Page 28 of Players Like Us (Reunion Gap #7)

“ M ay the best man win.” Neal stood, kept his smile in place as he turned and headed out the door, away from Daniel Reese’s threats and comments about Neal being part of the reason behind his sister’s unsettled past.

Was he to blame for the years Meredith spent floundering, searching, trying to find purpose?

Didn’t she know he loved her, would always protect her even if it meant protecting her from himself and his reckless ways?

No, apparently, she didn’t know because her husband’s comments were a little too familiar…

as though he’d been repeating what he’d heard. …from Meredith.

He needed to stop hiding behind the persona of the all-about-the-fun guy who no longer existed and let his sister see who he’d become.

And who was that? The truth burned through him, burst with a million shards of emotion.

He’d become a real person, with real feelings, and a heart that bled and cared.

Who would have ever thought it possible?

Certainly not him. The event tonight that Neal figured must be some sort of surprise birthday party for him and Meredith was hours away.

No way was he staying in the same house with people like Daniel Reese dropping in, or his sister and brother eagle-eyeing him.

He grabbed his key fob, hopped into the car, and sped along the back roads, anxious to be alone.

And what about Rachel? What was he going to do about her?

The kiss had been stupid and ill-timed and he should not have done it, but he hadn’t been able to stop.

Who was he kidding? Their encounter outside of Tate and Charlotte’s would have ended with them in bed if her brother hadn’t intervened at that exact moment, and then what?

He blocked out images of Rachel’s curves, snuffed out the thought of kissing and tasting his way to heaven.

No, just no.

It would be heaven… It would a disaster… It would be intense… It would be…

Unforgettable.

Neal parked the car and walked toward the spot where he’d taken Rachel last night.

It had been his own private sanctuary since the first time he learned of his father’s infidelity.

Harrison had been on his phone, his usual stern voice, soft, filled with what Neal would later recognize as seduction.

He should have turned around and disappeared down the hall where Tate and Meredith were playing Monopoly with their mother, but that was too boring because Tate always won.

So, he’d gone in search of something different and he’d definitely found it.

As he stood outside the cracked door of his father’s library, he learned the old man had a girlfriend named Serena, whom he planned to meet in New York City that weekend.

They would dine at an upscale restaurant, see a play, and then Neal’s father provided graphic details of exactly how she’d thank him.

Neal watched as his father closed his eyes, a smile playing about his lips, no doubt listening to the mystery woman’s response.

When a child witnesses a parent’s infidelity in graphic detail, it does something to him, tears away at the belief in family, love, monogamy, trust. It leaves him shaken and unable to find a solid path back to the life before he knew.

It kills his innocence. Neal hated his father for that but vowed to protect his siblings and his mother from what he’d witnessed.

It was bad enough to guess around the possibility, even acknowledge the truth of it, but to see it?

Hear it? That was devastating, and it shattered Neal’s hope of ever being normal.

And then...the other happened. That proved unforgivable.

How many sons are approached by their father and asked to lie?

Not a small lie either, but a huge one, a this-will-change-your-life-forever lie?

The old man hadn’t cared because he’d only wanted to protect his money and name.

And of course, his power because no matter what else the man valued, he valued power the most.

Neal recalled the summons to his father’s library, a place he and his siblings were forbidden to enter unless invited.

The old man must have seen the scrape on the Mercedes back fender.

Damn, it just happened last night and his mother told him if he backed the car into the garage, his father probably wouldn’t notice.

That would buy them enough time to get it to the garage and have it fixed or create a story about what happened—other than the real one.

If the old man found out Neal was racing on the back roads of town and had a bottle in the back seat of the car, he’d never drive again.

We have a situation.

A situation? The old man loved the art of being vague. In fact, he was a master of it.

Yes, one that requires your assistance.

Now that was a first. What kind of assistance?

This situation is delicate. It appears Marybeth Carruthers is pregnant.

Neal remembered the name. What a mess that had been . What does that have to do with me?

Unfortunately, the woman fancies herself in love with the father.

And that’s unfortunate?

The baby carries Alexander blood.

Tate? No way would he have pictured that one.

Of course not, but the father has a family and it could be very uncomfortable for them.

If it wasn’t Tate, then it could be Harrison or…Carter? The man was a real hound. Is it Carter?

The brief spark in his father’s eyes revealed the truth, even if his words did not. I can’t divulge that information. It’s better for you if I don’t.

What do I have to do with any of this?

If the woman insists on pressing this issue and naming the father, you will claim to be the father.

Me? I don’t even know the woman. Why would I—

It won’t be an issue, but she needs to think it will be. You’re seventeen, which makes you underage. She’s not. Imagine if you press charges? What would that look like?

You want me to lie about getting a woman I don’t even know pregnant?

I want you to do what’s necessary to protect this family.

I won’t do it. I won’t lie.

Laughter filled the room, choked out Neal’s refusal. You’ll do what’s necessary. It’s not as though you’re unfamiliar with the tactic of lying, now are you? If you’re worried about the sudden conscience you’ve developed, think of who will be hurt if the pregnancy is pinned on the real father?

He meant Aunt Camille. Bad enough to be humiliated by gossip, but a paternity suit?

Neal clamped his mouth shut, but deep down he knew if he were forced to lie about this, he wouldn’t do it.

He’d go to Tate first and tell him the whole sick request. Tate would know how to handle this. ..he always knew what to do.

His father took his silence for agreement.

Good, just remember how devastating the truth would be to the innocent.

Once I threaten the woman with this, she’ll change her mind and stay quiet.

I plan to deposit money into your account as an extra incentive.

A nod and then That will be all as he dismissed Neal from the room and his life, relegating him once again to the insignificant son.

Whatever play the old man executed must have worked because Neal never heard another word about Marybeth Carruthers or a baby.

Neal thought about that afternoon, the disregard his father had for other people’s lives.

He’d certainly screwed up Neal for a long time, but there were people who had it much worse and survived.

At some point, a person had to own his actions and move on and that’s what Neal had finally done when he partnered with Dominic.

And now he had another moral dilemma, one with dark hair, amber eyes, a sharp wit, and the most delicious mouth he’d ever tasted.