Heart's Duo (Ugly Eternity #4) (4 page)

Sophie:
I never expected you to back down from a dare.

Benton:
You’re not mine to kiss, Sophie.

Sophie:
I’m no one’s.

Sophie:
I didn’t think you would be here until tomorrow.

Benton:
Does it matter?

Benton:
Came early so Jamie could spend more time with Cade.

Sophie:
It matters
.

Benton:
Goodnight Sophie.

* * * * *

Performing for massive crowds had obviously turned Jamie into a clown. Of course, it could’ve been happiness making the man ridiculous, Maddox decided with an inner sigh. He’d never get the chance to ask since both Hawke and Jamie were pretending he didn’t exist—not that he’d expected anything less. Since the first day Dylan’s and Cade’s wedding reception hit the planning stages, Maddox wondered if the pair would show. He hadn’t worked up the nerve to ask. Jamie’s tour schedule kept the man moving. It wouldn’t have surprised him if they hadn’t found the time.

Part of him had secretly hoped they wouldn’t make an appearance, all the rest of him wanted to set eyes on Hawke if only one last time. Now, here they were and Hawke hadn’t once glanced his way. Maddox snorted, uncaring if he looked like a crazy person. It wasn’t as if anyone could see him anyhow. He’d spent the majority of the night hiding on the veranda.

As one of the state’s leading wedding planners, Dylan’s mom had pulled out all the stops to host the absolute best reception money could buy for her only child. The large historical home, located on the bank of the Mississippi River, had been converted into a hotel complete with a private ballroom and a staff ready to please. They had the place for the entire weekend and Maddox was keeping the cash bar hopping. It was the only thing saving his sanity. Two hours earlier, the live band they’d hired fired up, filling the place with music. The staff had thrown the doors wide, letting in the night air hoping to keep the people crowding the dance floor cool. Maddox had found a spot outside and out of sight. He hadn’t moved since.

Occasionally, a partygoer would slip out for a moment, disturbing his space. Otherwise, he had the spot to himself. It was best for everyone. He wasn’t good company. As the night grew late, the crowd thinned until barely a dozen people remained inside the ballroom. Maddox had an unhindered view of Hawke and Jamie. No matter how hard he tried, which wasn’t very hard, he couldn’t look away from the pair. Jamie had changed so much. The man was damn near unrecognizable. He’d gained an extensive amount of ink since the last time Maddox had seen him and his hair was longer. The biggest transformation was his smile. The man hadn’t stopped all night, leading back to his original thought—he was a showman now. If ever a moment passed when Hawke looked bored, Jamie fired to life. With everyone watching and Hawke backed against a nearby wall, Jamie pretended to strip. He did a damn good impression.

The expression Hawke wore as Jaime shook his ass and gyrated against him was priceless. Hawke was ridiculously in love. It was right there for everyone to see. Maddox reached up, rubbing the spot in the center of his chest that ached at the thought. His pain didn’t matter. He wanted this for Hawke.

*

Benton had moved beyond the ability to taste the amber liquid filling his glass long ago. That tiny detail didn’t stop him from lifting it to his lips. For some reason, one he couldn’t explain, he was fascinated by the sight of Maddox skulking in the shadows. Of course, he too was doing a bit of lurking, but at least he was sitting down like a civilized stalker. He’d spent his entire night dodging Sophie while cursing himself for missing his chance to spend time with Sophie. The previous night had been a reality check. She was with Joss—not him.

As Benton looked on, Maddox rubbed the center of his chest. Benton followed the line of his gaze to Hawke and Jamie. The pair was a tad enthralling. Benton bit back a chuckle as Jamie urged Hawke’s arms over his head and held them against the wall. His hips moved in time with the music as if waiting for someone to shove a few bills down his pants. The man was insane. Benton had to respect that.

How the pair didn’t feel all the eyes upon them, Benton couldn’t explain. They were standing close enough Benton could make out every letter of Jamie’s name spelled out in permanent ink across the inside of Hawke’s forearm. Knowing Jamie, as he did, the man couldn’t care less who was watching them. He didn’t relent until Hawke was laughing so hard no sound emerged. Benton went back to watching Maddox. There was something about the entire situation niggling at that back of his mind. Something slightly off. Maddox was so focused on the pair he’d yet to notice Benton, leaving him free to puzzle it out.

This man had cheated on Hawke, throwing everything away. By all accounts, he should’ve let this go a long time ago. He’d broken things off and moved another man in. His expression said none of those things. Benton glanced around, Hawke and Jamie were still dancing. Sophie and Joss were in the corner having an up-close discussion. How had Joss came to be with Sophie over the last few months? None of it made any sense. If Maddox had put Hawke out and moved Joss in, why would Maddox watch Hawke instead of Joss? Benton’s gaze returned to Maddox. Maddox smiled at the sight of Hawke’s laughter and Benton knew. It was exactly like someone ripped back the curtain, revealing the real story.

“Oh my god.”

Maddox visibly startled at Benton’s cry. He couldn’t stop. The truth slammed into him with such power Benton couldn’t contain it. It brought him to his feet. Maddox lifted his glass to his lips, taking a sip. Benton wondered if the man was attempting to hide his emotions before focusing on him.

“Didn’t see you there,” Maddox said after a moment. Benton ignored Maddox’s statement of the obvious.

“Oh my god,” Benton repeated, pointing at him. He didn’t care if he looked like a madman. “You didn’t do it.” Maddox glanced over his shoulder. His discomfort plain for anyone to see. Benton couldn’t stop. “I don’t know the hows or the whys of it, but you didn’t do it.”

Maddox’s gaze danced away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Benton laughed. Even to his ears, it sounded like an “AHA”. “Nope. I’ve got you now.”

“All right,” Maddox said sounding dry and obviously uncaring that Benton had his number. “Why are you here, by the way? I thought this was an event for friends and family. You’re neither.”

“I’m Jamie and Hawke’s plus one,” he answered, brushing off Maddox’s question so they could get back to how Benton knew his secret. In truth, hundred proof was using Benton’s lips to do some of the talking, but Benton was there too. A little. Possibly. “You didn’t cheat on Hawke.”

Maddox refused to meet his stare. He snorted. “Of course I did. Haven’t you heard all the stories?”

Benton was shaking his head before the man finished. It made the world spin, so he stopped. “No. I don’t doubt you weren’t completely innocent in all things, but you didn’t cheat.” Maddox didn’t respond. That was fine. Benton didn’t need him for this. He paced the empty space in front of Maddox, working out the details on his own. Using what he knew against the rumors going around and combining it with his own imagination. Benton became a regular Thelma, working on a mystery. “You didn’t cheat per se, but something else happened right? Something that called into question Hawke’s ability to trust you.”

He searched Maddox’s face, looking for any signs he was right. The man seemed to hold his breath. Oh yeah. He had this. Not to mention, he really needed something, anything to busy his mind other than the image of Sophie and Joss that continued plaguing him. “Joss has openly claimed chasing you, so he was probably texting you, right?” Maddox looked away again. It was a tell. He
was
on the right track. “Maybe Hawke saw some of these messages or you always acted shady every time you checked your phone. Am I close?” He didn’t wait for Maddox to answer. Benton was on a roll, feeling like one of those fake mediums who used people’s body language against them. Maddox’s every reaction fed his obsession to know. “I don’t know what happened from there, but I know I’m right.”

He chewed on his thumbnail and watched his feet as he paced. A thousand scenarios ran through his head. Benton couldn’t pick just one, so he moved on. “Hawke said he knew about Joss for six months before the two of you split up, so let me guess, you begged him to believe you weren’t instigating the messages. You thought, since he stayed, he believed you, but instead things got worse. I mean, considering your reputation, no offense,” he added in case Maddox thought he meant to bash him. Maddox shrugged. Benton took it to mean he was free to continue. “Also taking into account the rocky start to your relationship, it stands to reason Hawke would have a hard time swallowing that you weren’t giving Joss hope.” Maddox’s silence annoyed him. He knew he was dead-on, but Maddox wasn’t alleviating his curiosity. “I know it. You may as well tell me the story. Don’t let the alcohol fool you. I can go all night.”

Maddox growled but gave in. “The first time Joss wanted to meet up in the middle of the night, I thought something had happened between him and Sophie. I’m his best friend. It’s my job to be there, you know?” Benton nodded because he did know. If Hawke needed him, even in the middle of the night and in a different country, he’d be there. Maddox’s gaze was on Benton, but he didn’t think Maddox was actually seeing him. He’d gone somewhere inside his head. “Anyhow, it didn’t turn out to be that at all. There was a part of me that wanted to laugh it off, thinking maybe he’d been drinking or taken something. Hell, he’d helped me win Hawke back after I’d fucked thing up the first time. Why would he pull this? I let it go.” He finally focused on Benton for real, and Benton felt it to his bones. “I wish like hell, I’d walked away from everything except Hawke right then. No one will ever understand how much I regret not giving up Ugly Eternity. Khronos. Everything.” Maddox shook his head as if trying to dispel the knowledge. It was a terrible thing to recognize the exact moment things could’ve taken a different path and have no way to take it back. Benton would know.

“I kept hoping things would go back to normal. The harder I tried to make Hawke believe I wasn’t instigating things with Joss, the further away he got and the more I dug in my heels, determined I’d done nothing wrong so I shouldn’t have to give up anything.” Maddox cleared his throat and glanced away, focusing on something past Benton’s shoulder, he rubbed his chest again. “Every day I watched him slip away a little more. Eventually, he stopped smiling completely unless he was playing with Addison. If I tried to join in, the happiness would bleed from his eyes.” Maddox’s eyes fell closed for a moment as if he could block out the memory of the sight. “It was like slowly drowning. I was desperate to change things any way I could.”

“So you told him to leave.”

Maddox dipped his chin. “I told him to leave. He was eerily calm, telling me he wanted nothing from the apartment.” A wry smile twisted Maddox’s lips. “Since God knew what I’d been doing on his bed when he wasn’t home and he didn’t want to disrupt Addison’s life any more than we already were. I thought, fine, leave the furniture. It’ll be less we have to move back when he realizes he belongs with me. You see how that went.”

Benton couldn’t believe it. It was such a fucked up mess, he didn’t know where to start, but he knew one damn thing for certain. “Well, goddamn, Maddox. He might have come back if you hadn’t fucking moved Joss in the minute he was gone. Boy, you showed him.”

It was almost funny the change Maddox underwent at Benton’s claim. His entire demeanor transformed from broken man to outrage. “What the fuck are you talking about? I’ve barely said two words to Joss since he made his intentions clear. I show up and do my thing. I sing. He plays. We get paid. That’s it. I’m fucking through with everything that has to do with him.”

Benton’s brows drew tight, certain he was missing something important. “Wait. What?” Benton may’ve been the one asking the question, but Maddox was slashing his hand through the air as if it had been him.

“Hold on. Hawke thinks Joss moved in with me after he left? Why?”

Benton searched his mind, attempting to recall every conversation he’d shared with Hawke on the topic. “There was something about Joss’ truck always being there.”

Maddox snorted. “He was probably at Sophie’s. We are literally three apartments down from each other.”
Sophie
. Benton turned, finding her with his gaze and tuning out Maddox’s tirade. The blood pounding in his ears made it almost impossible for him to hear anyhow. “I can’t fucking believe it. No wonder Jamie hates me now. Hawke hating me is nothing new, but damn. That explains so much. Jamie accused me of fucking around on his brother, and I’d spent so much time defending myself it seemed pointless to keep trying. Goddamn, it.” Even in the face of Maddox’s fury, Benton couldn’t look away from Sophie. He knew. Deep down in his soul, Benton knew. The knife in his sternum twisted.

“Excuse me,” Benton said, interrupting Maddox’s tirade. He took one step in Sophie’s direction, honed in on her like a lion. Maddox said his name, bringing him up short. He glanced over his shoulder with his eyebrows raised.

“Don’t tell him, okay?” It took everything Benton possessed not to groan aloud. He wasn’t a secret keeper. Luckily, for Maddox, this was one topic he didn’t know how to broach with Hawke anyhow. Still, he didn’t agree. “Please? He’s happy and even if he hates me for the rest of his life, I don’t want that to change.”

In spite of his best efforts, Benton sighed. He wouldn’t say anything, but he also wouldn’t give his word on the matter. Instead, he gave Maddox a short nod before walking away.

*

He’d been avoiding her all night. Now, Benton was staring at Sophie in a way that caused the hairs on her arms to stand on end. Even though she had no idea what was going on, she had the oddest desire to run for her life before he made it across the ballroom. The deadly edge to his voice when he finally reached her side made her wish she’d gone with her gut.

“May I have a moment of your time?” Without waiting for her agreement, Benton wrapped his fingers around her forearm and steered her toward an empty spot near the bar, out of earshot from the few partygoers who were still going strong. He quickly scanned the room as if ensuring they wouldn’t be overheard before focusing on her. Sophie almost took a step back at the hatred in his eyes. “It was you.”