Chapter 7
True sat in the living room of two of her closest friends. They all had drinks and Karessa had brought in some snacks, but all True could think of was what Alec had called her three days ago.
They’d run down all the topics they regularly covered as they sat on the veranda of the super swanky house Beau and Karessa had made their home. The topic went from Gemmi and the organized watch they had on her to Camden and the same watch they had on him. The man looked like he was in a perpetual state of just about to freak the fuck out, but so far he’d kept himself together.
“I have a question for you.” True had been trying to approach this subject since she’d gotten there and honestly, she’d been laughing at herself at how hard it was. She was known for being direct and to the point, but the question she had about herself left her feeling a bit reserved. Maybe it was because she didn’t want to hear the answer almost as much as she needed to know.
Karessa sat up like she thought the question would be juicy. “Shoot.”
Beau just nodded his head like he was preparing for any volley that was shot at him.
“Do you think I’m emotionally locked down?” True sat back and held her drink in both hands as she watched the parade of facial expressions cross their faces. There wasn’t a peep from either of them. “Come on, guys. I’m not going to get mad at you. I asked the question, I get whatever answer I get.”
“Karessa,” Beau said, throwing the woman under the bus in the form of making her answer the question first.
Clearing her throat, she sat up a bit and then drank down the full 10ozs of the expensive ass Bordeaux she’d brought out for the casual occasion of them getting together. “I love you, True.”
“I know this and even if I don’t like your answer which I’m pretty sure is going to be I’m an emotional cripple that you all tiptoe around I love you as well.” Taking a sip of the wine she could barely taste it for the fear of what she was going to hear ran like metal in her veins.
“I’m not going to tell you that you’re an emotional cripple, but we all know you’ve been through a lot. Your mother leaving you as a toddler, you getting a foster mother that was more roommate than provider and you learning not to lean on anyone for anything. You can be a difficult woman to figure out because you don’t share your thoughts and feelings, but I wouldn’t say your emotions were locked down… I think that may be a bit too strong.” Karessa blinked a few times, reached to refill her glass and then turned to Beau. “What do you think, Beau?”
“Look here I’m not going to sugar coat this. You’re one of us. All of us Haughts have blocks on our shoulders from childhood. That shit is heavy and burdensome. You are doing the best you can with what you have to work with. Camden was all screwed up when he learned his birth was the reason for our mother’s death, I didn’t want to make plans because they all ended in disappointment and misery and Alec… I’m not really sure why he’s fucked up, but he’s worse than all of us.” Beau was drinking a mug of beer that they had on tap over at their full service bar. He picked up his drink and took a healthy gulp.
“You’ve never talked to him about what his issue is?” True knew so much about Alec but now that she’d thought about it she didn’t know what his carryover was from their early years. Maybe it was because he was the oldest and had the biggest burden of keeping everyone together. Or maybe it was because he just missed what his life could have been growing up with two parents not two grandparents.
“You do know Alec, don’t you? He’s not one to talk about anything that’s bothering him. We liked to joke that he was a one man show. He didn’t really need the rest of the Haught boys to run the bar, but he let us stay around so we’d feel useful. If anyone has emotional lockdown syndrome it would be him. That man knows what he wants to do and does it with precision. With him, he just does what has to be done. Nothing more…nothing less. I don’t think emotions are a factor with him. I’m sure he has them, but he isn’t the best at sharing them. I will say that he never makes a wrong move or a misstep as long as I’ve known him.”
True stood up and cursed the shy feelings she had when they spoke about Alec. She had talked about things with this couple that she’d never think to talk to anyone else about, but she knew they had to guess how she felt about Beau’s older brother. Walking over to the bar, she started looking at all the liquors this couple had at their disposal.
“What about his fiancé?” True said, opening up the container that had the lemons, oranges and cherries in it.
“What about her?” Beau said as he stood up and walked over to her. His left eyebrow was raised and she knew that she’d intrigued the man, but she wasn’t looking to spread rumors she was looking for the truth and she was hoping he had it.
“You said he knows what he wants to do and does it with precision, but he changed his mind with her.”
Beau sat on the other side of the bar on the stool and then Karessa was right beside him in the next seat.
“That is one of the world’s most interesting mysteries. I didn’t even know he’d proposed until Ellie Rhoades popped up at The Haught Spot waving her finger around and telling anyone who would listen that she was going to be Haught soon.”
True remembered that day. The tall, slim brunette was elegant and radiating so much joy it should have been a sin to think about punching her in the face, but think about it True did. It wasn’t the woman’s fault no one knew what she was or that she and Alec were that serious. He’d not brought her around the bar and that’s where we were most of the time. When she looked up Beau and Karessa were both staring at her.
“What?” True smiled, looking at the two of them sitting shoulder to shoulder like they were going to watch a lively program with lots of twists and turns.
“We want to know what you know about it?” Karessa said, taking another sip of her wine.
“Me?” True looked at both of them. “You really think I know what happened?”
They looked at each other and then back to True before nodding their heads.
“I don’t know how you deduced that when I’m the one who asked you what happened in the first place.”
“That was just to throw us off. You know what happened.” Beau finished off his beer and licked his lips of the foam that stuck to them.
“I’m not going to act like you’re accusing me of lying because I know I keep things close to the vest. Especially if it’s someone else’s tale that’s being exposed, but lately I’ve been wondering about what happened with that.”
“Ask him. If he tells anyone it would be you.”
True laughed at that and continued to act like she was learning the names of each and every alcohol the couple possessed.
“Why are you laughing?” Karessa asked and stood up on the stool so she could lean across the bar.
“I’m laughing because you think Alec would tell me anything more than he tells the rest of the world.” She put down the bottle she was looking at but really hadn’t even seen before she looked at the couple. Something was up. “Karessa did you tell Beau why I came to see you in Chicago?”
“She came to see you in Chicago?” Beau frowned and looked over to Karessa.
“No. I didn’t.” Karessa responded through gritted teeth. “I thought you wanted to keep that secret.”
Maybe she was emotionally locked down and somewhere between when she started shacking up with Alec and now there was a big ass crack in her wall because she felt like she was experiencing an emotional overload all the time, now. “It’s not that I wanted to keep it a secret forever, I just didn’t want to talk about it at the time. The fact that you didn’t tell Beau when I know you share everything is so sweet, but I’d not ask you to keep anything from him. Secrets hurt people and relationships. I know that.”
“Great everyone is all happy…happy…joy…joy. Now what the fuck is going on?” Beau looked between the both of them as if he was waiting for one of them to start talking.
Karessa shrugged. “It’s your story, True. You should be the one to tell it.”
“There isn’t anything to tell.”
Beau cocked his head to the side and placed his chin on both of his fists like he was waiting. “We have always been the best of friends. All of us.”
True nodded at that and watched as Karessa did the same thing.
“I would love to tell you that you don’t have to tell me anything. Just knowing you’ll come and confide in me when you’re ready to talk.” Beau smiled and nodded. “But that shit isn’t me. I want to know and if you tell me you and Alec hooked up I might just drink one of those large glasses of wine, just so I can sit in on the girl talk.”
True pulled out one of the big wine glasses and placed it in front of Beau. He stopped and looked at the glass before looking at Karessa.
“You knew this all along?”
“We all had thoughts, but I didn’t find out anything until my trip to Chicago.” Karessa looked over to True as if asking if what she was saying was approved.
True loved how Beau’s eyes were wide with disbelief when he turned in her direction and now wondered why she hadn’t thought to talk to him about this long before now. Keeping her emotions and thoughts to herself may be something she should think about trying to change. She was actually looking forward to this conversation.
“Alright stop all this fidgeting, get your glass and bring it back to the comfortable chairs. I can’t wait to hear this.”
True poured another mug of beer and took it with her to the sofa before placing it down in front of Beau. “With a story like this you probably want to drink your favorite beverage.”
He smiled and accepted the beer taking a sip and placing it back on the table. “Okay now…go.”
“You remember Gemmi’s bachelorette party?”
“It’s been going on that long?” Karessa shouted out. “How the hell did you two keep it from everyone for what…seven months now?”
“Baby, don’t forget who we are talking about. These two are the most stealthy individuals we know. Shit, sometimes I wouldn’t be surprised if Alec came out and told me he was a spy and did secret missions on his off time.” Beau grabbed Karessa’s hand and looked back at True. “Please continue. I remember the party. You brought Karessa back to me drunk off her ass and I tried to carry her in the house only to have her go crazy like a bag full of demented cats when we got to the doorway.”
“I’m never going to live that down am I?” Karessa shook her head and picked up her wine.
“No. Never.” Beau patted her hand with his but never took his eyes off True. It was like he thought she’d disappear if he didn’t watch her.
“Well, I’d had a little too much to drink and it’s possible I called to tell him off about a few things.” True hated thinking about what she’d said. She wasn’t so drunk that she couldn’t put a few scathing sentences together and watching the love between Beau and Karessa had started a fire within her that roared that she couldn’t have the same thing with Alec.
“What did you say?”
True knew that was coming. Shit, she’d have asked the same question. If she was going to do things differently with her life she had to make some changes. This needed to be one of them. Her two besties had never betrayed her or abandon her and for that she owed them something. Not just in the now with this particular story, but with all she had.
“I told him he was full of shit and I was tired of it.” True tried to recall all of the venom that she’d spurted to the answering machine. “I was upset that he spent so much time talking and smiling at Maryse but couldn’t bother to spend any time with me without looking for an argument. I told him that we all had been drinking and Maryse had asked about him several times.” She stopped not really wanting to go further now that she’d heard the words out loud.
“There is no fucking way you’re going to stop there. I don’t care if we have to shake you upside down you’re going to tell us what got his ass up out of bed and over to you.”
True took a deep breath. “I told him I had gotten the two of you together and I’d won the bet we had. I got to choose what I wanted to be my prize and I told him it was that I no longer wanted anything from him. I was happy to help his brothers find love and Maryse would probably be a good match for him.” She picked up her glass of wine and took a few big sips. “Then I hung up and cried like a baby.”
True finally took a look at the couple sitting across from her. Karessa looked like she was going to say aww at any minute, but Beau looked pissed. “I hope this story gets better I don’t like the thought of my brother making you cry.”
“Well, he didn’t really. I made myself cry. He wasn’t even on the phone.”
“I don’t accept that. He knew he was being a prick not just that day, but every day since you met him. There were major sparks between you two from the start and not just on your end. He’s too smart not to have sensed that.”
Karessa patted his hand. “Let’s wait for the whole story before you fly off the hinges.”
“Alright. Not another word from me.” Beau zipped his lips with an invisible zipper and nodded, but True didn’t really believe that would be the last peep out of him. The man went to bat for those he loves and True knew she was counted in that group.
“When I hung up I finished crying, took a long shower and planned to go to bed. There was a lot to do in the next few days and I wasn’t going to be full of mopes the whole time.” She picked up her wine and drained the glass. Just telling this story was like reliving it. “Is there any more wine?”
“Oh my god, True. You are killing me. Just finish the story and I’ll get you your own damn bottle.” Beau got up and walked to the bar looking for a new bottle she guessed.
“Are you always this impatient?” True asked as she watched him look for something else. “Wait I know the answer to that…yes you are.”
Beau had been looking for the wine opener apparently because that is what he had in his hand. “I brought it all over. Keep talking and I’ll open it.”
“Are you holding the bottle hostage?” True smiled and enjoyed the fact Beau was so into this story.
“If that’s what it takes.”
“Okay, well. He was standing at my door when I came back to my room from the shower. Just standing there in the dim lights.”
“So you’re ready to match me now?” Alec asked from the door.
“Yes, and you’ve passed the woman I thought would be good for you. Last I saw she was having a nightcap and watching television.” She was fresh from the shower, but the heat this man created in her made her sweat like a cold water on a hot day.
He pushed himself off the wall and stood there. “Maryse? Yes, she’s still out there. As a matter of fact, she opened the door for me. You think she’s my type?”
“You have such eclectic tastes. I think a few of your girlfriends in school were tall, thin and blond. Others were tall, thin with brown hair. Your fiancé was a tall, thin raven haired beauty.” True put her hand on her chin like she needed a lot of thought to conjure up the images of each and every woman she knew he’d dated. I’m sure there were others, but I just can’t recall them.
“They were all tall and thin is where I’m thinking you were going with that. Maryse isn’t tall or thin, so why did you pick her for me?” Alec looked as if he were playing cat and mouse with her but little did he know this mouse didn’t play.
True wanted to slap him just for standing there looking like a whole buffet and acting like this was a normal 2:42 AM conversation. “You seem interested and she’s something different. So that’s my analysis. Look, it’s late and I’m tired. Maryse will probably still be where you left her if you leave now. Close the door behind you, okay.”
Alec stood there and didn’t move. It was like he was going to say something, but the words were stuck.
“You’re not going to ask me where I was?” Alec took a step closer to True.
“No, I’m not. It isn’t my business.”
“It isn’t your business.” Alec said the words like he was rolling them around in his mouth tasting them and they were bitter. He moved a few slow steps closer to her. “And when has that stopped you before.”
True just shrugged because he’d gotten too close to her and it was like it had always been. The smell of his skin and whatever other fragrances he had mixed in made her so damn hungry. She wanted to lick it off of him and she wanted to keep that smell in her underwear drawer so every time she opened it the butterflies in her stomach would just flutter with arousal.
“You don’t want to try me yourself before you offer me up to others? You can’t tell me you’ve never thought of the two of us together.”
He stood 6’3 to her 5’11 but for some reason she felt so very small around him. She looked up and tried like hell not to lift up on her tippy toes to get his mouth closer to hers. He must be holding his lips tight because the scar was practically white compared to the skin around it. She realized that he was waiting for an answer, but the butterflies were stronger now. All she could do was lift her shoulders a little.
“You’ve got to do better than that.” He walked around to True’s back and spoke into her left ear from behind. “All full of piss and vinegar on the phone, but I’m here and you’ve nothing to say.”
True cleared her throat, trying to even remember what the fuck she was so mad about. “Where were you before you got here?”
“Since I’m full of shit why would you even believe what I tell you.”
“Are you here because I said you were full of shit? Really Alec? I swear I’ve said worse to you since I’ve met you.” True walked over to her dresser and picked up her lotion. It was snatched out of her hand. “Hey!”
“I’m here because you sounded jealous and I wanted to see what that looked like in person.” Alec opened the lotion and stared at True in the mirror. “Feel free to tell me that I’m wrong, because unlike me, you are always honest.”
“I have to put my lotion on while I’m damp to get the best effect.” True was telling the truth about that. She was serious about her lotion usage because being dry and ashy took away all ability to have a pleasant personality and converse with people.
“Allow me.” His deep voice brought goose bumps to her flesh, making her want to undo this towel just to see what he’d say to that.
“If I say no are you going to leave?” True had no idea why she was questioning him since he was one of the most honest and forthright people she knew. If he wasn’t going to tell you something, then he wasn’t, but even wrapped in a small towel she didn’t feel threatened or intimidated.
He handed her back the lotion and turned around. “Have a good night, True.”
“Wait,” she said, catching a piece of his shirt in her hands. “I’m sorry I asked that. I’m nervous.”
He turned around and looked at her. This would have been a perfect time for his grins that hit her like a lightning bolt because they were so few and far between but when he hit her with one it was just as electric and it filled her with all kinds of pleasurable sensations. He didn’t crack a smile. Not even a one corner of his mouth lifted up into a smirk. Bringing his mouth down slowly he focused his gaze on her lips until he was almost there, then he looked up at her for a second. It was like he was asking for permission. “Maybe, I am too.”
She was like a bug on a stick. True wanted to move, encourage, beg for that kiss if she had too. Opening up her mouth, she wasn’t sure what would come out, but a wobbly, “Alec”, was all that she uttered.
It must have been enough because he nuzzled her lips with his before he opened slightly and tasted her full bottom lip. She wrapped her arms around his neck to get more, but he pulled away.
“I want to help you put your lotion on.”
“Is that why you came over here at this time of night? I thought you had the thing on your phone so it didn’t disturb you in the night.” True was speaking so quietly. There was no way she wanted to mess up whatever they had going on. Maybe it was a drunk dream…or maybe she fell in the shower. Whatever it was she didn’t want to risk waking up right now because she would have a damn fit.
“I told you why I came over. I saw that you called, I have family and friends on my hot list and it rings whenever they call.”
She picked up the lotion and handed it to him. “I’m on the list?”
“Of course you’re on the list.”
“But I rarely call you.” True heard the lotion cap pop off and the noise of Alec squeezing the bottle to get the contents.
“Which is why when your ringtone sang out I was surprised. It took me a few minutes to get to my phone and by then you were leaving a message.”
“What ringtone is mine?” True wanted to know the answer to that question so bad if she had her phone she’d have called him.
Alec took the phone out of his pocket and turned off the ringer. “None of your business.”
“I’m going to find out what it is.” She watched the man rub his big hands together like there was a special way to do this task. True refused to ask him if he knew what he was doing, but the way he was stalling she had her doubts. “Now that I’m thinking about it, I don’t think I’ve ever heard your phone ring.”
“I typically keep it on vibrate when I’m not alone. The bar is so loud I’d never hear it anyway.” Alec placed his hands on her back and the warm lotion soothed her skin just like this man soothed her soul. It was going to be the start of something special. She just knew it.
“We talked for a bit, played for a bit and the rest is history.” True didn’t want to share all that had happened that night because it was so personal and she was happy that she had a memory that only they could share.
Beau looked at her and then at Karessa. “I feel like we got robbed of a good story, but I guess that’s okay. I don’t really want to think about you and my brother doing the old in and out.”
“Oh have mercy. Do you have a million ways to say sex too? How did I never notice that?” True chuckled, thinking about all the names Alec had come up with.
“Nah. I was just channeling my big brother. That’s his thing. It always made Cam and me laugh because I’m not sure he’s ever repeated one.” Beau looked up at the ceiling like he was cataloging the names his brother had for sex. “Well, that answers one question.”
Karessa nodded as she finished her who knew how many glasses of wine they’d both had this evening.
“Now I want to know where are you guys going from here.”
“Unfortunately, we’re still working that part out.”
Beau sat up a bit. “What do you mean you’re still working that part out? He can’t just play with your heart.”
“There will be no talk of this and you won’t tell him I told you about it. If he comes to you then fine but I don’t want him harassed about whatever we have going on. I’m a big girl and I knew what I was getting into. Hell, I’ve wanted to be with Alec before my body actually knew why. This is on me and I won’t have him bothered about it.” True put on her fiercest look. “Do you understand?”
Beau didn’t look like he was going to be paying attention to what she said but he nodded.
“Hand on your heart.” True called to Beau.
“What the hell? Are we 5?”
“The look on your face doesn’t give me confidence that you aren’t going to run over there right now and demand he marry me to save my honor.” True studied Beau’s face, waited until he nodded and was finally satisfied that the man wouldn’t do anything too stupid.
He put his hand on his heart. “Are you happy now?”
“Yes, but I remember how sneaky you were when we were kids. There better not be any I crossed my fingers, toes or anything else that would nullify your promise.”
Beau pulled his hand from the cushion where True hadn’t been looking. “Damn it. You got me.”