by K. S. Smith
Finally back at the dinner table, we sat next to each other, eating our food in silence. I was too tired to talk and eat at the same time, so I had to pick one or the other. And knowing what was to come after dinner, I figured I better boost up my energy levels.
****
The next morning I lay in Duke’s bed utterly spent as he rushed around getting his things in order to leave, again. We’d spent the last twenty-three of his twenty-four hours home screwing each other’s brains out and thoroughly enjoying it, at that.
“When will you be back?” I asked curiously as I rested against his headboard.
I watched his eyes shift in my direction. It was two days until our senior-class trip to Tallahassee, and Duke knew how badly I wanted him there. He crossed the room and placed both hands down on either side of my body, his sculpted arm muscles on display. “I’m doing my best, babe.”
I sighed, knowing he truly was, and then I leaned in and placed a kiss on his lips. “I know you are.” My hand slid up his arm, rested on his face, and he nuzzled in to it before turning and kissing my palm.
“We wrap up. I hop the first flight to meet you. Promise.”
I nodded and kissed his lips again before he pulled away to finish getting ready.
Duke’s things were packed in a flash, and before I could enjoy our last few moments together, I was walking him to the front door to say goodbye.
“Lock up and text me when you get home. I’ll call when I’m free.” He leaned in and pressed his lips to mine, slipping his tongue into my mouth as his fingers gripped the hair at the base of my neck. He pulled me away by my hair for a brief moment and stared into my eyes. “Do my best to get to you, babe. Believe it.”
I couldn’t help but smile up at him as my hands slipped up his chest and around his neck. “I know you will. Now get going.” We kissed one last time, and then he was gone.
****
Megan and I spent the next two days with our seniors, preparing for their last class trip and before we knew it, we were seated side by side on a bus, traveling up to Tallahassee. The kids were having a blast as Megan and I talked about all of the upcoming things we had planned with the men in our lives.
“Tripp is so ready to have a break. Duke has been running him ragged this past month. I swear we’ve hardly had any time together.” She pouted.
I nudged her shoulder with mine, “I know the feeling. I’m just thrilled they will both be in Tallahassee with us tomorrow. We’ll do lunch with him and Tripp while the kids have their college visit, and then I’ll mentally begin to prepare myself for the introduction to my father.”
Megan’s eyes lit up as she moved her face closer to mine, lowering her voice in the process so her inappropriate comment wouldn’t be overheard by our high-schoolers. “Oh yeah, I cannot wait for that. Governor Hamilton meets badass Duke Thrasher, the guy who's been screwing his daughter for the past few months. This ought to be great.”
My laugh was nervous as I responded, “Shut up, I don’t want to stress out about it. They’ll love each other... right?”
Megan nodded her head. “Oh yeah, it’ll be love at first sight.”
I slapped her leg and pulled my cell from my pocket before I sent a quick text to Duke.
Excited to see you! I’ll call you when we’re settled in.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
I lifted my cell to my ear, hearing the familiar voice of my father’s aide. “Good morning, Ms. Hamilton. We’ve had a few things come up with your father’s schedule, and he is going to be out of the office tomorrow. Is there any way you would be willing to bring the students by today instead?”
I quickly flipped through the itinerary and answered back, “Yes, that will be perfect. I’ll adjust a few things, and we will be there within the hour. Does that work?”
“Absolutely, I’ll let your father know, and we will see you very soon.”
I rushed over to Megan and filled her in on the change of plans. “Get the kids together. I’m going to call Duke and let him know we’ll have to push lunch off until tomorrow.”
Megan assembled the kids and the group of chaperones who had volunteered to attend the trip to help, while I dialed Duke. His phone rang several times and sent me to his voicemail. “Hey, babe, plans have changed, so we’re going to have to push lunch to tomorrow. Give me a call later tonight.”
I headed back toward Megan and our group of seniors. “Alright, I know today was supposed to be your free day, but as Ms. Tate has already informed you, our plans have changed. We’ll be visiting the Capitol building today instead of tomorrow, so go get changed into something more appropriate, and we’ll meet you all back down here in twenty minutes.”
The kids rushed off to their rooms to change, and Megan and I did the same. I traded my cut-off shorts and Florida Gators tank top for a black pencil skirt, a sheer white blouse, and my favorite pair of black pumps.
Megan studied my outfit. “Always perfect for Mommy and Daddy.”
I flipped her off and grabbed my purse, tugging her with me toward the door and down into the lobby to meet the kids.
Michelle, my father’s aide, was awaiting our arrival when the bus pulled up to the front steps of the Capitol building. Once everyone was off the bus, she addressed all of the students, “Welcome to the Capitol. It is a pleasure to have all of you here. On behalf of Governor Hamilton, I’d like to welcome you to Tallahassee. You are in for a treat today as you’ll be touring the five buildings we have on site, ending with a private meet-and-greet with none other than Governor Hamilton himself.”
The students followed Michelle as they made their way into the first building of the tour, while Megan and I corralled the stragglers from the back of the pack. As the governor's daughter and her best friend, we had been on this tour enough times that we could’ve given it ourselves; so instead of paying attention, we let the other teachers tend to the students while we were busy chatting about our plans for summer break with Duke and Tripp.
“I am in need of a tan. Our vacation needs to get here stat,” I said, glancing down at my skin.
Tripp’s family owned a home in the Turks and Caicos. Duke and Tripp had surprised the both of us with a vacation there once school was out for summer break.
Megan leaned over and whispered into my ear, “I know. I can’t wait to send you and Duke off on a dive trip for a day so Tripp and I can stay back and christen every room in the house.”
I laughed at her remark, and our group of students turned around to glare at me. I attempted to hold in my laughter and whispered, “Sorry, I’ll be quiet.”
They all went back to listening to Michelle fill their eager minds with the history of our wonderful state.
After four hours, we’d completed the tour; the kids were all headed out to have lunch and would meet back after an hour for their meet-and-greet with my father.
“Alright, Daddy awaits your presence. Let’s get to lunch,” Megan said as she laced her arm with mine, and we took the elevator up to my father’s office.
His secretary greeted us as we stepped off the elevator. “Ms. Hamilton, Ms. Tate, it is a pleasure to see the two of you again. It has been a while since your last visit. Governor Hamilton is finishing up a briefing with his security team. As soon as he is finished, he will be ready for your lunch.” We took a seat in his lobby, and Megan and I continued our discussion from earlier. About five minutes later, my father’s office door swung open.
I stood to greet him and was stunned when I came face to face with Duke, Tripp, and the rest of the team. The air in my lungs escaped my body as I tried to put two and two together. Duke stood there motionless, his eyes locked with mine, staring intently as if this was the last time he’d ever see me.
My father made his way from around the group of men. “Darling, you look like you’ve seen a ghost. Is everything okay?” he asked, placing a kiss on my cheek.
I did my best to snap out of my state of shock, leaning in to hug my father. “Everything is perfect.
It’s so good to see you. Please introduce me to your guests.”
My father rested his hand on Duke’s shoulder. “Well, honey, if I have to introduce you, then these young men surely are doing their job. This is the private team I hired to watch over you and the home back in Tampa. Brianna, I’d like you to meet Duke Thrasher and his team.”
My father’s words answered the questions that were running rampant in my head. I hid the pain that was taking over my body and held out my hand toward Duke while he slowly reciprocated, reaching for mine. His team stood behind him, eyes the size of golf balls, waiting for either one of our next moves.
“Mr. Thrasher, it’s a pleasure to meet you. Thank you for entertaining my father and his need to have hired help. I by no means feel it is necessary to have a security team follow me around, but since you’ve done such a great job of staying under the radar, I suppose you can continue your task. Let me just make one thing very clear. I have absolutely no desire to ever see you again from this moment on, so keep up the good work, boys.”
My father chuckled and patted Duke’s back. “I told you boys she was a firecracker. Duke, I’ll talk to you next week. Until then, continue keeping my little angel safe from harm.”
Duke nodded at my father’s statement, not taking his eyes off mine.
“Honey, let’s get you and Megan to lunch. You must be starved after the tour with Michelle this morning.” I pivoted on my heels and took my father's arms, exiting his office, hoping to never see Duke Thrasher and the rest of his team, ever again.
Lunch was brutal. My father took Megan and me back to the Governor's mansion for a meal that the live-in chef had prepared and, of course, all of the staff at the house hadn’t seen me in months, so they were lined up to check in on how life had been treating me.
At that very moment, I wanted to burst into tears and tell them that it was currently a living hell, thanks to my father and his harebrained ideas. But, my manners held me back from disclosing anything other than the fact that everything was absolutely perfect. After an hour of holding it together, I stood out of my chair, ready to leave the table. “Please excuse me as I need to freshen up before we head back to the students. If you and Megan want to head back, I’ll meet you there in a few minutes. I just have to make an important phone call.”
My father was on his feet to hug me. “We’ll see you back at my office.” He kissed my cheek and then walked to Megan’s chair before escorting her to the front door.
She glanced over her shoulder, and I could tell she was concerned and wanted to kill me for pawning her off on my father.
But I needed to be alone, to figure out what I was going to do next, and I needed to do it fast. I darted up the stairs and flew into my bedroom. It was cold and unfamiliar as I hated staying in Tallahassee, but, nonetheless, it was mine. I rushed into the closet and forced myself from the outfit that now felt like it was suffocating me.
As I stood there, in my closet in nothing but my bra and panties, surrounded by the emptiness of an unfamiliar home, the reality of the fact finally hit me. My body slumped back against the floor-to-ceiling glass mirror, and I slid down its cold surface until I was on the floor. My knees tucked up under my chin, my arms wrapped around my legs, and the tears began to seep out of my eyes. I wanted to scream, to break things, to yell at someone, but it was pointless.
My mother had always told me that we never show our emotions in public; it was something that made us weak. If I wanted to cry, I did it in a room all alone, get it out of my system, and when I finished, I cleaned myself up and moved on as if nothing had ever happened.
But I didn’t care. I wanted to scream at Duke the minute I’d seen him emerge from my father’s office. I’d never hidden anything from him; he’d seen every emotion I’d had from the minute he’d met me. But for whatever reason, I knew that letting him in on this pain would only make it worse for me. So I sat there, alone, crying.
I cried so hard I didn’t think I’d be able to catch my breath. My body shook with every sob, causing my muscles to contract each time, leaving me aching from my head to my toes. And when the very last tear I had left in my body to cry fell, I wiped my bloodshot, puffy eyes, pulled myself up off the floor, got dressed, and emerged from the closet, leaving Duke and everything that came with him right there. I closed the closet door and inhaled deeply before I made my way into the bathroom, where I freshened up and made my very first phone call since my life had come crashing down on top of me.
“Mom, I need the jet. I’ve got to come home early from the trip. Can you send it to the airport?” I begged.
Her response sounded sincerely worried. “Honey, is everything okay?”
“Yes, everything is fine. I just need to get home.”
“Okay, I’m twenty minutes out of Tallahassee. I was flying in with the hopes of spending some time with you and your father. Meet me at the airport with the car. I’ll have them gas up the jet so it’s ready when you arrive.”
I ended the call with my mother and went downstairs. I hopped into the car that my father left for me. “Please take me to the airport. My mom is meeting me there with the jet.”
The driver nodded and went on his way.
We arrived at the airport just in time; my mother was waiting in the private lounge, and the jet had just finished being checked for its departure. Not wanting to get into the details with my mom, I hurried into the lounge, gave her a hug and kiss, and said goodbye. Then I climbed up the stairs of the jet and was greeted by the staff.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Hamilton. Is there anything we can get you?”
I shook my head no, made my way back to the bedroom, and climbed into bed. I shot Megan a quick text.
On the jet headed home. We’ll talk on Monday.
As usual her response was nothing other than instant.
It’s okay, just get some rest. Love you.
I powered my phone off and continued to ignore the incoming calls and texts from Duke. I hit the light switch and pushed the earlier events of the day out of my head as I drifted off to sleep.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
As I stepped into the front door of my parents’ huge home, the emptiness left me feeling even more alone than I already had. I hesitated as I came to terms with the fact that I needed to check in with my parents and Megan. I made my way into the kitchen, grabbed a tub of Ben and Jerry’s peanut butter cup ice cream, and headed into the living room, turning my phone on in the process. I lay down on the couch and popped the lid off the container then turned the TV on. My phone began chiming continuously until all my missed calls, messages, and texts came through. I scrolled through the brunt of the texts, which were mostly from Duke.
Brie, please answer my calls.
I’m sorry you had to find out this way.
We really need to talk. I’m worried about you.
Answer your phone. Ignoring me isn’t doing either of us any good.
Brie, please pick up.
Your father and Megan are back. Where are you?
I know you’re mid-air, but your phone still works. Answer the phone.
Please just let me know that you’ve landed safely.
I’m so sorry. I don’t know what else to say.
I shot a quick text to my mom and Megan.
Made it home. All is well.
Then I turned my phone back off before they had the opportunity to respond. I tugged the covers over me and scrolled through the TV Guide, settling on A Walk To Remember and my pint of ice cream.
Nothing like a good rip-your-heart-out movie to help me feel better about myself, I thought.
An hour-and-a-half later, the movie was over, my ice cream container was practically licked clean, and my eyes were swollen with tears. My hands wiped my face, and I stood to fix the couch before getting rid of the evidence that I’d gone through an entire container of ice cream by myself.
Halfway up the stairwell, I was startled by a pounding on the door. Boom! Boom! Boom! I glanced down at my wa
tch to check the time and noted it was almost nine in the evening. After quietly making my way back down the stairs, I darted into the formal living room and peeked out of the window, which had a full view of the front door.
“Damn it,” I whispered to myself before heading to the door and pulling it open, crossing my arms over my chest as I glared in his direction.
“Brie,” Duke exhaled. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
My foot tapped against the hardwood floor, indicating my irritation. “I’m fine, not that it’s any of your concern. What do you want, Duke?”
His eyes pleaded with me. “Can I come in?”
Against my better judgment, I rolled my eyes, turned hastily, and marched up the stairs as loud as I possibly could toward my room, allowing him to follow.
Duke closed the front door behind him and ran up the stairs after me, closing my bedroom door behind him and twisting the lock in the process, a trait I used to love because I knew it meant he wanted my undivided attention. Although now, it made me uncomfortable and angry.
My body rested down on the edge of my bed, and I looked out the window, trying to avoid eye contact with Duke.
“Brie, talk to me, please. Damnit. I never meant for you to find out this way. I’m... I’m...”
I cut him off, standing as I glared into his eyes. “Don’t! Don’t you dare tell me you’re sorry.” My lip began to quiver, and the tears welled in my eyes. Do. Not. Cry. Brianna. I thought, forcing the lump in my throat back down where it belonged, inhaling deeply before I went on. “I’m not doing this, Duke. How could you forget to tell me that you were working for my father, for God’s sake. This entire thing has been a setup. We’d have never met had you not tried to jump in and save me that night in the bar. And to be perfectly honest, I wish you would have stayed out of it. We could have avoided all of this. Here I thought you were coming to my rescue out of the kindness of your damn heart, when it was all really just an opportunity for you to show my father that you could handle your job. Or better yet, save your ass from being fired. Had my father found out I’d ended up in the hospital on your watch, he probably would have fired you and your entire team.”