“That’s a P for you.”
“Yeah, yeah. Some of us have better things to do than practice our shot all day.”
Said by the guy who hated to lose.
Sean grabbed the ball and walked toward Beck’s round conference table. He pressed his hands to the wood, testing its sturdiness. It would hold him… maybe. But that was what made it interesting.
“What are you doing?” Beck asked, though it was fairly obvious since Sean was already on top of the table, carefully keeping his balance while he stood. “You’re two hundred and fifty pounds. Get off.”
“Two thirty six,” he said right as he aimed for the basket again. Another swoosh. He jumped down and the entire room shook when he hit the floor. “You’re turn.”
He almost thought Beck wouldn’t do it. That maybe time had ruined that too: his ability to get his friend to break rules.
But Beck stepped forward, and in a suit and dress shoes got himself vertical on the table. “Now give me the ball before this thing collapses.”
Sean started his throw but hesitated. “Why didn’t you tell me you had feelings for April?”
“Because it was pointless.” His tone was sharp, but it was likely because he was still trying to balance on the table. “The ball?”
Sean obliged and this time Beck made the shot easily. He eased off the table with much less fanfare than Sean had, and kept his eye on where the ball had settled on the carpet.
“You still could have told me,” Sean pressed.
“I knew it was stupid.” Beck said it with the heaviness of a man in mourning. In some ways, it matched the truth. Their friendship was definitely on life support. “I knew you two were right together, that she’d never even looked at anyone but you. Truthfully…” He sighed and snatched the ball from the ground. “I don’t know how much of it was real and how much was just me wanting what you and Ty had.”
Sean was surprised by his honesty. Beck usually kept his feelings close to this chest. Where he downplayed them with self-deprecating humor.
“And now?” He didn’t want to ask, but he had to know.
“Nothing. Unless you count resentment and anger.”
“Because of what happened between you and me?”
“Not entirely.” Beck walked around his desk and sat in his chair, his voice full of warning and compassion. “A lot of it has to do with how she’s acted since you left.”
Sean didn’t need clarification. He knew exactly how April functioned.
Leaning way back, Beck hurled the ball across the room. The angle was flawless.
Sean chuckled at his friend’s smug satisfaction. “How many times have you taken that shot?”
“Every time my dad ticks me off.”
Which likely meant several times a day.
Beck vacated his seat so Sean could mimic the action. He leaned back, tried to get a good arch, but was woefully lacking. The ball didn’t even skim the rim.
“P for you, too.” Beck was not great at humility and enjoyed evening the score a little too much.
They went on for another several minutes until they both had an I as well. It was Sean’s lead this time and he went for the sure-fire win. Back turned, he tossed the ball over his left shoulder, a shot he could make with his eyes closed, and heard the beautiful swish.
“I can’t believe you still think that trick works.” Beck mimicked the shot with fluid accuracy. “Nice try. But we’ve been friends too long.”
The words had Sean pausing while he picked up the stray ball. He pressed his palms against the sides, the resistance a good outlet for his sudden frustration.
Eyes on his friend, Sean asked the one question that hurt him the most. “How did she get you to agree that day? I mean, feelings aside, I’d like to think our friendship deserved more.”
Beck sighed, guilt etched in his face. “She said you cheated on her. Multiple times.”
Heat rushed to his neck. As if he could ever look at another girl after what they’d had together. “And you believed her?” He tossed the ball back to his friend a little harder than necessary.
Beck must have felt the aggression because his stance turned rigid. “Sean, I’ve known you and April my entire life.” He didn’t move or even bother to line up his ball before he tossed it toward the basket. It roughly hit the backboard and dropped through the basket. “Do you know how many times I’ve seen April cry?”
Sean paused, knowing the question was a lead in. Still, he couldn’t imagine a scenario where April would expose that kind of weakness. “Never.”
“Yeah, I can see why you’d think that. But I have seen her cry. Once. That night. She sat right in front of me and she fell apart.” Beck’s gaze met his and there was no apology in it. “So yeah, when she said you betrayed her, I believed every word.”
The image pierced his heart. Not because of the lie, but because the betrayal part of the story was true. At least in her mind. “I’m sorry she put you in the middle.”
“I’m sorry I let her.”
With that Sean found his place and hurled the ball toward the door. As usual, the thought of April wrecked havoc in his head and he missed the crucial shot.
“That’s G. I win, which means you buy.”
“I guess that’s fair.”
Beck grabbed his keys, then squeezed them in his hand like it was killing him to hold his tongue.
“Go ahead. Say what you’ve got to say.” Not that it would change anything, but Beck deserved to be heard.
“Okay. It’s just that it’s obvious why you came back, and I know you are one to tackle any challenge, but you should know, April’s not the same person she was when you were together. She’s not even the same person she was before you were together.”
“Neither am I.” He was stronger, angrier, and surer than ever that they were meant to be together.
“I take it discouraging you from chasing her is a waste of my breath.”
“It always has been.”
Beck nodded. “Okay then. You won’t hear me say another word about it.”
“I appreciate that.” He rubbed his jawline, only now realizing how tense his muscles had been through the entire exchange.
“So where exactly are you living now?” Beck slipped his cell phone in his pocket.
Sean’s body relaxed even more. The distance had done damage, but nothing that couldn’t be fixed with time. “Where do you think?” He couldn’t help the smugness that slipped out with his smirk. “Right next door to her.”
Chapter 14
She’d had weeks to get ready for this party and yet she still felt like Cinderella in a borrowed dress, approaching guaranteed rejection. Her carriage had been a forty-five minute plane ride and a limo sent by Aiden, empty of companionship, but fully stocked with all the liquid courage she would need. As VP of special projects, he was responsible for this event, so while she knew Aiden wouldn’t be picking her up at the airport, she had hoped to see him before the event kicked off.
The dress she’d chosen was perfect for the occasion. Long, shimmering copper. A sequined racer dress with a halter design she knew her mother would approve of. You may show some skin, but not too much. A lady always makes the gentlemen wonder what’s underneath.
April closed her eyes, the frantic beat of her heart deafening in her silent suite. Aiden had left her a wine basket and a note saying he’d be there at six thirty to pick her up. It was now six forty and her palms were beginning to sweat.
Being in this place brought back too many memories. Sean’s presence seemed to haunt every corner, just as it had for the last two weeks. She kept waiting for him to appear, to poke at her defenses and demand she feel something.
But there had only been silence. Between her and Journey. Between her and Andrew. Between her and the world, it seemed.
And now, when she was on the eve of putting her life back on its planned trajectory, all she could think about was the last time she’d stayed in this very hotel.
“If I have to witness another fake smile and slithery handshake, I’m going to drown myself in this pool,” Sean said, leaning against a palm tree. They were surrounded by tiki torches and strings of dim twinkle lights that reflected in the crystal blue water. Most of the party guests were inside, but a few had navigated their way to the deck. The sky was clear and despite it being May, the temperatures were pleasant, likely due to the gulf breeze streaming in. “There is no way I can make it through an entire weekend.”
April wrapped her arms around his waist and laid her head against his chest. “Thirty more minutes and we can go. Mom’s already a little perturbed we keep sneaking out here.”
“I have a better plan.” He sprang into action the way only Sean could. Within seconds, she found herself lifted off the ground and flung over his enormous shoulder. His words came out labored as he ran from the pool area, pausing only to grab a bottle of champagne and two glasses from the restricted outdoor bar. “You’re my captive now, so you can blame this solely on me without even having to lie.”
Her stomach jolted against his muscled shoulder and while she should be horrified by his behavior, she found herself laughing, the idea of fleeing this party of all parties so preposterous that it had to be a dream.
Before she even had time to collect herself, she was back on the ground, her $2000 shoes sinking into the warm sand. Sean was going to work on his suit coat, flipping open each button in fevered excitement.
“What are you doing?” she cried when he flung his jacket to the ground. She looked around, sure her father was going to grab her arm at any minute and haul her back to the party.
“Escaping.” His shoes came next and she abandoned hers as well. “Come on.” His warm hand encircled hers and they were moving again in a near sprint down the beach and away from her responsibilities.
The wind pulled at her pinned hair while she ran and she felt the first chunk of it fall down past her shoulders. She tugged at the rest of the pins, flinging them aside as she ran. She’d lost her mind. Absolutely lost it because this moment was the best she’d had all evening.
They stopped and with that devilish glint in his eyes that she had so completely fallen in love with, Sean popped the cork, liquid spilling out from the bottle. He carefully poured some into each glass and handed one to her.
“I have a toast for us.”
She took the offered glass and chuckled, still winded from their sprint. “You and your toasts.”
He slipped a hand around her waist and pulled her closer. Soon the humor faded from his eyes. “I love you.”
“That’s not a toast,” she teased but he didn’t smile.
“This is to us. No matter what happens. No matter how many people want to separate us, I am yours and you are mine. Forever.”
She touched her glass to his, naively believing his words. “Forever.”
April shook herself out of the past, her heart racing as if she were still sinking into the sand. The lie had already begun when he’d said those words. Events already placed in motion. His toast hadn’t been a profession of love; it’d been a premonition.
A knocking sound barreled across the room and she realized it wasn’t the first time she’d heard it.
“Coming,” she called, wishing she’d had even a second to pull herself together. Her hand paused on the door handle, and she took a deep calming breath before finally opening the door.
In his black tux, crisp white shirt, and clean-cut blond hair, Aiden could be a cover model for a business magazine. He projected competence and authority and carried himself with the full on swagger of a man entirely pleased with his position.
“I was worried for a second.” He seemed to drink her in, neither hiding his appreciation or his approval. “I see there was absolutely no reason to be. You look positively radiant.”
“Thank you,” she said, wishing Sean would stop popping in her head every time Aiden spoke. He would rail over a comment like “positively radiant.” Make it a joke that went on for hours.
Aiden lifted his hand and she held back a flinch when his knuckles skimmed against her cheek. “You’re flushed. Are you nervous?”
There were some drawbacks to him knowing her so well. She wouldn’t be able to use the tactics she often did with other people. “Yes, a little. Did you tell them I was coming?”
“I did.”
“And?”
He leaned down, and warm, very real lips pressed against her cheek. This wasn’t their usual greeting where skin barely touched. This was intimate and lingering and suddenly she realized that the idea of dating Aiden was now all too immersed in reality. It was logical that they would touch, kiss, maybe even more if the relationship escalated to that point. Yet every part of her skin itched with rebellion. The same rebellion she needed to squash if she was ever going to get her family back.
His head finally lifted. “You have nothing to worry about. I told you, they trust me. You just need to as well.” He slid his arm around her waist, his hand pressing against her hip, and led her toward the elevators. This would be the first time she’d gone to this party without Sean. Even as kids, his parents would bring him.
The ride down was a quiet one, the elevator music light and soothing.
“Sorry I’ve been a lousy companion.” Aiden touched the tips of her fingers. “Tomorrow should be better. The preparations for the concert are done and at this point, there’s not a whole lot more I can do.”
She eyed him, noticing for the first time that she wasn’t the only one stressed tonight. As confident as he’d been at dinner, she wondered if bringing her wasn’t a significant risk for him. “Is it hard working for my father?”
He let out a humorous laugh. “You know the answer to that.”
She did. Her father’s expectations were impossibly high, but she wore the Duncan name, so striving to meet them was inevitable. Aiden, on the other hand, had a choice. “Why do you do it, then?”
“You know the answer to that one as well.” His gaze softened. “Because every once and a while, I wow him. And in those moments, I’m indestructible.” A different sort of connection occurred then. One usually shared between siblings, not a potential romantic partner. But Aiden understood her in a way Andrew never could. Like her, Aiden had to fight for his place. He had to earn it through sweat and dedication and absolute observance of the rules. He understood her longing to be accepted. Andrew had quit trying years ago.
“Thank you for bringing me here,” she said.
His fingers continued a trail up her hand, his thumb pressing against her wrist. “Like I told you before, being with you isn’t a hardship.”
The air suddenly felt weighted and she relished the escape that came when the doors flew open.
Aiden led her into the crowded ballroom filled with tables of food and flowers, ice sculptures, soft background music and the din of hundreds of simultaneous conversations.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
“Honestly, I feel like I’m going to throw up,” she said glancing with revulsion at the long buffet of cocktail shrimp, thin-sliced salmon and too many salads to count. “Let’s get this fiasco over with, so I can tell you I told you so and be home before midnight.”
“Cinderella reference. I like it.” He chuckled as he nibbled the sweep of her neck. “Does that make me Prince Charming?”
Goosebumps assaulted her skin and she shrugged her shoulder. “No, it makes you one of the mice.”
He took the hint and distanced himself. His relaxed, untroubled stride implied he wasn’t bothered by her rejection, which was good. He of all people should understand her distaste for affection, especially in public.
Her dress suddenly felt too tight and she filled her lungs with a strained breath. “Is it warm in here?”
“No. It’s a perfect seventy degrees. I made sure of that myself.” He stopped moving and forced her to turn and look at him. They were surrounded by bodies, only adding to her claustrophobic panic. “I need you to breathe a
nd pull yourself together. Remember, we’re here to show your parents that you’ve learned and grown this past year. Falling apart is not how you do that.” He kept his gaze steady. “You are April Duncan. This is your kingdom and there is no reason for you to feel like anything but a queen tonight.”
The fierceness in his blue eyes steadied something inside her. Strength. Superiority. Indifference. She’d been taught those traits since birth. Sean had hated that side of her, and she’d spent years trying to cast them away as if they were vices.
But what she’d had with him was gone. A type of love story that only ended in tragedy. Picking up the pieces was all she had left.
Every one of her muscles went rigid. “I’m ready.”
Aiden didn’t let go of her arms until she raised an annoyed eyebrow.
“Much better,” he said, a small smile softening his earlier intensity. “You know, you’re incredibly striking when you’re determined. And intimidating. Keep that in mind tonight.”
The irony was comedic. The girl Aiden found so fascinating was the same one Sean loathed. And she had a suspicion that Aiden would equally hate the wild, unbidden version of herself that Sean sought to exploit every chance he could.
Personally, she wished to be neither of them as they both took far too much effort.
By the time they approached her parents’ circle, April was in full control, her posture high and tight, her smile dazzling and aloof.
“Aiden,” her mom cooed, kissing his cheek the way she used to with Andrew. Her mother didn’t even look at her. “The party is fabulous. The best one we’ve ever put on.”
“My pleasure.” He nodded with feigned humility.
Her father was different from her mom. He wore his emotions fiercely, and basically had only two: anger and disappointment. Both of which were currently fighting for dominance as he looked at her. “Is the room adequate?”
She tried not to be startled by his voice; it’d been nearly a year since she’d heard it. “Yes, sir. It’s lovely.”
The Truth Between Us (Bentwood Book 2) Page 10