The Unexpected Way of Falling in Love, Page 9
Jessica SorensenShe meticulously eyes me over. “You did talk to her for a while. Makes me wonder why.”
I put on a neutral expression. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, why the sudden interest in her?” She steps closer to me. “You’ve known her forever, and just a few days ago, you told her she wasn’t pretty.”
“No, I told you you weren’t pretty,” I clarify. “And only because you called me a pretty boy.”
A slow, wicked smile curls at her lips. “I knew it.”
“Knew what?” I question, feeling a bit on edge. Can she possibly know about the plan? How the fuck did she find out about it?
“You like her.” She points a finger at me, that evil grin on her face growing even more sinister. “I think you might have liked her for a while. Damn! I don’t know how I didn’t see this before.”
I relax a tiny bit. Emphasis on the tiny part, because she got part of it right.
“I think you’re looking way too into this.”
“No, I think I’m looking just the right amount. I just don’t know how I didn’t see it before.” The happiness in her eyes makes my uneasiness shoot up a notch. “But yeah, now that I think about it … all those times you’d come home drunk and try to annoy us was just your lame-ass attempt at trying to flirt with her.”
“Hey, I never lame-ass flirt. I’m fucking awesome. Just ask my fan club.”
“You might not be a lame flirt with those shallow, borderline stalkers who follow you around, but Ens isn’t one of those girls, and that throws you off your game.” She fists pumps the air. “Ha! I’m so freakin’ smart I amaze myself.”
My lip twitches in annoyance and worry rises inside me. The last thing I want is for Elodie to find out something she could use against me. And this is something she’d definitely use against me.
“Well, at least you amaze yourself, because no one else is impressed,” I say flatly as my phone rings from inside my pocket. I have a good guess who it is. “I have to go. I got some shit to take care of. Tell Mom I’ll meet her at the restaurant in a bit.”
“Aw, don’t pout. I’m not going to tell anyone you have a secret crush,” she calls out through her laughter. “And what about our deal? You owe me a story.”
“I’ll tell you when we get home,” I throw over my shoulder as I fish out my phone.
I don’t answer yet, not wanting to take the call in public—too many wandering ears around.
I make my way across the parking lot and toward my car. It’s a 1969 GTO that has been restored. I’ve owned the car ever since I turned sixteen, a present to myself that I bought with money I saved up over the years. My parents wanted to buy me a Porsche, but I told them I wanted to purchase my own car. My dad was impressed … until I drove up in an old junker that looked straight out of the junkyard. He lectured me for hours, telling me I had to return it, that it would ruin my image. I refused.
It was the first time I told him no, and it felt good. I’m just lucky he let it slide that time. And he may have thought the car was a piece of crap, but I could see the potential. A couple of years later, after some bodywork, a new paint job, and a total interior restoration, it looks way better than a Porsche. At least, in my opinion. And it runs great usually, but I need to take it in and get everything double-checked before I take Ens out tomorrow..
My stomach rolls with nerves as I think about tomorrow. Nerves of fear and excitement.
Shit, this isn’t good. I should be calm, or I’m going to mess this up.
“You’re not answering your phone.”
Startled, I drop my keys and phone as a girl with long, brown hair steps out from behind my car.
“Dammit, Ruby, a little warning before you do that would be great,” I say as I bend over to scoop up my keys and phone.
She rolls her eyes, almost reminding me of a mini Elodie. “I’m not supposed to be warning you. I’m supposed to be sneaking up on you.”
I check my phone over, making sure the fall didn’t break it. “Why are you here?”
“He sent me to run an errand for him.” She crosses her arms and stares me down. “And since I was already here, he told me I should check up on you.”
“What errand did he send you on that required you to come to the high school?” I ask, unlocking the car door.
“I delivered a rose.”
“To who?”
“To her.”
I tense, turning my head toward her. “To Ensley?”
She nods, her eyes doing this evil, sparkling thing. It’s something she does a lot, and it creeps me out. Yeah, I know I sound like a pussy—being scared of a little girl—but I don’t really give a shit. The girl is about as freaky as those twins in The Shining.
I open the car door but don’t climb in. “Why did he send her a rose?”
She raises a shoulder to shrug. “That’s not really any of your damn business.”
“Don’t say damn. It’s a bad word,” I feel the need to say.
She gives an exaggerated eye roll. “I’m twelve years old. I can swear if I want to.”
“I didn’t swear when I was twelve.”
“Liar.”
Okay, she has me there. Still …
“How did you even get here?” I rest my elbow on top of the door. “Your house is over thirty miles away.”
“My bodyguard brought me here. And he’s under strict orders to come looking for me if I’m not back in twenty.” She slips on her oversized sunglasses then pops a piece of gum into her mouth. “So, let’s get right down to the chase.”
I swear to God, she sounds like my dad.
“Dude, you’re twelve,” I annunciate. “Not fifty.”
“I’m an old soul. Get over it.” She pops a bubble, the only sign that she isn’t an adult trapped in a child’s body. “He wants an update on the situation.”
“I gave him an update last night.”
“Yeah, but a lot can happen overnight.”
“Well, not much has,” I tell her, knowing he’s not going to be happy about it. “I asked her out; she agreed. We’re going out tomorrow.”
“And where are you taking her?”
“I’m sure you already know the answer to that.”
“Yeah, but I need to make sure.” She taps her foot against the ground. “What did you talk to her about earlier?”
Anxiousness stirs inside me. I hate how she seems to know everything.
“How did you know I talked to her?”
“Because I was eavesdropping,” she replies with a simple shrug. “She didn’t really seem that into you.”
“If you were eavesdropping, then why did you ask what I talked to her about?” As the rest of her words catch up to me, I add, “Wait? What do you mean she didn’t really seem that into me?”
She rolls her eyes again. “Do I really need to explain this to you?”
“No. Because there’s nothing to explain. She’s into me.”
“God, boys are so naive sometimes.”
“And you’re twelve,” I annunciate again. “You should be out playing and going to movies and hanging out at the pool. You know, kid stuff. Not standing here, arguing with me because your father treats you like his secretary.”
“I’m not his secretary. I’m his business associate. I actually own half of his businesses.”
There are no words. Seriously.
“So, you’re twelve and you own a bunch of clubs?” I question. “And that’s what you want?”
“Of course it’s what I want. It’s a great opportunity,” she quips. “Too bad for your father that you don’t think the same way.”
I rake my fingers through my hair as I blow out a deafening breath. “There’s a huge difference between owning a bunch of clubs and being part of what my father does. I don’t want anything to do with that.”
“Why? Because you’re such a good guy?” Her sassy attitude is grating on my nerves.
“You don’t know anything about me, little girl. And even though you�
re obviously stuck in some sort of Freaky Friday vortex, you donât know jack shit about life yet.â
âNeither do you.â She offers me a sassy smirk. âBut I have a feeling youâre about to.â Then she turns on her heels and waves goodbye to me from over her shoulder. âHave fun trying to win over a girl who doesnât like you. And have fun dealing with the consequences from my father when you donât pull off your side of the deal.â
âIâll pull it off!â I shout. âIâm Carter fucking Everlend.â Two seconds later, I let out a, âFuuuck,â because I sound like a douchebag. And Iâm drawing a crowd. Great. Just what I need right now.
âYou okay, man?â Holden asks as he approaches his BMW parked next to my car.
âYeah, fan-freakinâ-tastic.â I plaster on a shiny, fake smile. âI was just putting someone in their place.â
âReally?â He twirls his car keys around his finger. âBecause it looked like you were arguing with a twelve-year-old girl, and she won.â
I resist a gulp. âYou saw that?â
He nods. âYep.â
As we stare each other down, my skin begins to crawl.
âHow much did you hear?â I finally ask, worried he recognized Ruby.
âNot too much.â He shrugs. âBut Iâm curious why you were talking to the daughter of Gregor Hartingford, aka the wealthiest fucking guy in Fareland who owns the most exclusive clubs in the country. So exclusive that not even me or you can get into one.â
If he knew how wrong he was, heâd freak out. Iâve been to the clubs many times. Have been going for a couple of months now, ever since I made the deal with Gregor. If Holden ever found out about that, though, heâd insist I take him. And I canât. I canât mix my old life with my new one.
âIs that who she was?â I feign dumb. âFuck. I thought she was just some spoiled brat trying to key my car.â
His brows rise. âSeriously?â
âYeah. I caught her by my car and stopped her before she did it.â
âDude, how did you not know it was her? Everyone whoâs anyone knows that.â
âI guess Iâm no one, then.â And sometimes, I wish I was.
Life might be easier that way.
Instead, Iâm standing here, lying to my friend. And while most of my friends suck, Holden is actually pretty decent, enough that I tell him stuff about my life, like how I secretly like my sisterâs quiet, cute BFFFB.
I roll my eyes at my use of the acronym. Great, Elodie, thanks for that.
Then I mentally sigh as I think about how Holden isnât the only person Iâve been lying to. My sister, too. And then, of course, Ensley.
âHey, I have to take off,â I tell Holden before Iâm forced to lie even more. âIâve got this lunch thing with my family, and then Iâm taking my car in to get looked at before my date tomorrow.â
âAw, right, the big date.â He grins. âDude, I still canât believe she agreed to go out with you. I always thought you bugged the shit out of her.â
âMe, too,â I agree, ignoring my phone buzzing inside my pocket, though I tense, knowing more than likely that itâs Gregor calling me. âHonestly, I was surprised as shit when she said yes ⦠twice.â
âYeah, I know. Itâs really weird.â He rubs his jawline thoughtfully. âMaybe sheâs screwing with you.â
âThatâs not really her MO.â Itâs mine.
God, I suck.
It wouldâve been so much easier if I had to date one of the girls from my fan club who I didnât really care about. And yes, Iâm completely aware that having a fan club makes me look like a straight up douche. But donât hate me. I didnât create it.
âYeah, I guess not.â Doubt still lingers in his expression.
For a faltering moment, I worry maybe heâs right. Perhaps Ensley is messing with me. I highly doubt it. And considering what Iâm doing to her â¦
Maybe I deserve to get played. Itâd be the perfect punishment for every sin Iâve ever committed.
I move to get in my car as the guilt crushes my chest.
âAnd hey, remember that youâre not allowed to shave yet,â he calls out through a laugh.
I slide into the driverâs seat, leaving the door open as I drag my hand across my scruffy jawline. âWasnât planning on it.â
âGood. Because if you do, you lose the bet.â He muses over something. âAlthough, I have a feeling youâre going to end up losing, anyway.â
âNot gonna happen.â My tone rings with confidence.
He shoves his hands into the pockets of his slacks and shrugs. âWeâll see in a couple of weeks.â
âYeah, weâll see your dumbass lose.â
Before he can say anything else, I close the door.
He grins and flips me the middle finger as I start up the engine and peel out of the parking lot. I barely make it out into the road when my phone rings again. Call me weird, but Iâm not one for talking on the phone while I drive, so I pull over next to the curb before answering.
âWhatâs up?â I aim to sound casual, but an edge always seems to creep into my tone every time I talk to Gregor.
âIsnât that what I should be asking you?â Gregor asks. âYouâre the one whoâs been ignoring my calls.â
âI havenât been ignoring them.â I crack the window to let some air in. âThereâs just been a lot going on today.â
âRuby says you werenât busy when she talked to you,â he replies. âIn fact, she said you werenât doing anything.â
I shake my head. Damn, that girl is starting to piss me off. âThatâs completely inaccurate.â
âSo, youâre calling my daughter a liar?â
âNo.â Yes, but Iâm not about to tell one of the richest, most powerful men in the country that. Not if I want a chance at whatâs waiting for me if I pull this deal off. âI think she might have just been a little confused about the situation.â
âOr she was just trying to cause trouble.â He laughs like his daughter getting me into trouble is adorable. I donât find it so funny. âSheâs quite a handful when she wants to be. Itâs good, though. The girlâs got spunk. Sheâs going to make a great business partner one day.â
I frown, suddenly realizing that, if this deal works out, Iâll be dealing with Ruby a lot more than I want to. âShe told me she was already.â
âShe likes practicing for when she becomes part-owner,â he explains. âSome kids like dolls. Some kids like trucks. Some kids like playing make-believe. Some like playing CEO. In reality, itâs all pretty much the same.â
No, itâs not. At all. And he sounds just like my father and mother, which makes me feel a bit sorry for Ruby.
âHave you ever tried to give her a doll or a truck?â I wonder as I rest my hand on top of the steering wheel.
âI did give her some dolls once. She hated them. Cut off all their hair and painted their faces up like clowns. It was kind of creepy.â
I donât know why, but that doesnât surprise me.
âBut, anyway.â He clears his throat. âI just wanted to call and get an update. I know you said she was going to a party with you next week, but then I heard a little rumor that youâre taking her to one of my clubs tomorrow night.â
I fiddle with the keychain. âI thought it might be a good idea to get her introduced to that world so sheâs not so shocked.â
âThatâs a good idea,â he says. âMaybe Iâll stop by, too.â
âTomorrow night? Isnât that a little soon?â
âIâll just say a quick hello. Or maybe just see her. Nothing more.â
I want to tell him thatâs a bad idea, that if she recognizes him, the plan will go to shit. But Iâm not really in a place to tell him what to do. Not if I want to achieve my goal.
âOkay, sounds good.â Then I bite down on my tongue, worried I might be crossing a line, but the need to ask eventually wins. âYou sent her a rose today?â
âIt was her graduation. Of course I did.â His voice shakes with anger. âIâm sick and ti
red of her mother keeping her from me. Iâm the one who looks bad here. Iâm the one whoâs missed out on everything. Iâm the one whoâs had to stand by and watch my daughter live a shitty life when she couldâve been given anything she wanted. But her motherâs too stubborn. Always has been.â
Iâm not so convinced thatâs the only reason Gregor hasnât seen his daughter for almost her entire life, especially since heâs the sort of man who can pretty much get whatever he wants. Why not just see Ensley? Or send her money? Whatâs been stopping him?
I havenât asked any of those questions yet. I probably shouldâve before I made the deal with him, but I was too worried about the deal in general.
Yep, I bet I can guess what youâre thinking. He made a deal with Ensleyâs dad? Her father sheâs never known and who she thinks abandoned her? I donât know why youâre surprised. I already told you I was an asshole. The part that makes me really suck, though, is that I like Ensley. More than a lot. Sheâs sweet, cute, kind and has the most beautiful laugh Iâve ever heard. That is, when she laughs. She doesnât do it too often when Iâm around.
She doesnât deserve what Iâm doing. She deserves so much better. But when the deal was proposed to me, I wanted it so damn badly. It was my way out. My golden ticket to escaping my fatherâs future for me. A corrupt future that will lead to me continuing to live a fake, controlled life. So I selfishly agreed to the deal. But with every moment I spend talking to Ens, I become more conflicted.
âJust remember not to tell her whatâs going on,â Gregor reminds me. âIf she finds out what weâre up to before Iâm ready to tell her, the dealâs off. Because, if I have the element of surprise taken away, sheâll run. I need her to trust me first.â
âI know.â Of course I know. Heâs told me the same thing a hundred times.
âGood.â He gives a short pause. âYouâre a good guy, Carter. You really are. I hope this all works out.â
More guilt piles on my chest as his words sink in. Heâs wrong. He really is. If I were a good guy, I wouldnât be doing this to Ensley. If I were a good guy, Iâd open my mouth right now and tell him the dealâs off.