by Kat T. Masen
“Well, well, well… look who finally made it to LA.” Charlie grins.
“Hello, cuz.” I smile back, placing my bag on the floor, then leaning in to hug her.
I may have left my mom behind, but Charlie is family. Something about her makes me feel at home. Perhaps it’s the years of torture she inflicted on me when we were growing up—tea parties, wedgies—you name it, she made me do it every summer.
Pulling away, she holds onto my arms to look at me. Her eyes glass over, and she’s on the verge of crying. I can see her small pregnancy bump and assume the raging hormones are on-setting the tears.
“You’re a grown-up man now.” She smiles proudly. “And I see you made a friend on the plane already.” Raising her brow, she waits for me to respond.
“Californians are very welcoming.”
The timing is impeccable. Ivana, the stewardess from the flight, walks past and stops just shy of where Charlie stands.
“I’m staying at this hotel. Call me.” She slides the paper into the breast pocket of my shirt. Charlie frowns, shaking her head back and forth.
“Let’s go, Noah. We have some rules we need to set in place if you’re staying with us.”
I let out a groan, a gesture that Charlie’s daughter notices.
“Uncle Noah, you won’t get bored at my house. We have a ton of things to do! Maybe your girlfriends can come visit, too?”
Leaning over to Charlie, I whisper, “What’s the name of this daughter?”
“Amelia,” she reprimands with an annoyed look. “She’s the oldest.”
“Right,” I respond, smiling at Amelia. “Uncle Noah isn’t used to being around kids, so you have to be patient. Do you know what that means?”
“Well, duh,” she responds with a bored look on her face. “I am almost five. Daddy says that men like you only have women friends, not boy friends. Unless, of course, you’re like my Uncle Eric. He has boyfriends. He’s gay.”
I stop mid-step. “Uh… kid, should you know that?”
“Daddy also says I’m super smart and one day I’ll run his company. He says if I’m the boss, I can make everyone wear capes to work.”
“That’s a pretty awesome idea,” I tell her. “How about if you become the boss, I’ll come work for you. I’d like to wear a cape to work every day, too.”
“Deal.” She smiles, happily skipping beside me.
Charlie directs us to the baggage claim area. Along with the hoard of people, I wait until my suitcases move toward us. The rest of my stuff is on a truck headed here. I didn’t know what I’d need to survive living with Charlie and her family, a move in my life I never expected to make.
On the car ride to Charlie’s house, Amelia falls asleep, giving us time to chat.
“Your mom told me about what happened back home.”
“My mom has a big mouth,” I tell her, staring out the window.
“You okay? It can’t be easy to lose your friends like that, especially the ones who were like brothers to you.”
Putting on a brave face, I follow with a smile. “I’m fine. I’m ready for new things, anyway.”
“Good.” She hesitates, turning her indicator on and driving up the ramp to another freeway. “You have Lex. He’s going to enjoy having you around.”
“Is he into sports, specifically basketball?”
“Uh… yes.” She laughs. “He has courtside seats to all the Lakers games.”
“Sweet. Maybe living out here ain’t gonna be so bad,” I mumble to myself.
And just for a moment, when things look bleak, the promise of courtside tickets perks me right up.
Then, I remember my golden tickets—the one sitting in the pocket of my pants and the one sitting in the pocket of my shirt.
To fresh starts.
To a new career.
To California babes.
Life is starting to look sweet—again.
NOAH
There’s nothing worse than being woken up to the sound of a crying child, a sound so irritating you wish you could grab one of those heavy-duty headphones to block the noise, similar to those used on an airport runway.
Comparing a crying baby to a plane should tell you how much I dislike children. Okay, maybe dislike is too strong of a word to use, considering it’s my niece screaming down the house. Annoying? Yeah, that seems more fitting.
But who would’ve thought there’s something more annoying than the sound of a crying child at five in the morning? There is—the constant movement of your bed from two kids jumping up and down relentlessly.
“Uncle Noah, wake up!”
I let out a frustrated moan, turning my back to them as the mattress moves underneath me. For fuck’s sake, the girls have a trampoline outside. A massive one, at that. To think of how many times I annoyed my mom in the same way when I was a kid, karma is really late on delivering. She’s found me, stuck with me, and, of course, I’m a sexist, assuming karma is a she.
Pulling the covers over my head to block out the noise, my niece, Amelia, pulls it back off immediately. “You’re going to be late to work. Daddy says people who are late to work slow your business down and therefore create less productivity.”
For her age, this kid has way too many brain cells. However, Daddy does have a point, probably why he runs one of the top empires in the United States.
“Girls, as much as I love your morning wake-up calls, how about you give me five more minutes?” I ask nicely.
“That’s what you said yesterday, Uncle Noah,” Amelia reminds me, placing her hands on her hips.
How can I resist their cute faces? It doesn’t help that I’m massively hungover from a club I hit last night with Erika and Ivana. Yes, I fucked both of them. Yes, I do believe my dick is also hungover. I think I’ve only gotten two hours sleep if that. I’ve only been here three nights, and all of them resulted in not much sleep.
“I promise only five more minutes,” I beg kindly.
“Okay,” Ava, the youngest, says in her broken toddler speech. “I’m watching cock!”
“Clock, Ava,” Amelia corrects her. “Cock is a rooster. Daddy always says to Mommy that she likes big roosters, remember?”
I snicker, realizing the girls are standing beside me watching me with confused expressions on their faces as I laugh. Amelia leans over, whispering into Ava’s ear, then pulls away as both of them stare at me sternly.
“Five minutes, Uncle Noah. If you’re not up, watch out,” Amelia warns me.
They both jump off the bed and run out of the room, finally leaving me alone. I throw my head back into the pillow, drowning out a persistent headache.
Today, of all days, is the first day of my new job. Lex is a stakeholder in a publishing house in downtown LA. We spent most of yesterday discussing the role, what it entails, and how the business has grown over the last twelve months, not to mention several video calls with the CEO before I left Boston.
I haven’t worked in publishing, most of my career has focused on marketing online stores, but he has an opening which seems like a good opportunity and should be a breeze once I understand how the industry operates. It’s not like I’m strapped for cash, but idle hands are the devil’s playthings. I like money, and not working makes me anxious. In ways, spending time with Lex and Charlie is refreshing. Intellectual and business-minded talk only drives me to want to work harder.
They’re fucking billionaires.
According to an article I read, Lex is one of the youngest self-made billionaires in the United States. Only yesterday, Charlie took me on a tour of the property with acres of land, luscious gardens, and a massive garage holding all their ‘babies.’ My jaw literally drops to the ground when I see the cars sitting in there. One of which, Charlie has offered to let me drive during my stay until I get myself sorted.
This life she’s living is a far cry from how she grew up. All I know is that LA is looking more and more appealing. The fucking weather alone is perfect, and I could really get used to this li
festyle.
“Uncle Noah!” My name is yelled through the house, and before they get to me, I pull myself out of bed, using the bathroom quickly. I make my way toward the kitchen, still dressed in my sweats and tee.
The aroma of pancakes lingers in the air, drawing my attention as I enter the kitchen. Charlie’s standing by the stove, pouring batter into the frying pan. Amelia and Ava are sitting at the table. Ava is sitting in her high chair, throwing cereal on the floor while Charlie cooks.
What a mess.
Charlie turns around, already dressed in a sharp black suit, and hands me a plate.
“Thanks, cuz.” I smile at her.
“So, first day at the office. Shouldn’t you be changed already?”
“It’s only six-thirty. Relax, Mom.”
Charlie rolls her eyes, moving around the stove before turning it off. She takes a seat across the table handing a pancake to Ava.
“We didn’t finish our conversation last night about the dinner party.” She raises the mug to her mouth, carefully blowing the steam away. “So, Lex and I will be heading out that night. Are you sure you can handle both the girls?”
I brush it off like it’s nothing, trying to disguise the mild panic. “It’s only for one night, right? How hard can it be?”
Ava throws her cup across the table, smacking Amelia in the face who, in turn, drops her iPad into her bowl of cereal. She begins to cry, and with Charlie telling Ava off for being naughty, the quiet kitchen suddenly becomes a zoo.
Shit! What have I gotten myself into?
“I’ll be fine,” I assure her, praying to God that their dinner is canceled. Maybe I can convince Mom to visit for the weekend. Stop panicking already! I change the subject to curb my growing anxiety. “So, tell me more about Haden Cooper, and what should I expect from him as a boss.”
“Let’s see…” she clears her throat, and begins, “… he’s very passionate about publishing. To be honest, I don’t know much about the business side of Haden. We usually get together only for social gatherings. His wife, Presley, and I have playdates.”
“Publishing. It’s an interesting change of career for me.”
“Well, you’re in marketing. Marketing books can’t be that hard?”
“The fact that no one reads books anymore makes it difficult,” I point out. “This generation is about binge-watching.”
“Trust me,” she says confidently. “Your generation may be all about gadgets and Netflix, but books are still very much alive.”
“Yeah, for horny housewives.”
“That’s so sexist and so not true,” she exaggerates, shaking her head in disagreement.
“Really?” I humor her. “Tell me what book you’re currently reading on your Kindle.” I motion toward it sitting on the countertop.
She narrows her brows, crossing her arms because she knows I’m right. She may be in her thirties, but she still has the same angry pout she had when she was ten years old.
“A book about a strong, independent woman.”
“Uh-huh, and what genre is that book in?”
“Erotic romance.” She coughs.
I laugh hysterically, continuing as Lex walks into the room and greets us. Like Charlie, he’s dressed and ready for work wearing a navy suit and collared white business shirt. Armani. I know my brand names.
Lex is slightly taller than me. If you didn’t know him or weren’t related to him like I am, you could definitely see why he comes across as intimidating. It has something to do with his eyes—they’re very green.
Back when I was a kid and Charlie was eighteen, there was a rumor going around that she was having an affair with Lex. He was a couple of years older than her and, at the time, married. Mom mentioned it here and there, but I have selective hearing when it comes to gossip, especially when it involves my cousin screwing a married man.
Lex places his laptop on the table along with his cell.
“What’s so funny?” he asks, grabbing some coffee and sitting across from us.
“Proving your wife wrong that books are a dying breed, and the only people who read are horny housewives.”
He laughs along with me, infuriating Charlie. “Funnily enough, women count for the majority of our book sales. Specifically, in the erotica genre.”
“Thanks for having my back.” Charlie gritted her teeth.
Lex’s smile remains fixed. “Hey, I’m not complaining. Kudos to the authors who write the smut that turns you on.”
I’m grateful Lex and Charlie allow me to stay in their home, but the downside—they’re awfully affectionate with each other. It’s really quite sickening. Thank God the guest bedroom is located on a different floor than theirs. I’d hate to be next door. It explains why they have two kids with one on the way.
“Okay, guys. Awkward. I’m going to shower, and when I come back, I expect both of you to behave. Three kids are enough. Uncle Noah doesn’t need any more madness in his life,” I remind them.
I walk to my room and grab my clothes, hopping into the shower. After the shower and shaving, I change into my crisp, white shirt and charcoal gray pants. Charlie said the office isn’t overly formal and suggested I keep the tie at home. I splash on some aftershave and make my way back to the kitchen, stopping just shy of the door. I hear an unfamiliar voice, a woman, and the accent is distinctively British. Eavesdropping on the conversation, I stand behind the entrance.
“Charlie, I’m fine,” the unfamiliar voice says.
“Kate, you’re not fine. He’s a douchebag. I can’t believe he ended things between you via a text message. He needs to grow some balls!”
“He had balls, Charlie. Nice, big, round ones,” Kate jokes, chuckling.
I scowl at the image of another man’s balls. Gross. Do women really like big juicy balls? This is unheard of. I’ve never had a woman say, ‘Oh, let me touch your big balls.’
Normally, I’d have raised this topic with Benny and Tom. The reminder that they’re not a part of my life anymore dampens my mood.
“Gross, Kate… now that image is going to be stuck in my head. Balls? Really?” Charlie complains. “Argh, let’s stop saying ‘balls.’ Jokes aside, I hate that he did this to you.”
There’s a pause, followed by silence in the room. “I hate it, too, Charlie. But I’m not going to pine for him anymore. He’s made himself perfectly clear, and so it’s time for me to move on. I can move on,” she says unconvincingly.
I promised myself no more. Stop looking for women itching for a rebound. It’s a sick disease that I can’t seem to shake.
I can resist.
Be strong.
Last night, for example, now that was just fun. Both women were looking for a good time. And just because Erika kept mentioning her ex, that doesn’t mean anything, right?
Rebound. Rebound. Rebound. The voices scream as they slap my face repeatedly.
But this—I mean, the British accent is all types of sexy. It would be a waste to pass up this opportunity. All I need to do is see if her voice matches my imagination.
I enter the room, clearing my throat. The kids are gone, and so is Lex. Charlie looks up, her curious eyes watching me cautiously. Her friend, Kate, has already eye-fucked me, greeting me with a playful smile. She’s a gorgeous one—dark blonde hair with cute little freckles scattered over the bridge of her nose. If she’s wearing makeup, you wouldn’t know, her bright blue eyes shimmering as she waits for an introduction.
“Oh, Kate, this is my cousin, Noah. The one I told you about,” Charlie says carefully with a wary expression.
“The one you told her about. All good, I hope,” I tease, smirking back at Kate.
“All good,” she responds while biting her bottom lip. “I’m Kate.” She stands quickly, almost knocking over the coffee pot.
“Noah.” I shake her hand, holding on to it a bit longer than necessary.
She’s going to be easy. See, it’s all in a woman’s mannerisms. The flirty smile and batting of eyelashes are s
imple to spot, but if you look closer, you’ll see the way a woman’s thighs clench together combined with the bites on the corner of her lip.
“So, Noah, I hear you’ll be staying here a while,” Kate says cautiously, waiting for Charlie to interrupt. I must be missing something here—some stupid woman code.
“Hmm… as long as Charlie and Lex will have me. I’ll see how the new job goes.”
“Oh, that’s right, you’ll be working for Haden.” She laughs while Charlie hides her snicker behind a cup of coffee.
“And that’s funny because?”
“He’s a jerk,” they say in unison.
“A jerk?”
“Yes, but since he’s settled down, his jerkiness is wearing off.” Kate laughs.
“We’re kidding,” Charlie says. “Listen, I have to go, or I’ll be late for work. Do you need a ride?”
“I’ll take him,” Kate offers with a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
Too fucking easy.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” Charlie makes dagger eyes at Kate as if to warn her. There may have been some kicking under the table as Kate’s expression becomes pained while mouthing, ‘What the fuck?’ and glaring back at Charlie.
“Sounds perfect.” I grin.
“Fine, whatever,” Charlie mutters, grabbing her bag and tossing me a spare set of keys. “Lock up when you’re ready. I won’t be home till late, but Lex will be here with the girls.”
She walks toward the back door and stops. “You…” she points directly at Kate, “… I’ll speak to you later.” The door closes shut, and finally, she leaves us alone.
“I don’t know what her problem is. It’s not like I bite,” I say half-jokingly.
“Oh, really? That’s a shame,” Kate notes with dark amusement.
I cock my head to the side, hiding the smirk on my face. “So… that ride?”
“Yeah, that ride. I guess we need my car keys, right?” She grabs them off the table and opens the back door.