Chapter 4

Lauren

Chloe kept her eyes on me as I walked back and forth from my closet to my bed, where I had opened up my suitcase to pack for my trip home. “What?”

She shrugged like she wasn’t doing anything. “What?”

I stopped halfway across the room and glared at her. “You obviously have something you want to say, or you wouldn’t be watching me like a cat.” I didn’t need to hear any more of her opinions of what happened with Craig, and I’d asked her days ago to keep them to herself. What I needed now was her support.

“I just want to make sure you’re okay. You’ve been so emotional this week, and with you driving so far, I’m worried about you.”

“I’ll be fine. Besides, the drive home is familiar enough, and even though its nine hours, it’s going to be time for me to think through everything that’s happened and prepare myself for my father’s last words.” I thought for a minute about how ashamed of me my father would be, and a fresh tear made its way to my cheek.

“Your father loved you; I’m sure any words he says are going to be with love.” She had always been afraid of my father, like most people. He had a been a very powerful attorney, and my brother, Reed, and I had followed in his footsteps.

I let out a breath. “I hope so. I just don’t understand why Noah isn’t coming. I need him to be there for me.” I walked to the dresser and took out a couple of bra and panty sets and tossed them into the case. They weren’t my best ones, but those had too many memories lately. I might never wear them again. I needed to get to Victoria’s Secret soon.

I walked to the closet and to the bed again, and still, she watched my every move. “This is about more than just your father, and you’re not going to be able to pretend it isn’t. You should have told Noah.”

“I’m not telling him. I feel like a fool. I’ve had the worst luck with men, and when I finally think I’ve found a good one for a change, he’s not only my boss, which is bad enough, but he’s my married boss. He’s made a laughing stock out of me, and I’m lucky that our partner found a new place for me in the office. A few people are already talking about why, and apparently, we weren’t as discreet as I thought.”

“He probably bragged about it to the other men in the office.” Chloe meant well, but she wasn’t helping. I could imagine him laughing it up with the men around the water cooler about what a hot time he’d had and how I’d made him cum like a champ.

“Great, so now I look like as big of a jackass as I feel.” I closed my suitcase as my phone wailed out my brother’s ringtone. “Now I have to get through another conversation with my brother without crying and feeling like the world’s biggest loser.” He’d grilled me about what was wrong every time he’d called lately.

Chloe gave me a reassuring look. “It’s going to be fine, Lauren.”

“I’m putting him on speaker because I’m packing.” I opened my suitcase so it wouldn’t be a lie and then answered my phone. “Hey, big brother, you’re on speaker with me, and Chloe’s here.”

“Hey, Chloe, how’re you? Are you taking care of my little sister?” Noah’s tone indicated to me that she’d better be.

“You know it.” She gave me a guilty look, and I knew it was my brother’s way of asking how I was.

“You know she is. And she’s sick of hearing me complain about you not coming to Dad’s reading.”

“I’m sorry. I can’t get back. I’ll make it up to you.” He sounded sorry enough, but I missed him terribly.

“You’ll miss Christmas, though, and you know Reed isn’t as festive.” I had hoped I could talk him into it.

He belted out a laugh so loud it hurt my ears. “That’s a nice way of putting it. The guy’s a complete stick in the mud, and trust me; if I could, I’d be there.”

“I know.” I tried not to sound too resentful, but Noah and I were so close we were practically the same person, and we knew how to have fun, while our brother didn’t have a fun bone in his entire body.

“I do have some good news, though,” he said. “I talked to Gage and told him you were going to be back in town, and he wants to see you.”

“Gage wants to see me?” I tried to keep the suspicion from my tone, but it was no use.

Chloe’s head whipped around. “Wait, Gage? As in, your lifelong crush, big fairytale wedding groom, Gage?” She bounced in her place on my bed.

My brother went quiet as I gave her a pointed look. “No, you’re thinking of someone else, Chloe. Gage is my brother’s best friend.” She put her hand to her mouth, realizing what she’d done.

Noah spoke up. “I’m sure you meant someone else, right? Lauren?”

“Yeah, of course.”

“Because you know I’d hate to have to poke out my best friend’s eyes for looking at you, right?” There was a deadly edge to his tone. He was a complete lunatic, and it was hard to believe the bad boy actually saved lives instead of taking them.

“Calm down, Noah. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”

“It doesn’t matter. Look, Gage is just meeting with you so he can get you to look over some papers of his, so don’t get your hopes up.”

“Would it be so bad if she were with him?” Chloe asked. “He’s your best friend for a reason, right? He’s an all-around good guy?”

I remembered the time she’d admitted how hot she thought Noah was. I had nearly puked. Noah was handsome like our father, but I’d never tell him that, not that he didn’t already think it.

He laughed. “He’s the best, but still not good enough for my sister, if you feel what I’m putting down. Besides, he told me he only sees her as family.”

“I’m right here, and thanks a lot.” I had always wanted him to see me as a woman.

“Well, shit, Lauren, you two have known each other your entire lives, and besides, I know how gross he can be and how dirty his mind is, and I don’t want it anywhere near you.”

“He’s not gross,” I said with a laugh.

“No, he’s not. I’ve seen pictures. You could hook him up with me, then, right?” Chloe made an appreciative “Mmm” sound, and then Noah laughed.

“Right, maybe I’ll fix him up with Chloe?” I knew he probably thought that Gage was too good for either of us, and if he knew what kind of shit I’d gotten myself into over the past two months, he’d probably not even want him near me.

“I just wanted to tell you that he asked about you. I texted him your number, and he’s going to be calling you soon. Behave, Lauren. Don’t make me regret letting him have your number.”

“Oh my God. We’re not kids anymore.” I would never find a boyfriend if he didn’t stop policing my love life. It was no wonder I had to hide everything.

“And I’m not kidding around.” The tone of his voice told me that.

“Look, it’s no matter. I’ve sworn off men, so you can relax.” I pulled my lips in tight and wished I hadn’t opened my big mouth. He just kept on coming at me, so I felt the need to defend myself.

He paused a moment. “Why is that? Did something happen, Lauren? If it did, you need to tell me.” His mood wasn’t right to tell him, and I wasn’t about to let him know anything.

“No, it’s just they’re all jerks. Except for you, of course.” I had always made him the exception, even though his temper could make him a real piece of work and he hadn’t had much luck with the ladies, either.

“Uh huh.” After a moment of silence, just when I thought he was about to badger me into spilling, he let out a sigh. “Fine, but know I’m here if you want to talk. Always, okay, sister?”

“Thanks, brother.”

Chloe held her hand over her heart. “You two are going to make me cry. I hate being an only child. I want a brother, too.”

“I’ll give you mine,” I whispered.

Noah grumbled. “I heard that.” Then his laughter belted through the air. “Bye, sis. Bye, Chloe.” Then he hung up.

“Gage is going to call and ask you out to dinner? That’s wonderful news, right?” She knew all of my deepest secrets about loving him from afar and how I’d wanted to marry him when I was younger. I’d also wanted to go to prom with him, but Noah told me he’d never go and to stay away.

“It’s great. I just don’t think he’s interested like you want him to be. He never has been, and it’s always been a bit awkward. I used to get so nervous when he was around that I’d run away, and I remember trying to act mean to him because I didn’t want him to know I loved him.”

Chloe grinned. “That’s the oldest trick in the book. He’s bound to know. And just think, the two of you will be all alone. I bet he tries to make a move on you.”

“I’ll take that bet. He’s probably too loyal to Noah to do that, and I bet he even had a warning.”

“What if he does make a move?” Chloe folded her arms across her front and raised an eyebrow at me.

“If he does, it’ll be a shame and too little, too late. As I said, I’m swearing off men. I’m going to get myself dusted off and try to pick up the pieces on my own. And focus on my career.” I grabbed my bag and my keys and raked my hand through my hair, which hung loose and casual down my back for the long trip ahead.

“What you need to do is get dusted off and get right back on that horse.” She grabbed her bag, and I walked her out.

“Give me a hug.” I pulled her into my embrace and thought of how much the girl cared for me. She was my best friend for a reason, and I was lucky to have her in my life after all these years.

“Be safe, and don’t worry. I’ll check on the place. Call me.” She followed me to the car, and I waved goodbye as I shut the door and started the car for the long journey ahead.

The weather had called for snow, and I figured by the time I got back down to Gatlinburg, it would be starting, but hopefully, I’d make it before it got too bad.

On the way, I thought of Gage Riley and wondered when he’d call. My heart got a bit fluttery thinking of the boy I used to know and adore. I’d had it bad for him and used to think he was so damned perfect.

It had been years, though, and I wondered how many hearts he’d broken since. He had a decade-long pile accumulated, while I had zero experience, other than my boss and two other jerks who’d wanted to fuck me and leave. Noah hadn’t found out about them, either.

By the time I made it into Tennessee, the snow was falling heavily and ahead of schedule. My nine-hour drive was going to take me eleven.