Page 97 of Collateral Damage
Past - Age 26
I hate these stupid parties our father drags us to. I thought we’d have to go to less of them once we finished graduate school and got busy with work. Nope. We have to go to even more of them, even on our short vacations.
We’re on Nantucket for a break, and Dad insisted we appear at a yacht club party. The man doesn’t even like yachts, but his new wife does, so he bought her one. This is his third wife, by the way. The second one since Mom died.
His first one, Malory, only lasted a few years. She was a control freak who made the mistake of trying to control our father. At least this new one, Kayla, keeps to herself, though I won’t be surprised if this marriage ends in divorce as well. She’s only a few years older than us, but dumb as a doornail. She’s arm candy for Dad, nothing more, and he’ll grow tired of her.
I go for the bar, and then Ethan and I start to mingle. Right when I’m getting comfortable, bright auburn hair catches the corner of my eye, and I turn to find Sybil and her cousin Arden.
They’re standing together, heads bent together conspiratorially. They’re smiling, probably because they haven’t seen us yet.
I watch as Gregory Laurence takes Arden away to introduce her to people and show her off, but it’s Sybil I can’t stop staring at. Eventually, she sees us. Her eyes bounce between us like she doesn’t know which brother to look at, her face paling.
Looking is too painful, so I turn and stride away.
There’s going to be arguing soon. Drama. Our dads won’t be able to stop themselves from jabbing at each other. I don’t want any part. Fuck that.
I end up by the water, staring at the rows of docked boats and finishing my whiskey. I wish I didn’t care so much or want to go home as badly as I do.
Someone approaches, but they don’t seem to notice me. I don’t care. Then I turn to find Sybil, and I very much do care.
“I bet you’re loving this, aren’t you?” I ask, stepping from the shadows.
She stops in her tracks, her expressive eyes seeing right through me. “Loving what?”
I laugh bitterly, looking her up and down and stepping forward until we’re only inches apart. I take a strand of her hair and twist it between my fingers. “You got your way, Sybil. You cut us out of your life. Is it fun to come to a party and show off your new cousin and pretend we’re not even here?”
She doesn’t look like she got her way. She looks shattered by my words. Then angry. Walls fly up, shutting her off from me entirely.
And me? I’maffected.Why does seeing Sybil again feel so angry? I expected sadness, and I hoped for nonchalance, but instead I’m so fucking mad.
I loved her. And she walked away so easily.
“You act like I wanted to cut you out, Cooper,” she whispers. “I didn’t want to. Ihadto. There’s a difference.”
I shake my head. “Your lack of accountability is truly astonishing.”
The energy between us shifts.
“Don’t you dare judge me.” Her green eyes narrow, going dark. “You have no idea what I gave up.”
I shift closer. “Don’t I?” My voice is hoarse with frustration.
Why the fuck does she have to be so beautiful? Everything about this woman draws me to her. I used to love her for it, but now I hate her for it. Yeah, I’ve grown bitter over the years, but I’m smarter, too. I have her to thank for that.
“What are you saying?” She swallows hard, her slender throat bobbing.
“You threw away something special and refuse to admit it.”
“Ethan and I never would’ve worked out. I see that now.”
“I’m not talking about Ethan.”
Her breath catches. “What do you mean?”
“I mean you and me, Sybil. There was something between us. Friendship, yes… or maybe something more. I don’t know, but you broke it. You broke us. And you did it on purpose.”
I don’t think I’ve ever been so bold with her, but I’ve had years to think about this conversation. All the things I’ve wanted to say have been building and building. Meeting Arden only made it worse.
