Playing with fire harlow.., p.24
Playing With Fire (Harlow Prep Book 1), page 24
When we pull up to the valet area, Brett’s not there. Josh greets us, his usual big smile plastered across his face.
“Welcome,” he says, opening the door for Veronica. She takes forever to get out so I open my own door, looking around for Brett.
“He’s not here,” Josh says to me.
“Who?” Elliott says.
“No one,” I tell him. I glance at Josh, giving him a look to keep quiet, but I’m not sure he saw it. He’s talking to my dad.
“Nice suit,” Josh tells him. “Is it new?”
“It is,” my dad says. “My waistline outgrew all my old ones.”
I catch Veronica rolling her eyes. She’s been dropping hints for my dad to lose weight, but he ignores them. He likes to eat, and doesn’t want to diet at his age. He says his older years should be spent enjoying himself, not depriving himself.
During dinner, my dad talks about work stuff, but my mind is on Brett. If I’d known he wasn’t here, I wouldn’t have come tonight.
“I need to use the ladies’ room,” Veronica says, getting up during one of my dad’s stories.
“I’ll continue when you return,” he says.
“No, go ahead and finish your story,” she tells him. “I’m sure Claire would like to hear it.”
Elliott’s messing around on his phone, which is what he always does during dinner.
“I’ll just wait until you’re back,” my dad says, as Veronica leaves.
“I need to go, too,” I say, getting up. “I’ll be right back.”
Instead of going to the restroom, I go out front to the valet area.
“Veronica?” I say, seeing her talking to Josh.
She whips around to face me, forcing out a smile. “Claire. What are you doing out here?”
“I just needed some air. What are you doing here?”
“I realized I lost an earring. I came out to see if I’d lost it out here and sure enough.”
“I found it,” Josh says.
Veronica glances at him. “Thank you again. I should get back to dinner.”
She goes inside.
“He works tomorrow,” Josh says from the valet podium.
“Why do you think I’m looking for Brett?”
“Aren’t you two messing around?”
“No. Why? Did he tell you that?”
He points to himself. “I’m the valet. I’m very observant. I know when stuff’s going on.”
“Nothing’s going on. I just wanted to talk to him.”
“What happened with Logan? You guys break up?”
“Yeah. A few weeks ago.”
“Just around the time Brett showed up.”
“It doesn’t have anything to do with Brett. I should get back before my dad starts looking for me.” I walk to the door.
Josh races over to open it for me. “He’s a good guy. Don’t be messing with him just to make your boyfriend jealous.”
“That’s not what I’m—”
“I’ve seen it a million times. Using a guy to get attention from the guy you’re already with? I’ve even been that guy, but I at least got paid for it.”
“I’m not doing that,” I say, getting angry.
“I’m just saying, if you are, find someone else. Brett doesn’t deserve that. He’s a nice guy, too damn nice if you ask me, but I’m kind of an ass.”
“How much do you know about him?” I ask, thinking Josh would know more than me since he spends so much time with Brett, standing out here, waiting to park cars.
“I don’t know a lot. He doesn’t say much about his home life, but I know he takes care of his sister and her kid. That alone tells you he’s a nice guy. He should be out partying every weekend, but instead he races home after work to babysit his niece. And everything he makes goes to his sister to pay bills.”
That doesn’t sound like someone who’d use a girl for sex and then ditch her. So what’s going on with him? Why won’t he talk to me?
“Just leave him alone,” Josh says. “He really needs this job and if he gets caught with you, he could get fired.”
I’m still standing in the doorway where people could overhear us so I go back out front.
Josh closes the door. “You’re not going in?”
“In a minute.” I turn to him. “Does everyone in a family have to be on a family membership?”
He grins. “So you are doing shit with Brett.”
“No! It was just a question. Why do you keep thinking there’s something going on with me and Brett?”
“You’re always coming out here to talk to him.”
“I’m here talking to you and we’re not doing anything.”
“It’s not just that. It’s the way you look at him, and how he looks at you.”
“How does he look at me?”
“Like he shouldn’t be looking at you. He’s the valet. He works for you. It’s not allowed.”
“But when you say he looks at me, is it how he’d look at any girl? Because there aren’t that many girls my age here, especially at night when he’s working. Maybe he’s only looking at me because I’m one of the few girls here who are his age.”
Josh glances around to make sure we’re alone, then says, “He looks at you like you’re the one who got away. The girl he really wanted but can’t have.”
“You don’t know him that well. Maybe you’re reading him wrong.”
“Trust me, I know that look, and I also know he won’t hear a word I say if you’re around. It’s like everything stops when you show up and all he can focus on is you.” He shakes his head. “I shouldn’t be telling you this. Forget I said anything. Just forget Brett and go be with Logan. You two actually make sense. And he’s rich, and what girl doesn’t want a rich guy?” Josh opens the door for me.
I return to the dining room, my head spinning with what Josh just said. Does Brett really look at me that way? If he does, it means he has feelings for me, but then why is pretending I don’t exist?
“What took you so long?” Elliott says as I sit down at the table.
“None of your business.” I set my napkin on my lap.
“Were you talking to that guy?”
“What guy?”
“The valet. The one who goes to our school.”
“No. I don’t even think he’s working tonight.”
“How’s he doing at school?” my dad asks Elliott. “Has he made many friends?”
“He plays football, so yeah.” Elliott rolls his eyes. Elliott doesn’t like athletes. He’s jealous of all the attention they get, and yet he purposely became friends with Logan to benefit from his popularity.
“Has Logan talked to him?” my dad asks.
“Yeah, they’re best friends,” Elliott says, sounding annoyed.
“They’re not friends,” I say. “They just met.”
“Then why did he hang out with him on Sunday?” Elliott shoots back.
Brett and Logan were together on Sunday? Why didn’t Logan tell me that? I had dinner with him that night and he didn’t even mention it.
“What did they do on Sunday?” I ask Elliott.
“I don’t know. I didn’t ask. I don’t fucking care.”
“Language, dear,” Veronica says, patting Elliott’s hand.
Our meals arrive and Elliott goes back to looking at his phone while my dad and Veronica talk about work stuff.
I wonder if Logan said something to Brett that made him decide not to talk to me anymore. But what would he say? And why would Logan even mention me to Brett?
The next day at school, I attempt to talk to Brett, but he rushes off before I can. I text him but get nothing back.
At seven I go to the country club, but when I arrive I don’t see him.
“He’s not here,” Josh says as he opens my car door. “Is that why you came or are you staying for dinner?”
“Um, I was just going to look for something. I thought I left my coat here but I think it’s at home.”
Josh grins. “You don’t have to lie. I know you’re here to see him.”
I could try to deny it, but Josh wouldn’t believe me. “You said he was working.”
“We’re slow tonight so the boss told him to stay home. Why don’t you just go to his place and talk to him?”
“I don’t know where he lives.”
“I do. I’ll send you his address.” He takes out his phone and sends the text. “It’s a rough neighborhood. Be careful where you park. And lock your doors.”
“Is it really that bad?”
“Yeah. Don’t you watch the news? There’s shootings there all the time. Murders. Armed robberies. I wouldn’t go near that place.”
“But you’re telling me to?”
“You can do what you want. I’m just telling you it’s a rough neighborhood.”
“I’m sure I’ll be fine. Thanks, Josh.”
He shuts the door. I put the address in my nav system and take off.
The closer I get to Brett’s neighborhood, the more I think this is a bad idea. It’s night and I’m not feeling safe as I drive past buildings that have bullet holes in the windows. Even during the day, I wouldn’t feel safe here.
Maybe I should just wait until school tomorrow to talk to Brett. But I don’t want to wait. I need to talk to him now.
“I’m not afraid,” I say out loud as a group of guys watches me park my BMW on the street. It’s dark and several of the street lights are burned out.
Keeping my phone in my hand, I get out of the car, locking it and ignoring the guys who are still watching me. Police sirens wail in the distance as I hurry to the door of Brett’s building. When I reach it, I see it’s the wrong number. I run to the one across from it and see an older lady walking out. I go past her into the building and down to the elevator.
The elevator doors make a grinding noise as they open. I get on with two men who are probably in their thirties. They look me up and down, smiling a little. I stare at the elevator buttons, willing them to hurry up so I can get out of here.
When I finally reach Brett’s floor, I hurry off the elevator and go down to his apartment. I really hope he’s home.
I knock on the door.
“Who is it?” I hear him say. God, his voice is sexy. Low and deep and strong.
“It’s Claire.”
There’s silence, and then I hear him stomping to the door. It flings open. “What the hell are you doing here?”
“I need to talk to you and you won’t talk to me at school so—”
“Get in here.” He takes my hand and pulls me inside. “You’re not safe out there. You’re lucky you didn’t get robbed, or worse.”
“I’m fine.”
“Did you drive here?”
“Yeah. How else would I get here?”
“You left your BMW on the street? Are you insane? It’s probably already gone!” He goes around me to the door.
I grab his arm, stopping him. “Forget about the car! I need to talk to you.”
He turns back. “Then hurry up. What do you want?”
“Why did you stop talking to me? Were you just using me for sex?”
He huffs. “Is that really what you think?”
“Why else would you stop talking to me?”
He shakes his head. “I can’t believe you’re asking me that.”
“Is it something I did? Something I said?”
He looks at me. “You lied to me.”
“I didn’t lie. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You didn’t tell me you were already taken.”
“Taken? What do you mean?”
“You have a boyfriend. A guy you’ve dated for two years. I don’t why you thought you could—”
“I don’t have a boyfriend.”
“Logan told me about you.” Brett folds his arms over his chest. “He said you two have been going out since you were 15 and that you’d never been with anyone else. So is that why you did it? You were using me to see what it’d be like to be with someone else?”
“No! Brett, I swear to you, that’s not what I was doing. And I’m not dating Logan. A few weeks ago he told me he wanted to date other people and I told him if he did, that we were over.”
“And then you got back together with him.”
“No. He was dating some other girl until he got hurt. She must’ve dumped him because he suddenly wanted to be with me again. Now he’s acting like we’re together even though I told him we’re not.”
“That’s not what Logan said. He called you his girlfriend and never mentioned anything about you two breaking up.”
“Logan lied. He wants me back so he’s acting like we’re still together. He’s even telling people at school that. But it’s not true. He and I aren’t together, and I’m not going back to him.”
Brett goes past me, through the tiny living room to the even tinier kitchen. It’s a really small apartment with only a couch, a beat-up coffee table and a floor lamp for furniture. There’s a fold-out table with a couple chairs near the kitchen, which is probably where they eat.
“I don’t know who’s telling the truth,” Brett says, turning back to me, “but I’m not getting in the middle of it. I don’t know why you started this, but it never should’ve happened.”
I walk up to him. “Do you really think that?”
He pauses, then says, “I don’t need problems, Claire. I’ve already got plenty. I don’t need more.”
“Is that what I am to you?” I ask, my eyes stinging with tears. “A problem?”
He walks past me. “It’s not you. It’s the situation.” He looks back at me. “You’re with someone else. Even if you don’t think you are, Logan does, and I’m not getting in the middle of that shit.”
“Logan and I aren’t together. I don’t care what he thinks. He’s wrong, and I’ll keep telling him that until he finally believes it.”
“Even if Logan wasn’t a problem, I still can’t do this. I can’t risk losing my job.”
“Which is why I’m trying to get off my dad’s membership.” I go up to him. “If I could get off the membership and your job wasn’t at risk, would you do this? Or do you just not want this?”
“Of course I want it. I meant everything I said to you last weekend. It just can’t happen.” He rubs his jaw. “It’s how my whole fucking life works. I always want what I can’t have, and trying to get it always gets me into trouble.” His eyes go to mine. “I’m sorry. I wish things could be different.”
He’s looking at me like he wants to kiss me, and God, I want him to so bad. If he remembered how it felt when we kissed, maybe he’d be willing to try to make this work. I know there’s a lot at stake, but I’ve never felt this much for someone in such a short amount of time. That has to mean there’s more between us than just attraction. I want to find out what that is, but that won’t happen if Brett’s not willing to try.
“I guess I’ll go,” I say, backing away.
“Scary monster!” a tiny voice yells. I look past Brett and see the most adorable little girl with long brown hair and big brown eyes running up to Brett.
Brett scoops her up in his arms. “There’s no monsters.” He kisses her cheek. “You’re the monster, remember?” She giggles as he tickles her. “You’re supposed to be in bed.”
“Couldn’t sleep cause of monsters.” She frowns and lays her head on his shoulder. It’s the sweetest thing ever, and kind of hot. Maybe that’s weird, but seeing Brett with that sweet little girl just made my attraction to him shoot to a whole new level.
He comes off all big and tough, but I knew he had a soft side. I knew it the moment we met, when he tried to comfort me that night I was hiding out in the car. He has a good heart, and he’s not afraid to let people see it. I love that about him.
This is the type of guy I want to be with, the type I dreamed about, even when I was still with Logan. There was something that just never felt right about Logan, but everything with Brett feels right.
He just doesn’t want to be with me.
25
Claire
“Who are you?” the little girl asks, pointing her tiny finger at me.
“I’m Claire.” I smile at her. “Who are you?”
“Ava.” She stares at me, her head still on Brett’s shoulder.
“She’s my niece,” Brett explains. “My sister’s working tonight so I’m babysitting.” His phone rings and he answers it. “What’s going on? You gonna be late?” He listens, concern filling his face. “I’ll come get you, but I’ll have to bring Ava, unless… hold on.” He glances at me. “Any chance you could stay here and watch her?”
“Your niece?”
“Yeah. It won’t be long. Maybe a half hour.”
“Sure.” I smile at Ava, but she’s looking at me like she’s not sure about me.
“I have someone to watch Ava,” Brett says to whoever’s on the phone. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.” He shoves his phone in his pocket and says to Ava, “Your mom missed the bus so I’m gonna go get her. You’re going to stay with Claire.”
He tries to give her to me, but she clings to him. “No.”
“It’s just for a few minutes,” he tells her. “She’s my friend. She’ll just stay with you until your mom and I get home.”
“No,” Ava says, shaking her head.
“We could read a story,” I tell her, sounding excited. “Do you have some books?”
She doesn’t answer.
“You know what?” Brett says to Ava. “Claire has a princess dress that’s just like yours. Maybe she’ll tell you about it.”
“Princess dress?” I say to Brett, hoping he’ll clue me in as to what he means.
“The one you wore the night we met. It was pink and had that big frilly skirt.”
I smile. “You thought I looked like a princess?”
“I have a princess dress!” Ava says, pushing away from Brett, trying to get down.
“Go get it and show her,” Brett says.
Ava runs down the hall into one of the bedrooms.
“I won’t be gone long,” Brett says, going to get his keys. “I’d bring her with but I don’t like having her in the car this late. A girl her age got shot in a drive-by last year and it was around this time of night.”
