saw the restraint on Christopher’s face, and she felt a sinking
feeling in the pit of her stomach. When the applause began, she
stood to take Liam to the restroom, and Steph was instantly on
her feet.
“Need some help?” Steph asked, her eyes begged Cheyenne
to say yes.
“Sure.”
Once they were a safe distance away, Steph grabbed Chey-
enne by the wrist.
“I don’t know what to do,” she confessed. Liam reached out
for Steph, and she took him from Cheyenne.
“You know I think Christopher is great. He’s top notch,
Steph. But you’re the only one who knows what’s in your heart.”
“I don’t know a goddamn thing right now,” she snapped and
looked over Cheyenne’s shoulder blearily. Cheyenne turned
around and was face to face with Christopher.
“Is everything alright, ladies?”
“Yes, Chris. We’re just going to the ladies room. We can
manage that without an escort. Go on back to the table.” Steph’s exasperation was so over the top that Cheyenne gaped at her.
Christopher seemed less surprised.
“I think maybe it’s me you need to talk to Stephanie. Not
Cheyenne.” His voice was calm and firm. Cheyenne took Liam
back from Steph and hurried to the ladies room with him. She
was in such a rush to get back to them that Liam didn’t even get to dry his hands, and he kept wiping them on his pants. When
they returned, the volume of Steph and Christopher’s conversa-
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TAMMY COONS & MICHELLE PACE
tion had grown exponentially.
“You don’t hang up on someone when they tell you they
love you. Unless you don’t feel the same.” He snapped and
Steph folded her arms. She looked tired.
“You promised not to rush me, Chris.”
“It’s really pretty simple, Steph. Do you or do you not love
me?”
“I love Phillip.” She blurted. Cheyenne’s gasp was echoed
by the ominous sound of thunder rumbling. Christopher’s eyes
flew wide, and he stepped toward Steph. He was breathing rapid-
ly. Steph slapped a hand over her own mouth, obviously stunned
at her admission. Cheyenne felt Liam let go of her hand.
“Pip!” Liam cried and ran at Phillip who stood only five
feet away, his unblinking eyes locked on Stephanie. Liam had
almost reached him when he tripped, but Phillip scooped him up
with one arm. Cheyenne rushed to Phillip. His eyes darted back
and forth as he turned to her in shock.
“Did she just say what I think she just said?” he whispered.
“Mmmmhmmm.” Cheyenne replied quietly, pulling Liam
close in anticipation of some unfortunate repercussions. When
she turned back to the arguing couple, she saw Christopher grab
Steph by her upper arms.
“Have you gone mad?”
“No. I’m being honest,” Steph replied with the dazed voice
of a person who’d just made a shocking discovery.
“How can you say that? After he abandoned you? He pub-
licly ridiculed you!” He shook her once-hard. The force of this
rocked Steph’s head back on her shoulders, and Liam launched
into a tantrum.
“Te te!”
“Hey!” Cheyenne shouted her eyes narrowing at Christo-
pher, but Phillip brushed past her before she had a chance to inhale for a second comment.
“Back off, mate.” Phillip said reasonably. He seemed sur-
186
RAGE
prisingly level, considering Cheyenne might have jumped on
Christopher if Liam hadn’t been present. Phillip was inches from the couple, and upon closer inspection, Cheyenne could see he
was ready to pounce, but fighting hard to maintain a cool facade.
Steph’s eyes stayed on Christopher’s, but she blushed profusely.
“Oh, piss off, Kersey. You’re no mate of mine.” Christo-
pher snapped dismissively, without taking his eyes or hands off
Steph. Cheyenne watched as Steph’s eyes shot to Phillip and
then back to Christopher.
“Chris…” Steph’s tone was cautious. “Calm down. Let’s
take a walk. We can talk about this privately.”
Christopher scoffed as another thunderclap sounded around
them. The rising wind whipped the palm tree canopy above them
and ruffled his fair hair. When he spoke, his voice dripped with sarcasm and hurt. “Why not just talk about it here? You know,
with Mr. Kersey. It seems this involves him, as usual.”
The louder Christopher got, the more upset Liam became.
Cheyenne clung to him and rocked him, trying to settle him
down. She knew she should take him away from the escalating
scene, but she thought maybe their presence would help defuse
the situation. She felt sprinkling drops of rain pelt down on her in random intervals. In the distance, she heard Nathan shout a
request for help moving the piano under cover. Steph seemed
sheepish and embarrassed as she yanked away from Christopher.
She acted as if she were about to speak, but clamped her mouth
shut and turned to retreat onto the trail away from the party.
“Don’t walk away from me, Steph.” He reached out for her,
but Phillip stepped in front of him. He effectively blocked Christopher’s path as Stephanie briskly vanished from sight.
“You need to calm down.” Phillip’s face looked serene.
Cheyenne knew he was anything but.
“That’s priceless advice, coming from you.” Christopher
shot back at him, poking a finger in his chest to emphasize the
word ‘you’. Phillip took a deep breath as it began to rain steadi-187
TAMMY COONS & MICHELLE PACE
ly.
“No matter what she said, it’s over. She was clear about
that. She told me she was with you.”
Christopher seemed to read Phillip’s face for a long moment
and then turned to Cheyenne. He looked defeated, and his shoul-
ders slumped like a wounded soldier’s after a long and fruitless battle. It was hard for Cheyenne to see, and she busied herself
covering Liam with her wrap. Christopher took what seemed like
three deep cleansing breaths and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
He looked at the ground. “It’s pretty obvious that’s not the case.”
“No matter what either of you say or do to each other, it
won’t change anything. Steph’s going to do what she’s going to
do.” Cheyenne murmured. Liam was sucking his thumb and
cuddling into her. Distressed, Christopher looked off in the di-
rection to which Steph had retreated and then turned and left in the opposite direction.
Phillip heaved what looked like a sigh of relief and turned
to Cheyenne. He frowned as if seeing Liam for the first time.
“Let’s get the boy out of the rain.
Cheyenne tilted her head to the side condescendingly. “I
can take care of Liam, Phillip. Just go get her.” As the gentle rain turned to an outright downpour, he did just that.
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