Chapter 48
forty-eight
PRESENT DAY
KATE
Acid coats my tongue. My lungs squeeze, pulsing fast and fighting for air. Why would Brandon sign off a text like that? He wouldn’t joke about H.Y. knowing how terrified I’ve been this whole time. How desperately I’ve clung to Brandon because of it.
Sandpaper coats my throat, and I try to swallow.
There’s no way. This is ridiculous.
Brandon is not H.Y. He couldn’t be.
My mind bumbles through memory after memory, trying to scrap together evidence to exonerate him, but I cannot. The timing of each text leaves a lot of gray area for assumption. I search for a moment where H.Y. texted me while Brandon was present, like what happened with Levi.
There are none.
Disbelief fades as hot tears of anger burn behind my eyeballs.
There’s no logical excuse for him to sign off a text like that.
Unless…
Was H.Y. a ploy all along for Brandon to draw closer to me? A plan that would render me helpless and seeking protection?
I’m suddenly back in college, realizing that Brandon’s romantic date setup was just that—a setup. Here I am again, feeling stupid and manipulated into a playboy’s master plan while he pulls the strings.
While Brandon pulls the strings.
Did he decide now was safe enough to out himself? That I was madly in love with him enough to forgive behind rose-colored glasses?
I clench my jaw until it aches.
I attempt to stall my angry thoughts, taking a deep breath until I can sort through them rationally. I begin with what I know.
I love Brandon.
Brandon loves me.
Surely Brandon wouldn’t have messed with me all this time. There’s no way. Unless he had other motives? He never would hurt me on purpose, that much I know. So was this some sort of bad joke? Something isn’t adding up.
As angry as I am, I need to find Brandon. I need to give him a chance to explain before I jump to conclusions.
I stalk through the Astor Wing, abandoning my heels and purse on the couch. But even through the waning crowds, I cannot find him anywhere.
I spot Amantha beneath a blinking traffic light talking to Blythe and Robyn, and I work my way to them.
“Have you guys seen Brandon?”
Amantha’s brows pinch. “I thought I saw him a few minutes ago, but I didn’t see where he went. Why? Are you okay?”
But I stride off before I can answer. The anger barely cloaking my hurt is chomping at the bit for answers. Maybe he already headed down to the basement storage rooms to retrieve the industrial carts for takedown?
I break into a run toward the service elevator, relieved that I won’t need my keycard to access it since I accidentally left it tucked in my purse. Security waived the employee only access lock for the public. My fuchsia train skirts closely behind me, a bit longer now since I’m without my heels.
I stab the button, tapping my bare toes on the cold tile. Whirling into the elevator, I smack the button for the basement level with an open palm. The doors seem to lag, waiting for others to step in. I press the pad of my thumb against the door-close button. No one else is coming.
Movement shifts in my periphery, and I startle. Realizing I’m not alone in this elevator, I toss a casual glance over my shoulder. The mirrored elevator doors slide shut with a pneumatic hiss before the person chooses to speak.
“Have I mentioned how beautiful you look tonight? Pink has always been my favorite color on you, Kate.”
brANDON
I leave Kate unstrapping her heels on the loveseat and stride toward the service elevator.
Rick, Val, and I will be responsible for removing the cocktail tables after guests leave, although the exhibition will stay open for six more weeks. I figure I might as well get a head start on retrieving the industrial carts from the basement storage rooms.
I take one last peek at Kate on the other side of the hall, still curled up on the couch. Hot pride fills my veins at the fact that she is mine. For real, this time. Lucky doesn’t begin to describe how I feel at this moment.
A grin claims my mouth as the elevator doors pull open. I step inside as a text vibrates my phone.
TUCK: Come up to the third floor, will ya? I just got the craziest call.
I cock my head, pressing the button for level three instead of the basement. A few minutes later, I stroll toward where Tuck loiters outside the Vanderbilt wing.
“What’s up, Tuck?” I ask.
Tuck swivels as if in slow motion, eyes huge. “Bro. You’re never going to believe this.”
“What?”
“EcoSphere just called,” he says blankly. “They want to buy my manifold tech.”
I whoop and clap him on the shoulder, shaking him out of his stupor.
“That’s insane, man! Congrats!”
He stutters a laugh, still processing.
“Now you can finally backpay me for your half of rent,” I say.
“Bro.” He blinks. “I could buy the building.”
I turn to stone. “What?”
“They don’t want to just buy the manifold, they want the aftermarket catalytic converter I designed to pair with it. They’re going to purchase the technology, pay royalties for both, and they want me on their team.”
I’m dumbstruck. “So…you’re like…rich, now?”
“Stupid rich. If I say yes.”
“Why the hell wouldn’t you say yes?!”
“EcoSphere is based in London,” he says, face tight.
“So? You’ve always wanted to live abroad!”
“I know.” He blows out a thin breath, glancing toward where The Spiral descends to the lobby. “Just don’t know if I have it in me to leave everyone.”
“There you two are!” A robust voice calls from the top of The Spiral.
Tuck and I turn to see Dallas, Julia’s boyfriend.
Dallas swaggers toward us, ill-fitting suit straining against his chemically-enhanced muscles. He’s the kind of guy that inhales protein powder and spends more time counting macronutrients than with his girlfriend.
But I refrain from inserting myself into their business: one—because Julia has made it clear that who she dates isn’t up for debate, and two—because Dallas isn’t exactly the buddy type.
Even throughout high school, I swear he only had a few other meathead friends.
Pair that with his on-again-off-again tendencies with Julia, and I have a severely diminished amount of respect for the guy.
“Listen, you two.” A broad smile stretches across his somewhat-flattened bone structure.
I’ve always wondered if his family also has gently-sloped features, or if he rammed his face into a tree at some point.
“I’ve got news, but I need you to keep it on the down low.
” He withdraws a velvet ring box from his tight khaki suit, popping it open with a flourish.
Tuck and I blink at the somewhat small diamond set inside a shining gold band. Not that I’m judging, though. He probably makes close to what I do with his personal training business.
“You’re proposing?” Tuck’s voice is incredulous.
“Yup,” Dallas says proudly, stuffing the box back into his pocket. “Julia told me she was into the whole marriage thing, and I thought, why the hell not?”
“Why the hell not?” Tuck repeats through gritted teeth. “That’s how you made that decision?”
I shoot Tuck a quizzical look, knocking him on the shoulder. He knocks mine right back.
Dallas shrugs. “I’ve known Julia was endgame since freshman year.”
“Have you, now?” Tuck scoffs.
I knock Tuck on the shoulder, harder this time.
“We’re happy for you guys,” I say with a pointed look, but the awkward sentiment thuds to the floor between us.
“Thanks. Guess I’ll see you two around, then.”
“Bye,” I respond for the both of us, since Tuck’s hazel eyes are so dark they’re almost black. Once we’re alone, I grab Tuck’s shoulder.
“What was that?”
Tuck yanks out of my grasp as footsteps approach us. I turn, half expecting to see Dallas returning, but it’s Tanner who approaches.
“What now?” I mutter under my breath.
Tuck’s mouth stays a hard line, so I assume the dreaded task of greeting him.
I swivel my head. “You lost or something?”
Tanner scans the empty Vanderbilt wing with a good-natured chuckle. “Nah, man. I was looking for you. Wanted to chat.”
“I’m getting out of here,” Tuck mutters. He storms off in the opposite direction. There’s no elevator or stairwell where he’s aiming, so I know he’s gonna have to circle back around eventually.
Tanner watches him go with a somewhat bemused look, then meets my stare.
“So, you and Kate, huh?”
I tense, then nod. “Yup.”
“Should have guessed something was up back at that scavenger hunt,” Tanner says to his lapel, picking invisible lint off it. “Didn’t peg you for a guy who’d try to take someone’s girl.”
“Then you must not know me very well.” I straighten with an easy smile, rocking back on my heels. “But Kate didn’t need taking. She chose me.”
Tanner says nothing for a long moment, as if silence can intimidate me. I almost laugh.
He breaks first. “Guess there’s nothing to say, then.”
“Guess not,” I agree.
“Take care of her, man,” he sighs, but he seems anything but defeated. If anything, it seems like he’s subtly enjoying our little conversation. Tanner strides a few paces toward the elevator, pulling out his phone. He curses and turns back.
“Do you mind if I borrow your phone for a sec? Mine just died and I’ve gotta confirm my car pickup.”
“Uh. Yeah. Sure, man.” Anything to get rid of this guy.
I pat down my suit until my palm hits my phone inside my left pocket. I hand it to him as Tuck’s heavy footfalls inform me he’s realized his dead end.
I stunt my friend’s path with a palm to his chest.
“You’ve gotta knock this off,” I mutter to Tuck.
“Knock what off?”
“I don’t know, whatever weird protective streak you’ve got going on. Don’t mess this up for her.”
A large hand falls on my shoulder, interrupting us. “Thanks for lending me your phone,” Tanner says. “I really appreciate it.”
“Welcome.” I take the phone, shrugging off his palm without turning around.
Tuck and I resume arguing as the elevator doors hiss open behind us.