Laugh Like You've Never Cried (Summer Lake 5) (25 page)

Missy rolled her eyes. “Don't be ridiculous! The two of you are everything she wants.” She looked like she was about to say something else, but she changed her mind.

“What, critter?”

“What, what?”

Michael gave up. He knew Missy well enough to know there was no point trying to get anything out of her if she'd decided not to say it. He shrugged and decided to change the subject. “You and Scot are definitely everything Dan wants.”

The way she smiled made him envy them again. They were past all their doubts and obstacles.

“So are you going to let him whisk you away to Vegas for a quickie wedding?”

She laughed. “If it was for a quickie Vegas wedding, I might have done it by now. You have no idea what he wants to do though, Michael. He wants to do the whole big thing—at the Bellagio, on the terrace over the lake.” She shook her head. “They even make the fountains shoot up at the moment you do your first kiss!”

Michael laughed. “And you love the idea, don't you?”

She grinned at him and nodded.

“Then let him do it for you!”

“I'm starting to think I might.”

“You'd be crazy not to.” He winked at her. “You've always been a crazy little critter, though.”

“You know me better than most people, Michael. I just hate him spending all that money. He's only doing it for me.”

“Because he wants to. Because he loves you. Let him do it, Miss. You're always telling me to get over myself. I think this is one where
you
need to get over yourself. You'd love it. He'd love it. Poor old Scotty is dying to change his name to Benson. So why not just get on with it?”

She smiled. “You know what. I think I will.”

***

M
egan smiled at Kenzie across the kitchen table. “So do you want to go and meet Michael now?”

Kenzie shook her head. “I haven't seen you for months. Can't we just hang together this afternoon. We'll see him tonight.”

“Okay.” Megan was disappointed. She wanted Kenzie to meet him, but more than that
she
wanted to see him. It had been less than twenty-four hours, but she missed him already. She'd missed him last night too, wished he could have come out with them. When they'd finally come home in the early hours, her own bed had felt strange. She was used to sleeping in Michael's bed now. She'd tossed and turned for a long time. Hugging her pillow, wishing it was him, and aching for what they would have been doing had Kenzie not showed up.

“How about you take me out on a tour of this little town of yours? It's much better than I expected.”

Megan smiled. “I'd love to. I can show you the library and the beach, and maybe we could take a drive up into the hills, if you'd like?”

Kenzie nodded. “As long as you take me down through the resort again.”

“You like it there?”

“I like all the hot men!”

Megan frowned. “Ben is off limits, remember?”

“It's okay. I remember. But I only said your friends were off limits. You'd never met the band before last night, had you?”

Megan shook her head.

Kenzie laughed. It wasn't forced this time, however.  It was Kenzie's more familiar, dirty laugh and Megan knew it could only spell trouble. “The lead singer. Chase? He's fair game then.”

Megan closed her eyes, hoping this wasn't going to turn out to be another one of Kenzie's messes.

***

M
ichael pulled up outside his parents' house. He got out of the truck and came around to open Ethan's door. He swung him out and held him up high.

“Give me a smile, monkey?”

Ethan shook his head. The poor little guy had bombed when Michael had told him Meggie wasn't coming this afternoon. Michael had brought him over to his folks' place early, hoping that he'd have fun with them and forget about her, for tonight at least.

“I want to see Meggie.”

“I know, little mate. I do too, but her sister's here. They haven't seen each other for months. They need to catch up and do girl stuff together.”

“But I miss her, Dad.”

Michael hugged him to his chest. Those words broke his heart. He remembered a five-year old Ethan sobbing after his mom had walked out on them. Every single day, no matter what he'd tried to cheer the kid up, at some point he would break down in tears, crying how much he missed her. Michael didn't ever want him to hurt that way again. He didn't want to live through it again himself. But it was his fault. He'd chosen the wrong woman and not been able to be what she wanted. He was starting to wonder if he was making the same mistake. He loved Meggie with all his heart. He'd loved Kay. At least he'd loved the woman he thought she was. It just turned out he hadn't known her as well as he thought he did. In the early days they'd had so much fun going out together, partying. It was only after Ethan was born that he'd understood that to Kay it was the going out and partying that mattered. Not him, and certainly not their son.

Ethan wrapped his arms around Michael's neck and squeezed tight. “She's still going to marry us, isn't she?”

Michael closed his eyes. He was starting to wonder if that was such a good idea. Maybe it was too soon? Maybe Megan needed to explore all the fun and freedom she'd never known. And if that was the case, he didn't want Ethan becoming too dependent on her. “I don't know.”

Michael carried him inside and was surprised to see Gabe sitting at the kitchen table.

“Hey, Ethan. I've been waiting for you.” Michael's dad winked at him. “I feel like I need a good butt kicking today, so I've got the chess board all set up and waiting. Are you going to come beat me?”

Ethan gave Michael a forlorn look. “I guess so.”

Michael hugged him tight then set him down. “Go kick Grandad's butt, little mate. It always makes me feel better.”

Ethan wandered through to the den.

“Poor little guy.” His mom came out of the pantry. “We'll do our best to cheer him up, but I don't think he's going to be happy until he gets his Megan back, is he?”

Michael shrugged. “He might have to be.”

His mom raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean, angel?”

“That maybe I should end this now, before it gets any worse for him.”

“Oh darling, no! You're so good together. She's so good with Ethan. Why would you want to end it?”

“I don't want to, Mom, but it might be for the best. I don't want to talk about it now though, all right?”

She nodded sadly.

He looked at Gabe who had said nothing since they'd come in. “I'm surprised to see you back so soon. Don't tell me you're getting the Summer Lake bug?”

Gabe shrugged. He looked as out of sorts as Michael felt.

“Why don't you two take each other out for a drink?” asked his mom. “It looks like you could both use a happy hour or two.”

Michael smiled. “What do you say, Gabe? Want to come into town with me?”

Gabe nodded. “Yeah, why not?”

They took seats at the bar when they got to the Boathouse. Michael had thought Ben might be around, but there was no sign of him.

“So are you going to tell me why you're spending so much time here?” he asked Gabe.

“I keep asking myself that. I think I might be burning out. I'm still working seventy-hour weeks, but come the weekend all I want to do is come home. I don't know why. I haven't considered this place home in nearly twenty years. I'm adding to my stress level by flying back and forth across the country, but I keep doing it.”

“Is it just because I'm here now and you can't stay away from your little brother?”

Gabe smiled. “It's about as likely as any other explanation I've come up with. I have the perfect life in New York. The firm is well-established and well-respected. I've achieved everything I set out to do.” He gave Michael a puzzled look and shrugged. “And none of it means anything. It's all hollow. I'm starting to wonder why I even bother. I've climbed all my mountains, and discovered that on the other side there are just more mountains.”

Michael didn't know what to say to that. He'd always thought of Gabe as having it all figured out.

“I don't know. Maybe I'm just having an early midlife crisis or something? I'll work it out. But tell me about you. I'm guessing things have been getting serious with the librarian and now you're having second thoughts?”

Michael nodded. “Yeah. I guess that's it. I mean, I love her. I know that much. I think the second thoughts are about whether it's a good idea for her. Ethan and I come as a package. It's a big responsibility to step into our life. I'm starting to think it might be a responsibility she doesn't need. And if she doesn't, I need to know that now while Ethan can still stand to see her go.”

Gabe fixed him with the look that Michael knew meant he was about to start cross-examining him. While he always went for the laughs, his brother always went for the truth, and was relentless about unearthing it.

Before Gabe could ask his first question, Michael held a hand up to stop him. He'd spotted Megan outside with her sister. Kenzie was chatting with the band while they set up. Megan was standing off to one side, looking uncomfortable. He grinned. That was his Meggie. What had he been thinking? She was hardly going to turn into a party animal over night! She looked almost as uncomfortable as she had when he'd first seen her talking to Ben. Almost, but not quite. She was different. It wasn't just the clothes, though she was finding a style all of her own now, or at least Holly was helping her develop one.

“Is that her?” Gabe had followed his gaze.

Michael nodded.

“Nice!”

Michael turned to look at him.

Gabe laughed. “She's definitely got the librarian thing going. There's something that says
don't touch
, and a whole lot that you want to touch anyway, right?”

Michael laughed out loud. “Exactly!”

“And is that the sister?”

Michael nodded. He didn't know what to make of Kenzie. She was good-looking, in fact she looked a lot like Megan, with the same long blonde hair. But if Megan gave off a
don't touch me
vibe, Kenzie was giving off
touch me—
or words to that effect, especially to the lead singer, Chase. And he seemed pretty keen to take her up on the offer.

He watched as Megan spoke to Kenzie then came in through the bar. She didn't see them on her way to the bathroom.

Michael grinned at Gabe. “I'll introduce you in a couple.”

He went over and leaned against one of the pillars, the same one he'd waited by with Pete when they were here the other weekend. Her face lit up when she came out and saw him standing there. There was nothing timid or nervous about the way she came to him and reached up around his neck to plant a kiss on his lips. He closed his arms around her and held her tight.

“I missed you, Michael.”

He grinned and pressed himself against her to back up his words. “I missed you too, little one. Do you want to meet my big brother?”

She laughed and rubbed her hips against his. “Is that what you're calling that huge thing now?”

Michael laughed. “Not him! Though he missed you more than you know last night. I mean Gabe. He's over at the bar.”

Her cheeks flushed and she stepped away from him. “Oh. Sorry.” Her naughty smile made him adjust his pants. “I think you may have noticed that I missed you last night as well. I'd better behave myself if I'm going to meet your brother though.”

“I reckon, but I don't think I can behave myself for too much longer, Meggie. Any chance you can come stay at mine tonight?”

She shook her head sadly. “I don't think so. Not with Kenzie here. I'm sorry, you know I want to.”

Michael looked back outside. He had a feeling Kenzie may have other plans by the end of the evening, but thought it wiser not to say so.

“No worries, darl. You'll be home soon.” Her face lit up when he said it, but he still had to wonder whether it was going to work out that way. “Come on.” He put his arm around her shoulders and pointed over at Gabe. “Come meet the Angel Gabriel.”

M
egan smiled to herself as she watched Kenzie laughing with Michael. This was working out so much better than she'd feared. This afternoon, while they had toured the town, she'd told Kenzie all about Michael. Everything she knew about him, and everything he'd done for her. She'd even told her about the way he'd helped her through her panic attacks. She was fairly certain that was what had softened Kenzie's heart towards him.

Kenzie herself had never been able to help. It had happened a lot when they'd first moved into their apartment in LA. Megan had had nightmares almost every night in those early days, she would wake up screaming and fighting her sheets. During the day seemingly trivial events would trigger her panic. Kenzie hadn't known what to do with any of it. She would wait in uncomfortable silence until  Megan was calm again. Only then would she dare approach to give her a quick hug, tell her she'd be okay. Megan had seen the gratitude on her sister's face when she'd told her how Michael had handled those things.

It was obvious that they were wary of one another when Megan had introduced them this afternoon. However, Michael had been right. He'd been able to win her over with his charm. Megan smiled, she was fairly sure his dazzling good looks had something to do with it too. Now they were laughing together, joining in with the rest of the gang as if Kenzie were just another old friend.

She looked around the group. So many conversations were taking place. Smoke and Laura were  sparring with each other as usual. It looked as though they were ready to take it home and decide the winner in bed. Jack and Holly were arguing over some architectural design stuff that she couldn't understand, other than it had something to with a shopping plaza. Missy, Emma and Pete were talking with Gabe. They had all grown up here. There were so many strong personalities, it was easy to just sit back and observe. She caught Dan's eye. He didn't tend to say much either. He gave her a friendly smile and a nod. He understood. She liked feeling that she had a silent ally.

Gabe was the next one to catch her eye. She liked him too. He was nothing like Michael though. He was very handsome, but much more intimidating. Where Michael was so warm and encouraging, Gabe was direct and business-like. At first she'd felt as if he was interviewing her, but once she got used to his abrupt manner, she liked him. He smiled at her now and she smiled right back. This was good.