Dangerous Stranger (Beautiful Entourage #4) (16 page)

“Well, that might not work because he’s not a bird…” Her lips pulled up in an involuntary smile.

“Oh, it’ll work.”

She suddenly shifted her weight and looked at the ground. “Thanks for being there for me…I really appreciate it.”

“I’ll be here—for anything.” I hugged her and held her close.

Max came out of his bedroom and headed our way. His hands were in his pockets as he watched us. He shook his head slightly, like he knew exactly what I was thinking while I held his sister.

She pulled away then turned to Max. “Hey, sorry about last night.”

“It’s okay,” he said. “So, you and Cameron had a fight?”

“Actually, we broke up. I caught him cheating on me, and it’s clear he’s been cheating for a while,” she said.

“Oh.” He looked disappointed. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” she said with a smile. “I got my two boys.” She grabbed both of our forearms before she walked into her bedroom and shut the door.

Max sighed. “You were right?”

“Yeah.”

He scratched the back of his head. “I’ll take care of him.”

“My boys already did.”

He nodded. “That explains all the bruises and swelling when he came over here. I thought he got mugged or something.”

“No.”

“Well, at least he’s gone. That’s something to be grateful for.”

I couldn’t live in this lie anymore. I couldn’t handle it for a second longer. I was tired of pretending to be something I wasn’t. Ophelia and I had something and she needed to know the truth. “Let’s go for a walk.”

***

We sat on the stairs outside the apartment building and watched people pass on the streets.

“What is it?” Max asked, leaning against one wall. His body was directed my way but his head faced the street.

“Let me tell her the truth,” I said. “I can’t keep lying anymore.”

He sighed and looked away.

“Max, I’m in love with her.” I never said it out loud before but I knew it was true. I could feel it every time I looked at her. When she cried in my arms, I wanted to cry too. “She needs to know how I feel. And call me crazy, but I think she might feel the same way.”

“She thinks you’re gay.”

“I know…but there’s something there.”

He wouldn’t look at me.

“Max, please. I’ll still do as you ask for your parents. Why can’t I just tell Ophelia? She’ll keep your secret.”

“You aren’t as bright as I thought.”

“Then enlighten me, “I said darkly.

“If Ophelia dates you, people will see you together, including my parents. How do you think that makes me look? You were gay and now you’re straight? It’ll be even more difficult for me to get them to accept me.”

“Well, she and I can keep it a secret.”

“People will see you together,” he hissed. “And Cameron will be the first person to rat you out. He’s close with my parents. Dude, it can’t happen.”

He was stabbing me in the gut. “Max, I’ll beg if I have to.”

“You’ll just have to wait until this is over.”

I didn’t want to say these words but I had to. “What if it’s never over? What if they never let it go?”

He stared at his shoes. “I need to give them more time. It’s only been a few months. They might come around.”

“Well, how long are you going to wait?”

“I don’t know,” he said with a shrug. “Six months?”

There’s no fucking way I’ll be able to keep my hands off her for another six months. It was a miracle I kept my hands to myself this long. “Please help me out. I really love your sister. I’m not going to be a dick to her like Cameron was.”

“And I’m not worried you will be,” he said simply. “But that has nothing to do with it. If you really want this, there’s nothing stopping you. I can’t control what you do. The contract even states you can end the arrangement for any reason whatsoever. Then end it if you must.” He watched the people pass on the sidewalk.

I ground my teeth in irritation. “I’m not going to throw you under the bus.”

“Then I guess everything will stay the same.”

I wanted to scream. “You aren’t even willing to compromise with me on this?”

“No.” He finally looked at me. “How will it make me look if my first boyfriend was gay and then became straight in the middle of our relationship? It would give people more to talk about, and my parents would think I’m a bigger freak than I already am. I hired you because I thought you were professional. I thought you could handle this. I guess not.” He looked away but his shoulders were tense in anger.

“Max, I will do as I promised. I just…”I rubbed the back of my neck. “I’ve never felt this way about someone before. I feel like she’s already mine…just not officially.”

“I don’t know what to say. I told you to stay away from my sister.”

“And you should have known how impossible that would be.”

Ophelia

As the days passed, so did my sadness. What was the point in being upset over someone else’s actions? Our relationship had been falling apart for a while, and I made the right decision when I decided to end it.

And I should have stuck to my guns.

Instead, I gave him another chance when I knew in my heart I shouldn’t have. I kept living in the past, remembering the good times we had and what a great man he was. But those times were long gone.

Now I paid the price for my foolishness.

But Jett made it much better. He spent time with me when I knew he had better things to do. He went with me to the gym and took me out for ice cream. We were attached at the hip like close friends.

When I wasn’t with him, I wish I were. I felt bad I was hogging Jett so much. I apologized to my brother countess times but he didn’t seem to care. Their relationship was odd. Sometimes it seemed like they were into each other, but a lot of the time, they seemed almost indifferent.

I was thinking about the lava cake we made at Jett’s apartment the night before when my assistant spoke over the intercom. “Cameron is here to see you.”

My blood suddenly turned cold. He’d been blowing up my phone constantly, and I never listened to all the voicemails he left. His pathetic apologies and explanations meant nothing to me. “Send him away.”

“I don’t think I…sir, you can’t go in there!”

I knew he was barging in my office whether I wanted him to or not. My workday was almost over anyway so I decided to clock out a few minutes early. I snatched my purse and phone then walked around the desk.

Cameron walked inside, his face slightly pink from old bruises and cuts. “Listen to me.” He held up his hand like that would stop me.

I held my phone just the way Jett taught me, so I could hit him right in the nose with the butt of it. “Get out of my way.”

“Just give me a chance to explain what happened.”

“I saw you sticking your tongue down her throat,” I snapped. “There’s nothing left to explain.”

“No, it’s not like that.”

I rolled my eyes because his excuses were more pathetic than I thought they would be. “Go to hell.” I walked out of my office and took the stairs. I wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible and attract the least amount of attention. Cameron was close behind me the entire time but he didn’t cause a scene.

Once I was out of the building, I turned left and headed to Crunch Fitness like I did every day after work. Jett was usually there early. As soon as I saw him I knew I would feel better about this creep riding my ass.

“Ophelia!” He jogged to catch up to me. “Just listen to me for five minutes, okay?”

“No.” I kept walking, acting like he didn’t exist.

“I’m going to keep harassing you until you give me a few minutes. So, keep running or stop and give me your attention.”

I couldn’t argue with his logic. If I gave him what he wanted, he might leave me alone. I stopped then put my hand on my hip, giving him the nastiest glare all the popular chicks in high school taught me. “You got two minutes—go.”

“When we were first together, everything was great. I was happy and you were happy. Then we both started working more and we just drifted apart. That’s when I met Elena—”

“I don’t care what her name is.”

He kept going. “Things just happened, and before I knew it…we were in a relationship.”

At least he was being honest. I was surprised he offered that.

“That was why you and I drifted apart. That was my fault. What I did was wrong and I shouldn’t have made that mistake. You’re an amazing girl and I was just stupid. When you dumped me, I realized what I lost. So…I ended it with her so I could be with you.” He gave me a hopeful look. “And only you.”

That’s what he wanted to say?
“So…since you tried breaking it off when we got together I’m supposed to be impressed by that?”

“I know I made a stupid mistake and I learned from it.”

“I caught you making out with her!”

“I was breaking up with her,” he argued. “And you and I weren’t together anyway.”

That just made my head explode. “Excuse me?”

He cringed like he knew the mistake he made.

“Oh…” I clutched my heart with emotion. “How sweet. I can’t believe you did that for me, baby.” Then I gave him another glare before I walked off.

“Wait.” He grabbed me by the wrist, and this time he used all his force to keep me still. “I want another chance—a real one.”

I kicked him in the groin but he blocked it. “Your two minutes are up, asshole.”

“I said I was sorry. It won’t happen again.”

I got in his face. “Even if I believed you, which I don’t, I don’t want you anymore.” I tried to twist away from his grasp.

“Because you’re in love with a gay man?”

My eyes widened in offense. “What if I am?” I don’t know what possessed me to say that but it came out.

“You call me a cheater but you’ve been running around with pretty boy all over town.”

“But I wasn’t sleeping with him.” I tried to push him off. “Now let me go.”

“No. I’m not done talking to you.” He squeezed me harder and pulled me to his chest.

I tried to kick him again but he kept blocking his testicles. “You fucking dick!”

“Let her go.” His commanding voice made me stop fighting. It moved down my spine and made me feel scared but safe at the same time.

Cameron loosened his hold when he realized he had company.

Jett stood a few feet away, his arms hanging by his sides. Threat was in his eyes, and he looked a little crazy. “Let her go or I’ll make you.”

He finally let me go, loosening his grip on my wrist.

“Smart choice.” Jett grabbed me and pulled me behind him. Then he dropped his gym bag and approached Cameron with the obvious intent to kick his ass. “No one touches my girl and gets away with it.” Quicker than I could see, he jabbed him in the nose then the jaw. Cameron was on the pavement, wiping the blood away.

I didn’t defend Cameron this time. He deserved it.

“I guess my friends didn’t teach you a lesson.” He rolled up his sleeves.

Cameron scrambled to his feet then took off at a dead run.

Jett stood there and watched him go. “Pussy.” His shoulders were tense, and he breathed hard like he might decide to chase after him. When he made up his mind to stay put, he turned back to me. “Are you alright?” His hand snaked around my waist like it belonged there.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

He grabbed his bag and walked with me. “Want to skip the gym today?”

“Sure.”

“A drink?”

A glass of scotch sounded nice right now. “Please.”

We walked into the closest bar, the one I happened to catch Cameron in, and then sat in a booth. Jett got the drinks then sat down again. Like we were in a western, he slid the glass to me across the table. “Bottoms up.”

I took a drink but I could only manage that—a drink.

“So, what happened?” He tilted his glass and the ice cubes slid around.

“He came to my office and said he wanted to explain what happened.”

“I think it’s pretty self-explanatory.” His eyes held his anger, and his body held his rage.

“I said the same thing. But he wouldn’t leave my office so I left instead. Of course, he followed me. I gave him two minutes to explain himself. Actually, what he said was pretty funny…”

“Which was?” He leaned over the table while he listened to me.

“That he was cheating on me but he stopped so he could give this relationship a real chance. Apparently, I’m marriage material and she’s not.” I made a sympathetic look with my face. “Isn’t that the sweetest thing you’ve ever heard?”

He laughed as he took a drink. “They should have put that plot in Titanic.”

I rolled my eyes. “I’m hurt about everything but I’m also angry. I just feel stupid.”

“Like I said, you shouldn’t feel that way.”

“Too late.” I drank the rest of my glass and felt the burn all the way down my throat. “I’m going to get another.”

“Whoa…hold on.” He held me in my seat with just his eyes. “It’s the middle of the day and alcohol won’t solve your problems. One is enough.”

I stuck my tongue out at him. “You’re no fun.”

“I’m responsible. And I take care of you.”

“Still boring,” I teased.

“Hey, I’m a very adventurous guy. But I’m also a protective one.”

“You don’t say?” I snatched his drink and downed it.

His lips twitched in an involuntary smirk. “I’ll let that go since you’re cute.”

“You’ll let that go because you know I could take you.”

“Only because I would let you,” he said. “You want to do something tonight?”

“Like what?” I spent most of my time with Jett. He was starting to feel like home. I’d neglected all my other friends since he came into my life. And my brother didn’t care but it was probably because he knew I was going through a hard time.

“A paint club.”

I cocked an eyebrow.

“It’s where you drink and play drums while paint gets all over you.”

“Sounds like a big mess.”

“It’ll be fun,” he said. “It’ll get your mind off of it.”

“Sure,” I said. “I’ll do anything with you because you’re the only person I want to do anything with.”

His teasing smirk disappeared, and his eyes softened in emotion. “The feeling is mutual.”

***

My friends found out about Cameron and I through the grapevine. What grapevine? I wasn’t sure. But they knew. And naturally, they wanted to go out and hear the tale. But they picked a loud bar full of people dancing and having a great time. It was hard to hear myself speak.

“Then I caught them together at a bar,” I finished.

Denise looked like she wanted to snap someone’s neck—anyone’s neck. “That sleazebag. He didn’t deserve you to begin with, and then he treats you like that…” She shook her head in disgust. “Terrible.”

“Yeah.” I went onto my fourth drink and felt the buzz shift into something deeper.

“You slapped him good, right?” Jasmine asked.

“As hard as I could. But Jett took care of him—a few times, actually.”

“Jett?” Denise asked.

“He’s my friend,” I said. “Actually, he’s my brother’s boyfriend.” It was still weird to think about. I was closer to Jett than I was to my own brother. We did everything together, even slept together.

“Gay men are the best,” Jasmine said. “Truly.”

“Yeah, and he’s so damn hot.” I blurted that out when I shouldn’t because I was drunk. “Why do gay men have to be so fine? He’s like the hottest guy I’ve ever seen.”

Denise raised an eyebrow. “Are you crushing on your brother’s man?”

“No,” I said immediately. “Of course not. But he is really hot. You should see him.”

“I don’t want to be tempted,” Jasmine said. “If I can’t have him, then why torture myself?”

I could say the same thing.

“You’re getting laid tonight,” Denise said. “By a fine guy who knows what he’s doing.”

I wasn’t interested in hooking up with a random stranger. I’d rather sleep with Jett and listen to him cheer me up. I never participated in the hook up culture even before Cameron came along. “I’m okay.”

“Come on,” Jasmine said. “At least talk to a cute guy.”

I finished my drink and moved onto a fifth. Like the alcohol suddenly had its affect, I drifted into a haze and felt the lack of inhibitions. I was so angry with myself for letting Cameron fool me, and I hated him for hurting me. I just wanted to drift away for the night and not rely on my brother’s ridiculously hot boyfriend to make me feel better. The thought made me realize just how strange my life had become. “Okay. What the hell?”

Denise clapped her hands in excitement. “That’s my girl.”

***

Denise and Jasmine found guys to entertain them for the night, and a decent looking blonde guy came my way. He smiled and had charming things to say, but I was so drunk I could have been talking to a manly girl and wouldn’t have known the difference.