Chapter Twenty-Nine
Bram
A n intense surge of jealousy pours over me as I watch the man Quinn called Lawrence sweep his gaze over her. Wolf. His eyes hold the same look as a hungry wolf as it stalks its prey.
My hand travels from the small of Quinn’s back to wrap protectively around her waist. She glances up at me, a mixture of emotions playing across her face.
“It has been a long time, but you look ravishing as ever,” Lawrence says in a low, seductive voice before taking a sip from the glass he’s holding.
Seriously? Does this guy have no boundaries?
Quinn stiffens, and I decide it’s time to intervene. Reaching out my hand, I introduce myself. “Hello, Lawrence. I’m Bram. Quinn’s husband.” His eyes widen for a brief moment as I squeeze his hand in a firm grip before letting go.
“Ah. Well, congratulations are in order I see.” His calculating eyes dart between Quinn and me. “Do I know you from somewhere? You look so familiar. What did you say your last name was again?”
“I didn’t. And it’s Baxter. Bram Baxter.”
Lawrence’s eyes light up as he snaps his fingers. “Baxter! Are you related to the twins?”
I arch a brow at him before glancing at Quinn, who’s twisting her hands and biting her lip. “You know my brothers?”
Lawrence waves a hand. “Oh, not really. I met them once. We were all hanging out together, weren’t we Quinn?”
“I believe so. It was so long ago.” Her voice sounds strained and unnatural.
“Ah, yes. So many wonderful memories.” Again, his gaze slides up and down Quinn’s body making me curl my hand into a fist.
Quinn gives a forced chuckle but doesn’t say anything. I’m getting ready to make our excuses when Lawrence continues, “How is Lois these days? Is she still the life of the party?”
This guy knows Lois, too? Who is he?
“She’s doing great, actually. She and her husband just returned from Europe.” Quinn’s chin lifts and her voice holds an almost taunting tone to it. It’s so unlike her. I stare down at her, my brows drawn together.
“Oh? Lois married? That’s hard to believe. She didn’t marry one of the twins did she?” He chuckles and shakes his head.
My mind is spinning as my shoulders stiffen. Why does he think Lois would have married Titus or Cyrus? We need to get out of here before this sleazebag says something to make me lose it.
“No. She married a successful British videographer.” Quinn pauses a moment before adding, “They’re very happy.”
“Well good for them,” he says, swirling the contents of his wine glass around before taking another sip. “I hope he knows what he’s in for with that one.”
“What does that mean?” I snap.
His gaze flickers to mine with an almost . . . knowing look. As if he can sense the feelings I harbored for Lois for years. Regardless of how I once felt, I won’t let someone stand here and talk down about my wife’s sister.
Shrugging nonchalantly, he replies, “Oh, you know how Lois is.”
Before I can respond, Quinn shifts and places her hand on my chest. “We really must be going. It was . . . nice seeing you again, Lawrence.”
“Likewise. If you’re ever in town, feel free to look me up.” Then he has the audacity to wink at her before giving me a nod and striding off. The only thing keeping me from lashing out is Quinn’s hand on my chest.
“He’s not worth it, Bram,” she whispers.
I want to ask more questions, but we’re standing in the middle of the restaurant, and I don’t want to draw any more curious eyes.
Once we’re back in the vehicle and heading home, I glance over at Quinn—who hasn’t uttered a single word since we left.
My grip on the wheel tightens. I wish we could go back to the dance floor when I’d held her in my arms. I’m not sure what is happening with us yet, but the kiss we shared means something to me. And I think it does to her as well.
Taking a deep breath, I ask the question that’s plaguing me, “So . . . Lawrence?”
She snorts. “He’s a total jerk.”
“Yeah. I got that vibe from him.” I wait a few moments for her to elaborate on the situation. When she doesn’t, I dive back in. “Where do you know him from? I’ve never seen him around Peach Beach.”
“He’s not from Peach Beach.”
“Oh.”
Sighing, she shifts and I feel her gaze on me, but I keep my eyes on the road. “Bram, he’s nobody. I honestly can’t believe he remembered me.”
“You remembered him,” I point out.
“Yes. But that’s different.”
“Why?” I glance in her direction, but she’s staring out the window.
“Do you remember when you and Lois were in college, and the twins and I came to visit? We stayed with your aunt and uncle?”
“Yes . . .” I trail off, a prickling sensation pouring over me. I have a bad feeling I’m not going to like this story.
“You were always so serious about classes and homework,” she says, and I can hear the smile in her voice. “After we went out to the theater and then to dinner, we were going to call it a night since you had to study. We planned to go back to your uncle’s house, but Lois invited us to a party. Of course, Titus was completely against it, and Cyrus was all for it. No surprise there. I was . . . curious about a college party. But honestly”—she sighs—“I was worried about Lois.”
“Worried?”
“Yeah. With all the partying she was doing. I hoped she would stop once she started college, but she didn’t.”
Partying? I’d never heard about Lois partying. “Lois?”
“She had a rough time after we lost Dad.”
“What happened?” My voice is tight.
“We went of course. Titus stood in the corner all broody. Cyrus went around flirting with all the college girls.”
“And you?”
“I met Lawrence. I mean, he came and talked to me. Flirted a lot. I was seventeen, and he was in college. I was flattered that a college guy would even look at me. But the longer he talked, the more uncomfortable I felt.”
My grip on the wheel tightens. “Did he hurt you?”
“No. He kissed me,” she says and hot anger courses through my veins at the thought of that jerk with his hands on my wife. “And when I tried to push him away, he tried to kiss me aga—”
“I should have punched him,” I mutter angrily.
“Thankfully, Titus put an end to that real quick.”
“Where was Lois during all of this? Wasn’t she watching out for you?” Lois would never let a guy be disrespectful to Quinn. At least, not the Lois I’d always known.
To my surprise, Quinn scoffs. “Lois didn’t care. She was lost in a sea of grief. I think by that point she and Cyrus were in a full-on makeout session over in the corner.”
I swerve before quickly correcting myself. “What? Cyrus and Lois?” I chuckle in strained disbelief. “You’re not serious.” She can’t be serious. No way Cyrus had made out with Lois knowing how I felt about her then.
“They were both pretty wasted,” she admits softly. “I’m sorry, Bram. I thought Cyrus would have told you.”
This news about my brother and the girl I loved sends me reeling. On one hand, I’m absolutely furious that Cyrus and Titus kept this from me. All of it. Lois’s partying and finding out my brother locked lips with the girl I was madly in love with at the time. On the other hand, what did it matter now? Lois and I are married to different people.
Yet, knowing my brother betrayed my trust is a knife to the back. And knowing Lois spent time in college partying like that . . . well, it makes me confused and sad. How did I not see it? Or is Quinn exaggerating? Maybe her teenage mind hadn’t comprehended the situation correctly. Even as I think it, my heart knows that’s not true. Quinn has always been more mature than her age and was taking care of an entire household by that point.
Clearing my throat, I manage a weak, “Did Lawrence know Lois?”
She lets out a sarcastic laugh. “Well, she went home with him that night, so I’m assuming he knew her quite well.”
Every image I’d ever had of Lois cracks and shatters to the ground. Memories of Lois making excuses to not hang out on weekends flash through my mind. I always assumed it was because she was studying or simply too tired to get out. But based on what Quinn is telling me, it’s because she was out drinking and partying.
We remain silent for the rest of the drive. I’m torn with the revelations I’ve learned. All I want is to recapture the moments before we ran into Lawrence. It’s late when we arrive home and Quinn announces she’s going to turn in. I nod, stuffing my hands in my pockets.
“Happy birthday, Quinn.”
Her gaze flicks across my face as if she’s looking for something, then her shoulders dip just the slightest as she smiles tightly. “Thanks, Bram. For everything.”
Once she shuts the door behind her, I turn to my room. No matter how hard I try, I can’t sleep. My imagination keeps conjuring up images of Lois and Cyrus kissing. If I’m not thinking about them, I’m revisiting my day with Quinn. The sound of her laugh. The twinkling in her eyes. And the way she felt in my arms while dancing, just before I kissed her on the dance floor.
Everything is so confusing. I’m hurt, angry, and scared at all the emotions playing around in my head. How could Cyrus do that to me? Why hadn’t anyone told me? And why do I still care?
I groan and run a hand down my face. I don’t know how I’m going to face any of them tomorrow.