Deception (Infidelity #3)

He did. Lennox needed us, and he deserved more than his mother and I had. I’d never be the hands-on baseball dad who cheered my son on from the stands, but I would do what I could to ensure that he had the chance for a future without all of the strings that had been attached to mine.

I was a hard man. Life had made me that way. My heart was shielded, a fortress that was accessible to few people. The woman beside me would always have her place. We’d shared too much to let something like divorce also serve as an eviction notice. The young man down the hall was part of me. His place was secure. The only other person who resided in my cold heart belonged to someone else.

While I didn’t see the last changing although I’d sell what was left of my soul to make it happen, Adelaide still was part of me and among the three people who would forever be my priority. Whatever I had to do, I would do. Whether it was from the sidelines or in their face. Having only three people to care about allowed me to stay focused when the world around me became unclear.

I let go of Angelina’s hand and we walked to Lennox’s hospital room.





I SETTLED AT my desk in my office, moving my mouse and summoning my computer to wake. Water dripped from my freshly washed hair as I wrapped the sweater around my shoulders, relishing its warmth. The apartment was tepid and lonely. It had been a couple of weeks since Nox took me out on our date, and over that time I’d developed a love/hate relationship with what had been my purple friend. I loved what Nox could do with it while I hated how much I craved the things he did.

It was as if my body operated with a series of switches that only he could flip.

Low.

Medium.

High.

Out of this world.

I was addicted to everything about Nox.

That was all right when we were together, but for the last two nights, he’d been out of town. Thankfully, he was due back this afternoon. I tried for other relief.

Glancing out the window, I decided that the blue sky was deceiving.

Earlier this Saturday morning, I’d gone out running with Patrick. When I did, I’d nearly frozen my fingers. Late October weather in New York was as diverse as any I’d ever known. No doubt that in Savannah, as well as Palo Alto, the mornings were without frost. Here, the afternoons could warm to a pleasant temperature, but the mornings resembled a scene from Disney’s Frozen. Thankfully, the skies hadn’t decided to snow, but by the way I stood under the shower’s spray for longer than normal this morning, trying to return warmth to my extremities, I doubted it would be long.

My legal methods paper had been turned in and the next writing project was started. The outline was growing as I found more and more references. Sometimes I wondered if there would be more to law than reading, researching, and writing.

Over the last few weeks, I’d decided not to apply for the internship that Dr. Renaud had suggested. I would have tried for it in California at Stanford. I knew I would have. But life was less complicated there. Though my faculty counselor seemed disappointed in my decision, I had my reasons, none of which I felt compelled to share.

Although Patrick sometimes referred to me as a rich, spoiled princess, I wasn’t narcissistic or self-centered enough to believe that my life was more complicated than those of my classmates. Yet I knew my limits—well, some that didn’t involve a certain blue-eyed, sexy-as-hell man.

I knew how important school and success in my classes were to my future. I also knew that the internship would open doors and look great on my résumé. Nevertheless, I was only capable of focusing on so many things at one time.

I adored the man whose bed I shared—Lennox Demetri was a force of nature, the centrifugal force that steadied my world’s rotation. His presence cemented the tilt. It overwhelmed me while at the same time bestowing gifts. Equal measures came and went that were forever fluid—giving and taking.

His strong, steady commands brought a sense of balance, grounding me with an anchor of love and support. Never did an evening pass that he didn’t ask about my day—classes, concerns and even my family and friends.

Through the weeks and months, we’d had ups and downs. He’d had business successes and disappointments. There was something happening in California with Senator Carroll that had dominated more of his time than he’d wanted.

Often he’d ask if I could travel with him. Only a day or two at a stretch, but with law school, I couldn’t.

The necklace that Deloris had made for me may have bothered me before the shooting in Central Park. Now, I found it comforting that there were people who cared about me and my safety. It was nice that the information was limited and not available to everyone as it was with the GPS on my phone.

Though my mother and I had scheduled a few meetings, they’d never occurred. Something had always superseded her plans. I was tiring of the anticipation.

I didn’t want to visit Savannah, but with each week, my mother’s messages were more evasive and cryptic. I spoke often to Jane, but I couldn’t get a real feel for what was happening at Montague Manor. The last time we were supposed to get together, Jane called to let me know that instead of coming to New York, my mother had decided to travel with Alton out west.

She decided? I found that hard to believe.

It had been nearly a month since I’d spoken to Tina Moore, yet I’d only received one voicemail from Chelsea. The number on the phone she used was blocked, so I couldn’t call back.

I’d replayed her message over and over, searching for a clue. I’d listened so many times that I had it memorized.

“Girl, Mom said you called. Things have been hectic. You know what we said? Life throws us curves, but we learn to swerve.”

What the hell?

I knew the song, but we’d never said it to one another. The next line said: ‘Me, I swung and I missed and the next thing you know, I’m reminiscing… ’

I had no idea what she was trying to tell me or why she couldn’t just say it.

Had she tried something that didn’t work? Was she reminiscing?

I missed her humor and her smile, the way she’d cut through the bullshit and tell it like it was. I missed my friend. The apartment by Columbia was sitting empty.

As I tried to concentrate on my paper, I saw the notification for unopened emails. Mostly I avoided them. Maybe it was the cool morning, my uncertainty about my mother, or the quiet apartment. Maybe it was my way of avoiding my paper that I had to write, but for whatever reason I decided to skim the subject lines and senders.

One name jumped from the screen: Millie Ashmore.

Why would Millie be emailing me? Wasn’t she busy with her wedding plans?

I shook my head, wondering if I should open the email, wondering if she would actually have the nerve to send me something as ridiculous as an invitation to a wedding shower or worse, expect me to help plan it.

With better judgment on hiatus, I clicked open the email.



To: Alexandria Collins

From: Millie Ashmore



I’m so sorry you couldn’t help plan it, but I would just die if you didn’t come. My bridal shower is going to be the Friday after Thanksgiving. I had Leslie schedule it when we thought you would be in town.



I understand that you might feel uncomfortable with Chelsea there, but you shouldn’t. You know we’re here for you.



Love and Kisses,

Millie



What the hell?

I stared at the screen in disbelief. Not only had she had the audacity to think I wanted to be at her shower, but Chelsea was going to be there?

I did what I’d sworn not to do.

Being sure my location was turned off on my computer, I logged into Facebook.