Noah’s Journey
Olivia’s Ride
Trinity’s Trust
Tequila Series
Just One Chance
Just One Taste
Just One Touch
Just One Kiss
Raw Series
Raw
Bare
Scarred By Love Series
Scarred by Love
Broken by Love
Shattered by Love
Torn by Love
Desired Affliction Series
Toxic
Conquer
Risk
Sinful
GOING DOWN
By Lisa Shelby
CHAPTER 1
Reece
A soulful energy that lights up a room.
A laugh as infectious as it is smile-inducing.
An aura so powerful you can feel it from a mile away.
Sweet and endearing. Fierce and protective.
Simply put, she is everything.
And she can’t stand the sight of me.
I will forever be the man still pining for my high school sweetheart. My high school sweetheart who hates my guts and prides herself on still being this stubborn after twelve years. The few times a year we’re in the same place together she tends to ignore me, but she does forget from time to time.
Sometimes her forgetfulness leads to a conversation or a laugh thrown in my direction. Once or twice her absence of mind actually led to her stealing a kiss. I live for those moments and I’d be lying if I didn’t hope to have a few in the next couple of days. It’s been a few years since she’s slipped up, so I won’t be holding my breath.
“Reece, dude! What are you doing all the way over here? We’ve been waiting for you!”
Parker shouts in my ear when he comes up behind me and squeezes my shoulders as if he’s my corner man prepping me between rounds. His move not only scares the shit out of me but effectively puts an end to my silent stalking in the shadows. I was content over here in the corner of the hotel lobby bar, but all good things must come to an end I suppose.
“Hey, Parker. Good to see you, man. Glad to make it here for all the festivities, looks like you guys have gotten off to a good start,” I say nodding my head toward the bar full of most of my favorite people on the planet.
“Nah, man. The party doesn’t start until Reece Evans is in the house!” Before I know it, he’s in front of me pulling me into a hug that comes complete with a slap to the back, but his jovial tone changes when he speaks again. “Seriously, man. Thank you so much for being here. We know what it took for you to get away, but there was no way we were going to get married without you. You know that, right?”
He steps back and my brother from another mother looks at me and no words are needed. I can see the thanks and what I also know to be relief in his eyes. We’ve been best friends since we were kids and we’re as close as brothers.
Parker’s mom took off when he was little and with his dad always at work, he basically lived at my house. My parents consider him one of their own and there is no way I would miss his wedding day.
“So, big man, what’s the plan? I see you’ve all decided it’s five o’clock somewhere. I sure hope you and Audrey are able to walk down the aisle tomorrow.”
“Dude, it’s crazy. I mean, we knew Josh filmed his latest movie with Reid Gallagher here and he has some sort of contract to be one of the faces for this new hotel but Reece, they won’t let us pay for anything. Food, drinks, the spa for the ladies and the entire ceremony and reception tomorrow. It’s sad but true, the more money you have the more shit you get for free. It’s nuts!”
Josh has been a part of The Crew since we were in elementary school and I love him, but with Josh, there are usually strings attached. Things could have changed since it’s been a couple years since I’ve seen him. Well, I see him on the big screen flashing those pearly whites that melt the panties right off the ladies and kicking ass and throwing out one-liners that make most men in America wish they were him. Yep, our scrawny little Joshy Washy is one of the biggest Hollywood stars of our time. Who would have ever guessed?
“No Shit? No strings attached?” I ask doubtfully.
“Well, okay, we did have to agree to allow our pictures to be taken and used in promotion for the hotel,” he says, acknowledging there are strings just like I figured there must be. “Oh, and Josh is officiating. But, look at this place, Reece. This isn’t your average Las Vegas casino, this place is next level. And you should see what they’re doing for the ceremony tomorrow night. Audrey couldn’t be happier and that’s really all that matters to me.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Let’s back it up. Did you say Josh is officiating?”
“Shit. You heard that part?” I knew he rushed over that part on purpose, but yes, I did hear him, and I can tell he feels a little like a sellout and that’s the last thing I want. I didn’t spend two days getting here to make the groom feel like shit.
“Listen, it’s all good. In fact, I think it’s great, man. If some pictures with your celebrity friend is what they want for all of this,” I say opening my arms wide. “I’d say it’s worth it. Besides, where are they gonna find a better looking bride and groom to promote a place as glamorous as this?” I say looking around at the sleek and sexy bar and knowing how luxurious the lobby was. This place is quite the contrast to where I’ve just flown in from.
“Dude, you heard the news, right? The hotel’s gonna be pissed when they find out their very own face of the place is an engaged man.” He points to Josh over at the bar with the rest of The Crew while I do my best to pick my chin up off the floor.
“I’m sorry, did you just say that Josh was engaged?”
“Oh, shit, that’s right. You aren’t exactly spending your time in our group chats and on social media while you’re over there saving lives in Africa.” He ruffles my hair telling me he’s proud of me without actually saying it. “Yep, Josh and Emmett are engaged. I bet you didn’t see that coming.”
“Your damn straight I didn’t see that coming. She’s on board with that, huh?”
“Yep. They couldn’t be happier, at least from the lens of those paparazzi that follow him around everywhere he goes.”
“Well, I’m gonna need to let that sink in for a little bit.”
I feel a hand clasp my shoulder and I can tell the way Parker’s eyes are about to bulge out of his head it’s the hand of a very famous leading man. “What needs to sink in Dr. Evans?” Yep, he has perfect timing, always has.
“Josh! Dude, how you been?” I turn around pulling him into a hug.
“Things are good, man.” He lets go and runs his hand through his perfect hair. I get it, ladies. If I was into men, I would get the appeal. He sure is pretty. “Now, what needs time to sink in?”
Parker jumps in and saves the day. “The fact that we aren’t paying for any of this. It’s not the norm for us regular folks, you know. This lap of luxury thing is new to the rest of us.” He shoves his hands in his pockets and speaks with nothing but sincerity. “Thanks, Josh. We’ll never be able to pay you back for all of this.”
“Stop it! I don’t want to hear another thank you while we’re here. I’m not paying for it and besides, if this is what it took to get all of us together in one place, then it’s all worth it. Now, let’s get the good doctor a drink!”
Josh puts his arm around my shoulder turning me around and guiding me in the direction of The Crew.
Audrey meets us in the middle and runs into my arms. “Reeces Pieces, you’re here!”
“Of course I’m here. I couldn’t let you two get hitched without being here to take all the credit!”
I met Audrey in college, and I knew the instant I met her that she was perfect for Parker. The first time he came to visit me at Duke I made sure to introduce them the first night. They were inseparable the rest of his visit and spent the next many years doing the long distance thing with him at Oregon State and her in North Carolina. As soon as they were done with scho
ol, they moved to Boston where Audrey got a job with a Fortune 500 company and started putting her Economics degree to use as a Financial Analyst. The plan was wherever one of them got a job first would be where they would move. Audrey got her job first and it wasn’t long before Parker was putting his business degree to work and they’ve been essentially married since they moved in together all those years ago but for some reason, they just never got around to actually having the ceremony so, here we are.
“And I’ll let you. Who knows where my life would be if it weren’t for you. I know it’s been awhile, but in case I forget with all the craziness about to go down, thank you for changing my life forever.”
“I did do good, didn’t I?”
“You did great, and there is nobody better than Reece Evans, is this what you need to hear, asshole?” Miles’ deep voice bellows as we close the distance on the group.
“Aw, Miles. You always say the sweetest things. Get over here, dickhead.” I pull him in for a hug just like the other guys and then we step back and do our stupid six-step handshake that we made up back in sixth grade. Yes, we’re thirty, but with Miles, this is just the way things are and I hope they never change.
Miles, the sandy-haired farm boy who has always been the life of the party. The charming one of the bunch. And he has inadvertently broken many hearts over the years. It’s not his fault. Women fall at his feet and that charm of his gets them. Every. Single. Time.
“How are you, man?” He doesn’t let me get a word out before he pats me on the cheek and interrupts the start to my answer. “Missed you, brother.”
“Missed you guys too.”
“We’re all real proud of you, Reece. You know that, right?”
He may be a charming heartbreaker, but he is also the heart of our group. He isn’t afraid to show his feelings and damn if he doesn’t have a lot of them. My guess is he’s already a few drinks in. The more he drinks, the more he feels. But he is always sincere.
“Come on.” I say trying to take the attention off me. I’ve never been good at taking a compliment. Especially, one so heart felt. “Quit with this sweet shit and tell me what’s happening with you?” He puts his arm around my shoulder and walks me the rest of the way to the bar with Josh, Parker, and Audrey behind us. “Later, dude. Your fan club is waiting to say hi. I’ll order you a drink. The usual?”
“That’d be great, thanks. I’ll get the next round.”
“I think I can handle a Coke on the rocks,” he chuckles and bellies up to the bar.
“Reece!” Amelia and Emmett shriek in unison and both rush me throwing us into a group hug.
“We’re so glad you came!” Amelia chirps in her sweet sing-songy rhythm that is all her.
“Yes, it’s been way too long! So much has happened and you’ve been halfway around the world. Like, literally halfway around the world!” Emmett pouts.
“So, fill me in. What have I missed?” Curious how many seconds it will take her to spill her engagement news I cross my arms and wait. But just as she starts to lift her hand and that knock-out smile of hers starts to spread ear to ear Josh steps in and steals her thunder.
“She said yes, that’s what you missed!”
Wide-eyed and pretending to be shocked, I lock eyes with Emmy to see if I can read anything other than joy reflecting back, but she doesn’t waver. What she does do, is blind me with the bling on her left hand. “Holy shit, you two! Congratulations!”
I think.
“Thanks, Reece. We’re thrilled and sure hope you’ll be able to make it back for our big day. It’s not happening until next year, but we’ll give you all the details so you can plan your flights, our treat, of course,” she says innocently, flashing a quick look in Josh’s direction.
He kisses her temple and says, “Of course. Whatever it takes to get you there, we’ll do. You know that.”
Miles hands me my Coke and brings some levity to the moment. “Josh, we all know you hit the top ten on the Forbes highest paid actors or whatever the hell that list is, so don’t even act like a round trip ticket to get Reece back from Timbuktu is a big deal. I think you can afford it. Besides, your wedding will probably be sponsored or some bullshit?”
“Miles!” Emmett gasps hearing him say what everyone else is thinking.
“Ignore him, Emmett. I appreciate the gesture, but I don’t need you to pay for my ticket, I’ll be there if I can. Promise.”
“And I promise our wedding will be on a weekend and not a random Wednesday. This is strange, right?” Emmett questions.
“Yeah, and what color will your hair be? Weren’t you blonde last week?” Miles asks her so I don’t have to answer her question about the mid-week wedding.
“I’m a woman and it’s my prerogative to change my hair if I feel like it. Is this your way of saying you don’t like it?” She smiles because she knows she’s beautiful, no matter what color her hair is.
“Nah, I like the red. You look good Emmy, I just can’t keep track. I was scarred for life that night at Buddy’s.”
“Listen, if black hair and sunglasses are all it takes then I wouldn’t run out and get a job as a private detective or anything. Besides, why were you scarred? I’m the one that had to hear your sexy voice in my ear when you asked if you could buy me a drink. Ew, it was so gross!”
I’m listening to their banter, but I’m distracted.
The other R in the R&R Forever carved into one of the giant pine trees in The Jumps where we would all hang out as kids is talking to Josh to the left of Emmett. The Jumps got its name from all the dirt biking that took place among its trees on the edge of the big open field, that just happened to be on the my grandparents’ property, where many a night was spent under the stars and around a bonfire. That field, those trees, these friends, and the girl standing just a few feet away were my world at one time.
She knows I’m here, but just like she always does, she’s pretending she hasn’t noticed me.
“Dude, where’d you go?” Miles asks pulling me back into the conversation. I hadn’t even noticed Emmett was no longer standing with us.
“Sorry, what was that.”
“Shit, I see where you were.” He already sounds exhausted. “Here we go. Cat and mouse time. Let the games begin,” he mutters under his breath.
“Shut up. It’s not me and you know it. I’ve never played any games with her. I can’t help that she’s stubborn and can’t let go of something that happened years ago.”
“I know, but damn it gets old.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Well, you’re the best man and she’s the maid of honor so y’all are gonna have to figure it out this time.”
“Yes, Dad. Come on, let’s find Parker. I’m sure I’ve got some kind of best man duties I should be taking care of.”
CHAPTER 2
Rachel
“You seriously haven’t even said hello to him yet?” Audrey whispers from the heated spa chair next to me.
“Nope.”
We’re waiting for the other girls to finish their treatments so we can head back to the penthouse to get ready for our night out.
“Damn, Rach. After all these years you are still so damn stubborn. At least he tries.”
I start to open my mouth to counter her, but she knows me too well.
“Rachel, don’t even pretend like you didn’t hear him say hello in the bar earlier. I know you did because I was standing right there and not only did I hear it, but I saw you flinch when he said your name.”
She’s right. He did try and I did hear him. All of us girls in the group were leaving for the spa and when I walked past him, his deep timbre shook me to my core. He said two words. Hi Rachel. All it took were those two words and the vise on my heart tightened just like usual, where Reece is concerned. But when our arms brushed when he moved out of my way it was like the wind had been knocked right out of me and staying upright became a chore.
I always tell myself not to let him get to me. Let it go. We
’re thirty years old and not kids anymore, but for some reason, he always gets the best of me. He brings out a piece of me that nobody else can. I’m a goddamn bitch on wheels and there’s nothing I can do about it. I’ve tried.
“I said hello.”
“Oh, please. You did not. You gave him one small nod of your head and a forced tight-lipped smile. Doesn’t count.”
“It counts.”
“Can’t you just set the past aside for the next two days?”
I am such a selfish friend. We’re all here for Audrey and Parker and I can’t get over my ex from high school long enough to think about anyone else but myself.
“Sweetie, I am so sorry. I promise I’ll shake it.” Even if I have to fake it. “After that massage and this tasty little glass of champagne, I’m feeling better. Seeing him after so long caught me off guard but I promise you, I will not ruin your big day.”
“I know you won’t.” She reaches for my hand and gives it a squeeze. “He really is a good guy. I know he hurt you, but he was a kid and if you haven’t noticed he’s a grown ass man now.”
Yes, he most certainly is. This I cannot deny.
He looks like he hasn’t aged a day but has the masculine definition that comes with growing up and becoming a man. Still tall, still thin but muscular, his hair is much shorter than usual. You know, that look that says I don’t have a bald head but if I wanted to, I’d still look hot as hell. I do my best not to look him in the face because if I do, those light brown eyes will suck me in. They do every time. I may not look him in the eye, but I know his skin is just as flawless as it was when we were kids. The rest of us were covered in acne, but not Reece. He was perfect. Beautiful. But the manliest thing about him is his voice. It’s even sexier than when we were kids. Deeper. Richer.
It’s a good thing I can’t stand him, and I don’t have to worry about getting drunk and falling for all that is Dr. Reece Evans. There will be no bad decisions made over the next forty-eight hours. I mean, bad decisions may be made, but they most definitely will not be made with Reece. His charm and good looks don’t work on me anymore.
Blackout: A Romance Anthology Page 77