Chapter Eleven
Lawliss
What is Edmund doing here? That question has been running through my mind non-stop. I thought we weren’t going to see each other again. The last time I saw him was a week ago and since then, he’s been on my mind.
For years he stayed away, so I thought he would continue; that’s what ignited my reckless decision in Florida. How was I supposed to know we’d meet again just a week after our night together? A night ingrained in my body, soul, and mind. A night that’s awakened a desire I thought buried. It’s been a week, yet I can still feel his hands all over me. His taste has been living in my head rent fee.
What have I gotten myself into? I sigh and pick up my glass, taking in my surroundings.
Eddie is currently sitting between Elisa and me, his left hand draped on the couch behind me. I just wish it was on my body instead of the couch. Dashiell is beside Lauren, with Aria sitting to his right and across from me.
Dash has been unusually quiet since Eddie arrived. The guy Eddie came with is now sitting alone in a one-man couch that was added to our booth. I recognize him as the man who brought the documents Eddie made me sign.
Everyone here seems to be enjoying Eddie’s company, acting as if no time had passed since we last saw him. Well, maybe they’re really excited to see him again but I can’t bring myself to share in their joy considering I met him a week ago and what transpired.
Eddie’s regaling us with stories about his life, but he hasn’t mentioned two important things that I find strange: why he left in the first place and why he’s back now. All he’s been talking about is his grandparents, whom none of us have ever met. Considering we were practically family, that in itself feels off but from the way he describes them, they seem like good people.
“If it hadn’t been for my grandparents, I would have—” he begins, but I cut him off.
“What are you doing here?” I blurt out, looking Eddie straight in the eye with my heart racing as if it’s about to drop. I won’t deny that his earlier comment about the way I’m moving on didn’t hurt, and if I’m being honest with myself, that’s why I’m acting this way—giving off the I don’t care attitude when all I’m doing is seeking attention, which is ridiculous if you think about it.
“Can’t I be here?” he replies, raising a brow.
“I don’t know. Maybe because you haven’t stepped foot here and by here, I mean Louisville since the death of your parents,” I say, taking a measured sip of my drink. My voice drips with casual indifference, though my chest tightens. The table quiets and I feel my heartbeat racing louder, but I press on.
“Or maybe because this bar should be the last place you’d want to be.” I obviously know what this place used to be. After all, we all have memories of here.
“Lawliss!” Aria chastises, her tone sharp.
I shrug, feigning nonchalance. “Aren’t you all curious why he’s here after so many years?” I glance around at the others. “Am I the only one who thinks something seems off?” I’ve felt that way since I first saw him here. Surprised sure, I am, but someone who vanishes into thin air and couldn’t be found suddenly comes here? My logical part refuses to think all is pure coincidence. Dash clears his throat, shooting me a look that clearly says, cut it out.
I shake my head and chuckle. “What do you want to say to me, Dash baby?” I tease, watching as Eddie’s jaw tightens and his eyes darken. Dash’s reaction isn’t lost on Elisa, who perks up, sensing the tension.
“What’s wrong, Dash? Why are you so quiet?” Elisa asks, her tone playful but probing.
Dash laughs nervously. “It’s a nice night to be out,” he answers, avoiding her gaze.
“Indeed it is,” I mumble, swirling my drink. I feel he’s hiding something but what do I know? Dash is a mysterious guy.
“Dash, did you get into trouble with anyone here or is it Eddie?” Elisa asks in mock shock, causing me to chuckle and Lauren to nearly choke on her drink.
“This guy?” Lauren says, gesturing at Dash. “In trouble? Please. If there’s any issue, it’s probably just anxiety.” She turns to look at Dash, who seems genuinely shaken.
“What the hell!” Lauren exclaims. “It’s not like your mom’s here or any client.” She remarks, glancing at the rest of us. Her gaze finally settles on Eddie, whose gaze is fixed on me. I’ve felt his gaze on me throughout the night but I’ve chosen to ignore what it’s doing to me. It’s like I have a crush on him all over again, which doesn’t make sense to me.
“Are you one of his clients?” Lauren asks, her expression suddenly serious.
“And if I am?” Eddie replies in a bored tone. He picks up his whiskey, which he’d ordered earlier when the server came by to take our refill orders.
“I don’t know,” Lauren says plainly. “I’d just ask if you’re the type to make or unmake his business.”
Dash is already a millionaire and doesn’t need most of the clients he takes on. For some reason, though, he insists on working with those who could shake up his PR consultancy, claiming the challenge helps him grow. Eddie’s gaze lingers on Lauren for a moment, his expression unreadable. The air seems to thicken around us, the weight of unspoken tension pressing against the booth. Then he lets out a low chuckle.
“It was good while it lasted,” Eddie says, setting his glass on the table before standing.
“Sit down, Edmund,” Aria says, her tone flat but carrying an edge of warning.
He hesitates for a fraction of a second, enough for me to catch it but then leans back, settling into his seat with deliberate nonchalance. “Fine,” he replies, his voice calm, though the sharpness in his gaze betrays him. “What do you want, Aria?”
Aria studies him for a moment, her expression unreadable. “Nothing,” she says finally, her voice lighter, almost teasing. “You can go ahead. The exit’s that way.” Eddie chuckles, though it sounds hollow, almost bitter. “Still know how to get under my skin, don’t you?”
Watching the exchange, I can’t help but notice how different they are now. Eddie was always a happy soul; arrogant, sure, but he laughed and smiled, especially around Aria. They used to share an unbreakable bond, a friendship that made everyone jealous. But now, it’s as though time has turned them into strangers.
If even they couldn’t hold on to each other, then who am I to hope for more? I chuckle to myself, though the sound feels bitter on my tongue.
“Mr. Montgomery,” Eddie’s companion finally speaks, his voice calm but sharp enough to cut through the tension. We all turn to him as he sips his fruit juice, looking completely at ease. I glance at Eddie, noticing the shift in his demeanor. His companion’s words seem to press a hidden button, and the dangerous aura around him intensifies. It’s unsettling, this quiet threat he carries now—like he’s someone entirely different.
“Han was right when he said drinking juice at a bar gives a different feel, Mr. Montgomery,” his companion says, raising his glass in a casual toast.
“Montgomery,” I murmur, the name tugging at something in my memory. M Industries. Europe. Eddie left for Europe when he disappeared, and from what I’ve heard, the headquarters of the company moved here recently. My mind races as I piece it together. “Montgomery…”
Elisa, seated beside Eddie, shifts closer to me. “Does this Montgomery happen to be the same as M Industries?” She asks, her attention sharp as she glances between Eddie and his companion.
“Yes,” Eddie replies, his voice steady but his gaze is now fixed on me. I stand abruptly, the weight of realization crashing over me.
“Isn’t your name Edmund Ansah? Why is he calling you Mr. Montgomery? What’s going on?” Elisa asks, clearly confused.
I force a small smile, though my chest feels tight. “What do you want me to know, Lawliss?” Eddie asks, his voice steady, almost resigned.
What do I want to know? Everything. I want to know who he’s become, why he left, why he’s here now, what becomes of us, why he agreed to my proposition if he knew he would be coming back and that too, soon but I have a feeling he won’t tell me.
“Nothing, Mr. Montgomery,” I say instead, the words tasting bitter. “Indeed, it was good while it lasted.” My voice cracks slightly, but I turn before anyone can notice.
“I have a slight headache, so I’ll be leaving first,” I say to no one in particular, desperate for escape. Eddie stands, “Let me drop you off,” he offers, his tone more commanding than kind.
“No, thank you.” I cut him off before he could say more. “I can call an Uber, or my driver can pick me up.” Hugging and kissing my sisters quickly, I step out of the booth, ignoring the way Eddie’s eyes follow me. My emotions are in turmoil as I step outside. I hate the way my body reacts to Eddie. All I can think about is how much I want to kiss him again, despite everything. He’s been near me, sitting beside me, his eyes following my every move, making it impossible to shut him out. His cologne, that maddening mix of mint and cider, clings to the air around me, hitting my senses in waves and driving me insane.
* * *
Eddie
I sigh loudly and turn to look at Josh, who has made everything more complicated. The fucking guy shrugs.
“Hey, don’t blame me,” He says, looking at me over the rim of his glass.
The detached way he’s behaving gets under my skin. Before I know it, I’m gripping a throw pillow and hurling it straight at his head. It lands with a satisfying thud, knocking the glass from his hand. The crash of shattering glass echoes through the room with his stupid juice spilling over his white shirt.
“What the fuck, Eddie?” He shouts, glaring at the mess. I smirk with satisfaction and glee but it’s cut short with Aria’s strained and measured laugh.
“Looks like your friend here tried to help by blowing your cover before you were ready to spill the beans,” she says, probably having read in between the lines. I would have told them about everything. If there is someone I can bring myself to speak to, it’s them, but I don’t say that. Instead, I say, “I wasn’t hiding anything,” the words clipped and low.
“Right,” Aria replies, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Because you being a Montgomery or your name changing to that is something everyone knows off the bat.”
“What do you want with our sister?” Lauren’s question lands next. The earlier friendly vibe is gone. Now, the sisters are glaring at me, their united front impossible to ignore. Lauren’s gaze is steady, her voice calm and devoid of emotion, but the weight of her words settles heavily on me.
What do I want with Lawliss? I want my wife to look at me the way she did a week ago.
The tension in the room thickens as their stares bore into me, peeling back every wall I’ve carefully built. My expression hardens, my emotions snapping into place behind the familiar mask I’ve perfected over the years. But it’s no use. They’ve already seen too much.
Aria leans back, arms crossed, her tone softer but no less knowing. “I’ve always known you had a thing for Lawliss. Back then, I figured we became fast friends because of it and didn’t say anything. But now? It’s painfully obvious you still carry a torch for her.”
She knew? How? I never told her. I thought I was careful. Was I that obvious?
My chest tightens as the truth of her words hits too close to home.
“The question is,” Elisa says, standing and brushing her hands down her sides, “what are you going to do about it this time?”
Oh, I have, except none of you would like it. I think of the promises I’ve broken, the lines I’ve crossed, and the fact that I’d do it all over again just to have her.
She doesn’t wait for an answer, turning and heading for the door, with Aria following close behind.
Lauren rises last, taking a moment to glance at me before she speaks. Her voice is quiet, her words deliberate. “You were never a coward before, Eddie. Don’t let that change now.” She taps my shoulder as she leaves, her words lingering in the silence she leaves behind.
Dash is the only one left, leaning back in his chair as he swirls the last of his drink, his steady gaze pinning me in place.
“If you wish to pursue Lawliss, I wouldn’t be against it. Heaven knows she deserves better,” he says, his tone calm and measured, the earlier fear and anxiety gone. “But if you hurt her? I can’t promise who I’ll become.”
The weight of his words hangs heavy, but I don’t respond. He stands and brushes past me without another word.
“You know Dash isn’t an ordinary man, right?” Josh comments from the corner, breaking the silence. I nod, my thoughts already elsewhere.
“But they’re right, you know,” Josh adds after a moment.
“Not another comment. Let’s go,” I say, my tone leaving no room for argument. He doesn’t press, just rises and follows me out.
By the time we make it downstairs, the bar has quieted, its usual hum tapering off as the crowd thins.
“Drive,” I say abruptly, tossing my keys to Josh.
Josh arches a brow but catches them without comment. “Where to?”
Scanning the street, I spot Lawliss at the bus stop near the bar, walking toward a dark alley.
“Follow her,” I mutter, already heading for the passenger side of the car.
Josh doesn’t argue. The car hums to life, and we roll forward, trailing Lawliss as she moves under the flickering streetlights. She walks slowly like she’s lost in thought, her head slightly bowed, her steps deliberate.
“Lawliss,” I call out, my voice cutting through the stillness of the night.
She stops mid-step, her shoulders stiffening. When she turns, her gaze meets mine, her expression guarded. I don’t blame her. This is my fault. Instead of winning her over, I made her wary.
“Edmund?” she says, her voice cautious.
Josh slows and parks in front of her. With the window rolled down, I say, “Let me take you home,” my voice low and steady.
“No, thank you,” she responds curtly, turning away. As if on cue, thunder cracks through the sky.
With the weather on my side, I try again. “Please.”
For a moment, she doesn’t respond. Her eyes search mine, and then she nods, her shoulders relaxing just slightly.
“Okay,” she murmurs.
Relief washes over me. I get out and gesture toward the back seat, my chest loosening just enough to let me breathe when she sits. I slide in next to her, gesturing for Josh to drive.
“Thanks,” she mumbles, staring out the window.
I nod, giving Josh directions as the car glides through the quiet streets.