Chapter Thirteen
Adam
Saturday
I felt my pride shrivel up into a bubble as I pulled up my car outside Lindsey’s home once more. I had been determined that I wouldn’t get involved with her again – as soon as she made that too close to home comment, I thought I would never want to see her again. Yet here I was, ready to pick her up for a barbecue, just because my mother liked her.
What is wrong with me? I thought angrily to myself as I grabbed out my cell phone to text her. I wasn’t about to fight with that weird intercom system again. I cannot believe I’m doing this with absolutely no control this time. I wasn’t sure what Lindsey was going to wear, I hadn’t prepared her for what questions might fly her way now at this much more relaxed event, and I didn’t know what was going to happen.
Maybe I should have stayed away. Probably, we both shouldn’t be about to set foot into the lion’s den. Who knew how torn up we would be when we finally left that place again.
‘Hi Lindsey, I’m outside. Adam’
My eyes traveled up as if a magnetic force was pulling them at the exact moment Lindsey set foot outside her apartment block. Immediately, my heart flew up into my throat, I could hardly believe it.
Sure, this was no Oscar de la Renta ball gown, but it didn’t have to be. She was wearing clothes that fit her so closely that they could have been designer, even though I was pretty sure that they weren’t. A red fitted top that clung to her like glue, showing off her sexy, slim frame, and skinny jeans that molded round her frame delicately. Maybe my family would now know for sure that she didn’t come from the same money as me, but she looked so beautiful it hardly mattered. Her long blonde hair fell past her face and down her shoulders, framing her features well. In particular, her gorgeous dark blue eyes popped from her head. She looked damn gorgeous.
So gorgeous that I forgot about the comment from the other night. It gave us a fresh start. “Wow, Lindsey, you look good,” I gasped before getting hold of myself. I coughed awkwardly and stuffed my hands into my trouser pockets. “I mean, thank you for coming at such short notice.”
She smiled, blushed herself probably matching my coloring right now and glanced down critically at her outfit. “Are you sure I look alright? I don’t feel as dressed up as you.”
I only had a shirt and dress pants on, nothing fancy so I shook my head and indicated towards the car. “No, not at all. You look wonderful. Step in.”
This time as she slid into the seat next to me, I grabbed the check right away and handed it to her. I wanted to get all the awkward money stuff right away. For a moment I saw her hesitate. I expected her to put up a bit of a fight, but obviously financial need got the better of her because she took it gently from my fingers and slipped it into her bag.
I could barely talk on the drive over to my parents’ home. I felt far too anxious and uncomfortable. I didn’t like dragging Lindsey into this mess again, even if it was only for money. At least there was no emotional attachment going on, that would have been much harder to deal with. Max might think I’m ready to settle down, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m still too happy just doing me.
Although… I couldn’t resist, my eyes sidled to one side and I took in Lindsey’s appearance without her looking back at me. She was undeniably beautiful in a sweet and understated way. Maybe if there was any thought about me settling down it would be with her, but I couldn’t start thinking down that dangerous path just because I thought she was pretty. I mean, we didn’t even know each other well, aside from a few random facts about our lives. I wasn’t even sure that we liked one another, and there certainly didn’t seem to be any chemistry at all… I didn’t think.
By the time we pulled up outside the house and stepped out into the backyard where all the guests were gathered, I was so wrapped up in that line of thought that I didn’t even notice what was happening until it was too late.
“Oh, Lindsey, Adam,” my mom’s warm tones made me happy, but feel guilt all at the same time. This wasn’t what she thought it was, and I felt horrible for tricking her. “I’m so glad you came. It’s wonderful to have you here.”
She embraced Lindsey, and they talked quietly to one another for just a moment, giving me a chance to scan my eyes over the pretentious idiots my father had invited for this event. An event to celebrate my idiot brother at that. Why the hell did I allow myself to get talked into something so damn stupid? I needed to start having my wits about me a bit more so it didn’t happen again. Why the hell did so many people want to gather for an outdoor barbecue in the middle of December? Sure, it was a nice day actually, there was a fairly warm winter sun, but still it was insane. What were they all getting out of it?
“Well, hello there.” I rolled my eyes to the back of my head when I heard his voice. “It’s good to see you, Adam. I’m so glad you could make it to my celebration.”
I gritted my teeth together and literally forced myself to turn with burning hate racing through my system. Brandon stood there with Helen in his arms, who was more than happy to act like the doting wife when he was the center of everyone’s attention. It made me sick.
“Good to see you, Brandon,” I almost spit out. I grabbed hold of Lindsey’s hand and pulling her away from my mother. I needed her, I couldn’t help myself. “You remember Lindsey, right?”
“Oh, yes.” He held out his hand to shake Lindsey’s, so did Helen. Even having them touch her brought out an angry protective beast inside of me that I didn’t even know was there. It roared loudly, tightening my chest and causing my breaths to come out short and shallow. “Pleased to meet you again, Lindsey. I’m so sorry that we didn’t get to spend much time together at my father’s meal, you know how those things are.”
Much to Lindsey’s credit, she kept full composure. I’m sure she could sense, just as I could, that my brother was like a rabid dog with a bone, but she didn’t let that bother her. She smiled and shrugged as if she wasn’t bothered, at all.
I glanced up over her head to see where Mom had gone, but she’d ben pulled to one side by Dad. I could tell that they were both in earshot though which only angered me further. Was this some sort of interrogation? And why? Did everyone somehow know that Lindsey wasn’t really my girlfriend after all?
To combat that thought, I threw one arm over her shoulder to hold her close as my heart thundered in my chest. A small part of me expected her to throw me off in shock, but she didn’t. She curled into my hug and laced her fingers through mine, making a united front.
“So, what is it that you do?” Brandon asked looking smarmier than normal. I narrowed my eyes at him but he didn’t seem to get the hint. “I presume you do more than my baby brother here.”
Fucker, I thought, almost spitting with rage, but Lindsey refused to let go of my fingers so I couldn’t pull away and do anything rash.
“Actually, I’m an actress,” she said with a sweet smile. Maybe if I wasn’t so full of anger that would have panicked me because it was too close to the truth of what she was to me, but my blood was throbbing in my ears, so I barely heard it. “Or I’m trying to be.”
Brandon stifled a nasty laugh which grated on my very last nerve. I balled up my free hand into a fist, ready to swing it right at him. “So, you haven’t been in anything I might have seen you in then?”
I glanced desperately over at my parents, praying for an intervention that was never going to come. My father looked like he was having a field day as Brandon took me down, and Mom looked like she was about to have an anxiety attack. This was all on me, and I was the only damn one who didn’t have any control over my emotions.
“No, probably not,” Lindsey replied, the strain was starting to show in her voice. “I’ve done a lot of small scale stuff, not things you’ll have witnessed I’m sure.”
Helen snorted into her drink and rolled her eyes as if this was the funniest thing on the planet. I wasn’t sure what the fuck she had to be so gleeful about since she did nothing but live on her husband’s money. “An actress, classic,” she declared with pride.
“What do you mean?” I snapped, unable to keep it in any longer. I yanked my hand away and freed myself from Lindsey before taking a step forward. “What’s that supposed to mean, Helen?”
I could hear a hush fall over the crowd. Every eye was probably on me, but in that moment, I didn’t care. It was bad enough that my family spent my whole life putting me down, but to do it to my guest, my girlfriend as far as they were concerned, well that was something else. I couldn’t stand for it.
Brandon stepped in front of his wife, playing the protective role. “Watch it, buddy,” he muttered with his hand on my chest. He was acting as if I was about to hit Helen, which of course, wasn’t the truth. I just wanted her to explain herself. “I think Helen just means it’s a bit embarrassing, isn’t it?”
My eyes snapped over to him now, my nostrils flaring. It took every inch of self control that I possessed not to swing my balled fist around to connect it with his face. “What do you mean by that?” I demanded. Still no one else spoke, no one intervened.
He shrugged and smirked, knowing that was only going to piss me off more. “You’re dating an uneducated ‘aspiring actress.’” He actually dared to use finger quotes. “It’s just a bit…sad, isn’t it?”
That was it. I exploded. “Don’t you dare talk about Lindsey like that,” I growled while poking my finger hard into his chest. “You don’t know anything about her. She’s smart, cleverer than you, kind, sweet, beautiful.” I could feel myself going off on a tangent, but I just couldn’t care. “She’s genuine, too – not like your wife.”
All my muscles tensed in my whole body. I could feel myself about to react instinctively. Brandon could sense it, too, and he automatically took a step back away from me, showing weakness and fear. I wanted to, fuck did I want to, but I couldn’t. Not here, I just couldn’t. Plus what would be the point? It wouldn’t achieve a damn thing.
Instead, I needed to just go.