Chapter 49
Chapter Forty-Nine
SINCLAIR
I wake up to the sound of birds chirping outside and when I open my eyes to stare at the gigantic glittering chandelier hanging above me, I wonder if I’ve landed in the middle of a fairytale.
But no. My life is anything but a fairytale at the moment thanks to me upsetting the man I’m falling in love with. My stupid words sent him out of the room like he couldn’t get away from me fast enough. He probably hates me.
Oh God, I hope he didn’t murder his sister like he said he would.
I practically fall out of the bed, I’m trying to get out of it so quickly. I toss on some clothes, brush my hair and teeth and then make my way downstairs, coming to a stop at the base of the stairs when I realize I don’t know where to go.
Luckily, I follow the scent of bacon and baked goods until I find a massive dining room where only Whit Lancaster is sitting at the table, sipping from a cup of coffee while he looks over his iPad. He’s wearing glasses and I wonder for a moment if August will need glasses someday. And how devastatingly handsome his father is—August looks just like him. Meaning I know how August will look when he’s older and he’s going to be such a DILF.
Ugh, that I even had that thought about his freaking dad is wrong, I’m sure.
The elder Lancaster lifts his gaze as if he sensed my presence, taking off his glasses and setting them on the table. “Good morning, Sinclair.”
“Good morning.” I glance around the cavernous room, noticing the covered dishes on the sideboard along with a platter of fresh fruit and a basket with what looks like croissants. My stomach growls at the sight of it all. “Where is everyone?”
“Iris and her mother took the baby to do a little shopping downtown. Brooks is most likely still sleeping and I don’t know where August is. I assume you were with him last night.” The little smile on Whit Lancaster’s face is faintly teasing and I wish I didn’t feel so fragile.
I’m this close to telling him the truth—that I have no idea where his son is and I’m worried our relationship is over—but I keep my mouth shut.
“Are you hungry? Breakfast is still available if you want it.” He waves a hand toward the sideboard and I dash over to it immediately, serving myself fresh fruit, a croissant and a pile of scrambled eggs with a couple of pieces of bacon. Do they really serve up food like this every day here? If so, a girl could get used to this sort of treatment.
“Thank you,” I tell him once I’m seated and about to dig in. After being so upset last night and barely getting any sleep, I’m surprised I’m so hungry.
“You’re welcome.” I can feel his eyes on me as I eat and I grow self-conscious. Lifting my head, I find that he is most definitely watching me and he doesn’t even look embarrassed getting caught.
“How are you? ”
“I should ask how you’re doing.” Whit tilts his head to the side, his gaze narrowing. “You seem…unsettled.”
I practically choke on a wad of croissant and I swallow it down, reaching for the glass of orange juice I poured myself and gulping from it.
“Perhaps I’m the one who leaves you unsettled.” He leans back in his chair, his gaze still on me. “If that’s so, please let me apologize. I’m just curious.”
“It’s not you,” I manage to say, clearing my throat. “Last night was…rough.”
“Please tell me you didn’t argue with August.”
“He was upset with me,” I admit. “I might’ve said some things that I shouldn’t have and he stormed out of my room.”
“Ahh.”
That’s all he says. Ahh. The quiet in the room becomes oppressive and I drop my head, focusing on finishing my breakfast so I can get out of this room and away from this intimidating man. It’s only when I’m finishing up the last of my eggs that he finally speaks.
“My son is very much like…me. And I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing,” Whit says.
I lift my head to find him still leaning back in his chair, his body language nonchalant. As if he hadn’t a care in the world. And I suppose he doesn’t. This problem isn’t his. It’s ours and I feel like what August and I have is messy. Hopeless.
“The origins of my relationship with my wife weren’t the best,” he admits.
Now I’m the one who’s curious. “What do you mean?”
“I hated her.” He doesn’t even hesitate with his answer, his tone vehement. “She hated me. But we were drawn together despite all the bad blood between us. Her mother had an affair with my father and broke up my parents’ marriage. Not that their marriage was solid. My mother was a complete sociopath, God rest her soul. ”
I’m blinking, absorbing his words, realizing they sound faintly familiar. Not the sociopathic mother part, but the hating part.
“Why did you hate her? Because of her mother?”
“Yes, and everything she represented to me back then. Summer showed up at Lancaster Prep the first day of senior year and I did everything I could to make her life a living hell. It worked too—mostly. But no matter how far I took it, I never broke her and that impressed me. Her strength impressed me, as well as her beauty. God, I sound like an asshole.” He shakes his head, his smile faint.
“You sound like your son,” I admit, realizing that they are far more similar than I thought.
“Lancaster men aren’t good with their feelings. We’re like a five-year-old boy at recess who chases that one girl. Pulls her hair when she’s not looking. Always calling her names and pushing her away. That’s how we show our love at first.” Whit slowly shakes his head. “I’m guessing my son did something like that to you.”
“He bullied me throughout my freshman year at Lancaster Prep and now claims he doesn’t remember.” The disgust in my voice is out in full force.
“We’re idiots.” Whit sits up and leans across the table, resting his arms on the edge of it. “He’s an idiot. You can go ahead and say it. August is an idiot.”
“He is.”
“Then say it.”
“August is an idiot,” I repeat, immediately feeling terrible for insulting this man’s son, even if it was at his request. “But I think I’m in love with him.”
His expression softens just the slightest. “You think?”
I shrug, feeling silly. “I’m not sure. I’ve never been in love before.”
“Neither has he. You two can figure it out together.” His gaze turns hawklike. “There’s a saying in our family that once you know, you know. And I’m positive you’ll work it out. August doesn’t give up easily. Once he’s locked in, he’s in for life.”
That statement is both reassuring and…
Terrifying.
After breakfast I wander around the house but can’t find August anywhere. Anxious, I go back to my room and put on a pair of leggings and a sweatshirt, plus my running shoes and head outside for a walk. The air is cold and crisp, the sky a pure, clear blue and it feels good to get some fresh air and wander around the impressive neighborhood the Lancasters live in. The estates are walled off so you can’t see the homes or their yards that well. Only through the wrought-iron gates can I stop and take a peek, and every home I can see is absolutely gorgeous, with perfectly manicured lawns and fancy cars sitting in the driveways. My parents will die when they see this place.
Speaking of my parents, I remember that I have a missed call from my mom earlier this morning and I pull out my phone, calling her back.
“There you are!” is how she greets me. “Are you there? At the Lancaster house?”
“I am.” I turn around and start heading back in the direction I came. “You’re still on for tonight?”
A small part of me wants them to back out, but there’s no way Mom would ever do that. “We definitely are. We’ll be there promptly at six.”
“Even with Dad?” I’m teasing because we both know my father is perpetually late.
“Even with your dad. I told him he can’t be late for this. We have Lancasters to impress.” Mom sounds positively giddy at that little fact. She is beyond thrilled this dinner is happening tonight. “He’s excited to meet them.”
“Please don’t let him be too overbearing,” I practically groan, coming to a stop when I see August’s car coming down the street. The ridiculous engine roars and the car slows as he turns it toward the gate, waiting for the doors to swing open before he pulls inside.
Where was he? What has he been doing?
“You know I can’t control that man! He’s going to do and say what he wants.” She heaves an exaggerated sigh. “I’ll text you when we’re on our way. Everything going well over there?”
“Um…” Not really. “Sure. It’s been great.”
“I have a feeling you two are going to end up getting serious,” Mom singsongs. “Oh what a story this will be someday! My daughter and how she ended up with the young man from one of the country’s wealthiest families.”
“There’s nothing to tell yet, Mom.”
“Oh, I bet by the end of tonight you could have a ring on your finger! I wouldn’t doubt it at all.”
“You’re rushing things. Please, don’t expect that.” I start to sweat just at the thought of it. A ring on my finger? Engaged? Absolutely not. We’ve only known each other for a couple of months! But his father’s words flit through my brain.
When you know, you know.
If that’s something the Lancaster men live by, then maybe Mom isn’t too far off with her prediction. And again, that’s absolutely terrifying. A ring? Marriage? I’m not ready for that. At least I don’t think I am, especially since August and I are a little rocky at the moment.
Ugh. This is so dumb. We just need to talk to each other and work it out.
I get off the phone with my mom and make my way over to the Lancaster estate. I enter the code August’s mom gave me yesterday and the iron door next to the gate unlocks. I jog along the driveway, anxious to see him, but by the time I get to the front of the house, I see the Porsche parked there but no August in sight.
Fighting disappointment, I enter the house. It’s quiet, like no one is here and I head up the stairs to my bedroom, wishing he was around instead of me having to seek him out. The longer we go without talking, the more awkward this is going to be and I don’t want my parents to figure out that things might not be so good between us. The last thing I want is for my mom to ask me a bunch of questions and try to pry into my private life.
Sighing, I move down the hallway toward my room, coming to a stop in front of the closed door with a frown. I don’t remember closing it…
I slowly open the door, peeking my head around it and gasping in shock when I see what’s waiting for me.