he was...wonderful.” Tears began to fall down my cheeks. “He just pitched in and helped me. We don’t have to have discussions about what I need, he just knows.”

  “Talk to him. Tell him what you just said,” Layla urged.

  “I don’t know if he wants to see me again,” I confessed.

  “Then call him and set something up,” Zoe urged. “He’s probably confused about what’s going on between you. A confused man is a stupid man. Go to him and work it out.”

  For a long moment, I thought about what they’d said. Waiting for Tye was making me anxious, and I’d promised myself I’d fight ever giving anyone that kind of control again. I let out a breath. “You’re right.”

  I swear Zoe muttered, “Halleluiah.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Billie

  In the end, the decision about how I’d approach Tye was easy. After the ladies left, I checked my emails and saw that I had one from my attorney in Tampa.

  After I finished reading his note and the attached letter from a production company, I felt my stomach drop. My mother had joined forces with Mrs. Shields, my attacker’s wife, and they were trying to get a movie made about “the incident” as the letter so charmingly referred to my abduction. The part that shook me to my core was the subtle threat that without my input and continued cooperation, they couldn’t guarantee my character’s story would reflect my best interests. Basically, they were trying to blackmail me into cooperating, or they’d portray me in the worst possible light.

  My chest felt tight, and my heart pounded so hard that I placed my hand over it as if I could soften the blows.

  Why were these people doing this to me? Haven’t I been through enough? But I knew the answer. The anticipated payday was too great for them to pass up, and I was sure my mother saw herself participating in the production.

  I didn’t want to sit back letting my fears and some legal department hack intimidate me. I’d spent three weeks with real evil, and I’d survived. I typed a note to Tye. Attaching the email, I demanded that we talk about it tonight. The moment after I hit the “send” button, I felt strong, like I’d just pushed a giant boulder over a cliff’s edge. I’d set my future in motion. I wanted a relationship with Tye,
but first, I wanted these women stopped.

  I then sent Forde a shorter email with the same attachment. No matter what my future was with Tye, I knew that Forde would help me.

  Then I decided I needed another shower. I wanted to wash away the day’s emotions. I hoped that it would clear my head and prepare me for what was to come.

  When I stepped out of my shower, my skin smelled like lemons and my hair was deeply conditioned. I’d scrubbed my body to rid myself of dead skin and my feelings of confusion. I felt like a new woman, strong and smelling great.

  My cell rang, and it was Tye’s ringtone. “You can do this,” I told myself as I answered. “Hi.” I sounded calm and casual.

  “Billie, that was a really shitty email.”

  “Which part?” Sure, I’d been blunt, but I wouldn’t label my e-mail as shitty.

  “Jesus, sweetheart, those two bitches, and then some fuck sitting at a desk, trying to threaten you.” His anger came through loud and clear. “What the hell did you think I was talking about?”

  Maybe I’d been too defensive, too ready to expect an attack. “I knew what you were referring to,” I lied. “I just needed clarification about which exact part was the most shitty.”

  “It all sucks.” He let out a long sigh. “This entire day has been a mess.”

  My first inclination was to ask about it and then try to make it better, but I held back. This wasn’t “poor Tye” time, it was my time. “Well mine hasn’t been great either.”

  “Apparently,” he answered wryly.

  My attempt at sarcasm wasn’t getting me anywhere so I switched to a softer approach. “I read the email and sent it to you immediately. I guess I’m going to need to hire someone in California to handle this.” I swallowed because my throat was dry. “I’m not sure what options I have.”

  “I just finished up at Skeeter’s, so I’ll swing by your place in a few minutes.”

  “I need to eat. I don’t think I can talk about this on an empty stomach.” I’d had no breakfast and only a yogurt for lunch, hoping that it would help my measurements.

  “I haven’t eaten either. Can you be ready in ten, twelve tops?”