“Hello?”
“Angela? It’s Lia.” I hold my breath. What if she’s calling to say something happened to Justin? “I need to ask you for a favor.”
I exhale slowly. “Sure. Ask.”
“My assistant had to take time off for a family emergency. And I desperately need one this week for the roll-out of my new tutorials. Is there any way you can start on Monday? I will pay for your ticket out here and then back again next week for you to finalize things there.”
“You’re offering me a job?” I’m a little shell shocked. I expected to be looking for an entry level position somewhere for months. Now I have two temp jobs lined up one after the other. “What exactly will I be doing?”
“Cataloguing mostly. I used so many different products on so many different people, I need someone to help me keep things straight as I add the audio and edit the videos.”
That I could do. It’s not exactly my dream job but it’s something. And who knows what doors it could open? At the very least I’d be able to keep myself fed and clothed instead of mooching off my parents. But she wants me to start Monday. “I will need to be back here next weekend to make sure my landlord doesn’t screw me out of my deposit.”
“I can arrange that.” Amelia sounds excited as she runs through some quick details about the job. “Also, I don’t have a big payroll, but it is automated. I will need you loaded on Monday to make sure you get paid on time. I will send you the forms now. Get them printed, filled out and sent back to me.”
“I will do that.” We say our goodbyes and I hang up. I turn to my friends. “Guys, I have a job starting on Monday in Seattle.”
They both look around my apartment and see the immediate problem. Cassie speaks up, though. “What can we do to help?”
Chapter 8
Justin
It’s been a long time since I’ve had Sunday dinner with my grandfather. It’s just the two of us though. According to him everyone else had to work. If you ask me, everyone’s avoiding me because they’re pissed. Which is both childish and typical. I know they have my back, and that none of them will want to see me get hurt. But that also means that they will tell me off when they think it’s necessary. Or in this case, give me the cold shoulder. Never did I think that I would miss them telling me off. But that would be preferable to the radio silence they’re all currently dishing out.
“After lunch, we’re going to the York’s for dessert.” My grandfather looks at me as if he’s waiting for a reaction. I just don’t know what that is.
I swallow the food in my mouth and look over at him. “Why can’t we have dessert here. I can go out and buy us something sweet if you want.”
He looks at me as if I’ve grown a second head. “I go to the York’s for dessert every week. They’re kind enough to invite me. It’s a tradition. I’ve already told Darren he doesn’t have to pick me up because you’ll drive me.”
My grandfather stopped driving two years ago when he suffered a stroke. He was left slightly impaired on his right side.
I nod. “Sure. I can drop you off on my way home.”
I’m in no mood to deal with the hostility from Angela’s siblings. No doubt they would be there. Their mother made a big deal of gathering all of them that were in town for a meal once a week. She wasn’t above using guilt and manipulation, either. She was a great woman, but she knew exactly which buttons to push.
“You can’t be rude.” My grandfather pushed his plate forward and leaned back in his chair. “Iris specifically said it would be lovely to see you. She’s expecting you. I cannot believe you haven’t visited them since you moved back to town.”
“Grandpa, I’ve only been back two weeks, and last Sunday I was off to Vegas.”
My grandfather grunted, but a smile lifted the corner of his mouth. “You know, their house is open every day of the week, right? You don’t just have to show up for dessert.”
“You’re right. I’ll make more of an effort. So, how have you been this week?” I change the subject not wanting to dwell on the possibility of seeing Angela after she moves back when I visit her parents. “Andi says you’ve been spending a lot of time at the Palm View lately.”
Palm View was a retirement village on the outskirts of the city. My cousin drives him there most mornings and either my brother or younger cousin picks him up in the late afternoon. I know they don’t mind driving him around. And I will pitch in too, now that I’m in town. Still, I have considered having a driver on hand so that he doesn’t always have to wait around for one of us.
“I was thinking I want to move in there.” He gets up and starts clearing the table. “I spend most of my time there anyway and one of the units is about to become available.”
I don’t want to think about the fact that a unit was about to become available. “Grandpa, if you’re not happy here, I said you can move in with me.”
He still lived in the same two-bedroom apartment he raised my cousins, my brother and I in. It was cramped and we were dirt poor, but it was a happy home. My grandfather always put us kids first and I will do anything to make sure he is taken care of.
“No offense, kid,” he says, smiling. “Living with you would drive us both insane. Besides, the drive every day is exhausting and I’m just a passenger. Not to mention all my friends are there. I don’t need your permission, I just…”
Guilt floods me. I will not let my grandfather beg for anything. “I will take care of it. Do you want me to speak to the management, or do you want to handle the paperwork? I will want to check it out to make sure it’s safe for you. I would do that no matter who’s paying.”
“I’d like us to go over the paperwork together. Thanks, kid.”
My grandfather was a proud man, so I felt really honored that he was comfortable to ask this of me. And I’m so pleased I can do it for him. “So, tell me, what’s the attraction at the retirement village? Is she pretty?”
“You’ll mind your manners.” His tone is serious, but he cannot hide the smile that reaches his eyes.
I’m fortunate to have the relationship I do with him. The generation gap is not really a thing, and he’s the man I respect most in the world.
My parents were killed in a tsunami when I was twelve, while on holiday in Japan. My aunt and uncle died along with my parents as well. My grandfather lost both his sons in one of the worst natural disasters we’ve ever seen. Since then, it has been just the five of us.
My mom was a foster kid who never knew her parents. My dad’s mother died when he was still a kid and as far as I know my grandfather hasn’t dated since then. So, if he wants to move across town for a woman, who am I to stop him.
I help him clear the table and load the dishwasher. I put in a load of laundry and take out the trash. For the most part, my grandfather still cleans the apartment by himself. I do have someone coming in to clean once a month but even that was a struggle. His exact words were I don’t need someone going through my unmentionables.
I will check out what services the retirement village has and whatever they don’t have, I’ll make sure he gets.
By the time I’ve checked to see that he has enough groceries and toiletries, it’s nearly evening. With nothing else to do I started folding a load of laundry that was piled neatly in the empty bedroom.
“Does the fact that your brother and cousins are not here have anything to do with you delaying going to the York’s?” The old man is standing in the middle of the doorway, his arms folded over his chest. The fact that I am now a good few inches taller than him doesn’t make him any less intimidating than when I was a kid.
“Grandpa, you said they were all working.” I wasn’t about to admit that he might be right. “And I’m not delaying leaving. I was waiting for you to get ready.”
“I’m ready, let’s go.” He turns around and walks towards the front door. I drop the laundry and follow him. “And whatever’s going on between you kids, you need to fix it.”
“What makes you think I di
d something wrong?”
“Just fix it.”
The drive to the York’s doesn’t take long. Denver’s Jeep is parked in the driveway. Time to face the music. Just as I am about to knock my grandfather opens the door. He rolls his eyes at me. “They’re like family. I don’t stand on ceremony for family.”
The second most heavenly smell assaults my senses. Mr. York outdid himself again. Angela’s mother was a great cook, but her dad was a baker. Their home always smells sweet, like chocolate chip cookies. Today there was caramel in the mix and maybe even some almonds.
“Arthur, you made it.” Mrs. York steps up to us and hugs my grandfather as if she didn’t see him just a week ago. She turns to me and smiles before hugging me. “Justin, it’s so lovely to see you. I’m so glad you could come with your grandfather.”
Mr. York shakes my hand and Denver glares at me from across the room. Bridget, the youngest York, walks into the living room. “Justin!” She runs to me and grips me in a tight hug. She raises a brow at me. “I’m surprised to see you, especially since—”
“Hi Justin.” Her voice disarms me. I let go of Bridget and take a good look at my wife. My wife. Why does that sound so fucking right? And what the fuck was she doing here a week early.
“Angel, you’re here?”
I haven’t called her Angel in front of anyone else before. That was just for us. But I cannot be bothered to retract it.
I get the distinct impression they are all watching us, but I don’t see anyone else but her.
“Yeah, I got a call about a job last night. I need to start tomorrow. I flew out earlier this morning.”
I swallow hard. So, she had a change of plans and I was the last person to know. I’m not prepared for how much that stings.
“And no one told me.” I say loud enough for both her and Bridget to hear. “Got it.”
Angela
I knew I would run into Justin sooner or later. It wasn’t until my mom mentioned that he would bring his grandfather over for dessert that I realized it would be today. I had a few hours to prepare to see him and I was prepared for him to be sexy and adorable as he pandered to his grandfather. I was prepared to drool over the way that T-shirt fit over his muscled chest, and the way his jeans hung on his hips. What wasn’t I prepared for? The hurt in his eyes when he realized I was home and didn’t let him know.
Just then, the door flies open. Andi walks in and immediately hugs her cousin. “I’m so glad you’re home. But we need to talk.”
Justin smiles down at her. “Not now but I’m glad you’re here.”
Hearing that breaks my heart just a little. He knows she feels the same as everyone else does but he feels like he needs someone in his corner. That should be me. His wife is supposed to be the one that has his back.
Bridget pulls Andi further into the living room. “Why don’t we take dessert to the games room? Leave the old people to gossip about us.”
“That’s not a bad idea.” Andi helps Bridget prepare platters for us. “You guys go ahead, we’ll bring sustenance.”
Denver leads the way and I follow with Justin bringing up the rear. I feel like I’m walking to my doom. I know it’s dramatic but why does everyone have to make a big deal out of something both Justin and I know we need to fix. I sincerely hope Denver doesn’t go all caveman on Justin. Because I’m an adult and I don’t need my big brother curating who I can and cannot sleep with.
Without saying a word, Justin walks to the pool table and sets up the balls in the triangle. He takes one cue and tosses one at me, ignoring Denver’s scowling. “You want to break?”
The intensity in his eyes tells me exactly how loaded that question is. He’s talking about so much more than pool. “You go ahead.”
Justin lines up the ball but before he can make the first move Denver speaks. “Are you just going to ignore the elephant in the room and play pool?”
“If you don’t mind.” Justin pushes away from the pool table and leans on the cue. “I’m really angry with my wife and I’m trying to choose my words very carefully.”
“Your wife?” Denver’s hands are clenched into fists. “We all know this marriage is nothing but a joke.”
It may have been something we did on a whim, an impulsive mistake even. But it wasn’t a joke. “Denver, shut up. This has nothing to do with you.” I turn to Justin. “What would you say if you weren’t trying to choose your words?”
He takes a deep breath and I can tell he’s still censoring himself. “You changed your plans without telling me.”
“Why the fuck should she tell you anything?” Denver is beginning to work on my nerves. “We all know this marriage is a sham. Did you figure the only way to get her to put out was to marry her?”
Before I can even react, Justin has pinned him to the wall. “You will not speak about her like that. Your sister has so much more to offer than sex. And if you think that the only reason I would be interested in her is to get in her pants, then that tells me what you think about both of us. But that’s on you, not us.”
I know it's totally archaic, but watching him defend me, defend us as a couple really, is a huge turn on. Although the jolt of lust flowing through me is totally inappropriate for the situation. I rest my hand on his back. “Justin, calm down.”
His back tenses where my hand rests but he lowers my brother. Denver, because he thinks I need some sort of bodyguard doesn’t back down. “If you hurt her, you will be sorry.”
Justin darts his gaze between Denver and me. “Me, hurt her? She just changed her plans and I’m the last person to find out. Which tells me where I stand on her list of priorities. Yeah, you're right. I’m more likely to hurt her.”
He turns to Andi, who had been silent throughout everything. “Can you drive grandpa home? I need to get out of here.”
She nods but is glaring at Denver. I have no doubt those two are going to have a row once they’re alone. “Go. I’ll tell him you needed to attend to some business or something.”
Justin turns to me. He flexes his hands, and his eyes are dark. I can tell he wants to say something. Instead he turns around and walks out of the games room.
Andi’s still glaring at Denver. “You are such an ass. That’s supposed to be your friend. A friend that is hurting right now. Are you really that blind?”
Denver’s shoulders sag. “I know, but when he said he was angry with Angie, when she owes him no explanation, I just lost it.”
“He has a right to be angry.” As soon as the words come out of my mouth, I know they are true. Marriage aside, what we shared was so much more than just a fling. I told him I would be home in a week. “Besides, couples fight. That won’t be the last time we argue.”
“So, you’re a couple now?” Denver walks over to me and rests his hands on my shoulders. “Just because you’re married doesn’t mean you have to be with him. We can have that shit annulled.”
“We’re not getting that shit annulled.” I say mimicking his words. “And I think I owe both of us a chance to see if we can be a couple.”
Andi stands alongside me. “Go. I’ll deal with the old people. He’s probably still sulking in his car before he drives off.”
I run through the house, picking up my phone and purse on the way to the door. “Mom, Dad. I’m going to see if Justin has any apartments to lease.”
I don’t wait for a response before I’m out of the door. Andi was right. Justin is still in the driveway. He’s staring out of the windshield, his forearms resting on the steering wheel. I knock on the driver’s side window.
He presses a button and the window moves down. “Hey.”
I gather my courage. I want to word this properly. I want to put the option on the table, but I don’t want him to feel trapped. “This is not how married couples handle arguments.”
He smiles and gestures for the passenger’s seat. “Hop in.”
Chapter 9
Justin
When I walked out of the York’s house, I wasn’
t sure where I wanted to go. I didn’t want to be alone in my apartment. I didn’t want to be anywhere I’d be alone with my thoughts. I also didn’t want to be around people. And I definitely needed to get away from Denver. I know he’s concerned about his sister but there was no need to treat either of us with that much disrespect.
When Angela tapped on my window, all the anger flowed out of me. Despite her small smile, she looked so vulnerable. And when she said what she said, I just wanted to wrap her in my arms and never argue with her again.
I know that that’s unrealistic, and whatever our issues are, we need to sort them out. “Where do you want to go?” I ask as she slides into my car.
“I was going to leave that up to you.” She pulls the seatbelt across her chest, highlighting her breasts. “I’m happy to go back to your place.”
I put the car in gear and pull away. Despite the fact that I feel lighter having her with me, and I’m confident that we’ll sort this out, there is still some tension in the air. We drive, mostly in silence, until we’re almost at my apartment building and I can no longer stand the silence.
“Look, I’m not saying I need to know everything you do. I was just a little taken aback that you never thought to tell me you were going to be in town a week early.”
“I guess I thought it wouldn’t matter to you.” She’s not looking at me. If I wasn’t driving, I’d force her to face me. But maybe she’ll be more open if I don’t push it. “I mean, we’re back in Seattle now, and I’m nothing more than your best friend’s little sister.”
“Angel, I think you know better than that.” Friday night aside, the week we spent together wasn’t just some hot fling, at least not for me. It was the start of something. Something that I desperately wanted to explore. “You’re not just a fling. You’re the person I want to get to know.”
I pull into the underground parking of my building. Angela is still fidgeting with the zipper of her hoodie.
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