Beautiful One (26 page)

****

After we grabbed a couple of beach chairs, Melissa closed her trunk, and we made our way down to the sand. I was expecting her to bombard me with questions about Spencer on the drive, but she was preoccupied talking about how sweet my brother was. I thought I was off the hook, but
the
minute we set up our chairs, she started in.

“What's going on with you and Mr. Smokin' Hot Music Man?” She was grinning at me like the Cheshire Cat from
Alice in Wonderland
.

I just shook my head. “Actually, nothing.”

“It didn't look like nothing. You guys seemed pretty steamy!”

“Melissa!”

“Seriously, Liz, what's going on?”

I contemplated what I should say to Melissa. I had always been more of a,
figure everything out yourself and hold it in
type of girl. After a few minutes, I exhaled and turned my eyes to hers.

“I started to feel something for Spencer when I was with Aidan, but I thought it was just an infatuation. Ya know, ‘cuz he's so good looking. I kept thinking I'd get over it.” I stopped talking. Everything had been bottled up too long. My feelings began to overwhelm me.

Melissa's grin was gone. Her curiosity spiked, she shifted her chair and moved in closer. “Did anything happen? While you were with Aidan?” She held my gaze with the look of concerned concentration.

When the words started to flow, so did my emotions. I felt like a dam had burst as the truth finally spilled from my lips.

“Nothing ever happened. I mean, he never kissed me or anything.” The driveway memory flashed through my mind. “And it wasn't like that… not at the beginning anyway. At first it was just us singing together. He knew I had a boyfriend, so it was easy for us to become friends. But the more I got to know him and watch him, be around him, things started to change. For me anyway.”

For once Melissa didn't have anything to say. She was so absorbed in my confession, she was silent. After a few moments of nothing but the sea air flowing between us, she managed to say two words.

“Go on.”

I rubbed my hands over my face before I began again. “I felt like we connected, more than I ever had with Aidan.” When the words left my lips, tears sprang from my eyes. “I wanted to love Aidan… I cared for him. I still care for him. He was so sweet in the beginning but then got so possessive, and that's not love.” I was sobbing now. “I tried with him… over and over I tried.”

Melissa reached out and clasped my hand. Her touch sent me over the edge.

I pulled my hand away and cried into them. “He cheated on me.”

The warmth of Melissa's arms was instantly around me. The tears continued to fall
as
my best friend tried to comfort me. I felt her body tense when she whispered, “That jerk.”

I backed away, horrified, and realized what I had confessed.

“Please don't tell Mason. Please.” My tears stopped as I contemplated what my brother would do to Aidan.

“Why are you protecting him? Liz! He cheated on you!” Melissa's anger was palpable.

“I know, Melissa, but he was good. A part of him was good. I think he wants to change… he just doesn't know how.”

“Oh, Liz.” Melissa hugged me again. Her body went from tense to slack. “You're too sweet.”

“No, I just think he deserves a chance.” I shifted back and wiped my face with the back of my hand.

“Do you want to talk about what happened… when you caught him?”

“Not right now.” I was surprised Melissa didn't push for more information. That was so out of her character.

“Okay, then, tell me more about Spencer.”

“At first it was just his looks, but his heart… he's so good and kind. He encourages me. Makes me laugh. Makes me feel safe, special. I've never felt the way I feel when I am with him.” I wondered if I should confess my true feelings for Spencer, but I didn't have to. Melissa said the words I feared to utter.

“You're in love with him.”

All I could do was nod.

Melissa couldn't hide her excitement. “Liz, I'm so happy for you.”

“He has a girlfriend.” My words halted her enthusiasm.

“What? Are you sure? But, the way he was looking at you…”

“I'm sure.” I interrupted her. “Remember that girl we saw him with in the restaurant?”

Melissa nodded.

“Well, that's her, Kara.” I sat back in my chair and rubbed my temples.

Melissa seemed crushed. “Are they serious?”

I shrugged my shoulders. “I have no idea. That's the one thing we don't talk about. In fact, he still thinks I'm with Aidan.”

“What? Why?”

“Just makes things easier.”

Melissa seemed to ponder my words. “I guess,” she finally answered. “But, I think you should tell him, maybe if he knew you didn't have a—”

I cut her off mid-sentence. “No, Melissa, I don't want to get in the way. I hate to admit it, but Kara's sweet. They'd be good together, and even though it hurts, I want him to be happy. He deserves that.”

Melissa's eyes glazed over. She sat silent for a few moments, a tear fell from her cheek. “If that isn't love I don't know what is.” She sniffed. Seeing my matter-of-fact friend show such unbridled emotion shocked me.

“Melissa.” I reached out and hugged her. Together our tears turned to laughter as we sat back in our chairs.

Melissa held my gaze while I maneuvered through the crowded venue. The band was in full swing, and Mason crooned in the background. The regulars were packed in tight. I was jostled on my way toward our table. I heard a chuckle as I brushed past someone in the crowd. My heart sank — Nina. The sight of her made me ill.

I made my way as fast as I could to the open seat and sat next to Melissa.

“I can't believe she's here.” Melissa scowled.

A few days after my beach confession, Melissa had ambushed me in my room. She hadn't been able to wait any longer. She'd wanted details about my break-up with Aidan, so now she knew everything, and, true to her word, she'd kept it from my brother.

I glanced back at Nina. She was as close to Aidan as she could get without actually being on stage with him.

“I can't think about her. I'm gonna be singing soon.”

Melissa looked me up and down. “Well, my friend, you look fabulous.”

Spencer and I weren't supposed to go on until the second set, which worked out in my favor. I was so nervous I had tried on at least six different outfits before I settled on my black birthday dress. The fact was I liked the dress, and pushing all the memories aside, it was what I wanted to wear.

“Have you seen Spencer?”

Melissa nodded, and her eyes shifted to a table off to the side, near the back. My heart dropped like it was on the decline from the highest point of a rollercoaster. There he was… and there she was. Witnessing the striking couple sitting side by side made my already fragile heart ache all the more.

I glanced at Melissa and could see the pain reflected in her eyes. I tried to smile, but I just couldn't and thankfully, I didn't have to fake it anymore, at least not with Melissa.

My eyes darted around at the commotion behind me.
Seconds later, I was swallowed up in arms of the young boy I had come to adore.

“Lizzie!”

“Simon! What are you doing here?” I reached around and hugged him tight.

“We came to see you and Spencer sing.” I glanced around, but I didn't see anyone else.

Then my eyes caught sight of the people surrounding Spencer's table. Simon was chatting in my ear, but my mind tuned him out when Spencer glanced my way. Seconds later, his family was headed to our table.

Shawn made it to our table first. “Hey, Shawn,” I said.

“Hey.”

“This is my friend, Melissa.”

Shawn responded with the teenage head nod. Spencer pulled up a couple of chairs and placed them at our table.

“Do you mind?” he asked.

“Ahh, no… not at all.” I stammered as I stood up.

“Elizabeth, I'd like you to meet my mother, Sharon.” Spencer backed away while his mother approached me.

“Hi.” I reached out to give her my hand, but she wrapped me in her arms instead.

“Oh, Elizabeth, I've heard so much about you. I feel like I know you.” She squeezed me tight. “My boys have raved about you, all of them.” She pulled back to look me in the eyes. “And the way you took care of Spencer when he was sick, you're just a dear, dear girl.”

I was taken aback by the onslaught of affection and a bit surprised by it. I glanced at Kara, who was now seated at our table. Her reaction was similar to the way Melissa would handle things. So confident, not a shred of jealousy crossed her face as Spencer's mom showered me with affection.

“Thank you,” I responded. Melissa raised an eyebrow to me before she lifted her hand to greet Spencer's mother.

Sharon took a seat next to Kara while Simon and Shawn went looking for a few extra chairs.

“You remember Kara?” Spencer questioned.

“Yes. Hi, Kara, this is my friend Melissa.”

My faithful best friend looked Kara over before she gave a curt “Hello.”

The boys soon returned with the chairs, and the awkward introductions were over. Spencer pulled out a chair next to Kara and sat down. Our table was cozy, to say the least.

My cell phone was face down on the table when it vibrated. I picked it up and Melissa's name flashed across the screen. I glanced down at it and almost laughed out loud when I read the words.

You
'
ve
got
to
be
kidding
me!

I closed my cell phone and shot her the look to
be nice.
I stuffed my cell in my purse and focused my attention toward our boisterous table. Between Spencer's mom, Simon, Kara, and Melissa, it was a wonder we could still hear Mason singing on stage.

Spencer leaned in close.

“Are you okay?”

“I think so.” My eyes scanned the packed bar area and dance floor.

Spencer reached his hand to mine. “Don't do that,” he demanded.

“Do what?”

“Over think. You're amazing.” His thumb swept back and forth over my hand.

Kara was eyeing me. I pulled my hand from his and placed it under the table.

“Hey, hey, hey.” Spencer's soft words broke through the haze of my panicked emotions. He stood up, leaned over, and whispered across the table, “Come with me.”

Melissa must have seen our intimate exchange because she nudged my leg with hers before I got up to leave.

I rose and followed Spencer. I didn't look back at the table, but it seemed like our absence hadn't fazed them. Everyone was still talking when we left.

Spencer clasped my hand in his and led me through the venue. I glanced over my shoulder before we turned down a small hallway. Aidan's fiery blue eyes were the last thing I saw before I was whisked into Spencer's strong arms. He held me for a moment and pulled back. He snaked his hands from around my back and rested them on my hips.

I blinked up at him a few times, trying to decipher my frenzied thoughts.

“You were getting that deer in the headlights look about you. I had to get you out of there.”

Lost in the intensity of his eyes, I was speechless.

“You think you're gonna be okay?”

I realized my hands were holding his muscular arms. To anyone looking at us, it may have seemed like a couple in love trying to steal a few quiet moments. I allowed my hands to fall away then stepped from his grasp. I cleared my throat before I answered him.

“Yes, I'll be fine.”

Spencer glanced down the hallway and looked at the exit sign. “Do you want to go outside and practice a bit?”

“Sure.” The small confines of the hallway were getting to me, and I could definitely use some air. I walked down the hallway, and he held the door for me.

The change of scenery and fresh air helped clear my head a bit. Spencer glanced around then motioned to the side of the building.

“This will do,” he said with a smile.

He began tapping out the beat of the song on his thighs and nodded for me to begin. I fiddled with the hem of my dress and sang the words. When it was time for Spencer to join in, he stopped tapping and grabbed my hand. He gave me a half-smile and shook his head, as if to chastise me for pulling on my dress. His fingers were intertwined with mine while we belted out the song together.

“Now you're ready.” He winked. I felt myself blush as we walked toward the exit door. Spencer was just about to open it when he leaned in close to my ear. “After you, beautiful one.” His voice was barely above a whisper.

“Thank you.” I glanced back at him.

We walked down the hallway and were soon back in the chaos of the crowded venue. My eyes shot to the table, and to my surprise, my parents were there. I glanced at Spencer and mouthed
“My parents.”

His eyes crinkled when he smiled, like he already knew about it.

I approached the table and was immediately greeted with a bear hug from my father, and when I was free from his grasp, my mom kissed my cheek. My confused expression had my mom answering me before I had even asked the question.

“What? Did you think we'd miss your first official public performance?” She hugged me before she sat down and started chatting with Spencer's mom.

“I just hope I don't disappoint you all.” My nerves were starting to get to me. I began nibbling my thumbnail. Spencer was still behind me. I felt him brush up close to my ear as he reached around and pulled my hand away from my mouth.

“You won't,” he whispered.

Melissa suggestively raised an eyebrow at me. I ignored her and sat down at the only empty seat at the table, next to my dad. Simon and Shawn had moved to a table of their own, and they were both eating burgers.

Spencer stood behind Kara and had his hands resting on the back of her chair. He leaned over and whispered something in her ear. She smiled and nodded.

I was surprised at how much watching their small exchange bothered me.

Mason let the crowd know the band was going to take a fifteen-minute break. My eyes followed Spencer as he made his way to the stage. Mason set up our mics while Spencer tuned his guitar. My eyes shifted from Spencer to Aidan. The look he gave me chilled me to the bone. I could almost feel the animosity radiating from his piercing eyes. It made me wonder if he'd ever truly loved me at all. I turned away from his heated gaze and leaned over toward Melissa.

“Bathroom?” I asked.

Melissa was up in a heartbeat as we made our way back toward the small hallway. Of course, there was a line. We jockeyed for position and leaned against the wall as the line slowly inched forward.

“Finally,” she said. “I've been trying to get your attention since you got back to the table. What happened? You both were gone for a while.”

“He saw I was starting to freak, so he took me outside, and we ran through the song once.”

“Is that all?” She raised an eyebrow.

“Stop it!” I pushed her forward as the line moved a bit.

“How was Kara? When we left… did she seem… upset?”

Melissa thought about the question before she answered me. “She watched you guys leave, but she seemed okay. I wasn't watching her though. That's when your mom and dad came in.” She shrugged.

Finally we made it into the bathroom. I ran my hands through my hair as Melissa grabbed a tube of lipstick from her purse.

“Here, put this on. You know what your mom always says.”

In unison we both giggled as we mimicked her words. “Lipstick is to brunettes as mascara is to blondes.”

After I applied a sheer coat of pale red, Melissa looked me in the eye and held the door. “Ready?”

“No, but it's too late now.” I smiled.

“True.” She smirked and playfully slapped my butt when we walked out the door.