I stare at the dark ceiling for most of the night, thoughts racing in my head, trying to deal with one of my problems at a time.
And it finally hits me what I need to do first once the sun is up.
I have to confront Ellie, to finally get everything I want to say off my chest and hear what she has to say for herself.
With that plan in mind, I finally doze for a few hours before getting up and taking a quick shower. Lucy is still sound asleep when I creep out the door and take a walk around the resort.
Maybe it’s pure luck or maybe it was my hunch that Ellie is a control freak, but either way, from the hallway I can hear her barking orders at hotel staff before eight a.m. She’s standing and pointing in one of the ballrooms while worker bees hurry around her, putting table and chairs together. The white pantsuit she’s wearing hides her bump well and is no doubt expensive but stiff, making her look twice her age of almost thirty. It’s possible I’ve just grown accustomed to being around Lucy and prefer her bright colors and youthful exuberance.
Ellie doesn’t hear me or notice my approach, which is great because she won’t be able to run.
When I’m standing right behind her, I finally say, “You and I need to talk.”
Her shoulders tense up, but she doesn’t turn around or have to look at me because I can tell she still recognizes my voice. “Right now? I’m sort of busy here, Nash,” she replies with a scoff.
“Too bad. I am sick and fucking tired of waiting on you. So, either you can turn around and talk to me like a normal person, or I’ll shout what I have to say to you loud enough for the whole goddamn resort to hear!” I threaten her.
With an exaggerated exhale, she turns around and hisses, “Watch your mouth with me. There’s no reason to get nasty.”
“No reason, huh?” I mutter as I glare down at her.
“Fine. Come on,” she huffs, and then I’m following the click-clack of her stilettos over to the empty side of the ballroom away from the workers. “So, talk,” Ellie turns around and says, crossing her arms over her chest.
And great, now that I’m standing here with her, my mind momentarily blanks as I stare at her face that’s still the same as it was three years ago. The face is the same, but she’s not the same woman I once loved more than anything.
So I say the first thing that pops into my head. “I knew you were vicious wrapped in a pretty package, but how could you steal your own cousin’s boyfriend?”
Apparently, that wasn’t what she was expecting me to say. Her mouth flaps like a fish before she finally says, “I know it looks awful, especially since Lucy was going through a tough time with the cancer and all, but really that’s what Barry and I bonded over, our concern for her.”
“Bullshit, you’re never concerned about anyone but yourself,” I grit out before all of her words sink through my thick skull. Hold on. Back the fuck up. “What was that part about Lucy’s cancer?”
“She didn’t tell you?” Ellie asks with her eyebrow lifted as if calling us on our fake relationship.
“Of course she did! I just can’t believe you were hooking up with fat boy while she had cancer.”
“It was just the one time! But then I found out a few weeks later that I was pregnant, so we had no choice but to tell her.” Her arms unfold and her palms mold around her belly. “It wasn’t like I got pregnant just to rub it in her face that she can never have kids. She knew Barry wants them, so it worked out for the best really.”
Jesus. Why the fuck didn’t Lucy tell me she had cancer or that she can’t have kids? That shit has to be hard on her, and yet she’s always so bubbly and happy, like nothing gets to her.
“The best for you and him maybe, just not for Lucy,” I grumble. “And I guess it worked out the best for me too since I don’t want any kids. Saves us a ton on condoms too.”
Ellie’s jaw drops as my intended low blow lands. When she’s able to recover enough to speak, she stammers. “I…you…you’re not actually sleeping with her, are you? You can stop with the bullshit lies about ‘being in a relationship.’ She’s not even your type!”
“Lucy is every fucking thing I didn’t know I’ve always wanted,” I reply honestly. “And she never mentioned the wedding was yours. She tried to stop me from coming, more than once. I insisted on crashing, because I couldn’t imagine being away from her for even just a few days and nights. Guess she was just trying to protect me from the likes of you all along.”
“And how exactly did the two of you meet anyway?” Ellie asks with a tilt of her head, hands braced on her hips. “Sort of a huge coincidence, isn’t it?”
“Maybe it was fate,” I challenge even though now I know it was all Lucy. I’ll be damned if I give Ellie the satisfaction.
Honestly, I have no idea what Lucy’s entire plan was when she sought me out, if she had actually thought I would help her break up Ellie and fuckface or what. But I’m glad we met. I’m not sure what I would’ve done without her these past few weeks. If not for her, I would probably still be a drunken mess who didn’t have any future to look forward to.
No matter what I’ve been going through, Lucy’s had it ten times worse.
Of course, I’m terrified of what will happen next week when we get back to town and I have to go to the police station and answer questions on the murder charges. I deserve whatever punishment I get; there’s no denying that. But at the same time, I’m dreading having to say goodbye to the guys and Lucy.
Once she finds out about the charges, I have no doubt she’ll run for the hills and not want anything to do with me ever again.
And I hate how much it will hurt her when she learns the truth about me. The girl has endured enough pain for ten lifetimes. Here I am, heaping on more. I should’ve come up with another plan to get out of town for a few days.
I guess I’m a selfish bastard for wanting to spend my last days of freedom with her.
Chapter Eighteen
Lucy
* * *
When I woke up to the sound of Nash walking out the door, I quickly got dressed, put in my contacts, ran a brush through my hair and brushed my teeth before going to look for him. Even though his things are still in the room, I was afraid he was up and leaving without saying goodbye.
Instead of finding him downstairs at the breakfast buffet, though, I run into my mother.
“There you are! I’ve been calling you since last night!” she exclaims as she comes hurrying over to me before I can escape without her noticing. Like me, she’s petite, although with a little extra cushion. She has the same pale blonde hair brushing her shoulders and blue eyes.
“Sorry, Mom,” I reply as we hug.
“What were you thinking bringing him here?” she whispers. “What Ellie did to you was horrible, but I can’t believe you would stoop to her level!”
“I didn’t plan to bring Nash, I swear,” I tell her. “It just sort of…happened last minute.”
“Lorraine is losing her mind!” she says about my aunt, her sister and Ellie’s mother. “Apparently, the groom’s family doesn’t know Ellie was married before.”