Chapter Twenty-Two

Damian

I chained my bike to the bike rack and then glanced around the large park. The bike path along the river led here. I’d just never gone this far. The City Park had lots of green open areas dotted with sunbathers and picnickers, taking advantage of record warm temperatures this week.

But I wasn’t here for the sun and fun. In fact, I pulled the hood of my lightweight jacket lower over my forehead to protect my damaged skin from the bright rays. Then, I looked down at the text message again.

Alex: I know your mom is here, but I need to ask u something. Could u meet me at the gazebo in the City Park at 2?

A tight feeling settled low into my gut. Was this about my mom’s arrival this morning?

I still wasn’t sure exactly why my mom thought she’d needed to come besides to make sure I hadn’t dropped off the face of the Earth. At twenty-five, I was capable of taking care of myself without her interference. Convincing her had become the hard part. Mom had spent almost the entire day talking on her cell phone or working on her laptop. With her job, it was impossible for her to disconnect. She’d barely even given me a farewell wave when I told her I needed to go out for a little bit.

I thought Alex had handled my mom brilliantly this morning, but this impromptu meeting gave me the niggling feeling that the embarrassing introduction might have had more impact than I thought. Had Alex asked me here to tell me that we were over?

Last night had been amazing, but...

Fuck, my mom was hard for me to take, and I was used to her. I subtly rubbed at the edge of the tight scars on my arm as I strode toward the middle of the park and one of those old, bandstand-style gazebos featured in classic movies set around the turn of the century. It sat on an old, stone base with steps on each side and slate shingles on the roof.

Alex stepped out from behind one of the columns, and I stopped worrying about the architecture of the gazebo, because it didn’t compare to this girl.

Unlike the last time I’d seen her, she had a completely polished and corporate appearance, one of pure Hollywood glam. She wore a red suit featuring a fitted pencil skirt that cupped all her curves, topped off by a short jacket cinched in at the waist with a tiny black belt. Her shoes were black stilettos with red patent leather trim that made her already long legs look a mile long.

Knowing those legs had been wrapped around my waist just a few hours ago didn’t dim the effect at all. If anything, imagining her in that position with those fuck-me heels on made her look even hotter. A surge of blood heading south made me glad I’d kept on jeans rather than changing to athletic shorts for this outing.

For her everyday work at the brewery, she generally wore regular old jeans and T-shirts, but seeing her like this, I could see the Hollywood-darling aspect to her personality. She looked hotter than Hell, but that just highlighted why I should stay away from her. This was the baby from Hollywood, the girl who lived a lifestyle that I’d worked my entire life trying to stay away from. I didn’t want to have anything to do with this side of her. I worked hard to stay out of the spotlight my parents’ lives had on them. I didn’t want to get mixed up with someone else who came with those same kinds of pressures.

She gave me a half-hearted smile as I mounted the steps going up to the gazebo. “So, how bad was the fall-out with your mom?” she asked with a grimace. “Does she completely hate me now?”

I shook my head and leaned forward to give her a light kiss. “No, it was fine. You look nice. What are you up to today?”

She shrugged. “After looking like such a hot mess this morning, it seemed like the thing to do...to maybe put a little more effort into my appearance for the day. Maybe my karma will even out by the end of the day that way.”

I frowned. “You know you look amazing no matter what you’re wearing, right?”

She scoffed out a laugh. “Ha, you’re only saying that because you’re still living with the glow brought on by a night full of hot sex after a really long dry spell.”

I blew out a breath and backed a step away from her with a scowl. “I agree the sex was incredible.” I tilted my head for a moment, trying not to immediately get defensive. “But you know, even though I’m a guy, I’m capable of objective thoughts that don’t rely on whether my dick has seen action or not.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh, no, that’s not what I meant. Crap.” She lifted her hair off the back of her neck and chewed on her lip. “I’m screwing this all up.”

I squinted, trying to get a read on her. She wasn’t usually one to act so fidgety or nervous. “What are you screwing up? What did you want to talk to me about?”

She gave a nervous laugh. “Well, it seems like both our parents were up early this morning. Almost immediately after I got to my place, my dad called. You know he’s a director, right?”

“Yeah.” I nodded slowly. Hugh Nichols was one of the most famous, highest paid directors of this generation. The action thriller he directed and released last summer broke every record for US and international box office returns.

I had a sudden premonition about what Alex wanted to ask. I remembered seeing a request come through the Ghost Squad Charities that I had dumped without even reading it completely. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if her father were involved. “Tell me this isn’t about that movie they want to make about our squad.”

She winced, giving me my answer.

I clenched my jaw at the sudden surge of anger. “I feel like you know me pretty well at this point, Alex. At least I thought you did. What in God’s name would make you think I’d be open to something like this? Romanticizing the worst day of my life, making a profit off...” I swallowed hard at the lump trying to rise up my throat, choking my words. “Those guys were my best friends.”

And their loss still felt like a blow to the stomach. Every single day, I woke up wondering why I’d been spared when they hadn’t. No one could understand that kind of agony.

Trying to keep my shit together, I concentrated on the twin girl toddlers squealing as they slid down the slide. “They died.” My voice broke, but I kept talking. I had to get this out. For them. For my guys. “There’s nothing entertaining about that fact, and that you would think there was or that I would even consider this...”

I couldn’t say anymore. I couldn’t get the words past my tight throat.

Alex laid her hand on my arm, and I flinched at the touch. She snatched it back. “I know. I’m sorry. I realize this can’t be easy. But you have to understand once my dad has his claws in an idea, he doesn’t let it go. He doesn’t have to have your cooperation to do the movie. Don’t you want to have some input into the story they tell? Don’t you want to make sure they get it right?”

My muscles tightened. I could already imagine what my input would mean. Parading me in front of paparazzi to sensationalize the premiere, and interviews to talk about how hard it was for me, surviving when all my friends had died. I knew exactly how it would go down, and there was no fucking way I would let myself become part of that circus. Most days, I was barely hanging on. To subject myself to that kind of scrutiny... No, there was just no way. Why would she even ask this? She didn’t care about me at all.

I gave a harsh laugh. “Why did I think you were different? That maybe you saw me as something more than a sideshow freak? Has this been your plan all along? Seduce the poor wounded soldier, and then when I’m dulled by all the sex hormones, you get me to agree to your dad’s little project?”

She paled, but I couldn’t stop the vitriol spewing out of my mouth. Everything was painful, the loss of my friends, the loss of what I thought we had developing between us. I had to get it out somehow. “I should have known. You’re just a mouthpiece for your dad. Do you get a signing bonus if you get me to agree? Maybe a producer’s credit in the film? That’s a valuable commodity in your world, right?”

“No, Damian...”

My chest became so tight it was hard to breathe. “I was stupid to think we actually had something real between us.” I shook my head. I had to get out of here. The gazebo felt like it was closing in on me.

I turned away.

“You’re wrong,” she said quietly, “but I guess that’s to be expected from a guy who’s spent the last two years lying to his mom about the very basics of who he is. You wouldn’t know real if it came up and bit you in the ass.”

“Goodbye, Alex.” I walked away, pretending like I hadn’t just left my heart and soul shattered on the floor of that beautiful gazebo.