5. Reese
CHAPTER 5
Reese
Being near Laurene felt like standing on the edge of a cliff. One wrong move, and I’d fall.
I used to love her— fucking love her —but now? Now I just want to tear her apart, piece by piece.
The high-pitched tittering of a group of women grated on my nerves as I stepped back into the crowded party. I should’ve known better.
She looked the same. Beautiful. Untouchable. Like she never fucking suffered for what she did to me.
“Reese!” Nina, my mother’s assistant, called. “Glad you could make it. Your mom and sister were worried you left.”
I tried to give a fuck about what Nina said, but my mind kept drifting back to Laurene—those big brown eyes, her soft voice wrapped around me, her scent. I can still remember the taste of her on my tongue.
Laurene still smelled like jasmine.
All it took was one breath, and I was twenty-five again, drunk off her, chasing a future that was never mine to have.
I should hate her. I did hate her. So why did my fucking heart still recognize her?
I forced a smile. “How’s Mom? ”
“Hello, son-in-law,” Yvonne interjected. Her gown swished as she moved in front of Nina. “Leaving already?”
Yvonne glared at Nina, who awkwardly bowed and quickly left.
“I’m not your mother, and I’m not here to coddle you. Look at these people.” Yvonne swept her hands over the crowd. “They are here for you.”
“So they know what’s happening tonight?”
“I may have misled with an invitation to Laurene’s homecoming party. We want to hold the surprise to the end, no?” Yvonne’s mouth thinned.
Guests drifted past, their curious glances lingering. A hushed murmur spread like a ripple through the crowd, heads turning, eyes narrowing when they saw Ashbournes and Kings talking in a room. In decades.
“Reese.” My father’s arm slammed into my shoulder, yanking me forcefully into his side. “I know you aren’t leaving, not before Yvonne can break the news to everyone.”
“There he is!” Mom looked radiant in her bronze gown, the rich fabric highlighting her blue eyes and perfectly styled sandy blond updo. She opened her arms, pulling me into a tight embrace—then pushed me away just as quickly.
“Mom,” I said, masking the sting of her sudden withdrawal.
“I told you he wouldn’t try to sneak out,” Jennie, my older sister, chimed in from beside Mom, waddling behind her.
Jennie was almost seven months pregnant, and getting closer to her leaving me with our father.
“Seems like everyone who matters is here.” Yvonne tilted her head, her gaze sweeping over us.
Dad scoffed, sipping champagne as Vincent King, Yvonne’s husband, joined.
The room tightened. Conversations died midsentence. No one had seen my father or Yvonne this close in years without a civil war breaking out. Laurene’s siblings joined her parents. Erik stayed behind Yvonne, eyes narrowed, while Serena waited, arms crossed, tapping a finger. I did notice Gigi wasn’t here.
“Oh, Laurene! We’ve been looking everywhere for you. Where have you been?” Yvonne said.
Guests stopped, parting like the Red Sea, revealing Laurene.
She floated through the crowd. Her gorgeous brown skin glowed in the light of the chandeliers. Her hair, once a wild cascade down her back, now lay tamed against her shoulders, the dark strands framing her face in a maddeningly perfect way, with the scent of jasmine still clinging to it.
She was utterly self-absorbed, demanding, and obnoxious. And she was all I longed for.
“Needed air, Mama.”
I should ruin her. Walk right up, brush my thumb over that soft fucking mouth, and remind her just how dangerous I can be.
The crowd went silent, the kind of hush that sucked the air from the room. Then whispers, sharp and frantic, spread like wildfire.
“Is that…”
“It can’t be.”
“No one’s seen her in years.”
“And now she’s back, just like that?”
I couldn’t accept how much Laurene had changed. More fullness, more curves, more of everything. She wore a figure-hugging blue gown. It drove me crazy that she still had the power to effortlessly control me.
“I will only say this once. I expect everyone, but especially you two, to act like you got some sense tonight. Let me make the announcement before anyone says anything .” Yvonne looked at me, then Laurene.
“Of course.” Laurene nodded, her fingers casually tracing the single diamond pendant nestled between her breasts. I bit my lip so hard I drew blood.
I used to know every inch of her body. Now, she’s just a stranger wearing the face I used to dream about .
“Yvonne’s right,” Dad said. “No fights. No arguments. We…like each other now.”
Laurene looked at our parents, then touched my shoulder and gave it a squeeze. I remember that being her thing back then. My muscles ached from holding back, and it made me even madder that I wasn’t even trying to get away from her.
With a final warning glance, Yvonne turned on her heel, her husband following her. Our siblings and Noelle gave us both looks that translated to “good fucking luck,” and the air suddenly became awkward as they left us alone.
“Laurene! You’re back! And Reese…” I didn’t know the name of the woman who ran up, her voice bright and intrusive.
All eyes were on us. I hated this . That stiff air made me remember how out of place I always felt, especially after losing my brother. In their eyes, I was the killer, not the woman with me.
Laurene’s fingers brushed against mine for the briefest second—a slip or a warning, I couldn’t tell.
“I’m surprised to see both your families here,” the nosy woman continued.
There was another collective gasp. Eyes widened. Conversations dropped.
In walked the mayor. Fucking great.
“Laurene,” Dante Castillo said as he approached. I saw Yvonne’s and Dad’s glares as he strutted by, fake smile and all. “It’s been too long.”
The mayor of Lush wasn’t an unexpected guest, but these days, I was hearing more rumors about him than his work for the town. He was tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in a sleek, dark suit. A snake oil salesman.
And Laurene—she was looking back. Interest flickered across her face, subtle but there. The slight tilt of her chin. The part of her lips.
Jealousy curled low in my gut .
“You’ve certainly moved up in the world, Dante. Last time I saw you, you were assistant to Mayor Johnson.”
“Thanks to your mother’s support,” he said smoothly. “Hard work and persistence pay off. I never thought I’d see your two families not trying to kill one another.”
His smile got wider, and I squinted at him.
“Quite the power move for our two oldest families. It’s gonna be different in town moving forward, huh?” Dante grinned at Laurene and then glanced at me. “I wonder what’s in store for Lush?”
“Don’t get cute, Castillo,” I said. “You’re already pushing it just showing up here.”
“Easy, Reese,” he said smoothly. “I meant business only. I don’t want to cause issues at Laurene’s homecoming party. But I hope to see more of you two soon.” Dante gave a final polite nod, that smile still glued to his face.
She looked thoughtful, her gaze following Dante as he disappeared into the crowd. My eyes caught on another man. Tobias Merrick. Laurene’s ex. He was leaning casually against the wall, as if he had every right to be here, his eyes locked on Laurene with an intensity that made my blood run hot.
Laurene was back, and every asshole was already crawling out from under their rocks to see her.
“Excuse me, may I please have everyone’s attention?”
Yvonne’s sharp, clear voice cut through the low hum of conversation like a knife. A hush fell as everyone turned.
“I want to express my gratitude to everyone for warmly welcoming my daughter Laurene back home.” The applause was polite, a ripple of sound that barely registered in the air.
Gone for six years. No explanations. No public statements. And now, just like that, Laurene King had returned.
“That’s not the only reason we are here tonight. The Kings and the Ashbournes are putting the past behind us. Again.”
Murmurs of disbelief rippled through the crowd.
“Tonight, we’re not just welcoming Laurene back… ”
A beat.
A pause long enough for anticipation.
“We’re celebrating her engagement to Reese.”
The room erupted.
Someone dropped a glass, shattering the stunned silence. Gasps. A woman audibly choked on her champagne. Some laughed, but it was the uncomfortable kind, like they weren’t sure how to handle the situation. A man near the door sputtered, his voice a mix of disbelief and amusement, “Are you serious?”
I glanced at Laurene, but her expression was calm and unreadable.
“Is it possible for the happy couple to come up here?” Yvonne’s gaze locked on to us, and I knew there was no backing out now.
“Shall we?” I muttered, holding out my hand to Laurene, every inch of me aching to pull away.
Laurene briefly hesitated, then took my hand. We walked to the center of the room as Yvonne started droning on about tradition, legacy, and all that bullshit.
I tuned it out till Yvonne turned back to us, and she glared at me. “ I said , can we get a kiss?”
Laurene looked just as shocked.
Then she glanced at me, her eyes darting away, a flicker of defiance fading into something softer—resignation. It shouldn’t have stung the way it did.
Without thinking, I leaned in, closing the space.
I gently raised her chin, buzzing with unspoken energy. I wish we weren’t doing this here. All I could remember was when I watched her with Conrad do the same thing. Seeing him kiss Laurene so confidently, his smirk while he held her waist like it was meant to be.
And now? Now I was him.
We were a breath away now, our faces so close I could feel the soft flutter of her breath on my lips.
I kissed her.