This Time Around (Maybe)

by Fernando, Chantal

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Taiya

  After Sarah enters, I close the door behind us. I stand in front of the door facing her, my arms crossed against my chest. “What?” I ask rudely, wanting to get this conversation over with.

  She looks down at her feet, as if gathering her thoughts. “I kissed Ryan for a reason.”

  I scoff. “Yeah to try and seduce him.”

  “No, well, yes,” she says, cringing. “I wanted him. The way he treated you… I wanted that.”

  I wait for her to continue.

  “You know that my dad died…”

  I nod. “Yes, I used to know everything about you. We were best friends after all.” I don’t even want to think about all the things we’d been through together, all our good memories. And there were some good memories. Also the bad memories, like when her dad died, I was there for her as best as I could be at that age. I know her mum and her didn’t always see eye to eye, and she took the death of her dad really hard.

  “Shit was going on at home with my mum. I was jealous, okay? You had everything I wanted, including Ryan, so I went for it. I’m sorry.”

  “Okay,” I say, dragging out the word. What does she want from me? Her being sorry doesn’t change anything; she still betrayed me, and she still was a shit friend.

  I move away from the door, hoping she takes the hint and leaves. “You know if you had problems in your life, I would have been there for you no matter what.”

  “I know. And I didn’t mean what I said about Ryan. There was no second kiss. I’m sorry.”

  With that, she walks out of the door, and hopefully out of my life.

  *****

  I told Ryan about Sarah’s apology. I know he felt like shit, because he was involved too, and we were trying to move on from everything that happened. There is no room for lies or omissions in marriage, so even though it hurt to bring everything up again, I told him what she said and we spoke about it. Ryan went quiet for a few moments, then said he was sorry for everything, including being a part of me losing my best friend, then said he’s going to talk with Reid. He gave me a simple kiss, then left the apartment. I cleaned up the kitchen, trying to keep myself busy. When two am arrived and he still wasn’t home, I sent Summer a text message. She replied instantly and said Reid and Ryan were talking and playing with Reid’s PS4. I take a warm bath, sipping on a glass of red wine, trying not to get my favourite paperback wet. When the water turns cold, I get out and dry myself, then slip on my leopard-print robe. I’m about to head to bed when I hear Ryan coming home.

  “Hey,” I say as he walks into our bedroom.

  “Hey, sorry I was gone so long,” he says, sitting on the bed and taking off his shoes.

  “Don’t worry about it,” I say. I’ve been around them enough to know that there are certain times they just need to be in each other’s company. I would never hold that against him.

  I walk over to him and sit down next to him on the bed. I lay my head on his shoulder, wanting to be close to him, to touch him any way I can. “I’ll have a shower, give me a sec,” he says, kissing me on the forehead and then heading to our bathroom. I slide to the middle of the bed and get under the covers. I hear the shower turn on, and I close my eyes for a second.

  *****

  I grab my phone to check the time, six am. What am I doing up so early? I turn to face Ryan, who is fast asleep on his back, his blond hair partially covering one of his eyes. It should be illegal to be that gorgeous first thing in the morning. Deciding to wake him up in a way I know he will appreciate, I scoot down the bed, lifting the covers over my head. Kneeling, I bend low and find Ryan’s naked hip, placing soft kisses on it. I nibble down his thigh, grinning when I hear a moan escape his mouth. I take him into my hand and slide him into my mouth. I know he’s awake when I hear him utter a curse, followed by the blanket disappearing. His hand reaches down to push the hair out of my face.

  “Fuck, I love you,” he says hoarsely, his voice husky and low. My mouth tugs into another grin, then I lick my lips and get to work.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Ryan

  “Where have you been recently? You’ve been missing in action,” I ask Sephie. She finally rang me back, and I asked if she wanted to come over for lunch.

  She gives me an odd look before answering. “Just busy with work and stuff.”

  “Okay, let me know if you need anything.”

  “I’m not going to take your money, Ryan,” she says, puffing out a breath that makes her hair blow off her face.

  “Trust me, I know. But we’re more than happy to help you with whatever you need.”

  “I know. I know. I just like to do things for myself. I don’t like handouts,” she says, looking down at her jean-clad knees.

  “It’s not a handout, Seph. What’s mine is yours and the same goes with Reid, so don’t even think like that. You’re not a burden. We love having you in our lives,” I tell her, hoping she understands it’s the truth.

  She nods. “I know. You’ve never made me feel like I was a burden.”

  “Good.”

  “So what’s for lunch? I’m assuming Taiya didn’t cook.” We both laugh.

  “No, she definitely didn’t. I ordered pizza. Hope that’s okay?”

  “Sounds good to me. So have you spoken to Xander recently?” she asks, not looking me in the eye as she says his name.

  I still. “I’ve seen him a few times, why?”

  She clears her throat. “Oh, no reason.”

  She’s hiding something. What the hell happened between Xander and her? “Is everything all right then?”

  She rolls her eyes. “Everything’s fine. So when are you and Taiya going to have kids?” she asks, effectively changing the subject. She’s a smart one my sister. For most men, that question would render them speechless and they would lose their train of thought. Not me though.

  “As soon as Taiya is ready. I’d have one right now if she wanted to,” I say, smiling at her cheekily.

  Her eyes widen. “Okay, I wasn’t expecting that answer.”

  “I know,” I reply. “Now what’s really going on?”

  She opens her mouth to talk when the bell rings. Saved by the pizza.

  “Hold that thought, Seph,” I say, grabbing my wallet and walking to the door. I pay the deliveryman, giving him a hefty sized tip, and close the door with a push of my hip. I walk into the lounge room and put the two pizzas on the coffee table.

  “Do you want something to drink?” I ask her.

  “I’ll grab it,” she says, walking into the kitchen. She comes out with two bottles of water, and hands one over to me.

  “Thanks.” I watch her for a few seconds, trying to figure out what’s going on with her. She has an almost guilty vibe going on. I decide not to push her. I guess she will talk about whatever is going on when she’s good and ready.

  “Do you want to watch Animal Planet?” she asks, smiling like she already knows the answer.

  I put the TV on, and grab a slice of pizza.

  *****

  Taiya walks into the apartment straight from work. She’s wearing those tight stretchy black pants I love so much, and a tight black top. Her bag is across the shoulder; her hair up in what I call her ‘dancer’s bun’ even though her curls are currently trying to escape it.

  “Did you stay home all day?” she asks, throwing her bag on the floor and coming forward to greet me.

  “I did. Seph came over, and then Reid came over. We hung out.” She jumps into my lap and kisses me. “How was your day?”

  “It was good. I’m teaching the little kids a new routine,” she says, running her fingers through my hair.

  “How old are they?”

  “Between seven and twelve.”

  “You know you are going to have to quit that place to work on your studio.”

  She sighs. “Yeah, I know.”

  “And you can finally use that credit card I got you.” A credit card in Taiya’s nam
e arrived in the mail a few weeks back. She wasn’t happy about it, but too bad.

  She makes a noncommittal noise.

  “And I have a surprise for you.”

  She instantly perks up. “A surprise?”

  “Yeah, well. I was wondering if you wanted to renew our wedding vows. I’ve got everything planned and I thought−” She cuts me off with a kiss.

  “I’d love to renew our vows,” she says, brightening with happiness.

  “Good,” I say softly, cupping her face with my hands. “Make me the happiest man in the world, for the second time.”

  “Better be the last time,” she mock growls, and I bite gently on her lower lip.

  “Damn straight it will be the last time. Except maybe when we’re old and you want to renew our vows again. We’ll still be that in love in our old age.”

  “That confident, are you?”

  “You’re a sure thing, baby.” She pinches me, making me laugh. “I’m going to make sure we stay strong. Don’t you worry.”

  Her face goes soft.

  “You aren’t going to swoon are you?” I tease, kissing her on her nose.

  “I love you, Ryan,” she whispers.

  “I love you too, beautiful.”

  More than life itself.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Ryan

  “Since you’re renewing your vows, do we get to throw you a bachelor party? You didn’t have one last time,” Reid says, rubbing his hands together, reminding me of Mr. Burns from the Simpsons.

  “If I get a buck’s night, that means Taiya gets a hen’s night,” I cringe at the idea of some stripper waving his penis around my woman’s face.

  Reid laughs. “You should see your face. Live a little, baby brother.”

  “Is Summer going to have a hen’s party?” I ask, looking at him expectantly.

  He shrugs. “She will probably want one. It’s a rite of passage.”

  I sigh, scrubbing my hand over my face. “I’ll talk to Taiya and see what she thinks.”

  “All right. Ask her for your balls back while you’re at it.”

  “Coming from you, that’s hilarious.”

  “I need to start planning. This buck’s night is going to be insane,” he says, mostly to himself.

  “I haven’t said yes.”

  “You haven’t said no either.”

  We give each other identical shit-eating grins.

  “I think it’s a good idea,” Taiya says, as she walks into the room with Summer by her side. They spent the day at the spa, having a girls’ day. “What do you think, Summer? Think you can organise something wild?”

  “Hell, yeah I can,” Summer replies, her brown eyes twinkling. I can just imagine what she’s going to plan.

  I grit my teeth, throwing Reid a ‘see what I told you asshole’ look. Reid smiles, not looking apologetic in the least. “I don’t know…” I start, looking back at Taiya. I rub the back of my neck. I don’t exactly relish the idea of her going ‘wild.’

  “It will be fun,” Taiya says, walking towards me, sitting down and wrapping her arms around me. I bury my face in her hair, her scent making me dizzy.

  “Okay,” I say, finding myself unable to say no to her. “How about we separate for an hour or two then meet up and all go out together to celebrate.”

  Reid starts laughing, like I said something hilarious. Taiya agrees, saying that that’s a good idea. Crisis averted. Nothing like a good old compromise.

  “I can’t remember the last time I went to a strip club,” Reid says, leaning back in his chair. “Oh, now I remember. It was that time…” he trails off when he sees the look on Summer’s face.

  “It was that time what?” Summer asks him in a fake sweet tone.

  Reid clears his throat. “It was before you.”

  “I’d hope so,” she says instantly, her voice as dry as it can get. “Well, at least now you have an excuse to go to one.”

  “Don’t worry, Summer. I’m sure you can find us a good male strip club,” Taiya says, adding in her two cents. More like her not wanting to see Summer get upset.

  Summer smiles and nods. “This is true. When are we doing this?”

  “How about next weekend?” Taiya says. I don’t like the fact she’s obviously excited about this.

  “Sounds good. When are you two renewing your vows?”

  “Next month,” I tell Summer. And I can’t fucking wait. Taiya runs her hand on my thigh, applying pressure gently. She can’t wait too.

  “Shall we get going?” Reid asks, standing up. We’re all going to Jack’s house for dinner. I’m looking forward to seeing River. Mia said we could pick him up on the way. Taiya’s mum will be there too, and it’s the first time we will all be together. I’m really looking forward to it. The girls go do whatever they have to do, and then we go to spend the evening with our extended family.

  *****

  “You’re wearing that? To a male strip club?” I ask, my mouth practically hanging open. The week passed with a blur, and sooner than I knew it, the night of the hen’s/buck’s was upon us. I don’t know where Taiya, Summer, Isis and Jade are going, and they don’t know where Reid, Xander, Dash, Tag and I are going. Hell, I don’t even know where we’re going. Only Reid does, and the rest of us are being surprised. I’m wearing my usual jeans and a black shirt, but Taiya has decided to go all out. The girls have apparently decided to dress up tonight, with a shared theme. Schoolgirls. My wife is dressed up like a slutty schoolgirl in a white shirt, tied around her waist, the top buttons undone to show off her red lacy bra. She is wearing a thin black tie around her neck, a red tartan looking mini skirt, white knee high socks and black high heels. Her normally unruly curls have been straightened and are worn in two pigtails. I adjust myself and scowl at her. I think my jeans just got about two sizes too tight.

  “Yeah, I’m wearing this. I think it’s cute, and we’re all going to be dressed like this,” she says, adding more bright red lipstick. Unable to take my eyes off her, I stare at the few inches of her bare stomach, and then move lower to the short skirt, hugging her round shapely behind. Fuck me.

  “I don’t like this,” I breathe, rubbing my hands over my mouth. “Not one fucking bit.”

  Taiya frowns. “Don’t ruin my night, Ryan.”

  Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. “Okay, you’re right. But if you have any trouble, please call me immediately, and keep that outfit on because I’m fucking you with it on at the end of the night.”

  Her eyes widen at my demand. “Yes, Mr. Knox,” she replies in a sweet tone which goes straight to my cock.

  “You better be wearing panties with that skirt.”

  She grins and lifts up her skirt, showing me barely there red lace. Great, just fucking great. I’m contemplating cancelling this whole night when the doorbell rings. I stare at my wife longingly for a second before I go and answer the door.

  “Why do you look like someone ran over your puppy? It’s your fucking buck’s night!” Reid says, walking in carrying two bottles of alcohol. Summer walks in behind him, dressed in the same sort of outfit as Taiya, but a less slutty version.

  “Hey Ry,” she says, kissing me on the cheek.

  “Hey Sum, you look pretty,” I tell her. I turn to see Taiya standing there, giving me a strange look. She couldn’t be mad about Summer, could she? Summer is like family to me. She has no need to be jealous. I remind myself to have a talk with her about it when we’re alone. Taiya and Summer start chatting and Reid pours me a drink. About an hour later, the girls’ limo pulls up, and Summer and Taiya head out. They are picking up the rest of the girls on the way, except for Sephie because she said she had to work.

  Reid and I walk the girls out, and I open the door for them, but pull Taiya aside just as she’s about to get into the limo.

  “Are you okay?” I ask her, my eyes searching hers.

  She nods. “Yeah, I’ll see you later tonight.”

  I lower my head to give her a possessive kiss, reminding her who she belon
gs to.

  “Message received,” she mumbles before she gets in.

  I elbow Reid who is making out with Summer, but he ignores me and keeps kissing her. She finally pulls away, and she slides in after Taiya. I close the door, and watch as the limo drives away.

  “Let the fun begin!” Reid says, ringing up a taxi to come get us. I sigh, and stare at the limo until it’s out of sight.

  *****

  “You sure you don’t want another drink?” Tag asks me as we leave the second bar. Bar hopping. I can’t remember the last time I did this. We closed Knox Tavern for the night, because everyone was going out. I really need to hire at least one new employee that isn’t one of my good friends. I stare at Reid who is grinning at something Dash said, and Xander who has been suspiciously quiet all night.

  “No, I’m good. Where are we going next?” I ask Tag.

  He shrugs, and asks, “Reid, where we going?”

  “Strip club,” Reid replies, turning to look at us.

  “What strip club are we going to?” Xander asks, his lips tightening.

  “Wait and see,” Reid says. We all get into another Taxi, and drive for about fifteen minutes until we reach our destination. Reid pays the taxi driver, and we all get out and stare at the building. We walk to the door, and Reid gives his name and the bouncer lets us in. Xander is the last to walk in, looking like he’d rather be any place than here.

  “Are you okay?” I ask him, slapping him on the back.

  “Yeah, ummm…” He looks like he wants to say something to me, but we walk further into the strip club and the loud music cuts him off. A woman dances on stage, wearing nothing but those stickers that cover her nipples and a thong. I notice Reid not even looking her way as he orders drinks from a passing waitress. Why did he even want to come here? He doesn’t care about any other woman besides Summer, and if he did, I’d punch him in the face. I have a feeling he’s doing the big brother thing, him trying to let me experience everything, not wanting me to miss out on anything. Even something stupid as this. We’re here just for the sake of being here.

  We all sit at a table, Xander dragging his feet, the last to be seated. Tag stares at the stage, watching the woman dance for a second.