Page 62 of The Fall
“I’ve known him since high school,” I said, dreading his reaction.
“I got my shift covered at the last minute and thought I’d surprise you. Looks like you weren’t missing me,” he hissed, leaning in possessively.
“Stop it. Don’t act like a jerk. This is an important night for my sister,” I scolded. “Don’t act pissy around my family.”
“Fine, you’re right, but you promised me you would stay away from him.”
“Again, I didn’t invite him, but he’s not going anywhere. You might want to get used to that,” I said defiantly as he gripped my wrist, turning me to face him.
“And I’m not supposed to take offense to that? I’m thinking maybe you don’t want me here. It’s written all over your face.”
“Suit yourself,” I said, ripping my wrist away and rubbing the soreness out from his too-tight grip.
“Josh,” my dad greeted, “come and see my newest design.” I mouthed a thank you to my dad, who seemed to be picking up on the animosity between us.
“Sir, it’s good to see you,” he replied, shaking his hand. I looked up to see Dean had watched the scene play out. His deadly gaze was fixed on Josh. I shook my head at him, then turned my attention to Rose.
Now was not the time. I hurried upstairs to get myself together. I walked into the bathroom, seeing evidence of my arousal from Dean’s words all over my face. I shook it off. I didn’t want to entertain it any further, or I was sure I would happily let him whisk me away to fulfill his promise to touch me the way I craved him. Every word I’d said, every promise I’d made to myself fell away with Dean’s words. I couldn’t stop shaking. If I gave in to Dean, what would that say about me? I’d come so far from the girl who had begged him not to break her heart in New York, from the fifteen-year-old who vied desperately for his attention. No matter what decision I made about Dean, I was becoming more resolute about Josh. He was right. I hadn’t wanted him there. I should’ve been relieved when he showed up. I’d been slowly withdrawing from him—and he knew it—but I refused to let Dean be the reason.
“There you are,” Rose said as I descended the stairs. “I feel like I haven’t seen you at all.”
“I’ve been playing hostess, but I’m all yours,” I said cheerfully.
“Come on, let’s go hit our spot,” she said, grabbing my hand. She led me out to my mom’s rose garden, where we took a seat on the cedar bench. It had been a rendezvous point for the women of our family for as long as I could remember.
“He’s beautiful, Rose, truly,” I complimented as she smiled broadly.
“He’s so much more than that.”
I noticed her demeanor change and asked, “What? What’s wrong?”
“Things are too good, you know? It’s a miracle I found him, or actually, he found me. Do you know what his first words to me were?”
Feeling the guilt associated with not knowing a damn thing, I quickly remedied it by saying, “Tell me everything.”
“He introduced himself to me on campus as the man who was going to marry me.” She laughed, her eyes distant with the memory. She told me how their whirlwind romance started and how he was dating a woman who was in medical school that had attended her first class when she literally ran into him. He’d watched her squirm under his stare for the entire three-hour lecture before professing to her in a crowded hallway that she was it for him.
“I thought he was insane,” she said thoughtfully, “but then I got to know who he really was and…God, sorry, I’m babbling.”
“As you should, Rose, it’s a really cool story. Please forgive me for not being a better sister.”
“We’re both so busy. One day, we will get to all of it,” she promised, and I nodded. “How about tonight I stay here with you, and we do just that?”
“No way, this is your engagement party. I’m sure your fiancé wants to take you home and ravage you. How about next week? Just you and me, okay?”
“Deal.” She smiled. “So, I see Dean and Josh are both here,” she remarked, raising her perfect strawberry-blonde brow at me. “What are you going to do?”
“Drink,” I said, clinking my champagne glass against hers.
“So, with Dean, anything there?”
“Too much.” Admitting the truth to my sister felt good. I was done with denial half an hour ago with Dean’s admission. I’d been running from the truth long enough.
“And Josh?” she asked carefully.
I shook my head no. I’d been fighting that inevitability long enough as well.
“Hey, beautiful,” Grant called from inside the door. “Come on. I have something for you.” We both stood up, and I gave her a brief hug before she joined Grant. I followed them both in. I looked to see everyone gathered around. A piece of canvas sat on top of my dad’s model table, which now sat on our kitchen table. My dad encouraged Rose to unveil it, and we all waited silently, excited for her reaction. Our brother Paul stood with his arms wrapped around Hilary with impatience in his eyes as Rose jumped in response.