A Secret to Keep (15 page)

“Yes, now open it.”

Laughing at his eagerness for her to open the box, Sloane grasped the sides and opened the box to reveal a beautiful sapphire and diamond pendant on a delicate silver chain.

“Gates, it’s beautiful.” It was an exquisite two-carat sapphire surrounded by diamonds.

“You like it?” He watched her eyes sparkle almost as much as the diamonds on the pendant as she continued to look at the jewels.

“Like it? I love it. It’s gorgeous. But this is-”

“Nah, unh uh, you can’t say it’s too much because you promised, remember?” He quickly took the necklace out of the box to put it on her. She reached and pulled her hair up off of her neck as he leaned around her and closed the clasp of the necklace.

“It looks as beautiful as I thought it would.”

“Thank you.” When she leaned over to gently kiss him, he inhaled the scintillating smell of her perfume and his insides did somersaults.

“You’re very welcome.”

Shaking him from his nostalgia, the pilot’s voice reverberated in his ear informing him they were preparing to land. Gates couldn’t believe he’d done nothing but think of her the entire flight home. He was trying his best to put her out of his mind, but it wasn’t possible.

“This is crazy, Gates. You’ve got to get a hold on this. She’s engaged and she’s in love with someone else.” He watched the sun bounce off the clouds as they made their descent into New York. “You’ve got to let her go.”

“Okay, so spill. Tell me everything and leave nothing out. We didn’t get to talk in detail. You can only imagine what was going through my head when you told me Gates was getting out of the shower.” Liyah curled her legs under her on the oversized sofa in pure anticipation. She and Sloane were having a ‘girl’s afternoon’ and were now sitting on Sloane’s couch eating popcorn and barely watching the movie playing on the TV. Brayden was finally down for his afternoon nap and she and Liyah were taking advantage of the peace and quiet.

“I told you, nothing happened. We got stuck in Charleston and got drenched running to the car at the airport and that’s it. He slept in the other room,” Sloane added softly, thinking about the conversation she and Gates had.
The one person I would have given it all up for is engaged to someone else.
Shrugging her shoulders, she reached for more popcorn and glanced at the images flashing on the screen.

“Whatever chica. You may’ve been able to tell Chase that and have him believe it, but you’re talking to me. I know your past and I know what you and Gates had, and from where I sit, it’s not over.”

“Liyah, really. Gates and I are over. We were over the day I left. He’s made that abundantly clear.” Sloane hoped she was convincing but she knew she could never fool her best friend.

Cocking her head to the side, Liyah raised an eyebrow. “As much as I know you want to believe that, I know differently.” Pausing, she looked at Sloane before continuing. “Yeah, I know the whole song and dance about you wanting to keep Brayden from being hurt, but you’re still in love with Gates.”

“I’m not listening to this.” Sloane got up from the sofa and strolled into the kitchen. She was trying her best to deflect what Liyah was saying but somewhere deep down; her best friend had hit a nerve.

“Come on, Sloane.” Liyah followed her into the kitchen. “You’ve got to face it. You’ve been running from Gates for a while and now that he’s back in your life, you’re still trying to run away. Why?”

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe because he’s not back in my life and I’m not running away, Liyah. I don’t even know what you’re talking about.” Opening the refrigerator she pulled out a bottle of water.

“Sloane, you know full well what I’m talking about. You left Gates because you said he had changed, but I know you. I’ve known you practically your whole life and I know that, yeah, maybe he did change from what he was initially when you met, but you left because you were scared.”

“Of what? That’s crazy Liyah. I was not scared.”

“Yes, you were. Same reason you’re so determined to keep Brayden from Gates.” Liyah finished, crossing her arm and challenging Sloane.

“You don’t know anything.” Rolling her eyes, Sloane moved past Liyah to head back to ‘watch’ the movie.

“Then if that’s the case, why don’t you tell him? If you aren’t scared, then why don’t you tell him he has a son? And don’t give me that ‘to keep Brayden protected’ junk.”

“It’s not that easy, Liyah. Gates is a busy man. Too busy for a child in his life.” She knew it was a weak excuse, but she was trying to justify her decision to keep her secret. She knew Gates had a right to know about his son, but she couldn’t muster the nerve to tell him. She had so many fears that he was truly like Victor; cold and callous, and would look at Brayden as a burden rather than accept him as their precious son.

“Look, you’re my best friend and I care about you. I want you to be happy, and if that’s raising Brayden alone, then so be it. But you and I both know you have unresolved feelings that you need to deal with. Maybe you should step back and reevaluate your decision.”

“Liyah, I know you care about me and Brayden. I know you want the best for us, just like I do for you, but I think I know what’s best for my son. I know I can depend on myself to be there for Brayden, and I can keep him from being hurt by his father.”

“You sure it’s Brayden you’re trying to keep from being hurt?”

“What?” Sloane turned around to look at Liyah.

“You heard me. I think
you’re
the one that’s afraid of being hurt or rejected.” Liyah continued with her arms crossed, glaring at Sloane.

“Now you’re starting to sound like Chase.” Sloane could feel the tension building between the two of them. How could Liyah insinuate she was the one afraid of getting hurt by Gates? She was merely looking out for her little boy.

“Well if the high-heeled red bottom fits. You’re afraid to be with Gates because if it doesn’t work you know it would hurt too much.”

“Now I really think you’ve lost it. Life is not about jumping off cliffs blindly, Liyah. And that’s exactly what I’d be doing with Gates.” Sloane rolled her eyes and sank down on the sofa, opening her water and taking a sip. “I want Brayden to have a family and a stable environment with a mom and dad who aren’t at each other’s throats, or upset with each other constantly.”

“Sloane, do you truly want to live your life safe? Wondering what could’ve been? You’re hiding behind the guise of ‘protecting Brayden,’ when you’re really trying to protect yourself. You’re afraid of the possibility that Gates would be accepting of Brayden, but maybe not you.”

“Are you for real? Liyah, that’s so basic. That’s what we all want. To be accepted? To know there’ll always be someone there for you and someone you can depend on. I can’t do that with Gates.”

“Sloane, no one’s life is perfect. There are going to be good days and bad. You of all people should know that. When you find that person that’s willing to go through all of that with you, it’s not something you should throw away. Is this really what you want?” Liyah questioned, motioning around to their surroundings.

“That’s enough, Liyah. I don’t want to talk about this anymore. I’ve got to move on to the next chapter of my life.” Sloane cut her eyes at Liyah. She was tired of hearing everyone else’s opinions of what she needed to do. They didn’t know. They couldn’t understand what she was dealing with on the inside.

“Really? Then why is it that even when another guy approaches you, you won’t have anything to do with him? I mean if you’re really serious about moving on with your life, why don’t you give other guys a chance?”

“Liyah. Please, just stop.” Sloane groaned, wishing her friend would talk about something else. Anything else but the man she loved more than life.

“I’m simply saying don’t push Gates too far out of the picture. I still believe he’s a good man and I’m pretty sure he would be a great father if you’d give him a chance.” Sloane could see Liyah was not going to give up on her endless tirade.

“Liyah, it’s too late…okay?” Sloane found herself desperately trying to convince not only Liyah, but herself. “Drop it.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll stop, but I don’t understand you. Hell, maybe you’re right and there’s more to life than jumping off cliffs blindly. But I would at least want to jump and know that I have someone like Gates beside me taking the same leap than to just sit on the sidelines watching everyone else,” Liyah finished, grabbing her keys and stalking out the door.

###

“So how was Wilmington?” Gates heard Angelica’s probing lilt and he looked up to see her watching him with an eyebrow raised. “Evan told me you took Sloane on a little trip.” It was early Monday morning and of course Gates had gotten into the office earlier than most, except Angelica. They were almost identical when it came to work ethic. Most thought they would be a perfect couple, but they both knew that wasn’t possible. They were way too alike to be compatible and both had a great respect for the other, but that was as far as it went. Gates knew there were two people in the world he could trust to run things if he wasn’t there, Evan and Angelica. They were as tight as three peas in a pod and when one was hurt the others felt it. That was the reason Angelica was so interested to find out what transpired between him and Sloane.

“It went well, actually.” He shifted through the files on his desk. “The Reyes Foundation is beginning their work on the hospital and I talked with Tom Stein about the D&S project and some possible locations we can work on with them.” He knew Angelica didn’t care about work. She was more interested in what happened with Sloane, but he was trying his best not to think about her, to no avail.

“Yes, I know. Evan talked to Ed Dawson and he and Tom are scheduled to be here next Thursday to work on some proposals and contracts, however, you know that’s not what I’m talking about.” She came around to stand in front of his desk.

“Gel, please, I don’t want to get into it with you about Sloane okay? You’ve made it abundantly clear how you feel.” Gates continued looking through the files and then opened his laptop to scan through emails.

“Have I? Really? Gates, I’ve known you for a long time and I think you should be careful. I remember what happened and how badly you were hurt the last time she left you.”

“I remember that too. All too well; and you have nothing to worry about, okay?” He breathed deeply and looked up at his friend. He knew the inquisition had just begun, but he really didn’t feel like going through it. “Sloane and I are over. We’ve been over for a long time. Yeah, okay, so maybe I had a slight loss of judgment and took her to Charleston because I missed how we were together. I wanted to feel the way I did before with her, but I can’t. She has a little boy, she’s in love with someone else and they’re engaged.”

“What? When did this happen?” Angelica inquired, continuing her inquisition. “Are you okay with this?”

“I have to be Gel. She’s moved on.”

“Wow. Well, isn’t that convenient?” He watched her tapping her chin and he could practically see the wheels in her head turning.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”
      

“I’m only saying, it seems pretty quick that she’s moved on and gotten engaged and has a kid. She moves fast. You guys haven’t been apart
that
long.”

“What’re you getting at Gel?” He had to admit he’d thought about it himself. It had hurt when she left but, it hurt more knowing she’d moved on quickly; maybe she’d never really loved him, especially the way he loved her. “What’s your point?”

“It’s really hard to believe. I mean she seemed to truly care about you and to be in love with you. At least that’s what she claimed. I never thought she’d move on that quick. But it’s probably the best thing that could’ve happened. I mean, she doesn’t deserve you.”

“Gel.” Angelica was one of his best friends and there were a lot of things he would allow her to get away with when it came to his life, but Sloane had been off limits and Angelica was pushing the envelope.

“Well, I’m sorry. You gave her the world and for her to walk out on you like that with no explanation but a sad little letter she leaves with Evan. And to show up at Victor’s funeral, but not even say anything. Just seems pretty cowardly to me; and a little suspect.” Angelica stood, arms folded and with her head tilted to the side. “I don’t want to see you hurt again.”

“I appreciate your concern, but I don’t need you to keep rehashing the past. It’s over. She’s moved on and I need to get back to work. So, with that said, what’s going on with the Newly deal.” He needed to move on and get back to the tangible things he could control. With Angelica dredging up the past and asking questions about Sloane, it was getting harder for him to concentrate.

“Gates?”

“Gel, please.” His stony expression signaled the end of their conversation and he could see she knew better than to continue. “What’s going on with Newly?”

###

After Liyah left, Sloane could hear her best friend’s words reverberating through her head. Gates is a good man, and would make a great father if given the chance. No matter how badly she wanted to put the thoughts of Gates McCall out of her mind, she couldn’t, and she knew Liyah was right. Gates was a good guy. Deep down, he had a tremendous heart and he was generous to a fault. At least he had been to her at one time. It was hard for her not to reminisce about the time they spent together and how he’d given her so many things she could have only dreamed of. She sat on the floor at the foot of her bed with Brayden and pulled out a box from underneath it. Getting help from her little boy, she took the top off of the box, which seemed to keep Brayden enthralled as he turned it and tried putting it in his mouth. She smiled as her fingers ran over the pictures of her with Gates. There was one of the two of them laughing in the park, and another of her with him and her aunt. She continued to flip through each of the pictures and then she paused as she saw one on the bottom. It was of the two of them posing with one of the guards at Buckingham Palace. She could see so much of Gates in Brayden and she sighed at the thought of the little boy never knowing his father.