Page 10 of Last Chance Seduction (Montgomery Ink Legacy #9)

Chapter Five

Lexington

Four Years Ago

“I s there a reason we’re out here at a barbecue?” Justin asked, and I squinted at my friend, wondering exactly why he was asking this for the eighth time.

“Because we just celebrated our graduation, and now we’re having a nice party before we split up and go about our days?”

“Well, it’s not like you don’t know what you’re going to do for the rest of your life. You have an in when it comes to your family. You could have chosen any profession that you wanted within the Montgomerys, and look at you, you chose the one that had perfect space for you.”

I scowled at the other man and tossed a bag of chips at him.

“Eat something, you get crabby when you’re hungry.”

“What? I’m not over exaggerating here. You have multiple construction companies in your family, and you guys are just what, going to open a subsidiary of one?

Rather than forcing your parents out of their jobs?

It makes sense. You don’t have to go out there and figure out how to do interviews or make a resume. You have an in.”

An odd sense of guilt swept through me, but I did my best to push that away.

“I didn’t automatically get a job with my family.

Yes, growing up when I had wanted to start working, I applied for any job I could get at sixteen within the Montgomery Construction companies.

My parents had hired me because I had been the only person to apply for one of the jobs that required me to be knee-deep in mud and other things I’d rather not think about.

Then I worked for another company while I was eighteen and in my first year of college, one that had nothing to do with the Montgomerys.

I had wanted an outside take on what it meant to be an architect.

Yes, my aunt Annabelle had taught me everything that she knew, but I had still taken the time to learn from others.

If I had been given everything that I had ever wanted without having to work for it, why had I even bothered going to college? ”

But Justin was right in some respect. My family never would’ve let me fail completely.

If I had tried for other companies, and gotten the jobs, they would’ve cheered me on.

If I would’ve found myself unemployed, they’d have made sure that I found a way to work with them.

Just maybe not in the exact job that I wanted.

Because we cared about each other, but we also wanted the best in the business.

I had wanted to be an architect and work with my family’s construction company since I had been a little kid with a tiny tool belt and a little wrench. I had walked along the different sites with my little hard hat as I soaked in as much knowledge as I could.

And I was damn lucky and excited that Dash, Brooklyn, and even Jamie had wanted to join us.

Jamie could’ve worked for any company out there, as she was a whiz with marketing, organization, and just keeping an office afloat.

Plus she could make connections with anybody and make a bid worthwhile.

We had wanted to start our own business because we hadn’t wanted to stay in Fort Collins, and the company had grown enough that it was needed.

It was my job on the line, my money on the line, or rather, my loans on the line, if we failed. Just like it was with every single person who had bought in.

Justin didn’t understand that. And I tried not to be resentful for it.

“Sorry,” Justin said after a moment, as if he read my mind.

“Yeah?” I ask, slightly grumbly.

“I’m in a shit mood, but that’s no reason for me to take it out on you. I know you’re damn talented. I’m just annoyed that I didn’t get the job at Anderson’s that I wanted.”

“But you’re at Clark’s. That’s an amazing law firm.”

“I know, I know. And they’ll give me great references and experience for my gap year.”

“Look at you, able to take a gap year.”

“Yes, because I’m privileged.” He rolled his eyes as he said it, but the man wasn’t wrong.

I came from Montgomery money, which was blue-collar money.

Hence the loans. Justin came from fancy money.

He didn’t have student loans, and honestly, I was surprised he hadn’t gotten the job with the Anderson law firm.

But maybe it just hadn’t been a good fit.

For all I knew, the interview hadn’t gone well.

“Well, hello, who’s that?” Justin said, pulling me from my thoughts. I looked over where he was staring, his heart in his eyes, and I grinned.

“Hey, Mercy! We’re over here.”

“I thought you were dating Gia?” Justin whispered.

“I’m not dating Gia. She’s just a friend. So is Mercy.”

Gia and I had been schoolmates, and I get the feeling she had a thing for me, but I couldn’t help but keep my gaze on Mercy.

She was just so damn beautiful. She had put more highlights in her hair since I had last seen her, so now it shined bright blonde underneath the sunlight. Her twin, Emily, followed behind her, her hair a bright cherry red.

“Dibs,” Justin called, and all thoughts of me finally getting the nerve to ask Mercy out after crushing on her since we had been years younger fled.

“What?”

“Dibs. You can take the redhead. I want the blonde.” He winked and my stomach fell.

“Justin, they’re both my friends.”

“That means I have an in. Why don’t you introduce me?”

Then Mercy smiled at Justin, that grin so bright that it nearly knocked me to my knees, and I did the only thing that a good friend would do.

“Mercy, Emily, this is Justin. Justin, these are the twins.”

“I’m so glad that I have an identity outside of being a twin,” Mercy said with a laugh, and I took a step back and watched Justin up his game.

But that was fine, just fine.

It wasn’t as if I had ever had a chance with Mercy. If something was ever going to happen, it would have before this.

My phone buzzed, and I watched Gia’s photo flash on the screen.

Well then, maybe it was time for me to take a step in that direction and stop wanting what I couldn’t have. And at the sound of Mercy’s laugh, I answered the phone and realized it was time to grow up and give up that certain dream.

Two years ago.

“I can’t believe that he just walked out on her during the wedding,” Gia said as we sat across from each other in the park, gray storm clouds on the way.

“He didn’t answer my call when I tried to reach out to him to see what the hell he was doing, but I don’t think I even want to talk to him at this point.”

“He was always an egotistical jerk, you know.”

“I don’t know if always is a good word for that,” I corrected.

“No, he was a jerk. Anyway, I’m thankful that you’re here. Because I think it’s time we talk.”

I blinked at her, the temperature chilling as the wind began to pick up. “What is it that you wanted to talk about?” I asked, grateful that my voice was staying slightly steady.

“Lex, you know I’ve had a lot of fun with you. I mean, we’ve traveled, we’ve made great friends, and I really like you.”

I swallowed hard and stuck my hands in my pockets. “But?”

“But I think you have to agree with me that this just isn’t working.”

“What’s not working?” I asked, my heart racing. Oh, why did it feel like she had her hand around it right now, squeezing ever so slightly so the blood vessels began to pop one by one?

“I don’t want to say it’s not you, it’s me. But honestly, the phrase is useful. I just don’t think we click.”

“Gia, we’ve been together for two years. We live together.” Why the hell was I even trying? I saw that look in her eyes. I knew it. She was done. Already moved on. And just…just not here .

“I know, and I’ll totally keep paying my rent on the lease, but Lex, do you really see us with a future? You’re a nice guy. You’re a great boyfriend. But I want a husband .”

My hand curled around the box in my pants pocket, the box I had hidden for months because I hadn’t wanted to overshadow Justin and Mercy’s wedding.

Because I was ready. I was ready for the next step.

And as acid coated my tongue, she continued to talk, but I just finally let go, knowing it was all for rote.

The first raindrop fell, hitting me in the face, and I didn’t blink it away.

“I’ll come pick up my stuff soon. But I hope we can be friends? I mean, you’re a great guy, Lex. But I just don’t see myself marrying you. And I want forever. I know I’ll find it. But it won’t be with you. You’re just not it. I hope you understand that.”

I watched her walk away, not a single word uttered. What more was there to say? I had never been more wrong in a situation, but then again, I had been. I’d been wrong about Justin, now it seems like I was wrong once again.

Rain began to fall in earnest, and I turned on my heel and made my way back to my car.

I thought Gia was the one for me. I thought she was my forever. It turns out I wasn’t good enough.

And I wasn’t going to be anyone’s forever.

Thunder cracked, and I slid my face up to the sky, and let the rain slid down my face, doing what it did best—wash away the rest of the world. Or at least the problems I wanted to pretend I didn’t have.

When my phone buzzed again, I looked down at the text.

Mercy:

I’m sorry to have to do this, but Emily and I need to head to New York. We got into the specialist that we needed. Can you handle the list we went through? I know it’s too much but I just…I can’t do it right now.

I finally got in my car and answered back. Because of course I would help.

The twins needed me. Just like my family did.

I was good at being there for them. It turns out I wasn’t good at much else.

Today

“Are you really not going to let me work on your gardens?”

I looked up as Brooklyn got out of her truck and came towards me.

I rolled my eyes at my cousin, shovel in hand.

“I’m literally just digging right now. You are the one who gets to plan my front gardens.

Don’t worry. I’m not taking that from you.

Although, that does seem like a bit of a downside for you, doesn’t it? ”