Chapter Nine – There Is Always an Easy Way Out
Dinner was set in an open-air pavilion close to the beach, so the sound of the waves reached them from time to time, as well as the pleasant summer sea breeze. From the crisp ivory linen tablecloth and the expensive candles flickering inside tall hurricane glasses to the tasteful tropical flower arrangements, the whole setup looked like something straight out of a magazine or an insta-reel for the rich and famous, making Lyn think again about how keen Brad must have been to marry into money.
He was too bitter. A glass of champagne – it definitely seemed like that sort of dinner – would help washing that away.
"We are the most overdressed people here," Alexander took care to point out.
The sand must have been thoroughly cleared of any stray objects, so fine-grained it felt, and truthfully, Alexander's remark wasn't far off the mark. Even the ladies had abandoned their stylish footwear in favor of letting their toes sink into the powdery sand.
Lyn had no intention of letting Alexander believe that he had been right about something. It wasn't because he was proud, but when it came to his old friend from college he felt his competitive spirit waking up, renewed with an edge made surprisingly sharper by the time that had passed without them seeing each other.
Alexander didn't like it when people sucked up to him. No, that would be a too gentle way to describe the asshole's usual behavior and pet peeves. He despised it when people tried to get into his good graces by being complacent and too accepting of his quirks. Brad was the only one who could get away with stuff like that. As a counterbalance, Lyn had always made it a point to contradict and go against Alexander, regardless of his chances of winning.
The jerk had to be so good at everything. Although he had been studying to get into med school, he held his own when in a debate with Lyn over any matter that should have been of a lot more interest to a pre law student than someone like him. He was infuriatingly right more often than not, which only made Lyn study harder, made him become more passionate about learning everything there was to learn so he would succeed and build the career he'd always been dreaming of.
In a way, Alexander was responsible for part of his success. A small part.
"Ah, here is the happy couple," Alexander said, throwing one arm casually over Lyn's shoulders and dragging him close.
Lyn huffed to express his displeasure, but his eyes fell on Brad who was coming to welcome them with a big smile on his face. His future wife was right behind him, allowing him to get a step or two ahead of her while she observed Lyn and Alexander with a sharp expression, her head slightly angled so part of it was shadowed. In Lyn's experience of working with people, especially people with something to hide, that had to be the sign of an equally sharp wit or a well-veiled manifestation of suspicion.
"My men," Brad said loudly and opened his arms wide. He pulled them both close and kissed them on the cheek. During those long-past college years, Lyn had suffered through similar bouts of affection from Brad, hoping so many times that they would become something more that he ultimately reached the point that they had led him to do something that couldn't be forgiven.
"Hello, Isabella, I am Alexander, Bradley's old friend," Alexander said, extricating himself from Brad's embrace and walking over to their common friend's fiancée. "You look stunning."
Lyn was too busy returning Brad's hug, but he had to peek at the unusual scene in front of him. Alexander took Bella's hand with a flourish and brought it to his lips. Although he couldn't see what Alexander was doing, Lyn could read Bella's expression with ease. For a woman who would soon turn thirty, she looked like a flustered teenager, pressing her lips together briefly, her eyelids dropping, her eyes becoming slightly unfocused.
"Hey, hey, that's my woman you're rizzing the hell out of," Brad warned Alexander as he moved away from Lyn. "By the way, Bella, don't let yourself be fooled by this fool. When we were in college, he broke hearts left and right. And he was so cold, he always made girls cry."
"I was only stating the truth," Alexander said in the same impassive manner that had rightfully earned him the reputation of a cold fish.
Not so cold, Lyn thought, briefly remembering his strange afternoon with Alexander, kissing and giving the guy a hand.
And Alexander was right. Bella looked stunning, as radiant as a soon-to-be bride was supposed to be in a flowing dress the color of champagne that only made the golden hues of her hair appear lovelier. She wore discreet jewelry, but everything she had put on showed obvious good taste and money.
"Hi, Bella," Lyn said, hurrying to join the group and break the weird tension Alexander tended to bring with him everywhere he went. "I'm Lyn."
Bella smiled perfunctorily at him. Lyn couldn't help feeling a short sting. After Alexander – rich, insanely good-looking, and obviously a gentleman with charming manners – he had to look dowdy and uninteresting. It didn't seem fair, after all the effort he put into looking the way he did, but not many things were fair in the world. He was here, after all, for Brad, not for her.
"So happy to meet the two of you," she said, with a sunny smile that was more directed at Alexander than at both of them. A silly thought – that Bella didn't like him – crossed his mind. But why? What could Brad have told her that would cause her to behave so strangely?
Maybe she was just a stuck-up b-lady, he decided, since dwelling on Brad's fiancée's feelings wasn't on his list of priorities.
"Please, join us. We'll show you to your seats."
She seemed like the kind of gal who'd put the names of all those invited on tiny cards, even for an informal dinner like this one was supposed to be.
"Is Luke here already?" Brad asked her, as Lyn and Alexander followed them to the table. "I really wanted to introduce him to the guys."
Bella shrugged his shoulders. Adept at reading body language, Lyn believed that to be a clear sign of annoyance. "You know Luke. He's probably forgotten that he is supposed to be here instead of playing video games."
So, Luke was younger. He had to be Bella's baby brother. Playing video games? How young was he? Hopefully, their D'Artagnan wasn't a pimpled kid still in high school who never touched grass. But Brad would never be close to someone like that. Lyn knew how much effort it had taken him to avoid being treated like a nerd and a geek by Brad during their college years. Still, Brad wouldn't think twice about calling him that, as he had done so earlier today. He had told his future wife that Lyn used to be a huge nerd in college. It looked like Bella didn't like nerds. Not even those wearing perfectly tailored clothes with not one hair out of place on their heads.
"Then I'll go get him," Brad said in his usual bright manner.
"Don't," Bella warned him in a tone that brooked no contradiction.
Lyn frowned slightly. She appeared to be quite domineering in her relationship with Brad.
"He'll miss dinner," Brad insisted.
"And you'll miss the appetizer and my dad's first toast if you go now," Bella insisted back. "Let him go to sleep on an empty stomach if he's going to be that much of an idiot."
Idiot. Wow. There wasn't much love lost there. Were they only half-siblings? Lyn couldn't match Bella's dazzling appearance with that of a nerd in a striped shirt, wearing prescription glasses.
"Okay, babe," Brad said casually, wrapping one arm around her waist and pulling her close for a kiss. "As you wish."
"I suppose we know who's wearing the pants in this family," Alexander murmured in Lyn's ear.
Lyn grimaced. "Shut up," he said under his breath. "When did you develop a sweet tooth for gossip like an old lady?"
Alexander shrugged. "I suppose we won't get to meet our D'Artagnan tonight."
Lyn took a quick look at his friend's face. "What's the sneer for? Ah, don't tell me, you're jealous." Somehow, the idea was too funny to resist. He chuckled and shook his head. As far as his memories went, Alexander had always behaved as if he was friends with Lyn and Brad only because it was convenient for him, for obscure reasons only he knew. To become jealous of Brad having a new best friend now seemed ludicrous. Especially after all these years.
"Are you only noticing that now?" Alexander's face seemed as impenetrable as ever in the golden fairy lights stretched over the pavilion. "I've always been jealous."
Lyn snorted. This had to be Alexander's usual strangeness at work. Had no one ever told him that he made people uncomfortable by saying out loud whatever crossed his mind?
Not that he made Lyn uncomfortable in any way. Lyn knew him too well, despite Alexander's earlier reproach that Lyn had done nothing to get to know him better.
***
Any hopes that he might have had the opportunity to reconnect with Brad over dinner were quickly dashed by the seating arrangement. Lyn didn't even get to enjoy rubbing elbows with Alexander, as Bella – clearly the head organizer – had strategically placed Brad's best friends among her young female friends. Lyn wouldn't lead any of them on, but he was polite and behaved as a gentleman should.
He didn't know if the same could be said of Alexander. Although he'd acted so charmingly upon meeting Bella, he spared none of that old money charm on the attractive ladies sitting to his left and right. Whenever Lyn risked a look in his direction, he seemed to be chewing his food a little too hard while he stared at a vague point beyond his plate, as if he had too many things on his mind.
Could it all be because of the divorce? Lyn found himself wondering about Alexander's circumstances again. He'd have to ask, although he expected Alexander to react in his usual manner: flippant and sarcastic. After all, the grand Alexander Montgomery III had no idea what hurting meant. Unless you had a heart problem and got the surgeon in him to care, he most likely ignored his own heartaches.
No, Lyn reconsidered, that wasn't quite so. Alexander was just very good at hiding what he felt, considering any weakness a mortal wound he couldn't risk. It was one way of living, supposedly.
***
Brad pulled him aside right after dinner. After stealing a few careful looks to check where his fiancée was, he must have decided the coast was clear, because he caught Lyn and dragged him away.
"Damn, man, I had no idea getting ready for a wedding would be so exhausting," he complained as he walked by Lyn's side along the beach.
"It looks to me like Bella is handling everything, and she does it well," Lyn offered politely.
His stomach felt funny, and it wasn't because of the champagne. He had wished to be alone with Brad tonight, but now that his wish had come true, only platitudes as flat as a sidewalk were coming out of his mouth.
"Yeah," Brad admitted. "She's great, isn't she?"
The lights from the cozy chalets close to the shore made it easy enough for them to see each other, but Lyn wished he could truly stare at Brad. There was a meditative note in his voice, something like nostalgia.
"I really hope you don't need me to affirm that for you, dude," Lyn said in an easy voice. "I just met her. From what I've seen so far, she's amazing," he added quickly. "Don't tell me you're getting cold feet."
Brad scoffed as if he couldn't even contemplate such an absurd scenario. "No way. She's hot, she's smart, she's her own person, you know?"
And she has boatloads of money. The petty comment sat on the tip of Lyn's tongue, but he was quick to swallow it back down. What good would saying that do? It would only upset Brad, and this vacation was, most likely, the last time they would be able to spend together as close as this. This time, Lyn promised himself, they would say proper goodbyes and part as friends.
He squeezed Brad's shoulder. "You don't have to convince me, man. She's perfect for you, and you for her. Anyone looking at you two must think the same."
That appeared to provide Brad with much-desired peace of mind, because he relaxed under Lyn's touch. "Thanks, man. I needed that."
"Nah, I can't believe you," Lyn teased him. "You're confidence incarnate. Always have been."
"Yeah," Brad agreed, perking up even more. "You're right about that. Hey, what did you think of the girls? They really went all out. I saw you talking to that chick, Gretchen, and she was like all over you."
Brad chatted away, while Lyn tuned him out for a moment. There was comfort in this reunion of theirs; like an old familiar coat, Brad never changed. He had always tried to hook Lyn up with various girls and he never gave up.
Which meant that Brad had chosen to shut the door on their last day of college as if it hadn't happened. That was fine, really, Lyn thought. He hadn't minded telling Alexander to his face that he was rooming with a gay guy, but he couldn't bring himself to tell Brad the same thing – and remind him of it.
"Is that Alexander over there?" Brad asked, pulling Lyn out of his thoughts.
It was him all right. Lyn immediately recognized the tall figure, the way he held himself, like he was too good for the rest of the universe. An unfamiliar fondness filled his heart. They had been the best of friends for four years. That would never change, either.
"I bet he's going to score tonight," Brad said, breathing hard through his nose.
Alexander had company, one of the young women who had sat close to him at the dinner table. She seemed to be listening avidly to something Alexander was saying, but they were standing too far apart from each other for their beach walk conversation to be of a romantic nature.
"Nope, he's not," Lyn said.
"How do you know?" Brad asked.
Lyn smirked. "Because he looks like he needs saving."
He didn't think that, but he liked the way Brad stared at him as if he was growing another head. It was a look full of appreciation, too. It was just a small lie, letting Brad believe that he had Alexander all figured out.
Also, he was a petty bastard, and since he couldn't spoil Brad's wedding preparations, he would opt for torturing someone else – someone with a thick hide, who could take it.
He gestured for Brad to follow him and hurried to catch up with Alexander and his companion.
"Hey, man," he said, slapping Alexander hard on the back. "You left so quickly I thought you had abandoned me or something."
His choice of words seemed strange to the woman trying to get Alexander's attention. She was pretty the way all of Bella's friends were pretty, but Lyn couldn't say if she was prettier than most or not. The only thing that mattered was that Alexander didn't look too interested. If he were, he'd have no trouble 'rizzing the hell out' of that girl, as Brad would say.
"Alexander and I--" she started in a posh accent.
"I need to go to sleep," Alexander said abruptly.
Oh, yes, another thing that hadn't changed. Alexander never gave a damn what people thought. He'd leave in the middle of a conversation if it no longer interested him, as seemed to be the case now.
"Okay," the woman said, frowning. "I'll see you around then."
"Brad," Lyn said while taking Alexander's arm as if he was a child who needed to be taken home by a displeased parent, "make sure the lady gets back safely. Our diva here needs her beauty sleep."
Brad guffawed the same way he used to, making Lyn feel overwhelmed by the power of their shared experiences. But they were no longer in school, and they were no longer so wet behind their ears they had no idea how their lives would turn out.
The slight hesitation he read on Brad's face confused him. Could it be that Brad had wanted to talk to him about that fatal last night of college, after all?
Lyn didn't have time to contemplate the matter. Brad graciously offered his arm to the lady. Alexander removed his arm from Lyn's grip, shaking it off.
"Why do you have to be so obnoxious all the time?" Lyn scolded him. "Don't you ever think it might come back to bite you in the ass?"
"No," Alexander said matter-of-factly. "It saves me a lot of unpleasantness, actually. What were you doing with Bradley?"
"What kind of question is that?" Lyn winced at the aggressiveness in his voice. He hadn't meant to say it like this.
"A reasonable question. He looked like he didn't want to let you go."
So it hadn't been only his imagination. What was on Brad's mind?
"Eh, he has some last-minute jitters, that sort of thing."
"Hmm," Alexander let out a short non-committal grunt.
"If you have something you want to say, go ahead," Lyn egged him on.
"I've learned over the years that keeping things to myself is wiser," Alexander replied.
He threw one arm over Lyn's shoulders as they walked back to their cottage. Like Brad, he appeared to be in a sort of funk, too, also the meditative kind. Lyn had to wonder what had gotten into his old friends to cause them to act like this. Was it because of the years that had passed? Had turning thirty made them contemplate their lives and choices or something similar?
"Okay, whatever you say," he said. "Although it isn't like you to take the easy way out."
"There's always one case that proves the rule," Alexander said in the same grave voice. "At least considering it is a sign of wisdom, don't you think?"
Lyn didn't know what to think if he were honest. "If you say so. I wouldn't know."
"Right," Alexander said. "You've never chosen the easy path, either."
"A very astute observation, Your Majesty." Alexander had used to observe him with such keen eyes that Lyn wasn't surprised to hear such words coming out of his mouth.
"Don't call me that. Bradley does and when he does so it's grating enough."
"Ah, so he can do it, and I can't?"
"Precisely."
Lyn shook his head. As mercurial as ever. That was Alexander, in a nutshell.
TBC