Back to the Top (Ross Records) (3) (6 page)

I couldn’t reply.

Nick hugged me before walking to the door, Ronnie in his wake.

“We hope to see you there this weekend. It’ll be fun – like it used to be,” Nick said. “Take care, Iz.”

I nodded as they walked out the door.

Five

I fretted over Nick’s invitation for the next two days. I wanted to go but I didn’t know if I should chance it. Yes, Brad would be in Wisconsin, which would make it easier, but did I really want to lie?

No, I didn’t.

I didn’t want to be that person. I’d already lied to Brad about the whole Jake thing. But my heart was begging me to go. I could hang out with everyone Saturday and stay in a hotel that night. I could go home Sunday and pretend like everything was fine.

I paced my apartment, pondering what to do, when Brad knocked on the door. With a long breath, I strode across the living room to answer, allowing Brad to enter.

“Good evening, darling,” he said as he kissed my cheek. “Are you ready for dinner?”

“Yes, just let me grab my purse,” I said, heart pounding for no apparent reason. Maybe it was guilt over thinking about Jake.

I returned to the living room, purse over my shoulder, and smiled a faux smile. “Ready.”

He drove to his country club on the outskirts of town. Even though twilight had set in, the beautiful, manicured grounds were still somewhat visible due to the subtle landscape lighting. Neatly trimmed hedges and Rose of Sharon trees lined the drive and Wave Petunias filled baskets and beds. The clubhouse was lit up with soft, yellow lights, planters filled with fragrant Impatiens sat on the steps, offering color to the gray, brick building. Once we parked, I took Brad’s offered arm and walked with him up those steps, wishing I had a house of my own that I could tend to the yard and a flower garden.

Once you marry Brad, you’ll have that.

The thought caused a shiver to scurry up my spine. My desire for a home didn’t outweigh my reluctance to marry. I just wasn’t ready.

Soft piano music floated in the air as we strode across the plush carpeting to the dining room. Although the club was beautiful, I hated coming here. I didn’t like mingling with fake people who were more concerned with what you did for a living or how much money you made than real issues. None of them cared that the Children’s Center was flourishing – any donations were just a tax write-off.

Brad steered me toward a table where George and Mildred Tharpe sat and I was thrilled to see Jenny and Kevin sitting there, too. I waited impatiently for Brad to pull out my chair, glad that he’d chosen the one next to Jenny.

“Hey, Bella,” she said, looking lovely in her deep blue cocktail dress. “I’m so glad you could make it tonight.”

“Me, too,” I said, tugging on the skirt of my black dress. “I’m happy to see you.”

We all exchanged pleasantries as the waiter filled our drink orders – whiskey sour for Brad and a white wine for me.

The men talked business while the women sipped their drinks, waiting for the salads. All around us, the hum of polite conversation buzzed while suit-clad waiters carried trays from table to table.

I longed for something more lively. I yearned to sit in a pub full of laughing people, listening to a local cover band play popular hits. I wanted to see friends gathered in booths, commiserating about a rough week of work while sharing a pitcher of beer.

Finally, dinner was done – a rather painful event of more false back-slapping and bogus compliments. As the dessert cart made its rounds, I watched the six piece band set up their instruments, my mind immediately going back to Jake.

“So, Isabella, have you set a wedding date yet?” Mildred asked, her cheeks flushed from several glasses of wine.

“Not yet,” I said with a smile I didn’t feel. “We haven’t decided when we’d like to have the ceremony.”

Brad draped an arm over the back of my chair. “It won’t be long, though. I want to get a ring on her finger before she finds a younger man to whisk her away.”

George and Mildred chuckled at Brad’s stupid humor. I just pasted a smile on my face and ignored the pained look on Jenny’s.

“Oh, she would never find a more charming young man than you,” Mildred said. Her bold flirtations did nothing for me. I could actually care less. But, I knew I was expected to play along. So I did.

“That’s right,” I said as I placed a hand on Brad’s chest. “I’d never be able to find anyone more suited for me than Brad.”

Beside me, Jenny squirmed. Perhaps I’d revealed too much to her. Maybe I should have never told her about Jake. I didn’t need her adding fuel to a fire that I’d pretty much tamed.

When dessert was finished, the band started in on a slow, dreamy tune that reminded me of old black and white movies. George stood and offered a hand to his wife. Giggling like a teenager, she took it and followed her husband to the dance floor.

It was sweet watching them dance, looking so in love. I’d once thought that Jake and I would be the same way after being together our entire lives.

Boy, had I ever been wrong.

“Would you like to dance, darling?” Brad whispered in my ear.

“Yes,” I said with another of my award-wining fake smiles.

He led me to the floor, holding me properly, moving his body in time to the music. As we danced, my mind drifted back to Jake and the Fall Festival dance during my senior year of high school. He’d rescued me that weekend when my date backed out at the last minute, accompanying me to the dance.

“I think that we should set a date,” Brad said, his eyes scrutinizing my reaction, prying me out of my memories.

I had no choice at the moment but to concede. “Okay. We should sit down after the holiday and figure out when to do it.”

His smile widened as he held me a little closer. “I’m glad that you agree. I thought that after the little…mishap, that you might have second thoughts.”

I shook my head, my heart falling to my feet. I fixed my face in a happy expression. “I told you that I knew them long ago. We haven’t kept in touch. They’ve probably forgotten about me again.”

“Good,” he said as his gaze roamed the room. “Because this is where you belong. These are the people that you need to surround yourself. This is where you will blossom.”

I nodded, sham smile curling my lips. The entire time, as we danced among the wealthy and privileged, I plotted how I would get to Jake’s on Saturday. If I was going to truly marry Brad and live the rest of my life among these people, then I’d have one last slice of my former life. Then I’d give it up for good.

My heart sighed.

***

That Saturday, I drove to Jake’s house on the outskirts of Chicago. The lovely spring weather urged me to roll down the windows and enjoy the wind whistling through my loose hair.

As I grew closer to his place, my heart thumped in nervous anticipation. What would happen?

“Nothing,” I said as I turned into his drive and stopped at the gates. I pressed the buzzer.

“Yeah? Who is it?”

I wasn’t sure which one of the guys it was but I wasn’t about to let him get away with talking to me like that.

“This is a reporter from the local tabloid,” I said. “I was wondering what sort of party is going on and if Ronnie Stone is truly going commando.”

Corny, sure, but the guys always got my dorky humor.

Pause. Then, “who the hell is this?”

“Um, maybe you should install cameras. I hear all the drive-thrus have them these days.”

“Oh, hell, Iz, come on up,” the voice, who I thought was probably Ronnie, said.

The gates swung open, causing my heart to patter a nervous beat. I was about to be face-to-face with Jake again – without Brad.

I parked in front of the old pole barn and before I could open my door, I spotted Jake standing on the porch. My heart slammed into my ribcage in an effort to get to him.

I exited the car, shut the door, and leaned against it for support as a wry smile graced Jake’s lips.

“Nick said you might come,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I’m here,” I said in what I hoped was a nonchalant voice.

He stepped down one step. “Why’d you come?”

Pushing away from my car, I walked toward him. “Free food. You know I like to eat.”

His smirk widened into a smile as he took the next step. “Sure you didn’t come for the company?”

His musky scent filled my nostrils and I longed to fall into his arms. But I kept my composure as he continued down the steps.

“Maybe I did,” I whispered as he stopped right in front of me. My pulse pounded in my throat as I craned my neck to look into his eyes.

His face softened into I look I recognized from our happier times, making my eyes mist. He inched closer, reaching for my hand, as he opened his mouth to speak.

But I never got to hear what he had to say. Someone stepped onto the porch, breaking the magic.

“Jake, your dog took my shoe and chewed it up.”

He released a huffy breath as his head fell.

Glancing over his shoulder, I recognized the newcomer as the blonde from the show. And she was not happy.

Lifting his head, he rolled his eyes in that old, familiar way, and took my hand.

“Come on, Iz. I’ll show you around. It’s changed a bit since the last time you were here,” he said.

I attempted to jerk my hand out of his but was unsuccessful. “Don’t you think what’s-her-name with the chewed up shoe is going to be upset that you’re holding my hand?”

He shrugged, a grin toying with his lips. “Let her. She’s just a girl.”

Anger clouded my eyes as I put more effort into freeing my hand. “Just a girl? That’s kind of cruel, don’t you think?”

His hold tightened as that smile exploded into a smirk. “So? She knew the deal when she came here.”

“The deal?” I asked, outraged. “Meaning what? You’ll sleep with her but she shouldn’t expect anything more?”

“Something along those lines,” he said as he tried to lead me up the steps.

I wouldn’t budge. “So, what? You expect me to hang around here, watching you two make out or listening to you screw her?”

He turned to me, amusement dancing in his eyes. “She can sleep on the couch and you can room with me if you want. As a matter of fact, I’d prefer it.”

Anger turned everything inside of me red hot. I raised my free hand to slap him but he was expecting that and caught my wrist.

“You’re still so easy,” he said, grin widening at the shock in my eyes. “Easy to annoy, remember?”

“Jake, are you going to do anything about my shoe?” the girl asked, stomping a foot.

Eyes still on me, Jake answered. “I’ll buy you a new pair.”

He twined his fingers through mine as he pulled me up the steps. I stood before the irritated girl, unsure what to say to her.

“Cyndi, this is Iz, my ex,” he said, squeezing my hand. “Iz, Cyndi the dancer. Chill out about the shoe, Cyndi. I’ll take care of it. For now, I’m going to show Iz around.”

Without another word to the girl, he dragged me into the house, pointing out the differences in the living room. Not much had changed there except for new paint and a couple of art prints on the wall. We walked to the kitchen and Jake showed me the addition he’d added that contained a guest room and a bathroom.

“Nick’s crashing in that room for the time being,” Jake explained. “He just went through a messy divorce and doesn’t want to buy a place of his own yet. That’s his excuse, anyway. I think he’s just trying to babysit me.”

“Nick was married?” I asked.

“Iz,” he sighed, clicking his tongue. “Keep up, huh?”

I didn’t say a word. I was still ashamed that I hadn’t kept up with what was going on in their lives. Some friend I was.

He yanked me down the basement steps to show off the finished rec room complete with a bar, pool table, and huge flat screen TV.

“This is great,” I said, admiring the black and white photos on the wall. They were mostly of the band but there were quite a few with Greta and who I assumed must be Ronnie’s new wife. And a couple of old ones with me and Jake, wrapped in each other’s arms.

“Greta wasn’t sure if she should put those up,” Jake whispered as he walked up behind me. I couldn’t resist the urge to lean into him as I stared at a picture of him and I on the dock behind this house. How happy we’d been. “But I told her that I wanted them. I wanted to always have you here, as part of my life, no matter what.”

“Oh, Jake,” I whispered as his arms wrapped around my waist.

“You’re staying with me this weekend, huh?”

“I’m staying in a hotel,” I said, although I knew if he persisted, I’d relent.

“You can stay in the guest room, Iz,” he said, his mouth so close to my ear. “You don’t have to stay in a hotel. I promise that I’ll be good.”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” I protested rather weakly.

“Of course it’s not,” he said. “But we both want you to stay here.”