Mr. Sugar: A disturbing psychological thriller with a twist of dark romance
Page 8
“What?”
He turned back, a slew of raindrops falling from his umbrella at the movement. “Sorry?”
“You’re still coming, right?”
“To your party?”
“Well,” Kelly’s cheeks went redder, “It’s not exactly a party. But, yeah. I thought you said you were coming?”
“You still want me there?”
Kelly laughed. “Don’t be silly. I’d love to have you. You can even bring—” Kelly swallowed visibly. “Yes, bring…?”
“Angel.”
“Sure, bring Angel with. I’ve already ordered some extra food, so you might as well.”
“That’s—”
But Kelly was walking away, arms still tightly wrapped around herself. From the rain, or to reassure herself she’d done the right thing? Because, from the way she’d been holding herself — all stiff and way too jolly for someone standing in the rain — he was suddenly very sure that Kelly didn’t want him or Angel at her house tomorrow night.
Or was it that Kelly just didn’t want Angel there? Because that could be arranged. He didn’t have to tell the girl where he was going. All he had to do was sneak out of his own house and hope she didn’t spot him.
Maybe he could drive around the block and wait for a bunch of other cars to arrive, and then park far enough behind them that Angel wouldn’t see his car.
A smile tugged at his mouth.
Damn; that might even work.
11
Sonofabitch
“Looks like you caught up with your sleep.”
Drew looked up. “Sorry?”
He’d been going over the Van Der Kloof Manufacturing claim; his mind vibrated with numbers and dates.
“Sleep. Looks like you got some.” Bryce came into his office and sat down on the chair positioned opposite his desk. “So I take it you kicked her out.”
He put down the paper he’d been staring at and sank back into his chair. “Shit, what time is it?” He glanced down at his watch as he asked the question, and then stretched, yawning widely. “I need a goddamn smoke break. Want coffee?”
Bryce rose slowly, watching him with unblinking eyes as he moved around the desk. “I’ll take that as a no.”
“It’s complicated.”
Bryce laughed hard and followed him out the door. They walked down the thickly-carpeted hall of T&M, a few of the loss adjusters looking up at them through the glass walls of their offices as they passed. The place always reminded him more of a lawyer’s firm than a loss adjuster’s hideout. He’d expected wood and leather when he’d arrived for his interview, but he’d been met with steel and glass. Trent had taste, but the monochromatic palette he’d used made everything seem too sterile.
The kitchen was straight out of a designer’s wet dream; stainless steel appliances against dark wood cabinets and a black marble backsplash. Drew went over to the coffee machine and slid a new mug under the nozzle. Reflections of Bryce moved over the shiny black backsplash, pausing behind his right shoulder. The reflection crossed its arms over its chest.
“Complicated how?”
“She’s leaving later today. In fact, she’ll likely be gone by the time I get home.”
Marble-reflection Bryce shook his head. “Likely?”
Drew glanced over his shoulder. “So what if she’s still around?”
“I thought you decided she’d be too distracting.”
“No, that’s what you decided.” Drew snorted and turned back to the coffee machine. “And I’m still not quite sure when you turned into our mother.” His shoulders slumped. He grabbed their two mugs, turning around and holding out Bryce’s. His brother just stared at him, arms still crossed.
“Take it.”
Bryce took the cup, watching as he walked past. “Still going for that smoke?”
“Unfortunately,” he mumbled.
Outside, the rain had transformed into a drizzle that would soak him through in a few minutes. Drew turned up the collar of his overcoat and tried hunching his shoulders inside. Soft rain drifted into them as they lit their cigarettes.
“If you’re not too busy banging your new chick tomorrow night, I thought we could go over—”
“I am busy. It’s Kelly’s birthday.”
For a moment, his brother watched him without an expression on his face. And then he laughed, and leaned his palm against the balcony’s wet railing.
“You’re shitting me, right?”
“What?”
“You greedy sonofabitch,” his brother muttered, lifting crooked fingers to drag at his cigarette. “Got plans for a threeway or something?”
Drew laughed and turned to look out into the traffic. The rain muted the scene below, turning the cars’s rearview lights into balls of red and orange, their foglamps into auras of white and blue and yellow. “She’s just a friend.”
“Who? The one you’re sleeping with, or the one you want to sleep with?”
Drew scowled at him, but Bryce just chuckled and waved away his irritation.
“Hey, man, kudos if you can pull it off. I just want to be there when they find out about each other, is all.”
“That’s not—” He cut off. “You don’t believe me? Then come by and meet her.”
“Which one?”
He shook his head at Bryce. “Or don’t.”
Bryce shrugged. “It’s a date.”
“Except it isn’t.”
“Whatever you say, Drew.” Bryce gave him an annoyingly knowing smile. “Whatever you say.”
12
Juliet's House
Bryce slowed when he spotted the line of cars parked in Drew’s street. The front door of his neighbor’s — the infamous friend-not-friend of Drew’s, Kelly — stood open. From it, light spilled onto the porch. There was the faint thrum of music, not loud enough to be obnoxious but just audible from the street. Just in case guests missed both those blatant clues, a bunch of neon-colored balloons had been tied to the fence post beside the gate.
He drove past, glancing at Drew’s house. His brother had been adamant about him not parking in the drive — there was another car there, not Drew’s. Angel’s, then?
Bryce coasted past and parked at the end of the line of cars down Elm Street. This put him almost at the edge of the property across from Drew’s house.
Juliet’s house. It had never been Drew’s choice to buy it, that he knew for a fact. Juliet had had her eye on that house for almost a year.
She’d dragged Bryce to this very street, chattering away like she did whenever she turned into the idealistic chit that always seemed one soppy movie and a glass of wine away. He’d smiled and nodded as she’d told him how they would afford to pay the mortgage if he got a promotion. How many kids they’d have. Where those kids would go to school. It was around the seventh trip to this street when he’d realized the very thought of kids made his skin crawl. Having his own?
And then came the thoughts of her sitting at home, playing house while he worked day in and day out to provide for the brats she would keep popping out. Brats he would never want to spend time with but would be forced to. For the look of the thing, of course.
It was on that lawn that he’d broken it off with Juliet. He’d told her he’d found someone else.
And she’d stared at him, mouth working, as her eyes slowly glazed over.
He’d been cheating on her for months by that time, already, so he could see the sudden realization blooming in those shocked eyes.
He’d walked away while her eyes were still growing wet with tears.
That was when Juliet had called Drew. Because how in the heck was she going to get home now? He’d driven off with her handbag in the car, ignoring her bleated protests or the fact that she’d run after the car like a dog abandoned on the side of the road. If she hadn’t had her cellphone on her, snapping pics of their new dream home while envisioning a snotty-nosed kid leaning out of every window like something out of a goddamn Mary Poppins flick, then she’d hav
e had to walk home.
And home wasn’t home anymore, either.
When Drew arrived at Bryce’s house that day, puffy-eyed Juliet at his side, her stuff was on the sidewalk.
Bryce wasn’t there — he’d anticipated his brother’s anger and decided a drink at the local pub was what he needed. Because he hadn’t needed Drew’s criticism, or Juliet’s tears, or any fucking thing.
Drew hadn’t spoken to him for more than a month. When he did, he’d heard Juliet’s voice in the background.
Somehow, he’d known they would end up together. Call it twin premonition, but it had been impossible to ignore how Drew had looked at Juliet. How they would laugh and joke together when Bryce was watching television.
Bryce glanced up at the brooding sky. Night was minutes away — rushed in early by the black clouds and relentless rain. And, from the sound of those drops hitting his car’s roof, the storm was picking up tempo.
His hand tightened around the box of truffles in his lap.
Just what was his brother up to? First, he started drinking again. Then him shacking up with that young thing. Drew; taking charge. Drew; playing the uncharacteristic part of the philanderer.
Headlamps lit up the wet road. Bryce glanced in his rearview mirror and narrowed his eyes at the reflected car. It parked about three houses down from Drew’s house.
And, when the lamps switched off, Bryce began to smile.
So that was where his brother was. And there could only be one reason why he wasn’t parking in his own driveway…
Bryce opened the door, grabbed the impromptu gift he’d picked up on his way over here, and darted across the road. As soon as he was under cover, he straightened his hair out of its characteristic shambles, tugged his clothing straight, and plastered a Drew-ish smile on his face.
The pretty woman answering the door grinned at him. “So you came after all.” She waved him inside, olive-green eyes crinkled and glittering with warmth. “Well, don’t just stand there, Drew — come in.”
13
Double Trouble
Drew lifted his hand to knock on the door and then hesitated. He shrugged his shoulder, flinching as a trickle of water worked its way down the back of his neck.
Why in the hell was he so damn nervous? This wasn’t a date; he was just a friend, dropping in to say happy birth—
The door opened, and the man on his way out reared back at sight of Drew.
“Is Kelly here?”
“It’s her party,” the man said, frowning at Drew. “Would be rude of her if she wasn’t.”
“I’m Drew.”
“Good to meet you, Drew.” The man gave him a quick up-and-down, his frown deepening. “Hey, weren’t you just at the pool?”
“That’s my brother. We’re twins.”
The man laughed, grabbing Drew’s shoulder as he twisted to get past him. “That explains it.”
Drew squared his shoulders and stepped inside.
Compared with the rain and gusting wind from outside, Kelly’s house was so warm, he was surprised he wasn’t steaming. He hung up his overcoat and gripped Kelly’s gift under his arm as he ran his fingers through his hair. The entry hall was crowded with a stack of dripping umbrellas, coats, and jackets hanging from everywhere. There was a hint of charcoal in the air — that and Bryce’s cologne.
His mouth thinned. What if he just turned around and went home?
Then Bryce would win. Again.
He walked through Kelly’s house, following the rising sound of chatter, music, and laughter. Her kitchen was just as messy and crowded as her entry hall — bottles of wine with bows on them had been gathered to one side of the counter along with several large bowls of salad covered with plastic wrap. He considered whether to leave her gift beside the small pile of brightly-decorated boxes and bags, but he hadn’t had time to get her a card; how would she know it came from him?
Kelly’s crystalline laugh made him turn to the French doors leading from the kitchen to the porch in her backyard. Tiny, colorful lights had been strung around every post and piece of fencing where a horde of people bustled; all trying to stay under cover of the porch roof without bumping into anyone else.
Outside, the air reeked of a newly lit barbecue and at least two dozen different perfumes and colognes, cigarettes, and damp hair.
Spotting Kelly’s blond head, Drew sidled between two talking couples and brought a hesitant hand to Kelly’s shoulder.
The woman started and turned to him. Then her eyes went wide. She frowned, blinked hard at him, and then turned back to Bryce. “Holy crap, no wonder you had no idea what I was on about!” Kelly gave Bryce a friendly slap on his chest. “How long were you planning to keep it up?”
Bryce grinned at her, but that smile faded a little when he glanced up and saw Drew. “Long as I could, honey.” Then he stuck his hand past Kelly for Drew. “What kept you?”
Drew ignored Bryce’s outstretched hand and tightened his fingers on Kelly’s shoulder. When she turned to him, her eyes were shining with laughter. “Happy birthday, Kelly.”
He leaned in, his heartbeat thumping hard and fast against his breastbone. Pressing his gift into Kelly’s hands, he brushed his lips against her cheeks and hurriedly straightened again.
Kelly blushed deep and red, throwing Bryce a circumspect glance over her shoulder. “You shouldn’t have, Drew.” She shook the box, her mouth turning up into a smile. “That sounds suspiciously familiar.”
Drew rummaged in his pocket for cigarettes, eyes sliding past Kelly as she frowned at her gift before fixing on Bryce.
His brother watched him silently, a faint suggestion of a smile still touching his lips. “Traffic?”
As if they hadn’t been coming from the same place.
“I stick to the speed limit.”
Bryce shrugged and then held out a flickering lighter for Drew’s cigarette. He leaned forward, lighting his smoke, and then glanced across at Kelly.
She levered open the lid of the box, glanced inside, and then burst out laughing. “You two are too much,” she said with a giggle. “What else do you have up your sleeves, hmmm?”
He took a deep drag on his cigarette. His exhale did an excellent job of hiding his frown. A frown that deepened considerably when Kelly twisted around and retrieved something from a small table nestled between her and the rail encircling of the porch.
She shook the two boxes of truffles at Drew, lifting her eyebrows. “Double trouble.” The boxes waved between him and his brother. “And double the calories, thanks for nothing.”
Then she was laughing and pressing up against Drew. Short as she was, she had to go onto tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Thanks, Drew. You shouldn’t have.”
“It’s nothing,” he murmured, realizing it was. When he glanced over at Bryce, his brother was pulling at a smoke with way too much self-satisfaction.
The words that fell out of his mouth next surprised him more than they did his brother. “Your real gift’s still on the way.” He shrugged at Kelly. “Was supposed to be here today—” he affected a frustrated sigh. “But I guess the order’s taking longer than I anticipated.”
Her eyebrows drew together. “What order?”
“Your real gift.” Drew shrugged, tried to ignore the heat in his cheeks, and looked around. “Mind if I have a beer?”
“What? No, of course not. I’m sorry, I was so caught up talking with—” Kelly lifted a hand, and then paused. “I don’t know your name, do I?”
“Bryce.” His brother gave her a broad smile.
“Bryce.” Kelly dipped her head and turned back to Drew. “What would you like? Wine, beer, whiskey?”
“Do you have gin and tonic?”
He could see Bryce’s eyebrows twitch in his peripheral vision.
Kelly nodded. “Single or double?”
“Make it a double.”
She nodded, squeezed the top of his arm, and then shook both boxes at the two of them before disappearing inside again.
“She’s cute.” Bryce wrapped an arm under his chest and resting his elbow on the back of his wrist as he smoked. “No wonder you can’t seem to decide between her and Angel.”
“You should leave.”
“You invited me, remember?”
Drew stepped up to his brother, throwing a hurried glance over his shoulder in the direction Kelly had disappeared. A few feet away, someone burst into a gale of laughter.
“I changed my mind.”
Bryce watched him over the glowing tip of his cigarette. Then he smiled and shook his head. “Nah. Think I’ll stay, bro.”
Drew grabbed hold of Bryce’s upper arm. “Guess again—”
“Here you go,” came Kelly’s voice. “I forgot to ask about ice, so I just added some. Is that fine? I can do it over if you want…”
He pressed his lips together and took a step back from Bryce, using the thumb of the hand holding his cigarette to rub at the bridge of his nose.
“Everything okay?” Kelly asked as she passed an icy tumbler to Drew.
“I should leave,” Bryce said smoothly.
“What?” Kelly gave a small, uneasy laugh. “But you just got here.”
His brother turned that mirthless smile onto Kelly. “I feel like I’m gatecrashing.”
“No, not at all.” Kelly took a long swallow of her wine and lifted a finger from the glass to point at Drew. “I said Drew could bring a plus one.”
Kelly tapped her palm on Bryce’s chest. She’d either had a lot to drink, or she’d had a few puffs of the weed Drew could smell tainting the air; she was a lot chattier and relaxed than she normally was. “Please, I insist.”
She glanced at them and giggled. “I bet you, in an hour or two, I’m going to be seeing four of you!”
And with that, and a last bark of laughter, Kelly gave them a big wave and disappeared into the crowd. Drew slugged back the rest of his drink and shoved his way back inside the house.
* * *