41. Marcus
41
Marcus
Gabriel glances at the ringing phone in his hand, grimacing. “Can it wait?” he says to me. “Lauren’s calling. I should probably take this.”
I shake my head vigorously at him. “No, it’s urgent.”
“Okay…” He shifts his frowning face from me to the cell phone. His fingers quickly type. “A text message should suffice for now. You know how she hates being ignored.”
Yeah, I know. I also know I’m not in her good books, not only because of the five calls I’ve ignored all day—the last one being a few minutes ago—but because of everything that’s happened over the last few days.
And it’s not going to get any better.
“That should do for now.” He slides the phone on his desk and rests his butt on the edge, giving me his full attention. “What’s so urgent? Is this about your dad?”
Noah gets up from the sofa in the corner and approaches us, looking as grave as I feel. “It’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you both.”
They stare at me silently, waiting .
“I have to marry Harper,” I announce. At their raised brows, I add, “Not right now, but eventually.”
Gabriel sighs. Noah laughs.
“What?” I ask him.
“You slept with her, didn’t you?” He shakes his head with slight scorn. “Your commonsense always gets damaged whenever you get in bed with that woman. I swear to God, you never learn—”
“I didn’t sleep with her, but thank you for assuming I think with my dick, not my brain,” I snap.
“Well… you kinda do, man,” Gabriel points out.
“Since when?” I argue hotly, but at their smirks, I reassess my question. “When was the last time I let my hormones decide for me?”
They both shrug. “I’m not living in your bedroom,” Gabriel says.
“Or the backseat of your car, a bathroom stall—wherever you screw these women,” Noah adds, clearly amused with my growing fury.
“Fuck you,” I point at him. “I’d never take a woman in a bathroom stall. Beyond gross.”
“You’re missing the point, Marcus. You don’t make good decisions when a woman is involved. Case in point, marrying Harper. Why the hell would you do that?”
“I’m not the only one missing a point, genius. Did you not hear me say ‘I have to marry’ her? As in, I have no choice.”
“You told us before that it was your dad’s dying wish, but you already said no, didn’t you?” Gabriel asks.
“Yeah, that was before he explained why I need to marry her.” I proceed to tell them about his promise to Arnold, and both men scratch their heads in unison, confirming what I already know. There’s no inching my way out of this. My dad gave his word, and so did I. As a man, as his son, it’s my duty to honor him by keeping my word.
“Oh, boy,” Gabriel mumbles when I’m done talking. “You’re stuck between a rock and hard place, buddy.”
Exhaustion settles on my shoulders. I drop my body into the nearby chair, releasing a long-winded sigh.
“I don’t care if I’m being cynical, but something feels off about the entire thing,” Noah says. “We all get that Arnold did a huge favor for your dad, but why does he want you to marry Harper in return? You had a tumultuous relationship. She cheated on you. Twice.”
“Yeah, rub it in, will you?” I mutter dryly.
“Think about it, man. After that shit-show you called a relationship, why would Arnold think a marriage would work between you two? Why would he want his daughter to marry a man who is—no offense, Marcus—a man whore?”
“ Was a man whore,” I correct him.
Both my friends raise their brows at me before they burst into laughter. Well, Gabriel’s response is more of a soft chuckle.
“Seriously,” I assure them. “I haven’t had a one-night stand in months.”
The laughter stops.
“You haven’t gotten laid in months?” Noah asks, staring at me like I just announced I haven’t eaten in months.
“I didn’t say that.”
Noah gapes. “ You’re seeing someone?”
“No,” I reply quickly.
“Liar,” Noah accuses.
“Screw you.”
He rests his butt against the edge of the desk, his arms folding across his chest. “Anyone I know?”
I shake my head, rising. “ Buzz off, Noah.”
The shrilling of Gabriel’s cell phone cuts into the brief silence. Lauren. Jesus. Reality sinks in even more. A queasy sensation settles in my stomach. I have to tell Lauren I’ll be going back to Harper. Fuck. There’s no way our friendship is going to survive this.
“Yeah, Dad.” Gabriel listens to whatever his dad is currently saying, and I realize Noah staring at me intently.
“What?” I ask him.
“Who is she?”
“Wait a minute,” Gabriel replies to his dad. “Let me go somewhere quiet.” He hurries from the room.
I return my attention to Noah. “Is that important?”
He shrugs. “I’m only curious. I’d like to see the girl you’re giving up for Harper.”
“I’m not giving anyone up for Harper. We were never a thing. She was a…” The word hangs heavy on my chest. I force it out on a murmur. “Mistake.”
“Yeah, Harper’s definitely a mistake,” he scoffs.
I give him a side-eye. “You know I’m not talking about Harper.”
“And I know you don’t believe the crap that just came from your mouth, not when your face is saying something else. Whoever she is, she’s not a mistake.”
A harsh, frustrated breath flies from my mouth.
“Which makes me even more curious.”
Even while staring down at my hands, I feel his eyes on me. Without a doubt, Noah would help Gabriel kick my ass if he found out I even touched Lauren. I’m taking this secret to my grave.
“Look, whatever I feel for her is unimportant. We can’t be together. Harper and I are going to figure out our shit and make things work. Eventually. Right now, I’m taking things one day at a time.”
“While losing the person you really want. ”
My head snaps up, and I lash him with a hard glare. “How do you think I should handle this, oh wise one? Since you know it all and everything.”
Noah stares at me patiently for a beat before replying, “First, you should find out why Harper’s dad is so hellbent on her marrying you.”
“ How ?”
“My wisdom has limits.” He pats my shoulder on his way to the door. “You figure it out.”
I click my tongue impatiently.
The door opens before he gets there, and Gabriel enters, concern on his face. “That was Dad,” he says. “Apparently, Lauren got attacked at work.”
I fly up from the edge of the desk. “ What? ”
Gabriel raises his hands. “She’s fine. Andrew dropped her off at my apartment and Zyon’s with her.”
“Yeah, but what the fuck happened? Who attacked her?” I press. I’m aware of my hands curling into fists. I uncurl and flex them.
“She had an altercation with a VP during a meeting. Thankfully, they weren’t the only ones in the room, and someone managed to subdue him before he did any real damage.”
Dark spots flash across my vision. “His name, Gabriel. What’s his name?”
He points at me. “No. We’re done kicking people’s asses. Lauren fired him, so he won’t be around to bother her anymore.”
“I’m not laying a hand on anyone.” The lie floats from my lips. “I’m wondering if it’s the same guy who tried to make a move on her.”
“When?” Gabriel asks, his eyes narrowing.
“A couple weeks ago at a Café Noire ,” I reply. “He came on a little too strong for my comfort.”
“Colin Wilson. Was that his name?”
“ Fucking hell .” My fist pounds the desktop. “I should’ve fucked him up when I had the chance. I knew he was bad news. ”
“Mhm. Maybe we should kick his ass after all. That attack was personal,” Gabriel muses.
“How about we not do anything?” Noah cuts in. “He didn’t hurt Lauren, not majorly, anyway. Let’s keep the violence to a minimum unless we have a valid reason.”
Gabriel sighs. “As usual, you have a point, but let me make this clear. If he dares go near my sister, I’ll be cranking that violence to the highest level. I’ll make him regret the day he ever laid eyes on her.”
“I second that shit.” My palm slaps against Gabriel’s for a hard high-five, then I turn to give Noah one. He doesn’t move to meet me. His arms are folded on his chest, his eyes narrowing at me.