Chapter 10
With the sun now nearly set, Grey held Evie’s hand, passing door after door until they reached room 1089. He wanted her with him tonight, and he didn’t particularly enjoy handing Evie off to Holly, even if he understood the reasons behind it. Today had been a good day…a great day, even, and he wasn’t thrilled that the night was ending without Evie being naked and beneath him.
When they reached the door, before she could knock, he tugged her against him, nice and close. She angled her head back and wrapped her arms around his waist, smiled. “Thank you for earlier,” he told her, brushing his knuckles across her cheek where the light from the sconce on the wall cast a soft glow across her skin.
“Thank you for earlier,” she said with a laugh, leaning into his touch. “It wasn’t a bad way to spend an afternoon.”
He arched an eyebrow at her. “Not a bad way?”
“Yeah,” she said slowly, then after a couple strode by with their young son, she winked. “You know, because men always hand deliver paradise and orgasms to me.”
“So spoiled you are.” He chuckled, sliding her hair off her shoulder and cupping her nape.
“Totally spoiled,” she retorted, grabbing the back of his tank top. Something changed in her expression then, becoming a little sweeter, maybe even more honest. “I can’t really thank you enough for today. It was pretty spectacular.”
“It was certainly that.” He dragged his thumb up her neck, watching the way heat rose in her eyes. Her reactions to him were unlike anything he’d seen before from any woman. He had yet to figure out if it was him or if she simply held this level of passion naturally. Whatever it was, he found her heated reactions addictive, tempting him to stay in Punta Cana longer, simply to hold onto it.
Unable to help himself, he licked his lips and brought his mouth to hers. Before, whenever he’d kissed Evie in front of others, it was to prove a point, to show them that what he and she had was real. Maybe to even prove to Evie what he could do to her. Now, he took her in his arms and sealed his mouth across hers only for himself. His kiss was sweet but possessive, and she melted into every second of it.
“Oh, good, you’re here,” said Holly, whisking her door wide open. “Did you knock? I didn’t hear you.”
“Not yet, no,” Evie rasped, her heated eyes on Grey. Then she blinked and smiled at Holly. “Are you ready for some girl time?”
Holly smiled. “Don’t you know it.”
The moment broken, Grey released Evie and stepped back, fighting against the heat pinging between them. “Until tomorrow,” he said.
She moved inside the room, holding the door. “Until tomorrow.”
Her sweet smile was the last thing he saw before he was staring at the closed door. His chest was tight, shoulders tense. Christ, was it the romantic atmosphere, the lack of stress, or was it simply her that made him…anticipate missing her?
Silently pondering this new development, he moved toward the open doorway that led back to the pathway toward the beach. Exercise always centered him, and the ocean shouted to him for an evening swim before calling it a night.
Just as he neared the beach, an unusual ringtone on his cell phone had him reaching into the pocket of his swim trunks. Immediately, he understood why the ringtone sounded so different. He’d never Facetimed anyone on his cell phone before, only on his computer. “Hello, Mother,” he said, answering the phone and taking a seat on the bench facing the beach.
“Where are you?” his mother asked. Short, shiny, silver hair, a soft coat of makeup against skin that appeared younger than her sixty-five years due to some well-placed Botox, Anne Crawford looked like a movie star more than one of Seattle’s socialites. She squinted her bright blue eyes, clearly trying to examine the view behind him.
“I’m in Punta Cana,” Grey answered, stretching his arm out across the back of the bench.
“Punta Cana, how strange,” Anne said, eyes wide with surprise. From the big bay window behind her, she was clearly sitting in her favorite rocking chair out on the porch of her mansion overlooking Lake Washington. “Why are you there?”
“Yes, Grey,” a low voice said. “Please do explain.”
Grey chuckled, recognizing the voice. “Hello, Maddox.”
The phone angled, the screen blurring for a moment before Maddox’s angular face filled the screen. His appearance was not a surprise. Maddox spent more time with Anne than Grey did. Grey appreciated that, too. Anne had loosened her tight grip a smidgen once Maddox came into the picture.
“Hello, Grey.” Maddox smiled, crinkling the corners of his blue eyes, a strand of gelled light-brown hair falling out of place.
At the gleam in his closest friend’s eyes, he got right to the point. “Now, before either of you start drilling me, I came here to attend a wedding with a friend—Evie.”
Maddox gave a shit-eating grin. “Oh, Anne, he’s with a woman. This sounds serious.”
“Give me back that phone.”
More rustling, then Anne’s frown appeared on the screen. “Who is this Evie and why have I not heard about her before? Are you serious? How long have you been dating? Why haven’t you brought her to see me?”
Maddox laughed.
Grey sighed. “Mother, take a breath.”
Anne simply stared back at him. “You haven’t answered me, Greyson.”
Another sigh as Grey hesitated while a couple strode by him on the beach. Then, “Evie is an interior designer who lives in Seattle,” he explained, keeping to the facts and hoping that’d be enough for his mother. “No, we’re not serious, it’s a new thing. That’s why I haven’t brought her out to see you.”
“But you had no problem taking her to the Dominican Republic?”
“Well, that’s complicated.”
Maddox interjected, “Complicated doesn’t sound like your speed, buddy.”
Grey heaved another long sigh. “We’re here for the weekend. This isn’t a big deal.”
Anne took a few long seconds to clearly absorb the information and then her eyes narrowed. “You’re lying to me, but we can talk more about this when you get home. Maddox and I need more sweet tea.”
The screen somersaulted again before Maddox’s face appeared. “I have to agree with Anne. This Evie”—he gave a sly smile—“she’s got you ruffled.”
“I am not…ruffled.” Grey snorted.
“I call bullshit.” Maddox grinned, pointing at the screen. “You like this one. Dare I ask…is that a twinkle in your eye?”
“I can see it, too,” his mother called from a distance.
Grey shook his head and glanced out at the beach, taking in the ocean for miles around. What he’d give to be in that water and not being grilled. “All right,” he said, glancing back at Maddox, ready for this to be over with. “You got your revenge.” Which was his due, considering Grey had put Maddox in a similar hot seat with Anne when he met his now wife, Joss. “You can stop encouraging her anytime.”
Maddox chuckled and nodded, then waited, glancing to his left, then back to Grey again. “She’s gone inside now.” He leaned in closer to the screen, brows furrowed, concentrating on Grey intently. “We don’t have long, so be quick. Why are you there with the woman you told me was hands-off?”
He’d mentioned Evie to Maddox, more than a few times. “Well,” he said, choosing his words carefully, keeping in mind that his mother might overhear what he said. “Her contract with my company ended, which made the dynamics of our relationship change. She needed an escort for the wedding of her best friend and Evie’s ex-boyfriend, and I’m her date.”
Maddox frowned. “Whoa. You’re right. This is complicated. Sounds like there’s a story there.”
“There is,” Grey agreed, crossing one ankle over his knee, watching a mother chase after her child running away from her on the beach. “Regardless, it’s been quite the trip.”
Maddox’s stern eyes searched Grey’s before he added, “Is a date all that you are to her?”
“I’ve enjoyed her, if that’s what you’re getting at.” It was all Grey was prepared to say on the matter. “But this woman…she’s…good.”
Maddox began to grin. Before he could say anything more, Grey’s mother’s voice suddenly sounded off in the distance, telling him that she’d come back outside. “When are you coming back?” she asked.
“Monday afternoon,” Grey replied, not minding the interruption. That smile of Maddox’s had been sly enough that Grey knew Maddox’s next comment would likely only annoy him. “After the wedding—”
“The wedding?” His mother’s face suddenly filled the screen; obviously, she’d stolen the phone from Maddox. “Greyson Crawford, you’d better not be getting married without me there.”
“Mother.” He sighed.
“Don’t let him off the hook,” Maddox called out, clearly wanting to stir up shit in the way Grey had stirred things up for Maddox before. “Seems to me he’s hiding things. I bet he is getting married.”
“Are you?” Anne asked sternly. “Oh, you’d better not be. I will be so angry at you.”
Again, Grey sighed. “Mother, I love you, and I would never get married without you there. I’ll see you in a couple of days.”
“Greyson—”
“Goodbye.” He ended the call and smiled down at his phone. His mother was fiercely protective and intrusive, a total helicopter parent. He loved her, but he also didn’t tolerate it. Somehow, over the years, she’d accepted it.
He drew in a long, deep breath and looked out at the water, staring at the bright moon and twinkling stars. As a pelican flew out over the water before dipping down and scooping up its dinner, he realized every woman in his past had been more trouble than not, except for one.
Evie.
* * *
The door clicked shut, and Evie smiled, closing her eyes as a flurry of emotions pinned her to the spot. How unexpected all this was. Originally, she’d thought coming to the wedding would be emotionally taxing. Yet, somehow, she’d flourished here in ways she never dreamed of. Life was so full of funny surprises—good surprises.
“Thanks for coming to stay with me tonight,” Holly said from behind Evie.
She snapped herself out of her personal euphoria, reminded that this time was for Holly, and she turned around. “Don’t be silly. I wanted to stay with you.” She kicked off her flip-flops, as Holly jumped onto the king-size bed in the bridal suite.
Evie moved farther into the room. She’d never thought of herself as a materialistic person before, not caring about those things much. But she couldn’t help but notice that the room Grey had gotten for them made this room look small in comparison. That realization, matched with her entire weekend with Grey, and she thought: finally, my grass is greener.
She’d never once pitied herself when it came to Seth breaking her heart all those years ago. She kept her head down and worked hard. But her heart reminded her now that it was nice when someone spoiled her. That someone appreciated her enough to put her first. Maybe she even forgot how that once felt.
When Evie neared the bed, spotting the wedding dress still in the bag hanging above the balcony doors, Holly added, “I imagine being away from Grey must suck.”
“It’s okay, really,” Evie said, stopping near the mini bar beneath the television set. “Grey rented a boat and we spent some time together on the water. He got lots of me, and I’ve barely had any time with you.” Which was the truth.
The old Evie would have given Holly all her time. With Grey here, he hadn’t allowed that to happen, and she rather enjoyed that. She liked this new version of herself. She didn’t feel like she was giving too much to anyone. More so, she was giving more to herself. “Want a drink?” she asked Holly.
“Oh, yeah,” Holy said, bouncing on the bed. “I had the hotel staff bring us up a big bottle of wine for tonight.”
“Goodie.” Evie smiled, grabbing the wine bottle from the fridge. “Are you excited for the wedding tomorrow?”
“I’m somewhere between excited and nervous,” Holly explained when Evie uncorked the wine and began pouring the sparkling white into the two tall glasses.
“Totally understandable, I’m sure.” Evie recorked the wine, returned the bottle to the fridge, and moved to the bed, offering Holly the glass. “But it’s going to be a great day.” She sat cross-legged across from Holly, just as she’d done so many times while growing up. “Remember when we used to do this back in high school, stay up all night long and talk?”
Holly smiled. “It feels like no time has passed at all.”
“I know, it’s crazy.” Evie smiled, realizing, in all this, she was glad she’d come. For Seth. For Holly. They all had history together, and this was a very important time in their lives. With warmth filling her soul, she, for the first time ever, was genuinely happy for them. Maybe it was Grey, maybe it was the orgasmic glow. Or maybe she needed this closure too, because suddenly, a weight was lifted that she hadn’t realized was there before.
“Everything has changed, hasn’t it?” Holly suddenly said, voice soft and low.
“What do you mean?” Evie asked, resting her wine glass on her thigh.
“I mean, remember how it used to be?” Holly’s gaze cast downward at her fingers fiddling with the strings on her worn jean shorts. “How we did everything together, totally inseparable.” She glanced up, tears in her eyes. “Remember those times?”
“Yeah, I do,” Evie said and smiled. “They’re happy memories for me.”
“I miss those times,” Holly whispered, wiping at a fallen tear. “How simple and fun they were. Do you ever miss how things used to be in high school?”
“Sometimes,” Evie admitted with a little shrug. “Things were definitely easier. Well, maybe still emotionally terrible and confusing, but easier.”
Holly nodded, staring down into her wine glass before addressing Evie again. “I miss who I was back then.” She paused. Then, “I guess I miss us.”
Evie drew in a long, deep breath, figuring Holly was getting whatever closure she needed as well to embark on this new stage of her life tomorrow. Knowing that, and feeling better about things than she’d ever felt before, she said, “It’s so strange where life takes you. Back in high school, I never would have believed that I’d move to Seattle and have a business that’s all mine.”
“You’ve changed so much in such a good way,” Holly said with a soft smile. “You’ve evolved into this amazing woman.”
“I have found my happy nook.”
Holly’s brows rose. “What’s a happy nook?”
Evie took a quick sip of her wine then set to explaining, “It’s my own little piece of the world that belongs only to me. My business. My life. My happiness.” She’d chased her dreams along the way, and she caught them.
“I wish I had done that.” Holly chugged back a good portion of her wine.
Evie sipped her Moscato, pausing a moment, reassessing Holly’s mood. “You’ve evolved into an amazing woman, too.”
“No, I haven’t.” Holly gave a measured look, her shoulders slumped. “I’m the exact same person you knew in high school. The only difference is that I’m now older and work as a paralegal. I live on the same street as my parents. I do the same thing every single day.”
“Oh, stop it. You have an amazing life,” Evie countered, placing a hand on Holly’s leg, giving it a squeeze. “A good life with Seth.”
“I do have a good life with him, you’re right.” Holly nodded, drawing in a long breath before continuing. “But it’s the life I knew I’d have. You have so much excitement in yours, and I’m so jealous of that. You have this amazing guy who makes you shine in ways I’ve never seen anyone light up. You’re so different than the Evie I used to know.”
“Is that a good thing?” Evie wondered.
Holly laughed softly, bouncing the mattress a little, and nodded. “It’s a great thing, but it makes me green with envy.”
Evie took another sip of her wine, aware of something now she hadn’t considered before. She’d thought she wanted Seth and Holly to be jealous of her. Now that Holly clearly was, it seemed wrong, nasty even. And not the Evie she wanted to be. “Every life has its flaws.” Hers, of course, being the fact that her relationship with Grey was based on lies. While it’d come to feel more real now, it was also temporary, not what Holly thought it to be. “And my life certainly isn’t perfect.”
“Looks pretty darn great to me,” Holly countered. She took another big, long sip of her wine, and then her expression changed, becoming darker, tears filling her eyes again. “Do you hate me, Evie?”
“No, of course not.” She squeezed Holly’s leg again, trying to comfort. “Why would you even say that?”
Holly hung her head. “Because of what I did to you? Because I took Seth.”
Evie’s chest tightened, but she forced the words out, knowing she needed to say it aloud for herself, and Holly clearly needed to hear it. “You didn’t take Seth from me. I left to go to college, remember?” Holly looked up then, big tears in her eyes, and Evie added, “I left you both. You looked to each other, and you fell in love.”
A tear spilled down her cheek, chin trembling. “How can you not hate me for that?”
“Because I don’t. You’re my longest, closest friend. You know me like no one does, and I know you would have never been with him unless you madly loved him.” She hesitated, then she realized in all this there was a point that stood out above all else. “You two are really happy together, so I am happy for both of you that you found your forever in each other.”
Holly’s face slowly began to brighten. Evie realized they’d never done this. Talked it out, and Evie knew why. It’d been too hard before. Maybe she had truly gotten past all this. Life had such a weird way of working things out. All she’d needed was Grey to see that the past was the past for a very good reason.
“I’m happy for you, too,” Holly said, wiping away her tears from her pink cheeks. “Grey’s amazing and charming and simply sexy as hell.”
“Oh, yeah,” Evie agreed. “He’s all those things and more.”
“You deserve that.” Holly grabbed Evie’s hand, squeezing tightly. “I hope you know that. You deserve all the good things.”
“As do you.” Evie carefully held her wineglass in her hand and then wrapped her arms around Holly. It wasn’t until then that Evie realized Holly needed this hug, maybe more than Evie did. She felt her tension in the tight way Holly hugged her back.
It was funny how life worked out sometimes. As Holly leaned away, and Evie stared at her best friend in the world, so much history between them, it was like she stared into a mirror. The life Holly had now might have been Evie’s if she hadn’t chased after her dreams. Now, she had her life, and she happened to like it. A lot.
“Okay, no more tears,” Holly said with a smile, wiping away the remainder of her tears from her face quickly. “We have tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll be a married woman, and you’ll be headed back to Seattle.” She raised her wine glass. “To happiness. To friendship. To love.”
Evie clanged her glass against Holly’s, feeling all the broken pieces inside her sealing back together again. “To happiness. To friendship. To love.”