I nod. “Seems like our siblings don’t trust our maturity, do they?” I text Demetri, asking to bring some wine to the terrace. “I find it refreshing that they’re both sure about their future.”
“We discussed it yesterday. Persy likes long-lasting relationships. As disgusting as it sounds, it seems like they love each other enough to believe that they’ll have to split holidays between us if we…do something stupid and can’t stand to be in the same room.”
“Because we wouldn’t last? They have so little faith in us.”
She tosses her head back and laughs at me.
I wish I could say something but that’s when Demetri arrives with a bottle of wine, and the two glasses on the tray are already filled. He hands one glass to Nyx and another one to me. He sets the tray on the coffee table.
“Thank you, D,” I say as he leaves the room.
She sips from her glass, then licks her full lips. Her warm, dark eyes stare at me. My skin hums with need for some human touch—her touch to be exact.
“We could have something amazing,” I bring back the conversation.
Her face hardens. She tilts her head to the side. Her inquisitive eyes stare at me. “Have you ever had a long-lasting relationship?”
“Have you?” I retort.
“You first.” She narrows her eyes further.
“Her name was Bronwyn. We met when I was twenty-eight. The offices of LNCWare used to be in the financial district. It was before we started branching into other sectors,” I explain, remembering the first time I saw her. She was tall, caramel-honey hair with warm amber eyes that sometimes turned a yellow tone in the sun.
I pinch the bridge of my nose because it’s been a long while since the last time I thought about our first encounter. The memories that remain in my heart are too painful to remember the good times we shared. We were at a coffee shop. I was picking up my order when she tripped on something and almost fell. I reached out to catch her and instead of helping, I dumped my coffee on her.
We laughed, exchanged information so I could pay for the dry-cleaning of her dress and a new pair of shoes. That was the beginning of what I thought was my forever. She’s the love of my life. I wasn’t hers though.
“We dated for two years,” I continue and swallow hard. “She was it for me. I wasn’t sure when I’d be proposing to her, but—”
“Wait, we’re talking about l-o-v-e word here, aren’t we?”
I nod a couple of times, as I rub my chest.
She hugs her legs and asks, “What happened to her?”
“Back then, I traveled a lot,” I say and pause for a second. Maybe I’m still traveling a lot, and if there was a lesson to learn from that time I…well, I didn’t learn much. “I believed that quality was better than quantity. So even when we didn’t see each other every day, we had a deep, meaningful relationship.”
That’s how I remember it, but now I wonder if it was that way, or if I made all that up inside my head. I shake my head and continue. “We didn’t see each other as much as we did at the beginning, but we were happy. One day she said, ‘I’m pregnant.’”
“Please tell me your kid is fine,” she begs, and it feels like she’s about to cry.
I nod. “I did the most logical thing and proposed to her. She said yes. However, she suggested we waited until the baby was born. He arrived in this world five years ago. Ten fingers, ten toes, and I fell in love with the most beautiful boy in the world. We named him Wyatt Callum Davis-Chadwick. Seven pounds two ounces and twenty inches. I should have known something was wrong, but I adored him and there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for him. Why would I doubt his mother’s behavior?”
“What happened, and where is he?”
I close my eyes and let out a breath, “Four months later, during the wedding, my world collapsed. She said the wrong name during our vow exchange. Instead of saying ‘I take thee, Nathaniel,’ she said, ‘I take thee, Callum.’ He was her boss. The guy happened to be among the guests. One moment we were supposed to exchange rings and the next I’m punching the guy, she’s crying because she doesn’t know who she loves, and my brother is hauling me out of the place.”
Counting from one to ten, I open my eyes and smile at her. “She wasn’t sure who she loved. There were too many uncertainties to continue with the ceremony.”
“What about Wyatt?” Nyx asks, and I’m sure she knows what is coming up next.
“Later, we sat down to talk. She confessed that she had been going out with both of us. Not only that, but she wasn’t sure who Wyatt’s father was. When I asked why she stayed with me she said that I was the better choice.”
“Nate…” Nyx whispers my name and touches my hand lightly.
“With me, Wyatt would have everything he desired. It was my bank account, and not because she loved me,” I say, looking at the dark sky and feeling just as dark as I felt during those months. “I was angry, hurt, and heartbroken. I loved her, and I adored my boy. Except...”
“He wasn’t yours,” she finishes what I can’t say.
“There’s nothing left in me to give,” I confess after a long silence. “She shattered me the moment I learned he wasn’t mine. She snatched my little boy away from me. He’s now Wyatt Callum Davis-Mattis. It hurt to lose her, but him… I could’ve forgiven her for cheating and forged a friendship with her while we parented our son. She wiped me from his life. It’s like I never existed. That’s why my brother wants me to stay away. Because if you get attached and want more…”
She squeezes my hand. “Thank God I’m not one of those women who tries to fix men, or we’d be a lethal combination.”
I smile, nodding in agreement.
“What about you?”
“As I mentioned last night, my track record is terrible,” she confesses. “I had a couple of boyfriends during college and law school. They were too busy to entertain something serious.”
“So, casual dates,” I conclude.
She snickers humorlessly. “Well, I thought we were heading somewhere until they set me straight. I guess they taught me to not trust my heart to anyone.”
“Where does this leave us?”
“That’s the beauty about who we are,” she says. “We’re mature enough to speak what we feel and talk about our limits. We’re without a doubt heading to the famous friend zone.”
“Ouch.” I wince
“It’ll be fun,” she assures me. “We could be each other’s wing-person since my wing woman is now otherwise occupied and happy with your brother.”
“But you see, with your busy schedule and my life I think we could make a deal that’ll benefit us both,” I propose. “Unlimited sex, no entanglements, and trips around the world when we find the time. It’ll be mutually exclusive.”
She gives me a sad, yet tender look that stirs something inside my chest. “Call me when you’re ready to be real and have a relationship that lasts more than twelve hours—or a weekend. I can find you someone who’ll be perfect for you then.”
“Not you?”
“No, because if I find the guy who’s buried under the pain your ex left, I’m afraid I’ll do something stupid like fall in love and end up with a broken heart,” she confesses, rises from her seat, and kisses my cheek. “I wish I could tell you it gets easier, but what you lost is bigger than just the love of your life. I’m sorry that happened.”
I want to know what she’d do if she found him, the guy Bronwyn destroyed. I’ve been looking for that asshole for five years and I can’t find him. What makes her think that she can reach out to him?
Actually, I believe that Bronwyn Davis killed him. Sadly, I couldn’t avenge his death because I can’t do anything to hurt Wyatt’s mother. He might not be mine by blood, but I’ll always love that kid more than anything in the world.
Seven
Nyx
New York was informative, uneventful, and somehow relaxing. Most of all, I learned that I need a dog in my life. Brock is a sweetheart. If it wasn’t
because Nate seems to adore him, I’d have tried to bring him home as a souvenir. Also, I had time to reconnect with my sister. For the last couple of months, I’ve been in and out of town. Other than texts and the daily phone call, we’ve barely had our sister time.
While Persy and I were around town visiting museums, shopping, and having fun, she didn’t post much on her social media the way she usually does. Her last three posts were called ‘hiatus.’ She’s recharging for her next chapter.
Having a boyfriend who hates being in the spotlight could be a deal breaker for an influencer, but not for my sister. She’s always known how to handle her social media presence and she already has a plan. I wasn’t sure about this relationship before, but after spending time with them, I know they’ll be together forever.
I’m not jealous of my sister, but the loneliness I’ve been feeling increases when I board the plane to fly back to Denver. Ford has work to do and Persy can stay with him for as long as she needs to. When I arrive home, I call Eros to check on him and Simon. Persy left him in charge of her feline child. He suggests I take the cat with me, but I remind him that Simon hates to be alone and I spend too much time at the office. He’s the best choice since he works from home.
As predicted, I spend the entire week at the office working on two different cases and helping one of the partners while he’s out of town. Sarah Bryant, my boss, hates when I ask for personal time off. When I do, she finds me crappy cases and assigns me extra work. Maybe Nate is right. It’s time to open my own firm or… There’s no other option. I’m too seasoned to start in a new firm and try to climb my way to the top.
It’s past seven at night, the sun is still shining, and I am ready to put in at least three more hours of work when the landline rings. I should let it go to voicemail, but what if it’s something important that can’t wait until Monday?
“Nyx Brassard’s office.”
“Predictable,” the husky male voice on the other side of the line says. “You should be home or partying. After all, it’s Friday evening.”
I stare at the New York number and guess, “Nathaniel Chadwick?”
“You like to say my name, don’t you?” he says with his flirty voice.
“How did you get this number?” I ask as I turn off my computer.
“Internet,” he answers with a simple word.
“Are you cyberstalking me?”
“Not exactly,” he states. “When we were drawing the contract to lease the penthouse to your sister, I checked the Bryant, LLP’s website where your direct line is listed. Since I don’t have your number it was easy to look this one up. We need to exchange information.”
I groan. “How can I help you, Nate?”
“Eros and I were planning our trip to Costa Rica,” he answers. “As his lawyer, we thought it would be wise to bring you along.”
“Have I mentioned that you are hilarious?” I ask and even laugh. “Hey, I need to leave, but it was great hearing from you. Bye.”
This should be a sign that I need to head home and stop practicing law on the side for my siblings—for free. While I gather my stuff, the phone rings. When I spot Nate’s number, I ignore it. We shouldn’t fraternize. He’s tempting, fun, and delicious. Just like cookies. If I’m strong enough to keep away from cookies, I’m strong enough to stay away from him.
When I get in my car, my cell rings. It’s my brother, Eros. This guy and I have to discuss boundaries. And talk about his future too. Like getting a new lawyer to help him with his business and keeping Nate away from me.
“What’s happening, big brother?”
“Are you joining us then?” he asks.
“Sorry, I feel like I missed half of the conversation. Give me a second,” I say, turning on the engine of the car and waiting for the phone to connect to the Bluetooth. “Okay, let’s try this again, but add context.”
“I’m organizing the trip to Costa Rica. Since you’re my lawyer I was hoping you’ll join us. Nate tried to call you about it, but he said you weren’t answering your phone.”
“Hmm, I don’t have any missed calls from him. Maybe he has the wrong number,” I say casually. “I don’t recall giving him my information”
“Not to worry, I just shared the contact info I have on my phone with him,” he answers proudly.
If I wasn’t driving, I’d smash my head against the wheel. Clearly, I have to have a word with Eros about Nate. Not today though.
“I’m swamped with work,” I announce wiggling my way out of this deal. I should call Pierce. He quit the practice a few months ago and moved to Oregon. He’s dealing with his family, but he might have time to deal with my brother and his new partner.
“Are we looking for an excuse, Nyxie?”
“No, I’ve been in and out of town for almost two months,” I remind him. “I have so much on my plate right now—”
“We could make it work. Before you try to dump me with one of your buddies, let me remind you that I only trust you.”
I sigh and say, “You’re going to have to text me or email me any details about your trip. We could connect through video conference while you’re down there. I’m going to be swamped at least until the second week of September. After that I might be able to go but…it’s unlikely.”
“It’s scheduled for the beginning of October. There’s a lot we have to set in place before we can fly out there,” he warns me. “I’ll be sending you some of the documentation as I receive it. Do you think we can have lunch tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow?” I ask, as I arrive home.
“Listen, according to Nate, Persy isn’t coming back for another week,” he announces. “It’s not like you have your bestie to find a good excuse to avoid me.”
I grunt because I know that lunch is going to include talking about his new company and Nate. I wanted to hang out with him this weekend, not work for him.
“I’m open all day, but I might go to check on our parents,” I state. If I drag Mom and Dad with us, I might avoid working for him all day.
“Perfect. I was thinking that we can go down to Conifer,” he suggests. “Ziplining is part of your bucket list.”
“Sounds—” On one hand, I’ve been meaning to do it, but on the other I’m not one to be daring, and that’s several feet above ground.
“Like torture, but I swear you’ll have fun,” Eros promises.
Unlike Persy who likes adventure, I prefer to stay as close to the ground as possible. I mean, what if the equipment fails and I get stuck? Or worse, what if I fall and die smashed onto the ground?
“We’ll pick you up at eight so we can have breakfast before heading to Conifer. See you tomorrow, Nyxie!”
Once I’m out of the car, I look at my phone’s screen and there’s a text.
212-xxx-xxxx: I can’t believe you hung up on me. You’re scared of me, aren’t you?
It’s the same number that called my office. Eros is going to pay for this.
Nyx: No, I’m busy.
I add Nate’s number to my contacts.
Nate: :eye roll emoji:
Nyx: Some of us work on Fridays.
Nate: I never lie, and I also hate when people lie to me.
Nyx: The truth is I don’t have time to text. I need to find something for dinner, and I need to call my mom.
Nate: What kind of food are you in the mood for?
Nyx: I need to check the menus I have in my drawer.
Nate: You don’t cook?
Nyx: I do when I have time. My fridge is empty, and I’m starving. Not everyone has a Demetri to manage our household.
Nate: He does more than manage my house. I can let you borrow him if you need him. He gets bored sometimes.
Nyx: I’m not sure if you’re joking or you’re seriously offering to lend him out.
Nate: It’s a joke. He’d quit if I did something like that. Anything special that you don’t like to eat?
Nyx: I eat pretty much everything.
Nate: Any allergies that I sh
ould know about?
Nyx: You are weird, and none.
Nate: Okay, we’ll see what I can find you.
I stare at the phone suspiciously, but I don’t reply. What is he trying to find? I choose not to fixate on him and go on with my night. When in doubt, stay away from the playboy.
Eight
Nyx
Instead of ordering food, I take a shower, blow dry my hair, and put on my pajamas. Nothing says I’m home better than a pair of lounge pants and a tank top. What would make this evening perfect would be a bottle of wine and something delicious for takeout. I skipped lunch, and the bagel I ate for breakfast is a fading memory.
Mom is right. I have to eat better and stop skipping meals. It’s just so hard to concentrate on work and keep track of what my body needs. I can only multitask so much. I walk toward the kitchen to search for the menus when my doorbell rings. Grabbing my phone, I check if Nate sent a text announcing that he ordered me food. There are no notifications. When I check who is at the door through the doorbell app, I see none other than Nathaniel Chadwick holding two brown paper bags. Also, he has my favorite guy with him.
Swinging the door open, I squat and greet him, “I missed you, Brocky!”
“He missed you too, and his name is Brock. As in Eddie Brock from Venom. Not Brocky,” Nate answers annoyed at my pet name for this handsome dog. “Though I have to say that we’re here because his new favorite word is Nyx and not w-a-l-k.”
“We’re best friends, aren’t we, Brock?” I scratch his belly. “You’re such a happy pup.”
“Lucky bastard,” Nate says and laughs. “He gets a greeting and a lot more attention than I do, and I’m the one who brought you food.”
“Thank you, Nate, for being so thoughtful. Not to sound rude, but why are you here?” I question, as Brock licks my hand playfully.
“I have a few things to discuss with Eros and the two love birds didn’t need a third wheel to keep them company. I decided to escape them and visit the Brassard siblings instead,” he explains.
Didn't Expect You (Against All Odds Book 2) Page 5