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First love. Storm had had a first love? And he still talked to her? About me? Why was I just now finding out about this first love?
The burn in my chest was unfamiliar, and I wanted to reach up and rub my hand over it to ease the sensation.
“I imagine not,” I replied while my mind raced through several different scenarios. Most that made that burn worse.
“We never lost our connection. It just became friendship over time. We both had our own lives. I did used to think one day, once we were older and settled, we’d find what we once had again. But …” She gave me a small smile. No longer bright and cheery.
But what? But I was here now and in her way? Yes, I sure as hell was.
She reached over and placed her hand over mine. “Thank you for letting me have him yesterday. It was so good to catch up and see him settled. He was happy. I haven’t laughed like that in so long.”
What the actual fuck? He’d said he had business to handle yesterday. Another lie. What all was he lying about? The burn was now a heavy darkness settling over me. If foreshadowing were an actual emotion, I imagined this was what it would feel like.
• Twelve •
“She might just expire from the pain.”
Briar
When I was pushed into a corner, my acting abilities always rushed out to distract so I could fight back and dazzle. It was one of my best survival tools. I charmed the room, telling stories that had them laughing, and not once did I let my insecurities and fears manifest. The brighter I smiled and gave my performance, the less others looked for weaknesses. Even little Miss First Love seemed as if I’d thrown her for a loop too. She had no idea who she had messed with. I might shatter behind closed doors, but no one would ever get the satisfaction of seeing it.
By the time lunch ended, I was thriving off my silent win. Jupiter had invited me to her house soon for cocktails by her pool. Luella had mentioned wanting me to meet her future sister-in-law, Bay, and that she would set up something fun, like a shopping trip. Annette was currently telling me that I had to come play on her grand piano for them while everyone gathered in the foyer, saying their goodbyes.
I was just about to tell her I would love to when the door opened, and Storm came sauntering in with his cowboy hat tilted back on his head and a baby-blue pearl-snap shirt tucked into his jeans. The sight of him made my heart flutter, and I momentarily forgot what all I’d learned since he’d left me here. However, that happy feeling vanished the moment Lula Mae squealed and threw herself into Storm’s arms.
When he wrapped his arms around her and chuckled, my throat felt like I had just swallowed razors. He hadn’t even looked my way yet. He was too busy holding his first love and smiling like he was happy to do it. The razors made it to my chest, and I beamed brightly, as if I wasn’t in physical pain.
“Oh good, you two have more time to catch up. I’ll go get Dovie,” I said as if this were all just fantastic.
Storm’s eyes swung to me, and I held them only for a moment before I looked back at his mother.
“Whenever you want to have me over to play, I would love to. I can’t say I’ve ever played on a grand piano before. It’ll spoil me for sure,” I told her.
She seemed nervous as she glanced at Storm and Lula Mae, then back at me.
Wanting to make sure she had no idea that it affected me, I gave her arm a gentle squeeze. “And thank you for having me today. I had a wonderful time.”
“You’re always welcome here. I enjoyed getting to know you. This was the best time we’d had at a get-together in a long time. You brightened things up.”
Yes, I had. I didn’t agree with her though. Turning, I made my way back to the wide hallway, not dare looking at Storm. If I had to see him touching that blonde again, I wasn’t sure I could keep from going and ripping her out of his arms by her long, silky hair. The idea was appealing now that I thought about it.
I also had no idea where the heck I was going. How was I going to get Dovie when I didn’t know where Dovie had gone? I stopped, frustrated that I hadn’t thought that through.
A large hand wrapped around my arm, and I closed my eyes, recognizing the callous palm.
“Briar,” Storm’s concerned voice said, and I wanted to spin around and slap his gorgeous face.
