The Rules In Paradise (Playing By The Rules) (37 page)

             
"I am so happy you two decided to come join the party. We've been having such a good time. Pull up some chairs. I was just about to tell the story about that time we went on that wine walk remember, and got caught in the basement. It was really embarrassing, but really romantic," Vanessa said with a smile.

             
"You know him?" Charlotte asked. Vanessa smiled big at that question.

             
"They don't even know? You are literally such an underhanded, conniving bitch. You've crossed another major line. You did it once before, but I swear to god there will not be another time that this happens," I said. I was beyond pissed off.

             
"So I'm either really drunk or this is becoming some kind of soap opera shit, what's the deal?" Adrian said sounding really confused.

             
"This woman that you've been having a great time is indeed true soap opera shit. I'd like to introduce you to the woman who caused all of the drama in my life for the past year," I said.

             
"You were going to marry him?" Charlotte asked. That question knocked the smile off of Vanessa's face extremely quickly.

             
"Yes, dress and all. Three weeks before our wedding he told me that he met someone. Someone he was now in love with, and that I had to get out. He said he didn't love me anymore. Obviously I was crushed. Three weeks before my damn wedding he says he met someone. Every girl has imagined and planned her dream wedding, and I had it. Everything was going to be perfect. Then you came into his life," she looked at me with disdain. "He left, saying he'd give me time to pack my stuff. He went to see you, on our wedding day. But then, he came back. He came back, and he said he wanted to be with me, that he made a mistake. I was so in love with him that I just brushed off everything and took him back. He said he wanted to marry me, and promised he would. Then, he threw me away again."

             
"You seem to have conveniently forgotten that you had blackmailed me and my business partner. You also used your father to single-handedly try to destroy our business. The worst part is, he did it. That's why you are the way you are because he does everything for you. That's why you couldn't handle that I met someone because you knew that I really loved her. She made me realize that I never loved you. I tolerated you because you were satisfactory. Satisfactory doesn't apply anymore because I found someone who is the most amazing person I've ever known. Now, I need you to leave. I need you to stop fucking up every aspect of my life. It's been one thing for you to ruin my life, but I can't deal with you hurting innocent people. I deserve it because I hurt Olivia so bad. The only reason I don't care about what I did to you is because you don't feel the least bit guilty about what you did to me. Now please, I need you to leave. I can't take you anymore," Cole said. He stood at the door, holding it open. For the first time Vanessa looked defeated. She grabbed her bag and looked at Cole. Her face had lost her smirk, it just looked worn. She looked at me and paused. She opened her mouth to say something, but then closed it and continued walking out the door. Cole was sure to give the door an extra push so it closed loudly behind her.

             
"Holy shit. Can I get the Cliff's notes please?" Adrian said. Cole gave a short laugh.

             
"That was Vanessa, the girl I was with last year. She came here, thinking she was going to get close to me again," he said.

             
"You tore her up," Adrian said and patted Cole on the back. Charlotte was still seated, her face looked impassive.

             
"I'm sorry she used you two in hopes of doing whatever it was. I truly am," he looked at both Charlotte and Adrian.

             
"I'm just going to grab some things. I'll see you guys tomorrow morning," I said not taking my eyes off of Charlotte who looked downright pissed.

             
"I'll wait outside," Cole said, stepping out the door.

             
I grabbed my stuff, and said goodnight, getting a response only from Adrian.

             
We made the trip back to his room silently. We entered it. My body and heart felt heavy. I plopped down on the couch with a sigh. He sat next to me.

             
"What's wrong? You should be happy. I think we're done with her," he said.

             
"I know. That's the problem. She was broken."

             
"She deserved to be."

             
"I agree, but I remember what that feels like. I remember what it feels like to think that the one person you truly love had better things to do than be with you. I spent so long feeling broken over you. I feel awful that I'm the reason she's feeling that now. I never want to be a cause for that for someone else."

             
He hugged me to him and kissed my forehead.

             
"Please do not let this be another thing that comes between us. I need you so much Olivia, that every obstacle just becomes harder and harder for me to bear. I feel like everything just keeps bringing us further and further from each other, and it terrifies me. I don't know how much more you can take, and I don't know how much more you're going to put up with before you realize I'm not worth all of this."

             
"I just wish it was different," I said.

             
"How so?"

             
"Different circumstances. I wish that none of this had happened. That you and I had met when it was ok to meet. I am terrified of having to go through that again. Having to deal with a situation that can't happen."

             
"There's nothing else I'm hiding Olivia. You know everything about me. There are no more surprises, there is just us." I sat there with him for a long while. Neither of us said anything. We were both lost in our thoughts. It wasn't long before I felt my eyes get heavy, and I was out.

             
The next time I opened my eyes it was light outside. I noticed I was in a bed, and Cole was nowhere to be found. I got up quickly and was shocked to see him sitting at the table talking and laughing with Jason.

             
Cole noticed me first and smiled, Jason turned to see me.

             
"We didn't wake you did we?" Cole asked as he got up and hugged me. I shook my head against him, and just let him hold me.

             
"We were just talking about you," Jason said, pulling out the chair next to him and patting it with his hand.

             
"This doesn't seem like it's a good idea," I said, hesitantly sitting. Both men smiled at me as Cole took his seat.

             
"I need a favor," Jason said, looking straight at me.

             
"Ok?"

             
"One, nobody can know I'm here," he said and I nodded.

             
"Two, I need you to get your friends out of here. I mean, away from the condo. Go into town, go for a long walk, spend some of Cooper's money, I don't care. You just need to be gone until tonight. But I need you to get those two all dressed up. I don't know, you have to make up some girly story."

             
"Why?" I asked.

             
"You can tell her, she already knows some," Cole said to Jason.

             
"Well Kyle's on his way in, Adrian doesn't know I'm here. I've basically invited everyone that Adrian knows. She's been complaining about how stressful the wedding is going to be, and she's worried about the distance, blah blah blah. So I've flown the wedding to her. We'll get married here, party on the beach with everyone she loves, and then just sign the paperwork at home. She's just been off recently, and I know she's stressed. This should be easy and simple. She's said many times that if she didn't care so much about having people there she wanted to just elope. I just need you to get them all dressed up, meet us down at the beach about six tonight."

             
"You knew about this?" I asked Cole. He nodded.

             
"Don't be mad at him, he's doing his old friend a favor. It'll only work if you can help me," Jason said. I shrugged and agreed.

             
"Thanks, I'll see you tonight," Jason said as he ran down the hall to take a quick shower.

             
"Thank you," Cole said seriously across the table. His intense stare was back, and I was helpless under his gaze. I nodded and got up to grab my things. I had to prepare my story in order to get the girls out of the condo. Cole sat on the couch as he watched me throw my things in my bag. I pulled out the bathing suit.

             
"I guess I won't need this, so you win," I said with a smile.

             
"I didn't say you couldn't wear it. In fact I think it'll look much better worn for just me." His smile was sly.

             
"I'll see you later," I said, hesitating. I nearly bent over to kiss him, but decided against it. I had tried to keep myself physically distant from him. That was not a road I wanted to go down, yet.

             
I let myself in the door of our room. Thankfully Adrian and Charlotte were sitting in the kitchen. My fear had been that they were already at the beach or pool, and I would never get them out. I sat down next to Adrian. She gave me a bright smile.

             
"Well, that was interesting last night," she said.

             
"Ugh, don't talk about it. I don't even want to think of her," I said, putting my head down on the table.

             
"She was nice until you showed up. It seemed she didn't like you much," Adrian said, trying to hold in her laughter. I couldn't help but smile at that.

             
"So what's the latest?" Charlotte said. Her tone was odd.

             
"What do you mean?"

             
"Another night spent with the man who broke your heart," she said. I sighed. I couldn't take much more of this.

             
"I know you don't care for him since everything happened, but you don't know him. He has been trying so hard to show me how he feels. He does everything he can possibly can to make it up to me. There is not a doubt in my mind that he is sorry, and he wouldn't have done it unless he felt he had no other option. I am completely in love with him, and I have forgiven him. So please, just be my friend and trust that I know what I'm doing."

             
"You've told him this?" She asked.

             
"No, I guess I haven't. I didn't really even know it until right now. I love him Char, more than anything." I felt like crying at my revelation. I knew it, I knew how I felt about him, but I never felt like I was ready to forgive him and move on, but apparently that's exactly what I intended on doing.

             
"I'm sorry," Charlotte said. "I didn't know that's how you felt. I'm happy for you, if he's what you want." I nodded.

             
"I think we need a girl's day out," I said. It was time to move this party away from tonight's party. Adrian immediately got excited.

             
"Let's go into town. We'll get our nails done, we can all buy a dress. Let's get dressed up and go out to dinner, just the three of us," I suggested. Adrian was bouncing up and down and it was her who convinced Charlotte to go. They both went to get ready, and then we were off. Cole's Jeep was gone when we entered the parking lot, so I figured we were safe.

Chapter 30

             
We got back to the condo shortly after five. I had talked Adrian into a beautiful white flowy knee length dress. She had fought tooth and nail for a bright pink one, but I was able to convince her white was the way to go. Thankfully she got it, and was now getting ready. Charlotte had gone for a pale green dress that fell at her knees as well. It suited her skin color beautifully. While the two girls got dressed I slipped into the dress I had bought previously with Cole. I was pleased with how it fit. I decided to leave my hair down, and spent much of time making sure it was straight and behaving. I slid on a pair of black heels, and met the girls in the living room. We marveled at the others for a few minutes. I saw that it was six, and knew we had to leave. I hurried the girls out, saying I had made reservations for six.

             
I told the girls I wanted to get a picture of us on the beach before we went to dinner. When we got out past the building I saw lights, and could hear soft music.

             
"A party. Let's crash it," Adrian said jokingly. I smiled at the irony of the whole thing.

             
"Let's just go closer, see what's going on," I said, leading the the way. As we got closer my chest got tighter. My eyes were stinging, and I was fighting the tears. At the edge of the lights I recognized Jason. He was dressed in a light gray suit, with a button up shirt underneath. I could see his smile light up his face as we got closer. He looked handsome and proud, and I could hardly stand it.