Page 54 of The One Before

She couldn’t believe Regina freaking Douglas just got the best of her. At least no one was around to see. Still, Regina knew her secret, and that left Celia exposed. She sat on the dock and started crying. It was like everything had hit her in one hour. She blamed her phone conversation from earlier. Celia always got a little teary-eyed when she spoke with her mother. It was the only time Celia felt like a little girl instead of Queen Bee.

She was about to leave when she heard a motor rumbling. She blocked the sun with her hand and squinted at the horizon. As the boat got closer, it slowed, preparing to dock. She could spot Roman’s toothy grin before he killed the engine.

“Celia?” He waved both hands wide in the air. “I didn’t think I’d see you here.”

“This is a pleasant surprise then.” She didn’t want him to see she’d been crying, but it was too late.

“What’s the matter?” He hopped off the boat and marched down the wooden planks to where she sat. “Did Cooper leave you here?”

She nodded, grabbing his calloused hand to help her stand. Roman was as handsome as his younger brother, but his features were darker, like the rest of the Douglas clan. His hair was cut short and a layer of stubble covered his chin and cheeks.

“Come here.” He wrapped her in his arms, looking across the yard to make sure they were alone. “Talk to me.”

“There’s a lot on my mind.” Everyone flashed in front of her: her mother and Cooper and Regina.

“Let’s take a ride. We can watch the sunset over the water.”

Roman’s eagerness tended to turn Celia’s stomach, but the truth was, she had nothing better to do. Cooper had no interest in talking to her, and she was too unnerved to attend the bonfire. If she returned to her aunt’s house, she’d spend the night bickering with her cousins over the TV remote. She pushed a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled. Taking Roman’s hand, she followed him to the boat.

He waited until they were in the center of the lake to pick up speed. The wind blew Celia’s hair, slicing the heat from her skin. She sucked in several deep breaths until she felt rejuvenated. They kept riding for several minutes before Roman stalled the boat. They sat together, his arm over her shoulders, watching as the sun sank behind the mountains.

“What happened?” he asked.

She didn’t want to go through it all, so she told him the worst part. “Regina knows about us.”

“What?” He spun his head, searching Celia’s features for a reaction. “There’s no way.”

“I don’t know how, but she does.” She thought back to the dock, how humiliated she’d felt. “I could have snatched that black mop off her head.”

Roman’s posture stiffened. “Don’t say that. She’s still my sister.”

Celia rarely revealed her distaste for Regina around Roman. Cooper didn’t like her catty comments toward his sister, but Roman wouldn’t stand it. He was much more loyal in that respect.

“Now I’m all worried she’ll tell Cooper about us.” She leaned her head on his shoulder. “He’s been paranoid ever since he found your shirt in my car. He thinks I’m cheating on him with Steven Burns.”

Roman laughed, kissing Celia’s forehead. “Maybe it’s a good thing. I think it’s about time we tell him the truth.”

“Are you crazy? Why would we do that?”

Celia and Roman had different versions of the truth. Celia’s fling with Roman started out as a game. She’d noticed the stares he’d shot across the dinner table. One night, after a fight with Cooper, she surrendered to temptation. She was attracted to Roman for all the ways he differed from his brother. He was charismatic and confident and fun, but he lacked the potential Cooper possessed. Roman was a wild card. He’d never provide the solid future she hoped Cooper might. In her mind, her trysts with Roman were nothing more than stolen moments when no one else was watching.

Now Regina had seen too much. All Celia could think about was how this decision had blown up in her face. Most of the girls in Whisper would kill to have one of the Douglas boys; she had them both wrapped around her finger, tangling up the world she was used to controlling.

Roman kneeled in front of Celia, holding her hands in his. “I’m crazy about you. I know Cooper will forgive us. He’s still a kid. Once he understands what we have together, he’ll move on.”

Celia blushed. Poor Roman was the one misunderstanding. All day she’d been sorting out which of the esteemed Douglas boys would be the better catch. She might not know what the future held with Cooper, but a life with Roman was far too predictable. He’d treat her like a queen for a few years, then he’d get bored. He’d either develop a drinking problem or find a mistress. That’s what all the bad boys in Whisper ended up doing eventually. Roman was too feral to commit to anything long-term, even her.

She leaned forward and gave him a forceful kiss on the lips. “It’s getting late. Take me back?”

She couldn’t wait to be away from Roman, but she was afraid to walk alone in the dark. She needed him to give her a ride back to her car, and then she could finally be rid of the Douglas family, at least for the night.

Forty-Two

Madison

My alarm goes off at nine. Within the hour, Coop will be home. After finding the pictures, I stayed up researching Laura Price’s disappearance on the internet. I couldn’t find much, but I think my brain was too scrambled to evaluate anything properly. I’m not sure how long I slept after that. Maybe an hour, maybe two.

I check my phone. Coop sent a text when he got on the road. Everything is according to schedule. The schedule we had before I knew of Laura Price’s existence. Now I’m not sure about anything, and I won’t feel better until I’ve talked to him. I brush my teeth and wash my face. These things I do to feel human, to feel capable of handling what’s next. I arrange Laura’s pictures on the bed and sit in the leather armchair by our window. I wait.

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