22. Reese
CHAPTER 22
Reese
I was married.
In the reception hall, the air crackled with energy; the glittering chandeliers reflected the movement of the crowd, a perfect blend of luxurious, vibrant chaos. In the corner, the string quartet flawlessly transitioned into a high-energy jazz number, causing guests to get up and dance.
“Congratulations!” a voice chimed nearby, and I turned, shaking hands with someone I barely recognized.
I scanned the room and found Laurene.
She was laughing, her head thrown back on the dance floor. She twirled, her ivory gown billowing with every spin. Gigi had her arm slung around Laurene’s shoulder, pressing a shot glass into her hand.
“Bottoms up, bride!” I could hear Gigi yell over the music.
She tipped the glass back, her sisters cheering her on. Even Serena cracked a rare, genuine smile before joining them on the dance floor, and the three of them fell into an impromptu routine, their movements fluid and perfectly in sync.
Laurene looked happy.
A waiter passed by with a tray of champagne, and I grabbed a flute. The sweetness hit my tongue, but it didn’t come close to the warmth blooming in my chest as I watched her.
I let my eyes drift over the crowd, and felt coldness run down my spine.
Yvonne and Harold stood together, heads bent. They weren’t laughing or sipping champagne like everyone else. Their conversation was quiet, hurried, with Yvonne gesturing sharply as Harold frowned and then she walked away.
Laurene caught my eye then, her cheeks flushed and her smile so wide it was almost too much to look at. She raised her glass to me, her movements loose and carefree.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. A quick glance at the screen revealed a message from my accountant: We need to talk about the accounts—urgent.
I slid the phone back.
“What’s up, brother-in-law?”
I turned to see Erik striding over, his grin easy, his hand extended for a dap. I met him halfway, the clap of our hands followed by a quick pull into a half hug.
“Erik,” I said with a nod. “You enjoying the party?”
“This is nicer than expected,” he said, taking a moment to scan the room. “Champagne flowin’, good food, good music. Gigi over there got Laurene takin’ shots like we at the club.”
“Yeah,” I murmured, watching her. “Everyone’s having a good time.”
“And you? You good?” Erik leaned on the back of a nearby chair, crossing his arms.
“I’m good.”
He raised an eyebrow. “So did you do what I asked?”
I knew this was coming.
“Yeah,” I said, keeping my tone even. “I did.”
“And?” His voice dropped, his jaw tightening.
“And there’s no plan.”
There had been a plan six years ago. Our plan now was to finally live for ourselves. That’s all he needed to know .
Erik straightened, his brows pulling together in disbelief. “Bullshit.”
“Listen,” I said. “She’s not plotting against your mom, or whatever you think is going on.”
“You don’t know her like I do,” he snapped. “Laurene doesn’t just come home for no reason. She’s got something up her sleeve, and if you can’t see that, maybe you’re not looking hard enough.”
“I know her better than you think, Erik. And I’m telling you, there’s no secret plan. She’s here because she wants to be. She’s staying because she wants to stay. And maybe it’s not about your mom, or business, or anything else you’ve got going on in your head.”
His eyes narrowed. “Then what is it about?”
“I love her.” I looked him in the eye. “I’m in love with her. And she loves me. That’s why she’s here. That’s why she’s not leaving Lush. She’s staying because we’re building something. Together.”
For the first time all night, Erik was silent.
“You lied to me, you two were together before then.”
“I did what you asked. She’s not plotting.”
Erik stared at me, his jaw working like he was fighting back words. Finally, he took a slow breath, his eyes still locked on mine. “So that’s a yes.”
I just shrugged and let him think what he wanted.
He let out a low curse, turning away for a moment before spinning back to face me. “You better not fuck this up, Reese. If you do?—”
“I won’t. Because I love her.”
“Shit,” he muttered, shaking his head. “You really love her, huh?”
“Yeah.” No hesitation in my voice. “I do.”
“I guess I got what I wanted in the end, huh?” Erik didn’t respond right away, and for a moment, the tension hung between us, thick and heavy. Finally, he nodded once, almost to himself. “Alright,” he said gruffly. “Guess that’s that.”
“Yeah,” I said, a small smile tugging at the corner of my mouth. “Guess it is.”
“Excuse me, gentlemen, are you gonna dance or just stare all night?” Noelle’s voice came beside us.
I saw Erik staring, totally dumbfounded, as Noelle spun in her pale pink bridesmaid dress and grinned brightly at us.
“Don’t all ask me at once,” she teased as she smoothed the skirt of her dress.
“Both of you go dance,” I told him. “Have fun.”
Erik gave me a hard look but offered his fist. I grinned and dapped him back.
“Don’t hold up the wall too long.”
He took Noelle’s hand, and they both headed to the dance floor.
But the gnawing feeling in my gut wouldn’t let up.
I looked across the room and saw Dante at the bar. He lifted his glass to me with a subtle nod. A chill ran through me.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized how little I truly knew. I needed to dig deeper. Trust no one.
Because everyone here was hiding something.