Episode 130
EPISODE 130
COMING TO A HEAD
Sebastian
Brett meets my gaze after I ask him whether Sienna will return. “She didn’t say one way or the other,” he says, “but I doubt she’ll be back.”
“Why?” Alex asks. “She and I… I thought there might be something there. The first night, at least.”
“I liked her too.” Brett kicks the sand underneath his feet. “But she’s in love with someone else.”
“Then why the hell was she even here?” River demands. “This was the biggest damned mistake we’ve?—”
He stops abruptly.
Yeah, I know what he was going to say, and judging by the looks on Alex’s and Brett’s faces, they know as well.
The biggest mistake we’ve ever made.
But Riv would be wrong. The biggest mistake we made was twenty years ago, and we’ve all paid the price.
Brett sighs. “I like Sienna. A lot. And we had hella chemistry. But she’s hung up on her ex.”
“I thought she was leaving to see his mother, pay her respects or whatever,” Alex says.
“She was. Is.” Brett runs his hand over his face. “But she and I talked a lot about it. I told her to go home. To see if what she and the ex had was worth saving.”
“Christ, Brett.” Alex shakes his head.
“What do you think I should have done?” Brett demands. “Tell her to return when her heart is somewhere else? Who does that help? Would it be better if one of us fell for her and she couldn’t go through with it because of unresolved feelings for someone else?”
“This is on Evie,” I say. “Evie didn’t do her due diligence.”
“I tend to agree,” River asserts.
“Then it’s on me,” Brett says. “I found Evie. She was hungry. Maybe too hungry.”
“And I’m wondering what this pregnancy has to do with everything,” I say. “I mean, why hide it? And why does she think she’s in danger from the kid’s father?”
“You all know the solution as well as I do,” River says. “We need to shut this down.”
“Riv is right,” Alex agrees. “We need to stop this.”
I sigh. “We all agreed to this. And we have our reasons.”
“Those reasons are no longer valid,” River says. “It’s over, Seb. Let it go.”
“Fine. I’ll agree if Brett agrees. If it’s unanimous, we’ll call the whole damned thing off.”
Brett is staring at the ocean. I have no idea what’s going through his mind, and just when I’m about to ask him again, River speaks.
“You have to tell them, man.”
Brett turns to face River. The two of them have something that Alex and I have never quite understood. We’re all close, but Riv and Brett are like brothers.
“Fine.” Brett shrugs. “Let’s walk. I need a minute.”
What the fuck? But I know better than to ask. Brett won’t talk until Brett is ready to talk.
As the four of us make our way along the shoreline, the only sounds are the crash of waves and the occasional crunch of sand beneath our feet. We follow Brett’s rhythm, his silent contemplation setting the pace. The tension in the air is palpable, as heavy as the damp sea air that we’re breathing in.
After what seems like an eternity, Brett breaks his stride and comes to a halt. His gaze is fixed on two figures.
Two women.
I recognize my English rose right away. She’s wearing a flowing blue sundress that’s floating around her legs with the breeze. Damn. As much as I enjoyed being with both Heather and Ariel, something about Emily Kensington still calls to me.
And with her is none other than Misty Holmes, who also looks beautiful in a blouse and shorts. I’ve known Misty for years, and truth be told, I never thought much about her. She’s gorgeous, of course. Every woman here is. But when she and I attended a gala together, we had zero chemistry.
Brett makes a beeline toward them.
Damn.
So much for whatever Brett was going to tell us.
Misty’s mouth is open, and as I get closer I see she’s about to say something but stops when she sees us approaching.
Emily’s back is to us, and we’re close enough now to hear them.
“Spit it out, will you, Misty? For the love of God.”
“The guys…” Misty says.
“What about them?”
“They’re here.”
Emily turns abruptly, and her gaze meets not mine, but River’s. “What the bloody hell are you four doing here? Is Evangeline okay?”
“She’ll be fine,” I say. “It turns out she’s pregnant.”
“Oh, I know that—” Emily clamps her hand over her mouth.
River pounces. “Of course you do. Because Misty told you, didn’t you, Misty? This is what you have on Evangeline. It’s all making sense now. You know who the father of her baby is. The man who Evangeline thinks is a danger to her.”
Misty steps back and gulps audibly. “River, I… I don’t…”
“You do know, Misty,” Emily says, her tone caustic. “Or did you lie to me?”
Misty shakes her head vehemently. “You don’t understand. The man is dangerous. Evangeline is right that she’s in danger from the man. He’s the worst kind of person. And I should know.”
Brett’s eyes go wide. “You should know? Why?” He walks toward Misty.
“I swear to God, Brett”—River follows Brett—“if you give her an inch, she’ll take a mile. Don’t believe a word that comes out of her mouth. She doesn’t know shit. In fact, this whole birth-mother thing is probably some scam to get close to us.”
“It’s not!” Misty yells. “I swear!”
Brett’s usually the only one who can handle River when he goes into his red rage—and it usually takes a lot more than a woman to get him there.
Damn… The last time I saw him like this…
I can’t let myself go there.
But something about Misty yanks River’s chain like nothing I’ve seen before. And Brett? He seems to be protecting her from River’s wrath.
“River, please,” Misty says, her eyes pleading. “Just give me a chance. I only want to know you. Find out about…”
“About what, Misty?” River demands. “Why me? Why does it have to be me ?”
She swallows and looks down at her feet. “Maybe it doesn’t.”
Brett brightens at that. “I’m looking forward to our date tomorrow. I really am.”
Misty gives him a half smile. “So am I.”
River steps between them. “Great. You two have a wonderful time. But tomorrow isn’t here yet, and I, for one, want to know what you know, Misty. Who the hell is the father of Evangeline’s baby? Why is he so dangerous? Who is responsible for Rachel’s accident while she was snorkeling? Who sent threats to her and Ginger?”
Misty’s jaw drops. “Threats? What threats? And Rachel… I swear?—”
“Sell it to someone else.” River scowls. “You told Evangeline to get rid of Rachel, and the next day? Surprise, surprise. She almost fucking drowns.”
“Ease up, Riv.” Brett clamps a hand on River’s shoulder. “Give her a minute to pull herself together.”
“Fuck off, Brett.” He shrugs free of Brett. “Talk, Misty. Tell us. Tell us every fucking thing, or I swear to God?—”
“Riv,” Brett interrupts. “ Please .”
River meets Brett’s gaze, and he softens.
And I’m wondering what the holy hell is going on here.
“Screw all of you!” Misty shouts. “You'll never understand. None of you will ever understand.” She runs into the waves and launches herself into the ocean, her body disappearing under the water.