Page 56 of Before You
“Yeah, that’s me,” I confirm, feeling my cheeks flush.
“Wait, who?” Sephine asks, and Tessa shrugs as Marley and Bria share similar looks.
“I don’t know either.”
“The football player who won sexiest man of the year the year after me,” Hayes explains and now all the women gasp, looking at me differently than before.
“That makes so much sense,” Tessa says, and Bria groans, covering her face.
“Mom, you’re embarrassing. Please stop.”
I laugh, shaking my head as Sephine gasps. “Your mother is Thalia Walker. I have one of her portraits hanging in our living room. I love her work.”Well screw the flowers I was going to send her on her birthday. I think she’d rather know billionaires have her work in their home. Her ego will skyrocket.
“Her work is spectacular, but I haven’t seen anything new for a while. Is she still taking photographs?” Tessa asks, and for the first time this evening, I falter.
Since Bailey ran away, I’ve only seen Mom pick up her camera a handful of times. It doesn’t seem to bring her the same joy it used to.
“She’s been taking some time off recently,” I say, keeping it vague because while Bailey’s absence has been noticed by the media, somehow, we’ve managed to keep the truth out of the tabloids. The last thing our family needs is to be put on blast again.
“How’s the company doing?” Marley interrupts, and I turn to look at her in surprise.What is she doing?
Her dad smiles, and everyone’s attention slides to her, including Bria who looks as confused as I am. “It’s doing well. Maddox is taking charge of winning some of the board members over, and I’m just glad it’s not me having to kiss their asses,” he says, and Bria shakes her head.
“I don’t think you or my dad know how to kiss anyone’s ass,” Bria says, but I’m too busy trying to figure out who the fuck Maddox is, and why I’m just now learning about him? I have no right to be jealous, but when Marley smiles, I am.
“Bria,” Marley says, laughing, and I reach for my water, taking a drink.
“Are you learning anything interesting in your classes?” Grayson asks at the same time Bria leans over to whisper to me.
“You don’t have anything to worry about with Maddox,” she says, her chest shaking with silent laughter, but I’m still not sure why I haven’t heard of him before.
“Sure,” I agree, trying to pay attention to what Marley’s saying about her classes.
“Relax. She’s never looked at him that way, it’d be really weird if she did,” Bria continues, and I hate I’m this predictable. I’m jealous of a guy I just learned about when it comes to the girl I’m in love with but not dating.Why aren’t we dating again?
“Am I that obvious?”
She doesn’t even try to hide her smile, her silver eyes lighting up with mischief that should scare me. “You have been from the moment you two saw each other again.”
“What are we whispering about?” Tessa asks, and I feel like I’ve been caught with my hand in the cookie jar.
“Oh, nothing, just telling Bria my hamstrings are tight from not stretching enough before our intervals today.”
“He was asking who Maddox was,” Bria corrects, thankfully leaving out my feelings for Marley. I’d prefer if she didn’t advertise that to everyone before Marley and I even get a fair chance to discuss it. If it ever ends up happening that is, but she’s not the only one with cards up her sleeve.
“Has Bria mentioned introducing you to my roommate, Asher? I swear, he talks about her all the time,” I retort, throwing her under the bus in response. Her mouth unhinges and Marley laughs.
“Who’s Asher?” Tessa asks, looking at her daughter who is too busy glaring at me to notice.
“Exactly how close are you to our daughters if you don’t know Maddox is her uncle?” Hayes asks, and when I look at him, his eyes are narrowed in scrutiny, and I’m back to square one.
“I might not know who Maddox is, but I know plenty. Bria has no problem voicing her opinion, but she can be forgetful. She’s the kind of girl who will kick your ass if you need it, but she’s loyal and a good friend.” I take a breath, trying to gather my thoughts, but I don’t need to. I need to speak from the heart. “Marley chews her nails when she’s nervous, but when she doesn’t want you to see, she spins her ring on her thumb. She loves to play the guitar and sing because it allows her a way to express her emotions without discussing them, but it’s also the same reason she doesn’t share her music with anyone. She’s incredibly smart, caring, and the kind of person you meet once in your life, or in my lucky case, twice.”
Hayes blinks, his cerulean eyes widening, and I have a feeling he’s not caught off guard very often. But sitting to his right is the girl of my fucking dreams with tears shining in her eyes and the most beautiful smile.
~
My phone trills, signaling an incoming text to pull me out of the light sleep I’ve been drifting in and out of. I blink, trying to get my eyes to adjust to the bright screen in my dark room.
