Chapter Ten
Blood Relations
“Hi, butt face,” Walt said, giving Shea a hug. He glanced at me. “You’re...both here.”
“We are,” Shea said. “You want a drink? Bar’s clear now that everyone’s dancing, I’ll go get it for you.”
“Sure, I’ll take a Sprite or something.”
“You got it. Be right back.”
After Shea left us, Walt stepped closer to me, and for the first time he didn’t smell like soap. A spicier, intoxicating cologne flooded my senses, and his gorgeous eyes pinned me. “Thought you said it’s all good.”
“It is,” I said. “Shea and I worked things out.”
Hurt flashed in Walt’s eyes, then something like rage, and my breath caught. “You worked it out?”
“No, not like that,” I said quickly. “We’re friends.”
“Wow. Just like that?”
“It wasn’t quite that easy. I ended up having to tell him an edited version of the night I met him when he was eight.”
Walt’s brows rose.
“Don’t worry, I didn’t tell him you asked me to touch your Tootsie Roll.”
Smirking, he flicked my nose then leaned in to my ear. “It’s a lot bigger than a Tootsie Roll now.”
I laughed, but my eyelids fluttered, a rush of desire blowing through me. “Anyway, things are good,” I said. “I think he’s ready to get serious with Terry now, so it was a good outcome.”
Walt picked a bit of lint off my shirt, the simple gesture somehow intimate and making me tingle. “So you’re saying there’s nothing to get in my way now.”
I grinned. “Just your personality.”
He laughed. “I’m not that bad, am I?”
“Not so much anymore. But hey, you did give me a hard time at first. You kept tormenting me to no end, I wanted to fire you.”
He chuckled and glanced around, then leaned close, his shoulder brushing mine. “I wanted to know who you were now. How much you’d changed. And I was impatient. So I poked you with a stick a few times to see how you’d react.”
“There are easier ways to get to know someone.”
“But not quicker ones. You have changed, by the way.”
“Since middle school? I fucking hope so.”
“You’re still you though. The you I knew back then. Still sweet and funny. There is something different though. You’ve got a hardness to you that wasn’t there before.”
“Doesn’t everyone?”
His gaze held mine. “Yes. I just wish I had nothing to do with forming yours.”
We stared at each other. To lighten the moment, I said, “You have a lot to do with forming my hardness nowadays, believe me.”
He grinned, shaking his head, a flush staining his cheeks.
“It’s weird being here with you,” I said softly. “All dressed up and fancy.”
“Why? Because we’re in plain sight, but no one knows what we’re thinking?”
“Something like that.”
“It is weird.” He leaned in again, a whisper of breath in my ear. “Because I’m thinking I had my tongue in your mouth last night, and now I can’t touch you.”
“Hello, Walter!”
He turned around, smiled and waved to an older woman who walked by, then looked at me again. “I can smell you right now, Julien. Reminds me of the way you felt in my arms last night. The way your mouth tasted.”
“Stop that,” I muttered, my cock beginning to swell.
Shea appeared, handing Walt a glass. “There you go. Sprite with lime.”
“Thank you. So where’s Shannon? She wants to take some pictures with me and I want to get it over with.”
“I think she just went to the ladies’ room.” Shea glanced at Walt. “With Brie.”
Walt winced. “Oh, Jesus.” He shivered a sigh, looking down, and his tan skin paled. “When I walked in and didn’t see her, I thought I got lucky and she wasn’t here. Have you talked to her?”
“Yeah.”
“How’s she being?”
“She’s toasted and angry, bail as fast as possible. There’s not much blood left in her vodka stream.”
“Shit.”
“Oh, you’re here!” Shannon walked over, throwing her arms around Walt. “I was afraid you wouldn’t come.”
“I’m here, little Mama.” He kissed her cheek. “You wanna take those pictures now?”
“Aren’t you impatient.”
“Just want your day to be perfect. No glitches, if you know what I mean.”
“You don’t need to worry about that,” she said. “I spoke to Brie, she knew you were coming today and says she’s fine with it.”
Walt’s lips tightened.
“Let’s go outside,” Shannon said. “They say pictures come out better on a cloudy day. Carl! Get over here, we’re gonna take pictures!”
I glanced around, but there was no sign of Brie. When they started out of the tent, I hung back until Walt turned around and grabbed my sleeve. “Come on, Applegate. I’m not leaving you here to the wolves.”
I followed, thinking of the wolf tattoo on Brie’s arm.
A patio attached to the country club had rosebushes and benches, so that was the chosen location. There was a professional photographer, but I ended up standing to the side and taking a few myself, just because I wanted pictures of Walt in that damn suit. The group took turns posing. First Shannon and Carl and Walt. Then just Shannon and Walt. Then Shannon, Walt and Shea. Then all four of them.
Walt cracked tasteless jokes, which prompted laughter and genuine smiles, and I got a lot of beautiful shots. When Shannon decided it was enough, they broke off. She seemed extra happy that Walt was there, a pretty flush in her cheeks as she thanked the photographer. “These are so great. I just wanted them, you know?” She looked at Walt. “For the future.”
“Here’s to the future,” Shea said, picking up his martini. “And babies. I can’t wait, Shan. I fucking love babies. Those fat little legs with the rolls.”
“Then you’re the first one I’ll call to babysit.”
“Yeah, Shea will have the baby crawling around on his yacht,” Walt said.
“I might. What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing.” Walt smiled. “But I get to babysit first. I like those fat little leg rolls too.”
“Here, here,” Carl said. “So Big Walt, you agree to be the godfather or what?”
“Of course.” He slapped Carl’s shoulder. “It’s an honor.”
“Okay, let’s go back in, I’m starving,” Shannon said. “I’m always starving these days.”
“Hang on,” Walt said. He handed Shannon his phone. “Will you take one?”
“Sure.”
Walt grabbed me by the arm, then said, “Shea, get over here.”
He lined us up in front of the rose bushes, him in the center, an arm around me and Shea. With a discreet tilt of his head he whispered in my ear, “For the future.”
“Smile!” Shannon said. “You guys all look so handsome.”
I was already smiling. Once the picture was taken, we all drifted back into the tent, and Walt began saying his goodbyes, eager to flee before his ex-wife saw him. I truly thought it was going to be fine, because I didn’t see her anywhere. A group of us were standing at the entrance of the tent, Walt just about to leave, when she came around the corner.
Pale blue laser beam eyes locked on Walt.
She was coming for him. Even with the vague drunken sway, he was in her crosshairs, and Walt’s eyes widened when he spotted her.
“Godfather, huh?” she said. “You. Fucking godfather.”
“Hey Brie,” Walt said. “I was just leaving.”
She closed in, poking a finger into his chest. “You don’t deserve to be any kind of father! You piece of shit!”
“Brie, stop,” Shannon said, grasping her arm.
Brie tugged free. “Don’t touch me. You’re a piece of shit, Walt!” Tears gushed from her eyes, pretty face flushing red. “Do you know how much I fucking hate you?”
“Brie,” Carl said. “You hungry? Can I get you something?”
“Oh, I don’t know, Carl. Can you get me the three years I wasted on this piece of shit back? Can you do that, Carl?”
“Brienna!” Shannon said. “This is my day. Just knock it off, right now!”
Wiping her eyes, Brie turned to Shannon. Jaw tight, she pointed. “You and I are done, Shannon. You know what he did to me, and you make him fucking godfather?” Her back hitched with a sob. “Fuck you all.”
Shea reached for Brie and she pulled away. “Brienna, come with me.”
“No!”
“Yes. Come on honey, please.” He persisted, and finally she fell against his chest, sobbing. Shea met my eyes and mouthed, ‘I’ll be back’ as he led her away.
Silence followed. Not just from the group huddled around, but the entire party seemed to be staring. Carl glanced over at the DJ, who was also staring. “Play some music!” Carl shouted. “Jesus! What am I paying you for?”
People turned away, and the DJ went back to work.
As Billy Idol observed what a nice day it was for a white wedding, the moment passed, and the crowd chatter resumed. When I turned around to look for Walt, he was gone. Shannon was wiping her eyes. Carl had his arm around her, trying to soothe her. “Where’s Walt?” I asked.
“He went to the parking lot,” Shannon said, wiping her nose.
I started that way.
“Jude.”
I turned back.
Shannon shook her head. “It’s best to leave him alone when he gets this way. He’ll calm down eventually.”
I stepped toward her. “What way?”
“Rage face,” Carl said. “I wouldn’t follow him if I were you. Just wait for Shea. He should be back soon.”
I stood there, indecision plaguing me. I looked toward the parking lot, and saw Walt walking very fast through a line of cars. He turned left and disappeared behind a hedgerow edging the property and I couldn’t see him anymore.
Rage face.
I’d seen what happened when Walt got rage face. My feet were moving before I knew it, heading toward the parking lot where I’d seen him go. I didn’t care if Walt was raging. I knew how to calm him down. And in this moment, I didn’t care if he deserved the things Brie said to him. I needed to find him. I just had to.
There was an urgency to the feeling. Even as a voice inside me asked, is this what you want? A life chasing Walt trying to quell his rage?
But his rage was part of him. His pain was part of him. And I knew how it had gotten there. He was so witty and cheerful most of the time that it was easy to fool myself Walt was normal. That he hadn’t grown up being shackled and beaten in the basement of his family home for every minor infraction. That he hadn’t been raised by a monster.
No, Walt Cook wasn’t normal, and based on Shannon and Carl warning me to stay away, everyone knew it. But I knew he was trying to be normal. Desperately trying to break away from the past and start fresh. That look in his eyes as he stared up at his newly painted house. An innocent, childlike joy. The rage couldn’t win over that. I wouldn’t let it.
“Walt?” I turned at the hedgerow, crossing under a trellis, then over a small wooden bridge. The mazelike path twisted left, then right, and opened to a miniature amphitheater with the woods behind it, a half-moon circle of flat, boulder-sized marble stones, with a fountain and various flowering shrubs. I spotted Walt crouched in front of one of the stones, his shoulders shaking.
“Walt.” I approached slowly, looking down at him. “You all right?”
“Go away,” he said, voice hoarse. “I don’t...d-don’t want you to see me like this.”
His back jerked rhythmically, and at first I thought he was crying, but soon heard the wheezing breath. He was starting to hyperventilate. “I’ve seen you like this before,” I said. “Will you please stand up?”
“N-n-no. Go away.”
“Then I’m coming down.” I knelt beside him, and that’s when I saw the blood on the stone, a bright red splash marring the white granite. I snatched his arm by the wrist, and blood from his knuckles dripped onto my hand and sleeve. “Walt, Jesus.”
His labored breathing became worse then, so I shifted behind him and made him sit on his ass, then wrapped my arms and legs around him. “Breathe,” I said, and took a deep inhale.
His breath still stuttered, back jerking and spasming against my chest.
“Come on. Breathe with me.” I inhaled loudly, and this time I heard him try to suck in air. “Try again,” I whispered. “Inhale.”
I felt his back expand as he breathed in. His exhale was still stuttered, but we were getting somewhere. “Lean back against me,” I said, and felt his weight fall into my chest, pleased he was responding and following my direction. “Now inhale.” I raised his arms over his head. “And exhale,” I said, slowly lowering his arms. “That’s it. You remember how to do it.” I kept my voice soft and steady. Relieved, I heard his long exhale. “One more time. Inhale, then push all the bad stuff out.”
After that I stopped talking, just repeating the action, raising and lowering his arms, breathing in and out until I felt his body calm. Eventually, his back stopped jerking so much, the spasms becoming less frequent, and his breathing returned to normal. I just held him then, rocking slightly.
“Thank you,” he whispered after a time.
I gave him a gentle squeeze. “Did you break your hand?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I can move it.”
I let go of him, and he shimmed around and rested his back against the stone, holding up his wounded hand. He flexed his fingers. “It’s fine.”
“It’s not fine. You split your knuckles open and it’s swollen as fuck. We need to get ice on it.”
“It’ll be okay.” His head fell forward and he rubbed his forehead. “You can leave me now.”
“I don’t need to go anywhere.”
“But you want to.” He looked at me. “How can you not? You don’t need this, Julien. I was selfish to go after you the way I did.”
My heart sank. “You said you knew you could be good for me.”
“But I’m not good.” His hand trembled as he wiped his nose. “And I don’t want to infect you with all my...shit.”
“Don’t do this, Walt. It hurts. You said you wouldn’t hurt me like this again.”
His face broke into a grimace as he met my eyes. “I don’t want to hurt you ever. If I could go back in time and take away the hurt I gave you in the past I would. I’d do anything for that.”
“Then don’t hurt me now.”
“You’re perfect,” he said. “You’re perfect Julien, and I’m so...not.”
I shuffled over next to him, and sighed in relief when he reached for me. Sitting against the big stone, we held onto each other, his face pressed into my neck. “I don’t care,” I said. “That you’re not perfect.”
“You don’t know that. You don’t know the things I’ve done. God, you smell good. Fuck.”
I smiled. “So do you. You smell really good.”
“Everything Brie said was true. I am a piece of shit. And I don’t deserve to be anyone’s godfather.”
“I don’t believe that. You’re not a piece of shit.”
“I did something bad to Brie, even though I loved her.”
“It’s in the past.”
“I wish I could leave it in the past.” Shaking his head, he released me. “But it’s a fucking...stain on me. And you deserve to know about it before trusting me.”
“All right. If you want to tell me about it. I’m here.”
He hung his head, arms on his knees, staring at the ground. “She wanted to have a baby by the time she turned thirty. I knew this. She told me when we got married. And I agreed to it. But when the time came...when she went off the pill, I panicked.”
I put my hand on his shoulder and he flinched.
“No, don’t touch me right now.”
“Okay.” I backed off.
“I went out of town and got a vasectomy.” He looked at me. “But I didn’t tell her.”
“You didn’t tell her. For how long?”
His head fell forward. “A year.”
“Oh. Shit.”
He nodded. “A year that she thought we were trying for a baby. I lied. I let her think we were trying.”
“Why didn’t you...why didn’t you just tell her you didn’t want kids?”
“Because I did want kids,” he said, his voice very soft. “I thought I did. But then I panicked. Because when I was in juvie and they made me go to that therapist, she said abuse is passed down, and with the way I kept fighting with other kids I’d almost certainly end up just like my father. I...” His voice cracked. “I was afraid I’d hit my kids.”
A sigh leaked out of me. “Shit, Walt. No.”
“I was afraid I’d hurt them. Better that they’d never be born at all.”
“Walt.” I reached for him, then stopped myself, remembering he didn’t want to be touched. “You wouldn’t have.”
He looked at me. “I couldn’t take the chance. And...I couldn’t tell her because I was ashamed. So ashamed to even have those thoughts. How could I tell my wife I was afraid I’d hit our kids? She’d never looked at me the same again.” He looked away. “And she didn’t.”
“You told her eventually? That this was the reason you did what you did?”
“Yeah. Later, after she found out the truth and I was backed into a corner.” He sighed and looked at the ground.
“Did she understand your reasons?”
“She did. But said it was too little too late. If I’d told her right away what I was thinking...she would have been disappointed but not devastated. But instead I did what I did. Lied to her. Betrayed her. Fooled her. There was no forgiving that.” He glanced at me. “Can’t believe I’m telling you this right now.” He chuckled. “I feel like I’m at confession.”
“I can imagine this has been a heavy burden. Have you kept it to yourself all this time? Does anyone else know?”
“Brie told Shannon. Which is why I was stunned she asked me to be godfather to her baby. She said she has faith in me.” He huffed. “The only other person who knew was Shea.”
“What was Shea’s reaction?”
“That I was an asshole for what I did. But he also got it. Said he’d had the same fears. His old boyfriend wanted to marry him and adopt kids and shit and Shea said no way, never.” Walt stared at his busted hand. “At least he didn’t lie to anyone. Not like me.”
“God. I’m sorry, Walt.”
He looked up. “In the end, it doesn’t matter. Nothing excuses what I did. Lying to her like that about something so huge. I was a fucking coward. A selfish coward and there’s no excuse for it.”
“Okay, what you did was bad. But you didn’t really do it out of selfishness. You did it out of fear.”
“It was pure selfishness! To not tell her? I let it go on so long, too. Right up until she made an appointment for us to go see a fertility doctor.” He huffed. “To find out why she couldn’t get pregnant. I had to tell her then. I’ll never forget the look on her face.” He covered his face with his hands. “Julien, I fucked with her reproduction schedule. Her hopes, her dreams. Her life. I selfishly took that time away from her. She’s right to hate me. I’m not a good person. And I sure as fuck don’t deserve a second chance.” He shook his head. “Today made me realize that. The way she still hates me. I don’t deserve a second chance.”
“With...with Brie?”
He scowled at me. “No. Not with Brie.”
“Do you still love her?”
Shaking his head, he said, “The aftermath, the things that happened, the things she said to me through the divorce proceedings? No love could survive that. It’s over with her. I was talking about you. I don’t deserve a second chance with you.”
“Oh.” Selfish relief washed through me, until his meaning registered. Was he throwing in the towel on us? Already? “If you’re talking about me, shouldn’t I get a say in that?”
He stared at me for a long moment. “How could you still want me after what I just told you?”
“Walt, you fucked up, but the decision was made out of trauma from your past. And incidentally, that therapist you went to in juvie sounds like an asshole. Is this the same therapist that said you had to forgive your dad?”
“Yeah.”
“Well fuck her. You don’t have to forgive your father. And there’s no way all abused kids repeat that pattern. The very fact that you’re so aware of it, the fact that you went to those lengths to make sure it didn’t happen tells me you’d never lay a finger on a child.”
He chewed his lip. “You really think that?”
“Yeah. And your cousin Shannon obviously thinks that. Stop taking the word of some half-assed counselor from when you were what, sixteen? She gave you very bad advice.”
A laugh bubbled out of him. “Maybe I should get a new therapist.”
“Don’t tell me you’re still seeing that idiot.”
“No. I’m not seeing any therapist. But maybe I should. I mean shit, just talking to you about this made me feel worlds better. Seeing a professional couldn’t hurt, right?”
“I think that’s a great idea. I could even help you find one, if you want. I know a good one who deals specifically with childhood trauma. I’ve been down that road, believe me.”
“You would do that?”
“Of course.”
“You don’t think I’m some broken headcase?”
“I know you’re a broken headcase. But if you think you’re gonna just push me away after the way you made me feel last night...”
His eyes brightened and he smiled. Then the smile wilted. “You’re sitting there with my blood all over you and you just had to literally help me breathe. I cannot imagine what you’d find appealing about me still.”
“Well, I did say I suspected my life would be easier if I didn’t give you a chance.”
“So why do it?”
“Because I...”
“What?”
I thought about something he’d said to me the night I confronted him at his house. The night he showed me his scars, and said he could never have forgotten me. “Besides, I was practically in love with you.”
“Julien?”
“You were literally the first person I ever had romantic feelings for,” I said. “Back in middle school, I was practically in love with you too. You’re not the only one who wants a second chance. To see where this could go now that we’re adults and calling the shots.”
He hugged his knees and rested his face on his arms, grinning at me. He laughed, eyes twinkling. “I’m practically in love with you right now.”
My heart tripped, beating in double time. My lips parted, then we both heard Shea.
“Walt! Jude? Where are you guys?”
“Oh shit.” Walt climbed to his feet. “Oh no.” He looked at his hand. “Shea’s gonna rip me a new one. He hates when I hit things.” He tugged on his shirttails, come loose from his suit. “Fuck, I’m covered in blood.”
“Just...here.” I handed him my pocket square. “Suit needs cleaning anyway. Wipe your hand at least. I’ll go get him.”
“He hates when I get like this, he’s gonna be so pissed.”
“You’re calm now. It’ll be fine. I’ll be right back.”
I found Shea crossing the wooden bridge I’d come in on. He smiled. “There you are! What is this a fucking maze?”
“Kind of.” I smiled. “You all right?”
“Yeah. Where’s Walt?”
“He’s back there. Is Brie okay?”
He rolled his eyes. “Ask the toilet bowl at the country club.”
“Oh. Yeesh.”
Nodding, he said, “I’ve called a car for her.”
“You think she’ll be all right?”
“Yeah, we talked. She actually has a boyfriend now she really likes. He’s waiting for her at home. She says she knows she shouldn’t have come today. And she’s gonna avoid all Walt-related events in the future. At least until she feels stronger about things.”
“Can’t believe you got her to go with you. You were on her hate list earlier.”
He laughed. “I know. She says she hates me, but I’ve known her for years, she trusts me. I told her she can call me if she wants to talk. There aren’t many people she can talk to who will understand how hard the divorce was on her.”
I slapped his shoulder. “You’re a good guy.”
His eyes followed my hand. “Are you bleeding?” He snatched my hand, examining my shirtsleeve, then looked in my eyes. “Fuck. That’s Walt’s blood, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, but he’s...Shea? Shea hang on.”
Shea was already storming across the bridge.
“Shea, he’s fine now.”
Ignoring me, Shea kept walking, and I followed him. Walt turned around as we stepped into the little amphitheater. “Hey, dog-breath.”
“Don’t dog-breath me.” Shea strode over to Walt. He looked at the blood on the stone, then at Walt. “Let me see.”
“It’s fine.”
“Show me!”
Walt held his hand out. “See? It’s fine.”
“It’s swollen as hell. How many times?”
“Shea—”
“How many times did you hit it?”
“Just once. Okay, twice.”
“You have to stop doing this,” Shea said. “You can’t keep hitting things, Walt!”
“I was just blowing off some steam.”
“Walter!”
Walt winced. “I’m sorry, Shea.”
“You’re not just blowing off steam,” Shea said, and his voice cracked. “You’re hurting yourself. I think it’s because you want to hurt yourself. It scares the shit out of me, Walt.”
I wondered if I should leave. Shea looked really upset. I felt like I was intruding on a family moment, too personal for my presence.
“Hey, come here.” Walt grabbed Shea in a hug. “Okay. It’s okay.”
I was stunned when I heard the squeaky sounds coming from Shea. He held onto Walt, sobbing into his shoulder. “I need you to be okay, Walt,” he said. “I’m not right if you’re not.”
“I am. Shea, I promise.”
“I get scared. I can’t do this without you. I can’t work this world without you. Please. I still need you.”
“I know.” Walt stroked his hair, hugging him. “I know you do. I’m sorry.”
“You have to stop hurting yourself.”
Walt’s eyes flicked to mine. “I will. I’m gonna go see someone. A professional.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I just talked to Julien about it.”
“Who’s Julien?”
“Jude. Jude and I were just talking about it. I’m gonna find a therapist Shea, for real.”
Sniffling, Shea said, “Never again. Okay? No more.”
“I promise. No more. I love you. Don’t be scared.”
I walked back up the path, and lingered by the bridge, giving them a moment. Taking a deep breath, I leaned on the railing, looking down at the shallow stream. Damn, this family was a barrage of chaos. It was draining.
Right now, all I wanted was a hot bath. And maybe another drink. It was true what I’d said to Walt. I had my experience with therapy and trauma, but it had been years. I wasn’t used to it anymore. My life at Beaver Tail was simple and calm. Peaceful. My heart hurt for these two men I cared about. They were both still so affected by what they’d endured, even though they looked so perfect on the outside, so poised and confident. I wanted to be strong enough to care about Walt. To care about them both. But I felt soft inside. Too sensitive. I wanted to cry after witnessing Shea fall apart like that.
I waited another fifteen minutes, not sure what else to do. Finally, Shea came walking over the bridge. His eyes were red and puffy, but he smiled. “Hey.”
“Hey. You all right?”
“Yeah. Are you?”
I nodded.
“Never want to see my family again?”
I chuckled, and Shea smiled. “It’s not that bad.”
“It is. Listen, I’m gonna go home, I want to spend time with Terry tonight. I called for a car, since I had that martini. I’ll pick mine up tomorrow.”
“Okay. Do you want me to get my own ride back? That’s fine if you do.”
“Well, here’s another idea. I mentioned to Walt I wouldn’t be using that suite I rented down the road tonight, and they won’t give me a refund.”
“What suite?”
“Um...the one I booked when I thought you and I were gonna...you know. Bang it out tonight.”
I snorted, flushing. “Oh, shit. I forgot. Seems like a long time ago.”
“I know. A day with my family feels like a year. But Walt’s gonna go to the suite now, I gave him the keycard. He’s gonna spend the night, ice his hand, get room service. Would you...I mean if you want to, don’t feel pressured. But I’d love it if you’d stay with him tonight.”
My brows rose. I wasn’t sure if Shea knew about me and Walt or not. I couldn’t imagine that big conversation happened in just the fifteen minutes I’d left them back there.
“I know, you think it’s weird when I ask you to babysit my big brother. But I worry about him, I can’t help it. Kelsey’s out on a date and I don’t want Walt to be alone tonight. Not after all that.”
“Oh.” I frowned. “Um...”
“It’s a big suite, with more than one bedroom, don’t worry, you won’t have to bunk with him.”
I forced a laugh. Okay, that answered that. He didn’t know. “And Walt is...okay with me being there?”
“It was his idea.”
Heat flooded my body. “Oh.”
“Plus, I feel like I owe you after making you deal with my family drama all day. And it was supposed to be for you anyway.” He chuckled. “All I wanna do is go home and talk to Terry. I’ve gotta make things right with him.”
I glanced at the sky, wondering if the universe was screwing with me again. Was Shea really asking me to spend the night in a luxury suite with Walt? As a favor? “Okay,” I said. “I’ll do it.”
“And you’ll look after Walt? Make sure he ices his hand? That’s my only stipulation. Keep my brother company. Don’t just ignore him all night.”
I coughed a laugh. “I promise. I won’t ignore him.”
“Thank you.” He kissed my cheek. “You’re a good friend.”
Shea sent a car to pick us up, and within twenty minutes, Walt and I were at an upscale hotel down the road. He’d been quiet on the ride over. “Is your hand okay?” I asked as we got out of the car.
“Hurting like a bitch, to be honest.” He waved to the driver. “I’ll take some pain pills when we get inside.”
“And you’ll ice it,” I said. “Shea made me promise.”
His lip quirked. “I’ll ice it, don’t worry. I’m not as impossible as Shea makes me out to be.”
“Hmmm.”
He laughed. “Let’s go in.”
We started for the front doors. A giant chandelier hung in the cozy, elegant lobby, and my shoulders relaxed. A night away with nothing to do but chill. A night away with Walt. It sounded great.
I yelped suddenly and gaped at Walt. “Did you just grab my ass?”
“Yup.” He smiled as we walked through the hotel lobby. “Just a reminder.”
I followed him to the elevators. “Reminder of what?”
The elevator doors opened and we stepped in. Leaning against the back wall, Walt gave me a sly, sexy grin. “That I still have one good hand.”