JOSHUA
Idon’t see Caitlyn at all for the next few days, as she’s still unwell with a stomach virus.
Though she does seem in a better mood after the first day, as she texts me constantly throughout the day to chat about little things and check how work is going.
I miss her greatly though and can’t wait until she’s feeling better so that we can see each other again.
I really want to introduce her to my brothers -- or at least Ryan. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about what Tucker said to me after we had the family dinner. He’d told me and Caitlyn are good for each other, and that anyone would be able to see how much we love each other.
I think that’s the key to getting Ryan on side. Showing him.
I’m sure once he meets Caitlyn, and gets to know her, he will realize we’re perfect for each other and be happy for us.
All I have to do is wait until Caitlyn is well enough to attend a small family dinner. She texted me earlier to tell me she’d been to the doctor, and she should be better by the weekend.
I’m hard at work, helping Mrs. Gilbert with her exercises when the doors to the gym open, and the whole room goes silent. For a moment, all that can be heard is the stereo, as everyone turns in the direction of the newcomer.
David Morgan.
My throat goes dry, and I step away from Mrs. Gilbert. “I’ll just be one moment,” I tell her with a forced smile.
Everyone in the gym watches as I walk over to David. No one knows about Caitlyn and I being more than friends, but David’s reputation precedes him, and, as he’s never visited the gym before, that’s reason enough to turn heads.
A few of the younger female clients watch with interest, obviously enthralled by David’s good looks.
On paper, he is the perfect man. Six-foot-five, with a lean, lithe body, and blond hair swept back from his face.
David always dresses impeccably in designer suites, his eyes shaded by Chopard sunglasses even though we’re inside.
“Joshua Braddock, just the man I wanted to see,” David says, his lips curling into a sneer. His incisors are pointed, making him look predatory.
Forcing myself to keep calm, I ask, “What do you want, David?”
David steps in closer to me, so that our noses are mere inches apart. “I want to know why you stole my girlfriend, turned her against me, and filled Caitlyn’s head with lies?”
My body goes cold. David knows about me and Caitlyn? This can’t be good.
“You did that all by yourself when you cheated on her,” I say, keeping my tone even, even though I want to smack David in the face.
“That was a mistake,” David dismisses, like he accidentally knocked over a pot plant or something trivial. “Caitlyn would have forgiven me if you hadn’t turned her against me.”
I turn away from David. “Believe whatever you want, but Caitlyn won’t go back to you.”
David grabs my arm, pulling me around to face him. “Are you sure about that? We have a special connection. It’s only a matter of time before she comes crawling back.”
I know Caitlyn will never go back to David, but I don’t want him harassing her. She deserves to feel safe.
“If you go near Caitlyn, I’ll beat you so badly, you won’t be able to walk for a week,” I snarl, my anger finally getting the best of me. David can do and say what he wants to me, but I won’t let him hurt Caitlyn.
“Is that right?” David sneers, lunging for me.
As I’m not expecting the attack, he manages to tackle me around the waist, and pulls me to the floor. Even though David is smaller built than I am, he’s still strong, and pins me to the ground as he pummels my face with his fists.
I hear a gasp and look up to see Mrs. Gilbert looking down on us in shock.
Not wanting to cause any more of a scene, I twist my body, knocking David off me, and clamber to my feet.
I’m just regaining my balance when David launches himself at me again. This time, I manage to side-step, and he goes crashing into a rowing machine, but the commotion is enough to have patrons running out of the gym.
“Everyone keeps calm. I can handle this,” I call out, but it’s no good, and gym clients flood out onto the pavement outside.
A few moments later, a pair of resort security guards enter the gym, obviously attracted by the bustle and wanting to make sure everything is okay.
“Is there a problem here, Mr. Braddock?” the taller of the security guards, a man I know as Sam, asks.
“No, it’s okay, Sam. Mr. Morgan was just leaving.”
David pulls himself to his feet, sweeps the dirt off his suit, and turns to me with narrowed eyes. “This isn’t over, Braddock,” he spits.
“Whatever,” I turn my back on him, and face Sam and the other security guard, Nick. “Can you see Mr. Morgan out, please?”
Without even glancing back at David, I stalk through to the staff area.
I take a series of deep breaths and watch on the security monitor as Sam and Nick drag David away. Once I know they’re gone, I head back into the main area of the gym. I lock the door, change the sign to closed, and then start straightening up.
I can’t believe David just burst in here and attacked me like he did.
I thought he had more finesse. Obviously finding out I’m with Caitlyn has gotten under his skin.
But how did he even know we’re together?
I haven’t told anyone except for my brothers, and Caitlyn has only told Amber.
None of those people would go running to David.
The only alternative is that he’s stalking her and that he saw us together.
I shudder at the thought. As soon as I'm done here, I’ll get in contact with the security company that works for the resort and hire someone to keep an eye on Caitlyn.
I’m just about done straightening up the gym when the door begins to open. As I know I locked it that means it can only be one person -- Ryan.
I prepare myself for a telling off from my older brother.
“I don’t even need to ask what happened, because everyone is talking about it. What were you thinking, Josh?” Ryan says, his tone clipped, his anger simmering under the surface.
“David is the one who attacked me. He just showed up here out of the blue and went crazy. I didn’t hit him back or anything.”
Ryan’s nostrils flare. “That doesn’t matter, the damage has been done. You should have called security as soon as he showed up here. Instead, now everyone is talking about what happened, and our reputation is tarnished.”
I turn on my brother, my eyes narrowed. “Is that all you care about? Our reputation? David Morgan just beat me up, I’m going to have a black eye for weeks, and your biggest concern is our reputation?
And did you even stop to ask yourself how David even knew Caitlyn and I are together?
None of us told him, and I know Caitlyn’s friend didn’t either, so that means he must be stalking her or something.
I want someone from the security team to watch her. ”
“The security team is for the resort only. We can’t afford extra expenses on the new ‘flavor of the month.’”
“Caitlyn isn’t just some fling, and I'm not Tucker. I don’t sleep around.”
“Just because you think you’re in love with Caitlyn doesn’t mean she feels the same. As soon as David starts putting on the pressure, she’ll go back to him. All women are the same.”
“Do you even hear yourself?” I shout, my temper reaching boiling point. “Have you learned nothing from your and Alicia’s relationship?”
“Alicia is different--”
“Why? Because she’s with you? Why can’t Caitlyn and I be in love with each other? Why are things only acceptable if they’re done the Ryan Braddock way? Tucker told me how you gave him a hard time about being a surfer. Why can’t you just let us be happy?”
“Did Tucker also tell you the cops were called, he was arrested for possession of cannabis, and your living room was completely trashed? I had to bail Tucker out of jail and pay for the clean-up at your place. So don’t you accuse me of not being happy for you, or not being supportive, when the pair of you are making it your mission to drag this family down into the dirt. ”
My mouth hangs open as I gape at my brother like a goldfish. Tucker didn’t tell me the whole story, and now I’m pissed off at my younger brother for keeping me in the dark.
But Ryan has to see I’m not Tucker, and this incident with David Morgan wasn’t my fault.
“I’m not trying to drag the family into the dirt. I just fell in love,” I say, trying to make Ryan see sense. “I understand why you’re angry with Tucker though, and I’ll speak to him. Maybe he’ll listen to me.”
“Unlikely,” Ryan snorts. Then his expression softens. “But I appreciate you trying. And I’m sorry I blew up at you. It’s just, hearing about the fight, after everything Tucker put me through…”
I roll my shoulders and try to force the tension out of my body. “I get it. It can’t be easy for you, keeping all of this straight. You’ve got a lot on your plate- all of us, the resort, and Alicia and her family.”
Ryan pinches the bridge of his nose. “Yeah, it is a bit much at times. I shouldn’t take it out on you though. Are you okay? David didn’t hurt you, did he?”
“Nothing I can’t handle,” I say. My face stings, but I know with some ice and antiseptic, it will be fine. “I’m more worried about Caitlyn. I was being serious when I said I want someone from the security team to watch her. I’ll pay for it myself if that’s what you want.”
“No, it’s okay. We can put it on the resort’s insurance,” Ryan says, his tone much softer now. “You know, I really would like to meet her. If she’s important to you, then she’s important to me, too.”
I smile. “Thanks Ryan. How about me and Caitlyn join you and Alicia for dinner this weekend? I figure we can start off small, so we don’t overwhelm her.”
“Good thinking. I’ll check our schedules and discuss it with Alicia, and then let you know.”
“Great. I’ll speak to Caitlyn about it later. I want to make sure she’s okay, and David hasn’t shown up at her apartment or anything like that.”
“Okay. I’ll get in touch with the security company and arrange for someone to go over to her place,” Ryan says, clapping me affectionately on the back.
“Thanks Ryan. Sorry for being a pain in the ass.”
My older brother shrugs. “What are families for?”
Once Ryan has left, I call Caitlyn to make sure she’s okay.
“Are you at home?” I ask, my heart hammering as I imagine David turning up at her apartment or something.
“I am. I’m still taking it easy,” Caitlyn replies. She sounds calm, and happy. That’s good.
“Good. And nothing has happened, has it?”
“What’s going on Josh? You’re worrying me,” Caitlyn says, her pitch rising slightly.
“It’s nothing … okay, not nothing. David turned up at the gym. He knows we’re together.”
“Shit,” Caitlyn says, and even though I can’t see her, I can perfectly picture her brows drawing together. “Are you okay?”
“A few bruises, but nothing I can’t handle. It’s you I’m worried about. How did David find out about us?”
There’s a long pause as Caitlyn considers what I’ve said, then finally she replies, “You don’t think he’s following me, do you?”
“That’s exactly what I’m worried about. I’ve spoken to Ryan and he’s going to have one of the resort security guards keep an eye on you.”
“You spoke to Ryan about it?” Caitlyn asks, the pitch of her voice rising.
“Yeah, security got involved when David came to the gym, so of course Ryan heard all about it. He came over to chew me out for tarnishing the family reputation or some such shit.”
Caitlyn sighs heavily. “He really said that?”
“Don’t worry about it, he’s not angry now. He just blew up at me ‘cos Tucker is stressing him out. You know the little shit had a party while we were away and got arrested for possession.”
“Seriously? What the hell?!” Caitlyn sounds angry on my behalf, and I appreciate her concern.
“Don’t worry, I’ll speak to him. My main worry is you.
If David knows we’re together, he might start harassing you, which is why I asked Ryan if someone from the security team could watch out for you.
He agreed, and said he’d like to meet you.
I think he’s coming around to the idea of us being together. ”
Caitlyn lets out another breath. “That’s good then. And he really wants to meet me?”
“Yeah, this weekend. I suggested we could have dinner with him and Alicia. I figured we’d keep it small at first, so you’re not overwhelmed. What do you think?”
I can practically see Caitlyn grinning over the phone line as she says, “I’d love to, Josh.”
“Okay, great. I’ll call you when I’ve heard from Ryan with more details. About the security team, too.”
“Thank you for always looking out for me, Josh.”
“Always. I love you, and I’ll protect you no matter what.”
“I love you too.”
I end the call to Caitlyn feeling much calmer than I did earlier.
She tends to have that effect on me, and now that we’ve talked everything through, I’m starting to think maybe David turning up at the gym was a good thing, after all.
Now we know Caitlyn might be in danger, and can act accordingly, and the resulting fallout forced me and Ryan to talk about our feelings, and sort all that out.
I’m sure once my brother meets Caitlyn, he will understand why I love her so much, and with a member of the security team keeping an eye on Caitlyn, we won’t have to worry about David again.