38. Marcus
38
Marcus
“Not so fast, buddy ,” Gabriel calls after me.
Almost at the end of the long walkway, I stop in my tracks and wait until his footsteps draw closer before I turn to face him. It’s no surprise he’s furious after seeing me get all possessive over his sister. I’d been hoping for enough time to create a decent excuse. In this moment, I have nothing to explain why I lost my shit like that.
“What the fuck was that about?” He stops in front of me, crossing his arms on his chest.
The truth is not an option. Trying to buy time, I ask, “What do you mean?”
“Don’t play dumb with me, man. What was that exchange between you, Lauren, and that dick?”
Aha . “You know him?”
Gabriel makes an impatient flick with his fingers. “Mom tried to hook him up with Lauren a few years ago.”
“She did? ”
“Yes, but he was also busy in our cousin Meghan’s DMs, so Dad and I uh… encouraged him to stay away from Lauren.”
“Yeah, that’s pretty on-brand for him,” I reply. I’ve never seen that asshole in my life.
“I don’t understand why Mom would invite him—” He stops suddenly with a renewed frown. “Wait a minute. How do you know him?”
“We’re members of the same gym.” The lie rolls off my tongue so easily, it’s scary. “I’ve heard the horror stories about him and women. I don’t want that headache for Lauren.”
He nods slowly. “It’s like looking in a mirror, isn’t it?”
“Meaning?”
“Robert. He’s the replica of you, don’t you think? Chases everything that wears a skirt then drops them after getting what he wants.”
His direct stare forces me to lock eyes with him, not daring to blink. “Except I don’t force myself on anyone. I never push a woman into something she doesn’t want to do.”
“Yes, I’ll give you that edge,” he replies. He keeps staring at me, not saying another word. Why do I get the feeling he’s onto me?
As I’m on the verge of asking him if we’re okay, he finally utters, “Good looking out, dude. For a moment, I thought—” He stops again, then shakes his head. “Never mind.”
“I’m going to grab something from the car,” I announce, jerking my thumb behind me. The rising guilt makes me want to beat a hasty retreat. An uncomfortable sensation does somersaults in my stomach as I head down the walkway.
My best friend thinks I’m an asshole, a title I’ve earned after burning New York to the ground. Figuratively, of course. I’ve been leaving a trail of ruin since Harper annihilated my heart six years ago. It’s not something I’m proud of, just fact. Yet, until now, I’ve never felt such shame .
As I open the back door of my car, I understand why.
“Marcus.”
I jump, whirling on the spot. “Jeez, Dad. You scared the crap out of me.” There’s hardly any light in this area.
“A man of your stature being scared of the dark? Come on, son. Man up.”
I grin at his obvious teasing. He moves closer to me, and I catch a glimpse of his cheerful face under the dim light. It lifts my spirits to see he looks better.
“Did you follow me down here?” I ask, curious. There are nothing but parked vehicles in this area.
“Yes. I want to talk to you in private.” He gestures to the passenger door, and I open it so he can climb inside.
I walk around to my side and get in. A rush of nervousness fills me. Whatever Dad wants to discuss, I’m sure it has nothing to do with the quality of food and drink or the music at the party. He looks too serious now.
He reaches over and pats my hand. “Saw you with Lauren.”
“Okay…”
There’s a slight pause before he mutters, “How long as this been going on?”
My heart skips a beat. I don’t need him to clarify, but I still query, “What do you mean?”
“You’ve been sleeping with her. Before you deny it,” he goes on as I open my mouth to do just that, “I’ve watched you and Lauren interact for over twenty years. Tonight, I saw a huge difference.” He looks over at me. “I saw passion. Friends don’t stare at each other like that.”
Which makes me wonder if Gabriel suspects more than he let on. With a sigh, I rub my hands over my thighs. “It wasn’t planned, Dad. ”
Dad sighs too. “I’m not here to judge you, Marcus. It has to end, though. Whatever it is, you need to let it go. Tonight, for the sake of everyone involved.”
I swear I can’t fucking breathe. He’s right, but it feels like I’m about to be sick. I don’t want to let her go. Somehow, I can prove to Gabriel I’m no longer the asshole he thinks I am. I can make him believe I haven’t looked at another woman since I touched Lauren. Hell, I haven’t desired another woman since the night I saw her in the living room with nothing on.
Struggling with these flustering thoughts, it takes a moment to realize Dad is still talking. “You, me, the Cains, Harper…”
“Harper?” I sober instantly, frowning at him. “How did Harper get into this?”
He twists in his seat, facing me directly. “She’s going to be your wife.”
A chuckle bursts from my mouth. “Dad, I already told you, I can’t marry someone I don’t trust. I won’t.”
“You made a vow,” he replies. “Have you already forgotten?”
“A promise to get married and give you a grandchild. Yes, I remember, but why does it have to be Harper? There are tons of women who’d fit that role better than she would.”
Like Lauren, for instance. Why can’t I marry the woman now living rent-free in my head?
“It has to be Harper,” he mutters.
“Why?” I’m trying not to lose my temper, but that mysterious tone and his calm expression sets me off. “I keep asking you, Dad. Why does it have to be Harper? ”
My father turns his gaze toward the windscreen. He stares at it long and hard. Finally, he says quite firmly, “I made her dad a promise four years ago. ”
Another pause. I wait impatiently, knowing it’s no use rushing him. Whatever the mystery surrounding his determination to get me and Harper down the aisle is, it will be revealed tonight.
“Remember that kidney replacement surgery?” he asks, and I scoff.
How could I forget? One of the scariest moments of my life, the most useless I’ve ever felt, knowing my kidneys weren’t a match and I couldn’t help my dad.
“Arnold gave me his kidney.”
“Yes, I know that.” The impatience in my tone clashes with the gratitude I always feel whenever I think of the sacrifice Harper’s dad made, one of the reasons I couldn’t reveal what his daughter had done.
“He gave me his kidney, and I made him a promise that, whatever he needs in the future, if it’s within my power, I’ll give it to him.”
The pieces fall into place. A tightness settles in my chest. “ He wants me to marry Harper.”
Not my dad.
Dad nods solemnly. “He came to me a few months ago. Like me, he’s concerned that his only child hasn’t settled down. He wants to expand his family just like I do. We both agreed you two could have a decent life together. All you needed was a simple nudge.”
“This is not a simple nudge, Dad,” I choke out. “You’re pushing me headfirst into something I don’t want.”
“That man saved my life, Marcus. How could I say no to him?” he asks passionately. “How could I go back on my word?”
Groaning, I drop my head against the seat, my eyes squeezing shut. Saying no to my dad means going back on my word, which is something I never do. Not for the first time, I wish I’d waited to hear what his dying wish was before making that vow.
“You loved her once. It’s easy to fall in love with her again,” Dad supplies.
I scoff in reply. Yeah, he’d probably be right, if I wasn’t halfway into falling for someone else.
My eyes fly open.
Holy fuck. I’m falling in love with Lauren Cain.