Chapter 48 – Remington #2
“Nice win today, Hale,” Tom, one of the pro golfers, says, coming up to me the next evening at the cocktail party at the luxurious country club.
We shake hands. “Thanks. I had a good team.”
He turns to Auburn beside me, and they shake as well. “I heard your plane got delayed. Tough luck.”
“It turned out fine. I’m not sure I could have played much better than Mindy did the past two days.”
“I can’t believe she’s Juan Espinoza’s daughter,” Tom says, shaking his head in amazement. “I used to watch him when I was an amateur. He was my favorite player. It’s a shame what happened to him.”
I stiffen a little. The media had gotten wind of Mindy’s relation to Juan and tossed questions at her about it in a post-match interview with our team on the eighteenth green.
She handled it well, answering the questions about her childhood and his career while easily skirting around the questions about his downfall with a polite but stern, “I’d rather not discuss that. Next.”
“It was.” I answer Tom shortly, hoping he’s not trying to dig for information because I’ve always thought he was a good guy.
He stares down into his drink for a long second before lifting his gaze with a wry smile.
“I understand the pressure he was under. I was headed down the same path early in my career. As the money and fame started rolling in, my drinking got out of control.” He tilts his glass.
“I don’t drink anything stronger than soda now, thanks to a stint in rehab. ”
“I didn’t know,” Auburn says. “I’m sorry you went through that.”
Tom lifts a shoulder in a half-shrug. “We kept it pretty much under wraps. Juan ended up dying while I was in the facility, and it hit me pretty hard. He was way too young to have died, and I think that smacked me with a firm dose of reality and helped my recovery more than anything.”
The stiffness in my shoulders loosens. Tom wasn’t being a nosy ass; he was simply sharing how someone else’s choices affected his own. “I’m glad you got the help you needed. A wise man once said, ‘Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t make them all yourself,’” I say, and Auburn turns to me.
“Who said that? Albert Einstein?”
I shake my head and grin at him over the rim of my glass. “Nope. Usher.”
He and Tom laugh. “The man’s a lyrical genius.”
“Anyway,” Tom says, “I just thought I’d tell you in case you wanted to let Mindy know her dad changed my life. I’m not sure if that’s something she’d want to hear.”
I pat him on the shoulder. “I actually think she would love that story. You should share it with her when she gets here.” Lifting my wrist, I check the time and frown. “Which should have been ten minutes ago. Have you heard from Gianna?” I ask Auburn since the ladies were getting ready together.
“She texted a few minutes ago that they’re in the limo and will be here soon.” He looks down into his nearly empty glass. “I’m going to get another drink. You need anything?”
I shake my head. “No, I’m good.” He and Tom head toward the mahogany bar on the left side of the room, and I glance again toward the entrance. I’m looking for Mindy but instead, I see the last person I want to see. And he’s headed my way.
Grant motherfucking Carlisle, heir to the Carlisle Jewelry empire, flashes a smile that’s all white teeth and arrogance.
As usual, his blond hair is slicked back and pulled into a stupid man bun at the nape of his neck, and his skin has that deep tan color that tells me he spends a lot of time outdoors.
He looks like he’d be just as comfortable on a surfboard as in a boardroom.
His dark-blue suit is annoyingly well-tailored, fitting his long legs as he makes a beeline toward me.
I’d almost forgotten he was playing in this tournament, but I’m certainly remembering now.
“Hale,” he says, still grinning.
“Carlisle,” I grit out, sizing him up. We haven’t come face to face in years, and I’d forgotten how tall he was.
“Congratulations on the win today.”
“Thanks,” I return, baring my teeth in what’s supposed to be a smile but probably comes off more like a sneer. “Your team placed… what? Fifth?”
His grin broadens, and I want to undo every bit of work his high-priced orthodontist ever performed. “Fourth, actually,” he says in his Aussie accent that grates on my nerves. “Not a bad showing.”
I want to tell him that sounds like something a loser would say, but I hold my tongue. This is not the time nor the place to ignite our family feud.
“Is there something I can help you with?” I ask instead.
“Just wanted to offer my congrats.” He lifts a shoulder and lets it fall. “And to let you know Carlisle Jewelry is looking forward to working with you guys on the hospital charity gala.”
I slide my tongue across my top teeth, doing my best to maintain a professional demeanor. “Same.” Which is a fucking lie. They’re the last company I’d want to be connected to, but we’re in polite company.
“Perri in particular. She’s an absolute gem and quite cheeky, isn’t she?”
He has the nerve to wink, and my eyes narrow into slits. I’m about to tell him to keep my sister’s name out of his goddamn mouth when Auburn returns with a hearty greeting.
“Grant, nice to see you.”
Carlisle pulls his gaze from me and turns that irritating smile toward my friend as they shake hands. “You too, Auburn.” The two of them discuss golf while I stand there and clutch my glass so tightly I’m surprised it doesn’t shatter.