by Ford, Mia
“She stays that way without even trying. That’s close to it.” She said casually as I looked her over.
“I’d say that you’re as close to perfect as anyone. I love your curves and that pale skin. I’ve seen quite a lot of it lately.”
“What’s your favorite part?” Celia asked before glancing at me.
“I like sucking on those nipples with my hand wrapped around you. I also like watching your ass move when I’m behind you.” Celia nearly choked as she stumbled for a second, blushing a deep pink.
“Good morning.” Another couple jogged by and waved as I managed a greeting.
“You need to warn a girl about that.” She breathed out as I looked forward. “I think I almost broke my leg.”
We ran ten miles before darting up the steps and into the house for water. Brinley was in there and congratulated me about the job as she wrinkled her nose. “I’ll hug you later.”
“Thanks for the warning,” I told her as I grabbed two waters from the fridge. I tossed one to Celia as she laughed.
“When do you start? A couple of weeks?” Brinley asked as I downed half the bottle.
“A week and a half. Something about a pay period but I go in tomorrow to do paperwork.”
“Wasn’t that today?” Celia asked as she shot me a worried expression.
“They left a message that Tanya was out sick today. That’s why I went jogging.” I told her as she smiled.
The three of us made some breakfast and coffee and sat around for the morning, chatting about the upcoming weekend. Brinley wanted us all to go out, and she was going to add some to the group to even out the men and the women. That sounded suspiciously like she was going to set us up and I shot Celia a worried glance. I wasn’t sure how to work my way out of that since I was known as a playboy and Celia was supposedly single.
I went to bed alone that night and tossed and turned. I knew that girls were hanging out on their own and that was great, but I missed Celia. I wondered if Brinley was filling her head about some guy that she wanted her to meet.
I turned to the side and closed my eyes, knowing I needed to go to the new office tomorrow. I had the job, but I didn’t want to go in looking like shit. I considered kidnapping Celia and dragging her in here again but that wouldn’t work.
I woke up in time to shower and dress in slacks and a white shirt with a gray tie. I slipped my feet into my single pair of dress shoes and hopped in my car, noting the house was quiet. The girls must have been up late. When I parked and walked inside, I headed to the sixth floor and told the blonde I was here to see Tanya. “You got the job?”
“I did,” I replied as she typed something into the computer.
“Congratulations. We should go to lunch to celebrate.” Her smile was dripping with her attempt at seducing me and I just blinked at her. Her face fell when she realized I wasn’t going to respond. “Tanya will be right out.”
I sat down to wait as I considered sending Celia a message. That didn’t make sense since I never did that before. I was staring at my phone and heard a voice say my name. “Remington? I thought it might be you.” I glanced up to see a familiar brunette giving me a knowing smile.
“Oh. Tanya. I didn’t know you worked here.” I stood and slipped my phone into my pocket. She was one of the few women that I slept with more than once just after Jessie died. It was out of convenience but based on the way she was looking at me, she wanted more.
“I have for three years.” She told me as she led me down the hall, shaking her ass in the tight pencil skirt. I wanted to roll my eyes. When we reached what looked like a small conference room, Tanya asked me if I wanted coffee. She set some papers down and I nodded as I glanced into her light hazel eyes.
“That sounds great. I’ll start these. Black is fine, Tanya. Thank you.” I grabbed the pen that was beside the stack and started filling out the information, focused on the work. I saw a cup appear beside me and didn’t look up as I thanked her again, sensing her taking a seat across from me.
“How have you been?” She asked as I smiled faintly.
“I just came back here from Seattle. I worked out there for a while and it’s great to be back.” I replied turning another paper over.
“Maybe we can catch up,” she suggested as I gave her a look of disbelief.
“Not a good idea. We’re coworkers now and I’m seeing someone.” I shot her down as she blinked at me. If this was not even my first day, I didn’t know what to think of a full day here.
“Remington is seeing someone. Who is she? I’ve never heard that about you.” She leaned back as if I was going to tell her a story. I ignored her and finished the papers, sliding them over as she reached for them.
“Thank you,” I told her with a polite smile. “Is there anything else?”
“I don’t think so. I guess we’ll see you in about a week.” She smiled, and I stood.
“See you then.” I left and stopped in to say hello to my new boss. He made me feel like I’d be here for more than being hit on and I went to my car feeling better. I headed home, hoping to see Celia as I smiled. I’d never turned down a woman before due to being in a relationship, apart from Seattle. It felt weird, but those two did nothing for me. Even Tanya, who I’d slept with a handful of times brought no old feelings back. I wondered what it meant as I got off the freeway and headed home.
When I pulled into the garage, I noticed that Brinley’s car was gone. I twirled the keys around my finger as I walked in, looking around. “Anyone home?”
My mom came down the stairs. “The girls went to have lunch with someone.” She smiled. “How did it go?”
“I got the paperwork done and saw my new boss. That was great. I can’t say the same about the reception.” I sat down, loosening my tie.
“What do you mean?” Mom asked, joining me at the table.
“They all flirted with me. It was irritating, Mom. I’m there to work.” I said as she chuckled.
“Girls have been doing that for years. Since when does it bother you?” Mom laughed as I twirled my bottle of water.
“I’m trying to establish a career. I don’t want to deal with that shit.” I glanced up with an apologetic look. “Sorry.”
“You are a great-looking guy, Remy. That’s going to happen, but you can decide where it goes from there. I wouldn’t suggest getting involved with anyone from work.” I rolled my eyes.
“Obviously.”
“Just get settled in and everything will be fine.” She sipped her tea, and I stared at her for a moment. I wanted to tell her about Celia. Mom used to talk about us ending up together when we were younger with Celia’s mom. Was it worth mentioning?
I told Mom I was going to change and headed up to my room. I’d never been with a girl and worked with someone else I slept with before. I didn’t know if I should tell Celia about it. Fuck. I pulled on some shorts and a t-shirt and walked back downstairs, heading outside for some fresh air. I walked down the beach and let my mind wander as I stared blankly ahead.
I considered whether I’d sleep with Tanya again if I was single. Probably not since she wasn’t an interesting person to begin with. She was just there when I needed someone, and I took advantage of that. I needed to lay down some boundaries if she continued to pursue me and just be a dependable worker for this company. I didn’t want anyone, but Celia, and I was happy with that.
I moved on to the receptionist and whoever else might act like that. I would say I was seeing someone even if I wasn’t to keep things professional, assuming that word would travel around the office and it might stop. I used to like getting attracted to women easily but now it was nothing but irritating.
I’d walked far down when I decided to go back to the house. I’d worked it all out, and I needed to see Celia. I was heading back to the house when I saw someone walking towards me, stumbling a bit. I realized it was Celia, and I hurried towards her, catching her shoulders in my hands. “What’s wrong?” I asked as I looked at her stricken fa
ce.
“We went to lunch with some of Brin’s friends and there were these guys there. I assume that she wanted to hook me up with someone but then realized that one of the guys was from that party. He sat beside me and his hands were everywhere, but Brin was talking to the others. I didn’t tell her what happened at the party, so she had no idea not to ask him to come.”
She was all over the place and I wrapped an arm around her. “How did you get home?”
“I got an Uber and bailed on lunch. I couldn’t take it any longer.” I pulled her against me, wanting to kill my sister for putting Celia in this position. She was a shy girl, to begin with and forcing a guy on her was shitty, to begin with. Since she was with me, it was worse, but I reminded myself that nobody knew that.
“I’ve got you, Celia. I’m here. I am going to talk to Brin and try not to kill her.” I murmured as my mind rushed ahead.
“She didn’t know about us… doesn’t know.” Celia reminded me as I nodded.
“I want to tell them. All of them. Whether this works out, I just don’t want interference.” I told her as her eyes widened. “I ran across an old fling at the office today.” I was prepared for the hurt to flash across her face and kept going. “I don’t want her. I don’t want anyone but you. Why should I hide that?”
“I feel the same way but I’m pretty sure that I always have.” Celia smiled up at me and the color returned to her face. “Let’s tell them.” She said it like we had a huge group to contend with, but it was just my family. She took my hand, and we turned to go back to the house, seeing Mom and Brinley on the deck as we approached. I frowned and looked down at Celia before Brinley looked at us.
“Celia. There you are!” She ran down the stairs and over to us, stopping as she grabbed Celia’s face. “Are you okay?”
“Your hookup today went a little wrong, Brin,” I told her as she stared at me in confusion. “Not that it’s entirely your fault, of course. Celia didn’t tell you that the guy got handsy with her at a party and that she’d prefer never to see him again.” I looked at our hands. “We also didn’t tell you that we’re seeing each other. We’re dating.”
Brinley’s face dropped, and she looked at us. “You two?” I nodded with a smile. “Since when? We just got back and so did you. Was this happening before?”
“It happened once before,” Celia told her as she smiled. “Back after Jessie’s funeral… my mom’s funeral. We had a night together due to the stress, the grief, and I don’t even know what else. We walked away from it and I thought he didn’t remember. I was going to let it go, but we got here, and it got rekindled.” Brin stared at her as I watched her do the math.
“I don’t know where this will go, Brin. I just want to try to see. This is a bit new for both of us.” I spoke up and squeezed Celia’s hand. “It’s complicated enough without keeping it a secret.”
“So, she was in your room when she fell asleep outside?” Brinley asked as I nodded. “I was wondering, but it wasn’t that weird. You’ve known her almost your whole life.” She glanced between us. “Is that weird?”
“It is. We weighed the effect it could have on the family and everything and planned to wait awhile before the big reveal. Today changed that.” I explained as she threw her head back and laughed.
“You look happy. You both look happy. Come to think of it, you have for a little while now.” Brinley hugged us together, and we returned it. “I support you, but you need to take care of each other. I love you both.”
We all walked back to the house. I was still holding Celia’s hand and Brin slipped her arm through my free one. We must have made quite the group and Mom watched us as we climbed the stairs. She looked at Brin, me, and then my hand holding Celia’s. Understanding flashed across her face and she covered her mouth. “She would be so happy. She always wanted this.” She walked forward and hugged me first, then Celia. “Is this why you’ve both been happier?”
“Yes. It’s very new, Mom. Something of a continuation from years ago that was still there. We’re trying it and planned to keep it on the down low initially. Things changed.” I smiled at Celia and she gazed back at me. “No pressure, Mom. Let this happen and end up where it is meant to. For now, I am the happiest I’ve ever been, and that’s what matters.”
“No pressure. You two look great together.” She laughed and dabbed at her eyes before she gazed at Celia. “Your mama is seeing this, sweetheart. She is breathing a big sigh of relief because she always knew that Remy would take care of you.”
“Oh, God,” Celia said as she started to cry. I looked around at the teary-eyed women and took a slow breath. I needed my dad right now. I let them fall together in a group hug, knowing from previous experience that this is just how it worked. Eventually, we made our way into the house and figured out dinner together. Dad would be home tomorrow, so we’d celebrate the job-and now this relationship-tomorrow.
After a movie and a lot of catching up with more tears, I took Celia out to my balcony and we sat in the chairs. “Is this happening? Are we out here together and everyone knows?” Celia asked as she sat down.
“It would seem so. I’m just worried about Mom planning a wedding now.” I looked at her with a smile. “I am not ready for that at all. I know this feels right but I want to focus on my new job and settle in. I want you there for all of it though. I want to support you through your journey as well.”
Celia laughed, moving to kiss me. It felt so damn good to just do this now though we weren’t overdoing it by any means. Not in front of them, at least.
We slept out there until the morning and then came into my room to finish sleeping in my bed. I hadn’t asked if it was okay, but Mom seemed open to us pursuing this. I didn’t plan to get crazy in here with Celia if the time wasn’t right, but we were good at being quiet when needed. She’d always laugh and say she felt like we were going to get caught.
Chapter Nine
Celia
Waking up with Remy was perfect. Until he got up for the job, we’d rise and go for a run on the beach together. I was feeling great now and planned to keep it up when he worked during the week. We’d have breakfast with whoever was home and do stuff in town. We started going out as a couple with Brin and I knew that girls thought it was fake. The old Remy would never settle down with one person for too long.
They didn’t know the Remy that was so broken when he lost his best friend. They knew the guy that got drunk and slept around to try to avoid his pain but that wasn’t who he was. I saw his sweet side and always had. I always knew how protective he was and still teased him about being a Neanderthal sometimes. I knew how much he loved his family.
When he began working, I hated him leaving in the morning. It still bothered me that there was at least one woman from his past there and more that wanted to be part of his present. Remy was one of the most gorgeous men I’d laid eyes on and couldn’t blame women for taking a second look, if not more. I trusted that he was mine and started looking into a local journalism job for myself. I didn’t need the money. My parents made sure of that before they died. I just wanted to work and explore what I loved doing. Remy was supportive through all of it and his enthusiasm for his job was contagious.
He moved past being the new hot guy and one of the best workers there within a few weeks. He let it be known that he had a girlfriend and allowed it to get passed around. Eventually, the women gave up, and the men took notice of his hard work.
He told me about the mess in Seattle after he’d been at the job for about a month. Remy confessed that he thought it would prevent him from working for a firm ever again. The one in Seattle was big and his former friend had a lot of contacts. He could bury Remy, but we assumed that he felt bad about what happened and dropped it. We never heard anything detailed about that once he started working and making a name for himself.
I spent my days looking for work, both online and at local papers. I didn’t have much experience but my degree and recommendation letters from the people t
hat I worked with seemed to help me. I ended up with a gig writing for a small local paper as well as several online publications.
I was at the table with my laptop, a plate beside me that was once my dinner. I let some deadlines pile up and sipped my coffee and I cursed myself. We were still at the house with his family because we liked it. We loved them, and I was a bit possessive with them since I lost my own. I typed fast, listening to music in my earbuds as I read my notes. I promised myself I’d never do this again. Brinley wanted to do a weekend away on the first long one and we agreed, setting me back. It was fun visiting an old friend in Carlsbad, but I hated myself now.
I felt someone kiss my head and glanced up to see Remy smiling softly at me. I tugged out one of the buds and smiled wearily at him. “Hi. How are you?” He’d worked late with his boss tonight and looked tired, but happy.
“I’m good. I see you’re buried here.” He noted as he looked at my mess of papers.
“Yeah. I need to plan my time a lot better.” I pouted, and he sat down beside me as his mom walked in behind him.
“Want some pasta?” She asked Remy as he glanced at my plate.
“Sure. I need to catch up with Celia.” He agreed, and she heated him up a plate. We talked about his day and he was happy with one of his new assignments, telling me that he might get promoted. I was excited and hugged him as he finished his dinner.
The garage door opened, and Brinley walked in, running a hand through her hair. She was an assistant to a big boss in the costume industry, for both videos and shows. She was hoping to score a movie soon, but we were waiting for news on that.
“How are you?” Melinda asked her as Brin glanced up.
“I’m so tired.” She was staying with friends when they were working long hours in LA but lived here for the rest of the time. “I have the next two days off.” She slipped off her heels and picked them up before walking up to her room. I chuckled, knowing that we both missed parts of school right about now.