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“I just wanted to make sure you’re okay. You never replied to my text,” she says.
Really? That’s all she wanted?
I can’t decide if I’m annoyed that she’s wasting my time or suspicious that she’s got an ulterior motive. She’s clearly aware that I’m seventy-eight million dollars (and change) richer than I was when I walked into that room half an hour ago.
Still, something tells me I’m wrong on both accounts.
Raking my hand through my messy hair, I exhale. “I’m fine. Do I not look fine or something?”
Her eyes flicker, and she bites a smile that fades before it has a chance to mean anything.
“That was intense in there,” she says.
“Welcome to the family.”
“I’m sorry Burke behaved that way. Embarrassed for him, actually . . .”
“You don’t have to apologize for him. The sooner you learn that, the happier your marriage will be.” I almost tell her she’s getting a preview of what her marriage will entail, but I decide to rein in my contempt.
“Can I tell you something?” Her voice is pillow soft, and she worries the inside of her lip. Narrowing the space between us, she sucks in a slow breath. “I don’t want to marry him.”
Before I can stop myself, a shit-eating grin claims my face.
I knew it.
I fucking knew it.
This is Audrina all over again.
I’ve seen this movie before, and I know how it ends.
“You want me to feel sorry for you or something?” I release an incredulous laugh. While I understand what she’s getting at and I want to be the one she wants, it doesn’t make this entire thing any less fucked up. “I’m sorry you chose the wrong guy, but that’s not my problem.”
Her eyes turn glassy. “I know. I just . . . I wanted you to know that. For whatever it’s worth.”
“Why are you telling me this? What are you trying to do here?”
“I . . . I don’t know.” Her lower lip trembles. “I just feel awful for everything you’ve been through, and I don’t want to be another thing on a list of things that make you angry at the world.”
“Is that what you think I am? Angry at the world? Just because I don’t think the way everyone else does, doesn’t make me angry. If anything, I’m happier than most of you people. So please, do me a favor and take your sympathy and your crocodile tears somewhere else.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you.” She places her hand over her chest. “I just . . . Burke told me what you told him the week of the funeral.”
“Which was . . . ?” I said a lot of things that week; half of them I can’t recall because I was too busy numbing myself with expensive wine. What started as a toast to my old man became a drink in his honor and then another and another. I can only imagine the shit that came out of my mouth, especially around Burke.
“You told him you were still in love with the girl from last summer.” Her bright-blue eyes search mine, and I know exactly what they’re looking for, but she won’t find it.
“I said that, did I?” I pretend like I don’t remember, but the truth is, that’s the one conversation we shared that sticks out like a sore thumb.
We were talking about love, for some reason. Burke brought it up, but I think his intention was to see if I was going to magically produce this mystery woman so I could claim my third of the inheritance. He was testing me, though in retrospect, it was all in vain.
“So you didn’t say it?” She blinks.
Half of me wants to lie to her, tell her I can’t recall or deny it altogether.
The other half of me wants her to know the truth, for a myriad of conflicting reasons.
“I thought I was,” I say. “Turns out, that girl? She was just an illusion. Some pick-me type, you know? Telling me all the things she thought I wanted to hear.”
Her pretty face falls, but she doesn’t argue.
I almost wish she would.
Then again, I’m exhausted. I have a flight to catch. And there’s nothing I hate more than wasting time.
An argument about whether I’m still in love with her would be the biggest waste of time because, at the end of the day, it doesn’t mean a damn thing, and it won’t bring us together again.
“We had a plan.” I shrug before shoving my hands in my jeans pockets and turning to leave. “All you had to do was wait.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
BRIAR
Present Day
I’m hiding in the law office’s ladies’ room when Burke texts to tell me he’s in the lobby and that the car is on its way. Splashing water on my face, I pull myself together and wipe away any smudged mascara remnants before heading down to meet him.
