Read The Price of Love (A Price Novel Book 1) Online

Authors: Maggi Craft

Tags: #romance

The Price of Love (A Price Novel Book 1) (6 page)

BOOK: The Price of Love (A Price Novel Book 1)
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Only moments later, I looked again, and it was Slayde — and he was with Kinley. I felt sick, really sick. I felt like I had been kicked in the gut. I had to leave. I had to leave now. I was upset, and I wasn’t in any kind of mood to continue this charade with my new friends any longer.

I grabbed my purse and pushed away from the table, knocking over my drink, which was nothing but ice by this point. Robert stopped talking and everyone looked at me. Federico quickly raked the ice into his hands and back into the glass. Looked up at me and smiled. I couldn’t even make myself return the gesture. I thought I was doing them all a favor by saying nothing. That was the only way to ensure that I would not break down crying right there.

I was just about to excuse myself from the table when Slayde walked up and grabbed my arm. A little more forcefully than I thought necessary. “Where in the hell have you been? I have been calling you and texting you for two days.” He turned to Holly. “And you — you lied to me.” Holly just shrugged and looked away. Slayde looked back at me. “She said she didn’t know anything about where you were. What is going on here? You’ve been ignoring my texts and calls because you were with him?” he shouted, pointing at poor Federico.

How dare he?
I was furious. “What do you mean, what’s going on here? You’re one to talk. You tell me what’s going on here,” I said as I pointed to Kinley, who had come to stand at Slayde’s side.

“What’s wrong, baby?” she asked Slayde, putting her hand on the back of his neck. And that was all I could stand. I stormed off. I wasn’t going to stand there and be humiliated in front of all of those people. I was going home — to
my
home, not the apartment. I just had to go back to Kenedy’s and get my stuff.

Slayde caught up to me and tried to get me to stop, but I jumped into a cab and left him standing on the curb. Tears were once again streaming down my face. This
is what I get for messing with my sister’s ex-boyfriend. I guess I deserve it. I should have known it would end this way.

When the cab dropped me off at the apartment building, I ran up the stairs. I didn’t want to chance getting caught in the elevator if Slayde followed me back. Changing into some comfy clothes, I began to pack my stuff. I was finished with this vacation. It was past time for me to go home.

Minutes later, I heard a knock at the door. I dropped the clothes I had in my hand and sat on the bed. I wasn’t going to open the door. I didn’t care who it was. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. “Arden, open the door. I know you’re in there.” It was Slayde.

At first I thought about being quiet and hoping he’d give up and go away, but that seemed highly unlikely. I finally forced myself to speak. “Slayde, go away. I don’t want to see you. Just leave me alone.” I walked out of the bedroom and sat on the couch.

“No, I’m not leaving you alone. I don’t want to leave you alone. I tried that for two days, and that didn’t work. Please open the door and talk to me. Tell me what’s wrong. I don’t have a clue why you are so angry with me.”

I sat there in silence, crying. After another minute, I heard him unlock the door.
Dammit, why didn’t I move that key?
He let himself in and sat beside me on the couch. Taking my chin in his hand, he lifted my eyes to meet his.

“You have a key to Kenedy’s apartment?” I asked. After what Holly had said about Kenedy being jealous, I thought maybe there was something I didn’t know.

“No, I got the one above the door.” He smiled and tucked my hair behind me ear.

I pushed his hand away. “You knew there was a spare key there this whole time? And you knew her roommate was here? And you never said a word?” I had stopped crying. I was angry again.

“I didn’t think about that until a few days after you got here, and I was enjoying your company so much I didn’t want you to leave,” he said sweetly.

“I bet you were. You must think I’m some sad, stupid little girl you can play games with and that I will follow you around like all of the other girls here. But that is not happening. I want you to leave,” I shouted and pointed at the door.

“Wait. I absolutely do not think that. I don’t know what you’re talking about. Why are you so angry with me?”

“You really don’t know why?”

“No, I don’t!” He looked very serious.

“I’ll tell you why. Because you got me drunk at that party, then brought me back to your apartment and took advantage of me.”

He looked confused. “What? Is that what you think happened? I don’t remember shit after we left that party, and I sure as hell don’t remember having sex with you.” He sounded defensive. “I definitely think I would remember something like that. What exactly do you remember?”

“Well, I don’t remember anything after dancing, but I know that I woke up, we were both in the bed with no clothes on, and I know we had sex.” Tears started pouring out of my eyes anew as I said that.

“Let me get this straight. I don’t remember having sex, and you don’t remember having sex. Maybe we didn’t.” He was looking at me like I was nuts.

Oh my gosh, was he dense or what? “Slayde, we definitely had sex, OK?” I went back into Kenedy’s room. I didn’t want to talk about this anymore.

“How are you so sure?” He followed me.

“Do I have to spell it out for you? The blood in the bed didn’t tip you off?” I buried my head in my hands. I was so embarrassed.

He didn’t say anything for a minute or two. “Well, I didn’t see that. So, I really didn’t know. Are you sure?”

“You changed the sheets, and yes, Slayde, I’m very sure.” When I finally managed to look up, he was staring at the floor, chewing his top lip. He looked as if he might cry.
You have got to be kidding me.
Now I felt bad. “Look, Arden, I’m so sorry. I really didn’t know. I changed the sheets because they smelled like booze and cigarettes. I really had no idea. I get why you’re so upset. You must have thought I was a real jerk. I don’t know what to say — I definitely didn’t know you had never … ” and his voice trailed off. I knew he was telling the truth.

“I guess there is nothing left to talk about,” I said. “I’m sorry I jumped to conclusions and didn’t have the decency to tell you what was going on. I was mad at myself and embarrassed. But there’s no sense in rehashing it; what’s done is done. We can’t undo it. I’m exhausted, and I think I am going to lie down. I’m sure your date is wondering where you are by now.”

“My date? What are you talking about?”

“Kinley? You do remember being with her at the bar, don’t you? Or was she serving up the drinks again tonight? Don’t you find it odd that neither one of us remember anything? I don’t remember being that drunk. Not enough to black out.”

He shrugged. “I hadn’t thought about it until now, but yeah, it’s weird. The drinks weren’t that strong.” We were both quiet a minute, and then he said, “And, just so you know, she wasn’t my date. She was just in the group of us that went to the club. She’s definitely not my date. And while we’re jumping to conclusions, what about your date?” He smiled at me.

I just glared at him, and then we both laughed. He grabbed my hand, and we sat there, silent a minute, and he whispered, “I really am sorry.”

I really didn’t want to discuss it and was happy to be interrupted by my phone vibrating. It was Holly, texting me to make sure I was OK. After I let her know that I was fine, Slayde and I lay down and fell asleep.

When I woke up, I was disappointed to see that Slayde was already gone. I went out into the kitchen, where Holly was making some coffee. Setting a cup in front of me, she said, “Cream or sugar?” and burst out laughing. I didn’t find her comment witty. In fact, I thought it was very tacky, but she seemed so amused with herself, I smiled and said nothing. “I saw Hot Stuff leave this morning. I take it you two kissed and made up.” She looked pleased.

“Well, we made up, I guess, but there was no kissing.”

“Honey, if you had that in your bed all night and there was no kissing going on, you may have more problems than you realize.” We both laughed. “You know your sister would have a stroke if she knew about this. I can see her finding out Slayde Price was in her bed and she wasn’t invited. She’d blow a gasket. So if she ever finds out, I know nothing. I have to live with her, you know.”

She had a point. Kenedy was not someone you wanted to be pissed off at you. I had three sisters, including her, all younger than me. We all had our fights growing up, but we all learned not to mess with Kenedy. She could be hateful, and she always got her way. I remembered the way she would flip out if someone took her makeup brush; I couldn’t imagine what she would do if they took her man.

“They broke up years ago, and she cheated on him, you know,” I said. “Why is she so into him? Are you sure they weren’t seeing each other again? He did know where the spare key was.”

“No, there wasn’t anything going on, but it wasn’t because she didn’t try. I’m not sure she knew he was coming to Paris until she ran into him the day we all moved in. She started calling and texting him, but he wasn’t interested. She must have told him where the key was like fifty times. He’s good-looking and really seems like a nice guy; everyone here loves him, and I haven’t heard a negative word about him. But I don’t understand why she makes such a fuss over him. He’s clearly over her. And now, he is clearly into you!” She pointed at me and smiled.

“No, no, he isn’t. We’re just friends,” I said.

“Just friends? Just friends don’t make you so upset that you hide out in the apartment for two days. Just friends don’t stop your friends in the hall and play twenty questions. Just friends don’t bust up a perfectly good date. You and Slayde Price are more than just friends,” she said with a huge smile.

“OK, maybe we are, but I don’t know what that is yet. Or even if I want it to be anything. So, can we just keep it between us for now?”

She did the “my lips are sealed” move and began to tell me about her date with Robert while I got dressed.

After lunch, I got a text from Slayde, asking if we could get something to eat later. Of course I typed that I didn’t think it was such a great idea and we should probably just be friends. And he replied that he would pick me up at six o’clock. One thing I’d learned about Slayde Price: he was extremely hardheaded and persistent.
Of course, I am hungry. I guess it wouldn’t hurt anything to go with him.
It wasn’t a date.

“I’m so glad to see that you don’t hate me today,” he said as we walked out of the building.

“Well, it’s still early.”

Laughing, he held his hands up. “I’ll be on my best behavior then. So what are you doing tomorrow night? Date with that Italian guy? What was his name, Freako?”

“You’re so funny,” I said sarcastically. “No, Freako has a date with Kinley, I think.” We both laughed.

“Well, if you’re free, let’s go see a movie or something.”

“Slayde, I don’t think that’s a good idea. I think we are better off as friends. You have a history with my sister, and I don’t think she is going to appreciate us seeing each other.”

He stopped walking and looked at me. He seemed frustrated. He sat on a bench near the sidewalk, took a deep breath, and ran his fingers through his dark hair. He looked at his feet. Then back at me. His brown eyes were squinted, and I couldn’t even see those gold specks. I was pretty sure he was pissed. “I really don’t care what your sister thinks. That didn’t stop her from sleeping with Brady.”

“Gia?” Brady and I had broken up because I caught them together.

“No! Not Gia, Kenedy!” he shouted.

“What are you talking about?” I asked. I had no clue where this was going.

He tried to change the subject. “It doesn’t matter now. All I’m saying is, Kenedy wouldn’t care what your feelings were if the situation were reversed. So why are you so concerned about hers?”

“I want to know what you were talking about.” I sat next to him. “I know my sister is a selfish pig, but I don’t know anything about her and Brady. Tell me!”

“Aah, me and my big mouth. This was years ago, OK, so please don’t let it ruin your day.” I nodded, and he continued. “The guy I caught her with was Brady. I thought you knew. I just figured you were a more forgiving person than me.” He paused for a minute and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry you had to find out all these years later.”

I didn’t even know what to say. I was totally blindsided by this information. My stomach turned over, and I sat there like a fool with my mouth gaping open. I shook my head as if that would shake the image out of my head, but that was silly. I was hurt.

That feeling passed quickly, and I was furious. Gia was one thing, but Kenedy was another. She always seemed so disapproving of the whole Brady and Gia thing.
I guess now I understand the real reason.
I didn’t say anything for a few minutes. When a single tear slid down my cheek, Slayde quickly wiped it away. I cried, “It sucks when your family will stab you in the back. If I can’t trust them, who can I trust?”

He put his arm around my shoulders and pulled me to his chest. “I know I’m just a consolation prize, but you can trust me.” And for some reason, I truly believed he meant it.

We went on with our dinner plans and didn’t talk about Kenedy again that night.

I decided to spend the next few nights at his place, after he pinkie promised to sleep on the couch, and he swore he wouldn’t touch me. Not that I really wanted him to uphold that, but it made me feel good to know that he would.

Chapter 3

T
he night before Kenedy came home, Slayde and I stayed up late, watching movies and talking. “So, now that the Wicked Witch of the West is coming back, I guess I won’t be seeing too much of you anymore,” he said sadly. He looked like he wanted a response, but I wasn’t sure what he wanted me to say. After a moment, he continued, saying, “Are you going to let her dictate who you hang out with? Because I know she won’t be around all the time.”

“You’ll still see me,” I assured him. I didn’t know if I could stay away from him, even if I tried.

“Good, I’m glad to hear that.” Giving me that unbelievable smile, he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into his lap. I was close enough to feel his breath on my cheek, and I wasn’t sure what to do. It was like I was fifteen again — I felt excited and nauseated all at the same time. His heart was beating up against my back. I was really falling for him, and it scared me to death.

BOOK: The Price of Love (A Price Novel Book 1)
12.62Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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