“You didn’t fuck it up, man.” Knox had that know-it-all tone going on, the one that usually came with sage advice. “This isn’t on you.”
If they were talking about how things ended with Em? Knox was correct.
If they were talking about how things ended with Courtney? Knox was not so accurate.
“It is on me. I brought her into my life. I turned my head because I didn’t want to see what was in front of my face.” Bax lay spread eagle on his towel, the sand warm beneath the fabric, the sun pelting him with vitamin D.
With Bax off the radar, Hans and Courtney handled the fallout of the Em near-scandal.
Apparently, and Bax did not care for this one iota, Hans paid her off, acting as her new ATM so she’d keep things hush-hush. That thought made Bax’s stomach cramp.
Hopefully there was a limit to Hans’s line of credit.
While Hans handled Em, Courtney handled the media. She’d done some public relations magic, coordinated with another publicist for a huge record announcement drop for Tucker McKay, and, in the sleight-of-hand publicity shift, turned the attention the other direction. Em and the media were no longer a problem.
Done and done.
Much to his mother’s dismay, wedding plans were untangled, invitations unsent, reservations canceled, and tuxedos returned.
Through everything, he didn’t miss Em. Maybe she’d been right when she said they’d moved on from each other already, and this was only the last step.
Bax didn’t know how much she’d cost him, but he figured it wasn’t a little, since she’d left his house within days.
Within a couple more days, he’d listed the house with a real estate agent that Hans assured wouldn’t fuck him over.
Now, the house was in escrow, and he’d never have to return to the place he shared with the woman he’d been sure he loved. The woman he’d been sure was his normal, his forever, the one he’d been sure wasitfor him.
“That woman wiggled right into your brain,” Knox said, like that hadn’t just confirmed that very thing.
“Yeah,” Bax said. This was not a lie. He hadn’t clarified which woman he was thinking about. Em should’ve been top of mind, since his heart was supposed to be crushed. Devastation and a post-breakup bender seemed like a great idea.
Except he couldn’t get his mind off of Courtney… not just what they’d done in the shower. He spent his time checking her social media—which she rarely updated. Checking his texts and email—which she didn’t reach out to.
“Can I ask you something?” Bax asked.
Knox took a fresh beer from the beach cocktail server as he nodded. “Ask away.”
“What if it’s not Em I’m thinking about?”Would that be the worst thing?
Knox stilled mid-swallow. He looked at Bax, pulling his sunglasses down to the tip of his nose. “You fucked around on Em?”
Bax shook his head. “Never. But after…”
“Ahh… the infamousafter.” Knox grinned, a flash of wolfish white teeth on display. “Afternoon delight breakup sex is sick. Anyone I know?” Knox studied Bax in that creepy way of his. Like he could see straight through the facade.
Bax squirmed.
“Shit.” Knox sat up, shit-eating grin in place. “I know her. Spill.”
“I can’t.” He really couldn’t.
“Spill.”
He should’ve kept his trap shut. “I seriously can’t.”
“That actress lady you dated before Em?” Knox flashed another smile. “She was hot. Though, I don’t do actresses”—he shivered—“too much drama.” He made aba-dum-bumsound with his hands on his thighs.
Bax shook his head. “Wow. We’re at the awful jokes portion of our vacation, huh?”
