by Sam Crescent
Great, just great.
****
“What are you doing here?” Elijah asked. The woman in front of him looked down at her feet.
“I’m sorry. I don’t come to Wade’s often. I couldn’t believe it was you, and I had to come and say hello.”
Glancing at the table where Amber was, he saw her talking with Ashley. Shit, he couldn’t remember her name. Her name had completely vanished from his head. He and Amber were doing so well. This could spoil it if he didn’t get rid of her.
“You can’t remember my name, can you?” she asked.
“No.”
“It’s Erika.”
“Hi, Erika.” Now he remembered her name again. Running his fingers through his hair, he looked at Amber. She was staring at the woman beside him. “Shit.”
Erika turned in her direction. “Oh, you and Amber were an actual couple?”
“Yes, we’re a couple, and I need you to leave.” He gritted the words out.
“Okay, erm, I’m so sorry.”
“The rules of the club state you’re not to make anyone uncomfortable outside the club,” he said. Tyler was strict about his club and his rules. If people wanted to meet outside of the club that was down to them. This was not one of those situations. He didn’t want to know her.
“I know. I shouldn’t have come over. The last time we were together I thought there was something between us.”
He shook his head. “No, there’s nothing between us. Nothing ever will be between us. This is my fault. I shouldn’t have brought you into my mess.”
“Mess? You consider us a mess?” Amber asked, standing behind him.
Turning around he saw the sadness in her eyes. She looked behind him at Erika.
“Amber,” he said.
“Elijah.” She stared at him with tears glistening in her eyes. “I should have known this was a big mistake.”
She turned away and started toward the door.
Throwing his hands up in frustration, he threw some notes down on the bar. “Don’t approach me in a bar again. There is nothing between us, Erika, and you know I’m not the man for you.”
He charged after Amber. She was storming down the street as he got outside.
“Amber.” He shouted her name.
She wouldn’t stop walking away from him.
Running down the street Elijah called her name several more times.
Amber kept walking.
He caught her up quickly. “Will you stop?”
“You think our life together is a mess?” she asked, stopping to yell at him.
“No, I don’t think it’s a mess. I made it a mess.”
“You’re not making any sense.”
“Do you think I don’t know that?” He looked around him to see they were secluded in a darkened alleyway. “I could have had you at eighteen, Amber, and I didn’t. We both walked away, and for the last seven years we’ve been having these moments together that were so fleeting, they might as well be a joke.”
He ran his fingers through his hair, trying to find the right words to convey what he wanted to say.
She didn’t speak or dispute him, which he took as a good sign.
“We’re good together, Amber. Even without the fucking sex we’re that good. You can’t tell me you don’t feel it?” He moved toward her, and she took a step back. “Don’t pull away from me.”
“You’re not making any sense.”
“I’m making perfect sense. I love you, Amber, and Erika means nothing to me. The mess I mentioned was the mess I’d caused with me giving her the wrong impression about my attention.”
She stared down his body. Her hand touched his chest. “Why did you caress her, Elijah? If she meant nothing, why did you do it?”
“You’re always so closed off around me. Heather gets a part of you I’ll never see, and I’m jealous of her. I’m jealous of my sister because she gets a chance to have you in ways I can’t.”
He dropped his head, panting for breath. Elijah was opening himself up in ways he never thought he could. Amber left him no choice but to open up.
“I’m yours, Elijah.”
“Are you really?” he asked.
“I’m yours. You’ve told me enough times that I’ve got no choice but to believe it.”
He chuckled, caressing her cheek. “We’re not a mess. We’re the best we’ve ever been together.”
“Will you take me home?” she asked.
“You’re not going to shout at me?”
“No. I’m not going to yell.” She offered him her hand, and he took it.
The walk to her apartment was slow, and he took her the long way around to her apartment. He wanted all the excuses he could find to be around her.
“We’re a strange pair, right?”
“Yeah, we’re strange.”
“I was thinking we could tell Heather soon. I don’t like lying to my friend. You’re her brother, and I want her to know I’m seeing you. Sneaking around and lying is so not my thing.”
“I thought you’d never ask.” He snaked an arm around her waist and took her back to her apartment.
“Does this mean we get to have sex?” she asked.
“Not yet.” He wanted to fuck her more than anything. First, he needed to make sure Amber held no doubts. Heather finding out about them was a good sign.
“Do you want me to tell her?” he asked.
“Do you think she’ll take it better coming from you?” she asked.
“You talk to her,” Elijah said. He’d give Heather the truth but tell her to give Amber some time to admit it. His sister was a little matchmaker in the making.
He left her at her apartment door and dialed his sister’s number on the way out of the apartment.
“Elijah, I’ve got good news. I’m pregnant.”
Heather’s news took him by surprise, halting all of his thoughts. “Wow, congratulations.”
She talked and talked until he heard Julian complain about some attention.
“Sorry. I’m excited. I’ve got a human inside me, and I’m amazed.”
He laughed. “It’s all good.”
“What did you want to talk to me about?” she asked.
“Amber wants to tell you the truth about us.” He’d been talking with his sister for some time. They were slowly coming together, and Heather had started calling him by his given name rather than the insults she sent his way.
“Okay. I’ll be gentle with her. It’s about time she opened up to me. I’ve hated all this lying.”
He talked with Heather for several minutes before finally ringing off. Staring up at the moon, he wondered if this would finally be the year when he got his heart’s desire.
Chapter Ten
Telling Heather about her relationship with Elijah wasn’t as hard as she thought it was going to be. Her friend was understanding and comforted her even though Amber didn’t think she deserved the comfort. For a long time she’d been deceitful to her best friend. She felt better that everything was out in the open.
“I can’t believe you’re dating my brother. It’s so weird. I mean, he’s my brother, Amber.”
“I know. I’m really sorry for keeping it from you.” Amber reached over to grab her friend’s hand. They were in a cute Mexican restaurant and had ordered some tacos for lunch.
“Don’t worry. The way I’ve been freaking out over my brother I’m not surprised you’ve kept it to yourself.”
Happiness filled Amber from Heather’s lack of reaction. She’d always expected Heather to get angry or something bad to happen.
“I do love him.”
“I can see it in your eyes. Every time his name is mentioned you brighten up. I imagine that’s how I look when Julian enters a room. I love him so much, and I know you, Amber. You’ll love my brother with so much passion. He’s a lucky guy. I hope he realizes how damn lucky he is.”
“I’ll make sure he knows it.”
Her cell phone chimed again. Elijah was always
texting her. Rolling her eyes, she quickly read the text.
Elijah: This weekend, get it off. I want you to myself for the weekend. I’ve got lots planned.
“What’s he saying?” Heather asked.
“I’ve got a hot weekend planned. He’s your brother, and I don’t want to give you the juicy details.”
Heather groaned, covering her ears. “I do not need to hear all the sordid details. You can keep those to yourself.”
They finished lunch together, and Amber made her way to the address of the bar that Ashley had given her. She wanted to see her friend to let Ashley know everything was okay.
The bar was quiet when she entered. She spotted Ashley at the bar, cleaning glasses.
“Hey, honey.”
Her friend jerked at the sound of her voice. Amber waved toward her.
“Amber, what are you doing here?”
She came from behind the bar and pulled Amber into a hug.
“I came to see my best friend. How are you doing?” Amber asked.
“I’m doing good.” Ashley took her to the bar and went back to work.
“I told Heather the truth about me and Elijah,” said Amber.
“That’s good.”
For several minutes Amber watched her friend. She’d never seen Ashley look nervous or scared, but she looked it now.
“Honey, what’s going on?”
“Nothing. Nothing is going on. The bar is always slow during the day. I change my shifts every week. This week I’m working the day shift, and next week I’m doing the night shift.” Ashley was rambling, which was something she never did.
“Ashley, when you’re done with the glasses you’re needed in the back.”
The glass her friend had been holding shattered as it hit the floor.
Amber looked toward the voice and recognized the guy instantly. “Jonathan Cook?”
His gaze hit her. “Amber Phelps?”
“Yeah, what are you doing here?” Amber asked. She glanced at her friend to see Ashley had gone pale.
“I own this place.”
“Yeah, could you go, Jonathan? I’ve got this.”
He looked undecided, but he left without a word.
“The captain of the football team is your boss? Why didn’t you say anything?” Amber asked, turning her attention back to her friend.
“He’s a fucking jackass, and I’m looking for a different place to work. If nothing comes through soon I’m going to take Wade up on his offer.” Ashley threw the towel down on the counter. “I’m fine. There’s nothing wrong with the way I handle him. The past is in the past. You shouldn’t worry about me at all.”
“He broke your heart.”
Ashley snorted. “He smashed my heart to smithereens and laughed while he did it, Amber. I’m never going to forgive him for what he did to me, but I moved on.” She shrugged. “I’m living the high life, honey.”
“You’re fucking everything that walks and never opening up to another man. You’re not living a high life, Ashley. You’re just getting by.”
They stared at each other for several minutes. “I love you, Amber. You’re my best friend, but please, stay out of this.”
“I worry about you.”
“Don’t. The last thing you need to do is worry about me. I’m good.”
Amber watched Ashley walk in the same direction of Jonathan. Her friend was dying inside and had been since high school. Why hadn’t she seen it before? She’d been so caught up in her own drama she’d not even considered what her friend was going through.
Grabbing her purse, she headed out the door. She got back to work and made a list of all the things she’d need to pack for that weekend. There was nothing she could do to save Ashley. Her friend would come to her when she was ready to receive help.
Her biggest shock came when Connie arrived at the office at five in the afternoon.
“What are you doing here?” Amber asked. She was walking out of the office building as Connie was walking inside.
“I’ve brought dinner for Dale. He works too hard, and he deserves a really good dinner as compensation.” Connie was smiling.
“Are you and Dale a couple?” Amber thought about Wade. What was her friend going to do about him?
“We’re friends. He’s nice, and he’s not pressuring me to be something I’m not. Please, don’t get the wrong idea. He’s different, and you’re all busy. Heather’s dealing with Julian and her pregnancy. Ashley’s got some issue. You’ve been disappearing, and it has just been me.” Connie shrugged. The sadness on her face was clear to see.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m happy, and you guys are happy. This is dinner and friendship, and I like him. He’s different.”
“And he’s older.”
“Don’t judge,” Connie said.
“I’m not judging.”
“Good. I’m going to get this up to him before it gets cold.”
Amber watched her friend go. She was the second friend she’d seen walk away. It had been a strange day and a strange week.
****
“I thought I fucking told you to make sure my shift is different from yours,” Ashley said. She couldn’t believe Amber was the one to find out Jonathan was her boss. Shaking her head, she let out a frustrated groan. When had her life gotten so complicated?
“I’m the boss, Ashley. I’ve got no choice but to be here all the time. Every shift I’m here. I just stay out of your way.”
“Then why didn’t you stay out of my way today?” She turned back toward him, glaring.
“This is insane. You’re my employee. I pay your wages, and if any other employee was to talk to me the way you just did, I’d fucking fire them.” He stepped closer to her, invading her space.
She hated this job. She hated him, and she wished he’d fuck off.
Grabbing the apron from around her waist, she slammed the fabric against his chest. “I fucking quit, you piece of shit.” She thumped him for added measure. His chest was hard. Growling in frustration, she glared at him. “Do you fuck your other employees and then destroy them in high school, Jonathan?”
“I said I was sorry. If I could take it back I would.”
“That’s the good thing, saying words of regret. It’s a shame you can never take back the shit you did to me. You bastard.”
Ashley saw red and slapped him around the face.
When she lifted her hand to hit him again, Jonathan caught her hand. “Do not hit me again,” he said.
The look in his eye was deadly.
Tears sprang to her eyes. “I hate you.”
“I know, but I made a mistake and I’m sorry.”
She let the pain sink in. The tears spilled out of her eyes without any pressure. “You ruined my life. I’m never going to get that back.” She let out a sob as all the men she’d been with came rushing through her. “So many men. All you had to do was deny it, but you didn’t. Why couldn’t you leave me alone?” she asked.
His arms wrapped around her as she fought his hold. Closing her eyes, Ashley wished she could change everything, her life, what she did. If she could have a do over, she’d love it.
No one could change their life, and neither could she.
Ashley would be cursed to forever know what she’d done to help ease the pain because of this man who’d claimed her heart and ruined her for life.
****
Elijah slammed shut the door to his car. It was Friday afternoon, and Amber was standing outside her apartment building waiting for him. He’d never once thought his life could be so perfect. Heather was talking with him, and Amber was in his life. After years of Heather thinking he was the perfect son, wrongly on his sister’s part, she was finally getting over her issues. There were no problems between them, only what Heather had made up in her mind. At least he and Amber did not have to sneak around, and now he and Julian could join the ladies at their table in Wade’s.
Amber rushed toward him. He held his arms open waiting
for her. Elijah caught her easily in his arms.
“I love you,” she said, laughing.
“Good. Get ready for a weekend of loving, baby. This weekend you’re all mine.”
“I can’t wait.”
Staring down into her smiling face, he tugged her close for a kiss.
She moaned, her hands gripping the hair at the nape of his neck. “I missed you.”
“I missed you, too, baby.”
He let her down on her knees and bent to grab her case. She travelled light. He stored her case in his car.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“Some place special.”
The some place special was a resort he’d invested in. He was driving them to the airport where Julian’s private jet was waiting. Asking his future brother-in-law for anything had been daunting. Julian wanted Heather to be happy, and if Amber was happy, Heather was happy. It made sense in Julian’s explanation whereas Elijah just got confused with all the names being used.
“I’m excited now.”
She sang along to the songs he got playing on the radio. He loved listening to her sing. Every now and then he’d turn to look at her before focusing back on the road.
“You keep staring, and I’m going to think something is wrong with me,” she said.
“Nothing is wrong with you, baby.”
Her eyes lit up when he got her into the airport. Julian’s jet was stored at the local airport. The guy must really earn something to be able to afford such extravagance.
During the whole trip he watched Amber’s excited face. She was really having fun with their time together.
“Okay, we’re up in the air, heading toward some fabulous place. Spill, Elijah. I never had you down as a romantic.”
“We’ve been dating for the last month and half, and you haven’t pegged me as the romantic type?” he asked.
“Good point. Come on, Elijah. Spill, I want to know where you’re taking me.”
Her hands were clasped together, and she was begging him.
“A couple of years ago I was approached in one of the other clubs I frequented about an idea for a secluded resort.”
“Like an island?” she asked.
“Yeah. He wanted to set up a resort where couples could go for the weekend or for a vacation and explore … stuff.”