Fair Play (18 page)

I nod. “I’ll be fine.”

Roxie rises from the couch and pulls Les up with her. He’s stumbling and looks significantly drunker than Roxie.

“Don’t take advantage of the poor guy,” I tease and Les bursts out laughing.

“I hope she does,” Les retorts.

As Les and Roxie head for the door, I notice his hand slips from around her waist to grab a hold of her ample ass. The two of them are definitely going to have an interesting evening.

It takes a moment for Aaron to register that Roxie and Les have left. He blinks a few times then says, “Maybe I should get going, too.” For the first time all evening, he actually looks nervous. It’s like he suddenly realizes he’s slipping into the danger zone.

“What’s your rush,” I say as I slip my arms around his neck. “I was just starting to enjoy your company again.”

He tries to pull away but my grip on him is pretty tight. I take a quick glance toward the video camera to make sure we’re still in position then I place a seductive kiss on his cheek.

“Stop,” Aaron says as he grabs my hands and pulls them from him. “What are you doing?”

“What does it look like I’m doing?” I spit. “What’s wrong with having a little fun? You’re not married yet.”

He looks at me like I’ve just slapped him across the face. “I’m engaged,
Keira. And I love Rainy. Whatever you’re doing is going to stop right now.”

I heave a sigh. “You used to enjoy spending time with me. We used to be friends.”

“I thought we still were friends but a real friend doesn’t try to mess with her friend’s relationship. That’s seriously fucked up.”

I know he’s right. It is fucked up. And I’m just as fucked up for going through with something so underhanded and conni
ving. It makes me wonder if Aaron knows how much his own mother was involved with this scheme.

“You know our parents still want us together,” I venture.

“I don’t care what they want. This is my life and I plan to spend it with Rainy, with or without their blessing.”

I rise. “You may be willing to give up everything for your love but I’m not. I don’t want to be disowned. I don’t want to live in poverty. I don’t want to actually have to work to earn a living.”

Aaron rises and shakes his head. I think he might bolt but he looks at me and says, “You have to be one of the most self-centered and selfish people I’ve ever met in my life. You’re truly a piece of work. I have no idea what Evan sees in you but he’s absolutely obsessed with you. Do you have any idea how much you’ve hurt him by continuing to string him along? He truly cares about you and the only person you care about is yourself. It’s pathetic.”

And with that, Aaron marches out of my condo and slams the door shut behind him.

I stand there in stunned silence for a few moments thinking about the awful things Aaron said about me and how absolutely true his words are.

I’m truly pathetic in more ways than I can even count.

The only thing that brings me back to reality is my cell phone ringing. When I answer, I’m surprised to hear its Roxie.

“I thought you were going to get busy with Les,” I say.

“Yeah, I did, too. But when I dropped him off at his apartment, he passed out. Next time, I’ll have to make sure not to give him quite so much tequila.”

I laugh. “Is there going to be a next time?”

“There’s definitely going to be a next time. Before he passed out, he took off his clothes and I got a glimpse of the goods. The guy is packing. If he knows how to use that ample equipment of his, I’m definitely interested.”

“Are you on your way home?” I ask.

“That depends. What happened with Aaron? Is he still there?”

“He’s gone.”

“Did you get enough footage for us to make an incriminating video?”

With the right editing, I probably had enough to use but now I wasn’t sure I really wanted to. Aaron’s words just kept echoing through my
head and they really stung.

“I’m having second thoughts,” I admit.

“Not cool,” Roxie admonishes. “You’re the Queen of Mean. You’re supposed to be my new reality star. You can’t suddenly grow a heart.”

Too late
, I want to say but I refrain. All I really want to do is throw myself into Evan’s arms and hope it’s not too late for him to forgive me.

“You’re really not going through with it, are you?” Roxie says. “And let me guess, it’s all about Evan, isn’t it?”

“It’s not
all
about Evan but a lot of it is,” I admit.

“I can’t say he’s not worth it. The guy is a god. If he’s as good in bed as he looks, I’d say run don’t walk to his place.”

“Thanks for the support,” I say.

“What are friends for,” she replies and before I can say a
nother word, she’s already hung up.

As I begin to clean up the Margarita mess, there’s a knock at my door. I have a sinking feeling I already know who is
there and I’m in no mood for a confrontation.

But the knocking continues and I realize that whoever it is knows I’m here and won’t stop pounding until I answer the door.

I heave a long sad sigh and head to the door. When I open it, I’m not surprised to see Rainy standing there with her bony fingers on her hips.

“We need to talk,” she demands as she pushes her way into my condo. I didn’t think she had that much assertiveness in her. I guess she gets protective when it comes to her man. Not that I blame her.

When she’s well inside my living room, Rainy spins around to face me. “Did you really think you could come between us?” she hisses.

I look at her dumbfounded because I still can’t believe she’s standing up for herself and standing up against
me
. The scared little girl from Spring Break, who I intimidated so easily is long gone.

“You have no idea what love is,” she states. “You’re self-centered and selfish. You’re not even worthy of my time.”

Her words strike a chord just like Aaron’s did. And just like Evan’s did earlier. Maybe they’re all right and I’m so bad I’m not worth saving.

I wonder if Rainy is done but she continues, “Aaron is going to your professor’s office first thing in the morning and reques
ting to be changed to another study group. He doesn’t want anything more to do with you and neither do I.”

I continue to stare at the transformed woman in front of me. All the times I thought we might actually have a chance to be friends if she’d just show a little backbone and when she finally grows a pair, she doesn’t want anything to do with me. How ironic is that?

“Evan and I have never been the best of friends,” Rainy continues. “I’ve always thought he was kind of an arrogant jerk with a questionable moral compass. Even Evan deserves better than you.”

And on that final note, Rainy turns on her heels and storms out the door.

The only thing left to do is pour myself another drink and get wasted.  

After my third extra-large Maker’s Mark, I have an epiphany. I realize that maybe one of the reasons that I went through with the plan (at least enough of it to piss Aaron and Rainy off) was because I needed Aaron (and maybe even Rainy) to hate me. That may be the only way I could ever truly let go of the idea of being with Aaron.

And I also realize that I never had any true feelings for Aaron. I never loved him. Certainly not the way Rainy does. I think I loved the idea of being with Aaron. I loved the idea of Aaron and I bringing our families together—two of the country’s most powerful families finally joining forces—with Aaron and I as the pivotal pieces of the puzzle.

Another realization
: I wanted someone to look at me the
way Aaron always looks at Rainy, with absolute and unconditional love and devotion. I just didn’t realize that I already have someone who looks at me that way.

I know there are a few things I have to do. The first one, I’m dreading but it’s time to grow up and put on my big girl panties.

“Hello, Mother,” I say into the phone when she picks up.

“Why are you phoning so late
?” she asks. I can tell by her tone she’s not very happy to hear from me.

“There are a few things I need to say.”

“Like?”

I hesitate for a moment. “I’m never going to be with Aaron. You and Mrs. Donovan are going to have
to accept that fact. Aaron is going to live his own life and that life includes Rainy.”

I can hear my mother intake a sharp breath but she doesn’t say anything. I continue, “And my life is going to include a fishing pier instead of a lighthouse.”

“What is that supposed to mean? Have you been drinking?”

“It means that I want to be with Evan. And, yes, I have been drinking but I learned that from the best. Don’t tell me you haven’t had a few this evening to
calm your nerves.
” My mother always attributed her drinking to
calming her nerves
but I realize now her drinking was probably the only thing that made her miserable life bearable.

“Don’t you want me to be happy?” I add.

“What kind of mother would I be if I didn’t want my only daughter to be happy?” she asks but her tone lacks sincerity.

“That’s a good question,” I state and I don’t wait for a r
esponse.

***

“Are you sure?” Evan says for what seems like the third or fourth time. “You want me to come to your place?”

“Yes,” I assure me. “I want you to come over.”

As I wait for a response, I take the last sip of what could be my fourth or fifth Maker’s Mark. Unfortunately, I’ve lost count.

“I’ll be there in twenty,” Evan says before the line goes dead in my ear.

I pace the floor waiting for Evan’s arrival. I’m not sure what I’m going to say and I’m even less sure how he’ll react. I don’t think I’ve been this nervous since—well—ever.

As soon as I hear the knock on my door, I practically race to answer it.

Evan looks freshly showered and absolutely amazing in his black jeans and black button-down shirt. He nearly takes my breath away he’s so damn hot.

He puts his hands in his pockets and enters my living room. Then he eyes me suspiciously. “Have you been drinking?”

“Maybe a little,” I say but I can hear my words are more garbled than normal.

“I think you had a little more than a little,” he
comments.

“I think you’re right,” I say as I poke a finger into his chest.

“I think maybe we need to get you to bed.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Are you propositioning me?”

He shakes his head. “Absolutely not. I’m not going to take advantage of you in that condition. As much as I want to, it’s not going to happen tonight.”

I can feel myself pout like a little girl even though part of me knows it’s completely irrational.

Evan grabs my hand and pulls me into my bedroom. The last thing I remember is flopping onto my bed like a fish before I pass out. 

***

When I open my eyes, the small amount of sunlight peeking through the shades feels like a knife stabbing me in the eyes.

“Shut off the sun, please,” I moan.

I can hear laughter next to me and it takes me a moment to realize Evan’s in bed next to me.

He stayed the entire night.
In my condo. In my bed. That’s a first. Ever.

Evan doesn’t hesitate to bring up that fact. “I told you I’d eventually get to sleep in your bed and wake up next to you,” he says with a bit of smugness in his voice.

I try to remember the events of the previous evening but they’re fuzzy. I remember drinking a lot, then phoning Evan, then passing out. When I look down at myself, I see that I’m in an over-sized tee shirt and my underwear.

“Did you change my clothes?” I ask as I turn to face Evan. My head is now pounding so hard I feel like my brain is going to pound right out of my skull.

He nods.

“Ugh,” I moan as I hold my palms to my temples. “Make the pounding stop.”

“I put aspirin and water on your nightstand for you,” Evan says.

“Thanks
.” I lean over and pop two of the aspirin into my mouth then take a swig of water.

“I had a feeling you’d be hung over
.” 

“You’re a real rocket scientist
.” When I let out a laugh, it makes my head ache again.

“Unfortunately, I’ve been in your position
a few too many times myself.”

“Me, too
. You’d think I would have learned my lesson by now.”

“I can make us coffee,” Evan offers. “And then we need to talk.”

“I know. But coffee first.”

Evan jumps from the bed and I notice he’s not wearing an
ything but his boxer briefs. Even in my compromised state, he still looks deliciously hot. I lay my head back down on the pillow in hopes of getting the pounding to stop but it feels like a hopeless cause.