Chapter 12
Lyra
T
he second date is a group one. I think carefully about who to bring on this date, unlike picking Asani because I was tired and wanted to go to bed.
Asani left without saying goodbye. I can’t say that I’m surprised.
He would have hated this date as well, because we’re going whale watching today.
Growing up in a country on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean means that whale watching isn’t a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I’ve gone out on a boat at least once a summer for most of my life.
There’s something about being in the middle of the ocean, close to the giant, magnificent creatures, that does it for me.
Birds and whales. Who would have thought?
I take my time deciding, because I don’t want a dud out on a boat with me.
I pick men whom I see a potential to have a relationship with. There needs to be attraction and interest. Intrigue would be better. Fascination would be the best, but I tell myself I just don’t know the men that well yet.
I settle for men that I’m curious about, and I hate to admit that it takes me time to decide on my choice for the seven I invite to go with me.
Ashton Carrington is the last one to greet me this morning when I pick up the group, his smirk widening when I pull him aside.
“Do you really want to be here?” I demand without any preamble. “Because this doesn’t seem like your thing.”
The smirk vanishes. “Are you going to send me home?” The usual self-satisfied expression disappears as well, and Ashton looks almost worried.
“I’m not picking you at the end,” I warn him.
I’ve known Ashton for years. We run in the same circles and his sister Fenella is one of Gunnar’s best friends. Ashton is model-handsome, a racecar driver, and comes from a family worth billions.
Despite all that, I already know he’s the last one I’m ever going to pick.
There’s a flash in Ashton’s eyes that I don’t want to see—it makes me wonder if maybe he has an ulterior motive for being here, one that might be me…
But then it’s gone and Ashton laughs, his low, billionaire-playboy chuckle. “I’m hurt.”
“You’re not. Why are you here? It’s not like you’ve ever had problems finding a date.”
“Are you kicking me out already?” He gives me a cocky smile, but his eyes are still wary because, to Ashton, being sent home would mean a failure, and Ashton Carrington doesn’t fail at much. “Because I’ve got a pretty big wager that I’ll make it to the last four.”
“You came here on a bet?” There’s only amusement, no anger, because the relief that Ashton isn’t actually interested in me washes it out.
“It’s as good a reason as any. What’s yours?” he counters.
I thought a lot about Ashton last night. I thought a lot about all of the men, and about sending Asani home so quickly. And it got me worried that there may not be anyone here for me.
No one who might love me.
The thought of going through all of this—of spending time with the men, trying to be myself with them, but not too much, starting to care for them—only to not end up with anyone because they can’t love me is not a pleasant thought.
The reality of that might break my heart, but the optics of it would do more than that. If the world thought I was unlovable…
I glance over Ashton’s shoulder at the men waiting impatiently for me and give them a little wave. “Do you get along with the other guys?” I ask instead of answering.
“Are you serious? They love me.” His eyes light up. “Do you want me to spy for you?”
I laugh at his reaction. “You’re way too excited about that.”
I don’t want a spy, but I might like a back up plan. Going in to this, I knew there’s no guarantee that I’ll fall in love with someone. Or maybe I will, but there’s no certainty that the man will feel the same. So maybe things can go wrong and there’s a chance that I’ll end up with no one.
Ashton could be that back up plan. It would be easy to couple with Ashton, and then uncouple a few weeks later, to save face.
He knows the rules because he would follow them too.
I should keep him around at least for that.
He clutches his chest. “You want to be my friend? Someone to tell all your deep, darkest, sexy secrets to?”
“Don’t make me regret this,” I warn.
Ashton laughs and it’s a good laugh. It makes me think for just a moment if—
Nope. We had that moment a few years ago and—just no.
“I’ll stick around,” he says like it’s actually his decision. “But you have to give me a good one-on-one date.”
“I don’t have to give you anything.” I laugh and shoulder my way past him. “Let’s go find some whales.”
It’s a good group with lots of laughter as we drive to the marina. We take a Zodiac tour because of the small group, which means more speed and more splashes. It’s the best time of the year to see whales, and it doesn’t take us long to find the first pod of humpbacks.
Tanner, the laid-back hockey player, is as excited as a little girl with her first boy band crush when the first whale breaches, the powerful body crashing into the sea with a white-plumed splash that is a little too close for comfort.
Leo screams when the wave hits us, which makes me laugh.
I like the way Jon stays close—like he’s a bodyguard that I actually want to protect me— and how both Boone and Ashton try to stay cool and casual, but are as excited as the rest of us.
We manage to see two different pods of humpbacks and a fin whale in the distance. Rand insists that he sees a dolphin, and Jon agrees, so our driver heads over to find a friendly dolphin who swims alongside us for a while.
I wish the water was warm enough for me to swim along beside her.
Closer to shore, we see porpoises and seals and so many birds. It’s a good day—a fun few hours on the water. I like these men. I’m comfortable with them all; I can say with certainty that I’m attracted and interested, maybe even intrigued enough to want to find out more about them.
Is this how it starts? Tiny flicks of interest that I either snuff out or fan into a flame?
Is the spark strong enough with one of these men?
On the ride back, I’m in one of the SUVs with Eliott and Rand and my cheeks hurt from laughing by the time we get back to the hotel.
It was a good day, maybe a great day. Once I rid myself of the smell of salt and sea, and let Alexa do something with the windblown mess of my hair, I’m going to explore more of the tentative connections I’m developing with these men.
For the first time since arriving, I feel hopeful.
Maybe this will work.
Grayson waits at the door of the hotel as we tumble out of the SUVs. The men talk over each other, with big smiles and a comradery that comes from sharing something special. They trail after me like an excitable band of puppies as I head over to Grayson.
“Good time?” Grayson asks.
“The best.”
There are two camerapeople off to the side, and out of the corner of my eye, I see Johnny lift his camera and start filming.
I don’t think anything of it until Grayson starts speaking.
“Before you go in,” he says, raising his voice over the laughter. “We have a new addition to our group.” He says this to the men, eventually shifting his gaze to me.
I can’t read his expression, but something pricks at the back of my neck.
“Somebody new is here?” Leo demands.
“No,” Boone grumbles.
“No way,” Jon agrees. “There’s enough of us now.”
“Who?” Rand wants to know.
Ashton just slides his gaze to me, eyebrows up and questioning.
“Why?” I manage. I like the group I have. I don’t want to have any more choices.
“Before we started, we looked for a specific archetype that we all felt might be a good match for you,” Grayson says to me. “We didn’t have any luck then, but now…” He trails off with a grin.
I don’t like that grin.
I don’t like this at all.
“I don’t want—” I try, but words fail me.
Because stepping through the door of the hotel, is my brothers’ best friend.
Spencer Laz.
My breath leaves my lungs in a huff and a gasp, and all I can do is stare. A murmur of protest begins behind me at Spencer suddenly appearing like he’s my Prince Charming sent to rescue me from I don’t know what.
Spencer is here.
And then my stunned mind gets dark as images of my father lying in the hospital flash before me. Of Bo or Gunnar in their planes.
Of Kalle— My heartbeat begins to race and I can’t keep up with it because there are so many reasons for Spencer to be here and they have nothing to do with what Grayson was trying to say.
“What happened?” I demand in a high-pitched voice that I don’t recognize as my own.
Spencer steps forward. “It’s okay,” he soothes like he knows what I’m thinking. Because of course, he does. He’s Spencer and he knows me almost better than I know myself. “Everything’s okay.”
I take a giant step back because in my stupor, I’ve moved halfway toward him. “Why are you here?”
A hand on my lower back, two bodies flanking me. My step back takes me into a welcoming embrace of men.
“Can we talk?” Spencer asks.
“Tell me why you’re here.”
“That’s what I want to talk to you about.”
There’s a low growl/grumble from behind me.
My heart stutters as I realize these seven men are… protecting me? Guarding me? They are not going to let Spencer anywhere close to me until I give the go ahead.
He looks like he doesn’t know what to do. Uncomfortable. Awkward. This isn’t Spencer. Spencer can do anything, can fix anything. He always knows what to say.
“We found a brother’s best friend to join the group,” Grayson cuts in loudly. “Spencer will be joining us. I’m not sure we need introductions—”
Grayson is watching this. All the men are watching.
The cameras are recording and here I am, freaking out about Spencer randomly showing up like this.
Joining us.
I take a deep breath. Spencer looks the same as he always does—dark hair that starts out perfectly coiffed but always ends up flopping onto his forehead—but different. He’s wearing a suit from his collection, but even without the tie, he looks out of place amongst the others.
He looks good, but then, Spencer always looks good. “Hi,” I finally manage.
“Hi.” His relief is palpable. Did he think I would send him home without hearing what he had to say? “I need a minute with you,” he says.
I’m not sure I want to hear what he has to say.
This is a lot. I’ve had a really good day, and I’ve just begun to think of what ifs with some of the group.
I like the way Jon takes care of me, and how Rand makes me laugh.
I’ve enjoyed discovering how Basher drums with anything he can get his hands on, and that, for such a big jock, Tanner is sweet and childlike.
He would run through the birds with me.
But Spencer is here, and he’s going to ruin everything.
“I don’t have a minute,” I snap without thinking. “I have to—I have to get ready. There’s a party and I— What are you doing here, Spencer?”
He stares. He swallows. He takes a deep breath like he’s drumming up his courage, which is so not Spencer.
This is not a Spencer thing to do.
“Lyra. I, ah—” Spencer holds out his hands. “I’m here for you.”
Silence. And then a seagull screams in the distance.
“No,” I say instinctively. “No way.”