Chapter Fourteen
FOURTEEN
HAILEY’S DAILY RULE FOR SUCCESS:
As deadlines approach, ensure your push to the finish line leaves no room for failure.
Five days later, the four of us are seated in a booth at Malibu Moon as Sonia crosses items off the wedding to-do list. Things are coming together easily and almost...effortlessly. The bride-to-be looks remarkably relaxed and at ease today.
While I’m panicking.
I haven’t even had time to think about whatever’s going on with Warren. I mean, I’ve thought about it. A lot. But with Sonia demanding my full attention—on flower selection, cake design, music playlist, big day hair, and makeup rehearsals—and my own attempts to convince her to postpone the wedding while pretending to go along with it, I haven’t been able to dedicate any brain power to figuring out what exactly to do about Warren.
If there is anything to do about Warren.
Across from me, seated next to Liam, he’s barely acknowledged me today. I haven’t heard from or seen him since the morning after... Obviously, he’s chalked it up to a one-night stand and moved on.
Good. That’s good.
But he looks so good...dressed in a tight black T-shirt and board shorts. His arms folded on the table, those impressive biceps on full display. He got a haircut yesterday and it looks amazing—obviously in preparation for the wedding. I remember running my hands through his hair and discovering it’s much softer than it looks...
Snap out of it, Hailey!
I blink and avert my eyes from the man I’m suddenly obsessing over.
I’ve got two days! I need to think of something and fast.
Most of the wedding planning is done, so there are few opportunities left to highlight the flaws in this plan. The bridesmaids have secured their ugly attire. The groomsmen’s tuxedos are ordered. Sonia picked out the song for her walk down the aisle when she was seven years old, so that’s covered.
Think, Hailey, think!
What else could sabotage this wedding?
My eyes light up. “What about stags and stagettes?” Not that I’m sadistic enough to encourage a night of debauchery or anything, but a reminder of their single life might trigger some doubt...
Next to me, Sonia shakes her head. “I don’t think we need those.” She glances at Liam, who is practically falling asleep at the table. “I doubt this guy can stay awake long enough for a lap dance,” she says with a small laugh.
Poor Liam.
I really feel for him. The pressure he’s under with the resort deadlines is taking its toll. Dark circles under his eyes and newly formed stress wrinkles on his forehead have me seriously worried about him.
And even more determined. This will be his life if he goes through with this. At least for a while until it all comes crashing down.
“Oh, come on, one last night of freedom,” I say persuasively. I glance at Warren for backup on this.
Warren nods, surprising me. “I agree with Hailey.”
“You do?” Obviously not with the same intentions.
He nods again, his gaze landing on mine for a beat before he turns back to the couple. “You two are already sacrificing a lot of the things you wanted for the wedding. Sonia, you and Hailey go out and have fun. Liam and I will go out too...and no strippers. Just a basketball game tonight. I have courtside seats.”
Even exhausted, Liam can’t argue against that temptation. He glances at Sonia. “I’m sure you could use a night out before the big day.”
Sonia hesitates, but then turns to me with a smile. “Okay...sure. Why not? But just the two of us and not too late.”
Perfect.
“I’ll have you home by midnight,” I say. Hopefully with a whole new mindset and a cancelation to-do list.
After the sun sets, we hit the town.
Inside Brooks’s Bar, the usual hip-hop plays and beautiful people dance and drink. Sonia and I sit in a posh booth in the VIP section of the club—courtesy of a last-minute text to Darren who hooked me up. I pop a bottle of expensive champagne (on the house) and pour two glasses. I hand one to Sonia and extend mine in toast. “To true love and new opportunities!”
We clink glasses and my mind reels.
I got her out. Now what?
I guess I was hoping that when I arrived at the resort to pick her up, she’d miraculously tell me the wedding was off. But she looked happier and more relaxed than she has in days.
Sonia takes in the club and I try to figure out what to say. This is likely my last chance to talk her out of this, without actually talking her out of this.
Manipulating people is a lot trickier than it seems.
Are you sure you want to get married when your career is on the rise? Think of all the movie stars you could bang if you were single?
Probably not.
Married women are likely to age quicker than their single counterparts?
Not Sonia. She’ll look radiant forever.
I’ve got nothing.
“This place is so great,” she says, leaning closer to yell above the music. “I take it you know the owner if you were able to secure this VIP experience on short notice?”
I nod as I sip the champagne. “He was a client of mine.”
Sonia looks at me in awe. “Did you always know this was what you wanted to do with your life?”
I laugh. “Honestly, growing up I was the most lost teenager ever.” The truth slips out unfiltered and slightly unexpected, but I don’t get the usual uneasiness I typically do when I overshare.
“That can’t be true.”
I stare at the liquid in my glass and an unfamiliar sense of wanting to open up to someone overwhelms me, so for the first time in my life, I go with it. “It is. I went to the same high school as Liam and Warren, but I didn’t exactly belong. I lived outside the district and my mom worked hard to pay my tuition. She always said our family suffered from a curse and she wanted me to be the one to break the cycle of poverty.”
Sonia’s expression is thankfully not one of sympathy, but one of respect. “You did it. She must be proud.”
“I hope she would be.”
She touches my hand gently. “Sorry. I know what that loss feels like.”
She lost her mother in a car accident four years ago so this is something we have in common. This unexpected friendship has me severely conflicted and I’m disappointed that it can’t actually be something.
“Then, how did...this transformation...happen?” she asks, gesturing to indicate who I am now.
“In high school, I discovered I had...” I pause. Can’t be that completely vulnerable. “...a knack for helping others reach a goal or potential. Providing support, being that one person that believed in whatever they wanted to achieve or offering advice from an outside perspective.”
She smiles. “I’m envisioning a Lucy ‘help booth.’”
I laugh. “If only I’d been smart enough to charge for my services back then. Anyway, it just seemed like a natural fit and then the popularity of life coaching made it possible to pursue it as a career.”
“But how do you always know how to help people?” She crosses her long legs and settles in with genuine interest. “I mean, I can barely figure out my own life.”
“It’s easier from the outside looking in I guess.” I take a sip of my drink.
“Well, I for one am eternally grateful for your guidance and...friendship?” She looks hopeful.
“And friendship,” I say. For now anyway...
Disappointment creeps into my chest. I hadn’t even thought of how this whole thing would impact my life. I hadn’t believed it would. But first this connection with Warren...now Sonia. Losing both of them at the end of all of this will be tougher than I’d imagined.
Ripple effects. Collateral damage.
A song comes on and Sonia’s face lights up. She jumps up and grabs my arm, spilling my champagne as she drags me to my feet. “I love this song.”
“Oh, I’m not a dancer,” I protest as I try to resist being pulled toward the dance floor.
She refuses to listen and a second later, I’m surrounded by sweaty bodies moving to the hip-hop beat with nothing left to do but try not to look completely awkward.
Sonia’s body moves to the rhythm and I just try to match her.
“There you go, girl,” she says as she moves closer and we dance together. Male gazes on us suggest we’re causing a bit of a stir, or at least Sonia is, but I find I’m actually having a good time.
There’s nothing I can do about the wedding right now, so I give in and have fun. For as long as it lasts...
As the song ends and we fall back into the VIP booth, she pours another round of champagne and hands me the glass. “So...what about your love life?”
I nearly choke on the liquid as I shake my head quickly. “Nonexistent.” It’s true. The thing with Warren was just a one-time thing. It can’t and won’t happen again.
“I find that hard to believe. You’re beautiful and smart and successful. You must have guys sliding into your DMs all the time.”
If I do, I don’t notice as I never check my social media DMs precisely for that reason. I shrug. “Relationships aren’t a priority. I’m focused on my career,” I say simply and honestly. And no one has ever set my heart racing the way Warren does...
Something in Sonia’s expression changes slightly. “You think it has to be one or the other?”
She’s asking my advice and my gut twists. She’s teed it up. Here’s the perfect opportunity to put doubt in her mind about getting married while trying to launch her new acting career.
I hesitate.
Come on, Hailey! This is perfect!
My heart and mind are in conflict for a long, torturous beat as I stare at her.
She waits.
I smile and shake my head. “No. I think you could absolutely have it all.”
Sonia smiles in relief as she continues to relax and enjoy her champagne, and I realize in that moment that I’ve chosen to fail my mission.
Operation Breakup is over.
The loud, packed stadium is alive with hometown fans. Jerseys and foam fingers as far as the eye can see. On the court, the home team is on fire and the score is tied with five minutes left in the fourth quarter. Liam and I sit courtside, drinking beer and eating hot dogs as we watch the nail-biting game.
The face-off...their ball... Sanchez dribbles his way down the court, expertly dodging the defense on our team...
I get to my feet.
Block the shot...come on...
He dodges, jumps...and it’s blocked by Olivier.
Liam jumps to his feet, spilling his beer, and we high-five one another, chest bump, fist-bump, and celebrate with everyone around us. The crowd goes wild in the stands as the team celebrates on the court. The vibe all around us is electric and for the first time since he’s been back, Liam and I are actually enjoying a night out like old times.
As play resumes, we sit back in our seats. My phone chimes with a text, but I ignore it. It’s not Hailey. I’ve assigned her a particular ringtone—the boy band song—and she’s honestly the only person I’d be interested in hearing from right now.
I haven’t at all since the morning-after scene and usually I’d be breathing a sigh of relief, but I’m not. Instead I’m constantly checking my phone to see if the volume’s turned up, resisting the urge to reach out to her about some mundane thing and replaying that final conversation in my mind.
I should have handled things differently. Honestly. But I panicked in the light of day and well, she didn’t exactly make it easy for me to say that the night before hadn’t meant nothing.
Her lack of communication and the cold shoulder vibe she gave me at Malibu Moon earlier today said she’s not wanting a repeat of that night or a discussion about it. But damn, if she didn’t look hot in a white tube top and cutoffs...almost as though she were tormenting me.
Somehow Hailey Harris has found a new way to drive me up the wall.
The phone chimes again and Liam sends me a look. “You need to check that?”
“Nope,” I say, my eyes locked on the action on the court. I take a swig of beer.
Four minutes left on the clock.
“You hooking up with anyone these days?” he asks casually as he watches the game.
I nearly choke on my drink and sweat pools on my lower back. He can’t possibly know. I know Hailey wouldn’t tell him... Maybe she told Sonia? Am I being set up here?
Shit.
“Um...no one special.” The lie punches me in the gut. Hailey’s become surprisingly special to me, but it’s the safest answer I can give. If he is testing me, it’s my way of reassuring him that the hookup with his ex meant nothing and won’t be happening again.
Because of her lack of interest...
“Hey, I uh, wanted to say how cool it is that you and Hailey have put aside your differences for Sonia and I. Means a lot.”
I nod, feeling guilty as shit. “She’s not so bad.” She’s fucking incredible actually.
Liam sends me a shocked look. “Did you just say she’s not so bad?”
I shrug.
He shakes his head and returns his attention to the court. “Never thought I’d see the day.” His tone is slightly off—as though he’s not thrilled that Hailey and I are no longer trying to kill one another. My gut tightens, but it must just be my own guilt deflecting.
Liam’s cell rings and he immediately takes it out of his pocket. I glance at the caller ID and see “William.” I check my watch. It’s after ten p.m. “Ignore it. You’re off the clock,” I say.
Two minutes left in the game and our team has the ball.
Liam looks tempted to follow my advice but then sighs, gets up and moves to take the call, away from the noise.
Is he fucking serious? There’s less than two minutes left.
I stare at him moving past the fans seated courtside, pissing everyone off as they try to watch the game.
My friend’s in over his head and it’s not going to get any better. As opposed as I was initially to whatever scheme Hailey was hatching to try to mess with this wedding, I hope she’s succeeding tonight in these final seconds.
The crowd erupts around me and the horn blasts indicating the final buzzer.
I turn back toward the court in time to see that I missed the game-winning basket.
Damn it.
Half an hour later, after dropping an apologetic but distracted Liam back at the hotel, I stare at the fountain near the resort’s front entrance, sparkling with neon lights. Impressive, but not what he wants for his career.
As I drive along the streets, my thoughts switch from Liam to Hailey. I wonder how her night out with Sonia is going and resist the urge to crash their evening by driving to Brooks’s Bar and joining them. They’re definitely having more fun than Liam and I did. It’s not even 11:00 p.m. and I’m headed home, as Liam declined drinks, saying he had work to do.
I still haven’t read the text messages on my phone—four have come in now—and I know I could be naked with any one of the senders in about eight minutes if I felt so inclined, but I can’t get Hailey out of my mind and I don’t think casual sex with someone else is going to help this problem. All I’ll be thinking about is her and that wouldn’t be fair.
I pass a convenience store on my right and my eyes narrow as I see a group of teens hanging out near the back.
Marcus.
I sigh as I slow the Jeep and peer out the window.
He’s with his crew and I see empty beer bottles on the ground next to them. They play fight and act rowdy...typical teenager behavior.
Then I see Marcus pull a pipe and small bag out of his pocket. Drugs.
Shit.
I swerve quickly, cutting off traffic on the outside lane as I pull the Jeep to the side of the road. Horns sound and a driver flips me off as they pass. I wave an apology as I climb out. I leave the Jeep running and the door open as I approach the teens.
They turn my way and a couple back away. One calls out, “Hey, Mitchell! What’s up, bro?”
I ignore him as I approach Marcus. He looks guilty as shit when he sees me. Then defiance appears on his face. He puffs up slightly, but the edge I feel from him is all show for his friends.
“A word,” I say.
“I’m uh, hanging with my friends right now, Coach.”
I fight for patience. “We could do this here in front of them. Your call.”
“Ooooh. Marcus is in trouble,” a voice among the group taunts.
“This dude your daddy?” another teen says.
Marcus shoots his friends a look. “Shut the fuck up.”
“Marcus? We doing this here or...?”
He sighs and walks off toward the Jeep. I follow him and my mind races a million miles an hour as I try to recall all the stuff I learned in the sports psychology course about dealing with teenage athletes.
They’re hormonal, their frontal lobe hasn’t quite developed yet resulting in poor decision making and oh, yeah, they hate to be told what to do.
Fantastic.
“I saw the drugs,” I say evenly. Not accusing, just stating a fact.
He shrugs. “They’re not mine.”
“If they’re not yours, don’t have them on you. Simple.”
He shoves his hands into the pocket of his hoodie and glares at me. “Look, I told you, I’m not using. Why are you riding my ass?”
“Why am I...?” Is this kid for real? Calm breath in and out. The evening with Liam already has me in a shitty mood. I need to cool it. Not take it out on him. Still... “You know, you’re right. Why am I riding your ass when you’re clearly intent on sabotaging your football career?” Okay, so maybe not exactly cool and calm, but the kid’s killing me.
“What career, man?” he asks. “Chances of getting scouted are a million to one.” He stares at the ground.
I bend at the knees and move closer to look him in the eyes. “For others—absolutely. Not for you.”
Marcus scoffs.
Damn, this kid’s refusal to believe in himself is destroying me. I’m desperate to take a softer, more encouraging approach with Marcus—the complete opposite of the intimidating, ultimatum-filled way my father coached my career—but I’ve been trying that, and I haven’t gotten through to him.
I step closer and touch his shoulder.
He shrugs me off. His buddies are watching.
I shove my hands into my pockets. “Destroy the drugs.”
His head snaps up. “What?”
“You heard me.”
“Coach, this is...”
“I don’t want to hear it.” My voice is stern and steady, but inside I’m a mess. Marcus isn’t going to understand how serious I am about all of this, how serious I want him to be, until he’s faced with a choice. “I’ve been clear about the rules of being on the team.”
“I told you I’m not using,” he says in frustration. “I’ll take a piss test.”
I fold my arms and stare at him. “This isn’t up for debate. Carrying drugs will land your ass in jail if you’re busted and it’s only a matter of time until the influence of these jerkoffs you hang out with gets to you.”
“This is bullshit,” he says.
“Drugs or the team. The choice is yours.” My stomach’s a mess and my mouth is a desert.
Marcus stares at me defiantly. I’ve never seen a teen so angry, but I know it’s fear and pressure he’s under. I want to give him a hug and tell him his life can be better than all of this. But I need to just stand here and hope he makes the right choice for his future.
Fuck this is hard.
“Marcus, let’s roll!” one of his friends calls out.
He glances at them and then back to me. He looks conflicted and my heart breaks for the kid because I know in my gut which choice he’s going to make.
He hesitates, then moves around me. “Gotta go.”
“Marcus...” He knows what this means.
“Tell the team I said good luck with the championships.”
Fuck.
He walks away, rejoins his friends, and they take off. And there’s not a damn thing I can do but feel like I failed him in some way. I slam a hand onto the hood of the Jeep as I climb back in and drive off.
“As promised, before midnight,” I say as Liam opens the resort room door.
“Best. Night. Eva!” Sonia’s slurring reveals she’s even more far gone than originally assessed. I’ve kept her from drifting into incoming traffic on the short walk from the club.
“Wow, okay, party girl...you’re a mess. Let’s get you to bed,” Liam says, taking over as we step inside the room. He wraps an arm around Sonia’s waist and she immediately turns into him, draping her arms around his neck, and starts to kiss him. Awkward, gropey, and uncoordinated movements as she slobbers all over his face, I assume trying to find his lips.
I look away to give them privacy, this time not out of any sense of jealousy. Strange how a few weeks ago, this sight may have sent me into a tub of ice cream, but now there’s no attraction for my ex. Just a real hope that these two can figure out a way to prevent what I’d seen in my glimpse. Liam disentangles from Sonia’s attempt to molest him in front of the audience she’s obviously forgotten about. “Come on.” He starts to lead the way to the bedroom and glances over his shoulder at me. “Just give me a sec.”
I nod and wave to Sonia, who blows me a kiss in return.
Inside the bedroom, I see him help Sonia to the bed and she collapses onto it. He takes off her heels, lifts her minidress over her hips, and forces her to sit up as he removes the dress.
She reaches for him as he pulls back the bedsheets and he dodges her attempt to draw him down on top of her.
“In you go.”
She pouts as she climbs in. “You never want me anymore.”
The sad tone in her voice tugs at my heartstrings.
Liam lifts the bedsheets up over her and leans to kiss her forehead. He stares into her eyes as he says, “I do want you. Bad. But you need sleep. Big day, day after tomorrow.”
Liam kisses her cheek, then quietly leaves the room, closing the door behind him. He rejoins me in the seating area. “Thanks for looking out for her.”
Speaking of... I open my purse and hand him a bottle of Gatorade and a pack of painkillers. “She’s probably going to need this in the morning.”
He laughs as he takes them. “Best maid of honor ever.”
I shift slightly under his gaze and glance down, before saying, “Well...good night.”
“You don’t have to go. Have a drink with me?” he says quickly, surprising me.
I don’t think it’s a great idea. I need to distance myself, allow the wedding to happen and get my own life and career back on track. I’ve been neglecting so much the past few weeks in my narrow-minded obsession with Operation Breakup. But something in his voice makes me cave. I sense he could use an ear right now and my ultimate goal from the start was looking out for him. The least I can do after trying to sabotage his relationship is be there for him as a friend.
“One drink.”
Moments later, we sit on the balcony, glasses of wine in hand. I stare out at the magnificent view of the ocean and lights of the city that stretch out in front of us. “These resorts are incredible. I can see why you accepted the job.”
He takes a sip of wine before answering. “That was more for Sonia.”
I nod. “I was surprised when you came back. You always talked about designing skyscrapers... Luxury resorts weren’t your thing.”
“I do miss the city,” he says.
“But we do all kinds of things for love, right? Sacrifices. Compromises and all that.” Maybe if he can truly embrace this opportunity with the Bankses, it might relieve some of the strain it’s having on the relationship. Maybe the outcome could be different.
“Exactly. Yeah. Of course. And I mean it’s not forever. The goal is to move back to New York eventually.”
Maybe that was his goal...
“What?” Liam asks.
“What what?”
“That silence meant something.”
“No it didn’t.”
Shit. Too quick.
“It absolutely did.”
Damn it. The problem with a shared past is that he knows my tells.
I hesitate. What can I say? It’s not my place to reveal anything and I realize this “it’s none of my business” stance is coming a bit late, but now I’m not worried anything I say or do will mess things up. Never expected this sudden change of heart, but here we are. “I just know Sonia’s happy here, that’s all.”
Liam nods. “Near her family, the ocean, and in the warm weather, I know.”
Silence lingers in the air around us.
“Hey, why don’t you show me these dance moves of yours?” I say suddenly, surprising him. I need another glimpse. Before I’m completely done meddling, I just want to see if maybe the future has changed. If recent events have made things better or worse. As much as I don’t want to interfere, the idea of both of them hurting a year from now still weighs on me.
“What? Now? No.” Liam shakes his head adamantly, but I’ve already put my wineglass down and reached for his.
“Come on. It’s my duty as maid of honor to make sure the bride isn’t humiliated on her big day,” I say taking his glass and setting it aside.
Liam laughs, shakes his head, but I stand and pull him to his feet. “Fine. But I’m still a little rusty.”
Our hands meet as he wraps an arm around me. Our lifelines connect and...
A violent bright light and loud blast hits me, knocking me off balance—interspersed with flashes of a glimpse into Liam’s future.
Barstool...empty whiskey glasses...
Blinding light piercing through my senses.
Liam, miserable and spiraling, with his cell phone in his hand...staring at an unanswered call.
Loud, ear-shattering screech...
One last blurry image that rocks me to my core.
I pull back quickly, away from him, stumbling off balance as my equilibrium is knocked off course from the effect of the glimpse.
Liam reaches out to steady me, his expression intense as it searches mine. My heart pounds and the mood around us has shifted.
“It’s been really great seeing you again, Hails,” Liam says, his voice deep and gruff, revealing far more than the actual words do.
Panic fills my chest.
How long was I in there? And what the hell was happening out here? What does he think is happening? “Liam...” What? What do I say? Dancing was a bad idea. Very bad idea.
Inside the bedroom, we hear Sonia make a beeline for the toilet, followed by the sound of vomiting. I pull away from him abruptly and I’ve never been so grateful for the sound of retching. “Maid of honor duty calls,” I say, heading toward Sonia, struggling with my balance from the lingering aftermath of a glimpse that now, somehow, involves me.
Shit, shit, shit.
This complete shitstorm I’ve created is like a tornado of shit spiraling around me.
I’d needed another glimpse.
The only reason I insisted Liam show me his dance skills was for an excuse to connect our lifelines. It wasn’t because I wanted to dance with him or have him hold me or look at me the way he did.
Shit.
And what I saw was... Oh shit, shit, shit.
The lingering blinding light and loud blasting effects of having seen myself in Liam’s future have me feeling dizzy and nauseated as I walk away from the resort toward the taxi stand.
I’m the reason Liam is heartbroken a year from now.
When our lifelines connected, I’d expected to see Sonia’s number on his call display like in the previous glimpse...
Instead, it was mine.
I’d wanted to prevent Liam from making the mistake of a lifetime, but I may have led him into a different one.
I’ve fucked with fate one too many times.
Thank God Operation Breakup is officially over.