Helios Exposed (The Helios Chronicles #2)

by Tawa M. Witko

  “Oh, Madison, look!” Callie said bringing Madison out of her thoughts.

  “It’s pretty cool, huh?” Madison asked looking at the window display.

  Callie and Madison went through the many floors of the iconic store while Callie pointed out on many occasions that Miracle on 34th Street was her favorite Christmas movie of all time. She didn’t seem to care about all the people shoving and pushing to get from one place to the next, although Madison seriously considered homicide a few times. As she watched Callie, Madison began to wonder if anything could burst her bubble of happiness. After ninety minutes had passed, Madison suggested they get something to eat as she wasn’t used to this kind of marathon shopping spree and just needed to rest. Callie enthusiastically agreed and they headed to one of the local restaurants where they found a nice table away from everyone. After they ordered their food, Callie looked at Madison, contemplating.

  “Madison, are you and Andrew okay?” Callie asked suddenly.

  “Yeah, we are okay, but, I don’t know... he’s keeping something from me,” Madison said looking into her water. “Plus,” she blew out a quick breath. “I don’t think he’s very happy.”

  Madison felt Callie’s hands on hers. “Andrew loves you.”

  Madison winced and turned away from her friend, her eyes watering. While she knew with all of heart that Andrew loved her, she suspected that he was having a hard time adjusting to New York but he kept saying everything was alright. She had definitely seen a change after the Christmas party, well, now that she thought about it, the change occurred before that. It really happened when he first saw Leroy. After that, she could tell that Andrew was different, but the party seemed to exacerbate everything.

  “I think he wants to use again, more than he’s telling me.” Madison felt the tears streak her face at saying her worst fear out loud.

  “Oh, Madison, no!” Callie said, her eyes watering as well.

  “And, he won’t tell me what Nolan said to him.” She turned to face Callie, her face was now red with anger. “That asshole is going to be working with me once or twice a week and Andrew won’t say anything so I feel like I am going into this thing blind and Nolan is, I don’t know, shady. I just know he is gonna...” she shook her head, “I don’t know, he’s gonna do... something. I don’t trust him at all,” Madison said with a heavy sigh.

  “When do you start your new position?”

  “Next week,” Madison stopped as the waitress brought their food. Once she was gone, Madison continued, “I already wish I had said no to it.”

  “I wish you guys could just move back to California,” Callie said, looking at her salad, the first sad look on her face.

  “I wish it were that easy,” Madison replied miserably, realizing that she wanted that too.

  ~*~

  Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Madison and Callie, Andrew and Jayden, were only one block away at one of the local Irish Bars. They had been all over the city as well, basically riding the subways. Jayden was enthralled with them. The conversations occurring within them and the overall feel of them. Andrew didn’t care what they were doing because he was enjoying his time with Jayden and they had a lot of fun people watching. They talked about so many things but nothing at all. Of course, Jayden being Jayden had asked some random dude on the subway, who was wearing a shirt with the symbol for some Irish Rugby team, where a good Irish bar was. That was how they had ended up where they were now. The minute you walked in, there were large Irish flags everywhere. It was just after five and the place was starting to become crowded.

  “Can you guys make a Black Velvet?” Jayden asked the bartender.

  The bartender frowned at him and then smirked as he leaned towards him. “I have better whiskey than black velvet,” he said testing him.

  “No, man, I’m talking about the drink,” Jayden said with a frown and then saw the smirk on the man’s face. Jayden laughed. “Sorry man, been in Dublin all week so all I’ve been drinking is...”

  The bartender stood straight and smiled. “You’ve been home? Who are your people?”

  Andrew watched as Jayden basically relayed his lineage to the bartender who it turned out had hung out with some of his older cousins before coming to the states a few years ago. The bartender excitedly asked him all sorts of questions about people and places. Andrew grinned as he sipped his beer and listened. There was a little bit of an Irish accent coming out of Jayden the more he talked, which Andrew thought was funny. When Jayden had successfully relayed all that was happening in Ireland these days, they headed to the cellar to play pool. They were on their third in a best of three when Andrew’s phone buzzed.

  M: whatcha doing?

  A: shooting pool over at Stout’s

  M: fun! That’s a block away.

  A: Really? Where are you?

  M: Macy’s, Callie is trying to talk them into bringing back Santa for her.

  Andrew started laughing, which made Jayden miss his shot. He could totally visualize the little spitfire arguing with managers and staff, trying to get them to bring out Santa. Andrew wasn’t even sure that Santa was still available at Macy’s after Christmas.

  “What the hell, Andrew!” Jayden said frowning.

  “Sorry, man, Madison just said they are at Macy’s and that your woman is trying to get them to bring Santa back,” Andrew said between guffaws.

  Jayden grinned. “That sounds about right. Now take your shot!”

  Andrew laughed and sunk two shots back to back. He was lining up his third when his phone buzzed again, causing him to miss. He sighed and nodded at Jayden as he pulled out his phone.

  M: Callie wants to skate at Rockefeller. Can you guys come with us?

  A: You need us to hold the bags cause I ain't skating.

  M: LOL...will you hold my bags, baby?

  A: of course, when?

  M: hold on?

  “Callie wants to go ice skating at Rockefeller. They want us to go with them,” Andrew said to Jayden. Once he made his shot, he stood and quirked his brow.

  “They want us to hold their bags, don't they?” he asked with a grin.

  Andrew laughed. “You know it.”

  Jayden missed his next shot and Andrew lined up his when his phone buzzed again.

  M: is an hour good?

  “Hey, Jayden, they want to meet in an hour. Is that cool?” Andrew asked. Jayden nodded and then motioned with his hands at the pool table.

  A: yeah, we’ll meet you out front.

  M: bye baby, c u in a bit

  A: k, now I need to go and beat Jayden

  M: kick ass Helios!

  An hour later, Jayden and Andrew had left the bar and walked the block to Macy’s. They glanced at each other and both shook their heads. The girls were standing to the side of the front entrance with several bags in their hands, Callie much more than Madison. Andrew nudged Jayden’s shoulder.

  “I hope they aren’t heavy,” Andrew said with a wink.

  “I’m used to it,” Jayden said, eyeing the bags and making a quick assessment of what might be in each of them. He then made a show of stretching his arms and shoulders as they crossed the street.

  “Hey, baby,” Andrew said, kissing Madison before taking her bags.

  “Did you guys have fun?” Madison asked, kissing him again.

  “Uh huh,” Andrew hummed against her lips.

  “Can we take the subway again?” Callie asked cheerily.

  Andrew and Madison grinned against each other’s lips.

  “Just don’t talk to everyone,” Madison joked.

  Andrew laughed and glanced at Jayden. “You either.”

  “Yeah, yeah, but if I hadn’t asked that dude, we wouldn’t have found that cool bar,” Jayden replied.

  “That’s true,” Andrew said, putting his free arm around Madison’s shoulder.

  The four walked to the subway station and got off at Rockefeller Center, and then they walked the short distance to the skating rink. The funny thing for Madison w
as that she had been in New York most of her life yet she had never actually done the tourist thing and skated at Rockefeller Center. When she was young, her mother didn’t take her anywhere and when she got older, it was something couples and close friends did. Things she didn’t have. Jayden and Andrew found seats near the railing as the girls rented their skates.

  “Jay, take pictures, okay, baby?” Callie squeaked out excitedly as she and Madison made their way to the center of the ice.

  Madison turned and blew Andrew a kiss. He smirked as she turned and took Callie’s hand. Jayden was taking pictures as he had been instructed to do, shaking his head every so often at something silly Callie would do. Andrew watched Madison for a long time and then turned to watch Jayden. Sensing eyes on him, Jayden turned towards Andrew arching his brow. Andrew gave him a small smile before looking down and away. Jayden noticed that Andrew looked really torn, conflicted even. Several minutes later, he let out a heavy breath before speaking.

  “I don’t like it out here,” Andrew finally whispered, his heart breaking at the declaration.

  He dropped his head between his knees, drawing his hands into his hair. He was having a hard time breathing as the reality of what he said came crashing down on him. He loved Madison with all his heart but he felt lost, like he was stumbling in the dark. He knew Madison had his hand but he questioned how right it was for him to drag her through the dark as well.

  “Andrew, it’s alright man,” Jayden said soothingly as he touched his shoulder.

  Andrew shook his head. “It’s not, Jayden. It’s not alright.” He sat up, his lips formed a tight line before he began speaking again. “She got this promotion and she’s gonna be working with this sick asshole that actually saw me going down on her at a company party.” Andrew swallowed thickly at Jayden’s shocked expression. “I know. It was wrong to do but…” he paused for a moment, watching Madison laugh as Callie and she almost fell. He glanced back at Jayden. “Every time I turn around there’s some other asshole with money and nice clothes, someone that can take her places and do things for her. What the hell do I give her? I mean, shit, sex isn’t everything. I know I’m good at it, but at some point she is going to realize that that’s all I have to offer her.” He scrunched his eyes shut trying to contain his rage at his perceived inadequacies.

  “Andrew, Madison doesn’t give a shit about what you can give her material wise because you give her something none of those other guys ever could,” Jayden said calmly.

  “Don’t you fucking say love, Jayden. I know first-hand that love doesn’t fix anything. My mother loved my father so much that she tried to kill me for taking him away from her and then ended up killing herself. Love is fucking dangerous,” he seethed as he washed his hands over his face.

  “That’s bullshit, Andrew. That’s you trying to shut yourself off because you and I both know that sometimes having people love us, for who we are, flaws and all, is everything. My life would be nothing without Callie; she brings out the best in me just like Madison does for you. But that’s really the issue isn’t it?” Jayden said fiercely.

  “What do you mean?” Andrew asked confused.

  “She makes you see life differently, she gives you hope that life can be better than it was. But it’s fucking scary and you act like you’re not worthy of... love and happiness. I could be way off, Andrew, but really, you can’t even compare yourself to those dudes she works with because, what the hell, this is Madison. She seems pretty damn capable of speaking her mind. So my guess is if she wanted any of those assholes, she would be going out with them but she isn’t, she’s with you so that should tell you something.”

  Andrew leaned back against the bench, trying to absorb everything Jayden said.

  “Have you talked to Madison about any of this?” Jayden asked.

  Andrew shook his head and breathed in deeply.

  “That’s a mistake, man.”

  “I know,” Andrew said exacerbated.

  “Every time I try to keep something from Callie it always backfires on my ass and she always tells me if I had just talked to her...”

  Suddenly they both jumped as Callie and Madison grabbed the railing, their skates hitting the wall with a loud thump.

  “Jay, did you get that?” Callie asked before noticing their somber expressions.

  “Helios, is everything alright?” Madison asked, noting the distressed look on his face.

  He leaned forward and placed a hand on both her cheeks before kissing her soundly on the lips. After a few moments, he pulled away from her. She was panting slightly with her eyes closed. He gently cupped her cheek.

  “Go skate so I can take your picture,” he said, completely throwing Madison off.

  “You need to talk to her instead of distracting her like that,” Jayden said after the girls skated off to do whatever they had just done that Jayden had missed.

  Andrew sighed. “I know.” He then smiled. “But, it’s fun as hell 'cause she’s so easily distracted,” he said taking Madison’s picture with his phone.

  Jayden shook his head. Both men laughed as they watched Callie and Madison. A few hours later, they were all at the house. Jayden and Callie were already in bed, worn out by the day; their bodies not yet adjusted to the time change. Andrew brought Madison to the couch and lay down with her on top of him. His tongue parted her mouth as he kissed her heatedly while his hands worked their way into her sleep shorts, slipping them off easily.

  “I love you so much,” he mumbled through their kiss.

  ~*~

  The next four days were filled with lots of laughter as the friends explored the city together. Callie was maniacal in her insistence that they do every sightseeing thing imaginable. It had been fantastic and tiring at the same time. Madison and Callie were now both in the bathroom doing their hair and makeup for tonight’s festivities. Madison had tried to explain to Callie that they would be on the streets and that no one dressed up or did their hair, but she was a force that Madison would not reckon with. So here she was sitting on the toilet seat while Callie played in her hair.

  “I already miss you,” Madison said, looking at Callie in the mirror.

  Callie smiled that infectious smile of hers and then kissed the top of Madison's head. “I already miss you, too,” Callie mirrored her friend’s sentiments.

  “Do you girls actually plan on making it to this thing 'cause really I could go for just having some beers here,” Andrew said as he knocked on the bathroom door.

  “Oh, shhhh, Andrew,” Callie said indignantly but with a crinkle of her nose.

  “Told you, man,” they heard Jayden say in the background.

  They heard him walk away and both girls broke into a fit of giggles before finally walking out. They were both wearing tight jeans with loose fitting sweaters along with boots, although Callie’s were considerably higher. Andrew and Jayden beamed at their beautiful women that they would get to usher in the New Year with. They both recognized how lucky they were.

  “You sure you’re gonna be able to walk in those things, Callie?” Andrew asked, nodding towards her boots. When she glared at him he raised his hands in the air and chuckled. “Alright, alright.”

  As they headed for the door, Jayden nudged him. “Do you have a death wish or something?” Jayden asked with a laugh.

  Andrew smiled brightly and nudged him back. When they got to the street, Jayden looked both ways trying to figure out which direction. He was normally really good at navigating but he had been lost almost the entire time in New York. Madison led them down the street and turned to head towards Times Square. Now this she had done a few times when she was younger. But she was excited to be sharing this, along with a New Year’s kiss, with Andrew. She gripped his hand tighter and he smiled down at her.

  “HOLY SHIT!” Andrew and Jayden exclaimed in unison while Callie squealed in delight.

  Times Square was already a madhouse. They were fairly early and since they were not planning on being anywhere near the music
al guests they figured they would be able to find a decent enough spot, although, the number of people present could be problematic.

  “Come on; let’s go before we get pushed to the way back,” Madison said, leading them through the crowd.

  “I think everyone in Manhattan is here,” Andrew said, looking around at all the people sardined together and oddly enough laughing about it.

  They found a fairly good place and talked to everyone around them. Callie made instant friends as they sipped their beers and munched on soft pretzels and peanuts while the mob of people grew wilder and wilder. By the time it came down to the countdown the entire crowd was in a complete and utter frenzy.

  10...

  9...

  8...

  7...

  6...

  5...

  4...

  3...

  2...

  1...

  “HAPPY NEW YEAR!” The four friends shouted at the top of their lungs to one another before kissing their respective partners.

  “I love you,” Andrew and Madison said together, knowing that there was no turning off what they felt for one another.

  13 Unleashed

  February

  The four weeks after Jayden and Callie left were long and tedious. Madison started her new job and spent most nights studying her client files. Although she loved being home with Andrew, when she was home she couldn’t do what she needed to do, i.e.: researching for her clients, so as a result, she tended to work late every night. Straying away from their established pattern, Madison had reassured Andrew that it would be temporary but due to the nature of her job and the season they were in, that temporary became permanent. It was Friday, however, and Andrew was meeting her at her office after work so they could go out. They hadn’t been anywhere since their friends had flown back to California on January 2nd and needed a night on the town. Their plan was to eat out, have a few drinks, and hit up a small club that was playing live music. Madison had been excited as she left the house that morning, a sleeping Andrew still in their bed, and she remained that way throughout the day.