Almost Perfect: A Frenemies to Lovers Romance

by Claudia Burgoa

  “No games,” he whispers, leaning forward.

  His lips are so close to me, I can almost taste them. I know what he’s waiting for. For me to lean into it, and I do it. I tug his head down and give him a slight peck, our lips barely touch.

  “I missed you,” I whisper.

  “Missed you more,” he mumbles, and his hands come to my waist.

  Our mouths fuse. His hand travels up and down my spine, sending small shocks of electricity through my bare skin. Suddenly, he stops.

  “Alex,” I whisper, missing his lips.

  He leans his forehead against mine. “Are you finally giving us a chance?”

  “You want something different,” I say weakly.

  “No, I need you. Just you. If you’re not ready, that’s okay. I’ll wait. You don’t see it, but you’ve become the biggest part of me. I want every part of you.”

  “And here you had me thinking all these years that you don’t believe in the whole romance thing.”

  He shrugs, releasing me. “Are we trying to divert attention from the moment?”

  “Alex, did you read your last letter?”

  He crosses his arms.

  “It was intense. You want… what if it’s not possible?”

  “You’re possible,” he says, leaning forward. “Don’t push me away.”

  As I’m about to talk, my phone rings and then buzzes.

  “Leave it, you can check it once we’re done discussing this,” he orders.

  But my phone continues its relentless ringing and buzzing from the coffee table.

  “At least let me check who it is,” I request and reach for my phone.

  Zeke: I fucked up!

  I grunt because when he fucks up things get out of control.

  Ethan: 9-1-1

  Rocco: Shit hit the fan.

  “Hey,” I answer when Ethan calls again.

  “I need you here.”

  “What happened?”

  “We had an active volcano,” he says, making no sense whatsoever. “I knew it was going to erupt. I was just hoping that it wouldn’t happen. Thousands of active volcanos remain quiet for decades.”

  “Who’s the volcano?”

  “I’m not sure…Rocco, maybe Zeke. Does it matter? We need you.”

  “Okay, let me pack my things and book a flight,” I say. “Unless you can send me a plane.”

  “We don’t have access to the Deckers’ assets anymore,” he states, and I gasp.

  It’s not like we need them, but that means Tucker had a fight with his family.

  “Where do you need to go?” Alex asks.

  “Seattle,” I sigh, because I don’t want to go, but I have to be there.

  “See you in a couple of hours, Eth,” I say, before hanging up.

  I text the one person who hasn’t reached out. He’s either bottling things up or doing damage control.

  Hannah: Are you okay?

  Tuck: I’ll be fine, just not sure what I’m going to do.

  Hannah: What happened?

  Tuck: Google my name. It’s bad. Fucking bad.

  “The plane will be ready when we arrive at the airport,” Alex announces. “How long are we staying there?”

  “You have meetings.”

  “I’m coming, Hannah. It’s your first-time back home.”

  Clasping his forearm, I say, “Thank you. This means a lot to me. We should pack for a couple of days. Let me text my parents. We’ll drop the kids off with them as soon as we arrive.”

  Hannah: Coming home, I’m bringing Bruno and Draco with me. Attaching Bruno’s pic, so you can meet him.

  Dad: How involved are you with this fucking mess?

  Hannah: I don’t know what you’re talking about.

  Dad: Tucker and company. That’s why you’re coming, right?

  Hannah: They only told me things are bad, and they need me.

  Mom: We’ll make sure Duncan gets you a helicopter, so you can land on our helipad. The last thing you need is the paparazzi knowing you’re back home.

  Hannah: Thank you, Mom. Did you guys know my grandmother died?

  Dad: No, I haven’t heard from Alicia’s family since your grandfather died.

  June: Do you need me?

  “Your sister is texting me. Did you tell her something?”

  Alex shakes his head but shows me his phone. “I’m so fucking glad you didn’t go to Cancun. Drugs, prostitutes, and Tucker’s mom was a wild child actress?”

  I grunt because they never miss a chance to bring his mom into his bad publicity.

  Hannah: Why are you asking?

  June: Your friends are trending and not in a good way. A few places are adding the question, is the famous Nana involved?

  I grunt.

  Hannah: I’m not involved, though, I’m on my way to Seattle.

  June: That’s scary. Is Alex around?

  “She’s asking me if you’re around?”

  “Just answer with the truth, Hannah.”

  I sigh.

  Hannah: Yes.

  Before I hit send, he’s on the phone with her. “What do you need, June? Yeah, I saw it. She is, and I’m going with her. Of course, we’re taking my jet. I’ll call you when I know more, I promise. I’m taking care of her, okay?”

  He smiles and pulls me into a hug. “I’ll protect her with my life, June. No, there’s nothing between us because your friend is stubborn.” He laughs. “You can do your best, little sister. Bye.”

  June: Stay safe…we’ll talk about my brother when you get home. He has a girlfriend, you know.

  Hannah: No, he doesn’t. I haven’t said yes. Thank you for worrying about me. Love you.

  Forty-Five

  Hannah

  During the two-hour flight to Seattle, Alex spends most of the time on video calls with his designers, salespeople, and some clients. I try not to listen to the conversations, but when he’s talking about relocating, my heart stops, and all my attention diverts to him.

  He’s really moving. Though, his answer floors me.

  “I’m heading to Seattle, while I’m there, I’ll check if it’s a possibility.”

  “Why would you move to Seattle?” I ask, when he hangs up.

  “Your family is here, what if you want to move back?” he answers, and his attention goes back to his computer. “Sorry, I have another meeting before we land.”

  I stare at him, confused, because relocating just for me sounds like a big commitment. This guy is five steps ahead of me, and I’m not sure how to stop him. Or if I should stop him.

  When we land, we put all our things away, and as we’re about to leave the plane, I say, “Thank you for doing all this. You didn’t have to. As a matter of fact, you can still go back home. Save yourself.”

  “No games,” he says, holding Bruno by the leash. I have Draco in his backpack carrier. “We’re in this together.”

  As we step outside the hangar, Duncan, Dad’s manager, is waiting for us.

  “The helicopter is ready. We have to drive you to the other side of the airport.”

  We nod and enter the limo. Dad is inside.

  I smile and give him a big hug. “Hey, Kid,” he greets me.

  “It’s so good to see you,” I say.

  “Sir.” Alex nods.

  “Thank you for bringing her safely,” he says, shaking Alex’s hand. “I spoke to Tucker’s family. They say that he’s in a bad place, and they fired him.”

  “They can’t fire him,” I protest.

  Dad gives me a seriously, kid look.

  “Look, all I know is that he had a big fight with Tristan, his father. He won’t accept that he has a problem or that he needs help. But if he needs anything, you tell me. One of the guys is doing drugs. Once you find out who it is, ship him to rehab.”

  I don’t tell him that I can’t just ship anyone to rehab. They have to go willingly. But I get it, he’s trying to help. Dad’s like an uncle to the guys. He worries about them as much as I do, and I know he’ll help
me with whatever we need. I nod twice. The car stops.

  “Why are you here and not at home?”

  “I’m on my way to Los Angeles for an interview. I’ll be back tonight. If you need to, take one of the cars.”

  Hannah: Where are you?

  Ethan: At my place, I’m sending you my address.

  I stare at the address as I enter it into the GPS. Alex is the one driving us. Bruno and Draco stayed with Sadie, who fell in love with our puppy almost immediately.

  Hannah: You live on Bainbridge Island?

  Ethan: I feel like you missed ten years of our lives. Wait, you did.

  Hannah: How am I supposed to get there? I don’t like ferries.

  Ethan: Go to our building, I’ll have the helicopter waiting for you.

  “He has a helicopter?” Alex asks, and I nod, not telling him it’s the company’s, and technically, I own it, too. “We could use it for skydiving.”

  “You’re an adrenaline junkie, aren’t you?”

  “Maybe that’s why I keep coming back to you,” he answers.

  I glare at him. “I’m not sure how to feel about that.”

  Hannah: Okay, according to the GPS, we should be there in twenty-five minutes.

  Ethan: Seriously, Hannah? You need a GPS.

  Hannah: Alex is driving, he’s new to Seattle.

  Ethan: The Speedman is with you? Not sure how things will go with him here.

  Hannah: Who needs an intervention?

  Ethan: At this point, I think all of us.

  “This might take a long time, and it won’t be pleasant,” I announce, as Alex drives through the city. “Why don’t you just drop me and go back to my parents’ place?”

  “Seems like they need help. Maybe I can be of assistance,” he says. “Have you been able to figure out what’s going on with them?”

  “They won’t tell me until I’m there.” I shake my head. “I hate tabloids.”

  When we arrive at the HANNETH communications building, I pull out my ID, and the security guard shows me to the private elevator that takes us directly to the roof of the building.

  Alex whistles and says, “You guys rent offices from HANNETH communications?”

  I grin and shake my head. “The magazine is part of the company.” I trace the logo as I speak, “Hann…ah and Ethan communications.”

  He facepalms. “That’s so obvious.”

  “We have radio stations and...,” I tell him. “We’re a telecommunications company. I just focus on the magazine.”

  “You run a huge conglomerate.”

  I shake my head. “No, Ethan runs it. I own half of it but stick with what I love.”

  He looks at me with wide eyes. “You’re not just a pretty geek, you’re a powerful geek.”

  “When some of your dreams don’t come true, you move to plan b.”

  “So, you guys are super-rich?” Alex asks, when we approach Ethan’s place.

  The house looks like a modern three-story palace. Seriously, does he need that much space?

  “Asks the poor billionaire,” I answer, wondering why Ethan owns a mansion that could be used to house an entire army.

  After we leave the helicopter, we run toward the backdoor where a guy who I’ve never seen in my life waves at me.

  “Ms. Hades, Mr. Spearman,” he greets us. “They’re waiting for you in the studio.”

  I follow the man, wondering if he’s security, his assistant, or something else? He takes us through a luxurious foyer. There’s a hallway to the left and a door to the right.

  “The house is a studio,” I deduce.

  “Just the first story,” the guy says. “Mr. Killion said you know the code.”

  Killion? Alex mouths, and I look at him expectantly, waiting for him to finally recognize Ethan. He says, “He’s fucking Kill.”

  “I’ve been wondering all this time where was Kill and who Ethan was. You guys have ridiculous nicknames.”

  “Maybe, I’m sure you know Tuck is Deck for obvious reasons. We haven’t called him that since the band broke up, same with Ethan. Zeke kept his name, and Rocco’s name is actually Patrick. Never call him Patrick.”

  I push the code we used in the past, and it works. When I enter, there are empty bottles of beer on the floor. Zeke’s holding a bottle of tequila. Tucker is pacing the room while Ethan is playing video games. Rocco is in the corner, lost.

  First, I whistle the way Dad used to do when we were rowdy. When I get their attention, I ask loudly staring at the four of them. “Cocaine, seriously? I thought we learned a lesson. Prostitutes?”

  “They were fine strippers. We invited them to join us after their shift,” Zeke amends. “They’re nice ladies.”

  “And the drugs were theirs, Zeke?”

  “Dudette, it was less than a gram,” Rocco interjects. “We’re clean.”

  “Mmm, so a gram is nothing? Famous words from a guy who keeps falling back into the habit.” Then, I turn to Zeke, because if one is using, most likely, the other one is too. “Are we clean, Zeke?”

  He shakes his head. “Sorry, Nana. I…I’ve been trying to quit—again.”

  “Do you want help?”

  He doesn’t look at me, but he nods in response.

  “Rocco?”

  “It was a onetime thing,” he argues. “Why do you care? You can’t just come here and say, I fixed my shit, and I’ll fix you. You have no idea what’s happening here.”

  “He’s high,” Zeke says and laughs. “We are a mess, Nana.”

  I walk to him, take away the bottle, and hand it to Alex. “Find a sink, please.” I give him my phone after unlocking it. “Call Dad, tell him…”

  I look around the room. Ethan doesn’t look bad, Tucker seems upset. “That we need to send two to rehab, ASAP.”

  “You can’t make me go to rehab,” Rocco protests loudly.

  Alex puts himself in front of me, but I sneak around and take a seat next to Rocco.

  “Would you let me help you?” I ask, taking his hand.

  He shakes his head. “I miss this, Nana.” He hugs me and puts his head on my shoulder.

  I feel it when Alex stiffens and tries to take a few steps toward us.

  “Stop,” Ethan orders. “He’s not going to do anything to her, but he’ll fight you if you provoke him.”

  “What do you need, Rocco?”

  “Our music, the band, you. I want everything back the way it was.”

  “What if I promise to come more often?” I offer.

  “You should, it’s not the same without you.” He starts crying. “One year. You left us hanging for one year. I get it, you had to find yourself and do all that hipster shit, but it’s time to come home to us. To play music again.”

  “If you miss it so much, you could do your own thing.”

  He laughs hysterically. “What’s the rhythm guitarist supposed to do by himself?”

  I look at the guys who shrug. They all seem worried about him.

  “Let’s make a deal,” I propose. “You get clean, and afterward, we’ll discuss the future of our band.”

  All eyes are on me.

  “We lost the Deckers’ support,” Ethan says. “It might be hard to claim the name. They own it.”

  “We can sue,” Rocco grunts.

  We could, but I bet they won’t release it until they know these guys got their act together.

  “What happened, Tucker?”

  “Have you read any of those articles?” he asks.

  I shake my head.

  “Mom’s name got mixed in all this shit. It pissed me off,” he howls, his hands tighten into fists. “I would do anything to clean it, except my father wouldn’t listen to me. They just fired me for being irresponsible.”

  “Tristan Cooperson fired us,” Rocco says. “Coop’s the chilled one of Tuck’s parents. Tuck told them to go fuck themselves. That he doesn’t need them.”

  I close my eyes and take a deep breath. He pissed off the entire family. I can’t promise Rocco
that Sinners of Seattle can come back anytime soon.

  “What’s the plan, Tuck?”

  He shrugs. “I need to get out of Seattle. Afterward, I’ll start a business.”

  “If you want, you can stay with me,” I offer. “At least while they’re in rehab.”

  I don’t ask if he’s clean. He never touches drugs. His mother’s a recovering drug addict, and he’s afraid he’ll become an addict if he touches anything.

  “Your dad’s manager is sending someone to pick them up in thirty minutes,” Alex says then looks at Tucker. “From experience, I can tell you that you can only be jobless for so long. Even when you have money to live without worries, you need something to do.”

  “I will,” Tucker says and cracks his knuckles. “I’m going to show them that I don’t need their connections or their fucking last name.”

  “So…no music,” I say.

  He shakes his head and looks at Zeke. “Before you two leave, I need a loan. You owe me that much.”

  “So, where are you planning on setting this empire?” I ask, trying not to sound condescending, because he’s seriously being an ass.

  “Anywhere but here,” he answers, “or California.”

  Alex and I look at each other and say, “Denver.”

  Tucker looks at Alex. “Why is he here again?”

  “He came with me,” I explain.

  “Are you having accidental sex with him again?” Tucker asks, glaring at Alex.

  I shake my head. “This isn’t the time to discuss my love life.”

  “We like you, man, but if you hurt her, I’ll make sure you don’t see the light of the day ever again,” Tucker threatens him.

  I roll my eyes, then ask Rocco, “Where’s your stuff? I’ll pack for you.”

  “Upstairs,” Ethan says.

  “Zeke, help me. You need to get ready, too,” I order.

  On our way upstairs, I say, “You said you fucked up, what exactly did you do?”

  “I knew Rocco was having trouble staying sober, and I... I haven’t been clean for months.”

  “Z, why didn’t you reach out?”

  He shrugs.

  “What can I do?”

  He swallows hard. “Tuck’s never going to forgive me.”