Sasha sat in the opposite chair, stretching out his legs.
Around the room dust motes floated in the air. The room was strangely lacking personalization. Sure it was fit for a bloke like his cousin, with an oversized bed covered in designer sheets while priceless art hung on the walls. However, there was nothing of the man who lived here.
Come to think of it, it was the first time Christian had been in Sasha’s house. For as close as they were, he and Sasha hadn’t really spent any time together in the past few years. Not like mates should. His cousin usually showed up when he needed him, or to direct Christian to the next party.
“You and your bloody first world problems,” Sasha said, breaking the silence.
“My bloody what?” Raising his brows, Christian sliced his gaze to Sasha. There was a bruise the size of a man’s fist on Sasha’s chest, just above his right nipple ring. “Row?”
Sasha glanced down, then back up. There was a hardness in his green eyes. A hardness Christian had only seen once before, at Sasha’s father’s funeral. “Doesn’t concern you.”
“It does and had you called me, I’d have been there and had your back,” Christian reminded him. Although he wanted answers about Sasha’s meddling, he wanted to know what had gone wrong with his relationship with his cousin. Couldn’t there be one person in this world that he could trust not to lie to him?
Sasha laughed, but it was brittle. “My back? Might want to re-think that.”
Christian started to defend himself, to point out a time where he’d done exactly that, but his memories were empty. “Why’d you do it, and none of that bored bullshit excuse.”
“Let’s just say it was in my best interest.” Sasha stood. “That enough of an excuse?”
“Will it be in your best interest to do it again?” Christian asked, his hands clenching into fists.
“It’s not up to me.” Sasha’s face was weary. Lines bracketed his mouth. He was without his usual wit. “Go home, Christian.”
“I don’t have one.” Verbalizing that truth was a punch in the gut. And what hurt worse was the knowledge that with Zoe he would have had one. Would have had anything and everything he’d ever wanted with her. But his damned pride, ego, whatever he wanted to call it made him throw it all away.
“Join the club,” Sasha said. “However, as president, I won’t approve your membership. We’ve standards to uphold.”
Christian shot him a wry smile. “Shouldn’t I be pissed at you?”
“Be whatever you want, mate. Not all of us have that luxury.” When had Sasha become so cryptic? “But I’d recommend sorting things out with your wife first.”
Like that would be easy.
Christian had always thought people who broke up over The Big Misunderstanding in movies were ridiculous. Something the screenwriter liked to add for dramatic effect to draw things out. But now he knew exactly why it happened, for him anyway. He’d refused to listen to Zoe’s explanation, refused to be swayed by the deep hurt in her eyes.
It didn’t matter what Sasha’s role was in all this. Christian knew his father was the puppeteer pulling all the strings. But he had to know the truth. “At least tell me what happened that day.”
Sasha moved to the fireplace. “Long or short version.”
“What do you think?”
Sasha turned away, facing the mantle. “I had her calls and texts blocked, paid off her hair dresser to take an extraordinarily long amount of time dying her hair back, and encouraged Jaylen to show up when Miss Persistent headed to the restaurant an hour and half late.”
Dread rose inside of him. “She was telling the truth.”
“Spoke to you, too.”
Memories of that day rushed over him, like the tide. The shy fan who’d come up to his table—just as Jaylen kissed his cheek. He’d offered to sign something for her.
I don’t want anything from you, he remembered her saying. Then the little brunette had practically run out of the diner, smacking into a few chairs along the way.
“Oh dear God.” Running a hand over his face, he let out a groan. “I’ve royally f**ked things up.”
Sasha turned to face him, raising his brows. “Who told you the club’s motto? Now I’ve no choice but to approve your membership lest you blab our secrets.”
Despite his anger, his shame and frustration, Christian managed to laugh. He stood, clapping a hand on Sasha’s shoulder. “I’m off to Holland Springs. Care to come with me?”
The smile that had begun to form on Sasha’s face evaporated. “I’ve other obligations.”
“Going to see Phoebe?” Christian asked as he moved to the door.
“If I’m allowed,” came his cousin answer. Christian’s father controlled every part of Phoebe’s medical care as well as Sasha’s inheritance.
Damn Vladimir Romanov to hell. Christian paused in the doorway. “Is there any way I can help?”
“Help me get ready for tonight?” Sasha shook his head, waving him away. “You can barely dress yourself.”
How had he missed this act that Sasha put on? “That’s not what I meant.”
“It’s the way it has to be,” Sasha said quietly, then moved to the bathroom, shutting the door behind him.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Zoe opened her front door, startled but not surprised to see the man standing on the other side. “What are you doing here?”
She tried to be brave, tried not to cry when she saw his familiar face, but his eyes held so much compassion that she broke down when he gave her a single sunflower.
“Pretty flower for a pretty lady,” Gabriel said, his arms strong as they held her. Solid. Real and comfortable.
“Thanks for the flower.” Her words were muffled by his collared shirt. She pulled away, guilt filling her soul. What was she doing hugging him? Gabriel of all people? Even if he was her ex, she was still married. Yeah and the annulment document was still sitting in her in-box, waiting for her electronic signature. “Is there something you need?”
He smiled, eyes crinkling and dimple showing in his left cheek. A smile that was genuine and the same for everyone. “I’ve come to check on you. See if there was anything you needed.”
She stepped to the side and gestured for him to come in. After placing the sunflower in a vase, she joined Gabriel on the couch.
For long minutes, he stared off into space, seemingly preoccupied. Actually he acted as if he’d rather be any place but with her. Which was fine, but strange.