Page 50 of The Biggest Secret
He doesn’t seem to let things bother him too much, or at least doesn’t show it and is always the most interested in having fun; never wasting a minute.It’s why watching him on the video the other night makes me wonder what’s a show and what isn’t. And how he’s gone so long at fooling everyone in the family.
“How are you feeling being here, CJ?” Adam asks me.
His voice in my ear gets my pulse racing. This man affects me like no other. We were right to tell Dom tonight. It’s not too soon and even though I don’t know how much Dom understood, he’s getting used to having Adam around. He sees him at the house, and he’s surrounded by family now. He has to feel the love whether he understands a formal name for it or not.
“I’m okay, actually. I thought I would feel self-conscious about being here. I had visions of people accusing me and asking all kinds of intrusive questions. But they just seem... happy for us.”
He nods, understanding my feelings. “I felt the same. I was almost afraid to come out in public, but I can’t hide forever.” He snuggles into Dom, settling him on his lap as we hear the announcer start to introduce the teams.
As the crowd goes wild for the Christmas Comets, Adam leans over and says, “I’m glad you’re here with me.”
I turn quickly to catch his face, but he’s already on his feet cheering for Jackson and his team. The crowd is deafening, and I don’t get to answer him.
By halftime, Jackson’s team is only ahead by a touchdown. Chess is a nervous wreck, and the crowd is antsy and excited at the same time.
“I’m going to go grab some drinks. And a hot dog for Dom. Anyone else?”
Our crowd fires off some orders, and Tom stands and walks down with Adam to the concession stand.
“So, things are looking good here, huh?” Billy nudges me. “Am I getting another sister?”
I roll my eyes and nod towards my sister. “Things are looking good there, too,” I smirk as he throws his arm around my sister. Billy embodies everything it means to be a true Casanova.
“Yes, I’m loving the view,” he says with his head turned directly toward Adley. She gives him a shake of her head with a smug grin. “I’ve been waiting on your sister to write me into one of her books. I bet it’d be a bestseller.”
“She writes books, Billy, she doesn’t direct porn,” Bobby chimes in and we all laugh.
“What the fuck is she doing here?” I hear Britt exclaim suddenly.
“Who?”
“Fucking Grace.” Britt has never gotten over how Grace used to try to insert herself everywhere.
As if she heard us talking, Grace meets my eyes, and an evil smile crosses her face. She starts making her way over to me, eyes locking onto Dominic. I hold him a little closer, hating the feeling in my gut right now. Billy sits a little taller and turns his body towards me. Ah, so he saw it, too.
“Hello, Casanova family.” She throws her hair over her shoulder, “Hey, Bobby.” Her voice sing-songs, then sneers at Britt. “Britt.”
“Whore.”
“Oh, Chelsea. Now it all makes sense.” She ignores Britts comment but locks eyes with me. “Do you think a baby will keep him home this time?” She raises a brow and nods toward Dom. I’m fuming right now but I can’t even answer her. She’s lucky I’m holding Dominic. Otherwise, I would do something I might regret.
Francesca cuts in, “Grace, come on. Not here, this is a big night for Jackson. Not to mention the fact I don’t like your tone in front of my nephew.”
Go Chess! Her sweet and sour comment is one of the traits I love most about her. She can come across sweet as pie but always gets anunderlying dig in when needed. This time, she’s sealing the fact that Dom is Adam’s.
Grace rolls her eyes at Chess. “Tell Adam I said hi and thank him for the drink the other night. I didn’t get a chance to properly express my thanks.” She gives me a wink, then turns and skips down the stands.
My stomach clenches and my fear must read on my face. “Don’t even go there right now, Chelsea,” Billy speaks lowly into my ear. “We were all at Moose’s and she walked in trying to cause trouble. Adam shot her right down.”
I don’t even get a chance to think about it, but my heart is beating rapidly, and it feels like my breath was stolen from my chest. This is the exact feeling I felt every time I’d see her, every time I’d wait for her to make a comment about Adam and her being together.
Whether it was true or not, she’d leave constant reminders that she had him first, that he would go to her when he couldn’t get what he wanted from me. It was her constant innuendos that pushed me over the edge and helped in my decision to run from here.
One thing Grace is good at? Placing doubt in my mind and leaving it there when she drifts off. Like a tsunami builds a growing wave, she blows hot air then waits for it to wash over and consume me.
“Britt, is this still about her pulling shit in high school?” I have to ask, to take the spotlight off me. I know it’s a shit thing to do to my friend, but I can’t handle the sympathetic ‘poor Chelsea’ looks I’m getting right now.
“Oh, it’s more than that. Let me tell you about that bitch,” Britt says in true dramatic Britt fashion. “She thought she could come in and take my man right from under me. She’s always had a thing for the Casanova boys in high school, and when none of them would pay attention, she started picking off their friends. She’s a psycho and no one wants to see it but me.”
