Fallacy (Apprehensive Duet Book 1) (34 page)

“You little slut,” I laugh before wrapping my arms around her. “Congratulations.”

This right here, hugging and congratulating, even when you don’t fully understand their decisions, is what friendship is all about.

Alex

As I pull into the driveway of Tanner and Ash’s house, I’m still trying to figure out why Tanner demanded I come by for a drink after practice today.

“Ashley and I want you to come over later today,” he said very ominously.

“Umm…Okay…everything all right?” The way he told me to come by as opposed to asking me to come by like usual has my mind scrambling to figure out what they’re up to.

A creepy smile took over his face when he answered me. “Everything’s perfect.”

I have no clue if I’m walking into some kind of ambush or not. Something about this situation seems sneaky to me.

“I’m here as demanded,” I call out as I make my way through their garage door.

I take a look at the kitchen, and notice nothing is cooking on the stove, and the oven doesn’t seem to be on, so I know this isn’t a dinner kind of meeting.

“Hey, Alex,” I hear Ashley yell from somewhere in the house. “We’ll be right down.”

I’d bet all the money in my bank account these two were just doing each other. My thoughts are confirmed when they meet me at the kitchen island and Ashley’s face is flushed as she tries to contain her smile. Tanner has the just-fucked look going on too. His hair is a little wild, and his eyes hold a look of satisfaction in them.

I shake my head at them and laugh while I open the fridge and grab a beer. They’re worse than two teenagers. I tease them constantly about their relationship, but they know it’s only teasing. I’m so happy for the two of them. I’d love to have what they have. Maybe someday when I finally work my way through this whole situation with Quinn. I haven’t heard from her or made any further attempts to contact her. I’m still trying to figure out what I did.
Talk to Ashley while you’re here,
I remind myself.

“Okay, what’s with the demand for me to be here today? Please tell me it’s something good. I don’t know if I’m up for any more drama.” I plead after opening my beer and taking a sip.

“Drama?” Ashley questions, her brow furrowing with confusion. “What’s going on?”

“I went to see Quinn last week, and nothing good came of it,” I vent. I haven’t talked to Ash or Tiff about the meeting with Quinn. I don’t really know why either. I know I’m not guilty of any wrongdoing, but being accused of cheating on the one person you loved the most isn’t something you go bragging about. If I’m honest with myself, I probably haven’t said anything because of my ego.

“Why didn’t you tell us? What happened? What did she say? What did
you
say?” Ashley rambles with wide eyes. “I just saw her this afternoon, and she didn’t say a thing to me.”

Interesting. But then again, last time we spoke about her, they weren’t exactly on the best of terms. “She told me we didn’t work out because I’m a cheater, or I’m okay with cheating. She didn’t give me an exact answer.”

Shock covers Ashley’s face. “What?”

“Yeah, what the fuck?” Tanner chimes in.

“Your guess is as good as mine.” I shrug. “I don’t think I made the situation any better when I basically implied she’s been cheating on me for two years.”

The confusion on Ashley’s face matches what I feel inside. “Why does she think you cheated on her?”

“It doesn’t make sense to me either,” Tanner adds. “You spent all your time with her or thinking about her.”

I can feel my anger returning. This development hasn’t helped give me closure. It’s brought even more unanswered questions. “I have no clue why she thinks that or why she didn’t ask me about it before deciding I’m guilty of something I didn’t do.” I grip the bottle in my hand and try to control the sea of emotions that surges through me every time I think about this whole clusterfuck. How can she just decide I did something without any proof? I know there isn’t any because I did nothing wrong. Whatever happened to trust or communication? I wasn’t some dude she picked for the weekend.

“She wouldn’t have come to you or me or anyone. She wouldn’t even want to talk about it,” Ashley explains. “Cheating’s her biggest fear. If she thought for even a second that you were doing something, she was done with everything.”

“Why?” I ask hoping to get some more pieces of the puzzle to fit together.

“I wish I could help you here, but again, it’s not my story to tell.” Well, that’s really fucking helpful, I think as I slam back the rest of my beer.

“So you see how I’m not up for any more bad news, right?” I ask switching the conversation back to the real reason I’m here tonight.

“Well, I can guarantee we don’t have bad news for you.” A smile spreads across both their faces as Ashley speaks.

“Well, then let’s hear the good news?”

“We’re pregnant,” Tanner divulges, male pride oozing from his every pore.

“Holy shit,” I choke on my beer. “What? Are you trying to get yourself a reality show?” I smile at them wiping the beer from my chin.

“No,” Ash giggles. “It wasn’t planned but that doesn’t mean we aren’t excited about it.”

“I’m so happy for you guys. You deserve it,” I congratulate them as I round the kitchen island to hug them both.

“We need to celebrate with a beer,” I tell Tanner, heading back toward the fridge pulling out two new beers. “I just have to use the bathroom first.”

When I return to the kitchen, Ashley and Tanner are looking at something on her phone. I grab the beers off the counter and head over to hand it to him.

“Cheers,” I say, raising my beer up as I wrap my arm around Ashley.

“Cheers,” Tanner says, clinking his bottle with mine. I smile at him and then smile down at Ashley, who still has her phone in her hand.

The image on her phone is one that takes my breath away. Quinn in a beautiful wedding dress and a smile on her face.

“Sorry,” Ashley apologizes tucking her phone away. “You weren’t supposed to see that. I was just showing Tanner the picture from earlier today.”

I nod at her and take a large chug of my beer.

I always wondered what Quinn would look like when she finally got over her fears and let someone in. Now I know. Except it’s not me who will be waiting for her at the end of the aisle.

She’s beautiful in her dress, just as I expected she’d be. But damn, I could’ve gone the rest of my life without having to see her in a wedding dress for another man to take her out of. A dress which will be a part of vows to someone else. Part of a celebration in honor of their union. A union which has the potential to really fuck me up. I’ve been hoping in the back of my mind maybe this whole charade wouldn’t happen. Seeing that picture just drilled it home. I’ve been in denial. This wedding is happening and in less than a month.

Quinn

“Here you go, babe,” Jordan says, handing me my new glass of wine. We’ve been working on some last-minute wedding stuff, and I’m ready to crawl out of my skin. I never gave much thought to how torturous planning a wedding is when you despise them in the first place.

Jordan and I have been working the seating chart for the last hour. It’s not as easy as I thought it would be, but I didn’t trust my mother and Sarah to do it. Jordan also thought it would be best if we did this part together.

There’ll be lots of family and business associates mingling. We want to make sure the people we put in close proximity can actually get along for the night. “Okay, I’m pretty sure we’re good with no bloodshed on my end. How you doing on yours?” he asks, returning to sit next to me on the couch.

My coffee table is covered with lists, charts, and binders of wedding shit. I should get an award for keeping my cool through the last few weeks.

“I think I’m almost done, but honestly, I don’t know if any of this will even make sense tomorrow. My head hurts, and my eyes are starting to cross from staring at this for so long. Who would’ve ever thought it would be this painstaking.” I sigh, closing my eyes and lying back on the couch.

I feel Jordan rise from the couch, but I don’t make any attempt to open my eyes. If I do, I’m afraid I won’t be able to resist the urge to gouge them out to avoid looking at one more name.

Jordan’s hands on my shoulders startle me as he starts to massage them. “I don’t think I’ve ever thanked you for doing all this for me.”

“You don’t need to thank me. I’m glad I could help. It’s not like I'm entirely selfless in this,” I moan as his fingers find a knot between my shoulder blades.

“I do need to thank you,” he reiterates. “These last couple of months with my dad have been fantastic. I can see the peace in his eyes. I think he feels like he can go easier when the time comes. I don’t even know if I’m making any sense right now, but a thank you is definitely not enough for everything you have done for me.”

Jordan has a sixth sense when it comes to my apprehension of weddings. Just when I want to throw in the towel and say fuck it, I can’t do this, he reminds me that even though my father is forcing me to do this, there’s something really good coming out of it.

Opening my eyes, I look up at him. There’s a very apparent happiness surrounding him while he’s thinking about his dad. There’s peace that overcomes him which I assume is the same looks he’s referring to his father having. I’ve made that possible for him. This is why I’m doing this.

Reaching for his hand, I give it a squeeze. “The look on your face is thanks enough for me, Jordan,” I smile.

“I’m extremely lucky to have you in my life,” he smiles back. “You’re a considerate, generous, lovely woman. You’ve given me something I don’t think I’ll ever be able to repay. I know you aren’t big on these things, which makes what you’re doing for me even more important. I should shake your dad’s hand for being such a piece of shit.”

“Let’s not go crazy now. You’re lucky I’m even letting him attend. Don’t ask me to be nice to him as well,” I joke.

“It’s amazing how well you’ve turned out after being raised by that asshole,” he says in a joking tone even though I know he’s not joking.

“I’m a lot of things, but I don’t think ‘turned out well’ is one of them.” I’m far from turning out well. I’m as fucked up as they come, and it’s all at the hands of my dad.

“Don’t sell yourself short. You’re an amazing woman.”

I wonder if Jordan would still think I’m amazing if he knew the secret I was hiding. Or if he knew how much I’m actually dreading this wedding. As the days get closer and closer, I’m feeling more and more trapped. Almost as if the walls are closing in on me. I’m avoiding one prison by choosing another. Would I still be amazing to him then?

Alex

It's been three weeks since I went to see Quinn and I can’t stop thinking about what she said. I still haven’t got the slightest clue what I did to make her think I could’ve possibly been with someone else. We spent most of our time together or with Tanner and Ash. The only time we were really apart was when I was away with the team, but she couldn’t possibly think I’d cheat while away. Not that I could even if the thought had crossed my mind; I was with Tanner. Tanner would’ve had my balls if he caught me with someone who wasn’t Quinn. Unless she thought he was covering for me. But if that was the case, then I know Ashley would’ve heard about it.