“Everyone did, and the only reason I didn’t say anything was because I didn’t want to embarrass Shandra, but if I’d known she was telling people we were dating, I would’ve set the record straight. I eventually told Charlie, but he was the only one who knew the truth.”
I wet my dry lips, hating to admit this, but I don’t want Abby thinking it’s all Shandra’s fault, and I promised her honesty. “I did fuck up though.” Abby’s brown eyes, so similar to my own, stay latched on mine as I explain. “The night of Nessa and Lauder’s Hamptons wedding. I was going through a hard time. It’d been so long since I’d seen Jane, and I was drowning. I drank too much, and when Shandra asked me to dance, I didn’t refuse her. It got a bit…heated, and we went to her room. I?—”
Abby slaps her hand over my mouth. “Spare me the lurid details.”
My lips twitch in amusement. “Let’s just say it quickly got out of hand, but I stopped things before it got too far. When I realized what I was doing, the guilt was instantaneous. I told Shandra it was a mistake and I could never betray Jane. She was understandably upset. She screamed and threw her heels at me, and I ducked out the door before the crystal decanter could hit me in the head.”
“Poor Shandra.”
“It was a dick move, and I still feel like a piece of shit to this day.”
“It would’ve been worse if you’d slept with her and then told her it was a mistake,” Abby muses. “Though either way, it was hurtful.”
“She didn’t speak to me for ages after that. Then I finally got her to agree to meet. I wanted to apologize again and see if there was any way we could patch up our friendship because I hated the way we’d left things. And it was causing tension in the group. But she stood me up, and we never had that talk. We’re polite with one another now, but we’re not friends, and I don’t have a clue what is going on in her life except for what you tell me.”
“That makes me sad for both of you. She was really hung up on you, Drew. I think she legit loved you at one point. I seriously thought you two had a real thing. I’ll admit I was shocked because I remember how you were with Jane. But I didn’t begrudge you your happiness or judge you for it.”
“I thought I was doing the right thing because I spelled it out plainly on several occasions. I thought she understood we would never be more than friends. I didn’t intentionally lead her on, but I see now I gave her mixed signals.”
“I don’t think either of you are to blame. You just wanted different things, and remember how everything was always so muchmorewhen we were teenagers? Especially for girls. We read into every little thing. I can see how Shandra might have misconstrued the situation.”
“I never wanted to hurt her. I actually really like Shandra and I miss her friendship, but it was clear we couldn’t have any kind of relationship after what happened at the wedding.”
“We’re all older and supposedly wiser now.” Abby grins. “And she’s in a good place. Maybe this is the perfect opportunity to clear the air.”
“Can’t say it’s on the top of my priority list, but if the opportunity presents itself, I’ll talk to her.”
“Thanks for telling me.” Abby pulls me into a brief hug.
“I didn’t tell you back then because I didn’t want to make things awkward for you or mess up the friendship you guys had.”
“I always knew that, and it just proves my earlier point.” She waggles her brows and stands. “We should head back. The kids are probably grouchy and testing Kai’s sanity by now.”
We walk side by side back toward the house, both lost in thought. “Oh, I almost forgot,” Abby says a few beats later. “Is there any chance you’re free the first weekend in January to babysit the kids?”
“You’d trust me with the gremlins?” I’ve had them for the odd sleepover in the past but never for a full weekend.
“I’d trust you with my life, so yeah. I wouldn’t ask if we weren’t stuck. Kai has a meeting with some hotshot gallery owner in L.A., and he wants me to come with so we can make the most of the trip. Mom is away on her Mexican cruise that week, or I’d ask her to take them.”
“It’s fine, A. Of course, I’ll take them.”
“What about work?”
“If anything crops up, I’ll just reschedule it.”
“You’re sure? They’re a handful.”
“I’ll plan a few excursions for the daytime and tire them out. It’ll be fine. It’ll be fun.”
She cracks up laughing. “Famous last words, big bro. I hope you know what you’ve signed up for.”
ChapterFifteen
Athena
Excitement winds its way through my veins as I take the elevator down to the basement level where the private dungeons reside. My regular fuck sessions with Beast have become the highlight of my week. Not only is he a hot fuck, he’s a fantastic distraction from the shit show that is my life at the moment.
I’ve been on edge since the warehouse stakeout. Finding that little girl really rattled me. And I don’t say that lightly. I know the kinds of evil there are in this world. I have confronted it head-on for most of my life, thanks to the society I live in. But there is nothing more impactful than seeing the evidence face-to-face. I can’t get her out of my mind.
