Play Dirty (Make the Play #4) (9 page)

“You must have been considering it if you brought it up.”

“Maybe.”

“It could be fun.” She smiles.

“What part of it would be fun?” I’m dubious.

“Weddings are fun. They’re like a party.” She shrugs. “There’ll be dancing and music.” Her hips sway slightly as if she’s already there.

And just like that, I’m sold. The thought of Talia in my arms swaying her hips like that is enough to make me do anything. Besides, it’s the perfect opportunity. Weddings are romantic. She’ll see me in my tux. I’ll be a gentleman like I was tonight. Plus, she’ll want to comfort me because she knows my dad getting married is hard on me. So she’ll be overly sweet and affectionate. It’s the perfect way for her to finally fall for me and forget about Hayes. Added bonus that he won’t even be there.

“Fine. I’ll go,” I say, causing her head to snap up. “But only if you promise that you’ll go with me.”

“I already have.”

I stretch out my hand. “Then it’s a deal.”

“I thought handshakes were boring.” Talia raises her brows.

I chuckle. “If you wanted to kiss me again, you could’ve just asked.”

Things are spinning out of control.

When Josh and I started this plan I knew a million things could go wrong. But there was one thing I was sure of. I would have bet my life on it. And that was the fact that I would never fall for him. And I still haven’t.

But the lines have definitely gotten a little blurred around the edges.

It all started at dinner with his mom, and it only got worse when he came to my house. My family fell in love with him. And that was when my plan started unraveling. They were supposed to hate him. Who knew he was such a charmer?

However, this whole thing with the wedding has been the icing on the cake. Why had I ever offered to go? There’s no way this plan will work if Josh and I keep spending all this time together when Hayes and Ashley aren’t even around. He’s getting under my skin, and I’m losing focus.

That’s why I have to get things back on track.

Enough with the plan. It’s not working.

It’s time to take matters into my own hands.

This became apparent tonight at the Panthers’ baseball game. Hayes and Ashley hardly noticed Josh and me at all, no matter how sweet and affectionate we were. It’s clear that they’ve accepted our relationship. Maybe we’d played this whole thing wrong. Perhaps I should’ve come clean from the beginning.

I may not be able to go back in time and redo everything, but I can make things right starting now. And that’s what I’m going to do. Josh left the game already. He had to go pick up his tux. He wanted me to go with him, but I said I had something else to take care of. When I spot Hayes heading off the field alone, my pulse quickens.

It’s now or never. 

I can’t sit around anymore. I’m getting impatient. It’s time to take action. To do what I should have done a long time ago. After taking a deep breath, I hurry in Hayes’s direction.

“Hey.” I approach him, heart racing. Shaking out my quivering hands, I pull in a few deep breaths. Hayes bobs his head toward the parking lot. “I think Josh already left.”

No greeting at all. It stings that he so easily dismisses me. But I slough it off. It’s a minor setback. Once he knows everything, I’ll be back in control. “I actually came to see you.”

“Oh?” He raises his brows.

“Yeah.” I nod, filled with a surge of bravery. “I was hoping we could talk.”

His gaze darts around uncomfortably. “Just for a minute. I’m on my way to meet Ash.”

Oh, yes, we wouldn’t want to keep precious Ashley waiting
. I fight against the irritation that wells inside of me. Instead, I paste on a gracious smile. “Um…” I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. “I just wanted to say that I’m sorry about what happened with Josh at the party at the beginning of the year. I shouldn’t have kissed him that night.”

Hayes smiles. “It’s okay, Talia. I forgive you.”

“Really?” My heart skips a beat. Hayes’s smile has always been one of my favorite things about him. When he smiles at me it feels like bright sun rays kissing my face. And it makes me long for the days when he looked at me with awe. No one before and no one since has ever looked at me the way Hayes used to. Once again, I’m struck with how stupid my actions were. How much I messed everything up. And for what? Revenge? Some sick plot to hurt Ashley? It seems that it backfired. She’s now dating one of the nicest guys at our school. The irony is not lost on me. However, I haven’t lost hope that I can fix it. That I can get it all back.

“Yes, really.” He steps closer, patting my arm. It’s not exactly a passionate gesture, but it’s friendly, and that’s a start. “I mean, it all worked out anyway, right? I’m with Ashley and you’re with Josh.”

My stomach sours. He drops his arm. “So…you’re happy that I’m with Josh?” I’m dumbfounded.

He shrugs. “Normally I wouldn’t wish Josh on my worst enemy.” One side of his lip curls upward. “But he’s different with you. Seems to treat you well. You two fit well together, I think.” He pauses a minute. “I mean, you should hear the nice things he says about you. I don’t know how you did it, but you changed that guy.”  My heart plummets as he continues, “Then again, my mom always did say that all a guy needs is a good woman to turn him into a better man. And I guess it’s true. It’s worked for me. Ashley’s definitely made me better.”

I narrow my eyes. “No, Hayes. Ashley didn’t turn you into a good guy. You already were a good guy.”

He nods. “Then maybe it was the other way around. Maybe I helped make her better.”

Shaking my head, I laugh bitterly. “She’s not who you think she is.”

“She’s exactly who I think she is,” Hayes speaks firmly.

“No, she’s not,” I say. “Listen, Hayes, there’s something you don’t know about her.” He doesn’t say anything, but his head cocks to the side as if I’ve peeked his curiosity. It buoys my confidence, and I press on. “Ashley hooked up with Palmer a couple of days before he went away to college. I had just found out about it the day of the party.”

Hayes’s eyes darken. My spirits lift. “So instead of talking it out with her, you kissed Josh?”

The hope I’d felt a moment earlier dwindles. I swallow hard. “I was angry. You remember how much I cared about Palmer. I was devastated when we broke up. I loved him. She knew that.”

Hayes is quiet a minute, as if he’s mulling over what I said. I stand completely still, barely even breathing, awaiting his reaction. Finally, his voice breaks into the silence. “It doesn’t justify what you did, but I guess I understand now. Thanks for the explanation.”

It’s like he’s punched me. “That’s it?”

“What more do you want me to say, Talia?”

“You don’t even seem to care that Ashley was with Palmer,” I say, confused. He sighs, and that’s when it hits me. “You already knew,” I whisper.

He nods.

“She told you?”

“We tell each other everything,” he explains. “And she feels terrible about all of the things she’s done in the past. It’s not who she is anymore.”

This Ashley he’s describing is nothing like the girl I’ve known for years, and it makes me feel like reality is slipping through my fingers. Reeling, I step back. “I can’t believe you don’t even care that Ashley hooked up with Palmer.”

“It was in the past,” he says. “And you need to let it go too.”

“How can I?” I snap.

He steps toward me, speaking gently. “You and Palmer weren’t even together then.”

I move away from him, my eyes blurring with tears. None of this went the way I thought it would. It definitely didn’t go like it should have.

“Talia,” he says, his tone gentle as if I’m a stray cat he’s worried of startling. “Maybe you should talk to Ashley. I think you two could work things out.”

“I don’t want to work things out with Ashley. I want to work them out with you!” I scream, exasperated.

“What?” He recoils as if I’ve slapped him.

Is what I said so terrible?

“What happened to the way you used to look at me?” My lips begin to tremble, my voice wavering. “You liked me so much. I miss that.”

“Are you saying what I think you are?”

I reach for him. “We were good together.”

He yanks his arm back. “You’re upset with Ashley for hooking up with Palmer months ago when you two weren’t together, but you’re here hitting on me while you’re going out with Josh and I’m with Ashley?”

I avert my gaze from him, unable to bear the look of disgust painted on his face.

“Talia, I don’t know what this is about. Maybe this whole thing is just because you still want to get back at Ashley, but you need to figure it out. You’re not the same person you used to be.” He slides around me. “Go find Josh. I really think he cares about you. Let him in. Forget this vendetta against Ashley and live your life.” His hand lands on my shoulder momentarily. “I won’t tell Josh this happened, okay?”

I force a nod, and then his hand is off my shoulder and he’s walking away.

***

“The plan is over,” I tell Josh.

“What do you mean?”

“I messed up,” I say, but I don’t know if I did. Maybe it’s for the best that I finally revealed the secret I’d been carrying. Ever since I told Hayes, I’ve felt lighter. Besides, he was right. My vendetta against Ashley isn’t healthy. And now that I’ve talked to Hayes, I can’t be sure if I really wanted him back for me or if it had to do with Ashley all along. And now I just want to forget the whole thing. To move on with my life, like Hayes told me too.

Josh’s eyes narrow. “What did you do?”

So I tell him. I share the entire conversation I had with Hayes.

When I finish, he stares at me in disbelief. “But that wasn’t the plan,” he says, stating the obvious. “Why would you do that without talking to me first?”

“Because it wasn’t about you, Josh. It was about me, and what I needed to do.”

He nods slowly. “Okay, but that doesn’t mean we have to abandon the plan completely.” I can see the wheels in his head turning.

Before he can spout off some new tactic, I cut him off, “I don’t even think I want Hayes back anymore. I’m done, okay?” Whirling around, I attempt to leave.

But Josh’s hand stops me. His fingers circle around my wrist tightly. “Wait,” he says. “You’re still coming to the wedding with me, right?”

I peer over my shoulder at him and shake my head. “I can’t.”

“But you’re the one who convinced me to go,” he says.

“You’ll be fine without me.”

“I didn’t even want to go, and now I have to alone?” He grunts in frustration. “Are you freakin’ kidding me?”

I turn to him. “Josh, I really am sorry.”

He moves closer to me, his hands gently resting on my waist. “Please, Talia. Just come with me to the wedding like we planned.”

“I’m sure you can find someone else to take.”

“The wedding’s this weekend. Who will I find on such short notice?”

I shrug, acutely aware of the fact that his hands are still on my waist. “I don’t know. Why don’t you call up one of the girls in your little black book? Surely you have one.”

“Very funny,” he says dryly.

I smile. “I’m sure you’ll work it out.”

His grip tightens on me. “I don’t want to go with anyone else. I want to go with you.”

“Josh, the jig is up,” I say, wondering what he’s not understanding. Wriggling, I slip out of his grip. “I came on to Hayes. He’s going to figure out that this is a farce. There’s no reason to keep this up.”

“Damn it, Talia, will you stop? Listen to what I’m saying,” he snaps, and I freeze at the intensity in his voice. “I’m not asking you to play this game anymore. I’m asking you to come to my dad’s wedding because I can’t do this alone. And I don’t just want anyone there with me. I want you.” His face nears mine. When he lowers it, his nose gently nuzzles my cheek. “I need
you
.”

“No, you don’t.” I draw back from him.

“I do,” he says. “Talia, it hasn’t been about the plan for awhile. I don’t want Ashley back. I haven’t for weeks. I want to be with you.”

It’s too much. First Hayes blows me off, and now Josh wants to be with me? It’s like I’ve entered some alternate universe. A part of me wants to believe Josh. To throw my arms around his neck and let him hold me. But I can’t do that. How could I be sure I really want to be with him and I’m not doing this because I’m mad about losing Hayes? And how do I know his intentions are pure?

“You don’t want me, Josh. You’re just upset that Ashley didn’t come running back to you.” I sigh. “Face it. Our plan didn’t work. Let’s just cut our losses, okay?” Exhausted, I step away from him. “I’m sorry, Josh, but I can’t do this anymore.”

“You look so handsome.” Mom comes up behind me, placing a hand on my shoulder. “I can’t remember the last time I saw you in a tux.”

“Me either,” I respond, taking in my reflection, a frown painting my face. “You know, I don’t have to go if you don’t want me to.” A huge part of me hopes she’ll tell me to stay home.

But she doesn’t. “No way.” She shakes her head firmly. “You’re doing the right thing by going to the wedding.”

Turning, I take in Mom’s sweatpants and messy t-shirt, and my heart pinches. I think of Dad at the church with his other groomsmen. It’s where I’m supposed to be. But I decided to get ready at home. I don’t want to spend any more time with Chris than I have to. It’s the same reason I skipped out on the rehearsal dinner last night too. Wedding rehearsals are dumb anyway. I mean, how stupid do you have to be to not know what to do?

I might have gone if Talia had agreed to go with me, but she hasn’t even returned my calls since the day I poured my heart out to her. Just my luck that I would have to fall for the one girl who doesn’t want to be with me. She’s the only reason I agreed to go to this wedding, and now I’m stuck with that decision.

“What’s wrong?” Mom asks, her eyes crinkling in concern.

“I don’t think Talia’s coming today,” I blurt out.

Smiling, she nods. “I’ve been around Talia enough to know that she cares about you. I’m sure she’ll do the right thing.”

Normally my mom is good at reading people. Clearly, not this time. But I don’t feel like getting into it right now. This day is already going to suck enough. The last thing I need is to start it off by arguing with Mom about Talia.

Besides, Mom doesn’t know the whole story. She thinks Talia’s my doting girlfriend. She has no idea that was an act, and that what Talia really wanted was Hayes all along. I still can’t believe she went and talked to him behind my back. In the past couple of weeks, I felt like we were getting closer. Hell, she’d come to my house for dinner, and I’d gone to hers. I guess I thought that meant something. Obviously, I was wrong.

“You better get going,” Mom says, glancing at the alarm clock on my nightstand. “It takes a good fifteen minutes to get to the rose garden from here.”

I almost laugh at that. Fifteen minutes isn’t very long, but in Prairie Creek you can make it almost anywhere in five minutes or less, so that’s become the norm for us.

There are two places in Prairie Creek where weddings are usually held. One is Prairie Creek Christian Church, and that’s thought of as the more traditional venue. The other is the rose garden. It’s no surprise that this is the location Olivia and my dad chose. Their relationship is far from traditional.

Everyone thinks my dad fell for Olivia again after he and my mom split up. They think it’s romantic the way they found each other after years of being apart. But I know better, and trust me, it’s not romantic.

I’ll never forget when Olivia and Chris moved to Prairie Creek, because that was the real day my family was destroyed. Sure, my dad stuck around for awhile longer, but only in body. His heart resided across town in Olivia’s home. I could see it in his eyes every time we passed her shop or went near her street. And don’t even get me started on how he behaved if we actually saw her. He looked at her in a way I’d never seen him look at Mom. I may have only been a child, but I could see the writing on the wall.

Mom could see it too, I could tell. Many times I overheard her talking about Olivia on the phone with her friends. I knew she was the one who lead the smear campaign against Olivia, but it didn’t make me think any less of her. Instead, it taught me the importance of protecting what belonged to you. And I hoped that Mom and her friends would be successful in running Olivia out of town.

Only they weren’t.

Olivia stayed, and I knew it was only a matter of time before her presence took away what mattered most to me – my family. I knew that eventually she would end up hurting my mom. And I was right.

That’s the reason I’ve always hated Chris. I couldn’t take out my anger and resentment on Olivia, but I could on Chris. And I did. At every opportunity.

And now I have to go stand next to him during the wedding. I have to smile next to him while we have our picture taken, as if we’re happy to be instant brothers. Anger thrashing in my veins, I slam my hand down on my dresser. Mom flinches by my side.

“Josh!” She snaps. “Don’t do that.” Reaching out she gingerly picks up my hand. “You might hurt yourself.”

A bitter chuckle leaps from my throat. That’s so typical of her. Always worrying about me. Even after Dad walked out on her straight into the arms of another woman, it was me she was worried about. I don’t want her to worry about me anymore. It isn’t fair to her.

Drawing in a deep breath, I regain composure. “You really want me to go?”

“I really do,” she says firmly.

“Then it looks like I’m going.” After pushing off the dresser, I pull her into a swift hug. “Sorry about my outburst,” I murmur. Then I snatch my keys off the dresser and move around her. “Wish me luck,” I call over my shoulder as I make my way down the hallway.

“Luck,” she responds, causing my lips to lift a little at the corners.

It’s been the same response since I was a kid. The familiarity of it comforts me, and I’m grateful for it on a day like today.

The streets in Prairie Creek are busiest on Saturdays. During the week everyone is at school or work, so the roads are quiet and empty. But on Saturdays everyone is out getting coffee, shopping, going to the movies or grabbing a bite to eat. I pass through the center of town and catch the groups of kids playing at the park and heading into the movie theatre. When I spot Olivia’s antique shop, my stomach twists. It seems like just yesterday I was cleaning up the graffiti I’d painted on the side.

When I was a kid, a group of us threw rocks through the windows. They never figured out it was us, thank god. If they had, I would’ve been in a lot of trouble. As a child, when we’d take trips into town, I’d always notice my dad glancing over there, trying to catch a glimpse of Olivia. I’d even caught him slipping inside the shop on more than one occasion.

And now, here I am, driving to his stupid wedding.

My heart aches the closer I get to the rose garden. Nearing the windy road leading up to the parking lot, my apprehension grows, and I ease up on the gas. My car almost stops. I almost turn around. Then I remember my mom’s words. She wants me to go. If I head home now, it’ll only worry her. She’ll worry that I’ve made the wrong decision; that I’ll regret it. She may be right, but that’s not why I lower my foot back on the gas. It’s because I don’t want to disappoint her. I’m doing this for Mom, not Dad. Somehow that knowledge makes me feel better about the whole thing.

I know the minute I hit the parking lot because my car bounces over the gravel, rattling my body. There aren’t many cars in the lot yet, so I easily slide in next to one. Stepping out of the car, I glance up at the small building in front of the lot. I know that’s where the bride and groom get ready.

I’ve been to enough weddings here to know my way around. Beyond the building I’m walking towards is the field where the ceremony will take place, and on the other side of that is the area where we will most likely have the reception. Thinking over the events of the day make my insides knot. Man, this isn’t going to be quick, is it? Usually when I attend a wedding, I’m in and out. I sit through the boring ceremony, eat a few appetizers, and then I jam. Today I don’t think I’ll get off so easily.

As I approach the building, I spot Emmy and Chris standing off to the side chatting. She’s wearing an unflattering bridesmaid’s dress, her hair pulled up in a bun, but she looks pretty. Emmy may not be as good looking as Talia, but she’s attractive. I’ve always thought so. If not, I never would’ve dated her. However, her looks weren’t the main thing that drew me. Most of the guys think I went out with her because she’s Cal’s sister. And I do think that was part of it. Deep down, I did always hope Cal and I would be friends. He practically ran the baseball team last year. Having him as an enemy made things difficult. If he’d been an ally things would’ve gone more smoothly for me. But I should’ve known we’d never be friends. He was too loyal to Chris.

But Cal wasn’t the main reason I asked Emmy out. Mostly I did it because she was a challenge, and challenges entice me.

Ducking my head, I hurry toward the front door hoping to bypass Chris and Emmy. They do seem to be deep in conversation.

“Look who finally decided to show up,” Chris’s voice stops me.

Inwardly groaning, I lift my head and turn to him. “Oh, what? Were you missing me?” I speak to him as if he’s a baby….or a tiny puppy.

“Not even a little bit,” Chris mumbles.

Perturbed, I shrug. “Well, I can leave right now. Would that make you happy?”

“Actually, that would, yeah.” Chris’s lips curve upward a tad, his head nodding slowly.

“Fine.” I throw up my arms. “It’s not like I want to be here anyway.” Honestly, I’d give anything to get in my car and drive as far from this place as possible.

“Okay, okay.” Emmy steps between us. “C’mon, you guys.” She carefully looks from me to Chris, her eyes narrowing. “It’s your parents’ wedding. You two need to figure out a way to get along…at least just for a few hours.”

Chris sighs, bobbing his head up and down in agreement. Then he glances over at me. “Emmy’s right.”
Man, he is so whipped.
“Besides, I know my mom really wants us to get along.”

That was the wrong thing to say to me. “Well, I don’t give a damn what your mom wants.”

Chris’s eyes flash, and he steps toward me. “Watch it.”

And there’s the Chris we all know and love.
I have to fight back the chuckle that sits in my throat. Pushing his buttons is way too easy. Too bad he’s not a video game. “Or you’ll what? Punch me in the face again?”

“Try me.” Chris’s hands fist at his sides.

“Oh, yeah. Go for it. I’m sure your mom will be really proud,” I goad him, and the fight withers in his eyes.

Shaking his head, he steps back. “Yeah, you’d like that, wouldn’t you? If I ruined the wedding?”

My shoulders rise and fall. “Not gonna lie. It wouldn’t be the worst thing.”

Chris glares at me. “Why are you even here, Josh?”

I’m irritated with the question. It’s not like Chris has been all for this relationship either. “Same reason you are.”

His brows raise. “To support my mom?”

“Hell, no,” I say. “I’m here because
my
mom told me I should come. Told me I’d regret it if I didn’t.” It’s not the entire reason, but it’s a big chunk of it. Still, I have no idea why I admitted it to Chris. Perhaps it’s because I know he’ll understand. I can’t stand the guy, but I do respect his need to protect his mom. That’s something I get.

My answer seems to have shut him up. It’s the first time since I’ve arrived that he doesn’t have a comeback. Instead, he just stares at me wearing a perplexed expression. Opening my mouth, I’m about to ask him where everyone else is when I spot Talia walking up.  My mouth goes slack at the sight of her. Not only am I stunned that she showed up, but she also looks so gorgeous that I find it hard to breathe.

In a stupor, I maneuver around Chris and Emmy and hurry toward Talia. I want to grab her and pull her close, but I don’t. I stop directly in front her, my gaze catching hers. “You came,” I state.

She shrugs. “I made you a promise.”

It’s not the answer I was hoping for, but I keep my mouth shut. The last thing I want to do is piss her off.

“I shouldn’t have threatened to back out. No matter what happened with the plan, I told you I’d come today, so here I am.” She sweeps her arms out, and I get a good look at her body-hugging dress. If only I could be that dress I’d never ask for anything else again.

“Thanks.” It’s all I can come up with. I can tell she thinks she’s being nice, doing the right thing. Only that’s not what I want. I don’t want to be an obligation for her to check off her list; her good deed for the day. I spilled my guts to her yesterday. She has to know I want more from her than that.

“Josh.” My dad comes rushing up. “Good. You’re here. I need you and Chris to come inside now.”

I nod at Dad and then glance back at Talia. “I’m sorry.”

“No.” She waves me away. “Go. Do what you need to.” Her gaze flickers over to Emmy and I notice the slight frowning of her lips. They aren’t friends, and by the way Emmy’s pursing her lips, I doubt either of them wants to be. I can only imagine how this conversation will go.

“You sure?” I lift my brows, that overprotective side that normally only comes out for my mom rearing its head. It throws me a little.

“Yeah.” She shakes her head. “I’m a big girl, Josh. I’ll be fine.” Her brows furrow as if my behavior is baffling. And I guess it kind of is.

“Josh,” Dad repeats my name impatiently, and annoyance bubbles.

“I heard you the first time,” I snap.

“Smooth,” Chris mutters as he walks past.

“Screw you,” I say. Then I step around Talia. “I’ll see you in a bit.”

“Good luck.” She throws me a wary look. “Looks like you’ll need it.”