Book Read Free

Love's Illusion

Page 18

by Priya Grey


  I turn to the DJ booth. Selena’s smiling and waving at me. Then she leans into her microphone and shouts, “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here, tonight, to celebrate the one and only Prince!”

  A mix Selena made of Prince’s “Purple Rain” blasts through the speakers. Everyone goes crazy.

  I can’t contain my delight. My face lights up. I quickly grab Nash’s hand.

  “We have to dance!”

  Nash shakes his head. “You can dance. I don’t dance.”

  I look at him and plead. “Please. This is Prince. You can’t say no to Prince. He’s my… you don’t understand how much I love Prince!”

  Nash looks at me and his face softens.

  “Fine. But I warned you… I suck at dancing.”

  “Prince doesn’t care,” I shout back. “Just as long as you dance. Come on.”

  I grab Nash and lead him to the center of the floor. We begin dancing. As the song progresses, I’m transported to heaven. I’m smiling, and Nash can’t help but smile back. As the song continues, Nash and I move closer together.

  There’s something happening between us. I can feel it.

  Nash places his hands on my hips. I throw my arms around his neck. I feel the heat between us, as his hard, muscled body presses against mine on the dance floor. As the club sings along to Prince’s lyrics, I stare into Nash’s eyes. Are we going to kiss? Is this actually going to happen? Me and Nash? Nash slowly leans forward. I take a deep breath, as I anticipate his lips touching mine.

  But then suddenly, Nash notices something from the corner of his eye.

  “Shit. I’ll be right back,” he says, pulling away from me.

  Nash leaves the dance floor. I’m not sure what just happened. I quickly turn around and see him race toward the bar. That’s when I notice Juliette having a fight with a guy. The guy has his hands on her wrists, and Juliette is shouting insults at him. I quickly follow Nash to the bar.

  “Dude, get your hands off her,” Nash shouts.

  “This doesn’t concern you,” snaps the guy, in a French accent. That’s when I realize he must be Jacques, Juliette’s ex-boyfriend.

  Jacques turns to Juliette and says, “Désolé. I’m sorry, Juliette. I made a mistake. Come back to me.”

  Juliette furiously shakes her head. “Never. Now let go of me!”

  “But let me explain,” Jacques counters, his hand still gripping Juliette’s wrist.

  Juliette wails. “Explain what?! How you kicked me to the curb when you got on that stupid TV show? And now that your character got killed off, you suddenly want me back? I knew they were going to kill off your character! You’re a terrible actor, Jacques. You have no depth. Now let go of me.”

  But Jacques won’t let go of Juliette’s wrist.

  “I made a mistake, and I’m sorry,” he pleads.

  Juliette curses something in French. Jacques curses something back in French. Jacques’s hold on Juliette’s wrist grows more determined.

  “Okay, that’s enough. Let go of her,” Nash demands.

  Jacques shoots Nash a nasty look. “Fuck off, dude.” It sounds almost comical in his thick French accent.

  But Nash doesn’t see any humor in it. His eyes narrow. “Oh, that’s how you want to play it?”

  Nash then throws a punch and knocks Jacques out. The Frenchman collapses to the floor.

  “Oh-là-là,” says Juliette in shock.

  “I think we should leave,” Nash tells her.

  Juliette nods. Nash turns and sees me standing nearby. He motions to me. I guess it’s time to go.

  I look up at the ceiling, toward the heavens above, as Selena’s dance mix of “Purple Rain” blasts through the room.

  “Next time, Prince,” I nod, holding my hands in prayer.

  Then the three of us hurry out of the club and take an Uber home.

  “You really knocked him out. Does your hand hurt?” Juliette asks Nash during the car ride home.

  “It’s okay,” he replies as he opens and closes his fist.

  “Merci,” she says.

  “Don’t mention it.”

  Juliette then turns to me. “I’m sorry I ruined your evening, Flo. I know how much you love Prince.”

  “It’s okay,” I tell her. “At least I got to hear some of the song. That mix Selena made of “Purple Rain” was awesome.”

  “Yeah, it was good,” Nash agrees.

  The Uber drops us off at home. Once Juliette steps into the house, she suddenly feels like she’s going to be sick. She runs to the bathroom and closes the door behind her. Nash and I follow her, to make sure she’s okay. We both stand outside the bathroom door.

  “I had fun tonight,” I tell him.

  “Me too,” he says with a nod, staring at me.

  As I look into Nash’s inviting eyes, a voice inside my head says, kiss him.

  But then, a loud retching noise comes from inside the bathroom.

  “That sounds nasty,” comments Nash.

  “I should make sure she’s all right,” I tell him.

  Nash nods. As he walks away, toward his bedroom, I attend to Juliette.

  Chapter 45

  Selena watches as her roommates hastily flee the club and hopes everything is all right. After she plays the last song of her set – the “Purple Rain” remix – she hands the controls over to the next DJ and makes her way to the bar. She orders a shot of whiskey and a beer. She downs the shot and sips the beer. Then she asks the bartender for another shot.

  “That was an amazing set.”

  Selena turns and is shocked to see Matt standing beside her.

  “Thanks.”

  They stare at each other in silence. Even though she hates admitting it, there’s still an undeniable attraction between them.

  “How did you know I was here?”

  “I still follow you online,” Matt admits, glancing down at the floor.

  “Stalking me?” Selena jokes.

  Matt looks up with a sheepish grin. “I like to think of it as being curious.”

  Selena realizes this isn’t doing either one of them any good. “You have to let it go, Matt. It’s over. You’re not helping things by being this persistent.”

  Matt shrugs his shoulders. “I’m sorry. I just believe if you want something, you should go after it. And I want you, Selena. More than any other woman I’ve been with. I think you’re letting little details blur the bigger picture.”

  “But details make up the big picture,” Selena argues. “That’s how it works. And these details aren’t little.”

  Then Selena picks up her shot glass.

  “For example,” she says, staring at Matt. “I like to drink, probably more than I should. You don’t drink.” Selena downs her second shot, illustrating her point. She feels the whiskey burn through her. “I also like to smoke pot. I bet you’ve never even tried it.”

  “I haven’t,” admits Matt, with a shake of his head.

  “Of course not. I like EDM and you – ”

  “Also like EDM,” Matt interjects.

  Selena wasn’t expecting that. She sighs. “Well, a relationship can’t be built on a love of EDM alone. There has to be a fundamental similarity between the two parties.”

  Matt shoots her a curious look. “Are we talking about two companies merging? Or are we talking about love?”

  Selena doesn’t know how to respond. “Why do you like me so much, anyway?”

  Matt leans in.

  “I don’t want to,” he confesses. “I just can’t help it. One things for sure, you’re different from the other women I’ve been with. But since I met you, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. And since I’ve stopped seeing you, my life doesn’t seem as exciting. This hasn’t happened to me before.”

  As she stares at him, Selena realizes she too misses the energy she felt with Matt.

  “Listen, will you do me this one favor?” Matt asks. “Come to a seminar I’m giving next week.”

  “Why?”

&nbs
p; As Matt stares at Selena, he realizes this might be his last shot. “Because I think if you see what I’m really all about, maybe you’ll give me another chance. I think you’re too hung up by what you see on paper. There’s more to me than just that. If you still don’t want anything to do with me after next week, then I’ll stop bothering you. I won’t call you anymore. I promise.”

  As Selena looks at Matt, she realizes the least she can do is go to one of his seminars.

  “Alright. I’ll come next week,” she concedes.

  Matt’s face breaks into a smile. “Great. You still look beautiful, by the way.”

  Although she appreciates the compliment, Selena needs to stay firm. “I’ll see you next week,” she says flatly.

  “I’m looking forward to it. Good night.”

  “Night.”

  After Matt leaves the club, Selena orders one more shot from the bartender. After downing the shot, Selena shakes her head. She can’t believe how happy she was to see Matt. Was Juliette right? Is she thinking too much with her head instead of her heart?

  Chapter 46

  The following morning, Juliette wakes up with a massive hangover. She needs coffee like a fish needs water. She gets out of bed and walks to the kitchen. It feels like a sledgehammer is pounding against her skull. She prepares the coffee and waits for it to brew. She hangs her head as she leans against the counter, listening to the much needed coffee percolate. When she looks up, she’s shocked to see a stranger in her kitchen. She lets out an ear-piercing scream. Then she realizes who it is, standing before her.

  “Mr. Starbuck!”

  But Juliette’s enthusiasm vanishes as she realizes something.

  “Wait, you’re standing in my kitchen,” she mutters. A wave of disappointment hits her. “Merde! You’re a stalker?”

  Mr. Starbuck, who is dressed in a perfectly cut business suit, looks visibly angry. He slowly shakes his head. “I am not a stalker,” he says flatly.

  “Then why are you in my kitchen?” asks Juliette rubbing her forehead.

  “This isn’t your kitchen. This is my kitchen.” He motions to the rest of the house. “This is my house.”

  Regret sweeps over Juliette’s face. “What a shame. You didn’t seem crazy online. But now, it breaks my heart to admit this, Mr. Starbuck – I think you may be a little crazy,” she says sadly.

  And then – right at that moment – Selena walks into the kitchen.

  As she rubs the sleep from her eyes, she looks at Juliette and asks, “Why the hell did you scream?”

  Then Selena notices her uncle.

  Her head instantly drops to avoid eye contact with him. “Shit,” she mutters.

  The party is now officially over.

  Chapter 47

  The sound of someone screaming startles me. I quickly get out of bed and race into the hallway. Nash steps out of his room.

  “Did you hear somebody scream?” I ask him.

  “It came from the kitchen,” he says.

  We hurry into the kitchen and discover Juliette, Selena, and a man dressed in a business suit.

  “Uncle Jesse, you didn’t tell me you were coming for a visit,” says Selena.

  Juliette shakes her head, confused, and turns to the man in the suit. “Wait. This really is your house?” she asks. Juliette’s face is suddenly overwhelmed with joy. “Thank God, you’re not crazy.” She rushes into the man’s arms and smothers him with kisses. “You smell even better than I imagined, Mr. Starbuck!” She looks at him with a smile. “And your presence alone has vanquished my hangover!”

  But Juliette’s sudden display of affection has done nothing to lighten Mr. Starbuck’s mood. He still has his eyes fixed firmly on Selena.

  “I trusted you to house sit while I was away,” he scolds Selena, in a commanding tone. “And you turned my house into a hotel!”

  Selena looks down at the floor. “I know. I messed up,” she mutters. “I just needed money.”

  “Then ask me for a loan!” Selena’s uncle (Mr. Starbuck) yells.

  “But I like to do things on my own!” Selena snaps back.

  “I can’t believe you did this,” her uncle mutters, shaking his head. “You’re just like your mother. Who, by the way, is going to hear all about this.”

  Uncle Jesse reaches for his phone.

  “Oh come on, Uncle Jesse,” pleads Selena. “Don’t tell my mom. She already thinks I’m a fuck-up.”

  “Gee, I wonder why,” says uncle Jesse with a roll of his eyes. “You’re going back to Cleveland. And whoever you two are.” He points to Nash and me. “I want you out of my house immediately.”

  Juliette then gently grabs his arm. “Uncle Jesse or Mr. Starbuck, which one do you prefer?” she whispers softly.

  “Either,” he mutters to Juliette, as he scans his phone for his sister’s number. Then he changes his mind. “Actually, I like being called Mr. Starbuck.”

  “Mr. Starbuck, can I speak to you for a moment, in private?” Juliette shoots him a very mischievous and seductive look.

  As they stare into each other’s eyes, Mr. Starbuck (uncle Jesse) decides he can wait to call his sister. He puts his phone away.

  Grabbing a hold of his hand, Juliette leads him out of the room. Nash, Selena, and I remain standing in the kitchen, not sure what this all means. Are we going to have to move out now?

  “I really don’t want to go back to Minneapolis,” I complain.

  “This sucks,” mutters Selena.

  The three of us take a seat at the kitchen table. As we sit quietly, the sound of Juliette moaning trickles into the room.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me? I can’t listen,” says Selena as she covers her ears.

  Juliette’s moans grow louder. Then suddenly she shouts, “Yes! Mr. Starbuck. Yes! You’re even better than I dreamed!”

  Nash looks at me. He acts like what we’re hearing isn’t actually happening. “I’m going to make breakfast,” he says. “How do you like your eggs, Flo?”

  “Sunny-side up,” I tell him, trying to ignore the sound of Juliette’s groans and orgasmic yelps.

  He points to Selena. “What about you? How do you like your eggs?”

  “Scrambled,” Selena replies with her ears still covered.

  Nash prepares breakfast, as we remain a captive audience to the sex romp coming from Juliette’s bedroom.

  “Give it to me, Mr. Starbuck! Give it to me!” Juliette demands loudly.

  “This is wrong in so many ways,” mutters Selena.

  When breakfast is cooked, Nash lays it out on the table. I grab a strip of bacon.

  “I love bacon,” I declare as I enjoy a delicious bite.

  We finish breakfast. But Juliette and Mr. Starbuck still haven’t finished their business in the bedroom.

  “Damn, your uncle really has some staying power,” comments Nash, clearly impressed.

  Selena, who’s visibly upset by the fact that her uncle and Juliette are getting it on, shakes her head. “Stop talking.”

  “They’ve been going at it for over an hour,” I realize, looking down at my phone.

  Selena shoots me a stern look. “I repeat. Stop talking.”

  I shrug, then volunteer, “I’ll do the dishes.”

  As I wash the dishes, Selena throws her head in her hands and laments, “I really don’t want to go back to Cleveland.”

  The orgasmic symphony from Juliette’s bedroom finally draws to a conclusion. “I think they finished,” says Nash, as quiet returns to the house.

  Twenty minutes later, as the three of us sit around the kitchen table, Juliette wanders in. She has a huge, satisfied smile plastered on her face.

  “Do I smell bacon?” she asks.

  “I saved you some,” Nash replies, pointing to a plate on the counter.

  Juliette takes a savory bite.

  “I love swine,” she says with relish.

  “Where’s my uncle?” asks Selena.

  “Calling his car service,” Juliette replies. “He ne
eds to catch the next flight back to Singapore.”

  “What about us?” I ask nervously. “Do we have to move out?”

  Juliette shakes her head.

  “We can all stay here as long as he’s in Singapore. I’m actually going to fly out there in two weeks. Mr. Starbuck wants to take me on a vacation.”

  “Will you stop calling my uncle Mr. Starbuck,” demands Selena.

  “Why? I like it.” Selena’s uncle walks into the kitchen, fixing his tie.

  He strides toward Juliette. She offers him some of her bacon, which he thoroughly enjoys. Then they kiss.

  “I’m going to miss you,” he whispers.

  “I already miss you,” Juliette confesses, giving him another long, lingering kiss.

  Then Mr. Starbuck gently holds Juliette’s face in his hands. “I’ll see you soon, my love.”

  “I’m counting the seconds,” she answers softly, the look of love in her eyes.

  Selena’s uncle then turns to the rest of us, sitting around his kitchen table.

  “Don’t fuck up my house,” he warns with a stern voice.

  We nod our heads. Then he points his finger at Selena.

  “And you, young lady, this will be our little secret, understood? I won’t tell your mother about your little scheme here, and you won’t tell her how Juliette and I met. We both know how judgmental your mother can be.”

  Selena agrees.

  “Okay, I got to run back to the airport,” he concludes. He turns his eyes back on Juliette. “Bye, honey. See you in two weeks.”

  He gives her another kiss.

  “Mon amour,” Juliette purrs as she savors his lips.

  And then, uncle Jesse (Mr. Starbuck) is gone. After he leaves, Juliette joins us at the kitchen table.

  “You can all thank me later,” she says.

  She turns to Selena. “Do you realize, if I marry your uncle, that means I’ll be your aunt?”

  Selena hangs her head. “This is so weird.”

  “It’s not weird, Selena,” replies Juliette. “Your uncle and I are in love. He says I’m the best thing that ever happened to him.”

  “Still weird,” Selena replies.

 

‹ Prev