by Kat T. Masen
Mom organized a family dinner, just the six of us. All afternoon, she stayed in the kitchen cooking all my favorite dishes, making sure that everything I love will be served tonight. I appreciate the effort, but again, it makes it harder to leave.
As I sit at the table, quiet and lost in thought, my sisters remain just as silent. The food—delicious with all its aromas—doesn’t erase the empty feeling sitting in the pit of my stomach. My fork aimlessly pushes the food around with my eyes fixated on the slow movements.
“I wonder if the meatloaf at Yale is still as bad as I remember,” Mom says to break the silence.
“It was just as bad at USCF,” Dad adds to the conversation. “It must be a universal college thing.”
“All the more reason I should study local.” Ava finally laughs, her smile infectious as her green eyes brighten her face. “Mom’s cooking rivals the best of restaurants in LA.”
“Aww, that’s nice of you, honey. You still can’t go to Cabo with Alyssa,” Mom replies, making her final decision known.
“Drats… worth a try,” Ava mumbles.
My sister, Addison, is reserved. With six years apart, a piece of me is sad to leave her during the years she’ll need me the most. Ava is so carefree, always wanting to have fun, and Addison is the complete opposite, her nose usually in some book.
“You’ll all visit, right?” I cheerfully ask. “Addison, you would love the Yale library. When I visited the campus, I couldn’t believe how many books they had.”
Addison’s expression shifts, a small smile escaping. It’s uncanny that Ava and Addison look so much alike, both of them a spitting image of Dad. They have the same emerald eyes we all got from him, a strong genetic trait of his. Yet, their hair color and skin tone mirror that of Dad’s. Alexandra is a combination of both Mom and Dad. I’m the only one, according to everyone, who transitioned to look more like Mom.
“Daddy, when can we go visit?” Alexandra questions, tugging at his sleeve beside him.
“Soon, sweetheart. We need to get your sister settled in first. Let her get used to her new schedule and studying, then perhaps we can spend Thanksgiving in Manhattan if Mom is okay with that.”
Mom beams at the idea. “That sounds perfect. Thanksgiving in the city.”
We immerse ourselves in idle chit-chat, something I enjoy with my family since it’s always entertaining when everyone is involved. Not long after we finish, Andy stops by with his parents to say goodbye. Andy’s acceptance to NYU came as a relief to my parents since he’ll only be a train ride away. I always knew he’d follow a creative career given Aunt Adriana is a designer, and his biological father used to paint as a hobby.
But it’s Uncle Julian, his stepfather, who he admires the most and influenced his love of photography. The two of them have traveled all over the world, and whenever they return, I sit for hours and listen to their stories, including photos Andy captured. I may be biased, but Andy is incredibly talented and can see the beauty in almost anything.
“I’m going to miss you,” Aunt Adriana confesses, struggling to compose herself. I wrap my arms around her, knowing I’ll miss her just as much. She’s like the big sister I never had, and it helps that she has no fear whatsoever when dealing with Dad.
“I’m going to miss you, too. You’ve got my email. I want to see all those designs you’ve been working on.”
“Of course, your opinion means everything to me.” She smiles before looking at Ava jokingly. “If it were up to Ava, my designs would involve midriffs and booty shorts.”
My dad shakes his head in disappointment. “Did you have to go there, Adriana?”
“Why yes, dear brother,” she responds in jest, then turns her focus back to me. “Now, listen, you, I want updates on everything, including men.”
“Jesus Christ, Adriana! Let the girl focus on studying. The last thing she should be thinking about is boys.”
“Men, Lex,” Aunt Adriana corrects him. “She’ll be with men now.”
And that’s the other thing—I’ll supposedly be surrounded by men now. Ava claims to be jealous, bored of high school boys and their immaturity. She turned seventeen over the summer and decided she was above the boys she circles with, including the guy she dated and lost her virginity to. At the time when she told me, I wasn’t sure how to feel. Your younger sister has sex in the back of a car with some guy she’s crushed on, yet here I am almost two years older than her with a steady boyfriend, and we haven’t done the deed.
That’s not to say we haven’t moved forward. Austin and I still fool around when we can, but Dad wanted me home as soon as prom finished. He even made sure the driver greeted me at the door. The only reason I allow him to pull the so-called parental strings is because I’ll soon have all the freedom in the world, and he’ll have no say in the matter.
A reminder of my final goodbye with Austin comes to mind. “Oh gosh, what’s the time?”
“Just after eight,” Mom informs me. “You go spend time with Austin. Don’t keep that lovely boy waiting.”
I say goodbye to Aunt Adriana and Uncle Julian, then remind Andy we planned to catch up in two weeks for dinner in the city.
I drive over to Austin’s place, though he suggests we take his car for a drive since he plans to take the vehicle off-road. After twenty minutes, we park the car and take our belongings to our favorite spot.
We sit on the picnic blanket on a hill that overlooks the city. The views are stunning at night, a light show which twinkles in the distance. The area is secluded, making it peaceful and just what we both need to calm our anxious nerves.
“Are you nervous?” I ask, staring into the distance.
“Yes,” Austin admits, his trance just as deep as mine. “New school, new crowd, no parents. It’s a lot to take in.”
I nod, feeling just as overwhelmed as him.
“I’m just a call away, or text, or DM.” I smile, offering him support. “I’ll always be there for you.”
Austin lowers his head. “I’d be foolish to think you’ll be mine forever. Once those college boys see you, you’ll be the talk of the campus.”
I purse my lips, placing my hand on his knee. “That’s not true. Have you seen me in study mode? I look like Chewbacca. When we were cramming for finals, I didn’t wash my hair for a week.”
A laugh escapes him. “Don’t underestimate how beautiful you are, Millie.”
“Well, I can say the same for you. I spent most of this year trying to fend off junior and senior girls from trying to dig their claws into you. College girls will fall in love with the handsome man studying to be a doctor.”
“Hmm… I forgot about the doctor card. I guess it could come in handy one day.”
A pang of jealousy hits me. Why does this have to be so hard? If I love him like I say I do, why am I going to a school so far away? I often look at my parents, knowing their story since Mom had shared it with me. They moved heaven and earth to be with one another. That’s true love, so why am I not fighting for Austin?
And the biggest question to remain unanswered is what if Austin is the love of my life? The man I’m supposed to grow old with and have his children. The thought of letting him go hurts, but every way I analyze the situation, it never works in our favor.
“Austin?” I say above a whisper. “I don’t want us to end.”
Austin closes his eyes, almost as if he’s breathing a sigh of relief. He turns to face me, his finger grazing against my lip, making my heart pitter-patter like a butterfly trapped in captivity.
“Neither do I, Millie, but I don’t know how to make it work. We’re so far apart, and then our class load means we’ll be so busy.”
“Maybe,” I suggest eagerly. “We don’t label this or us. We don’t need to say goodbye forever. Why can’t we just say no words at all?”
Austin cups my chin, bringing me in for a deep kiss. I tug at his shirt, not wanting to let him go. For a moment, our eyes meet, and something passes between us. Gently, he lays me down and hovers on top o
f me, burying his head into my neck and lavishing me with kisses. I moan slightly, running my hands through his hair, desperate to capture his scent in my memories. His hand wanders toward my thigh, grazing up before our eyes meet again.
I want him.
“Austin,” I whisper with trembling hands. “I’m ready.”
His eyes widen, not with excitement as I assumed most men would feel at this moment, but of torture. “Are you sure? I don’t want to pressure you.”
Austin’s caring nature settles my anxious thoughts. If there’s any man who deserves to own this moment, one that will stay with me for a lifetime, I want it to be Austin Carter.
I take in the sight of him, bringing his lips to mine. “You’re perfect.”
And much like the last few months, this moment came and went in the blink of an eye. I gasp with each touch and wince slightly when he enters me, but soon I understand the power of intimacy. How this very moment, with the right person, can change the beat of one’s heart.
With every thrust, desire overcomes us, driving our bodies to move in sync. Our kisses deepen, rushed with urgency, until the slight pain I experienced subsides, and my body begins to convulse into a beautiful finish.
I throw my head back when Austin pulls out abruptly, his body jerking forward as he spills out beside us.
“Are you okay?” I ask, barely able to catch my breath.
“Yes,” he answers with a grin. “I’m perfect.”
And as his lips find their way back to mine, we exchange our “I love you’s” and promise not to map out our future on the fear of losing each other.
We’ll always have this moment, and no matter what happens from now on, no one can ever take that away from us.
Six
Will
“William Rockford Romano, why are you avoiding my calls?”
My mother’s nagging voice barrels through the speaker. For someone who’s ambitious and works long hours as a lawyer, she should understand my time during business is precious. It’s not like I sit around, scratching my ass on the couch while watching football like Dad. I own a company, one that needs my attention almost every hour of each day.
“I’m not ignoring you, Mother. I’ve been busy, that’s all.”
“Oh, cut the bullshit with me. There was a photo of you with some woman at a launch party last night in Brooklyn. Busy being a playboy, I see? The apple does not fall far from the tree.”
I snicker, having heard this a dozen times. “Dad would be proud.”
“Yes, unfortunately, your father is quite proud of your inability to settle down,” she complains, reminding me why I avoid her calls like the plague. “Now, when are you coming over for dinner? It’s been too long, and your brother misses you.”
My brother only misses me because I’m his saving grace from my parents. Having just turned fifteen, he has finally discovered girls. The little son of a bitch used me as an alibi on several occasions, and God knows what he did. I figured, let him make the mistakes for himself. I’m not his father, just the older brother with an empty apartment he conveniently brings “friends” back to when I’m at work. The last time he had done so, I found a fucking used condom in my bathroom he swears wasn’t his. Since then, I changed my passcode to my apartment and told him to hang out somewhere else.
Closing my eyes for a brief moment, I ignore the constant ping of emails coming through, knowing I have one more meeting this afternoon, which will most likely extend into after-work drinks.
“I’ll check with my assistant and get back to you.”
“Is your personal assistant still the blonde with the rather bouncy ass? Or did it conflict with your working relationship, too?”
I let out an annoyed huff, wondering why on earth I have to justify my sex life to my overbearing mother. “Of course not. She has other endeavors she wishes to pursue.”
There’s a rustle in the background, distracting Mom until I hear, “How’s my boy? Don’t tell me you let her suck your dick and then fired her?”
“Rocky!” Mom shouts, the loud sound causing me to distance the phone from my ear. “How crass of you to say that to your son.”
I let out a snicker. Dad has been crass for as long as I can remember. He doesn’t take life seriously, something I love about him. Discipline could smack him in the face, and he still wouldn’t understand the meaning of it. Unfortunately, my mother makes up for his relaxed parenting style—the complete opposite.
“Uh… no, Dad, I wouldn’t quite put it that way.”
“So, you fucked her, then?”
“Jesus Christ, go away. And why are you here?” The voices filter out before Mom tells him to fuck off, plain and simple. “Now listen, ignore your father, and please come to dinner. I miss you.”
“I will, Mom. Promise.”
We hang up the phone, my smile still lingering from Dad’s blunt yet accurate calling of my sex life. Jennifer, as she shall be named, was too hard to resist. Every single goddamn time she bent over to water the plants in my office to the low-cut blouses she wore, it was too much.
Yet, I’m a gentleman. I didn’t make a move until a work event last week in which she got drunk and offered to suck my cock. Of course, I warned her that she’d have to give up her nicely paid position by doing so.
She wanted cock more.
Who could blame her?
I got what I needed, and it wasn’t as if she was a hard worker. Her skills were less than par. But, of course, I’m down an assistant, and these temporary women filling in have been old and undesirable.
Considering I run this company, how fucking hard is it to find someone competent?
I note the time, grabbing my phone and wandering across to the boardroom. The noise stops upon my arrival, my management team quietly waiting until Lex Edwards enters the room. The bastards all fall on their knees with his dominating presence, whereas I extend my hand, shaking his.
Unlike everyone else, I’ve known Lex on a personal level all my life. I have considered him an uncle, a great mentor, and one who treats me like his own son. Not only do we have personal ties, but it’s also Lex who invested in my company, allowing it to launch initially, making it now a multi-million-dollar business.
He informed me of his trip to the city, and I suggested we meet as there’s a chance of extending the business, though we need more capital.
“Let’s get down to it,” he insists, taking his spot at the table. “Show me your numbers.”
By the end of the meeting, my staff scurries out like lost puppies, leaving only Lex and me. Outside the window, darkness falls, though the bright city lights never fail to shine, and just like I had predicted, we dragged well into the night.
“I’m going to agree with you. I see the potential and want the full scope of this merger by the end of the month. You deliver what I need, and the capital is yours.”
I breathe a sigh of relief, confident I can do that. I only learn from the best, and there’s no chance in hell that Lex will allow me to screw this up. I may have graduated with a Master’s in Business, but nothing is as important as a mogul’s guidance.
A tycoon, as he’s often referred to.
Standing up to stretch my legs, I open the cabinet and pull out an aged whisky bottle I store in there, handing a glass to Lex. We cheer on our proposed deal, then both let out a relaxed breath.
“Change of topic,” Lex says, taking another drink. “Amelia has started at Yale.”
“Yale? Impressive.” I nod, despite being a Harvard man myself. “What’s she studying?”
The truth be told, I haven’t seen her since she was a kid or maybe four years ago when she was in middle school. It would’ve been one of our family dinners and given our age gap of just over ten years, we had nothing in common. My memories of her are this annoying little girl who would pester me to do dangerous things in her backyard on my visits, like jumping off the roof and into the pool.
“Law, like mother like daughter,” Lex professes while s
miling fondly. “I wasn’t exactly thrilled when we found out.”
I laugh, pouring more whisky into our glasses. “Lex Edwards, billionaire tycoon with four daughters. Why am I not surprised?”
He snickers, enjoying my dig at his protective persona. “One day, you’ll have kids of your own, possibly daughters, and then you’ll know.”
“Please…” I roll my eyes with boredom. “The last thing I want is marriage and babies. I’m quite happy being single despite what my mother believes.”
“Your mother believes you can’t keep your dick in your pants. Hence, why she keeps having to deal with different assistants when trying to call you.”
“Hmm… gossip travels fast.” I smirk playfully behind the glass. “No one understands my lifestyle. They either want on my cock or in my pocket. I’m almost thirty, too young to worry about settling down. I’ve got an empire to build, not pussy to chase.”
Lex shakes his head with a knowing smile. “Aren’t you the epitome of a young Lex Edwards? But a word of warning, one day you’ll wake up and realize that being alone is a punishment, not a blessing.”
“And until then, what does it matter if my bed is warm in the morning from some chick who can get me off quickly?”
“Why do I not believe you allow them to stay over?”
I throw back the rest of my drink. “You have me there, old fella, just trying to paint myself as a considerate lover.”
Lex points his finger at me. “You, Will Romano, are a selfish man, as was I once upon a time, but look where I ended up? If you’re to follow in my footsteps, I expect some woman to own you very soon.”
Laughter escapes me. “I recall the upsetting memory. You stole my favorite aunt and whisked her away to have babies in LA. I’m happy to prove you wrong. Wager, if needed.”
“Now, now, don’t get so cocky. Mark my words, son, it’ll happen to you. And all this…” he points around my office with an arrogant grin, “… will mean nothing if you can’t have her.”
With a dismissive nod, I raise my glass. “The bet is on. It’s time to prove Lex Edwards wrong.”