Sweet Alibi (25 page)

“Well, I don't know if there is a wrong way to take it. You sort of did the worst thing to him imaginable,” Drew gently reminded me that I’d cheated on the man that had just announced that we were getting married.

I frowned but remained silent, working over her words in my mind. “Where do you think Tristan went?” I finally asked.

“I don't know, but you should probably talk to him. He didn't look good when he left.”

“I will. I feel terrible, Drew.” A pit of despair settled over me. “I don't think I can give the ring back, not yet, not this weekend,” I mumbled.

“I know, Georgia.”

“I can't live without Kyle.”

“I know it seems that way, but
―
”

“I can't, Drew. I know that. It's not possible.” I looked at her with determination in my eyes.

“Honey, if you can’t live without Kyle, then you have to give up Tristan.”

I swallowed the painful lump in my throat and nodded. I wished desperately that I could keep them both, but I knew with every fiber of my being that there was never anyone else for me but Kyle. He'd been my everything since I could remember. I’d started living again when Kyle came into my life and I feared I’d stop if he ever left.

Twenty-Four

Tristan

Georgia had made her choice.
 

Georgia had made her fucking choice alright, and it wasn’t me.
 

I stomped down the steps of the beach house, barely refraining from kicking at the railing as I went. I hit the driveway and aimed for the old sandy road that led in here. I’d fucking walk to the boat if I had to, I had to escape them. I’d put myself through god damn torture being in the house with them the last few days, but I’d wanted to stay, to show Georgia I wouldn’t leave, to prove to her that I was in for the fight. I wouldn’t give up until she told me, and last night, we’d been so close. I’d touched the heart of her, I could feel it.
 

I’d touched the live wire that was raw and uninhibited, buried deep inside her heart that she failed to show anyone. I’d touched it, felt it, held it in my arms all night and woken up with it this morning, but just like she always did, Georgia had turned her back and like that she was gone.
 

Out of sight, out of mind is apparently what we were, and I didn’t think I could bare it anymore.
 

She’d fucking promised me she’d choose. And for a minute, just a fraction of a fucking second, I’d thought she would choose me.
 

My stomach rolled with pain as I treaded on the sand, suddenly feeling like I could use a run. Pound away the pain clinching my heart.
 

I picked up speed and rounded the twisting road until more beach houses dotted the lane as I approached town.
 

“Need a ride?” A voice called from an idling car before I’d even realized one was upon me.
 

I caught a glimpse of blonde out of the corner of my eye and inwardly groaned. “Nah, I’m good thanks.”
 

I continued jogging as the red car coasted beside me. “Sure? We could grab something to eat? Go back to your boat?”
 

Fuck, I’d forgotten I’d told Briana I had a boat. It was usually one of those lines I used to pull a girl in, but just like every thing else this summer it was one more decision I regretted making.
 

“Pretty busy actually. Thanks for the offer though.” I waved then turned a sharp left down an alleyway that I knew would come out near the marina.
 

Fuck that girl. Fuck all of them.
 

Fuck Georgia and Kyle and every dark-haired girl with brown eyes that cracked my fucking heart in two.
 

I couldn’t stand to look at the female form right now, the thought of the gentle lapping waves and quite solitude of my boat the only thing keeping me going. Maybe a dog. Dogs were way more loyal than women.
 

I finally hit the dock and slowed to a walk, fishing the keys out of my cargo shorts and picking my way through the boats until I reached mine. I climbed on board, not at all concerned with sailing, just desperate for the escape when I plopped onto the bench Georgia had perched on while I’d manned the wheel on our first excursion.
 

I sighed, leaning back against the pillows and tossing my forearm over my eyes, blocking out the bright rays of the sun and the dark memories.
 

Georgia had imprinted on me. She was everywhere, I couldn’t get away from her no matter how hard I tried. And the real son of a bitch of it was, I didn’t even want to. I was a god damn masochist for her.

I grunted when I remembered I had the fucking party tonight. Flipping the top off a beer, I took long draws form the bottle, relishing the bitter taste on my tongue just like the bitter bite Georgia had left on my heart.
 

Damn her.
 

Damn me for falling for the one girl I couldn’t have.
 

Damn
him
for being three-hundred miles away and a thousand miles out of her league.
 

I chugged the rest of the beer, tossing the empty bottle into the garbage can before cracking another. Resting back against the pillows I turned my face to the sky, sun kissing my skin, reminding me of the warmth that burst through my system with Georgia’s touch.
 

I shook my head and took a few more long pulls from my beer before a flash of white caught my eye. Dark, chocolatey waves fell down her back, a narrow waist and creamy thighs I would sacrifice a limb to get lost in.
 

Could Georgia possibly have come after me? Left that arrogant fuckwad and come to tell me she was mine forever?

I narrowed my eyes just as the brunette turned, my paper-thin hopes dashed to find a stranger’s face returning my stare. Her eyes held mine for an extra long instant, causing irritation to form in my stomach before a thought occurred to me.
 

I had to go to that god damn party.
 

What better way to show how unaffected I was by bringing a certain dark-haired date?

I chugged the rest of my beer, then gave a friendly wave before standing and making my way off the deck and down the dock, rejection forming a solid mass of anger-fueled revenge in my stomach. It was time to make the best of a bad situation. Georgia and Kyle be damned.

Twenty-Five

Georgia

PEOPLE WERE ARRIVING for the party that Tristan had planned, and Tristan still wasn't here. He hadn’t returned since leaving the house this morning, so I still hadn’t had a chance to talk to him. Part of me was angry he hadn’t returned, hadn’t given me a chance to explain. But did I deserve one? Did he owe me one? Things were confusing and complicated, so much pain wrapped into history
―
it colored my past and my present, and I still hadn’t found a way to stop it from poisoning my future.

Drew was manning the stereo off the deck as people mingled. The sand was lit with the golden glow of tiki torches, and Drew had hired a bartender who’d set up a makeshift station on the beach. The day had been humid and windy so Drew and I were dressed in lightweight summer dresses. Mine was purchased in town this week for Kyle, he always loved when I wore white. The dress was relaxed and flirty and blew around my thighs in the wind, the next best thing to wearing nothing on a humid July night.

Knowing I was stressed, Kyle and Drew were trying to wrangle me. Silas had invited a few friends, and Drew and I had been shopping with some of the girls, but other than that, I’d never met most of these people. I recognized one of the girls Tristan had been making out with that night in the kitchen and rolled my eyes. He would invite one of the slut parade. I wondered if he'd show at all. Guilt stabbed my chest that perhaps I’d hurt him so deeply that he wouldn't even show to his own party.

Drew recognized my pain and handed me a margarita. Silas stepped up and complained about the music when the golden-haired god of my dreams, or my nightmares, I hadn't yet decided, walked around the edge of the deck with a girl on his arm. A new girl. A dark-haired girl, with full curls down the middle of her back, a tight white dress, and deep, brown eyes.

Silas finally realized I wasn’t paying attention when he turned and found Tristan. “Georgia,” he breathed. “She looks
―
”

“Like me,” I whispered. Except she was taller, much taller. Nearly as tall as him, whereas I barely passed his shoulders. I felt a stabbing pain in my heart when I saw his arm locked around her tiny waist.

“I need another.” I passed my drink to Drew.

“Georgia, you’re engaged, remember that,” she said as she took my drink from me.

“I didn’t say yes,” I mumbled.

“You’re still wearing the ring, love.” Silas lifted my hand, the large diamond glinting in the yellow light. I gritted my teeth together and snatched my hand from him. Tristan passed the girl a drink from the bar and then took a Heineken for himself without making eye contact with me. His smile was easy, his eyes twinkling. He looked sexy. Heartbreakingly sexy.

The two of them walked closer and Tristan’s eyes dragged across the crowd before his gaze swung around and crashed into me. His stormy green eyes seared a pathway straight to my aching heart before he dipped his head in acknowledgement and turned away. I blinked, unsure how to react, and quickly turned away, rushing through the French doors to chase down Drew and my drink.

Silas followed behind me. “You gonna be okay tonight, love?”

“Perfect, Silas. Even more after another drink.” Drew passed me a fresh margarita and I took a gulp.

“Hey, Tristan.” Drew glanced over my shoulder with a smile.

He stopped at my side. “Thanks for letting us have the party, Georgia.” He took another swig of his beer.

“No problem.” I looked to Drew and Silas, desperate to escape Tristan and his heartbreakingly easygoing demeanor. He’d been upset when he left this morning, but easygoing Tristan was unsettling. What, or who, had he done to get him over his anger so easily? My stomach lurched at the thought. I think I had my answer in the leggy brunette, sipping a cocktail on my deck.

“Anyone seen Kyle?” I asked.

“He and Gavin went to get more ice. They’re hauling it to the back now,” Drew answered.

“I’m going to see if they need anything.” I registered a frown splashed across Tristan's features  before I turned and shot out the French doors.

Drew had set up a small dance floor on the patio that extended out to the beach. Kyle and I danced and drank more margaritas. After the fifth, I’d lost count, but I’d slowly been able to forget about Tristan and the slut parade he was bumping and grinding with on the porch and patio, in the house, really anywhere he could get his hands on them. It was mostly just the girl in the white dress
―
the girl I imagined he'd been with earlier. He'd probably taken her to his boat and fucked her on the deck. Wouldn't that have been romantic? He'd said the rolling waves were good for more than just sleeping. I wanted to believe the things he said to her didn't matter like they did to me
―
that I was different, but then I’d shake myself out of my liquor-induced haze and Kyle's happy smile would snap me back into the moment.

I smiled up at him and curled my hands around his neck, playing with the hair at his nape. He grinned as his lips met mine as our bodies danced a little too slowly for the music Drew was playing. I treasured being in Kyle's arms because I knew he had to leave tomorrow. I didn’t know what I would do then, where that would leave me, but I wanted this night to be ours. I only wanted to focus on the boy who’d captured my heart when I was twelve.

I pressed my damp body into his and he smoothed his palms low on my back, clasping them at the top of my ass. I stood on tiptoes and tasted along the line of his neck with my tongue. His sweat-dampened skin was salty, his cologne invading my nostrils caused me to sigh contentedly.

“Missed you so much, Georgia,” he muttered as I trailed from his neck to his ear.

“I missed you too.” I ground my hips into his, feeling the erection straining his shorts. He slid his hands up my torso and over my ribcage, his thumbs resting on the outside of my breasts.

“I can’t wait for you to come home,” he whispered as he pressed my body into his and moved his hips seductively. My breathing hitched for a moment when he said the word home. I no longer thought of our apartment as home; I thought of the beach house as my home.

“Maybe we could spend summers here,” I hummed through my margarita fog.

“I can't, baby, I’d love to, but all the hours at the firm…” he trailed off as he nibbled on my earlobe. Suddenly I found myself needing another drink.

“I’m going to get another margarita, you want anything?”

“A beer would be good, but I’ll come with you.” He started to escort me from the makeshift dance floor to the stairs.

“No, that’s okay. Stay here. I’ll just be a minute.”

“Okay, don't be long, Mrs. Collins.” I forced a smile before he swatted me on the ass as I turned and made my way up the stairs.

I stepped into a surprisingly empty house. Drew had smartly kept the lights dim to discourage partygoers from wandering in. I pulled the pitcher of margaritas from the freezer and poured more into my glass before opening a beer for Kyle. I pressed the beer to my forehead to relieve some of the heat dampening my skin.