Page 84 of Fierce Love
“Nova had a fever, so he delayed his flight back from California to make sure it was nothing,” Sawyer says. “He should be arriving any minute.”
“I hear he got roped into helping Dad with the hockey team?” Nate says.
“Gage charmed a few people,” Ava says, as though that’s the easiest job in the world. “Is that really helping? I charm people all the time.”
“Nate told me you might be doing some of the team’s physio?” I say to Sawyer, seeing a chance to jump into the conversation.
“That’s a plan my father and King Alexander have,” Sawyer agrees. “I’m not sure I’m interested. Dalton doesn’t think it makes professional sense.”
“Why’s that?” Maren asks, eyebrows raised.
Sawyer gives a little shrug.
“He grooming you for wife number three already? A Tucker would be quite a coup for a someone on the campaign trail,” Maren suggests.
“Tucker,” Brice murmurs beside Maren, his tone not quite warning.
“I know you think he’s great,” Maren says to Brice, “but I think that man has an agenda.”
“I’m old enough to know when a guy is leading me down a path I don’t want to go,” Sawyer says.
“Did Mom stay home?” Ava asks, looking around.
“Mom didn’t show up?” Gage says, coming up behind us.
“Wasn’t feeling well,” Sawyer says. “The last treatment knocked the shit out of her.”
“Is it working, though?” Gage asks, a drink in his hand. He eyes me and offers his hand. “Gage. I think we probably met when I was a rambunctious little shit.”
“That is exactly when we met,” I say, laughing a little. “You and Ava.”
“Oi,” Ava says with a huff. “I was an angel.Hewas the ringleader.” She takes another sip of her wine. “And to answer your question, Gage—no, the treatments aren’t working yet.”
“Do you think they’ll let me be in the operating room when they slice you open to give Mom one of your kidneys?” Gage asks, a teasing glint in his eye. “Imagine the scar.”
“It won’t be me on that table, and we all know it. My heroic big brother would never allow it.”
“We’re a long way off kidney donation,” Nate says, his hand coming to the small of my back again.
I should probably move away, but I’ve gotten used to having him close. On set or in the office, we’re pulled in different directions, so it’s easier to pretend we’re merely colleagues. Tonight, even though I shouldn’t, I feel like his date.
Gage introduces himself to Kinsley, and then the two of them get sucked into a conversation about dogs. He’s been thinking about getting one for his daughter when they return from California.
Between nerves and the large glass of iced tea, I need the bathroom. I excuse myself from the group and head for a hallway that seems the most likely source of toilets.
“Hollyn Davis?” a female voice calls behind me.
My step falters, and I turn back to face whoever it is. She’s blond, thin, and extremely pretty—the sort of delicate pretty that reminds you of a doll. There’s a vague familiarity to her, but I can’t place it.
“Do we know each other?” I ask with a hesitant smile. “I’ve been off the island for years, and I’m terrible with remembering anyone I met in passing as a kid.”
“No, I…” She takes in a deep breath and releases it. “We’ve never formally met. I, um…” She tucks strands of her hair behind her ears. “I was one of the girls in the hallway at the prom party. Maybe you don’t rem—”
“I remember,” I say, bracing myself for another callous comment.
“I’ve thought about that night a lot—the things I said and the things I let other people say.” She swallows. “I’ve actually spent a lot of time talking to my therapist about how ashamed I was of myself that night. Especially once I got older and I looked back on it.”
“You think I’m here tonight literally raising money for my relatives?” I cross my arms. That comment has been burned into my brain for years, and I remember how hot the shame burned. At the time, these charity eventsdidbenefit me and my family members. A Band-Aid that never stemmed the financial bleed.
