Alex glared at him. ‘Why couldn’t you just wait? Let her break up with me first. Just a couple of months – that’s all it would have taken. Why go behind my back? Why lie?’
Liam took a deep breath. ‘I couldn’t think clearly… I kept telling myself it was already over between the two of you. And it was, wasn’t it? You hadn’t even spoken to each other in weeks.’
Alex shook his head in disbelief. ‘You think that makes it all right? Itrustedyou. You’re my brother, the one person who should have had my back. You think I care about losing Savannah? I don’t. I care that I lost the one person I believed in and looked up to. You made me look like a fool in front of the entire world, and you’re still doing it now with this wedding. But I guess, as always with this family, you were too self-centred to give a shit about anyone but yourself!’
‘I’m sorry,’ Liam said quietly, unable to give any more excuses.
Alex took a sip and let the heat burn down his throat, a comforting pain that always reminded him of when he was younger and he and Liam used to steal sips from their dad’s liquor cabinet. One time, he’d drunk too much and been as sick as dog. Liam had told their mom he’d swallowed too much seawater while swimming. Alex didn’t drink alcohol again for years after that, and Liam had never revealed his secret.
There’d been a time when nothing could have come between them. When Liam had been the only one in his family to have his back.
‘I’ll get over it, eventually,’ he said, and for once he actually believed it, although he didn’t want to let Liam off the hook just yet. The asshole needed to feel guilty for a few more days at least. He deserved it. ‘Just don’t expect me to be cheering you down the fucking aisle.’
He knocked back the rest of his Scotch, put the glass on the table with a thud and picked up the bottle of mineral water before leaving.
To his surprise his dad stood in the doorway, a sad and disappointed look on his face. ‘Son—’
‘Save it, Dad.’ Alex waved the bottle of water at him dismissively as he walked past. ‘Ellie needs this water, and I’m not up for a heart-to-heart right now. Besides, we all know whose side you’re on, anyway.’
His dad’s expression turned into a scowl. ‘There’s no sides—’
Alex laughed bitterly, throwing back his last words casually, his arms spread wide. ‘Oh, come on! We all know Liam can do no wrong in this family and that he always comes first in the pecking order. Look, I’m playing ball, just be grateful I’m here. God forbid the perfect Kings look bad to the rest of the world.’
His dad frowned but couldn’t argue with him. When Liam’s first feature film was filmed in Brazil, the entire family hadmoved there to support him through it, because Liam had always struggled with anxiety. But when Alex had got accepted into Juilliard, they’d clapped him on the back and sent him on his way, letting him move to New York alone while they focused their energy on Liam’s latest project in LA. It was one of the many times his parents had subtly chosen Liam over him.
Before, he’d always considered it a petty jealousy he needed to control, but now he wondered if his feelings had been justified.
When had they ever put him first?
Alex’s shoulders were a little looser as he climbed the stairs. His words probably wouldn’t make any difference. His dad was probably commiserating with Liam even now, but it felt good to get some of it off his chest.
Back at his rooms, he placed the bottle of water and a clean glass by Ellie’s side of the bed. She’d left the bedside light on for him, and his heart ached with longing when she gave a happy sigh of contentment in her sleep.
He quietly opened the bedside table’s drawer and took out one of the supplies Eddie had left for them, then popped it into his wallet for safe keeping before gently closing the drawer.
Not that he’d ever get to use it – he should be so lucky. But the possibility that he might gave him hope that he might be able to move on after all.
Chapter Eighteen
Ellie woke up refreshed after her extra-long sleep. Who knew that travelling could wipe you out so much? Or perhaps it was the constant shift work and overtime catching up with her?
Either way, she woke up in the most comfortable bed she’d ever slept in, with tropical sunlight streaming in through chalk-white shutters. When she turned, Alex was sleeping peacefully beside her.
Was she in heaven?
But then she realised her mouth was drier than the Sahara. Thankfully, there was a bottle of water on the table beside her. She couldn’t remember seeing that last night, she’d been so dead on her feet. She cracked open the bottle and poured herself a large glass, being careful not to make too much noise and wake Alex.
Alex had kissed her last night. Not because they were in public or putting a show on in front of his family, but because he’d wanted to… Had apparentlyalwayswanted to.
She gulped back the water and then crept from the bed. Not only did she need the loo, she also needed to put some distance between herself and the man beside her. She grabbed some clothes from the wardrobe and hurried to the bathroom, locking the door firmly behind her.
Yesterday had been a revelation in so many ways, from Alex’s luxurious lifestyle to his family and the obvious fractures within it. His poor mum was battling to patch up and gloss over the cracks, everyone else pretending like nothing had happened, while Alex’s bitterness and anger radiated through every interaction he’d had with his brother.
There was a lot going on and she wasn’t even sure how she could help. Then, after confessing the worst time in her own life, Alex had kissed her.Alex King, star of film and theatre, fancied her.
Surely he was just being kind? After listening to her horrendous confession about David, he was probably trying to boost her confidence, make her feel better about that humiliating disaster.
But that kiss… Still completely PG – but also more. As if he were asking her a question, but she was too dumb to know the answer. Did he want more from their relationship? Could she give more? Her attraction to Alex was unquestionable, but she’d locked it away in a box markedSECRET! Open at your own peril.
