by Linda Verji
Freddie wanted to ask all those questions and more but she could see a group of women heading towards them. Some were carrying notepads while others brandished their phones as if in pursuit of an autograph or at the very least a picture with Wesley.
Freddie quickly ordered, “Get in the car.”
“If you say so,” Wesley said as he opened the doors. “You know how I always obey your orders.”
Was he hearing himself? With a roll of her eyes, Freddie got into the car. Once Mr. Congeniality was in the car too, she ordered, “Drive.”
“So how’s work? How was your day?” Wesley chattered on and on as he sped out of the center and got on the main road. “Did you have a good day?”
Freddie didn’t answer, but that was no deterrent for him.
“I had a good day. You remember how I told you that I wanted to work with Jackal? Well his agent called me up,” Wesley said excitedly. “Apparently, he wants to get together too. Isn’t that dope?”
Freddie… did… not… care. But that was no deterrent for her ex.
“He wants to do it as soon as possible…” On and on Wesley went.
Meanwhile Freddie watched the road for somewhere to stop. When she found it, she ordered sharply, “Stop.”
“Huh?” Wesley turned wide eyes to her.
“Stop,” she repeated in a firm tone. She pointed to the side of the road. “Right there.”
“But-”
“Pull up.”
“Okay. Okay.” The pep was now gone from his voice and expression, but he still gave her a forced smile as he drew to a stop. “Why are we stopping though?”
She got rid of her seatbelt then turned to face him. Eyes blazing, she demanded, “What was that?”
“What was what?” Wesley asked as he got rid of his seatbelt too.
“Stop acting like you don’t know,” she scolded. “That whole show you put on for my coworkers. What was that about?”
“I thought you’d like it.” Avoiding her eyes, he added, “I was just claiming you like you’ve always wanted.”
She snorted. “I thought it was dangerous to expose me to your fans. Didn’t you say that I’d get too much hate if they knew about me?”
“You know how it is,” he responded cagily.
“No, I don’t know how…. Actually, I don’t even care.” Freddie took a deep breath to ease her rage before she demanded, “What were you doing at my office anyway?”
“I just wanted to see you.”
“For what?”
“You know… we need to talk about what happened yesterday.”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” she countered. “We broke up. The end.”
“No, it’s not the end,” Wesley insisted as he finally faced her. His eyes were pleading as he added, “We’re just going through some stuff. It’s not the end. We can still make this work… take this opportunity to get stronger.”
Freddie burst into laughter. “Boy… you must have left your mind in that elevator with your model.”
“She’s not my model.” He reached for Freddie’s hand but she snatched it away before he could get to it. His hand flopped uselessly to his side as he said, “I told you she was nothing.”
“Maybe she was. Maybe she wasn’t. But you know what sealed the deal for me?” She snorted. “Your bullshit about not being meant to be faithful. You need to find a woman who can handle that because it ain’t me.”
“I was just talking,” Wesley said. “I didn’t actually mean any of it.”
“Yes, you did,” she retorted. His mouth opened in protest, but she cut him off. “You meant it. That’s why you thought it was okay to hook up with some random woman then come to me and make that stupid excuse.”
“Okay. Okay. I was wrong to do that. I accept it. I’ll take any punishment you want to give me. I’ll beg for your forgiveness every day.”
“Not interested.”
“Freddie,” he whined, frustration dripping from his voice.
“Don’t Freddie me,” she snapped.
When his only comeback was closing his eyes and puffing out heavily, she demanded, “If we’re done, then open the door. Also, stop calling me, stop texting me and don’t ever show up at my office again or so help me God, I will-”
“Where were you last night?” He suddenly cut her off.
She was so startled by the question that she could only stare at him.
“Did you actually sleep with that guy?” Wesley opened his eyes and turned to her. All the pleading was gone, and all that was left was banked anger. “Did you sleep with him?”
Freddie thought of lying, but what would good would that do? It would only make Wesley believe that there was a flame where only a puddle of water remained. So she decided to be honest. “Yes.”
“What?” Shock flashed in his gaze. That shock was immediately followed by disbelief then humor. He grinned. “No, you didn’t. You’re just trying to get mad at me.”
“I slept with him.”
“Stop playing.” Instead of getting angry, Wesley seemed to get even more excited. He waggled a finger at her. “You see that’s how I know how much you like me. Cause you’re trying to hurt me as much as I hurt you.”
What was this man on? Because she wanted some of it.
“But I know you too well.” His grin widened. “I know you wouldn’t do something like that. You’re a good girl. Shit! It took us ninety-days to get busy. You’d never sleep with some random dude.”
“Obviously, you don’t know me as well as you think,” Freddie muttered as she watched him hype himself up.
“You know what… we’ll be just fine.” This time when he reached over, she wasn’t fast enough and he caught her hand. “I know you need a little time to get your thoughts together, time to get over this and forgive me… and I can give you that time.”
“I don’t need time.” Now she was the one who was frustrated. “I’ve already made up my mind. I’m done with you.”
“Nah, nah.” Wesley shook his head. “You’re not done with me. This is just a little bump. You’ll get over it.”
Who was he to tell her what she could or couldn’t get over? Her voice was wintery cold as she insisted, “There is nothing to get over. We’re broken up and the faster you accept it, the faster we can both move on.”
“Move on to where? Baby, we’re meant to be together.” He moved forward as if to kiss her. Instinctively, she arched backwards to avoid him. Her actions were enough to stop him and he sat back in his seat. “I get it… you need more time.”
“No, you don’t get it.” Why wasn’t he listening to her? Was he deaf?
“Shsh! It’s okay.” He reached over to press a finger to her lips. “I get it. I get it. Believe me, I get it.”
That was it for her. She pressed one of the buttons on the control. The moment the doors swung up, she got out of the car and started walking.
“Freddie, where are you going?” Wesley called out as he got out of his car.
Fortunately, a cab drove by right then. Freddie stopped the cab and got in. By the time Wesley got to the cab, the driver was already revving the engine.
“Just go,” Freddie ordered the man. With a nod, he drove off, leaving Wesley staring after them. Good riddance to bad rubbish.
CHAPTER 8
“Tell me the truth,” Logan, Lex’s brother, asked, “Why didn’t you want to play today? You never miss a game.”
Lex, who was driving, only shrugged.
“Nah, that won’t work on me.” Logan chuckled as he watched his brother with knowing eyes. “Why didn’t you want to come to the game? Are you avoiding someone?”
The brothers couldn’t be more different. Where Lex had dark, long hair, Logan’s hair was a lighter shade of brown. In fact in some types of light, it looked like it had blond streaks. Though slightly shorter than Lex, Logan had a body shaped by hours at the gym. Lex could only dream of muscles like those. Plus, Logan was way more handsome. Women certainly seemed to think
so. He was always in some magazine or other being named, prettiest billionaire or hottest bachelor. Then again that could be on account of his personality.
Unlike Lex, Logan had no concept of the word ‘reserved’. Social butterfly didn’t even begin to describe the man. If there was a party, Logan either knew about it or was actually its host. The brothers were so different that most people had a hard time believing that they were actually related. A valid concern, especially because they were only half-brothers. One mother. Different fathers.
Keeping his eyes on the road, Lex asked, “Who would I be avoiding?”
“That’s what I want to know.” Logan studied Lex keenly as he prodded. “Michael?” Lex didn’t say anything but his body language must’ve given his response away because Logan shook his head. “No, not him. Red?” Again Logan shook his head. “Not him either. Me?” This time he didn’t even wait for an answer – non-verbal or otherwise. Grinning widely, he said, “Nah, not me. I haven’t done anything to you.”
Before his brother could get to the person Lex was really avoiding, Lex cut him off with, “You haven’t done anything? Really?”
“What have I done now?” Frowning, Logan looked up at the ceiling as if trying to figure out what sin he’d committed this time. Seconds later, he turned back to his brother. “You mean the thing with Mom? I just dropped off the vase she made in her art class.”
Lex glared at him.
“Okay. Okay,” Logan rushed to soothe him. “I know you’ve told me to stop bringing you messages and things from her, but how am I supposed to tell her that? She’s our mother.”
“No, she’s your mother,” Lex corrected.
Logan looked like he wanted to say something about that, but they’d had this argument so many times that he backed off with a tired sigh. “She’s just trying her best to make up for everything.”
“Too late.”
“Lex!” Logan pleaded. When all that earned him was a glare, he surrendered, “Okay, fine. I’ll quit talking about her. For now.”
Lex didn’t miss the threat in those last two words. Fortunately, they got to their destination before his brother could further harass him about their mother.
“We’re here,” Logan announced as Lex navigated into a parking spot.
‘Here’ was the local sports club. The large center boasted a large stadium, Olympic-size pool, several gyms, as well as marked fields for all sorts of sports. Lex and Logan headed to the basketball gymnasium. Since they were both already wearing appropriate playing clothes, all they had to carry was the ball. Their three friends, Red, Michael and Ari, were already there waiting for them.
As soon as Lex spotted Ari, a fist tightened around his lungs. Ari was about the same height as Logan but was close-shaved, had darker, chocolate-brown skin and wasn’t quite as muscular. He was the man Lex was avoiding.
It was bad enough that Lex had slept with the man’s sister, but for the last three days she was all he could think about. After her mini-stroke when she’d woken up in his bed, Lex had thought that it was a good idea to give her some space.
Of course Freddie’s assertion that she’d taken advantage of him was ridiculous. He’d had a good laugh over the last few days just remembering how horrified and apologetic she looked. But it was unnecessary. In fact, he was the villain in this piece. He’d used alcohol as an excuse to fulfill his hidden desires.
Did he regret sleeping with Freddie? Yes and No. Yes because Freddie’s panicked reaction said that it wasn’t what she wanted. No because it had been the best damn sex he’d ever had and if she so much as gave him another chance, he’d jump at it. Hence the reason why he was avoiding Ari. He should feel guilty for betraying his friend. And he did… but not enough that he’d turn down another night with the man’s sister.
He was a bastard, wasn’t he?
“How is it that you two are always late when you’re the only ones without a fixed schedule?” Jared ‘Red’ Kang, the only Asian in the group, scolded as soon as the two brothers were within hearing-distance.
Michael Klein, who was almost but not quite as reserved as Lex, scoffed. “They were probably chasing girls.”
“Maybe Logan was.” Ari grinned as he got off the bench to come and sling his arm around Lex’s shoulder. “Lex doesn’t play like that. He was probably working.”
Ari’s proximity and affection only increased the uncomfortable stuffiness in Lex’s chest. If he found out what Lex had done…. Lex shuddered at the thought.
“Hey, that’s not fair,” Logan protested. “I could’ve been working too.”
His eyes narrowed, Red studied Logan. “Are you saying that you weren’t somewhere with some woman before you headed here?”
“Um…” Logan’s winced and scratched his neck. “Can I take the fifth?”
All the men burst into laughter.
“Okay.” Red reeled them all in. “Let’s set up the teams.”
“I’m with Lex,” Ari immediately declared.
“Ugh! You always want to be on the same team with him.” Michael rolled his eyes. “Why don’t you just marry him already?”
“Maybe I will,” Ari retorted unrepentantly.
Red laughed. “And you wonder why everyone in college thought you two were gay?”
Lex was actually the connecting piece between the five friends, which was surprising considering how hard it was for him to make friends. He’d gone to the same high-school with both Ari and Michael. Red had been his roommate in college. As for Logan… he just liked stalking Lex and had somehow insinuated himself into the group.
“Okay. Okay. Enough. Teams,” Red rounded them up again. “Let’s do this the fair way. Rock, paper, scissors. First two winners become team captains and choose their members.”
“Good idea but in case you haven’t noticed, there’s only five of us,” Logan informed him. “We’re short one person.”
“Where’s your doctor-friend?” Michael asked as everyone turned to Ari. “What was his name? Sean?”
Ari’s expression immediately turned stormy. His tone was snippy as he announced, “I kicked him off the team.”
Even Lex turned to stare at him. “Why?”
Ari puffed out angrily. “He asked for Freddie’s number.”
Amused choruses of, “What?” “Oh my God.” “That idiot.” “No, he didn’t.” echoed all around. Logan even staggered backwards dramatically in faux shock as he exclaimed, “No! Not our Morticia!”
Ari immediately turned his glare on Logan. “I told you not to call her that.”
Logan remained unfazed. “Did Sean really ask for Morticia’s number? No one here told him that it was a no-no?”
“We didn’t get the chance,” Red said. “He’s only played one game with us.”
“And yet he heard the nerve to ask for my sister’s number?” Ari scowled. “The asshole.”
“Don’t you two work together?” Michael asked.
“Awkward,” Logan chimed in a sing song voice.
“Awkward for him.” Ari’s top lip lifted in a sneer. “My mother owns the hospital.”
“Oh! He pulled the mother card.” Red sighed. “Poor Sean.”
“Poor Sean nothing,” Ari retorted. “He shouldn’t have messed with my sister.”
I messed with your sister, Lex wanted to say. If Sean had been kicked out of the team just for asking for her number, what would happen to Lex?
“You know Freddie will have to get married someday, right?” Michael said. “You can’t keep reacting like this every time a man looks her way.”
“I know she’ll have to get married.” Ari’s expression said he didn’t like that thought. “But I’d rather it be someone I don’t know.”
“You’re not making sense.” Michael scoffed. “Wouldn’t you rather she dated someone you actually knew? That way you’d be sure she was dating a good guy.”
“I don’t know any good guys,” Ari countered.
Everyone looked outraged, but it was Logan who a
sked, “Then what are we?”
“Bastards!” Ari retorted unrepentantly. He suddenly pointed at each of his friends. “Don’t you dare go near my sister.”
“Don’t get your panties in a knot! No one’s gonna date Freddie.” Red made a face as if the very thought of dating Freddie was weird. “She’s practically my sister.”
Lex wondered how Red had so easily moved Freddie to sister-zone when he’d known her for less time than Lex. Must be convenient. Lex had never once thought of Freddie as his sister. Not once.
“Well, even if she’s not my sister, Morticia is a no for me,” Logan declared. “I’m too scared that she’ll slice my chest open while I’m asleep if I piss her off.”
Everyone, including Lex, laughed. But the truth was that Freddie’s job had never scared Lex. He found her all the more fascinating for it. She was so bright and cheery; how could she be attracted by such a ‘dark’ career?
“You don’t have to worry about me,” Michael reassured Ari. “Too busy raising my kids. I’m not interested in dating or women.”
Lex wanted to say something too, tell Ari that he wouldn’t go after his sister. But he couldn’t bring himself to lie like that. Fortunately, his friends were so used to him listening without comment to their conversations that no one even noticed that he hadn’t spoken.
“Now that that’s sorted-” Red jumped in. “-Are we playing or not?”
* * *
“COME ON,” ARI coaxed as all the men headed to their respective cars after their vigorous basketball game. “Our place is just close by and my mom would love to have guests.”
“Can’t.” Red shook his head. “I’m having an important meeting with the ambassador.”
“Kids.” Michael excused himself. “Someone has to feed them.”
Ari turned to Logan. “What about you?”
“I’m out.” Logan, who was engrossed with something on his phone, said. He was so focused on the gadget that he stepped right in front of a large stone.
“Careful.” Lex grabbed his younger brother before he could trip on the stone.