Free Love Scars - 5: Covered by Lark Lane Page B

I said, “but the initial feed looked good. On Monday, get with legal and have a team start on mineral rights. We’re late to the table. It’s past time to bring on a lobbyist.”
    “So we’re going over to the dark side at last,” Brad said.
    “It’s where the deals are made,” I said. “You’ve wanted this for a while. I was an idiot to put you off.”
    “You were idealistic.”
    “And ideals are for idiots.”
    “We need a political affairs department internal to BlueMagick.” Brad clicked into planning mode. “We can write bill language to our advantage and get it slipped into the legislation we need.”
    “Bring it on,” I said. “I want more than the Barton dig mineral rights. I want MolyMo locked out of all the action in California—in the country, if we can do it.”
    A guy had to have a goal. If loving Nora was out, crushing Steve Heron would do.
    “Sir, we’re coming up on some turbulence,” Jennings said over the intercom. “I’d advise you wear your safety belt and secure all loose objects.”
    “What was that?” Brad said. “Where are you?”
    “Somewhere over Eugene, Oregon, most likely. Look, Brad. I’m going up to the island for a few days. Handle things until I get back, okay?”

Chapter 2
     
    I was a wreck. Why did I ever trust J.D.?
    A kaleidoscope of fragmented emotions shifted within me, unable to settle. I went from guilt to rage to self-pity to unhinged abandonment. Then the whole thing started over.
    The recovered memory from the cabin replayed in my mind. I was a coward, and my cowardice had killed my little brother Nick. I’d opened myself to J.D. I laid down my soul and accepted his comfort, what I thought was his love, only to discover he was a liar and a petty thief and I was a fool.
    I stumbled back to my bedroom, physically exhausted and emotionally obliterated. I cried myself to sleep, and when I woke up the house was empty. Frank was gone, and Lisa and Stacey were at work. I wanted J.D., but I’d told him to get out.
    And he did.
    I stayed in my pajamas all that day. And the next. I sat in the rose garden and watched the stars and wished the universe made sense. I sat on the sofa and sobbed through romantic movies. I saw J.D. in every hero. Mr. Thornton, Captain Wentworth, Palmer Joss. I even watched that crappy Jane Eyre movie again and pictured J.D. as Mr. Rochester in every scene.
    Thursday I went online and googled him. The search results made me feel like an idiot. There were tons of links citing J.D. Reider as the CEO of BlueMagick. Oddly, there weren’t many pictures, and all were old or small and grainy. J.D. was a recluse. BlueMagick’s public face was its Chief Operating Officer, one Bradley Morgan, J.D.’s best friend since grade school. They hadn’t lied about that.
    Lisa was in the kitchen making a salad. I brought my laptop in and set it on the counter. “Look at this.” I showed her a picture of Brad in a tux at the Oscars with a beautiful woman on his arm. The story was about his date, up for best supporting actress, but he was named in the photo’s caption.
    “Yeah,” she said. “Frank’s been going on and on about it all week. He’s suddenly a fanboy.”
    “Ew.”
    “He needed another groom for the wedding, and he asked Brad.”
    “What?” I said. “But Brad lied to us too.”
    “But was it about anything so terrible?” Lisa said. “He just wanted to be seen as a normal person, I suspect.”
    “It’s not the same,” I said.
    “I might have suggested the groom thing a little bit,” Lisa said. “If Brad’s at the wedding, maybe J.D. will come too.”
    “He won’t,” I said.
    “He would if you forgave him.” Stacey came into the kitchen wearing her Waves sleep shirt over a pair of boxers and her hair sticking out all over. Working nights was perfect for her sleeping-past-noon lifestyle.
    “We both think you should,” Lisa said. “You know. Forgive him.”
    “After all, he faced down a guy with a rifle to save