CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Tamera let the music of the club pulse through her, giving herself over to the beat as she danced with Drew. The dance floor crackled with energy as couples laughed and drank and kissed. The strobe lights caught Drew’s hair, highlighting the brown in his dirty blond.
Wyatt had come after her, and still she’d driven away. Tamera closed her eyes, pain slicing through her once more. But his claims were so ridiculous. She wanted to believe him, but she’d been wrong so many times before.
So why did her heart keep screaming that she was giving her loyalties to the wrong man? Why did she ache to hop the next plane back to L.A.?
Drew nudged her chin with one finger, forcing her to look up into his dark eyes. “You’re in your head again,” he said.
She’d spilled the whole story to last night, after he picked her up at the airport and drove her to the hotel. Drew had called Wyatt all kinds of names and insisted Tamera was making the right decision. When she got to the part where Wyatt insisted Becky’s baby must be Drew’s, he’d laughed darkly and said that seemed like the kind of story a desperate man told. But throughout the entire conversation, Tamera couldn’t help but think that Wyatt had never said anything bad against Drew. He’d accused him of lying, but he hadn’t insisted she break off their friendship. He didn’t waste his breath hurling insults. But Drew couldn’t wait to throw digs Wyatt’s way.
“Sorry,” Tamera said, forcing herself to smile brightly at Drew. “It’s been a week.”
The article about Becky’s pregnancy hadn’t made much of a splash. Tamera spent most of last night trolling social media after she checked into the hotel, but the story had only been picked up by one or two minor blogs. No one seemed to care that Wyatt James and some random cheerleader may or may not be having a baby. Their relationship had never been public and news of Wyatt’s trade was still the hotter topic on the web. But that hadn’t stopped Tamera from reading every comment proclaiming what an adorable couple they made and offering up congratulations.
“You think too much,” Drew said with a sly grin. “I don’t think I should leave you alone tonight. Let’s cancel your hotel room. You can come back to my place.”
Pinpricks of unease made their way up Tamera’s spine and she took a cautious step back. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
Drew rested his hands on her waist, pulling her toward him. “You mean a lot to me, Tamera.”
“You mean a lot to me, too. As a friend.” She emphasized the last word as she pulled away, avoiding eye contact.
“Don’t be like that.” He grabbed her hips again, swaying to the beat of the music. “We were great together on Eye in the Sky. Everyone expects us to hook up. Let’s give the fans what they want. That should make your agent happy.”
“Drew.” She pushed against his chest, her own tightening in fear. “I think you’ve had a little too much to drink. Let go.”
“You are such a tease.” He dropped his hands and scowled. “I’ve done everything I can to be a good friend to you. I took you under my wing on Eye in the Sky.”
She gave a disbelieving laugh. “Uh, we both know I was the brains of that duo. You ruined my game.”
He continued doggedly on, ignoring her. “When your ex freaked you out, who flew across the country to comfort you?”
“I never asked you to do that.”
“You owe me.” He raised a finger and pointed it at her face.
She slapped his finger away roughly, heat flowing through her. “I don’t owe you anything.”
He swore, his face turning red. “Then what have I been wasting my time for?”
Her mouth fell open as she stared at Drew, like she was seeing him for the first time. She’d seen glimpses of this side in his diary room interviews but thought it was all part of the game.
Wyatt was right—Drew had been the bad guy all along.
“Did you lie to get Wyatt transferred to the Coyotes?” Tamera demanded.
Drew rolled his eyes. “Do we have to talk about that again? Let’s dance.”
He tried to grab her hips once more, but she swatted his hands away. “Answer the freaking question.”
His eyes hardened and he took a step closer, lowering his voice. “Yes, I lied. Becky and I had been seeing each other for months. When Wyatt found out, I couldn’t let him stick around. The team would’ve looked at me differently if they knew.”
She shook her head in horror. “The baby.”
“What?”
“Becky’s baby,” she practically screamed. “Wyatt is right. You’re the father.”
Drew looked around quickly, then grabbed her arm and hauled her off the dance floor. She yanked her arm from his grasp, but followed him out of the club and into the cool night air.
“You are so naive,” Drew sneered, his lips turning up in disgust. “Of course the baby’s mine. But I’m not about to let a kid ruin my career.”
“I can’t believe what I’m hearing.” She ran a shaky hand through her hair. “You tried to ruin Wyatt’s life. He’s been the good guy all along. I was an idiot not to see it sooner.”
“You and me belong together,” Drew shot back. “Everyone sees it. Why do you keep fighting the inevitable?”
“Oh no.” She held up her hands and walked backward. “You and me are done, Drew.”
His face darkened and he grabbed her arm. “I never wanted Becky. She was just a fling.”
“Let go,” Tamera said, feeling her palms grow clammy. She tugged, but Drew held on tight.
“When I met you on Eye in the Sky, I realized you were a girl I actually enjoyed talking to. Not just someone to mess around with in the bedroom. I want you so bad.”
Tamera let out a shaky laugh, still trying to pull away. “And you thought the correct way to win me over was to ignore your responsibilities and abandon the mother of your child? To let a good guy get harassed by the press—to try and ruin his career—for something he didn’t do?”
“Tamera.” Drew’s grip relaxed and his eyes grew soft in the moonlight—the puppy dog look he’d used on Eye in the Sky to manipulate others into doing what he wanted them to. “I’m sorry. I only lied because I was afraid of losing you.”
She yanked her arm away and scrambled backward. “Well, congratulations, Drew. You’ve definitely lost me.”
“Tamera!” Drew called.
She hurried back into the club and ducked into a hidden alcove. With trembling hands, she pulled her phone from her clutch and requested a ride through an app. A few moments later, Drew stormed past. Tamera shrank into the shadows, holding her breath until he was out of sight again.
Tears filled her eyes and her legs began to tremble. She sank into a crouch and dropped her head into her hands. Wyatt had asked her to trust him, but she’d left instead. What a horrible, awful mistake. In the moment it had felt wrong, but she’d ignored her gut and plowed forward. How would he ever forgive her?
A few minutes later, she ducked out of the club and into the car waiting for her.
“Where to?” the driver asked.
Tamera stared at him bleakly. “What?”
He gave her a puzzled frown. “You’ve got somewhere you want to go, right?”
She sniffed and wiped under her eyes. The hotel was only ten minutes away, but crying alone in a dark room didn’t hold much appeal. She wanted someone to hold her and say everything would be alright. To assure her she wasn’t irreparably broken and could fix her damaged relationship with Wyatt.
She wanted her sister.
The realization stunned her into giving the driver Katie’s address. Soon he was dropping her off in front of a cute bungalow of whitewashed brick. Tamera thanked him and walked slowly up the front steps.
She stared at the door for a long time. Once upon a time, she and Katie had shared everything. They’d competed, yes. But they’d shared their joys and heartaches, too. They’d been each other’s best friends. All that had changed when Tamera started dating Caleb.
She took a deep breath, then knocked. A few moments later, the door opened. Katie’s hair was disheveled, as though she’d been asleep. Mascara was smudged under her eyes and she wore a ratty camisole and basketball shorts.
“Tamera.” She rubbed at her eyes as though not quite believing them. “What are you doing here?”
“I guess I just needed my sister.” Tamera’s voice broke on the last word. Would Katie tell her to go away and never come back? “Can I come in?”
“Uh, sure.” Katie opened the door wider and motioned her inside. Tamera entered, relief flowing through her.
The living room was dark, but Katie flipped on a light. It looked much the same as the last time Tamera had been here, barely more than a month ago. They’d spent five frustrating hours putting personalized wrappers on miniature candy bars as part of the wedding favor. White couches were still arranged around a barn wood coffee table. The television still sat on a hutch that Tamera had helped Katie refinish shortly before Caleb ruined everything.
“What are you doing in town?” Katie asked, grabbing a glass from the kitchen cupboard and turning on the faucet.
“I was visiting Drew.” Tamera took a seat on the couch and accepted the glass of water Katie handed her.
“You look awful,” Katie said, but there was an edge of satisfaction in her voice that stung. “What happened?”
Tears filled Tamera’s eyes again and she shook her head quickly. “Please, can we not pick at each other tonight? I just … I just need my sister.”
Katie folded her arms. “I’m sitting right here.”
“I’m sorry,” Tamera choked out. She wiped under her eyes. “I should’ve told you about the texts immediately.”
Katie looked down, playing with the hem of her shirt. “I probably wouldn’t have believed you unless I saw the evidence for myself.”
“I should’ve realized how overshadowed you felt,” Tamera plowed on. “I should’ve listened to what you weren’t saying as much as what you were all those times.”
Katie’s eyes softened and she scooted to the edge of the couch. “I’m sorry, too,” she whispered, her eyes luminescent. “I should’ve told Caleb to take a hike the first time he made a move, but I was so flattered. And now … oh, Tamera. I’ve made such a mess of things. Can you ever forgive me?”
“Of course,” Tamera said. She held open her arms and Katie fell into them, the two of them crying and hugging. Tamera closed her eyes, relishing the realization that she had her little sister back.
“I never should’ve come to L.A.,” Katie said. “I suck at apologizing. I swear I didn’t plan on storming out in a rage.”
Tamera laughed. “I should’ve been kinder when you showed up. I knew how hard it was for you to say you were sorry.”
“I’m done competing with you.” Katie sniffed, wiping under both eyes. “I just want us to be friends. Because I really, really need a friend right now.”
“Me too,” Tamera said. She looked around the dark bungalow. “Is Caleb still asleep?”
Katie’s eyes darkened and she shook her head. “He’s doing the music for a wedding tonight. I don’t expect him home for another few hours at least.”
So Katie had given him another chance. He was still living here, for better or worse, and Tamera was still going to have to deal with him at least sometimes.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Katie said, her voice tight. “I should’ve kicked him out. But he’s my husband.”
Tamera reached out and clasped Katie’s hands in both of hers. “I support whatever decision you make.”
Katie’s lips turned up in a smile and she gave Tamera another hug. “Thank you. Now, tell me what’s really going on. You’re a total mess.”
For the next hour, Tamera spilled out everything that had happened over the past month. When she’d finally told the whole story, Katie shook her head in disbelief.
“Wow,” Katie said.
“I know.”
“Honestly, I’m not surprised—Drew was kind of a creep on Eye in the Sky. I never really understood why the two of you were friends.”
Tamera’s mouth dropped open. “And you’re just now telling me this?”
Katie held up her hands. “I’m sorry, okay? But I thought you’d bite my head off if I said anything at the wedding. Things were already so tense.”
Tamera sank back against the couch cushions, trying to process this new information. “Wow.”
“Wyatt seems like a good guy,” Katie ventured.
“One of the best.”
“So what are you going to do about it?”
Tamera took a deep breath. “I’m going back to L.A. And I’m going to try and win him back.”