Making the Grade (16 page)

“Grow a pair, sugar. Or some woman will see what you’ve been missing and snap that man up before you can say boo.”

Rex rubbed a tear off her cheek, then unlocked and left the office, shutting the door behind him.

Faith stared at it, dazed, befuddled and so very, very alone.

But not for long. Arriving home, she found Freddy, Hailey and Sydney waiting for her.

“Shit.”

Freddy glared. “You, missy, are in for a world of hurt.”

“Can we drop the theatrics and get inside?” Hailey groaned. “My feet hurt.”

Sydney frowned at them. “Ew. They look like tiny sausages.”

Faith couldn’t help a laugh. “Oh my God. Just go inside before the super kicks me out for having obnoxious houseguests. And yeah, I mean you, Freddy.”

Freddy stomped in after Hailey and Sydney. Then the group turned to watch her.

“Go ahead.” Since she’d been avoiding them all week, she knew they had a lot to say.

The three of them talked over one another, rarely waiting for the other to speak, and mostly arguing about Faith’s stupidity. They did seem to agree that she was nothing short of moronic.

“I mean, really.” Hailey shook her head. “They don’t come much better than Brian. What are you holding out for? Superman?”

“He loves you. God. Don’t be dense,” Freddy snapped. “Do you have any idea how hard it is to find someone my brother’s attracted to that I actually like? Why are you doing this to me?”

“Good point. Why are you doing this to us?” Sydney asked. “We suffer when you go moping around. All that recuperative chocolate and ice cream isn’t helping my thighs any. Come on, Faith. Why are you sabotaging yourself?”

They all grew quiet as they waited for her to answer.

When she burst into tears, the condemnation swiftly turned to comfort.

“Christ, Freddy. Why don’t you go kick some puppies while you’re at it?” Sydney snapped.

“
You
made her cry,” Freddy retorted.

“You both did. Now I’m going to cry.” Hailey sniffed. “Stupid hormones. Faith, stop. You’re killing us.”

“Well
you’re
attacking
me
,” Faith said between breaths, wiping her eyes.
Angry tears, not sad ones,
she tried to convince herself.

“She has a point,” Freddy agreed. “I’m sorry, Faith. It’s just… We can all see how great you two are together. I know Brian has feelings for you. He’s avoiding me and the guys. The one time I managed to corner him, he looked awful. He’s so sad.”

Faith’s eyes watered some more.

“He only gets like this when he’s hurt.”

“Freddy, she gets the point,” Hailey said. She and Sydney surrounded Faith on the couch, with Freddy sitting on her coffee table, effectively pinning her between them. “Now, Sumner. What’s the deal?”

Faith felt like a colossal idiot. “I fucked up.”

Freddy snorted. “We get that.”

Sydney frowned. “Freddy.”

“Sorry. Nice mouth, by the way, Faith. You look too girly to swear like a sailor, but color me impressed.”

Cute little Freddy had Brian’s sense of humor. It hurt to hear it, as much as it salved her to be near some part of him. Faith explained the meeting with her mother, sparing herself no embarrassment as she recounted the details.

“Ew. Mother sex. Been there, done that,” Sydney said. “What? Did you really think your mom was the only ho around?”

“Sydney.” Hailey laughed. “Ignore her, Faith. I guess I just don’t get why you’re mad at Brian. Unless he made fun of you or something. Did he hit on your mom?”

“Gross.” Freddy glared at her.

“I’m just asking.”

Faith sighed. “No. He was so sweet, so nice. And he treated my mom with respect. I just… I was humiliated. I mean, we find my mom banging the banker. Then she’s trying to dig into Brian’s finances. She has no shame, none at all. It bugs the hell out of me.”

“As it should,” Sydney agreed. “But that mess of her life is hers. Not yours. It’s taken me a lot of therapy to understand that my mother’s choices are not mine. Your mom’s aren’t yours, either.”

“Unless you’re doing all the guys at the bank too. Are you?” Freddy asked, a twinkle in her eyes.

“Ack. No.” Faith sniffed. She paused, then confessed, “Brian told me he loves me. He wants me to move in.”

“Well?” Hailey asked.

“I can’t. He’s too good for me.”

Freddy started laughing. “That’s rich. My brother, the whore?”

“What?”

“In college, he slept around quite a bit. I heard the stories, even living with Mom. I missed him a lot so I kept tabs. The nosy little sister. That was me. Big brother had a habit of sleeping with and ditching his dates. He wasn’t too nice until he grew the hell up. And I hate to break it to you, but we weren’t rich. I’m still not. He might have some money, but he’s as plain and simple as we are.”

“He just has a nicer car,” Sydney added. When Hailey pinched her, she shrugged “What? It’s true. Did you see his Audi?”

“What is this really about, Faith?” Freddy asked. “Because it sounds like it’s not Brian or your mom. It’s you.”

Faith slumped in her seat. “I—it is. I worry that he’s too good for me, that I’m not worthy of his attention. Damn it. I’ve been seeing Dylan for months. You’d think I’d be over this by now. I’m not dating losers, am I?”

Hailey answered, “I don’t think Brian’s a loser.”

“I think he’s hot.”

Freddy glared at Sydney. “Really? I’m right here.”

“What about Derrick?” Hailey asked.

“What about him? He’s hot too.” Sydney smirked. “And he’s all mine. It took me a while to see the light, but I did. Thank God, because that man is amazing. And so am I. Just like you, Faith. Figure out what you want in life and grab it by the balls.”

“Gently,” Freddy advised. “I’d like to be an aunt sometime.”

Hailey laughed. “Geez. Faith, do you think you can figure this out? Because if Dylan isn’t helping, Barbara is wonderful.” The Warren boys’ mother was also a well-known therapist.

“No. I don’t need more therapy.” Faith sighed. Truth time. “I need to get my head out of my ass and figure out what to do.”

“About…?” Freddy prodded.

The others leaned closer.

“About how to apologize to Brian and see if he’ll take me back.”

Freddy whooped. “I hate to tattle, but Brian is totally in love with you. It won’t take much to get in his good graces.”

“Maybe not, but he deserves it. I’ll grovel for Brian.
Only
for Brian.”

Freddy punched her in the shoulder. “Good. I’ll reserve you a room at the club. Same one as before?”

Sydney and Hailey turned wide eyes on her.

“Freddy,” Faith growled.

“Oh wow. You really are a ho!” Sydney exclaimed. “I’m so jealous. I’ve been meaning to play there.”

“Me too.” Hailey clapped. “Just as soon as I can convince Gage rough sex won’t hurt the baby.”

The others cringed. “TMI.”

“On that note, don’t forget my bachelorette party next week. I want a lot of presents.”

“And strippers,” Sydney added.

Faith relaxed and laughed with her friends, all the while wondering how best to show Brian that she’d seen the error of her ways. That she was a woman worth loving as much as he was a man she’d be proud to love, have and hold. Forever.

Chapter Twelve

Brian sighed. He’d been doing that a lot lately. He couldn’t help it.

“Dude, you’re harshin’ my buzz.”

“Fuck off.”

“Ooh, scary, Brian.” Rex laughed and slapped Brian on the back. “Come on, man. Lighten up. This is your second outing at the club. Enjoy.”

Brian snorted. “I’m here to be your designated driver,
only
because I lost a bet.” And had nothing better to do on a Saturday night than watch TV or stare at the raindrops sliding down his windows. Anything was preferable to being alone and wondering if Faith would ever come to her senses.

He understood she needed to work things out, but he had a bad feeling she’d never be able to accept his wealth. God, he was so much more than that. Why did women constantly focus on that part of him? Was there nothing redeemable about him—the man?

“Wallowing again.” Rex downed his bottle and slid it to the bartender. Not Freddy tonight, fortunately.

Brian didn’t think he could handle getting ragged on by his sister or her annoyingly happy lovers. And if Dylan tried to head-shrink him one more time, he’d haul off and smack the guy in the mouth…then run like hell when Harper came after him.

He sighed again.

“That’s it. Let’s go.” Rex nodded to the bartender to put his bill on his tab, then dragged Brian with him upstairs.

“What are you—”

“Just help me to the room and make sure I don’t pass out before I get naked. Then you can go.”

“Jesus, Rex. You can’t fuck your date with drink dick.”

“So? I can still eat her out.”

“Who’s the girl? Do I know her?”

“Darcy Stanfield.”

Brian almost tripped over his own feet as they climbed to the third floor. “You’re kidding.”

“Yeah, I am. I’d rather be dead than touch any part of Darcy’s body.”

“Good. You had me worried for a minute.” He tensed as Rex continued toward the same room he’d shared with Faith. “Aw, man. Really?”

“I hate to be insensitive and shit, but I’m horny and this is the only room open tonight. Full house, my man.” Rex burped, and Brian frowned.

“How much have you had to drink, exactly? Because I saw two beers, but you’re acting like—”

“I started before you got here. Sorry. I was thirsty.” Rex moved faster, until Brian had to race to catch him. Kind of spry for a drunk.

“Hey, wait.”

Rex waved a keycard over the lock and entered. Brian followed.

Inside, firelight and candles glowed against the dark. So much like the night he’d shared with Faith.

It hurt his heart to remember it.
Fuck, I miss her. The little idiot.
How the hell could she think he didn’t mean all that he’d said? That he’d ever make fun of her mother or treat her like she didn’t matter?

“I’m out. Later.” Rex turned and left him staring unseeingly at the fireplace.

“Wait. Rex?” he said to the closed door.

“It’s just you and me,” a soft voice said from the shadows behind him.

He whipped around to see Faith wearing…nothing.

He swallowed hard, immediately aroused. And confused. “Faith?” For a moment he imagined her meeting Rex, and his temper skyrocketed. “What the fuck?”

“I’m so sorry, Brian.” She drew closer and kissed him briefly before backing up.

He tried hard not to look beneath her chin, but he was only human. Her breasts were full, her nipples tiny rose beads. Her belly was flat, her waist slender. She wore her hair down, the soft brown strands caressing the tops of her breasts.

“Faith?” He had trouble swallowing.

“You were right. It was never you or my mom. It was me.” She dragged a hand down her chest, lingering over the tip of her breast. “I missed you.”

“I… What do you want?” He had to focus so as not to give in to his lust and bend her over right then and there. They had to talk.

“I wanted you to know that I want you back.”

“I never left. You did.”

Her eyes glistened. “I know,” she whispered. “Brian, I’ve made a lot of mistakes. I’ve doubted myself for a long time. But with you, I felt so right. So complete. I miss that. I miss you.”

“Faith.” He held his arms out, and she went into them and hugged him tight. Once again, all was right in the world.

“I’m so sorry I was such a bitch.” She looked him in the eye. “I was embarrassed about my mom, and I took it out on you. I grew up with Alice. I know what she’s like. Yeah, she loves me, but she’s a user when it comes to men.”

“Maybe she’s had to be to support herself.” He’d been doing a lot of thinking about what had gone wrong between them and why.

“I know. But Brian, I was just like her not too long ago. God, I dated Jeremy Pichter.”

“Yeah, that’s not good.” He shook his head and stifled a grin. “I mean. Really. The guy’s a dick.”

“I know.” She pulled his head down so she could kiss him again, and his body flared at the contact. “I missed you so much. I made such a mess of everything. I won’t lie and say I’m not still freaked out about your money. I’ll still want to pay my way for things.”

“Fine by me.”

“But I want us to be together. You make me happy. With you, I can be myself.”

“Same goes. You have no idea what it’s like to always be on guard. You’re the first woman who made me feel as if I matter. Not my money, my family connections or my job. Just me.”

A tear trickled down her cheek. “I love you, Brian.”

“Oh, baby. I love you too.”

“Will you forgive me?”

“For being a dumbass?”