“I think it’s pretty damn clear MJ. No matter what might have gone on between him and Bria, I can’t trust him. It’s just a matter of time before he screws up. I can’t go to that dance tonight, MJ. I feel like lying in bed and eating a pint of ice cream.”
She pats my back. “I know. But you can’t stand up Reis. You wouldn’t do that to him.”
I nod. She’s right.
I force myself out of bed and into the shower. The warm water soothes my heartache just a bit, and I go through the motions of getting ready.
Chapter 22
Colt
I sit at the bar nursing my pint. The one good thing about being in London – the drinking age. I need a reprieve. Between dealing with Taylor ignoring me, Bria’s mood swings, and managing Geoffrey’s unyielding demands on this never ending case, things have been intense.
I glance at my phone. Still no word from Taylor despite numerous texts and emails asking her to call me back. We really need to talk, but for some reason, she seems reluctant, and hasn’t been answering her phone.
I realize it’s Homecoming night and dial up Reis instead. “Hey man. You ready for the dance tonight?”
“Yeah. I just got Taylor’s corsage out of the fridge, she’ll be here soon.”
“You didn’t pick her up?”
“I know. I wanted to, trust me. But you know how she is. She insisted that was a stupid idea, and I could do little more than nod my head and obey. She’s staying the night here though, sleeping in your old room.”
“Cool. How’s Mrs. Lee?”
“A nervous wreck, waiting in the foyer with her camera ready and poised on the door. But hey, listen we’re dancing around this and we need to talk about what you’re doing to Taylor.”
Now I’m getting shit from my little brother too? Damn, this is not my day. “Just worry about yourself, Reis.”
“You’re fucking with Taylor’s emotions and we both know it. Come clean with her,” he says.
“You don’t know shit about my relationship with Taylor.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. I’m there when she’s sad because you’ve done something stupid. I’m the one who’s there for her when she’s drunk and sick. And I’m the one she comes to when she wants to laugh. I’ve been the one comforting her when she runs into one of your ex’s.”
Fuck. I hate this. I hate that I’m not there for her. “Don’t get any ideas with me away. She’s not yours.”
“We’ll see. You’re not here for her.”
“I’ll be back eventually, don’t be a dumbass, Reis,” I growl.
He’s quiet for a second. “Why do you have to have this girl? You’ll fuck anything that moves.”
His assessment of me would have been true a few months ago, but Taylor’s changed that. It sucks to know that’s what he still thinks of me though. Some big brother I turned out to be. What if Taylor is better off with him? Someone her own age, who doesn’t have a shaky past, who isn’t running an international corporation, someone who can take her to regular stuff – like high school dances. Reis can give her things I can’t. “If that’s what she decides she wants, I’ll step away, but until then, no fucking way.” I won’t just hand her over to him.
“You can’t have it both ways, Colt You’re not here.”
Maybe it is selfish of me to try and keep her. If she really is interested in Reis, though it will kill me, I’ll walk away. “Treat her right tonight.”
“I always do,” he says, ending the call.
Chapter 23
Taylor
I pull into the circular driveway of Reis and Colt’s massive house and hobble up the brick walkway in my too high heels, tugging at the hem of the tiny silver dress MJ lent me. My curves fill it out in ways MJ said Reis would approve of, but I felt overexposed.
I reach the door and before I can knock, it’s pulled open by a tiny Asian woman smiling at me. “Hello,” I say.
“My dear, come inside, come inside.” She grips my hands and pulls me in. She’s standing there, still holding onto me, grinning from ear to ear while she studies me.
“Mrs. Lee?” I guess.
She nods vigorously.
Reis rounds the corner, chuckling at us. “Mrs. Lee, give her a break.” Once she steps back, his eyes travel from mine down the length of my body, down my legs and stop at my open toed heels. His mouth drops open. “Damn, Shrimp. You look sexy.”
Mrs. Lee nudges him in the side, and he starts chuckling again. He crosses the room, lifting me in a full embrace until my feet leave the floor.
Mrs. Lee poses us together in various positions, clicking away with her camera repeatedly. After we’ve posed for photos in front of the fireplace and in the backyard, Reis slips a beautiful corsage of purple flowers on my wrist and ties it in place with a silver ribbon that matches my dress. Then we’re on our way.
I steal glances at him once we’re inside the Jeep. He looks good in his suit. His shoulders fill out the black suit jacket and crisp white dress shirt. It’s simple and classic. And with his silver tie, we sort of match.
He finds my hand and gives it a squeeze. It’s a short drive to his high school, but once we park, he hesitates, fidgeting with his keys and makes no move to get out. “I have something to tell you before we go in.”
My stomach lurches. He looks so nervous, I’m desperate to know what it is he wants to get off his chest. I pray it doesn’t have anything to do with Colt. I can’t handle hearing from Reis that Colt’s done with me. I won’t make it out of this Jeep if that’s the case.
He swallows. “I sort of told everyone you’re my girlfriend.”
I slug him in the arm, which ends up hurting my hand and has no effect on his arm whatsoever. I frown and rub my knuckles. “Why on earth did you do that?”
“Because. I’m new here, I don’t have many friends. They’ve all gone to school together since forever.” He waves a hand absently toward the school. “And I’m always spending time with you and when someone assumed you were a girlfriend, I just never corrected anyone.”
I stare out the smeared windshield and watch as a group of guys escort a group of girls in dresses of every color. I don’t like that Reis has felt so alone here. I guess for one night, if people think I’m his girlfriend, so what? “Well then you better come around and open my door to help me out, because I have very high expectations of my boyfriend.”
He grins. “You’re the best, Shrimp.” He hops out of the Jeep and jogs around to help me out.
The school is much like my old school, smelling of disinfectant and plastic with chipped tiles and germ-infested drinking fountains. The decorations in the gym are subtle, but the low lighting and disco ball send little sparkles and stars skittering across the shiny wood floor. It’s nice. Sort of comforting, in a regular high school kind of way. I’m glad Reis brought me. Being here with him beats lying on my bed worrying over Colt. And I’ve never seen Reis so excited or proud. He keeps his hand on the small of my back and introduces me as we mingle in the gym. He seems to know everyone. A few of the guys give him fist bumps and nods of approval when they meet me. Apparently, some of them thought I didn’t exist.
His claim that he doesn’t have many friends here is clearly a farce. But then I realize he’s spent every weekend since school started with me. He probably hasn’t developed any true friendships because I’ve monopolized his time. But he seemed to like spending time with me too, so I didn’t dwell on it too much.
Reis leads me to the center of the gym. He pulls me into his chest, nestling my head under his chin. He’s really making the most of this girlfriend experience. But somehow I don’t think it’s for show. His heart thuds against mine as we sway to the music.