Page 24 of Always Been You
Aria studies him for a moment, her expression unreadable. “Nothing,” she says finally, her voice lighter, almost teasing. “You can go ahead. The exit’s that way.” Eddie chuckles, though it sounds hollow, almost bitter. “Still know how to get under my skin, don’t you?”
Watching the exchange, I can’t help but notice how different they are now. Eddie was always a happy soul; arrogant, sure, but he laughed and smiled, especially around Aria. They used to share an unbreakable bond, a friendship that made everyone jealous. But now, it’s as though time has turned them into strangers.
If even they couldn’t hold on to each other, then who am I to hope for more? I chuckle to myself, though the sound feels bitter on my tongue.
“Mr. Montgomery,” Eddie’s companion finally speaks, his voice calm but sharp enough to cut through the tension. We all turn to him as he sips his fruit juice, looking completely at ease. I glance at Eddie, noticing the shift in his demeanor. His companion’s words seem to press a hidden button, and the dangerous aura around him intensifies. It’s unsettling, this quiet threat he carries now—like he’s someone entirely different.
“Han was right when he said drinking juice at a bar gives a different feel, Mr. Montgomery,” his companion says, raising his glass in a casual toast.
“Montgomery,” I murmur, the name tugging at something in my memory. M Industries. Europe. Eddie left for Europe when he disappeared, and from what I’ve heard, the headquarters of the company moved here recently. My mind races as I piece it together. “Montgomery…”
Elisa, seated beside Eddie, shifts closer to me. “Does this Montgomery happen to be the same as M Industries?” She asks, her attention sharp as she glances between Eddie and his companion.
“Yes,” Eddie replies, his voice steady but his gaze is now fixed on me. I stand abruptly, the weight of realization crashing over me.
“Isn’t your name Edmund Ansah? Why is he calling you Mr. Montgomery? What’s going on?” Elisa asks, clearly confused.
I force a small smile, though my chest feels tight. “What do you want me to know, Lawliss?” Eddie asks, his voice steady, almost resigned.
What do I want to know? Everything. I want to know who he’s become, why he left, why he’s here now, what becomes of us, why he agreed to my proposition if he knew he would be coming back and that too, soon but I have a feeling he won’t tell me.
“Nothing, Mr. Montgomery,” I say instead, the words tasting bitter. “Indeed, it was good while it lasted.” My voice cracks slightly, but I turn before anyone can notice.
“I have a slight headache, so I’ll be leaving first,” I say to no one in particular, desperate for escape. Eddie stands, “Let me drop you off,” he offers, his tone more commanding than kind.
“No, thank you.” I cut him off before he could say more. “I can call an Uber, or my driver can pick me up.” Hugging and kissing my sisters quickly, I step out of the booth, ignoring the way Eddie’s eyes follow me. My emotions are in turmoil as I step outside. I hate the way my body reacts to Eddie. All I can think about is how much I want to kiss him again, despite everything. He’s been near me, sitting beside me, his eyes following my every move, making it impossible to shut him out. His cologne, that maddening mix of mint and cider, clings to the air around me, hitting my senses in waves and driving me insane.
* * *
Eddie
I sigh loudly and turn to look at Josh, who has made everything more complicated. The fucking guy shrugs.
“Hey, don’t blame me,” He says, looking at me over the rim of his glass.
The detached way he’s behaving gets under my skin. Before I know it, I’m gripping a throw pillow and hurling it straight at his head. It lands with a satisfying thud, knocking the glass from his hand. The crash of shattering glass echoes through the room with his stupid juice spilling over his white shirt.
“What the fuck, Eddie?” He shouts, glaring at the mess. I smirk with satisfaction and glee but it’s cut short with Aria’s strained and measured laugh.
“Looks like your friend here tried to help by blowing your cover before you were ready to spill the beans,” she says, probably having read in between the lines. I would have told them about everything. If there is someone I can bring myself to speak to, it’s them, but I don’t say that. Instead, I say, “I wasn’t hiding anything,” the words clipped and low.
“Right,” Aria replies, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Because you being a Montgomery or your name changing to that is something everyone knows off the bat.”
“What do you want with our sister?” Lauren’s question lands next. The earlier friendly vibe is gone. Now, the sisters are glaring at me, their united front impossible to ignore. Lauren’s gaze is steady, her voice calm and devoid of emotion, but the weight of her words settles heavily on me.
What do I want with Lawliss? I want my wife to look at me the way she did a week ago.
The tension in the room thickens as their stares bore into me, peeling back every wall I’ve carefully built. My expression hardens, my emotions snapping into place behind the familiar mask I’ve perfected over the years. But it’s no use. They’ve already seen too much.
Aria leans back, arms crossed, her tone softer but no less knowing. “I’ve always known you had a thing for Lawliss. Back then, I figured we became fast friends because of it and didn’t say anything. But now? It’s painfully obvious you still carry a torch for her.”
She knew? How? I never told her. I thought I was careful. Was I that obvious?
My chest tightens as the truth of her words hits too close to home.
“The question is,” Elisa says, standing and brushing her hands down her sides, “what are you going to do about it this time?”
Oh, I have, except none of you would like it. I think of the promises I’ve broken, the lines I’ve crossed, and the fact that I’d do it all over again just to have her.
