Frayed (13 page)

I immediately stood up, as did Lindsey. Taylor was across the hall, arms folded against his chest with an amused expression on his face. He cocked his head at us, directing it towards the patio. He even had the gall to wait until we silently moved away from the holy hotness of the Bass
fuckery.
Until the day I die, I will remember that image in my head.
Emma was one lucky lady.

Go get it doll
, I cheered in my head.

Once we were outside, Lindsey and I shared a look, a-barely-contained-excitement kind of look. “Shit. Was that the hottest thing you’ve
ever
seen or what?” Lindsey wondered out loud, matching my thoughts.

“Hell to the
mother-fucking yeah!!!”

“Did you see that ass?” We both exclaimed, swooning.

I was a little annoyed when Taylor cleared his throat, breaking our concentration from thoughts of sex and mental images of the sensual play we’d just seen. We were so caught up with our own thoughts that we forgot about him, standing there on the opposite side of the patio, watching us fawn and daydream about what we had just witnessed. I wasn’t sure what he thought about us daydreaming nasty thoughts about his best friend’s buns of steel and I wasn’t quite sure I cared because it had definitely been the show of a lifetime.

“I think five minutes is enough replaying it in your dirty heads
, no? Those two will be joining us soon, once they’ve realized we have arrived. It would be awkward if Bass came out here and you girls looked all flushed.” Taylor tried to hide the smile. He was definitely making fun of us.

Lindsey grinned at him as she started to walk towards one of the chaise lounges
then sat, facing him. “Come on, dude. I’m sure this thing always happens to you.”

He gave her a humorous laugh. “It does,
and it never gets old.”

“So, did you guys ever like the same woman? I’m sure that’s happened before. I mean, you guys are both exceptionally good looking,” Lindsey said as she stared at Taylor, waiting for him to answer her direct question.

He looked thoughtful a moment, pondering Lindsey’s question with consideration. “Nah, Bass and my tastes are different. He has a thing for exotic beauties with accents. On the other hand, I prefer brunettes.”

Lindsey frowned at that. “That’s interesting to me. Emma’s not an exotic beauty with an accent. Why do you think Bass is with her then?”

Fucking good question there, Doll, and what’s with Taylor’s thing for brunettes?
Was he trying to tell me something? Fucktard!

Taylor didn’t even look worried
about Lindsey’s suspicions. “The only one that could answer your question would be the man himself. Anyone with eyes, though, could see how crazy he is about her. In the end, I guess a person can’t really control what they feel towards someone, even if that someone is not what one expected them to be. We don’t do the choosing, our souls do.”

The last few sentences made Lindsey frown. “Well, that’s a fucked up thing to say, Taylor. You totally just screwed with my head. I say we need some hefty margaritas in our systems.”
She stood up and left the patio, heading straight to the bar inside. I knew Taylor’s words made her think of Brody.

T
hat would definitely pissed her off. If Lindsey could ease up on her thoughts of Brody for a little bit, she could breathe easily. Then again, Lindsey was one stubborn-headed bitch. Not only that, but she has a notoriously vindictive personality to boot. Ever since our small weekend jaunt in Tahoe last year, Lindsey was bitchy when it comes to Cece. And that includes ALL the men Cece slept with, including the men who she was in love with since middle school.

Emma, Bass and Lindsey all came out at the same time, bringing drinks and snacks with them. Bass was only wearing his ripped
, stained jeans. I blushed when he gave me a smile. Yeah, I was a little embarrassed because I was admiring his ass while he was having sex with my friend a little over half an hour ago. If he had known that, I wondered if he would still smile at me. Emma, on the other hand, gave me a happy kiss on the cheek. Her torso-hugging dress flared loosely from her hips to her ankles. It showed off her amazing body in an understated way. Yeah, Emma’s one of those girls that appears as if they popped into this world looking like a damn super model. I caught Bass cupping her ass before he moved past Emma; he was trying to be subtle, but had failed miserably. The gesture made it obvious that he couldn’t get enough of Emma. If he wasn’t in love with her already, he was on his way there. I was glad that she finally found a man who adored her like mad. It wasn’t hard to see the happiness that radiated off her.

We were discussing our trip in
Ios when a slight knock on the glass made us look up. All five heads turned to watch a blue-eyed, dark haired, Greek piece of perfection walk towards our table.
Holy shit, this island harbored all the hot males.

“Good evening. I let myself in after a few knocks. I hope you guys don’t mind.” The Greek man spoke with a husky
, accented voice.

“Girls, this is
Dimitris. We’ll be staying at his place in Athens tonight.” Bass introduced him to Lindsey and me. It was obvious that Taylor already knew him since they greeted each other like long, lost buddies.

“You’re an actor as well?” Lindsey asked him as
Dimitris settled himself across her. To other observers, she might look nonchalant and blasé, but I knew better. Lindsey’s eyes sharpened, her “come get me boys” look was in place. Sultry Doll was definitely ready to play.

The Greek actor looked like a devil-may-care kind of guy, but something about him told me that Lindsey might find her usual strategic games challenged by him. “I
am. I play Emma’s husband in the movie,” Dimitris murmured before he helped himself to a glass of red wine.

Damn. Emma’s job was to make out
with and be in the arms of two very fine, exceptionally good-looking men? Talk about super unfair!

Emma reach out and touched my arm. “
Tris, do you mind helping me make some more drinks?” she asked on the side, getting my sole attention, while Taylor and Bass, Lindsey and Dimitris were all engaged in their own conversations.

Grinning, I reminded her of my bomb skills. “Sure, but you know how deadly I make mine.” I knew Emma couldn’t handle hardcore concoction
s, but that didn’t stop me from trying to get her to drink them anyway.

We both stood up at the same time. She laughed, shaking her head, remembering fun memories of us plastered. “Yeah, don’t remind me. Your drinks
gave me the worst hangovers.” Emma slightly ruffled my hair, before slinging her arm loosely around my shoulder as we walked back inside the cottage. When her arm kept pushing us past the bar, I knew then that she was up to something.

“He sent an email heading
‘
Did
Trista give you something from me
’
?
Did
he
really send something?” Emma whispered, worried.

Of course, unanswered emails wouldn’t faze tough-as-nails-sexiness-was-named-after-me Carter Mason.
What Carter wants, Carter gets. If it gets tough, Carter aims harder. He wasn’t the kind of man who would give up. Back in middle school, when our school banned those old school Nokia phones from being used at breaks and lunches, Carter made a damn petition and nearly got the entire school to sign it. He then took it to the local radio stations and made sure that the entire city was made aware of the school ban. The school principal, of course, lifted the “no cellphones allowed” policy the following day. The principal even gave Carter an apology.
Yeah, Carter was a lot of things, but giving up wasn’t part of his DNA.

“My room, let’s go.” I ordered her to follow behind me. I hastily opened the door to the room and waited for her to get inside. Once she did, I gently closed the door behind her. “I’ll go grab it. It’s hidden
in the closet.” It didn’t take long for me to locate the item. I handed it to her.

We were both sitting on the bed, anxious. Our eyes dauntingly stared at the white package. “Did he say what was in it?” Emma asked, obviously apprehensive.

Like Carter would tell me.

I shook my head. “No, he didn’t.” I should excuse myself and leave her to open the present from Carte
r
,
b
ut I was way too curious to have the decency to do that. I wanted to see what Carter Mason had up his sleeve to try and win her back. The man was bound to do something monumental.

“Phew, okay. This is stupid. I don’t know why I’m even nervous. Let’s just get this out of the way, shall we?” Emma sounded like she was trying to ease her mind, but it was obvious that she was a little shaken.

Her fine, dainty fingers swiftly opened the bag and poured all the contents on the bed. My eyes took in the four by four picture frame of them kissing during Halloween last year (they looked utterly crazy about each other in this one), his current jersey, a DVD of The Pirates of the Caribbean and a card. What really caught my attention was the final item, a black velvet ring box.

I nervously glanced at Emma. Her blue eyes stared at it like it was dangerous. It was her
Pandora’s Box
. When her hand reached out to get the small square item, they were trembling. My heart was in my throat when I saw what that ring box contained.  “OH MY GOD,” I whispered in awe and shock.

Holy fucking COW, it was epic. Epically crazy,
epically ludicrous, epically original—but most of all, it was
Carter
epic
.

“His great-great-grandmother’s engagement ring!” Emma screeched with shock and
bewilderment. The antique, oval-cut ring was truly magnificent, with a huge
sapphire
surrounded by flawless diamonds. What made this ring significant was that Carter’s great-great grandfather bought this for his new betrothed from a European royal who needed more money to continue supplementing his expensive lifestyle. The ring was a medieval piece of art that carried centuries of history. It was Emma’s birthstone to boot. For Carter to offer his grandmother’s ring to Emma, proved his intentions were beyond boyfriend/girlfriend. The ring had been passed down through the family to his grandmother who died when he was about eight, I think, and had been set aside for him, intended for the woman he would someday marry. The fact that he sent it to Emma was a statement that he had just made LOUD and CLEAR.

I remembered Lindsey mentioning seeing her
grandmother’s ring before, but I hadn’t expected Carter to send it through me.
I hid a ring that cost millions in a fucking closet!
It was in my luggage and went through international customs! What the hell. That was messed up. What if someone had stolen it? Thinking about those possibilities almost gave me a panic attack. So not cool.

When my eyes returned back to my friend, I started to worry. “Emma?” she looked pale, ghostly.

Emma bit her bottom lip before she took hold of the letter and opened it, without parting with the ring.

My Emma,

The past two months without seeing your beautiful face
have been the greatest challenge of my life. Your mind must be going nuts about my grandmother’s’s ring. Do you remember when I was telling you about it this past Christmas? I hope you do. It was the first time in years that I didn’t dread the occasion.

There’s no better way to tell you how serious I am than
with this ring. You know what this ring signifies, to me most of all. This is my way of telling you that I want my future with you in it.

I don’t want anyone else but you, Emma.

You can keep ignoring me if it makes you feel safe, but that doesn’t mean I will ignore you when you do. Our relationship was rocky, but we had a lot of good memories, too. I don’t know how to fully explain myself. You know more than anyone that I’m not good with expressing my feelings.

ALL I SEE IS YOU. There is no one else
except you.

Forgive me, Emma. I will prove that I will be worthy of you again.

Forgive me for betraying your love and trust.

Forgive me for fighting for you.

Forgive me for loving you so much that I can’t let you go.

Ours was the kind of love that stays with you. You know more than I do, that it’s never going to be over, my Emma.

I love you.

Carter

This was like D-
Day, the rounds just kept on coming
. Carter blew my mind with this screwed-up-fucking-ingenious gesture of his.

“Emma…” I trailed off. I wanted to say, “be strong and don’t let him change your mind”, but a quick glance at her made me stop. She was about to cry, but
was trying to control it.

“What do I do,
Trista? This is too much.” Emma’s small voice shook, troubled and confused.

Oh, no. She’s reacting to him. Not a very good sign.
“Do you still have feelings for him, Em?”

“It’s going away. There are days that I don’t even remember him and his betrayal. I’m unprepared for
this
. I wasn’t expecting this.” Emma gently wiped her tears away.