Page 38 of Everything I Need

“You have. Over and over. Not one complaint.” He pulls her in by the waist and tries to pull her behind the column, out of the view from everyone in the lobby. Luckily, I’m used to getting out of the way quickly in Boston. I round the corner with my phone still going and there they were. Making out with one hand up her dress, and the other on her ass.

Showtime.

“Caleb! I can’t believe you would do this to me! I left Preston for you!” I say loudly enough to get the attention of Caleb & Elizabeth, but not to cause a scene. I don’t hide the smile spreading across my face as they both notice my phone in my hand, pointed directly at them.

“You, bitch!” Elizabeth looks about ready to have her head explode when she finally realizes what is going on, and that Colton must know about her affair.

“I think you should be looking into the mirror when you say that one, darling.” I draw out the term of endearment just like she did with Colton earlier.

Elizabeth lunges at me, trying to get my phone. Colton comes out of nowhere, stepping between us and grabbing her.

“Put me down, Colton! I don't know what she’s told you, but she is here to be with Caleb! We can’t let this happen to Preston!” I roll my eyes.

Glad to see her ability to think of a lie when she’s caught in a bad situation hasn’t been hindered over the years.

“Elizabeth, stop. I’ve known about you and Caleb for a while now. You were just dumb enough to play into Scarlett’s plan tonight.” He shakes his head.

A deep voice booms from behind us. “Boys. Is there a problem? You’re gathering quite the crowd and this just isn’t the West way.”

A very handsome man who looks a lot like Preston with salt and pepper hair shows up. I am assuming this is his father.

“Oh, Dr. West,” Elizabeth starts to whine, “Preston’s girlfriend here, well she was trying to. . .” She tries to play innocent and put the blame on me. I’d say I am shocked but honestly, at this point I’m not.

“Elizabeth, dear. Do not lie to me. I don’t much care what the problem is. I only care about the attention you are bringing to my family, and how you are making us appear to my colleagues.” He says dismissively.

Doesn’t care? Seriously?This woman is cheating on her husband, his son, right in front of him, and he doesn’t care? Even if he believed her, it’s the same situation. Preston’s father is worse than I could have imagined.

“Father, nice to see you.” Preston comes up behind me and places his hand on the small of my back, a subtle way of letting me know he’s here for me since I feel like I’m about to get put on the spot by Dr. Ethan West.

“Preston. Who is this young lady?” He asks, gesturing toward me.

“This is Scarlett. My girlfriend.” Preston answers.

“How wonderful. Shall we go to our table and stop this mess? Colton, please escort Elizabeth to our table.”

A woman, I’m assuming to be Eleanor, starts silently following Dr. Ethan West toward the ballroom where the tables are set up.

Colton does not in fact escort Elizabeth. He walks right to the table and doesn’t give anyone a second glance. Elizabeth looks genuinely confused like not one person ever has told her she was wrong.

Preston takes my hand in his and pulls me toward the table.

Whispering between the two of us as we walk, “I’m sorry she tried to blame you and paint you in that light. Especially after Niles.”

“I'll be fine. But, wait till you see the video I got. I didn’t know you guys were there.” I smile.

“Well, we weren’t. Elizabeth’s high pitched squealing caught the attention of quite a few people. When he saw her get ready to lunge he made it over pretty quickly.”

“She is something. I can’t fathom how she thinks Colton would believe her.”

“Elizabeth isn’t often told no, or been the one people call out, aside from when I did after the stunt she pulled with you. She is pretty good at playing the victim.” Yeah, that was obvious.

I shake my head and look back at the scene we left, Caleb has already moved on to another girl at the bar who is basically ripping her dress off for him in a crowded room. Elizabeth follows Dr. and Mrs. West sullenly to the table like a small child scolded.

Meanwhile, Colton looks miserable sitting next to his wife at the table. I feel so bad for him. He already knew what was going on, but to have it blown up in your face like that can’t feel good. Especially in such a public manner. Preston and I take our seats at the table and no one talks. Not one person says a word until Dr. West speaks, or should I say admonishes his sons like they’re children.

“Boys, care to explain this monstrosity of a mess you’ve created here this evening?” The fact that he can grit through his teeth at his grown sons while holding a smile on his face tells me exactly what kind of man he is. And it’s unfathomable to me how he raised two sons who, luckily, turned out nothing like him.

Elizabeth was the first to speak, “You see, Scarlett here. . .”

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