CHAPTER FOUR
C onnie drove us to the party. Surprisingly, Mason was ok with meeting me at Matt’s.
The Brauner residence was over the top, it dripped luxury. A grand marble, off-white staircase with silver banisters greeted us in the gray and white plush atrium. Loud music thudded the walls around us as we sauntered toward the kitchen. I hadn’t been in Matt’s house in years. It was always grand. The color scheme changed from stark white to gray. I glimpsed at the long keg line.
“Megan, do you see Matt? Maybe he can score a bottle of vodka for us.”
She scanned the room then her smile dropped. “Found him.”
I glanced over my shoulder.
“What’s up, ladies?”
“We’d like drinks, Matt.” I yelled over the busy chatter in the kitchen. There were a few make out sessions happening around us. Matt didn’t bother shutting them down. He had his own agenda.
A gray T-shirt hugged his pecs. His hands were stuffed in his jeans pockets.
“Cabinet left of the stove.” He never took his eyes off Megan.
He stepped forward, gripping her waist. Matt leaned down and devoured her lips. They kissed like we didn’t exist.
“Chelsea, is it just me or is their kiss damn hot?”
I fanned myself. “Damn hot. Do we leave her?”
I cleared my throat. “Megan, we’ll be in the game room.”
Matt came up for air. “Enjoy the party. Megan and I have a playdate that’s long overdue.”
Megan’s flush face fell upon Matt’s broad chest. She grinned. I’d go out on a limb and say she was aw struck by man whore Matt. He whisked her away.
He said Megan broke his heart. I didn’t know how true that statement was.
Connie and I found the vodka and filled our cups. I darted over to the fridge, swung the door open, and scanned the abundance of beverages for juice.
“Connie, we are in business. Would you like cranberry juice mixed with your vodka?”
“Why, Chelsea I’d love some. ”
Her short one shoulder bodycon dress she designed fit perfectly on her slender frame.
“What do we have here, ladies?”
Trevor massaged my shoulders. “Bartending again, Chelsea.”
I snickered. “Yup. Grab a cup. Where’s Rocco?”
“He’s talking to a chick in the hall.”
Rocco deserved to date a girl, rather than spend all his time coming to my aid. I felt bad.
I peeked at Trevor. “Can you stay with Connie for a little while? I want to find Tate.”
“Sure.”
“I’ll be back.”
Connie nodded and sipped her drink.
Shouldering through the crowd, the music pulsated through my body. I waved at a few people who spoke to me. It was weird. The same kids who belittled me now bent over backwards to be nice.
Where the fuck was Mason? I stood at the top of the stairs, peering down the long hall. The last thing I wanted to hear was my friends getting hot and heavy. I turned the knob of each door, peeking inside the room. Luckily, I didn’t stop anyone’s hookups. Why didn’t they lock the door? I shook my head as I continued my search. The last door at the end of the hall screamed primadonna. Every door on the floor was stark white—except for Marisa’s. Her door was dark pink. Actually cute. I’d never pay her that compliment.
Muffled moaning and groaning filled my eardrums as I turned the knob. My heart beat against my ribcage at a rapid pace. Stunned and frozen at a sight I couldn’t unsee. Their sweaty bodies attached to each other.
Mason fisted her blonde hair from behind, pounding into her. How long had they been at it?
My throat closed for a different reason. Not because Mason was having sex with Marisa. I felt like I was watching Tate have sex with Marisa. It was difficult to separate the two.
“Mason, you don’t need Chelsea. We should be enough. Our child together should be enough.”
My eyes bulged. What the fuck?
“Our heir will bond our families forever. My heir with Chelsea will bond our families too. I’ll hold all the cards.” A deep sinister laugh released from his throat.
“Don’t worry, baby.” He flipped her over, sliding into her again. Marisa’s face was red and wet with fresh tears.
“You know you’re my number one girl.”
She sobbed against his lips. “I love you, Mason. ”
She was a feeble mouse in his clutches. He took advantage of her love.
“Marisa, you are the only girl I could ever love. What I have with Chelsea is pure revenge. I needed to tear my brother down. He gets nothing in the end. Not one ounce of happiness.”
Hot tears streamed down my cheeks.
“Once she’s pregnant with my child, he’ll turn his back on her.”
I didn’t know if any of what he said to either of us were lies or the truth. Maybe it was a mix.
Mason tasted her lips as he stilled inside her a final time. I suppose creating their heir. She hung onto him, tangling their lips passionately.
Slowly, I closed the door. My entire body trembled. I was drunk off emotions. I hadn’t even taken a sip of my liquor. Swaying down the hall, I tossed the contents in the cup to the back of my throat, and closed my eyes briefly at the top of the stairs in an effort to numb the pain. I needed to be alone. I swiped my dress sleeve across my wet face as I staggered down the stairs. There was no one to share my new knowledge with. Matt wouldn’t ever keep that information quiet. He’d probably try to kill Mason. The damage was done anyway. Mason had a plan for everything, I was sure of it. He left nothing to chance. Not even her ovulation. Gross.
The darkened room hid my tears. In a daze I stood staring out the patio door. Kids bumped into me as they danced to the heavy metal blaring through the speakers. I stepped out the door and stumbled across the lush lawn into the pool house. A couple stood in the corner all hot and heavy.
“Get out. Matt said this area is off limits,” I yelled.
Scrambling to fix their clothes, they darted out the door. I locked myself inside. The cloth sofa would be my place of solitude. Not sure if Mason would ever look for me. I hoped he never found me. The powder blue wall held my attention as I laid on the sofa hugging myself. I needed to get lost in our memories.
I stood on the hill next to Tate after Matt dropped me off at the lake house. “What do you want, Tate?”
“You.”
My entire body shook. Was the bullshit we’d gone through finally over?
“I’ve always wanted you. At my lowest point I wanted you. Sitting in the hospital waiting area, outside Mason’s room, I hated myself for yelling those evil words at you that day. You’re to blame. ”
A single tear slid down my cheek. Tate was the boy I loved all along. Never Mason.
Tate admitted he never really walked away. “How could I honestly walk away and I just got you back?”
I knew if he could be here, he would. Tate wouldn’t turn his back on me. I had to believe that. I’d hold on to his words. ‘My love runs too deep for you.’
“Chelsea, Chelsea.” A strong hand shook my thigh.
“Chelsea, wake up.”
“Tate.” I smiled and my eyes fluttered open.
Our blue gazes locked. For a split second, I thought he was Tate. Then I jumped back as I quickly came to my senses.
His lips twisted. “What’s wrong?” his brow wrinkled.
“Nothing.”
“Why are you in here all alone? You never texted me once you arrived. I’ve been looking everywhere for you?”
Sure, you have, Mason. You weren’t looking for me while you were making a baby with Marisa.
“I think I drank too much.” I rubbed my temple.
“Probably should have stayed home. The Cross-Country race caught up with me,” I lied .
Mason dropped his head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have forced you to come out tonight.” He stood, stretching his hand out.
“I’ll take you home.”
I placed my hand in his. “Thanks.”
No calling Mason out. Why would I reveal my hand to my evil fiancé? I’d pretend everything was perfect.
We strolled into the house. How long was I asleep? My forehead creased. The dance floor brimmed with drunk kids bumping their bodies against each other.
“Tate, come here a sec.” Kyle motioned from the game room. “We need you to settle a disagreement.”
“Yeah, hang on.”
He glanced at me.
“Go ahead, I promise to wait in the atrium.”
He smiled and kissed my cheek.
“Coming through,” he shouted.
They parted the room like the red sea to allow their highness passage. King Tate. I chuckled inside as I continued on my path.
The loud music overflowed into the atrium. I sat on a slate gray bench near the stairs.
“Shocked you attended a party at my home.” The wicked witch, sauntered toward me, arms crossing her chest. She wore white footies, jeans, and a navy T-shirt. Surprised she allowed commoner threads amongst her expensive clothes.
My lips kicked up at one end. “Where else would I be? My boyfriend and soon to be fiancé insisted I join him tonight.”
Her face turned beet red. Oh, how I wanted to laugh at her expense. She was jealous, and it showed.
I stood and strolled toward her. “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue. You traveled to another country to do anything to be noticed by your boyfriend.” I circled her slow like a shark waiting the eat its meal.
“I mean, you helped him kidnap my boyfriend and hold him hostage. Tate was the only guy I ever wanted until Mason returned. He reminded me that he was the only guy who’d do anything to be with me. Clearly, he would. Who fakes their death only to steal their brother’s life and profess their undying love for the girl they really loved?”
Her chest rose and fell as she clutched her fist, almost foaming at the mouth.
“I thought I loved Tate. Mason made me realize I didn’t. You can have Tate. I will become Mason’s wife on Christmas day. I will bore his first- born- child. My father already gave us his blessing.”
“You fucking country bumpkin. You have nothing. You are nothing to him. You hear me,” she growled .
“Careful, Marisa your fangs are showing.”
I snickered.
“Marisa, play nice,” Mason stated, coming into view.
“Yeah, play nice.” I met Mason in the middle of the room, gripped his neck, and crushed his lips. Marisa needed to pay for what she’d done to me. After watching her come undone for Mason, I thought what better way to get under her skin. Mason held my waist, deepening our kiss. I thought maybe he’d push back, but he didn’t. I pulled back and spun on my heels.
“He’s my fiancé. Bitch, stay in your place,” I growled.
Marisa’s body violently shook. “What the fuck are you doing?” she scowled, burning holes into Mason.
“You need to calm down,” he whispered.
“We’ve talked about this. Didn’t we?”
She nodded.
I was well aware of their little chat. Chelsea you got this.
The bitch was on the brink of bursting into flames. Her perfect boyfriend, and soon to be father of her child, was an asshole. Mason only cared about himself. Wasn’t it obvious? He had to make his brother pay no matter the cost.
“I’ll talk to you later,” he said in a low voice, careful not to draw attention to them .
Their pull toward each other was obvious. He didn’t have to be so vengeful toward his brother. He and Marisa could have their weird happiness.
∞
I stared out the window as Mason turned on to our street.
“You didn’t have to push her buttons like that.”
“Oh, please. She had it coming. The way she treated me. Blamed me for your death.” I looked him up and down. “Fuck her. She deserved so much more.”
I grabbed the door handle as he rolled to a stop in my driveway.
“The second you give me that engagement ring, I’ll shove it right in her face.”
I blew him a kiss and hopped out of the truck.