Tangled Trust (The Lust List: Kaidan Stone #2) (6 page)

The lump in my throat is so big I can’t answer.

“Please, Hayley. Let me make this up to you.”

“I can’t go,” I choke out. I want to tell him this is over, that I’m done playing doppelganger, that I no longer trust him or anything he’s told me, but I can’t seem to make myself say it.

“Come with me,” he repeats.

“I don’t have anything to wear.” I really want to punch myself in the face right now. I should be telling him off, not talking about clothes.

“Every designer will be fighting to dress my date. Don’t even worry about that.”

“I can’t go. I’m busy.”

And with that, I hang up the phone and turn it off, because I can’t stand the sound of his lying voice anymore.

I close my eyes, my chest aching, and run a finger over my lips. I hate myself for still wanting him. I wish he’d show up at my door to apologize in person—to kiss me again like he did at the mansion… to finish what we started in his car. I think if he did that, I’d relent. I’d forgive him, and I’d believe anything he told me.

But it doesn’t happen, and it’s not going to. He forgot about me tonight. And now I need to forget about him.

Sleep clears my mind and gives me perspective, so I feel a little better the next morning. I’m not giving Kaidan any more chances, and my determination to fix my own problems is strong… until I realize I’m out of coffee. A caffeine withdrawal headache kicks in around noon as I start typing up my first-ever resume.

I have a degree. That’ll look good. Too bad I have no prior work experience. Oh, and a criminal record.
Ha ha. This will be fun.

My mood sinks when I have to eat a can of peas for lunch and drops even lower as I try to pad my work experience and fail miserably. I finally just start typing random crap to keep myself from crying.

College student (Retired) — professional party organizer, apothecary owner (chiefly pot and Adderall)

Rock Star Royalty (Current Position: Orphaned Princess) — battles evil villains, manages royal treasury, raises money by attending charity balls

Diamond Thief (Current Position: In Training)

Char texts me, saving me from my misery, and says she’s standing outside my building. I glance around my wreck of a house. Screw it. I’m not even gonna try to clean it up. I’ve never in my life had to clean up a house this messy, and I’m overwhelmed every time I think about tackling it. At least I took the garbage out.

I throw on some jeans and a tank top and buzz Char in.

She bounces through the door in leggings and an oversized tee and boots, holding a tray with two coffees in it. She hands me my favorite drink—a coconut mocha with whip.

“Oh my God. Thank you.” I mean every word. My gratitude knows no bounds as I sip the sweet taste of it and get the caffeine working through my system. I shut off my computer and collapse onto the pile of blankets on my couch.

Char’s pretty almond-shaped eyes widen as she takes in my mess, looking at me like I’m nuts. “Are you okay?”

She gingerly removes a discarded dress from the armchair and sits down, her face a mixture of confusion and worry. “That’s it. You’re not dodging my questions anymore. Tell me what’s up with you.” She pulls out her tablet and hands it to me. “What the heck happened?”

I put my coffee on the table and look down at the article on the tablet. I choke down a frustrated growl. Fucking
ScandalLust
.

“Hayley’s Psycho!” Kaidan Ready To Dump Her After She Violently Attacks An Innocent Pap!

Under the headline is a picture of me beneath a street lamp with raccoon eyes, spraying that pap in the face. Of course he brought along some friends to catch me in action. “Shit.”

“Is that headline true?”

I sigh. “Half-true?”

“Which half? And what were you doing alone at night like that… crying?”

“Kaidan asked me out, then didn’t show up and blamed it on work.”

Char’s face falls, and I can tell she’s hurt I didn’t tell her sooner. “Ouch.”

“This stupid pap came after me as I was leaving the restaurant, and I just snapped.”

“He had a patched vest and a gold earring, right?”

“Yeah…”

She grimaces. “Damn. You pepper-sprayed Kaptain Krutch. That’s what they call that guy.”

“Huh?”

“He’s the pap pirate that gets in everyone’s faces and then sues them when they inevitably flip out and hurt him. Devon Stone punched that guy in the face last year and got arrested. You can look it up.”

I shove the tablet back at Char and sink into my couch, my head in my arms. That’s exactly what I need. A litigious pirate on my quickly growing list of people I owe money to.

“I’m worried about you, Hayley. I’m here for you. You know that, don’t you?”

She waits, but I feel too sick to answer.

“You’ve been avoiding my calls since the party,” she says. “I also saw the pics of you and Kaidan kissing in his car. And pictures of him with that werewolf bitch. How could you not call me?” Her voice rises. “And this… This penthouse… Haven’t the maids been by since you got here? What’s going on?”

She’s right. About all of it. I’ve kept her completely in the dark. I stare at Char, at her perfect make-up, her red manicure, her straight black hair, glossy and styled into a smooth ponytail. If she stops being my friend because I’m broke, then she was never really my friend, was she? I guess it’s time to find out.

I exhale and meet her eyes. “First of all… I’m done talking about Kaidan. And I’m done with him. We’re not talking about him. Ever again. You have to agree.”

She furrows her brow and searches my face but nods.

“Second. No, the maids haven’t been by. Because I’m having some… trouble.”

“What kind of trouble?”

“Trouble with my inheritance.”

“Like… how?” Char asks, drawing the words out.

I groan and walk over to my window to peek out. The thugs never came back. Maybe this means they’re gone for good and they gave up.

I turn back to Char and fold my arms across my chest. “It’s just going to be a little while until I get the money—and my allowance was cut off, too, when my dad died. So… I’m really, really broke.”

I’m such a liar. Or at least an omitter of truth. But I don’t want the dumbass condition in my dad’s will ever getting out.

Char is quiet for a moment. Then she abandons her coffee and jumps up from her chair. She walks over to me, sidestepping pillows and other random crap on my floor. When she gets to me, she grabs both my arms and makes me look at her.

“
First
of all, I’m calling my mom’s maids over here. Second, you are my best friend, even if we only got to see each other during the summer. You should have told me. You know I’ll help you as much as I can.”

All her normal flighty stuff and her sarcasm… they’re gone. She’s just the Char I became best friends with as a kid. When she hugs me tight, the touch makes tears spring up in my eyes.

She leads me back to my messy couch, and we collapse onto it.

She waits, patient, to see if I want to tell her more.

“I’m looking for a job now.”

Char’s eyes light up. “Hey! Maybe we get one together. What about cupcakes! I hear they’re trendy right now. We can bake gluten-free cupcakes.”

I laugh. “Can we microwave cupcakes? Cause that is the extent of my cooking ability.”

Her brow furrows. “You know… I don’t actually know. Probably not.”

“Besides, does LA really want to eat cupcakes? Too many calories.”

“That’s true.” Char’s eyes widen. “Dog walking! We can start a dog walking service! Like cute little poodles and stuff.”

“Awesome!” I giggle, my chest lightening at all these ideas that don’t include cleaning toilets. “But… you get to pick up the poop.”

Charlotte makes a face. “Um…”

My buzzer sounds, and we both jump. I get up and answer the intercom.

“I have a delivery for Hayley Wade,” the doorman says.

“Who’s it from?”

“Kaidan Stone, ma’am.”

“Fine,” I say through gritted teeth. “Send it up.”

I retrieve my coffee from the table where I left it and sip at the cooling liquid, waiting for this mysterious delivery to arrive.

Char is staring at me hard. She wants to demand answers so bad, but she’s staying quiet, and I love her for it. Because I don’t have answers.

A knock sounds at the door. I check the peephole and see a slim brunette standing outside my door. Heart thumping, I open it, hoping this isn’t some kind of trick. The woman’s nose wrinkles at the mess behind me, and I resist the urge to slam the door in her face. She’s got an assistant with her, a skinny guy that reminds me of Levi, with a long plastic-covered rack between them.

“Come in,” I finally say.

They wheel in the clothes rack, and I hurry to make room for it beside my door, pushing aside boxes from Boston that I haven’t unpacked yet.

They unzip the black cover and pull it off. My hand goes to my chest. The rack is filled with gorgeous gowns—six of them. I can’t help myself. I step up to the first one and run my hand along the silky material.

The brunette hands me an envelope and gestures to the guy. They disappear from my penthouse and close the door behind them.

“Oh my God!” Char squeals, her old self again. She’s next to me in a flash, fondling the gowns like she wants to make love to them. “Why did he send these?”

My breath quickens as I tear open the envelope and pull out a piece of thick stationery. A simple note is scrawled across it.

I want to see you.

I’ll be there at 6 to pick you up for the awards show.

I hope you’ll give me another chance.

-K

Char peeks over my shoulder. “The HIT awards show?” She squeaks. She folds her hands together, pleading. “Please, please girl, I can’t hold it in anymore. Please tell me what the hell is going on with you and Kaidan Stone!”

I press the card to my chest, and I swear I can smell Kaidan’s woodsy cologne on it.

“I told him no. I’m done with him.” I’m so breathless, I’m practically whispering.

“Are you
crazy
?”

“Probably.” I glance at the time and then run a hand through my hair, still full of hair spray from last night. “I’m
not
going. I told him no. I only have three hours till he shows up. Look at me. Look at my house.”

I start for the desk where I left my phone, and Char grabs my arm. “Just tell me. I’m in the dark here.”

I grind my teeth. I’m not sharing anything about what happened at that party. It’s too humiliating. “Look, I saw him at my lawyer’s office, and he asked me to lunch. We went. It was… nice. Then he asked me out again and stood me up—and you saw the pictures of him with Peyton on
ScandalLust
… I don’t want to see him again.”

“Did you ask him
why
he was with Peyton?”

I hesitate. “No. No, I’m not giving him the satisfaction.”

She flares her nostrils. “Screw what the tabloids said. You know half of what they print is shit anyway. Ask him about it yourself. Tonight. Think about it. If he wanted Peyton, why would he be taking
you
to the awards? He’s Kaidan Motherfucking Stone. The man wants another chance. Give it to him!”

She has a point. If he’s with Peyton, why
isn’t
he taking her? This will be covered by all the major networks. Taking me down the red carpet would erase any speculation about who he’s with.

Char whips out her phone and dials. “David? I want you to call Maria and tell her I need her to come clean a penthouse. Tell her to bring her girls. I need it done fast.”

Char gives my address to her butler and then makes another call.

I glance back at the rack of dresses, yearning to find out if any of them fit, as Char calls her beauty salon. In a minute flat, she’s namedropped both her mom
and
Kaidan Stone to secure us both appointments an hour from now. She gives me a satisfied smile and a quick hug when she’s done.

“Your house will be clean, and you’ll look amazing before he gets here.”

“I can’t let you do this… I can’t pay you back.”

“Sure you can.” She grins and pokes me in the chest with a finger. “I’m sure I’ll be getting an invite to the afterparty tonight, right?”

I roll my eyes. But her enthusiasm has gotten to me, and a little flutter of excitement lights up in my belly at the thought of attending this show as Kaidan’s date. My resolve has melted into a puddle on the floor. Sure, I’m still mad at him for last night, but maybe he made an honest mistake and lost track of time at work. Maybe he has a good excuse for being seen at the cafe with Peyton. I never even gave him a chance to explain.

And if anyone doubts that his interest in me is real, they won’t after tonight. Tonight, the whole world will see us together.

Two and a half hours later, my penthouse is sparkling, and Char and I are trying to pick out my gown for the night.

I’m starting to sweat a little as I try on the gold gown for the fifth time, and I dab at my damp forehead lightly, trying not to smear the perfect makeup job Char’s hastily hired artist did. The guy picked all the perfect shades, bringing out my eyes, covering every last freckle with airbrush foundation. I’ve never looked this flawless.