by Kristy Gibs
Jax tried to engage me in their conversation, but other than a few short words, I remained mostly silent and spent the better part of the dinner pushing uneaten food around my plate. As soon as my mother mentioned going back onto the patio for dessert, I jumped from my seat and walked out of the room.
I couldn’t handle Ash’s eyes on me. He didn’t try and talk to me, but the entire time, he watched me. He and Jax were talking about work, so I assumed although Jax was pissed at Ash, he couldn’t have been too mad. I made it to the foyer and debated my next move.
I felt him behind me before he spoke.
“Can we talk?” he asked, and as much as I missed him, I couldn’t forget how he treated me; he didn’t even give me a chance to tell him what happened. He just assumed the worst of me. Dropping my head, I was conflicted. All I had to do was turn around to the man I missed so much and possibly mend things, and I couldn’t.
“Please, Gabriella.” The way he said my name, I could have cried. By his voice, he was upset too.
“Ash, we should get going?” Jax interrupted.
“Look, you and I need to have a serious talk sooner than later,” Ash said to me.
I waited a moment before turning and watching Ash walk off with Jax. As soon as the men were out of sight, I quickly said goodnight to everyone, not missing the scowl on Mia’s face. The mood I was in, I was so close to calling her out on all of her bullshit in front of everyone, but I didn’t have the energy. I headed to the garage, hopeful I wouldn’t run into the guys, and jumped into the car I was borrowing, then took off to Lucy’s house for our pre-scheduled sleepover.
I pulled into Lucy’s driveway, grabbed my bag, and let myself into her house. I wasn’t going to be her official roommate for another two weeks, but since I had been spending so much time there already, she gave me a key.
“She just walked in. Let me know how it all goes,” I heard her say. I entered the kitchen to find Lucy on the phone. “Sure, I will tell her.” She smiled and blushed at whatever the other person was saying, and I immediately knew it was Jax. “Talk to you later, babe.” She hung up and placed her phone on the counter. “That was Jax. He wanted to know if you were here.”
I nodded and walked to the wine rack, taking a glass and filling it to the brim as she watched.
“Spill...” she said
“Ash was at dinner.” I played with the stem of my wine glass.
“I heard.” She leaned over and rested her arm on the counter.
“Jax told you?”
“Among other things.” I diverted my eyes from my best friend and looked at one of the paintings that hung on the wall. It was one I painted when I first started college, full of bright colors and flowers. I felt on top of the world then, but now my heart and mind were on two totally different planets.
“It doesn’t even matter anymore.” Liar.
“You really need to talk to Ash, Ella.” Taking a sip of my drink, I thought about where my brother and Ash were off to.
“It’s too late.” My heart hurt.
“Is it, though?” She pushed, and I thought about it. He slept with another woman while we were figuring out what was going on with us. I didn’t think I would ever be able to trust him.
“It is. I’ve only been home a few months, and in that time, I have been humiliated by not one but two guys. I can’t do it, Lu.”
She sighed but didn’t push further. After downing the rest of the contents of my glass in one gulp, I asked, “Now, are you coming to Italy?”
She laughed, and all talks of Ash ended.
24
Ash
I hoped dinner tonight would have gone better than it did, but I couldn’t worry about that. Jax and I were on our way to Abyss to confront the bartender and find out what the hell her deal with me was and why she took it upon herself to interfere with my life. I had no idea if the bartender would be working tonight, but since I didn’t remember her name, I had no choice but to take the forty-five-minute drive. If she weren’t, I would show up every night until I saw her and got some answers.
We walked into the crowded room, and I went straight to the bar. The line for drinks was at least two people deep. I scanned the bartenders and spotted the blonde on the other side. Pushing my way through the sea of people, I stood and waited for her to notice me.
“What can I get you tonight, honey?” she asked, barely looking at me as she filled a glass for someone else.
“The reason you tried to sabotage me?” That got her attention. Her forehead creased as she looked up, and her eyes ran over my face before widening. Recognition. She looked from side to side as if looking for help. “You remember me now?”
“I get a break in twenty minutes. Can we talk then?” I looked over at Jax, who stood silent. He shrugged his shoulders, and I turned back toward her.
“We will be sitting over there.” I pointed toward an empty table before walking away from the bar and sliding into the booth.
“I don’t think she expected to see you again,” Jax said.
I nodded at Jax and looked toward the stage. I had no idea who the band playing tonight was, but they were okay. I tapped my fingers along with the beat as I thought of a rational reason why this woman, who didn’t know Ella or me, would do what she did. I noticed how nervous she looked when she recognized me, which also had me wondering, and that familiar feeling of unease settled over me. Just as she said, twenty minutes later, the woman arrived with a few beers.
“Mind if I sit?” she asked, looking between Jax and me. I didn’t answer, but Jax slid over.
“So, care to tell me why you told my girlfriend we slept together?” Her eyes darted from side to side. “I suggest you begin with the truth.” I knew her type; she was going to come up with every excuse in the book.
She sighed and sat back against the high-back booth.
“Some guy paid me two hundred bucks to do it.” What?
“Some guy paid you to tell my girlfriend we slept together, and then you told me she left with some other guy. I am finding that hard to believe.” I held the beer bottle in my hands, twisting it back and forth. What I really wanted to do was jump up, toss it across the room, and demand this bitch tell me the truth, but that wouldn’t solve anything.
“Well, you should believe it because it’s the truth.”
“Do you know why?”
“Nope,” she said.
“Do guys pay you often to try and ruin people’s lives?” Jax, who had remained silent so far, chimed in.
“You would be very surprised at what guys pay me to do.” I could only imagine the things this woman did. She was trash.
“Let’s stop the bullshit. Who paid you?” My patience was thinning as each moment passed.
“I didn’t catch his name…” I went to stand. This was useless. She was obviously lying. “But he did mention something about getting back at his cousin?”
I looked over at Jax, who stiffened.
“Preston!” We both said at the same time.
It couldn’t be. Why would Preston do that? I pulled out my phone and shuffled through pictures on my FaceGram. I had to have one picture on there that had him in it. Pulling up a picture from several years ago, I handed it to her. “Is this him?”
She studied the picture before handing me back the phone. “Yeah, I think so. He showed me a picture of you and your girl. Said that he would pay me if I caused a little trouble. He didn’t say shit about you coming back here, though.”
“You really don’t care that you hurt people, do you?”
She arched her brow but said nothing, which was probably best.
“I guess that’s all,” I said, and she immediately stood. “A word of advice: stay the fuck out of people’s lives that you have no business being in.”
She rolled her eyes and walked off. “What a bitch, dude, but Preston? I can’t believe he would do this…”
I was surprised too. We had our issues, but to go this far as to not only hurting me but El
la too? That was just fucked up.
“I think we need to pay a visit to my little cousin.” Standing up, I walked toward the exit of the bar.
The entire ride back to Malibu, I was seething.
“This isn’t the first time he hurt Ella,” I confessed to my friend. I wasn’t sure how much he knew about their past. I knew it wasn’t my place to tell him, but at this point, I didn’t give a shit what happened to Preston or what he thought of his soon-to-be brother-in-law.
“I know.” His knuckles were white from holding the steering wheel so tight. “She told me months ago; I told her she was better off.” He side-eyed me, not going into any more detail.
“I just don’t understand what he has to gain from all of this? Why hurt her again? I thought he cared for her, but after this stunt, you can’t care about someone and do what he did.”
“Because he is a selfish bastard, that’s why,” Jax said coldly.
“I am sorry about all of this,” This wasn’t how things were supposed to turn out for Gabriella and me.
“Why are you sorry? You are a victim in all of this too.” I just hated it came to this.
“I wish I knew what the hell I did to Preston that would make him go to this extreme.”
“Me too. He is marrying Mia, and although she and I aren’t close, she is still my sister, and I swear, if he pulls this shit with her too, I will ruin him.” Not only did he have to worry about Preston’s actions with Ella but Mia too.
We pulled into the driveway of the house Preston and Mia just bought. Mia wasn’t moving in officially until after they were married, so there was a good chance she wouldn’t be here tonight. I parked the car, and we both got out and walked up the stone stairs that led to the front door. I had never been here before. It was nice, not what I expected. It was large, but it wasn’t like the monstrosity his parents lived in. I rang the doorbell and took a step back while we waited. Moments later, Preston opened the door, and his face fell when he saw it was the two of us.
“We need to have a chat.” I pushed past him and let myself in. Jax followed me and pushed past him too.
I looked around and walked into a living room off the foyer.
“You guys can’t just barge in here like this.” He stood right outside of the room. His eyes were darting back and forth between the two of us, his face white as a ghost. He was panicking, wondering why we were here. Guilty conscious?
“What do you mean, little cousin? Why can’t your future brother-in-law and favorite cousin pay you a visit?” I baited him. We all knew I would never just show up unannounced. Maybe a few years ago, before Preston started to resent me, but he and I barely spoke more than a few words to each other whenever we were together.
“Anyone up for a drink?” I asked as if this was my home. I walked to the corner of the room to the decanter and poured myself a drink, then walked over to the brown leather sofa and sat down. “So, do you have any idea why we are here?”
“Can’t say I do,” he said.
“Hmmm… figured you would say that. Jax and I just came back from a visit to Abyss.” I took a sip as his face paled. “Sit,” I ordered him, and like the little dog he was, he walked into the room and sat down. “Now, you and I have issues, but why hurt Ella again?”
He remained quiet.
“Did you honestly think you would get away with it? That we wouldn’t figure out the truth?”
Again nothing. I wasn’t normally a violent man, but if I ever wanted to kick the shit out of someone, it was him right now. I placed my drink down on the coffee table, jumped up, and lunged at him. I was inches from his face. “I suggest you start talking, Preston. I am losing my patience. I am sure Mia would be upset if you had a black eye for your wedding.”
He huffed.
“What was that? Were you going to say something?”
His face reddened. “Did you honestly think I wouldn’t find out about you and my father, Ashton,” he yelled before jumping up and pushing past me. “My entire life, all I was ever told was that I had to take over the firm. I had to go to law school. Follow his footsteps. I gave up every dream I had for that, and then he asked you to join the firm. To be a partner. You don’t deserve it, and then I walk in to hear him brag about all of the things you two are going to accomplish. Fuck you, Ash.”
I almost felt bad for him. Almost.
“Are you finished?” I said. I knew my lack of reaction to his monologue frustrated him even more by the look on his face. “Did it ever cross your mind to act like an adult and maybe ask me or your father what was going on?”
He stopped pacing back and forth and crossed his arms. “I told you from day one, I wanted nothing to do with his firm. I am not a lawyer. I don’t want to be a lawyer.”
His nostrils flared; he wanted to say more, but I held up my hand, stopping him.
“No, I am not finished yet. If you had asked either of us, or at least me, I would have told you the conversation you overheard was regarding your father’s upcoming meeting with the CEO of RevoltTrax, to try and get Channing Law to be the sole representation for them.”
His eyes widened.
“It had absolutely nothing to do with me and your precious company, Preston.”
“Fuck…” He walked over to the whiskey and poured himself a glass.
“How did you even know we were going to be at Abyss?”
“Mia mentioned it. She heard Jax talking to their father.” I felt pity for my cousin. He went to great lengths to try and sabotage me, and in the end, he looks like the idiot. “It wasn’t about hurting Ella; it was about getting to you.”
“Ella was just a casualty of war?” I snort. “I am sure right about now you are regretting paying off that bartender?”
He bowed his head in shame.
“You better hope I can fix this, Preston. If I lost her because of your daddy insecurities, I might just have to reconsider his offer to join Channing Law and make your life a living fucking hell.” I would never do that, but I enjoyed seeing him squirm. I looked over at Jax, who had remained silent thus far. “Do you have anything to add?”
Preston snapped his head to Jax, who leaned against the wall. Pushing off of it, he moved closer to Preston. “Stay the fuck out of Ella’s life.” He growled. “I should go to Mia right now and tell her what you did…”
Preston opened his mouth, but Jax continued.
“I won’t because she is happy, but I am only going to warn you once, Preston. If you ever hurt Ella again or Mia, I won’t be so forgiving. Get your shit together and grow the fuck up.” Jax stormed out of the room. The dramatic exit was a nice touch.
“Well. I think that is all for tonight, little cousin.” I began to stroll out of the room before stopping. “See you in Italy.” I winked at him and left.
“I am pretty sure he is shitting a brick right now,” Jax said once I got in the car, causing me to laugh.
“I think we got our point across.” Jax nodded, started the car, and took off toward home. Now I had to figure out what to do about Ella. That was all that mattered.
25
Ella
As I sat on the plane next to my mom. I was bummed Lucy wasn’t coming as Jax’s date. She didn’t want to take the leap and solidify their relationship as serious just yet. She was falling fast, and it scared her. I needed my best friend with me. This next week was probably going to be the hardest week of my life, not only because I was going to get a front-row seat for Mia and the wedding of my dreams, but I had to endure being in one of the most romantic countries in the world, while I looked at Ash from afar.
I wasn't really sure why he was coming at this point. He and Preston had some serious family issues, but I didn't really have room to judge, considering my relationship with Mia.
The captain came over the loudspeaker, telling us our flight was on time to leave, and we should be arriving in Italy by 9 p.m. I looked around at some of the guests on our flight. More guests were coming in another few days, but Mia insisted
the immediate family arrive early. I tried to push my arrival until the night before the wedding, but my mom asked me to come with them early.
We were a family, and it was the right thing to do, which had me laughing. I couldn’t think of a single time Mia ever did the right thing, yet I was expected to. The only silver lining was I’d get one day of normalcy to visit my family. I was just about to turn my phone to airplane mode as the plane began to taxi when I saw I had a text.
Jax: Have a safe flight. We will see you tonight, Elle-Belle.
Jax was on a flight that was two hours later with Ash. They had a huge meeting last night and opted to take a later one.
Not that I cared when Ash came, I told myself. The less I saw Ash, the better the trip would be.
As soon as we were in the air, I put on my earbuds and closed my eyes. Hoping I could sleep a few hours to dull my racing mind.
The flight wasn’t terrible. After taking a nap, I chatted with my mom and watched a few movies. Fortunately, Mia behaved herself during the flight. We made it off the plane, and it took longer than normal to go through customs. It was late, and I was exhausted. The only thing I wanted to do was check into my hotel room and go to bed, but Mia had other plans.
Connor arranged for a shuttle to take us to the hotel, well castle, because that was where we were staying—in a freaking thousand-year-old castle, and the entire ninety-minute ride, Mia kept whining about dinner. When several of us made mention we were exhausted, she went on a typical Mia tyrant.
I had to bite my tongue because If I said the things I really thought, things would go south quickly.
Upon arrival, all of our bags were taken and placed in our rooms. We were ushered immediately into a large dining room where a spread of food was ready and waiting for us. Thank God. If we had to wait, it would be at least another hour or two before I could go to bed. My eyes were heavy, I was dressed in yoga pants and an oversized sweatshirt, my hair was in a messy bun, I had my glasses on. My attire, on a normal night, would be unacceptable, so right now, I was probably the talk of the hotel.