Page 114 of Give My Everything
Did I just… Did I just admit to myself that I’m falling in love with her?
Oblivious to my internal dialogue, Remmy shifts closer to me on the bed, shoving her pillow out of the way so her warm body is pressed up against mine with only the sheet between us.
“The last thing I want is to equate myself to Krissa, who has clearly set her sights as high as getting to the position of trophy wife. But, I am trying to be honest about myself and my past and…I can’t ignore the similarities.”
I force myself to focus on our conversation, trying to shove the four-letter word out of my mind and return to now.
“So what ended up happening?” she prods, her fingers coming up and stroking along my bare chest, playing with the light smattering of short hair.
I clear my throat and try to refocus. Krissa and my dad.
“I didn’t take her back,” I say, clearing my throat and working hard to bring my scattered thoughts back to center. “Of course I didn’t. But, when my daddiddecide to marry her just a few months later, I got really angry and did something I shouldn’t have.”
Remmy edges closer to make sure our eyes meet, and I can see a hint of humor in their depths.
“You mean Mr. Perfect Benjamin Calloway did something bad? I’m on the edge of my seat and can’t wait to hear all about it.”
Her ability to lighten things has me fighting a grin, but it does eventually fall away when I muster up the courage to tell her about one of the most shameful things I’ve ever done.
“I started an affair with a married woman, the wife of the yacht club owner.”
Remmy’s eyes widen, but other than that I don’t see any disgust on her face at my absolutely horrible actions.
“My dad was supposed to be buying the property from Larry, but he’d been waffling. He and his wife had been having problems, so I took advantage and used Nancy then made sure we were found out just in time for him to reject my dad’s deal.”
I sigh, scrubbing a hand across my jaw.
“It wasn’t one of my finer moments in life, and I may have pushed it overboard by planting some information about me being some sort of gigolo for married housewives around the South Bay to make the domino effect even bigger.”
“Didn’t you worry about what people would think ofyou?” she asks, surprise still evident on her face. “I mean, part of me can understand the anger at your dad and desire to get even, but I can’t imagine having to deal with the repercussions of all the gossip, especially if you were just building your business.”
I nod. “That’s the part I didn’t factor in. I’d planned this…‘revenge’ but didn’t realize I was hurting myself as well. Or maybe I realized it, but I just didn’t care.”
“It makes sense why things are so intense between you.” She pauses. “And the weird comment he made to me tonight.”
My entire body tenses. “What comment?”
“When we were at the hospital, he said something likeyou have no idea what you’re getting yourself into. It really irritated me, but it makes sense if there’s lots of drama between the two of you. He’s probably just stirring the pot.”
My head bobs in agreement, but inside I’m reeling.
My dad wasn’t calling earlier to tell me about Ivy. He was calling to talk to me about Remmy. I can feel it in my bones. If my new strategy to bring him down has rattled him enough that he’s dropping hints to Remmy, I must have finally found his Achilles heel.
“I’m glad that’s all behind you,” she says. “Glad we’re both moving beyond the past and trying to focus on happiness now.”
I nod, my stomach turning over at my unspoken lie.
Because Ihaven’tmoved on. Itisn’tbehind me.
This very relationship isbecauseof my desire to wreak havoc in my father’s life, my desperate need to inflict on him the ultimate pain that I can think of.
As Remmy snuggles into me, mumbling something about waiting to ask our last questions, I wonder if—this time around—I’ll be fully prepared to take on the consequences of my own actions.
CHAPTER20
BEN
I take the following day off as well, though this time I take a legitimate sick day so I can go to the hospital and be with Wyatt and my mother.
