Page 42 of Love and Lies

I wanted to answer back—I was certain in their position Valerie would have been loyal. But as I looked around the table at these people, staring at their phones and exchanging petty small talk, I didn’t know if what had existed between them and my sister had really been friendship, or more like a marriage of convenience. I was sure about one thing, though: as much as I had wanted to be a part of this exclusive group before, I had zero interest in it now.

So as I mulled over a fitting reply, I let my gaze flit now and then to the door, and suddenly my breath caught in my throat. Not because Colton Pratt had finally graced us with his presence—but because Jessiah Coldwell had just walked into the Glowfly.

We hadn’t seen each other since I’d left his apartment that evening, a little over three weeks ago now. I’d caught myself keeping an eye out for him at the functions I’d attended with my parents, admittedly, but no dice. Although I don’t know what I’d have done if I had run into him. Said sorry again? Told him, perhaps, that it was Adam’s notebook I’d stolen and not the hoodie? Ha ha, surely not. Still, my heart hammered against my ribs when I saw him.

“Oop, there’s Coldwell the Second.” Maddy had spotted him as well. An empathetic look met mine. “Shall I get him thrown out?” she offered. “I have strong ties with the bouncers.”

I almost laughed out loud at that suggestion—I might not have seen Jessiah in the last few weeks, but I had googled him more than was good for me and had read probably every single article about him. Almost none of them mentioned his position in the Coldwell family; most focused instead on his passion for restaurants, bars, and clubs, just like Lincoln had said. Jessiah was clearly something of a kingmaker when it came to a venue’s success—and so he was a welcome guest in every single establishment in New York City. Even if Maddy were the leader of the free world she’d never get anyone to kick Jessiah Coldwell out.

“No, don’t worry.” I shook my head but didn’t say anything else. I’d never have told a soul that part of me was happy to see him, in a simple dark gray T-shirt and jeans, looking better than every other guy in the place in an expensive, extravagant outfit. Jessiah didn’t need flashy clothes to get my attention. He just had to exist. Since he’d apologized for his tirade against Valerie, his effect on me had grown. Maybe because it was no longer rage that had the upper hand, but something else altogether.

He was laughing about something his friend must have said—I recognized him as Balthazar Lestrange—then he went to the bar. From there, he cast his eye around the club and almost at once, as if it was written into the script of our complicated involvement, his unerring gaze met mine.

Despite the fact it wasn’t exactly bright in the club, I thought I could see anger in his eyes. But I was still trying to force myself to break eye contact with him when he looked away, turning his back on me for good measure.

I felt a pang of dismay somewhere deep inside me. Well, what did you expect? asked a voice in the back of my mind. I had no response.

“Hey man, you’re here—finally!” Next to me, Maddy stood, and I looked up in confusion. What with Jessiah’s arrival, I hadn’t noticed anyone else approaching our table. The newcomer was warmly welcomed by everyone else before he finally turned to me, and my hello got stuck in my throat from pure surprise.

“Hi. We don’t know each other yet, right?” he asked, smiling at me. His dark eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“No,” I replied, offering my hand. “I’m Helena.”

“Colton Pratt.” He took my hand, still smiling. “Pleased to meet you, Helena.”

20 Jessiah

“Have you thought any more about Harper’s?” Thaz raised his glass to clink it against mine. He was really getting on my nerves, but I did the toast anyway.

“How many times are you going to ask me that?”

“Until you say yes, probably.” My friend grinned at me. “Anyway, it was a long time ago we spoke about it at Bella Ciao, so high time for a little refresher.”

Now I rolled my eyes. “I’m not here to talk about Harper’s with you, I’m here to have some fun.” The Glowfly was always the place for that. “So if you’re going to be a pain in my ass about the restaurant again, I’m getting out of here.”

“Wow, dude. Chill.” Thaz raised both hands in defense. “You’ve been in a shitty mood for weeks now—worse than usual, even by New York standards. You want to tell me what’s up?”

“Let’s see.” I ticked off the reasons on my fingers. “Trish has reached a new level of stubbornness about my joining the family business; none of my projects are really working as they ought to right now; and my brother hasn’t been to school for a week because he’s so anxious he can’t leave the apartment. What is there to be in a good mood about, Balthazar?”

“Eli’s really that bad again?” Thaz asked with concern. “I thought he had a new therapist?”

“Yeah, he does. But I’m not getting the impression that her methods are helping.” I downed my drink in one motion and signaled the bartender for another, desperately trying not to look over at the lounge area. And failing. I caught myself staring at Helena again, sitting among a group of Upper East Siders and having a great time, or so it seemed.

It had been three weeks. Three weeks since she’d come to my apartment to steal Valerie’s hoodie, and I was still pissed about it. Not because she clearly had the energy of a petty criminal, but because she’d totally pulled a fast one on me. I was pretty good at recognizing when I was being screwed over, but that ability had failed me miserably with her. She’d sat at my kitchen island eating pasta with me, and I really thought she’d meant it when she apologized. But she was faking it all just to get ahold of a memento of her sister.

My emotions had cooled a little after not seeing her for so long, but now they were back in full force. The disappointment and anger… and everything else as well. And not just because she looked exceptionally hot in that short black dress—although I preferred her usual jeans and leather jacket vibe. There was just… something about her. I couldn’t explain it. Our eyes had met across the club earlier; I’d seen the remorse in them, and that was all it took for me to be immediately attracted to her again, damn it. My anger and good sense were helping me keep her at arm’s length, but I couldn’t just let her out of my sight, not completely. Especially with him sitting next to her.

“Who are you glowering at?” Thaz followed my gaze and found its target. “Ah, right. I thought you said Helena wasn’t on your radar?”

“She isn’t,” I growled. But I still didn’t want her anywhere near Colton Pratt, whom she was currently flirting with as if he wasn’t one of the city’s most prolific drug dealers. “What’s she doing with him? Doesn’t she know who he is?”

Thaz shrugged. “No idea. From what I heard, she hasn’t been out much since she got back. Word is her parents are keeping her on a short leash after everything that happened with Valerie. But don’t worry—if she’s with Maddy Rich, Whitaker, and the others, they’ll look out for her.”

“Yeah, right.” Valerie’s useless friends would totally have her back. Not.

We were shown to a table where we had a good view of the whole club, and I sat in a spot where I could keep an eye on the group around Helena. We weren’t sitting there long before Cassandra, the Glowfly’s owner, came to join us.

“Hey, guys.” She dropped onto the cushioned seat next to Thaz and rolled her eyes. “It’s been one of those nights again. First the beer taps went on the fritz, then it was the ice machine, then two customers had sex in my office, and if my staff weren’t quite so on the ball, we’d have had a ventilator fire in the storeroom.”