He was finally my past, but Paris and my baby were my future, and I held on to them as tightly as I could as sleep overtook me, and for the first time in years I slept soundly.
To be continued in Stepsister
THE END
My heart hammered in my ears as I heard Bailey beg me to stay. I wanted to, more than anything, but my dad had threatened her. He’d told me her dad had cashed in her trust fund and that Bailey was only able to buy into the gallery she part-owned with his help.
I couldn’t ruin her future. I’d already ruined her past. I was just ruining everything with her and I hated myself for it.
The night of my bachelor party I’d slipped and allowed myself to have just one more taste, but when she’d run from me, I’d realized what a massive screwup it’d been. I was supposed to make her hate me more not let myself fall in love with her all over again.
My voice broke, but not as much as my soul did when I answered her plea.
“I need to do this. I’m so sorry, Bailey, but I have to do this, for you and for me. Together we’re fucked up, and we bring out the worst in each other. You deserve the world and some guy who’s…” I had to suck in a breath. This shit hurt so much that my palms were sweating as we stood outside her car.
“Some guy is gonna give you the world and treat you like a queen. I’m only sorry that it’s not me. Your arms are the only place I’ve ever felt home, but I can’t be the guy who gives you everything.”
I wished I could be the one. The one to give her everything she deserved, but I wasn’t. I never could be and it was killing me. I pulled her into my arms one last time, breathing harshly as I pressed my lips to her forehead.
My heart broke as I whispered, “Goodbye, Bails.”
As I turned and forced myself to walk away from her, every step caused me physical pain and I had to force myself to keep my eyes forward I had to go through with the wedding. If I turned and went back to her, I’d never leave and my dad would screw her over.
I spun back once to see her scrubbing at her face and my legs wobbled, but I grabbed on to the cart that was holding my luggage and managed to keep standing. My whole body shook as I forced myself to walk into the airport and away from her.
I heard a car start and when I glanced back once more, she was gone. I’d lost Bailey Walker, probably forever. My legs shook and my palms were soaked in sweat as I pushed my luggage towards the check-in desk.
The girl there was cheery and chatted away to me as she checked me in, putting my tags on my luggage and waving me off. I needed a drink. Making my way to the airport bar, I spotted Jan’s sister and her cousin and swerved to avoid them.
I couldn’t deal with them. They were so excited and I was barely tolerating Jan. My temper was short and my body shuddered in revulsion when she touched me. When Bailey touched me I came alive, but with Jan it was as though something inside me died each time.
My eyes scanned the room and I saw the first-class lounge up ahead, but Kirsty and Kayla were standing outside a shop directly across from it and where their husbands were I didn’t know. I moved slowly towards them, hoping and praying that they’d stay engrossed in whatever it was they were looking at.
I was so busy watching them that I didn’t see Gregory or Martin until I walked right into them.
“Sorry,” I muttered and turned away, with a curse under my breath.
“Cooper, my man.” Greg put his hand on my arm stopping me and smarmed over to me.
“How’s it going? You all set for Saturday?”
I wanted to shake him off and run, but my dad’s threat played over and over in my mind. He’d destroy her if I did. He’d ruin her and I’d never be able to forgive myself if I let that happen to her, so I smiled and shrugged, shaking his arm off.
The next second Kirsty flew over with a shriek and started talking at a million miles a minute. I tuned her out until she mentioned Bailey’s name.
“Well, she just told Henri that there was no way Bailey was coming and that was that. I mean, your stepmother trying to get her daughter to your wedding when she’d almost screwed you both up the first time. How absurd…”
I forced a smile and she went on speaking on and on about how Bailey was such an inconvenience and how Zane had to stay away because he was a thief.
My fists tightened and I stepped around them.
“Excuse me for a minute…”
I stalked off without waiting on a reply and shot into the men’s room. I stood by the sink and tried to breathe around the pain, but I was getting married and my brother wasn’t going to be there. Plus I was marrying the wrong girl.
I heard the door open at my back and saw Martin step into the bathroom, looking uncomfortable.
“Cooper, your dad asked me to give you a message.”
He stepped towards me and passed over a sealed letter.
“He also said you’d likely want to leave, but I was to remind you that your futures are at stake, so to tread carefully.”
I nodded once at him and he left the bathroom, letting the door hit him as he walked out. The stalls were empty and I went into one, closing the door at my back and leaning on it to open the letter.
Cooper
I know you are probably thinking about running, but if you run from your responsibilities today, then you’ll both suffer. Bailey is finally leaving the past behind and if you care anything about her, you’ll let her go and let her get some therapy. She still talks about her fictional dead brother and her mom is worried about her. I need you to let her go. Embrace your future with Jan and enjoy your promotion at work.
Dad
My fingers curled into fists as I re-read the note. Tears stung my eyes as I read his words about Bailey again and I never hated him more. I composed myself and went out to the bathroom, splashing water on my face and trying to hide the fact that my hands were shaking hard.
I walked out of the bathroom seeing Martin and Greg standing across from me, but they had their back to me and I was able to slip into the first-class lounge unnoticed.
“What’ll you have?” the barman asked as I approached and I ordered a scotch on the rocks. He was back within seconds and I downed it quickly, relishing the burn as it flowed into my stomach.
“Another?” he asked and I bobbed my head as he poured me another drink.
I sank that one too and he poured me a final drink before going to serve a few others.
I took my glass over to the window and sat sipping on it, watching the world go by. I desperately wanted to leave, but my dad’s letter was burning a hole in my pocket.
Another drink appeared and my dad’s brother, Jake, sat down across from me. I barely saw Jake. He’d appear at family functions, but he was an outcast. My dad only put up with him for his mom and as soon as she passed, he limited our interactions with Uncle Jake. I was never sure why. Perhaps it was ’cause he was gay, or perhaps it was because my dad couldn’t control him and he hated not being in control.
“Hey, kid, you’re supposed to look happier. This is your wedding we’re flying out to.”
Jake glanced at me with clinician’s eyes that didn’t miss the bags under my eyes or the pain that was evident on my face.
“You wanna tell me why you look like it’s your funeral we’re flying to?”