Truth be told, I’ve always hated the way I met Curtis. When Curtis asked me for my number at the end of the night, I tried to push away the thought that he was slumming it. I mean, it’s not like I was dependent on the job to eat, but I never liked the savior mentality that came with the scenario. Then again, maybe it was Curtis driving it to seem that way. He’s constantly throwing his family’s money into everything we do. He’s treated me like a princess, but sometimes, I feel like he buys me elaborate gifts because he thinks he should, not because he wants to.
“Piper,” Curtis calls out to me.
I stop at the side of our garage. “Sorry,” I apologize for running away and deserting him.
“Hey.” He holds my hands in his. “You never have to apologize. I guess the magazines are wrong. Tanner McCain isn’t some grounded athlete. If you ask me, he’s an ass.”
I don’t miss the sincerity in his voice, but he hasn’t rebuked the stereotype Tanner classified me in.
“He’s acting like one, that’s for sure.”
The shock from Tanner’s words is still shaking me. It was not the Tanner I loved.
“I need to ask you something.”
Oh God, here it comes.
“Should I be worried?”
He’s so concentrated on me that I’m not sure I can lie. Maybe I should tell him the truth?
“Worried?” I act nonchalant and confused about his question.
“There seems to be something between the two of you. Did you guys used to date?”
Shit, he’s asking me point-blank.
Squeezing his hands, I’m not sure if I’m trying to reassure him or me. “No. He’s my brother’s best friend. He’s just being protective.” The lie slips too easily from my lips.
“Okay.” He believes me with no question. Without giving it a second thought, he changes the topic. “I’m sorry, but I have to go. My dad called, and he needs me to come in early tomorrow morning.”
I’m positive he wouldn’t have cared if I’d told him the truth.
He releases my hands and places his palms along my cheeks. Tipping his head down, he rests his forehead on mine. “Will you be okay though, if I leave?”
“Yeah.”
I’ll just stay locked in the room. Anxiety and panic rise in me because Curtis was supposed to be my shield from Tanner and it leaves me vulnerable. Of course, Curtis wasn’t much of a shield a minute ago.
His hands leave my face, and his lips press to my forehead. “I’ll call you tonight,” he says. Then, he digs in his pocket for his keys.
“I’ll tell my parents you said goodbye?”
“Please.” He steps into me, giving me a chaste kiss across my lips. “You’re the best. I promise to make it up to you.”
I kiss him again to induce some sort of arousal to bottle up while he’s gone, but he backs away. I can’t help but assume he isn’t too worried about Tanner.
“I saw you eyeing that Marc Jacobs purse the other day at the store.” His lips turn up into a cat-ate-the-canary look.
“Be careful going home.” I ignore his comment about the purse because I don’t want his forgive-me present.
He’s halfway down the driveway when I hear his Mercedes beep. Without a look back my way, he slides into his car and rolls down his window, waving to me. “See you later, beautiful,” he calls out. Then, he steadily drives down the street.
“Beautiful, huh?” Tanner’s deep voice mocks behind me. “Another cliché, huh?”
“Jealous, huh?” I sneer, never turning around before walking to the front of the house.
twelve
AFTER CURTIS LEAVES, I RELUCTANTLY VENTURE into the kitchen to help my mom and to keep the hell out of the backyard. If Tanner stays outside, I should make it through tonight unscathed.
As I mindlessly cut the rolls, his words from out by the garage bring butterflies to my stomach. I want him to be jealous. I want him to know what he ruined two years ago. Mostly, I want him to want me because I want him more than I should.
Then, I think about Bea and her words about forgiveness. How can I forgive him for almost ruining everything Brad strived for? Tanner’s lucky he didn’t ruin his own chances at the Olympics. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be sporting the cover of Swimming magazine.
At some point in my life, I guess I might not have to forgive him, but I do need to deal with him. If Brad can still be his best friend, I should really stop obsessing over his actions. I think it hurts that Tanner lied to me and so many others. The deceit is what makes me question him most.
“You’re thinking pretty hard over there.” Lana sits across the counter from me, sipping her chardonnay. “Want to talk about anything?”
Not with you.
“It’s nothing. Just the wedding,” I lie. Lately, I’ve been no better than Tanner on this front.
“Oh, don’t be upset. I’m positive your time is coming soon.” She refills her glass.
I’m guessing her elbow has been permanently bent that way for the last two hours. Lana tends to drink a little heavy at times, especially at parties.
“It’s not—”
“Can you imagine the ring you’ll get from Curtis Zeker? I bet it will come from a robin egg–colored box.” She winks as though it’s sly. “Probably a bigger ring than your mom’s and mine combined.”
She beams with more excitement than me in this moment. The last thing I want is for Curtis to propose. It’s only been two months.
“Believe me, Curtis knows how to buy happiness.” My voice is tainted with disdain.
Most girls would love a guy like Curtis doting over them. I’m confused why I don’t. I love the high-end things he buys me, but I desperately wish my heart would swell and fully open for him. But having experienced true love with Tanner, I doubt I’ll ever feel the same for Curtis. Would I be settling for second-best?
“I can imagine. Lucky girl.”
How can Lana be so oblivious to the fact I love her son?
Shrugging my shoulders, I walk over to the fridge to pull out the tomatoes, onions, and pickles to place them on a plate for the hungry masses outside.
“You’ve always been so low maintenance. I think a guy like Curtis might be a waste on you.” She downs another sip of wine, her cheeks already rosy.
The shock I feel from her words startles me, and the pickle jar slips from my grasp, shattering into a million pieces, only making Lana scream. That, in turn, brings all the boys barreling into the house.
“What happened?” My dad rushes over, bending over to pick up some of the pieces of broken glass.
“It slipped out of my hands,” I softly say to my dad.
He smiles. “Well, let’s clean it up.” He stands up and disappears down the hallway.
“I got it, Mr. Ashby.” Tanner squats down next to me, grabbing up the larger pieces.
I mop up the smaller pieces and the juice with paper towels.
“Don’t worry about it,” I whisper.
Tanner places his hand on mine, igniting a shiver to run up my arm.
“I’m sorry,” he says.
I hate that damn sweet voice. The sincerity practically brings me to tears. All of this overwhelms me. I should have refused to be a part of the wedding festivities, but I knew my mom needed help, and the last thing I wanted was for her to overdo it.
“Okay.” I brush off his apology because I don’t want a scene, and he doesn’t need to know how much I still ache for us.
My dad enters the kitchen and hands Tanner the broom to clean up the mess I made. . Everyone decides to go back outside leaving the two us alone in the kitchen. and the close proximity to him only unnerves me.
“I’m truly sorry, Piper. It just took me by surprise.” Oh, he’s apologizing for his smart-ass comment earlier, not ripping my heart out.