Complicated Read online

  Once the evening rolled around, Bri and I grabbed some dinner at one of the swankier restaurants in the area. The food was remarkable, as was the sunset we watched from the patio. Since our suite had its own movie theater, we settled ourselves in for an evening of chick-flicks. We were able to get a sneak peek of some movies that hadn’t been released yet. It made me wonder even more how much Ethan had dropped on this suite. The amenities extended to us were insane. After an evening of movies, I crawled into the gigantic bed and stared at the full moon that brought plenty of light into the room.

  I had been tossing and turning for hours when I heard my phone vibrate with a new message. I rubbed my eyes before crawling over to the nightstand. My breathing picked up and my stomach fluttered – I hoped in every way that it was Ethan. His silence so far was killing me. I held my breath as I brought up my texts.

  I’m sure you’re still pissed with me. I’m sorry for not touching base with you sooner. I figured you needed time to cool off. Please believe I’d never do anything to hurt you. I miss you. And just so you know … I love you.

  My eyes watered and I gasped in an overdue breath. My anger had started to simmer down throughout the evening. Having Ethan finally make contact brought it down even more. I missed him too. My love for him certainly hadn’t changed in the last twenty-four hours. I had to stop pushing people away when situations got tough. I had to hear him out before I wrote him off completely. He deserved that much.

  After hearing from Ethan, sleep finally took me. The mattress was a godsend. It was around eleven when I grudgingly got up. It relieved me that Bri had the same game plan. When I strolled into the living room, her hair was still wet and she was without makeup. Our minds certainly thought alike some days. Today was a prime example, because we were spitting images of each other. We both had on high-cut jean-shorts with matching racer-back tank tops. Hers was bright orange that brought out the auburn tints in her hair. Mine was black – to match my mood.

  We finished primping and grabbed some food downstairs. The restaurant in the hotel served some of the most amazing dishes in Miami, so it was the first stop on our list of places for the day. After grabbing brunch, we spent the afternoon enjoying the boutiques and art galleries on Lincoln Road. Shopping took Bri to her happy place, which was what I was shooting for when I had suggested it. Shockingly, it was enough to keep our minds off everything else plaguing our lives.

  Ethan had put us on the red-eye home. Bri dozed off immediately. I was able to after a few sleeping pills. I didn’t wake up until we were on our way to the gate. Bri turned on her phone to shoot Trey a quick text. Wondering if Ethan had made contact again, I did the same. After a few minutes, I had nothing but a blank screen. I sighed and shoved it in my purse as we made our way off of the plane.

  Bri had packed us light for the weekend, so we were able to meet Trey outside of baggage claim without having to wait. A huge part of me hoped Ethan might be down there too. However, based on his message yesterday, I doubted it. I was disappointed, especially since I didn’t want to have to hash out our problems at his office. The temptation to text him grew by the minute. I remained relatively quiet on our way home so that Bri and Trey could catch up after a weekend apart. It was clear they had certainly missed each other. The over-the-top exchange of PDA was about enough to make me gag. I kept my focus on the passing lights that zipped past as we drove home.

  Jackson and Shane weren’t there when we got home. Bri and Trey disappeared into his room about two seconds after we arrived. I was in no mood to overhear their ‘reconnection’, so I dropped off my stuff in my room before heading to The Cave. I wished Jackson and Shane were home, because the silence was deafening. It reinforced the pain and guilt I felt about how horribly I’d treated so many people in the last year.

  After flipping on the lights in The Cave, I crouched down in front of the shelves that housed our multitude of DVDs. I grabbed Silver Linings Playbook and popped it in before plopping myself on the couch. I hoped luck was on my side and it would put me to sleep. I needed something to quiet the voices in my head that continued to dwell on where things stood with Ethan. I checked my phone one more time for new messages, but had none. My heart dropped even more. I snuggled into a pillow and prayed for sleep.

  I watched three more movies, hoping it would be enough to wear me down. I decided to throw in the towel and made my way to my room to tinker on the Internet. My head was pounding and my body was growing tired, so cozying upstairs seemed like a good idea. As I hit the stairs, Trey was coming down, deep in thought, until he noticed me.

  “Is everything alright with Bri?” Trey asked anxiously.

  I bit my lip before mumbling, “Umm … yes. Why?”

  I reasoned that my answer wasn’t exactly a lie. In reality, she was OK. Bri had a hell of a lot on her plate, but physically she was fine.

  Who am I kidding? A lie is a lie – and this is another one. I can’t seem to go very many days without telling one. You think I’d actually try to make changes, but no; I continue on the same damned path. I’ve probably earned myself a luxury suite in hell at this point.

  “I don’t know. She’s been really off lately. It’s like there’s this wall between us. I know part of it is me, but it feels like something more.”

  I sat down on a step, and gestured for him to do the same.

  “What makes you feel like something is wrong?” I inquired, bringing my knees up.

  Trey entwined his hands behind his neck and sat down next to me. “Since labels were tossed out, I haven’t talked about it. I threw out that Bri was my girlfriend in anger, and it’s not like I take it back …”

  “Trey, it doesn’t need to be as difficult as you’re making it. It’s simple,” I said quietly. He cocked his head in confusion. I gave him a soft smile and asked, “Do you love her?”

  His face smoothed over as his gray eyes drifted from me to the stairs. “I don’t want to be with anyone other than Bri, but I’m not ready to tell her that I love her. Those words get thrown out so carelessly. I don’t want to say them until I know without a doubt that I can trust her.”

  I sighed. “Trey, it will always be a leap of faith whenever you hand your heart over to someone else. There’s no guarantee you won’t get hurt at times when that trust is pushed to the limit. But you have to believe in yourself, and Bri, that whatever comes along you’ll get through it together. If you continue to wait, there’s a chance the universe will interfere and take that moment away from you. Please tell her.”

  “I’ll tell her when the time is right,” he argued.

  I grunted at his stubbornness. It matched my own.

  “I can tell you, from firsthand experience, that there isn’t a perfect time. If you feel it, you should say it. Like I said, it’s simple,” I reiterated.

  “When did you become the love expert?” Trey asked, clearly amused.

  I arched an eyebrow and said, “I’m not. If we keep the big things from people for too long, so much can go wrong. Before you know it, you’ve lost out on life and you’re standing alone with nothing but a head full of what-ifs and regrets.”

  Trey looked at me in disbelief. His face softened as he said, “I hear what you’re saying Mia. I’m sorry about Ethan taking off on you. Do you think he’ll keep his mouth shut?”

  I grimaced. “It’s hard to say. I haven’t heard from him today, which worries me.”

  Trey frowned and curled his fists. His face flushed as his knuckles turned a striking shade of white. “I really want to beat his ass. I knew telling him would be a bad idea. I might just pay him a visit to make sure he keeps quiet.”

  I shook my head. “I appreciate your attitude, but resolving this with your fists probably isn’t the best approach. I’m going to hear Ethan out. I owe him that much after lying to him from the moment we met.”

  He scratched his head with a skeptical look in his eyes. “I sure hope love hasn’t blinded you for the second time. It isn’t a very good sign that Ethan jett
ed off once you told him the truth.”

  I rubbed my hands across my face and muttered, “I know, but my brain has exhausted itself trying to figure out why he really left. I’ll know soon enough.”

  Trey got up to continue downstairs. “I sure hope you’re right Mia. You have enough problems with Micah. When you meet with him, make sure you find out why he was with Ian. I don’t like it, especially knowing the O’Connors crashed your birthday party.”

  I nodded before heading upstairs. “It doesn’t sit right with me either.”

  I strode into my room and darted to my trashcan to look for Micah’s letter. I frantically sifted through the contents and double-checked the area around it. My nerve-endings prickled with electricity as I accepted the fact that it wasn’t here. It couldn’t have left my room because I hadn’t cleaned in here since this whole fucked-up situation had started. After changing into a pair of drawstring pants and a T-shirt, I sat on the edge of my bed, anxiously running my eyes around the room. I tried to remember if at any point anyone other than Bri or me were in here. The pit in my stomach grew as I pieced it all together. Ian had more than likely took the letter during the party. It wasn’t as if any of us would have noticed any strange behavior that night. To this day, none of us were able to recall the majority of the evening. I crawled into bed and pulled the covers over my head. If I dwelled on things any longer, I’d only become more miserable. I prayed to the universe for a break, so that tomorrow would be better.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Packed With a Punch

  I was a jittery mess on the way to the office. A huge part of me was paranoid that Ethan wouldn’t be there. If that happened, I’d have major issues with Harrison. Before long, I was pulling into the parking lot. My stomach sank when I didn’t spot Ethan’s car. His BMW was flashy and hard to miss. I held my breath on my way into the building. The smug blonde at the front desk flashed me an over-the-top smile that fueled my paranoia even more. My hands started to sweat as I neared Ethan’s office. I took a long breath before reaching for the handle.

  I opened the door to find it empty. Pins and needles pricked across my body. I paced around the room, making a great effort to try and make sense of his motives. His message had said he’d never hurt me, but not showing up went against that. Becoming dizzy from the continuous pacing, I fell into the couch next to his door. I grabbed a piece of my hair and anxiously twirled the strands of blonde, black and purple through my fingers.

  I’m screwed. It’s that simple. Harrison is going to figure out that I told Ethan. He’ll torture me before ultimately making me suffer, the artful bastard that he is. He’ll make my friends be the first to pay for my stupidity.

  I grabbed my purse to find my phone. I had to call Trey to tell him to keep the others around the house until some sort of plan presented itself to me. As I went to dial, my phone started vibrating. Being completely out of it, I didn’t check the caller ID. My stomach knotted into one deep ball of anxiety. I held my breath and pleaded with God for it not to be Harrison.

  “Hello,” I rasped.

  “Breathe, Mia,” Ethan urged lightly.

  I gasped before quickly coming to my senses. “Ethan, where are you? You said appearances would be in place, but you not being here is like a flashing billboard for Harrison,” I hissed. Despite my best effort to be angry with him, my heart fluttered rapidly at the sound of his deep voice.

  “I’m staying an extra day to check into a potential investment, along with some other matters. Harrison isn’t going to do anything rash with me being gone one day. I could be out sick for all he knows. Just relax.”

  Something was off with him. His tone contradicted the self-assured side he typically had when it came to business. I didn’t buy his excuse any more than his need for space, but I remained silent. Being as stubborn as me, Ethan kept quiet too. His light breathing was counterproductive to my anger. His chiseled face and messy black hair flitted into my mind. The definition of his jaw with those blinding dimples revved up my body. It made me want him here for purely selfish reasons. A soft sigh left me when the rest of his glorious body claimed my last rational thought. I missed his deep brown eyes the most. They gave me a sense of belonging like I’d never experienced. A feeling of warmth spread across my chest.

  “I miss you,” he spoke up. His tone was heartbreaking. It reminded me of how I felt when I realized he had left on Saturday morning.

  “Why did you leave me like that?” I asked, nearly breaking down all over again.

  “I needed to sort things out. I couldn’t do that around you,” he answered quietly.

  My hands shook as my eyes started to water. I glanced around the room to find my words.

  “It’ll be OK Mia. You’re going to work with Connor’s team today and tomorrow. When I return, we can regroup on the proposal. Please have faith that I know what I’m doing,” he continued, more confidently.

  “Have faith in you? Ethan, you left me,” I replied in aggravation.

  He grunted. “I didn’t leave you. I took a weekend away from you. There’s a difference.”

  I saw red and snapped, “Interesting that you decide on a weekend apart after I tell you everything. I don’t know what to think. How am I supposed to believe that you aren’t going to screw me over?”

  “You’re supposed to believe me because you love me as much as I love you,” Ethan responded quickly. The tone in his voice settled the unease in me. There was a sincerity that was difficult to deny.

  “I do love you. That isn’t what I’m worried about at the moment,” I said softly.

  Ethan exhaled heavily. “We’ll talk when I get back. Connor will be down to get you in a few minutes. Stay in my office until he gets there. I don’t want you going anywhere without him or his team. One of them will escort you to your car at the end of the day.”

  My frustration got the better of me as I blurted, “Is there anything else you’ve planned for me? I’m fully capable of handling myself without you here.”

  “I’m not going to argue with you. This is what’s best for you and your loved ones. If I remember correctly, that’s your main concern,” Ethan shot back.

  We were getting nowhere. I was beyond irritated that he had planned another detail of my life for me, and it was obvious he was furious with me. A tap echoed from the door.

  “Someone’s here. I have to go. I guess I’ll wait to hear from you when you see fit to contact me again,” I said angrily.

  “I know you’re mad at me. Knowing you’re safe is more important to me than worrying about whether or not I piss you off. I do that often, so it’s nothing new. Go start your day. We’ll pick up this conversation tomorrow,” Ethan replied patiently.

  The knocking grew louder. I slowly got up, with every effort to control my wobbly knees. I almost dreaded having a conversation with Ethan tomorrow because that brief exchange had left me more than exhausted.

  “Fine,” I relented.

  “I love you. Please try to have faith in me,” he replied devoutly.

  “I love you too. I’m sorry for lying to you in the first place,” I said, hanging up.

  Not paying much attention, I opened the door quickly and turned around without seeing who was behind it. My eyes sprang open as a rough set of hands grabbed my arm and started pushing me backwards. Ian pinned me against the door with one hand alongside my head and the other pressed against his lips. Adrenaline surged through me. I shifted my weight to try and squirm away. Ian cradled his phone to his ear with his shoulder as he slammed his arm against my upper chest. He clapped his other hand over my lips to stop me from screaming. The dryness in my mouth coincided with the terror slithering through my pores. He narrowed his eyes at me, with a devious grin on his face. It tapped into my fury from talking to Ethan. I bit down hard on his hand.

  “You bitch! Don’t do that again,” Ian warned, pushing me into the door with more force.

  My anger spread to my eyes as I glared at him. Every part of me wanted to fall t
o the floor from the fear that was starting to cripple me, but I refused to back down. He drove his arm into my chest again. I toned my attitude down, just to get him to ease up a little. The upper part of my body was under more pressure than I could handle. Getting him to step away became imperative if breathing was going to remain an option.

  “Someone wants to talk to you. Make it quick,” Ian said, pressing the phone to my ear with a smug-ass grin on his face.

  I remained silent. I had no desire to hear the malevolent voice that would be harassing me in a second. Ian retracted the feeble gap he had given me by shoving his arm into me again.

  “Don’t be rude. Say hello,” he demanded.

  I withheld the cough that was desperate to break free. “What do you want Harrison?”

  “You’re on thin ice Mia. This past weekend didn’t go unnoticed. Don’t even think about skipping town again, or involving the cops. I’ll make you suffer if you do. People don’t dictate me. I dictate them. Have I made myself clear?”

  Harrison’s seething tone sent chills through my body. He was ready to execute his vengeance – that was more than obvious.

  “Crystal,” I answered snottily.

  Seriously? Pissing him off even more isn’t going to help the situation. Are you nuts?

  Ian elbowed me hard again. An inadvertent yelp escaped as pain spread across my chest. Harrison must have made his point, because the line went dead. I angled my head away from the phone with my eyes pointed at Ian to step away from me. Using the several inches he had over me, he leaned in, refusing to release me. His blonde buzz-cut matched the stubble lining his jawline. The scars above his eyebrows and across his throat were one of the many indicators that he had no issue with getting into fights.

  “Show a little respect Mia. Harrison has been more than generous.”

  “I heard what he had to say. Now get off me, you asshole.”