Crosswinds: Episode 3 Read online

She broke the kiss way too soon, then lowered to her feet. Her top teeth sank into her bottom lip in the sexiest way, and she batted her long eyelashes up at him until all the blood rushed right out of his head. “Thanks for the great night, Luis. I’ll catch you at the pool.”

  She turned and sauntered toward the door, waggling her behind in the tight jeans in a way she had to know drew attention straight to her ass. Then she pushed the door open and was gone, disappearing into the night to leave him shocked and completely dumbfounded in her wake.

  “Dude,” Jeffry said from the doorway. “That is seriously fucked up. Tell me you are not about to fall for that.”

  Luis turned and stared at his best friend. But he couldn’t come up with an answer. Because his head was spinning like a top and, suddenly, he didn’t know what he wanted.

  Or who.

  Chapter Three

  Lacey Salt stretched her leg out of the bath water and watched the bubbles slide down her calf. Last night had been fun. More fun that she’d had in forever. And though she knew it was wrong, she couldn’t wait to do it again.

  Part of her felt guilty for flirting so blatantly with Luis, especially in front of Mallory. But if Luis was so into Mallory, he would have told Lacey to stop, right? And if he hadn’t been the least bit interested, he’d have pushed Lacey away when she kissed him. But he hadn’t. Instead he’d looked down at Lacey as if he wanted to kiss her again.

  Lacey had expected Mallory to say something about her flirting when they walked out to their cars, but Mallory hadn’t. Which meant either she didn’t care or she just hadn’t noticed. Lacey’s money was on the fact Mallory hadn’t noticed. She could be so clueless sometimes. So really, Lacey was doing her best friend a favor by tempting Luis. No girl wanted a boyfriend who cheated. If Luis was so easily swayed away from Mallory, it meant she wasn’t the girl for him, right?

  Feeling better about herself, she smiled and ran her hands through the bubbles. Luis was working at the pool again today. Maybe she’d put on her strapless white bikini and go over and watch him again. He was so hot in those lifeguarding shorts. He made her skin burn.

  She climbed out of the bath, wrapped a towel around herself, and opened her bathroom door. Her mom had set out a bunch of clothes on her bed that she was supposed to put away, but Lacey didn’t feel like doing anything except getting dressed and going to the pool. She wandered into her walk-in closet, slid on her white bikini, then grabbed a pale-yellow sundress that dipped low at her cleavage and pulled it on. She headed back for the bathroom, but the second she stepped out of her closet, she realized she wasn’t alone and jumped.

  “Hey.” Ginny Moreno sat on Lacey’s bed and tucked a lock of curly dark hair behind her ear. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  Lacey pressed a hand against her chest and drew in a deep breath. “Knock or something next time, would you? You about gave me a heart attack.”

  Ginny winced. “Sorry.”

  Shaking her head, Lacey moved into her bathroom, unclipped her hair, and reached for a hairbrush. “What do you want?”

  “Marisol said you were at my house last night. I was just wondering how Luis is doing.”

  Lacey’s brush paused halfway down her long hair. It always gave her a little jolt when she remembered that Ginny, the bane of her existence right now, was Luis’s sister. She ran the brush through her mahogany curls again, thankful she hadn’t washed her hair this time. Too much washing made her hair totally frizz out, especially in the summer humidity. “Fine. Why don’t you ask him if you’re so worried?”

  Ginny sighed from the bedroom. “Because he doesn’t talk to me about anything heavy these days. It’s like he doesn’t think I can handle it, and he’s afraid I’m going to freak out or something.”

  Lacey frowned. Of course Luis was afraid to talk to Ginny about anything serious. Everyone walked on eggshells around Ginny Moreno because of that stupid baby. The slightest mention of Jacob or the accident or what she was going to do with her life besides mooch off the Salts sent her into a fit of tears. And tears, as Lacey’s mom had pointed out, put stress on Ginny’s body, which could cause her to miscarry, so it was best just to avoid them altogether.

  That frown deepened on Lacey’s face. She almost wished Ginny would just miscarry and be done with the whole baby thing. Lacey’s life would definitely be simpler if that happened. Ginny wouldn’t have to live in their house, and Lacey might actually get her mom and dad back.

  She twisted her hair into a knot, then slapped on some lipstick and mascara. Since she was heading to the pool, she didn’t want too much makeup, but she definitely wanted Luis to notice her.

  Lacey stepped back into her bedroom and scowled when she realized Ginny was still sitting on her bed. Moving for her desk, she opened her beach bag, desperate to get out of this house as quickly as possible. “Did you want something else?”

  “I just...” Ginny twisted her hands in her lap.

  She’d lost weight since Jacob’s funeral. Even Lacey could see that Ginny’s face was a little gaunt. If it weren’t for Lacey’s mom forcing food in Ginny constantly, Ginny would probably look like a skeleton. Ginny was taller than Lacey by quite a bit—always had been—but right now, with the way she was sitting hunched over on the bed, Lacey felt like a giant next to the girl, which only made her that much more uncomfortable.

  “I just...” Tears filled Ginny’s dark eyes. “I miss him, that’s all. And I know you two were close. I was just wondering how you’re able to act like everything’s normal when...when it’s not.”

  She was talking about Jacob. Lacey’s heart lurched with a hard shot of pain, but instead of letting it consume her, she focused on the anger that whooshed in on its heels. Things were not normal. They were never going to be normal again, and nothing she did could change that fact. But more than that, listening to Ginny Moreno, who was the reason things were so screwed up, sitting there asking this question only enflamed her more.

  “What normal?” Lacey turned to face Ginny and knew she shouldn’t respond, but just couldn’t help herself. “You took normal from this family.”

  “Lacey...” Ginny’s shoulders sank even more, and a tear streamed down her cheek. But Lacey wasn’t about to be deterred. Not now. Not when Ginny had opened this can of worms.

  “If it weren’t for you, Jacob would still be here.”

  Ginny shook her head, tears flowing freely now. “It was an accident.”

  “An accident that you caused. Why were you so distracted that night, Ginny? Were you and Jacob arguing the night you flipped that car and killed my brother?”

  Ginny pressed her fingers against her temples. “It wasn’t like that.”

  “Then tell me what it was like.” Lacey’s blood pumped hot and wild, and she knew she should stop but she just couldn’t. The anger had been building inside her for a long time, and she couldn’t hold it back anymore. “Because no one seems to know, and everyone’s afraid to ask in case it pushes you over the edge. But I’m not afraid. What were you arguing about, Ginny? Were you arguing about this baby?” She glanced at Ginny’s belly. “Were you arguing over the fact it’s not even Jacob’s kid?”

  Ginny’s head shot up, and her damp, red-rimmed eyes held on Lacey’s. “W-why would you even ask that?”

  “Because Jacob’s not here to tell us the truth. All we have is your version. And I don’t believe your version. You were best friends and then you suddenly just fell in love and into bed? Give me a break. If that’s true, why didn’t he tell us?”

  Ginny didn’t answer. Just stared at Lacey with wide, fear-filled eyes. But before Lacey could push Ginny harder, Celeste Salt stepped into the open doorway of her room with a basket of laundry in her hands. “Lacey, I have more clothes for you to put aw—”

  She glanced between the girls, her expression shifting to concern. “Is everything okay in here?”

  Ginny looked down and swiped at the tears on her cheeks. “Fine.” She pushed to her feet. “I’m really tired. I
think I’m going to lie down for a bit.”

  She pushed past Lacey’s mom and disappeared down the hall. And the minute she was gone, Lacey’s stomach dropped from all the horrible things she’d said.

  Her mother lowered the basket in her arms. “What on earth was going on in here? Ginny looked like she was crying. She’s fragile right now, Lacey. What on earth did you say to upset her?”

  Of course her mother would take Ginny’s side. That sick feeling in Lacey’s stomach turned to absolute heartache. Not for Ginny, but for herself.

  With shaky fingers, Lacey grabbed her phone from the desk and shoved it in her beach bag. Just once she wanted her mother to ask what Ginny had done to upset her. Just once she wanted someone to care how she felt. But Celeste Salt would never do that. Because all she cared about these days was that stupid brat in Ginny’s tummy.

  “I have to go.” The need to flee overwhelmed her, pushing Lacey past her mother and out into the hall.

  Celeste turned. “Hold on. You have chores, young lady.”

  She had chores, but Ginny didn’t. Ginny just got to live here for free and make everyone miserable. Heartache turned to a blistering anger that made Lacey’s eyes burn. “I’ll do them later.”

  Lacey hit the stairs and headed for the front door. From the railing, her mother called, “Lacey Ann Salt. Come back here.”

  But Lacey didn’t listen. She slammed the door behind her and rushed for her yellow Volkswagen Bug as she swiped at the hot tears streaming down her cheeks. She hated this house and she hated this family. No one understood her. No one even cared. There was only one person who gave a shit and knew what it was like to lose someone you loved most in the world. Only one person she wanted right now.

  And he was at the country club wearing hot red shorts.

  * * * *

  Ginny Moreno didn’t even think about where she was going. All she knew was that she needed her best friend.

  Hot tears burned her eyes, but she fought them back as she climbed the back steps of Brittany Rush’s mammoth house like she’d done a million times as a kid. She knew Brittany was home because Brittany had texted at lunchtime. They’d made plans to get together for coffee at three at Cuppa Joe, but after Ginny’s confrontation with Lacey, Ginny couldn’t wait that long.

  The things Lacey had said...

  Ginny stopped on the second step and pressed a hand against her belly to keep the nausea at bay. If Lacey was thinking them, others had to be thinking them too. She’d convinced herself it was such a simple lie—telling everyone that she and Jacob had planned to share the news they were a couple when they came home—but now she wasn’t so sure. What if Lacey was right? What if others suspected she’d lied? How was she going to fix this?

  She needed Brittany to tell her what to do. Needed to tell Brittany the truth. But even as the thought hit, she knew she couldn’t. If Brittany knew the truth, she’d never speak to Ginny again, and right now Brittany was the only friend Ginny had left.

  Ginny rushed up the last few steps and pulled the kitchen door open. She was halfway into the house when the man at the counter turned to face her.

  The breath caught in her throat, and she froze. Senator Sebastian Rush held a sandwich in his hand and pinned her with a hard look, one that sent fear skipping through Ginny’s veins and made every nerve in her body twitch.

  Oh God. He was just as handsome as he’d been the last time she’d seen him at Jacob’s funeral. Salt and pepper hair, strong athletic body, wide shoulders, and narrow hips. And dressed in slacks and a pale-blue dress shirt rolled up to his elbows, he was as commanding as ever, even in his kitchen. Images of all the nights Ginny had spent with him in Austin whipped through her mind, followed by a wave of terror that made her hands break out in a cold sweat.

  What was he doing here? She’d thought he’d gone back to Austin. He’d once told her he didn’t even like this town, so why was he still hanging around? What if he was here to tell everyone that she was a liar?

  “I...” Words stumbled over her lips. “I didn’t know you’d be here. I’m looking for Brittany.”

  He didn’t answer, but his brown-eyed gaze drifted to her belly, and she had another memory flash. Of the nights she’d gotten so caught up in the forbidden passion of being with him that she’d forgotten all about her diaphragm.

  Oh God. Oh please. Panic condensed beneath Ginny’s ribs, robbing her of all ability to speak. She placed a hand over her belly in a protective move. Please, please, please don’t let this baby be his.

  “Ginny.” Brittany stepped into the kitchen with wide, light-blue eyes. “I thought I heard your voice. Weren’t we meeting at Cuppa Joe’s?”

  Relief swept through Ginny. She tore her gaze from the senator, dropped her hand, and looked to her best friend. “I...” Quick, think of an excuse. “I saw your text and thought maybe we could go now instead of later.”

  “Sure. Now’s fine.” Brittany’s brow lowered. “Are you okay? What happened?”

  Nerves rattled Ginny’s body, and she glanced toward the senator, but he was no longer there. He’d slipped out without her even noticing.

  Breathing easier, Ginny swallowed hard and nodded. “I’m fine. Can we just go, though? I’m feeling boxed in today, and I just want to get some air.”

  “Sure.” Brittany grabbed her purse from a hook near the back door. “Come on. Dad’s working from home today so I totally know about being boxed in. I always feel like I have to tiptoe around the house whenever he’s here.”

  Fresh air filled Ginny’s lungs as they stepped outside, settling her frayed nerves and easing the sickness brewing in her stomach. When they reached the side of the Rush mansion, Brittany stopped and stared at the empty drive. “Wait. You walked all the way over here?”

  “I told you I was feeling boxed in.”

  Brittany turned suspicious eyes Ginny’s way.

  A tingle ran down Ginny’s spine, and she hated that she had to lie to her best friend. The truth was that Ginny couldn’t even fathom driving right now. Not after the things Lacey had said. The girl was right. She’d killed Jacob. Killed him by being distracted the night she’d been driving home with him in the seat beside her. But not because of the baby. She hadn’t even known about the baby then. She’d been distracted because she’d been in love with Jacob Salt all her life, and she desperately wanted him to love her back.

  She couldn’t tell Brittany any of that, though, so instead she stepped past her friend and headed toward the street. “I’m fine. Exercise is good for me. Dr. Rush even said so.”

  Ginny could tell from Brittany’s silence that her friend didn’t exactly agree. Dr. Layla Rush was her aunt, though, and everyone in Storm knew Layla was the smartest person in town. How could Brittany argue with that?

  They settled into a comfortable quiet as they walked down the tree-lined street toward the park downtown. Just being with her friend—even in silence—boosted Ginny’s mood and made her feel a hundred times better than she had only an hour ago.

  They cut through the park that sat between Brittany’s neighborhood and the downtown shops. Feeling more tired than she’d expected, Ginny said, “Do you mind if we stop for a bit?”

  “I don’t mind,” Brittany said. “You sure you’re okay?”

  “I told you I’m fine.” Ginny sat on a park bench under several trees. “You don’t have to worry about me so much.”

  “Sorry.” Brittany sat beside her friend. “You have no say in that. My worry is my own.”

  A whisper of a smile pulled at Ginny’s lips, and she leaned her head against her friend’s shoulder, wishing life could be as simple as it had been when they were kids and the biggest problem in either of their worlds was which bratty boy had stolen their bikes when they stopped here to climb trees.

  Oak and cedar swayed above in the warm summer breeze, and Ginny closed her eyes as she listened, thinking back to a day not long ago when she and Jacob had chased each other under these very trees.

  G
od, she missed him. So much she physically ached. Would that pain ever go away? She didn’t know how it could. She felt as if she’d lost part of herself the day Jacob died, and every day living without him seemed harder, not easier. At some point the ache would lessen, wouldn’t it? She was desperate for that to happen, but at the same time scared to death. Because the day she stopped grieving for Jacob Salt was the day she was afraid she’d truly lose him forever.

  “Okay, I let you have your quiet time,” Brittany said. “Start talking or I’m going to scream.”

  Ginny should have known she couldn’t snow Brittany Rush. Her friend was the most perceptive person she’d ever met.

  She sighed, sat up, and gripped the bench seat near her legs. “Lacey hates me.”

  “Lacey does not hate you.” Brittany gave Ginny one of her famous I know what I’m talking about looks. “You’re just the closest outlet for her anger.”

  “I’m her freaking punching bag, that’s what I am. I tried to talk to her today. Just...talk. We live under the same roof but she basically ignores me. It was clear, though, that she couldn’t be bothered with me. And the things she said...”

  Ginny’s stomach hurt all over again just thinking about Lacey’s words.

  “What did she say?” Brittany asked quietly.

  That pain came back, hard and sharp, right beneath Ginny’s breastbone, and she closed her eyes. “She said I killed Jacob.” Tears burned behind her eyelids. “And she’s right. I did.”

  “Okay, stop. Right now.” Brittany gripped Ginny’s hand, and when Ginny opened her eyes, Brittany had turned sideways on the bench and was looking right at her. “It was an accident. What happened to Jacob was an accident. You didn’t plan it, did you?”

  Ginny shook her head and fought back the tears that were threatening all over again. “No.”

  “You didn’t want it, did you?”

  “God, no.”

  “Then it wasn’t your fault. It was just a horrible, horrible accident. And I guarantee Lacey doesn’t believe what she’s saying. She’s just blaming you because she doesn’t have anyone else to blame. And because you’re there.”