“Brittany had something come up and won’t make it today,” he said, but she didn’t mention how she’d heard them fighting, or knew the real reason Brittany had left.
“Everyone’s out back,” she said, deciding that it wasn’t her place to say anything.
“Here, let me help you,” Reese said, grabbed the bottles of water, and gave her one more smile. He walked away, and she stood there, conflicted over what had just happened, and the fact he was trying so hard to pretend things were okay. But Lake knew this wasn’t her concern or business, and she also knew she’d keep her mouth shut.
She contemplated going back outside, but when she made her way toward the back door, she saw Reese standing by the pool, his shirt already off and his head lowered as he spoke to Ginny, a wave of emotion filled her. She knew him, of course, and had gotten more acquainted with him as the months passed, but she felt bad for the man that had just gotten married less than six months before and already had to deal with a wife like that.
A part of her had wanted to go out there and tell Brittany that respect worked both ways, but again, it wasn’t her place, wasn’t her business, and she’d mind her own, especially concerning something like this.
4
Eighteen months later
“She’s a bitch, that’s what she is.”
Hearing Ginny speaking with someone in the kitchen, Lake threw her bag on the couch and walked in, ignoring her stepmother as she grabbed a bottle of water.”
“Well, they’re coming over for dinner, so I’ll let you know how that goes.”
Lake minded her own business and went over to the kitchen table. She had a lot of homework to get started on, as well as an exam to study for. Over the last couple of years she’d been attending the local college in her city, working toward her business degree so she could someday help her father in his office.
Although he’d said he’d like her to practice law, follow in his footsteps and all of that, the truth was legal stuff didn’t interest her in that way. Helping him manage his paperwork, his employees, and set up other things that would help his office run smoothly was far more interesting to her.
But she had another two years to go before she was finished with her bachelor’s degree and could even think about working at his office.
Ginny got off the phone and sat down on the seat across from her. “I swear...” she said almost to herself.
Lake looked up from her yogurt. Ginny and she had become closer, but to Lake Ginny was more of an older sister than a role model. Ginny was interested in shopping, tanning by the pool, and having friends over on the weekends for partying.
But despite the fact Lake kind of thought Ginny was a little too outgoing and sometimes immature for her age, she was nice and thoughtful of others, and made her father happy.
“Everything okay?” Lake asked more out of courtesy than actual interest. Knowing Ginny and her friends, it was probably something that was superficial and had nothing to do with a real issue.
“Reese and Brittany,” Ginny said.
The sound of Ginny’s older brother’s name had Lake sitting up straighter. Over the last two years since Reese and his wife had moved to the same city, she’d learned more about the man who now only lived twenty minutes from away. He often came over and helped her with studying because Ginny got too confused on the coursework and her father had been working.
But even during those rare occurrences where Reese had come over strictly to help Lake, all she could sense was this deep unhappiness within him.
Since that first time she’d seen him and Brittany arguing, and then Brittany storming off, leaving him alone, Lake had hoped he’d be able to find happiness in some way. He was intelligent, had a military background, but had since gotten an honorable discharge, and he was insanely attractive.
Of course she thought he was gorgeous, because anyone who could see would have noticed that, but it wasn’t that she was after a married man. God, that’s the furthest from my mind. It was just that he was a genuinely nice man and deserved a good life.
Brittany had rarely come over after that time they’d fought and Lake had seen, but Lake had never uttered a word about what she’d witnessed, or asked Reese about it. Of course she’d been curious and had wanted to ask him about how things were, but she smiled, never brought it up, and focused on her studies.
Ginny breathed out, leaned back in her seat, and stared at Lake. Ginny wore this obscenely low-cut tank, her cleavage massive, thanks to the breast implants she’d gotten last year. “I swear, I don’t know why she even married my brother.”