The Arrangement (unenhanced Edition) by AnnaRCase (books to read now .txt) 📖

Grayson chuckled, “Of course. You are always welcome here Elle. And since Leo is being incredibly rude, allow me to introduce you to Miss Dubois.”

“It’s nice to meet you Miss Dubious,” she said politely, “And from what I hear you and Leo are dating now?”

Amberleigh gave her a tense smile, “Yes. You’ve heard correctly. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

“I’m happy for you both. Just how long have the two of you been dating if you don’t mind my asking?”

Well this was awkward. Could this night get anymore messed up and awkward? Seriously? Amberleigh didn’t know the right answer here. If she told the same lie they’d spread to Courtney about meeting a month ago in Italy, that would make Leo a cheater according to the timeline of their break up.

“Elle, how about you and I go to the kitchen so I can get some more ice and we can get caught up?” suggested Leo.

Elle smiled at him, “Oh Leo, that won’t be necessary. You should enjoy the party with your date. Now if you’ll excuse me, I am very tired and still have packing to do. I wish you all a nice night.”

Naturally, Leo tried to save face and followed Elle towards the door. But Amberleigh had to admit, it looked hella bad on his part. No doubt Courtney had eagerly filled Elle in on the scandal while Leo was occupied serving up his own brand of justice to Jackson, as the four of them probably had like went on double dates and shit in the past. Amberleigh really hated that bitch.

“Elle, please wait. I can explain this if you will only give me the chance,” pleaded Leo.

Grayson walked over to the window and peered out, as if some lame attempt to give them privacy. But Amberleigh didn’t bother with such a pointless gesture, as she was clearly smack dab in the fuckin middle of this shit storm.

Even through the mask and from across the room, it was plain to see the woman was tearing up. And her next words came out a bit choked up.

“Just tell me if she’s the real reason you decided to stay Leo?”

Those words seemed to hit Leo like a punch in the gut. There was no good way to explain this without revealing their secret. And Leo was loyal to his friend. No matter the cost it seemed. He was going to let a woman, he still clearly had feelings for, think he had cheated on her, and chose his mistress, rather than reveal the truth.

“Elle please.”

When Elle began to cry and Leo looked four seconds away from doing the same thing, Amberleigh joined Grayson at the window. It seemed he hadn’t had the wrong idea after all. She rubbed her arms and tried not to cry. Grayson was looking at her, his eyes fell on the finger-shaped bruises. He reached over and she flinched, but he was only pushing the fabric aside to get a better view of the bruises. His face was unreadable, the mask not helping matters obviously.

Elle was crying pretty hard at this point and even Leo’s word were coming out emotional and heartbreaking. He begged Elle to go somewhere private so they could talk about it. A tear slipped beneath Amberleigh’s mask as both of them were tugging at her heartstrings. This night had been so fuckin messed up!

She felt a light touch in the back of her hand, her breath caught in her throat, when she looked down. At first she thought she’d imagined it, Grayson’s fingers lightly tracing over the back of her hand. But the action had been deliberate as he repeated it. His eyes were gazing out at the skyline in front of him, while his fingers traced against her skin softly. She was afraid to move. To breathe, to do a damn thing to break whatever spell this was.

Her heart was slamming against her ribs wildly and his touch sent shivers through her body. If only he would look at her. That way she would know it was her face he was thinking of, her he wanted to touch. She risked it all by turning her hand over to entangle in his.

The man beside her breathed in deeply, but he didn’t let go. Just as she dared look over, he was already looking at her. Their eyes met. And for once she was undoubtedly sure, he was only looking at her. Only thinking of her.

The door slammed shut behind him. Both of them jumped. And just like that, whatever had fallen over them was broken. Grayson left her standing by the window without a word. Cold. And soon she was alone in the room.

She ripped off the mask from her face to allow her tears to flow freely. She managed to get out of her dress and threw it on the floor. God, what she wouldn’t give for a bottle of cheap liquor right now. As she stepped into the shower, so hot she could hardly stand it against her skin, Amberleigh wondered how one day could be both one of the best and worst in your life.

She curled up in her bed and cried against her silk pillow. She had lost Leo without a doubt now. Grayson could barely stand to touch her. She had only been fooling herself about this party. Girls like her didn’t get happy fuckin endings. It was a dark fuckin fairytale indeed.