Beneath The Lies (12 page)

****

Gavin didn’t call me later but he did send me several texts. He told me something came up with a program his company oversees and he was stuck in his office all day and night.

But I had to know if he was lying, even though my gut told me he was. I drove by his apartment building and saw his Mustang parked in the place he used when I was with him. I sent him a text while I was across the street.

Until that moment, I was holding out hope that maybe he was at work and rode with Kiran. I drove home and from that point on I started ignoring his texts. Hours later, he finally called, but I ignored that too. I halfway expected him to come racing over to see if I was okay, but that never happened.

Monday I pulled myself together and went to class, but my phone went off all day because of unanswered texts that Gavin continued to send. I did everything I could to avoid going home to an empty apartment to do nothing but think about a man who’s obviously a liar.

Instead, I headed to the campus library where I once again managed to work ahead of my schedule. Before leaving, I open my email account, reading and deleting emails until I open one from my dad’s lawyer dated almost a week ago.

From: Jim Togg

To: Kate Reynolds

Subject: Stock

Ms. Reynolds,

Your father set up a special savings account for you to use to pay for college and living expenses while attending school. Mr. Reynolds added money when he saw fit to do so, however he also moved money around from various accounts. Your father left me in charge of your school account, however due to his death he didn’t leave me an available account to add funds if and when they are needed, which they are.

Kate, I knew your father very well. He very much intended for you to graduate. I also know he would love the fact that you’re attending Berkley but before his death didn’t make the financial arrangement for you to do so.

At his request all of his assets have been frozen until you’ve graduated or until you turn twenty-five, meaning I have no way of transferring additional money to your savings account.

The only loophole I’ve managed to find is the stock you own in Simple Global Solutions. Mr. Reynolds set aside ten percent of the company in your name at the time of your adoption. That is the only other form of money you have access to until you reach one of the two requirements. SGS has never been short on buyers and if you choose to go this route, you would make more than enough from the sale to finish paying your tuition and you’ll have plenty of money for your living expenses.

I must in good faith to your father tell you this is not what he wanted. His death was truly unexpected and when the time came for SGS to officially be yours, your father’s forty-one percent of the company added to your ten percent would ensure you’d always have controlling interest.

If I do not hear back from you, I’ll continue to inform potential buyers that no SGS stock is available to purchase. If you do however decide to go this route, please give me adequate notice to ensure funds will be available when you need them.

Sincerely,

Jim Togg

Holy crap. I had no idea that my father sold any of his stock. I was always under the impression he had complete control over SGS. Maybe I could get a job. Shit, I wonder how much money I’ll need. Or, God forbid, maybe I will have to ask Leeta if I could move back in. That would royally suck, especially if Gavin shows up. But other than finishing the semester and heading back home, I don’t know what else to do.

From: Kate Reynolds

To: Jim Togg

Subject: Re: Stock

Mr. Togg,

Thank you for contacting me. At this time, I’m not ready to sell my stock. Would you please tell me how much you feel I’ll need to sustain myself until I graduate

Sincerely,

Kate Reynolds

As I’m exiting the library, I see Alyssa walking to her car. “Alyssa!” I yell, causing Alyssa and several other people to stop and look at me.

“Hey, how did it go? Did you score your very own bad boy?” The look on my face must give me away. “Shit. Come back to my place. We’ll have a few drinks and forget all about the jackass.” This is exactly why I love this girl. She didn’t even hear what happened yet and already she has my back.

“Sounds like a plan.”

****

Alyssa convinced me we should go to a party where we end up drinking all night. She had the good sense to text Gabby to ask for a ride, but Noah was the one who showed up. He looked pissed when he first saw us, but by the time he dropped us off at Alyssa’s, he was actually laughing at how crazy we were acting.

I wake up Tuesday morning with my head in the toilet, regretting every drink I had the night before. I’ve never been hung over before and I never want to be again.

Once I get my stomach under control, I curl up in a ball in Alyssa’s bed and go back to sleep. When I wake up, it’s already late afternoon. I see a note from Alyssa claiming she left for class.

I’m thankful I worked ahead in my classes. Hopefully, missing today won’t hurt me too bad. I gather my stuff and notice my phone is dead. Oh well. I’m sure by now he’s stopped texting me, anyway.

I make it home a few minutes later and hop in the shower, but even that isn’t enough to kick me out of my funk. I feel like shit, and I have no one to blame but myself. I stick my phone on the charger and again I somehow manage to fall back asleep.

I wake when I hear my phone buzzing. This time when I get up, I notice it’s dark outside.
Crap.
I truly slept all day. Between last night and the night before with Gavin, I hardly slept.

I get up, find something to eat, then grab my phone. Shock doesn’t begin to describe what I’m feeling.

I only have twenty-seven missed calls from Gavin, but I have over a hundred texts from him. I look at the last text first.

I scroll through the rest of them to see he started out acting concerned, then turns upset, and now he seems to be downright angry with me because he’s accusing me of playing games with him. Well, screw him.

I hit send and wipe away a tear. No...I’m not going to cry over him again. I get up and shut off my light as my phone buzzes with another text. I slide it open, and I’m not surprised to see it’s from Gavin.

I wait a second as the text bubble comes up and goes off several times. When I’m about to put my phone up his text comes in.

I knew this was coming. I’m actually the one who stepped out of the running but...still, I wasn’t expecting him to give up so easily. This is better, at least it will be in the long run. I don’t want to be any man’s second choice but I’m definitely not going to be second best to a woman he claims is toxic.

****

I’ve drifted to sleep but I wake when I hear a banging. I slowly get up when I hear it for a second time. The closer I get to my living room, I can tell someone is banging on my door. I look through the peephole and my heart starts racing when I see Gavin.
Crap. What is he doing here?

I sigh out a breath of air. I don’t want to see him. I just need to put him and his drama behind me.

“Kate, open the door. I’m sorry. Please let me explain and if you still hate me then I’ll leave you alone.” I can hear the desperation in his voice, which like it or not, pulls at my heart. I hesitate for a second longer before I open the door.

Gavin is a gorgeous man but compared to normal he looks like shit. His five o’clock shadow looks more like the beginning of a beard. And he looks like he hasn’t slept in days. I shouldn’t enjoy seeing him like this but I do. I’m happy to know I’m not the only one who’s had a rough couple of days.

“Why are you here?” I ask in a clipped tone. Instead of answering me he continues to stare at me, waiting for me to invite him in.

Gavin probably weighs a hundred pounds more than me. If he really wants to force his way into my apartment he could, but he’s not. Instead, he’s waiting for me to give him permission to come in, and his eyes are pleading with me to listen to him.

“Please, before you write me off for good, at least hear me out.” I let out a deep sigh because I know if I don’t listen to him I will always wonder what he would have told me. Therefore, I back out of the doorway and motion for him to come in.

He walks in and there’s no questioning that he’s on edge. He sits down and looks over at me while he nervously picks at his fingernails.

He swallows loudly. “Carly called me Sunday morning and I did go over to her place but I was there less than five minutes. I don’t want Carly in any way, shape, or form. If you want the God's honest truth, I’m to the point where I hate her. But I do put up with her for a reason. That reason is four years old and the only person that has ever loved me unconditionally.”

My stomach tightens almost to the point of pain. “You have a child?” Oh, my God. How could he have kept that part of himself from me?

“Yes, but...no.” My expression must mirror my confusion. “I met Carly when I was seventeen. She waited six months before she broke up with me the first time. That was the longest stretch we’ve gone without breaking up. She loves drama and when none exists, she creates it.