“That moment between you and Lake Chambers. The energy. Does he want you?” he asked with a tone that showed the idea had never occurred to him before.
“No,” I replied in a bored tone, staring out the window. “We’ve been friends since middle school. He’s just a good friend, someone that I care about. That’s all.”
Russell shifted to the seat beside me.
“Have you ever been with him before?”
“What?” I asked, whipping my head around to stare at him in shock and disbelief.
“I’m just asking, is there something between the two of you. Something that I might need to be aware of?”
“No,” I lied. I wasn’t even sure why I did, but I honestly didn’t think that was the time to share the news with Russell.
“Look, I’m sorry. It’s not like I want to pry, but the Dragons made it to the playoffs last year. Despite their injured list, we have every reason to believe they’ll make it again this year, so he’ll be in the media spotlight. The media will focus on him from every corner. I don’t want us caught off guard, making us look like fools. If you two are out and about, you need to be aware of cameras lurking at every turn. This is important,” he emphasized with a sigh.
“Oh, that’s rich!” I scoffed with cynical laughter.
“What?”
“You’re going to have the nerve to lecture me on my sex life when we know what this is? When we both know that you’re with several women, often?”
I never judged Russell about his sexual proclivities because I didn’t believe in judging people. Anyone could sit around all day and judge other folks, but how easy was it when that finger was pointed back at you?
I didn’t believe there were perfect people in the world. Everyone has secrets, sometimes even some skeletons we’d like to keep hidden away. No one is in a place to judge someone else. But I also wouldn’t have him judging me.
“Xiomara, what I do in my private time has never leaked to the world. And whom I do it with no one has any interest in. So, you don’t have to worry about me being careless or my sex life impacting you, I assure you. I’m very careful about what I do.”
“As I stated before, Lake is just a very good friend,” I insisted.
In the back of my mind, I couldn’t help but recall how friendly Russell was with my father. And I didn’t trust him not to let this news accidentally leak to him.
“Well, if that’s the story you’re sticking to, my only suggestion is to watch yourself around him when others are near. Standing there watching your exchange, I could see it in his eyes he wanted you. And you? Let’s just say that two mountains peaked under your blouse with just one look from him. Not to mention that he looked ready to rip my head off when I tried to kiss you.”
“What?”
“Xiomara, can I be honest with you?”
“Please, don’t stop now,” I said, taken aback by the turn the conversation had taken.
“If we’re about to get married, I need to know what’s going on. And that back there? That wasn’t friendly energy. It was anything but, and I don’t have a problem with whom you’re dating but just keep me abreast of what’s going on. Don’t leave me in the dark. That’s all I ask.”
“Look, let’s just call it a night. I don’t feel like grabbing anything to eat.”
“Okay, but we have to talk, Xiomara. Did you even decide about our weekend getaway?”
“Yes,” I said as my stomach sank. “I’ll go.”
“Good,” he replied, grabbing my hand. “I think this is the best thing for us.”
Turning to the window, my gaze drew outside to the passing lights. But I saw nothing except a road of heartache ahead.
CHAPTER 19 – LAKE
“WHY DIDN’T YOU TELL us that your sister was in town?”
I sat my silverware down on my plate and met my father’s stern gaze.
“I didn’t know that she hadn’t told you,” I said.
My sister had come to town in October, left for a while, and then returned at the beginning of December.
She had spent most of her time with close friends or hanging out at my house. Unfortunately, she’d refused to tell our parents on her own. My mom had run into her at a little boutique in our town.
My father stared at me, and I returned his gaze unflinchingly.
Clearing her throat, Harlow spoke up. “I asked Lake not to say anything. I decided that I’d tell you guys when I was ready.”
“When you were ready. And you’ve been here for how long?”
Sighing, she said, “Three weeks this time, Dad.”
“Three weeks, and you’re just coming to see your mother and me on Christmas day?”
“Steven, please, as you said, it’s Christmas. Can we do this some other time?” my mom spoke up from the other end of the table.
“No, we can’t. We can do this today. We gave our pampered children the best of everything in life. They never learned to appreciate the little things. They don’t appreciate their parents who’ve given them everything. One’s a liar, and the other avoids us like the plague,” my father said.
Rolling my eyes, I struggled to control both my temper and my breathing.
“What is it you want from us, Dad?”
“I want you and your sister to show a little respect and appreciation for all that your mother and I have done for you,” he seethed.
“Lake,” Harlow warned with a subtle shake of her head. She had always been the peacekeeper between my father and me.
My mother had tried in the earlier years, but I soon realized that it was only a facade. She didn’t care as long as our arguments didn’t spill out into the public arena so that others could see the chip in our flawed family.
“No, if he’s got something on his mind, let him
