18. Meg: The Truth Comes Out

Chapter eighteen

Meg – The Truth Comes Out

I'm not sure what to expect when Drew tells me his older brother is visiting Seaside. I couldn't help but wonder if that news was what put such a concerned look on his face at dinner. Do they get along? Is there something about his brother that Drew doesn't like?

It's been difficult to pull Drew aside and pick his brain about what's going on. He's been weird ever since he found out his brother is coming into town. For the first time since he's been here, it feels like he's avoiding the beach like the plague.

Usually, he joins me when he sees I'm walking someone's dog but instead, he keeps himself tucked away inside. I can sometimes catch a peek of his blond hair through the windows of the sunroom, but he disappears just as quickly.

I'd say he's avoiding me. Why, I have no idea, but it's really bugging me.

It's not until evening that I meet Troy and see even more worry in Drew's face. And none of this makes any sense. Troy is pleasant when he shakes my hand. He compliments how lovely the inn is before excusing himself to his room. Troy gives his brother a quick glance before disappearing behind the elevators, leaving just the two of us in the lobby.

"What is up with you two?" I finally ask. "You've been acting strange since before he got here."

"I'm sorry," he sighs. "I just wasn't expecting him so soon."

"What do you mean?" I ask. "Why is he here?"

"Can we talk somewhere more private?" he asks gently, nodding to the beach.

Finally. "Sure," I say, as he takes my hand.

He guides me to one of the benches between the inn and the sand that overlooks the ocean as the sun begins to set.

As we walk, I notice how different he feels next to me. Even when he holds my hand, the usual flutter of excitement is gone. It's like he's been surrounded by gray clouds that he can't get out of. His head is hanging lower, just slightly, and his brow is heavy with worry.

I notice him biting his bottom lip. I can almost hear the gears turning in his head, as if he is trying to come up with the exact right words to say. The longer the silence goes on, the more anxious I feel.

"Should I be worried?" I ask. "Does Troy showing up mean you're leaving soon?"

"No, not exactly," he says, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Then what is it?" I pry, gently squeezing his hand.

"I need to tell you something," he says, letting out a deep breath. "It's really hard for me to say it but you need to hear it from me."

"Okay," I say. Please don't let this guy be married or something stupid like that.

"I need you to know that I never imagined coming here and having the experiences that I've had with you, Meg," he says, gently caressing my cheek, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "I need you to know that."

"Okay," I repeat, trying to fake a steady smile. "What do you need to tell me?"

He holds my face in both his hands and softly presses his lips to mine. I can't help but feel perfectly dizzy and entranced by his touch as the kiss deepens. I reach up, my hands resting on his chest where his heart is racing. I'd like to think it's because he's kissing me, but I know it has more to do with the news he keeps putting off telling me.

I pull away. "You're leaving me on a cliffhanger, mister."

His eyes lock with mine and I can see something there that I've never seen before. There is fear in his eyes.

"You're married?" I guess. "And you're wanting one last kiss before you tell me the truth?"

"What? No, nothing like that," he says quickly, sounding startled by my guess.

Well, that's a relief at least . "Then what is it?" I ask, almost demanding that he tell me.

"I know I told you my name was Drew Wyatt and that I'm just here on vacation, but that isn't true." He pauses, his eyes carefully gauging my reaction. "It's a cover story. My name is Drew Bellamy and I came here to see about my family's company buying Seaside Inn."

"Excuse me?" I pull my hands away from his and take a step back.

"I didn't think I would come here and find someone as incredible as you are, let alone fall for you in a way I didn't think was possible," he says. "I'm so sorry I didn't tell you sooner."

"Why did you lie in the first place?" I ask.

"I didn't want anyone knowing who I was because I needed to see the inn like a normal tourist. I didn't want anything changing just because people knew who I was and why I was here. Please believe me, Meg, I didn't mean to hurt you or for it to go this far."

"You didn't mean ‘for it to go this far'? You've been lying to me the entire time. What did you think was going to happen?" I snap.

"I didn't think I would end up connecting with you the way we have," he insists.

"So, when you said you lived and worked in New York, you meant you work for your family's business?" I clarify. "Bellamy Hotels and Inns?"

"Yes."

"And your family wants to buy the inn?"

"Yes, but it's meant to make it better than it is right now," he tries to assure me.

"Wait, so when you said you wanted to explore Seaside and see what it has to offer, it wasn't because of me. It's because you needed the intel for your work," I realize. "You used me!"

"No, Meg, it was never like that," he insists.

"That's exactly how it played out!" I yell. "You said you needed to see this place like a tourist and you used me to get that."

"Like I said, I didn't think I would find someone like you. I got so caught up in how I feel about you that I kept trying to ignore the part about buying the inn."

"Well, good luck with that. The place isn't for sale." I stand to walk away but he takes hold of my hand again.

"Meg, please believe me when I say I never meant to hurt you," he pleads, his eyes heavy with desperation. "The last thing I want is to hurt you because I know how special you are."

"Just because you crash your car into another and you didn't mean for it to happen, it doesn't stop it from being your fault. You still cause damage," I hiss, yanking my hand from his. "You knew exactly what you were doing. You're not sorry you did it. You're sorry I found out and that I'm pissed."

"I promise this isn't a bad thing," he tries.

"No, it's a horrible thing, Drew! Do you really think you're the only hotel chain to try to buy the inn? I've seen what Bellamy does to places like Seaside. Your family takes a property, puts their name all over it, and then the place becomes just another pawn in the hotel game, a carbon copy of the last place they bought. They suck the personality out of every place they buy!"

"Seaside Inn is unique and special and that's why people come here. To get away from chain hotels that are cold and monotone. I know you're probably going to say it's just business, but Seaside is my home and I'll be damned if I let you buy the place."

I'm so upset at him right now that I'm shaking. Knowing his family is trying to buy the inn makes me feel like someone is stealing my home and destroying it, simply to make a quick buck. It's cold and disgusting and I can't stand it.

Instead of just walking away, I run. I run as fast as I can, all the way back home. I'm not sure if Mia knows yet but it's only a matter of time.

I feel like my idyllic world is being shattered. Suddenly my life has turned gray and cold because Drew is taking the warmth out of it.

Soon his family is going to try to take the rest. Places that we've been together now feel like they're tainted, stained by a man who once seemed like Prince Charming, but has turned out to be a lying bastard.

Drew and his siblings are the billionaire owners of Bellamy Hotels and Inns, and he played me like a damn fool. My throat tightens as tears fall down my cheeks, mixing with the salty sea air that brushes against my face.

My initial encounter with Drew was hostile. Then our relationship grew loving when I felt his warmth and tenderness. How did things change so quickly?

How could I fall for him so effortlessly and then have it all shatter right before my eyes? Was any of it real? Does he even really care about me?

When I think of our dates, our time spent together, I just can't tell. He could have been keeping track of restaurants and other locations where we went just to see how they could contribute to his company's evaluation of the inn. His interest in me could all have been a ruse for all I know.

But either way, he and his family have a big problem now.

He says I have a fire about me? Well, he hasn't seen anything yet. Now I have turned up that heat in an entirely different way and will fiercely oppose the idea of selling my family's property.

I can't believe I was stupid enough to let something like this happen again. Of course, Drew was too good to be true. How could I not see that?

Not only did he play me like a fool, but he played everyone else too.