I shook my head. “Something really bad happened to him. He won’t share what it is, but I think his wife cheated on him. He’s no longer in touch with any of their friends, and he’s still grieving.”
“Is he here with you?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“Send him in.”
“No.”
“Who’s dying here? It means I get what I want. Get him.”
I forced out a breath. “Okay.” I waved down the hall at Tate, and he came to the room. “Helena, this is Tate.”
“Leave us for a few minutes,” she said to me.
“But,” I said, throwing up my hands. “Fine.” I stepped outside of the room and waited.
Minutes slowly ticked by until the door opened. Tate brushed his hair away from his face. “She wants you.”
I brought his mouth to mine for a quick kiss, ignoring his knotted brow. What the fuck did she say?
Once back inside, Helena said, “He’s in love with you honey, but that’s part of the problem. It’s scaring the shit out of him.”
“He said that?”
“No, I felt it. There’s more than an affair in the mix. The betrayal goes deeper.” She patted the bed beside her.
“What do I do?” I asked, sitting close.
“Love him. That’s all you can do.”
“I am. It’s too late to stop. Do you like him?”
“In another life, I think we’d have been great friends. He’s a free spirit too. It’s just buried right now.”
“Yeah.”
“His sexual energy is intense. I’m so happy for you.”
I laughed at her and blushed. Only she could get away with saying such things. “What am I going to do without you?”
“Try to be friends with your mother. She’ll need you even more now. Daniel seems to be good for her. Hopefully, this one will stick.”
“Yeah. Helena, how can I ever thank you for being there for me over the years. Giving me a place to crash between apartments, to just holding me when I needed a shoulder.”
“Love Bug, I love you like I had you myself.” She rested her hand on my thigh. “It’s time for you to become the butterfly and chase all your dreams. I’ll be watching over you.”
I lay across her and cried. She, the woman who helped me survive my childhood was leaving me. I always thought of her spoiling my children when I had them someday.
“Give your mom a chance and just remember, I’ll love you until the end of time.” A wave of pain crossed her face, and she depressed the morphine pump. “I’m going to rest for a bit,” she said, closing her eyes.
I hugged her gently, kissed her cheek, and left the room. Down the hall, I trudged, straight into Tate’s arms.
“I’m here,” he said as he comforted me.
My tears burst forward with renewed vigor, my heart breaking. Why did it seem that the ones who had life sorted out, were the ones to leave too early?
Tate rocked me on his lap, his chin on my head, his hand resting reassuringly on my back.
After my tears sated, I glanced up.
“Some arrangements need to be made,” he said. “Helena wants to be cremated and Daniel is looking into it right now.”
“She hasn’t died yet!” I said way too loudly as I turned to face my mother.
“Honey, there’s not much time left.”
Just then Daniel came back and took a seat next to my mother, resting his hand on her back.
“Why did you wait so long to call me?” I felt crushed to my core.
“It’s what she wanted,” she said apologetically.
“You shouldn’t have waited!” I said, taking my anger out on her.
“Easy, love,” Tate said, lifting me to my feet.
I looked from him to my mother and saw the devastation in her eyes, mirroring mine. I hugged her, and we cried together.
“Excuse me,” a male nurse said.
We all looked up and knew.
Daniel stood up and followed the nurse to arrange the transport of the body.
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” Tate said to my mother.
I knew my aunt had been sick, but she had fought through it before, so I just assumed she would again. Beating myself up, which I was the master at, I berated myself for not pushing harder to see her, to spend time with her, to take care of her. She meant the world to me, and I let her down.
“Stop it, Blue,” Tate whispered, wrapping me in his embrace. “Only meeting her once, I could tell she lived her life on her terms and no one else’s. She waited for you to come so she could say goodbye before departing. Stop second-guessing yourself. Just like in life, she managed her death how she wanted.”
I peered up, tears clouding my vision. “Thank you for being here.”
“There’s no other place I’d rather be.”
I choked on my sob and laughed, “Uh huh.”
“Well, other than having you tied up underneath me, that is,” he whispered into my ear.
I cupped his face and brought his lips to mine.
Daniel rejoined us and said, “If you want to see her before she is moved...”
“No, thank you,” I said, holding onto Tate’s hand.
“I’d like to go back and see her,” my mother said. “You kids go, and I’ll let you know the arrangements.”
“Okay.” I hugged her tightly and thanked Daniel over her shoulder.
I didn’t mean to, but I slammed the door of the Jeep hard. “Can you drop me off at my apartment?”
“Your car won’t be ready until mid-week. Why don’t we go to my place?” Tate drove out of the hospital parking lot.
“No ... I. Listen, you’ve been great, but I can’t keep taking advantage of your generosity.”
“What are you doing, Blue?” He glanced at me and then back at the road.
“I just can’t right now. I’m too vulnerable and you taking care of me... I just can’t.”
“I want to.”
Tears filled my eyes, and I tried to blink them away. “That’s not the relationship we have, Tate. It’s not the one you want.”
“I’m telling you that I want to be here, with you. Let me.”
“That’s what my friends are for. I’ll call—”
“I don’t expect you to have sex with me, Blue. I’ll drive you home if that’s where you want to be and then I’ll go by my place to get some things and stop by the store to get whatever you need.”
I wept and shouted, “Stop being so nice to me!”
He parked the Jeep on the side of the road and got out. Opening my door, he pulled me into the backseat with him as I cried some more. Once I settled down again, he said, “No more arguing with me, Blue. Should we go by your apartment and get your things or go by my place?”
“Okay,” I shuddered. “I’d rather be by the beach.”
“Good.” He drove me to my place and waited in the car for me.
I emptied my overnight bag and repacked it with a few different clothing options, the bathing suit, a vibrator, nightclothes, and my cosmetic bag. I also packed up my laptop computer in my backpack. In the kitchen, I gathered the beer, margaritas, and turkey deli. I poured the orange juice down the drain, lifted the garbage bag from the can, and tied it.
Deciding to try to make one trip, I swung my backpack onto my shoulders and put the strap of the overnight across my chest. In one hand, I carried the groceries and in the other, the garbage. I placed the trash down on the landing and locked the apartment door.
Tate saw me trying to navigate the stairs with all my bags and jumped out of the car to help me. He swung the overnight bag over my head and took the garbage from me. “Where does this go?”
“Around the corner in the dumpster,” I said, pointing to the far side of the building. I climbed into the car and waited for him.
He then placed the rest of my belongings in the back seat. “That’s a lot of stuff.”
I didn’t care for his expression. “Never mind. I didn’t think this was a good idea.
” I clicked the seatbelt to let myself out.
He grasped my arm and simply said, “No.”
“Then stop it. I’m not moving in. I brought my computer because I thought I might write. It makes me feel better to get lost in a story.”
“I called your friends,” he said as he started the Jeep.
“You did what?” My mouth dropped open.
He headed north on I-95. “I thought you would want them around. I invited them to my place later.”
“Jesus, Tate. Did you ever consider asking me?”
“Did I fuck up? I’m sorry. I wanted to help make you feel better.”
My phone vibrated, and I swiped the screen.
Bond: Stay told me what happened. Can I come by Tate’s?
Me: Yes. Thank you for asking.
“Who?” Tate asked.
“Bond. He was checking to see if it was okay for him to come by.”
“I get your point.” He seemed to be grinding his teeth.
Was it my displeasure or Bond coming over? I didn’t know. “Good. You will be nice to him.”
“Hey, I’m sorry for overstepping.” He took my hand and kissed the back of it.
“Really, it’s not you, I mean part of it is you, but mostly I’m just so sad.” I sank back against the passenger seat and stared out the window at the King Palms swaying in the breeze. “Who’s coming?”
“I think everyone but Sam. Her mother has a reading group tonight. Jacqs was having brunch with Lainie when I called Stay. He said they planned to come and Jacqs was going to call Red.”
“You’ve never met Doug aka Dawg. He comes and goes.”
“Have you—”
“Yeah, once. He’s the king of the one-night stands, and I didn’t want any more than that. It was really an angry fuck and it served its purpose.”
“Angry at Bond?”
“Yeah.”
“Recently?” he said, making a right turn off the highway.
“No, a few years ago.”
“Your group is rather incestuous.”
“Just some of us.” I nodded. “I think I’m the worst of the group.” I laughed.
“It’s good to see you smile.”
“Thanks for not letting me crawl into a ball in the middle of my bed.”
“You’re welcome. Do you have pen and paper in your backpack?”
I reached behind my seat and grabbed a Post-It pad and pen.
He smiled. “Those sure come in handy.”
“I’m rather fond of the new one in the middle of my mirror. So...”
“Shopping list for food and drinks for us and your friends.”
“Okay.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Where Is The Heart
by Alex Clare
Tate left me alone in his house, and part of me wanted to rifle through his drawers to learn more about him, but I refrained. Instead, I sat on the deck and appreciated the view, taking in the cloudless blue sky. On reflection, I was grateful that my friends would be coming. Letting Tate take care of me had its own pitfalls. Maybe he realized the same thing and therefore, invited the gang over.
I thought I heard a knock, so I went back inside the house. I pulled the curtain on the side window and saw Bond standing there. Unlocking the door, I let him in.
“I’m so sorry,” he said, sweeping me up in his embrace. “Did you know it was so close? You never mentioned it.”
“I didn’t. Helena didn’t tell me. I mean I knew she wasn’t well, but she pulled through it last time.”
“They say the second time battling cancer is worse.” He looked around the house and said, “Nice digs.” Stepping in farther, he took in the view. “Sweet place.”
“Let’s sit outside.” I took my seat on the deck. “I need to text Tate.”
Me: Bond is here.
My stomach tightened waiting for Tate’s reply. “So did anything happen after I left last night?”
Bond sat next to me. “Blue, I’m here for you, we don’t need to talk about me.”
“I’m certain that Tate invited you all to distract me. So distract me.”
“I thought that was off-limits,” he said, raising an eyebrow.
My phone vibrated.
Tate: I told Stayman five o’clock.
Me: Maybe it got lost in translation.
Tate: I’m not happy.
Me: Do you trust me?
Tate: That’s not the point.
“You’re scowling,” Bond said. “Who’s that?”
I looked up. “Tate.”
“About me?”
“Yes. He says you were invited to come at five.”
“Yeah, Stay said that, but I have to work tonight. I asked if I could come, and you said yes.”
“You’re right, I did.”
Me: He has to work later. He asked to come by, and I said yes. We’re out on the deck talking. Should I ask him to leave?
Tate: No.
Me: Stop frowning. I can feel it through the phone. I already told you we aren’t having sex anymore. That I won’t kiss him again. Please be safe and don’t rush back.
Tate: Grrr.
Me: Are you at the store?
Tate: Yes.
Me: Do you want to call me so you can talk to him?
Tate: No. Do me a favor.
Me: Okay.
Tate: Go in the bedroom and take a sexy picture for me. Text it to me.
Me: Okay.
My clit twitched over the suggestion and I hopped up. “I’m going to change out of my work clothes. I’ll be right back.”
“Are we good?” Bond asked.
“Yeah.”
Once in Tate’s bedroom, I stripped off the black pants and long-sleeved gray shirt. I rummaged through my bag and grabbed the vibrator. I wouldn’t send a pic of my pussy or boobs but I did want to send something provocative. His suggestion set my pulse racing, and I so appreciated being able to focus on the task. Also, I wanted to make him feel more secure but with a bit of added torture. I laughed at myself.
In my blue lace matching panties and bra, I climbed on the bed and spread my legs. Pulling my panties to the side, I rested my purple vibrator against my clit. It sufficiently covered my pussy. With my camera in hand, I tried to angle it so he could see most of my body. It wasn’t easy to accomplish. After taking nine shots, I finally got a decent one. I sent it off to Tate and hurriedly dressed in jean shorts and a purple T-shirt.
A knock on the bedroom door startled me. “Are you okay in there?” Bond asked.
“Yeah, fine, just another minute.” I rejoined him on the back deck. “So what happened last night?”
“Rory saw us leave the club together. She wasn’t happy.” Bond leaned forward, his forearms resting on his thighs.
“When do you plan to talk to Jacqs?”
“I’m not sure yet. I’m still on the fence about what to do. Blue, I’m sorry for hurting you last night. If we could go back, I’d want to be open about us from the beginning. I thought it’s what we both wanted.”
My phone vibrated, but I ignored it. “It was, Bond. I guess I just didn’t realize how much it was hurting me. I so appreciate your willingness to tell them. Now, it’s a moot point.”
“Yeah,” he said, touching my thigh. “I miss you already.”
“Me too.” I climbed into his lap and we hugged each other. Tears spilled out as the loss of Helena seemed to compound my loss of Bond. Although the situation was never ideal, I felt safe with him. Tate, on the other hand, left my heart in peril. My thoughts were interrupted when I glanced up to see Tate standing over us. I scurried off Bond’s lap and went to him.
“Beer?” Tate asked Bond.
“Sure, thanks. Great place you have.”
I followed Tate to the kitchen. “Did you like the picture?”
“Yes, much better than the one I caught coming in.” In a completely different tone, he said, “You packed a vibrator.”
I knew he must be hard and looked down to see. With m
y fingers, I traced the impression. Then my eyes locked with his. “For us. I’ll give you a hint. Sex is the perfect distraction.”
“Had I known, I’d never have invited—”
I didn’t let him finish. I touched his cheek and brought his mouth to mine.
He lifted me up on the bit of counter not covered with grocery bags and riveted my mouth to his.
After a steamy, sultry kiss, I said, “I will never cheat on you, Tate. Not ever.”
He searched my face. “I believe you.”
I forced out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding in. Thank you! Breaking eye contact, I scanned the kitchen. “That’s a lot of stuff.”
“I figured your friends will be eating dinner here.”
I hopped off the counter and started unpacking the groceries.
Tate fished out two Dos Equis and opened them. “I’m going to have a beer with Bond.”
“Is that a good idea?” My breath caught in my throat.
Staring at my expression, he said, “Trust doesn’t come easily for me. It probably never will again. There are a few things I need to say to Bond, and I promise to hear him out.”
“Okay. Let me know when it’s safe to come out.”
He kissed me hard and fast and then walked away.
Helena, if you’re around, please watch over those two. Part of me wished I could hear what they were saying. The rest of me figured it might hurt to know. I unpacked the groceries and threw away some of the take-out boxes to make room in the refrigerator. I left out the spinach dip mix, spinach, sour cream, mayo, scallions, watercress, and the veggies I assumed were for the dip.
As I mixed the ingredients together, I heard a loud laugh and some of the tension in my shoulders relaxed. Checking the time on the stove, there was still an hour until the others would start to arrive. I covered the dip and put it in the fridge and then started cutting up the vegetables.
“Blue!” Tate called.
With dishtowel in hand, I hung my head out the back sliding door. “Yeah?”
“Bond and I have an idea we’d like to pass by you.”
My stomach dropped and I frowned. This cannot be good. “Oh?” I asked, stepping out onto the deck.
“Tate thought a threesome might—”
Blue Persuasion Page 21