20. “Wildest Dreams” - Taylor Swift #3
I hesitate. I don’t relish the thought of seeing the two of them duke it out in the middle of Winchester Park, and if the look on Henry’s face is any indication, it’s liable to happen if Beck sticks around.
“Do I need to get a box of crayons to spell it out for you? I said, it’s time to go.” Henry’s voice is thin ice.
“You’d better leave,” I say, squeezing Beck’s arm. “I’ll call you.”
He looks down at me, and I can’t tell what he’s thinking. After a few seconds, he pulls away and disappears down the path, leaving me in the company of a volcano on the brink of eruption.
“Was that really necessary?” I move to edge past Henry, but he sticks out his arm.
“Not so fast. First, you can explain what the hell you’re doing.”
“I don’t have to explain anything to you.”
“On the contrary, I think you do. You lied to me,” he says through his teeth.
“You never would have let me come if I’d told you the truth.”
“You’re bloody right I wouldn’t.”
I glare at him. “I did what I had to in order to make my meeting.”
“A meeting with Harrison? Or with the tosser taking your photo?”
“You’re a child.”
“The least you could say is thank you.”
“I didn’t ask you to do that. I didn’t ask you for anything,” I spit out.
“You’re my wife. You didn’t need to ask.”
My pulse thrums loudly in my ears. “I don’t need you to save me, or whatever it is you think you’re doing.”
“Admit it. You’re glad I showed up and made both of them leave.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Come on, Celia. We both know Harrison bores you.”
“How dare you talk to me like that.” It comes out shakier than I’d like, my fists trembling at my side.
“Because it’s the truth, but you’re too scared to admit it.” He takes a step toward me, and his dark eyes probe mine.
“Don’t make assumptions about how I feel.”
“Assumptions?” Scoffing, he shakes his head. “God, C. I know you better than you know yourself.” His voice is the richest velvet. “I know that the last time we were together you scared so badly you’ve done everything in your power to keep away from me ever since. Because you’re terrified.”
“I hate you.”
“I know that too. Now, why don’t we talk about what was happening before I walked past the trees?”
“There’s nothing to talk about. Why did you follow me anyway?”
“I was worried about you. I knew being in the hospital was hard for you, and I wanted to make sure you were okay. Let’s not forget, you implied you needed time to yourself because of your dad, not because you were meeting your lover.”
My chest grows warm and tight under his glare.
“Speaking of—” Henry reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out the incriminating phone. His face is a cool mask as he scrolls through the pictures. “Getting pretty cozy with the staff, C.”
“Oh, please,” I say. “Don’t play that card. It’s beneath even you.”
“Okay,” he says, putting the phone away. “Then tell me how many more of these destructive situations I’ll have to save you from.”
“I never asked you to follow me, and I bloody well didn’t ask you to save me.”
“Since you’re so unappreciative, you won’t mind if I hand this phone over to the press then, right?”
“Sure, go ahead.”
The corner of his mouth twitches. “All right. The Sun should have lots of fun with it.”
“Damn it, Henry!” I say as he starts walking away. “Can you for once not make me want to strangle you?”
He wheels around to face me. “As soon as you quit being a pain in the ass.”
I desperately want to hit him with something heavy, like my car. “You smug son of a bitch.”
He moves closer until he’s only inches away. I refuse to take a step backward, refuse to show him how he affects me. Cupping my jaw in his palm, he yanks me to him with his other hand.
“I ought to kiss you until you can’t see straight.”
Electricity zips through my blood. At his touch, my body responds the way I knew it would, rising up and begging him to make good on his threat. My mind grabbles for control.
“But I won’t,” he breathes, and brushes his lips over mine. It nearly sends me into cardiac arrest, but he doesn’t appear to notice. “I’ll settle for drinks. In my suite. Tonight.”
I jerk away from him. “Are you out of your mind? I know what you do there.”
Raising both palms, he says, “I swear, drinks only. You owe me for bailing you out.”
“No way. I’m not coming to your room.” I’m still buzzing from the high voltage coursing through me.
“Come on, C. Just as friends. Aren’t you tired of fighting?”
I study him. He isn’t hiding laughter—always a sign that he’s up to no good. Instead, his eyes hold a smudge of a plea, and Henry doesn’t make a habit of asking for things. His lips are slightly parted, as if he’s waiting with bated breath for my answer.
I do a quick gut check on myself. My traitorous body is already waiting in his suite, praying he didn’t mean his “just as friends” comment. My inner skeptic is surprisingly silent. It seems the general consensus is that Henry can be trusted this time.
And the truth is, I am tired of fighting with him. I bite my lower lip, now cold with sweat. “Okay. Just drinks.”
“Just drinks,” he says with a grin.