Love and Music (Small Town Secrets Book 3), page 18
My heart sunk as if it were a semi trying to drive across a lake.
Tyler had lied to me, and this was iron-clad evidence. Suddenly, I felt betrayed. Dirty. Angry. And not just with Tyler. With Tamara, too, even though she maybe didn’t deserve it.
Then I felt guilty. Did I have any right to be mad at her, a woman who only wanted vindication and validation? Honestly, though, she didn’t need to be so nasty and gleeful about it. Shocked, I handed the papers back to Tamara as if they were a hot pan from the oven.
I had no words for her.
“Now do you believe me?”
The music coming from the gym swelled, growing louder and clearer, and I realized someone had opened the door to the lobby. It wasn’t until I heard my name that I knew it was Lisa. I turned around and saw my best friend crying.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t want to talk here.”
My friend needed me—which meant Tamara’s drama, true or not, had to end here, at least for now. “I need to go.” She nodded, a nasty little smirk on her face that I had a hard time reading, but I started to believe she felt a huge sense of satisfaction. I wasn’t going to let her know she’d gotten under my skin, instead wrapping an arm around Lisa’s shoulders, leading her through the gym toward the outside door where we could have privacy.
As we walked outside, away from the stifling heat, noisy pop music that I liked even less today than I had ten years ago, and flashy lights, I looked around. Not too far from the entrance we’d just walked through was a van with open doors. It had to belong to Madversary, and I got confirmation when I saw Tyler and his bandmates loading equipment inside the back. Had I not been conflicted about the man, I might have been impressed that I didn’t see any roadies helping them out. But, as it was, I needed time to process all the shit Tamara had hit me with. I turned my eyes away and headed toward Lisa’s car, feeling sincere gratitude that it was way over on the opposite side of the parking lot.
But, try as I might to be there for my friend, my silence disguised the fact that I was trying like hell to wrap my mind around all the shit Tamara had just dumped on me.
Chapter Twenty-two
Lisa and I half-sat on the bumper of her car. My arm was still over her shoulders, trying to comfort her. “So tell me what happened.”
She wiped at her cheeks, attempting once more to subdue her sobs. “Randy Butler is a fucking asshole.”
“Yeah, I got that. But tell me why. What did he do?”
This wasn’t the first time I’d had to console Lisa over a man. She was a sweet, loving, giving woman, but sometimes she picked the biggest losers.
Not that I had any room to talk.
Lisa started sobbing again, so I just let her cry, knowing she’d find the ability to speak after a while. A couple of minutes later, she sat up straight and took a deep breath. Once she had herself under control, she sniffed and then started talking, her voice low. “He’s married.”
I swallowed, trying to make sure I heard her right. “Wait. What? Randy’s married?”
“Yeah. But that’s not even the worst of it. His whole family is here in fucking Winchester!”
“What?”
“Unbelievable bullshit, right? He brought his family—his wife and two kids—but he came to the Friday night mixer by himself. When we talked, he couldn’t resist me.” Even in the semi-darkness, I could see my friend roll her eyes. “But then he realized he couldn’t continue the charade and knew he had to come clean with me tonight, because his wife and kids are going to attend the Sunday breakfast.”
“What an asshole.”
“Yeah. No shit. He was giving me a big old sob story about how there was no love in his marriage and they never had sex anymore.” She took a deep breath and swiped at her cheeks again. “This isn’t my first time around the block. I’m not fucking stupid.”
“I know, honey.” I squeezed her shoulder. We weren’t going to relive the poor girl’s past, but my sweet, vulnerable friend had accidentally slept with married men before. If they weren’t wearing a wedding ring, it wasn’t her fault, but it broke her heart—and it didn’t help that her mantra was becoming the good ones are already married.
And I also wasn’t going to tell her that it was probably also bullshit that they supposedly weren’t having sex anymore. I wouldn’t be surprised if everything Randy had told her was a huge lie.
“So what did you do when he told you?”
“I slapped him. That was the least I could do.” I nodded, wishing I’d been able to see it. “And then I straightened my shoulders and came to find you before I turned into fucking Niagara Falls!” No way was I going to tell her about how I’d learned that Tyler was cheating on me back in the day.
Well, allegedly. I hadn’t given him a chance to defend himself yet.
“God, I’m so fucking stupid.”
“No, you’re not, Leese. You want to believe the best about people. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. It’s not your fault that these predators sniff out your trusting nature.”
“I can’t read people, Meg. You know that. And it gets me into trouble all the time.” She sniffed again.
Sometimes she was naïve when it came to love—but she wasn’t like that with everything and everyone. At some point down the road, we’d find time for that conversation. For now, though, I needed to try to console my friend as best I could.
“You can’t blame yourself for the fact that he’s a cheating, lying asshole. He wasn’t wearing a wedding ring and he—” I interrupted myself. “He wasn’t, was he?”
“What?”
“Wearing a ring?”
“No, of course not.”
“Then you did your due diligence. It’s not like you can look at the contacts on his phone or steal his wallet and rifle through everything. Sometimes we have to trust people. And he betrayed that trust. You can’t blame yourself.”
“Thanks, Meg. You always make me feel better.”
“Good.” Squeezing her shoulder, I tried my damnedest to ignore the Madversary guys moving in and out of the building.
“So what’s going on with you? What were you and Tamara talking about?”
Oh…she shouldn’t have opened that door, because I couldn’t help but run through it. Drawing in a deep breath, I looked over at her. “Let’s just say you’re not the only one dealing with a cheater.”
“What? Are you talking about Tyler?”
My eyebrows jumped and I whispered. “The band’s right over there.”
“Oh, sorry.”
“But, yes, I am. Tamara said he was cheating on me with her back in high school.”
“You don’t believe anything that skank says, do you?”
I focused on a streetlight halfway down the block, avoiding Lisa’s eyes. “Ordinarily, I wouldn’t. But she had paperwork to prove it.”
“Are you kidding?” Fortunately, focusing on my problem helped Lisa get her mind off her own, and her tears were no longer an issue. When she sat up more, her butt was barely on the bumper anymore. “What kind of paperwork?”
“She had a baby—and Tyler’s the father. The paper said so.”
Lisa got up and stood right in front of me so I couldn’t avoid looking at her. “What paper, Meg?”
“It was a…a paternity test. It said they were 99.99 percent certain Tyler was the father of Tyson, Tamara’s son.”
“That’s bizarre. When did she supposedly have this baby?”
“A few months after graduation. Six, maybe? That confirms he was definitely fucking around on me.”
My friend let out a long sigh. “Motherfucker. They’re all cheaters, Meg.”
“I’m beginning to think so.” Standing, I shook my head. “What do you say we get the hell out of here?”
“Yeah, let’s.”
* * *
After spending half an hour looking through Hulu, Netflix, and several movie channels, we finally chose the film He’s Just Not That into You, hoping it would be a great way to commiserate. We were curled up on the couch in my living room, sharing a bowl of popcorn.
Little did I know the movie would piss me off. I guess it had been way too long since I’d watched it. Pausing the movie, I stood, remote control in hand. “Uh-uh. Even Bradley Cooper cheated on his wife. I don’t care how cute or sweet he is; he’s not worth it.”
“They’re all cheaters.”
“Yeah. I’m over it.”
Much as I wanted to stop watching the damn thing and grab a book, I stayed the course—because that’s what friends do. It wasn’t until the end credits rolled that I noticed Lisa’s head resting on an arm of the couch. The poor thing was fast asleep. Grabbing a sheet and pillow out of my bedroom closet, I tucked in my bestie.
And, for the first time that night, I let myself have a proper cry.
The next morning, I awoke earlier than usual. My sleep had been crammed full of Tyler, and I didn’t want to dream about him. Enough was enough. Couldn’t he at least let me have a peaceful rest? It made me realize I needed to take a serious hiatus from all men. I couldn’t allow myself to get hurt anymore.
I started a pot of coffee and then felt bad when the sputtering caused Lisa to stir on the couch. “Oh, shit.”
“What’s wrong?” I came out to the living room to check on her.
“My arm’s numb and tingly. I must have fallen asleep on it.”
“Sorry. I tried to make sure you were comfortable.”
“It’s okay. Not your fault. I actually woke up and stretched out in the middle of the night. I don’t know why my arm went to sleep. Thanks for the sheet.” Lisa padded into the kitchen, continuing to rub her arm with the other hand. When she sat at the table, I joined her while the coffee continued brewing. “I had an idea.”
I didn’t like the sound of that, so the question left my mouth cautiously. “What?”
“I think we should go to the breakfast.”
“Are you out of your mind? No. Actually, hell no. I am so done with this shit.”
“I get it, Meg. I know you came along unwillingly anyway—and believe me when I tell you I appreciate everything you’ve done so far. But I need to do one last thing, and I need your support to do it.”
“And what would that be?”
Lisa straightened her back, letting go of her arm. “I’m going to tell Randy’s wife exactly what he’s been up to.”
“Oh, Leese, no. Don’t do that.”
“If it were me, I’d want to know.”
I got up, walking to the cabinet to pull out two mugs while the coffee pot let out its last gasps. “I think that’s a bad idea.”
Lisa ran her fingers through her gorgeous blonde locks, jutting out her chin before charming me with her puppy dog eyes. “I’m going, with or without you—but I would really appreciate your support.”
I shook my head, already feeling myself caving in to her request. “I don’t know how the hell you do that.” I poured coffee in both mugs before returning the carafe. “Fine. I’ll go.”
Lisa squealed, standing up and running over to me before giving me a big hug. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. I plan to be a huge pain in your ass.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
Yeah…but she didn’t mean it.
* * *
Goddamn. Why was I such a sucker when it came to my best friend? I still couldn’t believe I was sitting in the passenger side of Lisa’s car as she drove into the Sedgwick’s parking lot once more.
What the hell were we thinking?
I looked out of the side window, viewing the gathering clouds that indicated showers were imminent. Somehow, rain seemed appropriate, and I smiled at the thought. One thing was certain: I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt this many strong emotions—good or bad—in this short a space. So even though this whole weekend was a clusterfuck, I had Tyler to thank for waking me back up. For far too long, I’d been resigned to my life—complacent, neutral, and even diplomatic—and I’d forgotten what intense emotion felt like. Even when I read books, that had all been muted. For better or worse, Tyler had stirred up something deep.
At that thought, my mind shifted gears. There was a good possibility that I could run into Tyler at this fucking breakfast.
Actually, the likelihood at this point was probably one-hundred percent—not 99.99 percent like that stupid paternity test. And there was probably no way I’d be able to avoid the man. I imagined he’d be looking for me unless, of course, he discovered that I’d learned the whole ugly truth last night.
But I prepared for the occasion.
I wore a three-piece suit I hadn’t donned in years, not since my last job interview. It was dark gray—and I wore slacks, not a skirt. I put a red satin shirt with it, black heels, and minimal jewelry, and I also pulled my hair up. Somehow, that suit made me feel powerful, tough.
There would be no fucking crying today.
I also put on a stone face when Lisa and I got out of her car before marching up to the revolving door—for the last time, I hoped. As I walked inside the air-conditioned hotel, the butterflies began stirring in my stomach again. My only wish was that I wouldn’t see Tyler but it was also my biggest fear. I kept hoping and praying that, after I’d disappeared last night, he tracked Tamara down like he’d said he would. Then he would know that I knew—and maybe he’d realize I was no toy and leave.
I just wanted this fucking weekend to be over so I could truly heal and, maybe, begin my life in earnest. No ties, no strings. A completely fresh start.
As Lisa and I walked down the hallway to the ballroom in silence, the battle in my mind continued—and I knew that just leaving wasn’t Tyler’s style. Instead, it was talking things out…which meant I was probably going to have to face him one last time. As much as I hated the idea, I knew it would be best. Then there would be no questions, no more doubt or wondering. It would all be out in the open and I could close this particular door forever.
Hell, maybe Tyler, Tamara, and Tyson could play happy family together while I worked on accepting myself as is and then embarking on a journey to find the perfect mate for me.
Jesus. Why was I poisoning myself before getting back in the ring?
Lisa and I entered the ballroom. Unlike the previous two nights, the space was bright—and it even looked bigger now that it was lit up. It was rearranged differently as well. The place was still packed but I loved that it smelled like my mom’s kitchen: sweet but savory, warm and inviting, the scent of coffee lingering in the background.
Whole families were here today, lots of our classmates with their spouses and children, and so even though the place seemed bigger, it also felt a lot more crowded. As our gaits slowed, I noticed a buffet table where people were already lined up, piling hot breakfast foods onto their plates. But there was also a long table behind the wall where every morning beverage one could think of was offered, along with a toaster with various breads stacked beside it and even fruit and small boxes of dry cereal, probably for any finicky children making the trip.
I wasn’t really interested in the food, though. Scoping out the room, I looked for Tyler. If he was already here, I wanted to know where. I didn’t want any more surprises—and I could mitigate their effect if I felt I had the upper hand.
Seeing the enemy coming was a good first step.
Lisa, too, was scanning the room, but she was looking for Randy. I hadn’t spotted him, either, and I suspected I was dreading that encounter more than the one I faced with Tyler. Seeing a man’s marriage explode in real time as Lisa told his wife about his indiscretions—and in front of their children, no less? That would be ugly in an epic way.
We stood just inside the room for quite some time as we surveyed the landscape. My nerves were beyond frayed. “Look, Leese. He’s not here. Maybe we should just leave.”
“Oh, hell no. That just means we’re going to eat breakfast first.”
Fuck. I drew in a deep breath, contending with butterflies in my belly. Personally, I couldn’t eat breakfast and, even if I could, it wouldn’t stay down. The only thing I knew for sure: it was going to be a hell of a long morning.
Chapter Twenty-three
Maybe I could pray for miracles. After all, we’d just experienced one, because Lisa and I made it through the line at the buffet table unscathed. Despite my inclination, I grabbed a few slices of fruit and a cup of coffee, but Lisa asked me to go through the buffet line with her as well. My friend couldn’t say no to blueberry pancakes but resisted the bacon. But she always managed to burn everything she ate—and her mood demanded sugar—so I wasn’t about to tell her what to avoid putting on her plate.
As we worked our way down the buffet, two young children played just behind us. They were chasing each other, giggling, unaware of anyone else. One of them ran into the back of my legs, so I turned around to watch them while Lisa debated over what type of syrup she wanted. The young boy didn’t even notice that he’d run into me, instead laughing and taunting the other boy he was playing with. I wondered if they were twins, considering they were close to the same height. Both boys had beautiful straw blond hair and green eyes. When Lisa turned, she chuckled at the boys’ antics as they bobbed in and out of people’s legs and around tables.
But then my throat sank into my gut.
Were these kids Randy Butler’s children? I scrutinized their faces as much as I could without being obvious, and I then had no doubt who their dad was—which meant he was somewhere close by. I wondered how long it would take my friend to realize it, so I turned with the goal of distracting her.
But I was already too late. My bestie was storming across the crowded ballroom. Adrenaline kicked in as I rushed to an empty table nearby, all but throwing my plate and coffee down. I didn’t know if I’d have to be there for damage control or support, but my place was with my friend. By the time I caught up to her, I held back a little. Lisa was standing in front of Randy and a woman I assumed was his wife, but she wasn’t making a big scene at all. In fact, she was so quiet, I couldn’t hear a word. I was dying to get closer so I could listen in, but I was afraid of being way too obvious.
