Page 5 of The Spare
“You look stunning; give us a twirl,” she demanded. CeCe was always the life of the party. Xander laughed as he held his arm above me for me to spin under. My dress, red with a high neckline and fitted mostly but flared a bit at the bottom, gave a less dramatic swirl than I’d hoped.
As I brought my arm down, completing a turn, I looked to the entrance for a split second, where a pair of familiar eyes found mine.
Xander followed my gaze and called his brother over. “Marcus.”
At that moment, I realized the reason for my nerves. They had nothing to do with the party. It was the same reason I checked the RSVP list a hundred times for a name. Same reason I bought this particular dress.
The Sutton brothers were tall, which became more obvious as they stood next to each other. Marcus was slightly taller than his brother, who was probably around six-three, and there was some family resemblance. Xander had the all-American boy look down with the mesmerizing green eyes, inviting smile, and dirty blonde hair that often fell in his face. Marcus was more a smoldering and brooding handsome. He was serious and buttoned up, his gray eyes always deep in thought while a war raged inside. They couldn’t be any more different. Xander was gregarious and charming. Marcus often seemed guarded and cold to the unknowing observer.
I was one of the few people who got to see his face soften and the endearing features come through; being the little sister of his best friend gave me that privilege. He smiled as I went to hug him.
“Marcus.” I tried to keep any hint of whatever was happening inside me out of my voice. Having held onto a crush for so long was getting a little embarrassing, even if I was the only one who knew about it.
“Sloan,” he said softly as I breathed him in. His cologne smelled of musk and spice. It was so familiar. I hadn’t realized until that moment how much I had missed it. After taking an extra second to relish the feeling of his arms wrapped tightly around me, I pulled away.
“You’re back.”
Obviously. Say something smarter.
I unconsciously stepped back next to Xander. “At least for now,” Henry said as he joined us, arriving a few steps behind Marcus.
I was half tempted to talk to Henry but decided against it. Lately, anytime we spoke to each other, it ended in sniping. He was getting more pressure to take the reins at the company, and his stress often spilled over to the people around him. Admittedly, I wasn’t very sympathetic. I didn’t want to be. I had spent my entire life performing at the same level but was never once considered good enough to take on the responsibility he was given.
The same cycle would repeat itself. He’d say something he thought was harmless, I’d give him a scathing retort, and down the rabbit hole we’d go. I was just as culpable as he was for the recent thorniness in our relationship. Sometimes it felt like we were speaking different languages.
The four of us didn’t have much time to catch up. We got pulled in different directions. But things felt like they used to for the first time in a while.
* * *
The gala went on without a hitch; if the heiress and lawyer thing didn’t work out, it would seem I had a promising career in party planning. The historic library was enormous, and the party often spilled outdoors onto the large lawn. The twinkling lights and lanterns were set up beside heat lamps all along the green, so stunning at night that you might forget that fraternity row was only a few blocks down.
I spent most of the night glued to Xander’s side, afraid of where I might wander if he wasn’t right next to me. He came alive at these types of events. He had a personality that drew you in, and an effortless grace with strangers. For as long as I’d known him, he was the type of person everyone wanted to be around. It was one of the many benefits of being his best friend; I was never bored.
Xander had gone to get us drinks, leaving me alone to take in the event, but I could only think about one thing. I could feel Marcus close by but refused to look around for him. He had been talking to Henry for a while before Henry had to leave early. Now, he was talking to someone else, but I was firmly focused on not letting him distract me.
“Don’t get mad.” Xander returned with a drink and handed it to me. An endearing smile adorned his face. It was the best way to deliver bad news. “I have to leave.”
I stepped back as if slapped.
Absolutely not. Being abandoned at this thing was mortifying. “They’ll write that on your headstone,” I warned.
“Sloan. I’m sorry, it's work.” He gave a deep apologetic sigh and raked his hand through his hair, as though the tricks he used to get out of trouble with other women would work on me. “You know I wouldn’t go if it weren’t important.”
“Work? I want the real reason.” Xander wouldn’t leave a dentist appointment in favor of working, let alone a party.
“That is the real reason.”
“Xander.”
“Barcelona,” he blurted. It was all he had to say. I owed him, and he was settling up. There was no way I could deny his request.
My jaw dropped. “I can’t believe you would call that in now.”
“I wouldn’t if it wasn't important,” he repeated and looked around the room and smiled when he caught sight of his brother and waved him over. “I have to go, but I am not leaving you alone, because Marcus will be my stand-in.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Marcus stood beside me; his tone wasn't amused.
“I have to go. Take care of my girl for me?” Xander patted his brother on the shoulder.
