Deadly Storm (17 page)

“They’re all in there,” Mandy snapped.

“Oh, honey, have you ever considered you’re just not meant to cook? You have so many other wonderful talents. Why do you feel the need to cook, too?”

“Are you going to argue with me or help me?”

Ally patted Mandy’s shoulder sympathetically. “When we were in tenth grade and you wanted to date a football player, did I argue or help you snag one?”

“You did both.”

“Good. You remember,” Ally said. “We’re going to do both tonight, too. Dump that out. We’ll start from scratch. It will be like a bonding exercise for us.”

“We’re already bonded,” Mandy grumbled.

“And that’s never going to change,” Ally said. “You’re my best friend in this world, and you will be in the next, too. We’re going to fix this soup, and then we’re going to go to a bar and fix you. We can only do one thing at a time, though. Dump this. It’s making me feel sick to my stomach.”

“They’re going to the bar,” Jake said, keeping an eye on Mandy and Ally as they walked out of the building and toward the parking lot as he talked to James on his cell phone.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” James groaned. “How does she look?”

“It’s hard to tell,” Jake said. “It looks like she might’ve been a crying a little.”

“Dammit!”

“She doesn’t look like she’s a mess,” Jake said. “I’ve got my eyes on them now.”

“Is anyone following them?”

“No.”

“What are you going to do?” James asked.

“I’m following them to the bar and then sitting in the parking lot,” Jake said. “Ally said she’s keeping Mandy there until they talk everything out. I think that means they’re going to get hammered. I guess it’s good tomorrow is Saturday. Once they’re inside the bar, I’ll call Grady. He and Finn are already out here. One of them can pick up Mandy’s car and take it back to your house. I’ll bring her home when they’re done.”

“You’re just going to sit in the car while they spend hours in a bar?”

“I have my iPad,” Jake said. “I’ll be fine. Mandy is part of my family, too.”

“I said something really terrible to her.”

“You told me,” Jake said. “Why do you think you said it?”

“She just makes me so mad,” James said. “Why does she have to keep going to that class? I just erased all the ground we’ve made up over the past few days. I crushed her.”

“She loves you, James,” Jake said, sympathy rolling off of him. “You two will work it out. While Ally is working on Mandy, though, maybe you should consider having a drink or two yourself. It sounds like you need it.”

“Don’t let anything happen to her.”

“Never.”

“Call me when they’re coming out,” James said. “I’ll be waiting for her.”

“I CAN’T
believe he said that to you,” Ally said, her brown eyes wide as she sipped from her chocolate martini. “What a jackass.”

As far as best friends go, Ally Hardy was queen of the hill. Mandy would forever be thankful for the friendship she’d found with the boisterous brunette.

“He’s not wrong,” Mandy said. “I’ve been thinking it for a couple of weeks now. I don’t think I’m very good.”

“Shut up,” Ally said. “I saw the painting you’ve been working on … the one you hid in the closet and only take out when no one is around.”

Mandy stilled. “How?”

“I’m a busybody,” Ally said. “I went looking for it during a barbecue two Sundays ago. You can’t tell me you don’t have talent because I’ve seen that painting. It’s beautiful.”

“I’m not sure it is.”

“Well, I don’t trust your judgment right now,” Ally said. “You thought that soup looked like it was supposed to, too. I still don’t understand how you turned white beans green.”

“I’m a horrible cook,” Mandy said, laughing despite herself. “If James ever tries to eat something I cook he’ll die.”

“He might have it coming right now,” Ally said.

“He’s … conflicted,” Mandy said. “I knew I was pushing him while I was doing it. I still did it.”

“Why?”

“The truth?”

“Always.”

“I think I’m mad at him because he didn’t believe me when I woke up and said I heard something in the hallway,” Mandy said.

“You think you could’ve saved Ann, don’t you?”

“I think there’s a good chance that what I heard was her dying out there,” Mandy said. “I can’t help it. That’s just how I feel.”

“Mandy, I love you,” Ally said. “One of the things I like least about you is this martyr complex you have at times, though. You don’t know that you could’ve saved Ann. I think you’re actually feeling guilty because we bought that voodoo doll and tried to give her a heart attack when we were in high school.”

“I do feel guilty about that,” Mandy admitted.

“I know you do,” Ally said. “Here’s the thing, though, you can’t go back in time. Ann can’t go back and not be a bitch. You can’t go back and save her. We are where we are. You have to move forward. Feeling guilty isn’t going to do anything for anyone.”

“I know.”

“Now, as for my brother, I think you need to ask for something really big before you forgive him.”

“What makes you think I’m going to forgive him?” Mandy asked. “He really hurt my feelings.”

“You love him with your whole heart,” Ally said. “You two are miserable when you’re not in sync. You can’t fight the inevitable.

“He’s going to beat himself up and grovel, and you’re not going to be able to take it when it looks like his heart is breaking,” she continued. “You love him too much for that. You’re going to forgive him.”

“I know you’re right, but is it okay if I pretend otherwise until I have about three more of these?” Mandy asked, lifting her martini glass.

“Absolutely,” Ally said. “That’s going to give us time to figure out what kind of pony you want to ask him for.”

“I don’t want a pony.”

“Not everything is about you.”

JAMES
found himself in the guesthouse an hour after hanging up with Jake. He’d considered drinking beer but ultimately realized he needed something stronger. After mixing himself a Jack and Coke, he climbed the spiral staircase and looked around Mandy’s art studio.

He hated himself.

The first time they’d eaten dinner together – before they had sex or even acknowledged their mutual attraction – Mandy admitted a secret. She’d always wanted to be an artist. It was a dream she struggled with, insecurities getting the better of her because she didn’t want to put herself out there.

His love gave her the strength to try it, and now he’d crushed that dream. “I’m such an ass,” he said.

James leafed through the canvases, studying them closely. He had no idea what they were. It was like she kept starting them and then stopping before she got to the meat of the work. That was fear, he realized. She stopped herself from succeeding because she was scared to fail. He’d just made things so much worse.

He was just about to leave the room when something caught his attention out of the corner of his eye. The closet door was open. Instinctively he moved toward it, his fingers on the handle to push it shut before he thought better of it and pulled it open. He glanced inside, realizing he’d never really looked in the closet. What he found inside floored him.

He grabbed the solitary canvas and dragged it out, his heart lodging in his throat as he took in one of the most glorious things he’d ever seen.

She’d painted it from a photograph. It was his favorite photograph, in fact. It was taken the day of their wedding. She was standing next to him, and her face was in profile as her eyes were lowered. She was beaming, though. He was staring at her with a look of adoration in his eyes. It wasn’t a staged photograph. It was candid. He always thought it summed up their love perfectly. He loved the photograph so much he framed it and put it on his desk at work.

How could he tell her she wasn’t talented when she’d made this? “Why didn’t you show this to me, baby?” He was talking to himself, but he already knew the answer. She’d told him tonight. She was scared to show him anything she finished because she didn’t want to see him lie to her.

James gripped the canvas tightly, leaving his glass of whiskey untouched on the floor as he carried the canvas down the stairs and toward the main house.

James wanted his wife home more than anything else in the world. He would give up just about anything to have her in his arms right now. That wasn’t an option, though. He had to wait. He had to give her time.

“YOU’RE
drunk,” Mandy said, dissolving into giggles as she watched Ally try to clean a brown spot off her blouse.

“You’re drunk,” Ally shot back.

“I’m definitely drunk,” Mandy agreed. “There’s no way I can drive home.”

“That’s fine. Jake is waiting in the parking lot.”

Mandy furrowed her brow. “What?”

“He’s been watching us,” Ally said. “There’s a murderer on campus. He wasn’t going to let me walk around alone.”

“Why didn’t you tell me that?”

“Because you were upset and I didn’t want to make things worse,” Ally said.

“What about my car?”

“It’s already gone,” Ally said, waving off her concerns. “Jake called Grady and he took it back to the house for you.”

“You took care of everything.”

“I’m amazing,” Ally said. “How about we have one more round and then get going? I’m just sloppy drunk enough to be able to have some rocking sex with Jake tonight.”

“I think I’m done,” Mandy said. “If I drink another one I’ll puke.”

“Well, that might be fun, too.”

Mandy laughed. “Thank you for being my best friend.”

Ally sobered. “Thank you for being my best friend.” She dug into her purse for her wallet. “Now, let’s pay and get out of here.”

“That sounds good.”

“Hold on … I know my wallet is in here somewhere.”

“Here, I can pay for you.”

Mandy jumped when she heard the voice, shifting her attention to her left and focusing on the familiar face that was smiling in her direction. “Professor Barnes?”

“I thought that was you,” Barnes said, grinning widely. “I saw you from across the bar. I even recognize your friend. I have to say, you’re the first person to attend one of my classes who brought in a ringer to help her cook.”

“I’m a terrible cook,” Mandy said.

“You have … a lot of spirit, though.”

Ally snorted. “She doesn’t need to cook,” she said. “She has a husband who she’s crazy about and he loves takeout. Cooking in her position is stupid.”

“You’re stupid,” Mandy said.

“Don’t push your luck,” Ally said. “I only have so much patience right now. If you’re not going to make James buy you a pony, you’re dead to me. Seriously, where is my wallet?”

“I’ve got it.” Jake appeared at Ally’s side and pulled her hand out of her purse. He dug into his pocket and pulled his own wallet out, dropping three twenties on the table and double-checking to make sure he’d left a big enough tip. “You two are hammered.”

“What are you doing in here?” Ally asked. “I told you we would be done when we were done.”

“You’ve been in here for three hours,” Jake said. “The battery on my iPad died. You’re drunk enough.”

“We were just leaving, snuggle bottom.”

“Snuggle bottom?”

“That’s what I’m going to do to you when I get you home,” Ally said, slurring her words.

“Angel, you’re either going to puke or pass out,” Jake said. He turned his attention to Mandy. “Are you as drunk as she is?”

“I’m drunk. I don’t think I’m as drunk as she is.”

“We’ll stop and get some coffee on the way home,” Jake said.

“Oh, you’re taking her home?” Barnes asked, lifting an eyebrow. “I thought she was married.”

“She is,” Jake said. “Who are you?”

“This is Professor Barnes,” Mandy said. “He teaches my cooking class.”

Jake furrowed his brow. “Did you two invite him here?”

“Nope. It was just a happy coincidence,” Ally said.

Jake wasn’t so sure. “All right, well, I need to get them out of here,” he said. “It was nice to meet you.”

“You, too,” Barnes said. “If you don’t want to take Mandy home, I’d be more than willing to do it for you.”

“Yeah, that’s not going to happen,” Jake said, his tone cold. “I’ve got her.”

“It was just an innocent offer,” Barnes said, holding up his hand.

“Well, this isn’t an innocent answer,” Jake said. “Stay away from her.”

“Are you staking your claim?”

“Yes,” Jake said. “She’s my girlfriend’s best friend, and my best friend’s wife. Stay away from her.”

“Sorry.”

“Stay away from her,” Jake repeated, grabbing Mandy’s elbow and tugging her in his direction. “You’re not going to like what happens if you don’t.”

“Is that a threat?”

“You have no idea,” Jake said. “Come on, drunks. If either one of you pukes in my truck you’re going to be in big trouble.”