Love To Love You (Love/Hate #3)

by Isabelle Richards

  Bryan and I coordinate travel plans and meet at our chartered boat at noon the next day.

  “What if they took your money and ran?” Bryan asks after the boat shoves off. “This could all have been an elaborate scam. They could live very well off of the money you paid them up-front.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” I reply, hoping I sound more confident than I feel. The ocean air is cold, so I button up my peacoat.

  With a gasp, he covers his mouth. “What if they’re dead? Maybe one of the workers went loco and murdered them all!”

  I punch his shoulder. “Stop psyching yourself out. If it were anything like that, the guy who ferries the work crew back and forth would have noticed. Or one of their family members would have. I’m sure they’re fine. Maybe Ned and Holly just haven’t left the island in a while.”

  Bryan continues to throw out insane whodunit theories for the rest of the ride. He’s spinning a yarn about a phantom billionaire that haunts the top floor of the hotel when the boat reaches the dock.

  “Will you stay here?” I ask the captain. “We’re here to see someone, but we haven’t confirmed they’re actually here, so…”

  “You paid me for the whole day,” he says as he opens a newspaper and rests his feet on the bench. “It’s your dime. I’ll wait as long as you want me to.”

  “Thanks.” I turn to Bryan and hook my arm through his. “Let’s go. If you say one word about a murderous fisherman with a hook, I’m leaving you here with the black fog man or whatever you said is haunting this island.”

  “The Smoke Monster. Didn’t you watch Lost?”

  “I don’t have time to watch TV,” I say as we walk up the hill to the main building.

  “Gurl! We need to go on a Netflix binge!”

  Bryan tells me all about this crazy show about a plane that crashes on a deserted island. There’s a secret hatch, something about lottery numbers and polar bears. I tune out after that, focusing my attention on the island. I can see signs of progress. The paths have been redone, landscaping has been improved. When we get to the main building, I notice the outside has been freshly painted and there are brand new red shingles on the roof.

  The sound of a saw goes off in the distance, and Bryan jumps. “It’s Vespers Chainsaw Massacre!”

  “Or they’re cutting wood for the renovations.” Who knew he was such a scaredy cat? I tug on his arm. “Let’s go inside.”

  When we get inside, I’m amazed at how much work has been done. It’s simply breathtaking. The chandeliers have been installed in the main lobby, and they’re spectacular. The grand staircase is finished. I can picture the gorgeous photos we’ll take on it at the wedding.

  The hand-carved banister is stunning. I study the slope and curve of it. I bet I can slide down the banister way faster than Chase can. I make a mental note to remember stop watches when we come for the wedding.

  Everywhere I turn, I envision what it’ll be like on my wedding day, and jitters of excitement surge through me.

  “This is just unbelievably perfect,” Bryan says as he looks in awe at the lobby. “I can’t wait to get some flowers in here. Oh! It’ll be exquisite.”

  I see Ned and Holly in a corner, talking to one of the workmen.

  I tap Bryan’s shoulder. “They’re alive. Everything seems to be coming along. See, we were worried over nothing.” I tug on his arm. “Let’s go say hello.”

  Ned and Holly are giving directions to the crew as we approach. Someone must say something funny because they all chuckle.

  “Are you guys up for a surprise visit?” Bryan says.

  But their faces fall as they turn around.

  “Bryan… Ari… wow, I—um.” Ned glances at his wife nervously. “What are you doing here?”

  The hairs on the back of my neck stand up as the tension in the room becomes awkward. “We hadn’t heard from you in a while. Bryan and I thought we would stop in and see how everything is going.”

  Holly gives me an obviously fake smile. “I wish you would have given us some notice. We could have…”

  “Perhaps if you had answered any of our dozens of calls, we could have told you,” Bryan says with an equally fake smile.

  “What’s going on, guys?” I ask. “Clearly there’s something.”

  A worker turns on his table saw a few feet away.

  “Let’s go outside and talk,” Ned screams over the noise.

  We go through the main doors and sit at a table set up on the patio. Ned and Holly continue to glance at each other as though they’re having some sort of telepathic conversation.

  “We’re outside. Let’s talk,” I say.

  Holly shifts in her seat, looking horribly uncomfortable. “We’ve been meaning to call you.”

  “But…” I say, prompting her to continue.

  “I’m sorry to have to tell you this, Ari,” she continues, “but we’ll no longer be able to accommodate your needs for your wedding. Your money will be returned to you with interest. We’re sorry, but we just can’t do it.”

  My jaw drops. Thank goodness Bryan is here, because I’m speechless. I did not see this coming. I should have. Especially after the documentary and the clothing line, but I didn’t. I look around and think about all the plans we made for the perfect wedding. None of that will happen now. I know I need to say something, but I’m too devastated to find the words.

  “Do you mean the date? The size? What do we need to adjust? Tell me, and I’ll make it happen,” Bryan offers.

  “Let me make this clear,” Holly says with a trembling voice. “There will not be a wedding. Not on my island. Not ever.”

  I open my mouth to respond, but Ned picks up where Holly left off. “The fact of the matter is, we were rushing to get everything ready because we felt your wedding would be an excellent way to start off with a bang. It was a strain on our resources and finances to meet your deadline, but we thought it was worth it. Now, that is most certainly not the case. Being connected to you would destroy us before we could even open our doors. We’re getting out while we still can.”

  “Ned, Holly, I know how things look,” I say in a reassuring tone, “but this is all a gigantic, media-driven misunderstanding. It will be cleared up. If you can just give me a little more time—”

  “No,” Holly says with tears in her eyes. “Everything is riding on this for us. We sunk every penny we have, and a lot of pennies we don’t have into this island. We need for it to be a success. We can’t take the risk.”

  I turn to Bryan. “Let’s go.”

  He shakes his head. “We need to discuss this. I’m sure Ned and Holly have just gotten caught up in the media hype. If you explain to them—”

  “There’s no point,” I reply. “Their minds are made up, and I’m just too damn tired of fighting to convince them otherwise. I’m not going to beg them to let me spend millions of dollars here. I just want to go.”

  *****

  “We’ll come up with something. I don’t know what, but it will be brilliant,” Bryan promises.

  “You’re not jumping ship too?”

  He puts his arm around me. “Nah. That’s where Ned and Holly have it wrong. Infamous couples bring just as much attention as plain old famous ones. Sometimes more. Plus, I have ins at venues people would sell their future mother-in-laws into slavery to get into. Your scandal won’t touch me.”

  “I know a lot of women who would sell their mother-in-law for a free lunch at Denny’s, so that’s not saying much.”

  He gives me a squeeze. “And that’s the other reason I’m sticking with you two. You make me smile.”

  The wind has picked up, and the clouds have rolled in. A storm must be coming. I hug my knees as the boat rocks through the choppy water.

  “We need to think internationally, I think,” he continues. “Some place where they don’t give a shit about American football.”

  As the boat sails toward the mainland, I watch the island and my dreams of a perfect wedding disappear into the horizon. />
  We should have just eloped.

  “The upside is that I bet our numbers are much lower,” Bryan continues to ramble. “Let’s be honest, how many people are actually going to want to come to your wedding now? With smaller numbers, we’ll have so many more options.”

  He pulls his phone out of his pocket and starts recording. “Check for cancelations.” He releases the record button. “You know, so many couples break up over the holidays. We may be able to jump in and snag a spot.” He snaps his fingers.

  I tune him out as he continues with his brainstorming session. How am I going to explain this to Chase?

  “China? What do you think about China? I bet they aren’t even allowed to watch American football in China. They probably have no idea who you are! Think of the anonymity! But then again, I doubt they’ll give you a marriage license. Scratch that.” He taps his chin. “Ohhh, Australia. They think American football is for pussies. They may applaud the whole scandal. In fact, I think intentionally trying to get your opponent carted off is practically a rule in rugby. We should definitely look into Australia.”

  Chase is barely keeping it together as it is. The wedding was the one bright thing in his life and now that it’s gone… he’s going to be crushed.

  “I’ve got it! The Arctic Circle with the Arora Borealis in the backdrop. We could have you come down the aisle on a sled pulled by dogs. Granted you’ll have to wear a parka instead of that gorgeous dress, and we’ll have to make sure you won’t get frostbite when you take off your mittens to exchange rings, but wow! Think of the pictures!”

  I’ll just have to convince him where we get married doesn’t matter. As much as we thought we needed the week-long celebration, we don’t. We just need each other.

  “Or maybe Dubai? The marriage couldn’t be legal, of course, but that’s just a technicality, right? You can sign papers when you get back to the States. That’s what Brad and Angelina did. The Burj Al Arab is the most luxurious hotel I’ve ever been to. The party we could throw there!”

  I’m so going to miss Jack Johnson.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chase

  Fade in

  Exterior: The Great American Bush Company

  Focus: Blinking Live Nude Sign

  Interior: The incredibly handsome Billy Tate and Chase Brennan sit at a table watching strippers dance in front of them. The dancers focus all of their attention on Billy, as he is the better-looking, stronger, and all-around cooler guy. Chase looks at all the attention Billy is getting and is visibly jealous.

  Billy:

  I’ve never understood why they always say Live Nudes. What are they going to be? Dead nudes?

  Everyone in earshot laughs at Billy’s hilarious joke

  Strippers:

  Billy, you’re so funny!

  Chase:

  Billy, it is time to get down to business. I will pay you twenty thousand big ones if you take out Denver Broncos quarterback, Oliver Marshall. What do you say?

  Billy:

  I don’t know, Chase Brennan. Oliver Marshall is a good guy. I do not want to see anyone get hurt. That is not what the game of football is all about.

  Chase:

  Billy, if you do not do this, I will make sure you get dropped from our team, the San Francisco 49ers. Jeb Kane, the owner, is my friend and I will tell him to fire you. I will ask my powerful girlfriend, Arianna Aldrich, the famous tennis star, to spread lies and rumors about you so that no team will ever pick you up again. How will you feed your kids, Billy? Doesn’t little Suzie have asthma? How will you afford to pay for her medicine? You have to do this, Billy.

  Unable to read another word, I close the cover of my iPad. “Did you read this?”

  Ari’s chopping cucumbers for a salad. “I couldn’t make it past the first page.”

  Setting my iPad on the table, I cross the kitchen and take my steaks out of the fridge. “So Butch thinks this is his plan? A movie?”

  She wrinkles her nose when I place the cutting board full of steaks next to hers. “If you go through the rest of the files she sent over, you’ll see a contract with some production company I’ve never heard of.”

  I drizzle olive oil onto the steaks. “This isn’t going to be enough for us to prove all of this is a hoax. He’ll just say this is his version of the events. Has she found anything else?”

  Heisman pushes between us, trying to smell what’s on the counter. Ari taps him on the nose and shoos him away.

  “She’s still looking. I guess he came home faster than she was expecting. She needs to go back in. I think that’s what she was saying. Her code is kind of confusing.”

  “I think that’s the point of a code, Blondie.”

  “Don’t be an ass.” She throws a piece of avocado at me, which I catch with my mouth. “I’m sure she’ll get more off his computer soon. She’s listening in on him and says he’s in a full-blown panic. Since I put out that video, social media has been blowing up. People want answers.”

  “I hope this plan of Butch’s works.”

  There’s a knock at the front door.

  “They’re here,” Ari says. “Light the grill, and I’ll get the door.”

  We’re having the whole family over for dinner to give them an update on the wedding. When I come back in from lighting the grill, Mom, Pop, Charlie, Spencer, Calder, and Ari are walking into the kitchen.

  “I’m really getting used to you being right next door,” Mom says. “Not that you were ever far, but it’s nice having you right down the path.”

  Ari kisses her cheek. “Thank you for going shopping for us. I need to set up that delivery service, but I just haven’t had time.”

  “I’m happy to help,” Mom replies.

  “Do you know how long you’re going to stay?” Pop asks.

  “Our plan was to put my house on the market and look for someplace to buy after the wedding,” I reply. “But that may be changing.”

  “Why not just stay here?” Charlie says as she takes Calder out of his baby carrier. “I would kill to live next door to Mom and Pop right now. To have a babysitter at the touch of a button? Sounds like heaven. I know the concept of living next to your parents might sound awful, but—”

  “Hey, suddenly the concept of babysitting for you Saturday night sounds awful.” Pop covers Calder’s ears. “I didn’t mean that, buddy. PopPop loves you.”

  Charlie rolls her eyes. “I didn’t mean it like that. All I meant was that as newlyweds, they may think they want a little space. But I think you should think about the fact that after you have kids, space just means a longer distance for the cavalry to travel when you need backup. Calder had an ear infection last week and cried non-stop for the whole day. It took Mom over two and a half hours to get to my house just so I could pee! If I lived here, I wouldn’t have a UTI right now.”

  “TMI!” Dad and I shout in unison.

  Pop grabs the steaks. “I’m going to grill before she says anything else that will ruin my appetite.”

  I look at Ari and try to get a read on her reaction. She pulls plates from the cabinet, her face not giving anything away.

  When we decided to stay here, it was because it was the best option we had available. We’ve never talked about staying here permanently. It’s not the worst idea. She and I both loved growing up in this area, and because it’s tucked away on a mountain, the press can’t get within a mile of the place.

  I have no idea if she’d want to stay, or if it would bring up too many memories, or if remodeling it to suit our family would be too hard for her. Between taxes and maintenance, this house is too expensive to just sit here, but I can’t see her selling it either.

  Charlie looks at me for a response, but I keep my mouth shut. Today is all about getting out of trouble. I have no desire to step on a landmine.

  Ari pulls utensils from a drawer. “Everything is so up in the air right now. It’s the wrong time to think about laying down roots. I think we’ve all taken it for granted that the Niners will
re-sign Chase, but at this point, who knows? We need to see how things play out before we make any decisions.”

  “Damn, I hadn’t thought about that,” Spencer says as he takes the plates from Ari and then sets them on the table. “Do you really think they won’t re-sign you? You’re still undefeated. Even with the hit squad constantly coming after you. Drama or not, they’d be stupid to let you go.”

  I pull the steak knives out of the drawer. “No one wants the drama. TV ratings are down. Merchandising is down. Ad revenues are down. Ticket sales are down, and attendance is at its lowest in years. I’m bad for business. It’s a fact they can’t ignore.”

  “Jeb Kane will not let you go,” Charlie says as she bounces Calder on her knee. “He’d lose Ari, and then who would he have? His family’s not interested in the team at all. They don’t even watch the games when they come to the games. He needs someone who actually listens when he talks about how he hates the new extra-point rule.”

  “That’s a valid point,” Mom chimes in. “His family sees the team as his little hobby. They just humor him.”

  Spencer snorts. “Expensive hobby.”

  I place the silverware at each place setting while Ari stands back and watches us. “He can’t keep me as quarterback just so he can keep his pseudo-adopted granddaughter. He didn’t make his billions by being a bad businessman. Who knows, if they don’t re-sign, maybe I’ll just retire. After the beating I’ve taken this year, my body sure wouldn’t mind it.”

  “Your portfolio is in great shape,” Spence replies. “Between the two of you, you’re set.”

  Ari wraps her arms around my waist. “I think we’re really getting ahead of ourselves. Subject change. Something positive, please!”

  Mom fills us in about cousins and friends of the family. It’s gossip that no one really cares about, but the levity is a nice break. Pop comes in about twenty minutes later with the steaks, and we all sit down to eat.

  “So we have some news,” Ari starts as everyone digs in.