“I have been waiting for this moment for so long Aria… to see you again. You don't know how hard I have wished to see you, talk to you, be with you... I wanted to come after you, but life happened.” He takes a step closer. I place my hand on his chest to put distance between us, but he mistakes my gesture for an invitation. Placing his lips to mine, he murmurs, “Better than I remember.”
I know better, but I can’t stop when my body responds to his. I clutch my arms around his neck. His kisses are so gentle, so tentative. He picks me up, pushing my dress up around my waist as my legs hook around him.
So much for talking.
He continues to place his tortuous kisses down my throat, reminding me of simpler times. Back when we were two carefree kids making out in the back of his truck.
Gently, he lays me on the bed. I feel so safe here with him, like nothing bad can touch me. Brian knows me, inside and out. He knows how to pleasure me. He has done it so many times before. Taking his time, he kisses his way up to my center. Hooking a finger around my pink lace panties, he pulls the material to the side. He gives me a knowing smirk. I watch him, placing his lips to my folds, his warm tongue darts out and he licks me one single time.
He removes my panties. “Still taste sweeter than candy.”
“Careful, I might melt on your tongue,” I retort. My mind is telling me I should stop him, but my body is screaming more. I give into temptation and desire takes over. Grabbing the top of his head, I pull on his hair as he presses his mouth to my clit. Watching him is so sexy. His tongue delves inside me. I pull his hair harder and buck my hips in response and pull my dress over my head exposing my dainty peek-a-boo pink lace bra.
“How is it possible that you are better than I remember? My dreams haven’t done you justice. So beautiful.”
“You dream about me?”
“Every night of my life I go to bed thinking of your face, and wake disappointed that you’re not lying in my bed curled up next to me. You have no idea how good this feels to be with you again. I love you Aria. Always have. I’ll love you till the day I die.”
“Hmm,” is all I can respond with as he flicks my nipple with his tongue.
Brian positions himself over my wet slit while he rolls a condom onto himself. Gently, he eases inside of me. He takes a moment to enjoy the feel of me. “Baby, you have no idea how good you feel. Fuck, how I’ve missed this…you…us.”
“Shhh, less talking more action.”
I awaken hours later alone in Brian’s hotel room. I wipe the sleep from my eyes, and look over at the clock, it’s one A.M. Shit! I hope Caroline isn’t freaking out. I should have been home hours ago. I flip the lamp on. There is a note on the nightstand.
Aria,
Tonight, was amazing. I didn’t want to wake you; you were sleeping so peacefully. I had to catch my flight. Feel free to spend the night, checkout isn’t until 11 am. I hope to see you soon. I hope to see you in the stands at my next game. You have no idea of the power you still hold over me.
Brian
There are two passes to his next game peeking out from under the note. Fuck! I didn’t even get to tell him about Jace. Scrambling from the bed, I call Caroline and apologize to her a million times. She tells me not to worry that Jace has been in bed for hours. I let her know that I will be there soon. I can’t believe I was so irresponsible. I must have passed out, today was exhausting both mentally and physically. I checkout at the front desk, and flag a cab to take me to my car.
I can’t believe I just had sex with Brian after my mother’s funeral. What kind of person does that? Apparently a fucked up selfish one like me! I bang my head against my steering wheel as I sit in my car and cry. Yeah, I am having a pity party for myself. Finally making it home, I crash on my couch.
I wake up the next morning to the sound of bacon being fried in my kitchen. Jace is sitting on the floor watching cartoons. I give him a quick kiss on the head and let Caroline know I’m going to take a quick shower. As the water beats down over me, I let my tears fall. I have made such a mess of things. How did I let the night spiral so out of control?
After dressing, I join Jace and Caroline at the table for breakfast. She slides a cup of coffee across the table to me. “Now dish!” She gives me an excited look.
“You don’t want to know!” I groan feeling so ashamed of myself.
“The H-E- double L, I don’t, now spill.” She taps her impatient fingers on the table. “Faye talked of this baby meeting his daddy for the past year, it was her dying wish,” she tells me.
“What? She never told me that.”
“Here. I was supposed to wait before giving you this, but here, take it.” She hands me a letter and goes back to her coffee.
My hands start to tremble as I read my mother’s final words to me.
Aria,
My beautiful girl, if you are reading this then I have succumbed to my illness. I don’t want you to mourn for me, rejoice in the fact that I lived a happy life. Being your mother and Jace’s grandmother was the greatest accomplishment of my life. I wouldn’t take any of my mistakes back. They brought me to your father and led you and Jace to me. Life has a funny way of bringing you the people you need most at certain times throughout your life. When people leave your life sometimes it only means that they have served the purpose they were meant to. And if a time comes that you need them again, God will put them in your path once more. So, my sweet girl, love hard and live even harder. There are no set promises, just promise me you will follow your heart. I only ask one thing, please tell Brian about Jace. It is my last request of you. I know your intentions were true, but you and Brian aren’t your father and me. You must live life and make mistakes so you can learn from them and grow. I know you will raise Jace to be a fine young man. Tell him his Mam Mam loved him with all she had.
With all my love,
Mom
Chapter Twelve
Getting up from the table with shaky legs, I take out the tickets Brian left for me from my clutch. They are season passes, meaning I can go at any time. I get online from my phone’s browser to look up the schedule for the Red Jackets. They have a game tomorrow. I’m not scheduled to work again for another two days. Looks like I have a flight to book.
I can do this.
I will do this.
Jace will meet his dad.
Caroline is watching me as I start frantically pacing the floor while making calls to book a flight for Jace and myself. I plan to show up for Brian’s next game with Jace to fulfill my mother’s final wish.
I explain to Caroline that I didn’t get the chance to tell Brian about Jace last night and how I plan to just show up and surprise him. “You think I’m crazy, right?”
“No, I think it is quite romantic.” She beams at me.
**
I am in a rush to get to the airport. I managed to book the last two seats available on the last flight to Cincinnati for the night. I packed a carry on bag for Jace and me, we will only be spending the night in Cincy tonight. We have to fly back late tomorrow evening. I decided against telling Brian we—I, well, that we are coming.
Jace and I barely make our flight. I am so nervous and excited; I don’t know what to do with myself. By this time tomorrow Brian will know the truth. I won’t be able to sleep a wink tonight. We get checked into our room, Jace is fast asleep, but my mind is racing through my thoughts a thousand miles a minute. I am really going through with this crazy plan. Jace is going to meet his father. I feel Faye is smiling down on me, but I can’t help but feel anxious. What will Brian do? Will he forgive me? Will he understand?
I hope so, I really hope so.
**
I wake the next day after a few hours of restless sleep. I am running on adrenaline and energy drinks. We have a few hours to kill before the game starts, so I decide to take Jace to the zoo.
His face lights up so bright with each new animal we see. I get so tickled as he tries to mimic the different animal sounds. I wish we could st
ay longer, but I don’t want to be late for the game as much as I wish I could avoid what I have to do, I can’t.
We take a cab to the stadium. I am so nervous, I have to fight the bile that keeps climbing its way up my throat. I buy Jace some memorabilia to remember this day by. They are selling small jerseys and how perfect is it that they have one with the name Case on the back of it. I just have to put it on him. He looks adorable and reminds me of the boy who said he loved me so long ago. I only hope he remembers that when I shatter his world again.
The guy who checks our passes tells me we have private box seats. He takes a double look at Jace and me, but he doesn’t comment. I wonder if he notices the resemblance.
As we make our way to our seat, my boy is jumping up and down with excitement. I can’t believe I never thought to take him to a real game before now. This is Jace’s first real game and he is going to be watching his daddy play. I wish he could understand how monumental today truly is. We are seated by an usher next to an older gentleman. He does a double take at Jace. “My goodness he is the spitting image of Brian Case. I didn’t know he had a son.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be rude, but who are you?” I give the man a sideways glance.
“Marty Walsh, I own the team.”
“Oh, my apologies sir. I had no idea.” I blush. I can’t believe Brian gave me these seats.
“It’s a shame the little fellow won’t get to see his dad play today.”
His words stun me, I didn’t correct his assumption but I can’t help but wonder what he means by his statement. “Oh, why is that?”
He leans over close to me, and whispers. “So, you haven’t heard? It’s all over the news. That jackass went and got himself arrested for a DUI last night. We had to suspend him from playing in today’s game.”
“Oh.” I let the man’s words sink in. Coming here was a mistake, Brian obviously hasn’t changed. In fact, he must be drinking more now than ever. I should have known when he was so eager to down that shot. The way his hands were shaking was a dead giveaway, I was just too blind to see.
“Is he here today, at the game?” He shakes his head. “Please, don’t tell him we were here,” I demand.
“Well, it’s none of my business.” He shrugs and stands up for the anthem, so I tell Jace to stand too.
We are already here, so I guess there is no harm in letting Jace stay and watch the game, well most of it anyways. He is so cute. He points and says, “I want to play ball Ma.”
“Mr. Walsh turns to him and says, if you take after your father, you’ll come play for this team, Lord willing.”
I smile weakly, his saying if Jace takes after Brian makes me worry about him someday becoming addicted to alcohol. My mind flashes to my mother, and I feel depressed all over again.
I wish I could call her. I would call my dad, but I’m sure he’s at work, and we haven’t been talking as much lately..
After the sixth inning, I put a very tired little boy and myself on a plane back to Miami. Tomorrow, life must go on. I don’t have to be at the tanning salon, but I do have to work at Indigo.
I dread seeing Tyler and that whore, Erin. Maybe I will get lucky and neither of them will be there. If only, I could never be so lucky. When I get home Caroline calls to see how things went, but I don’t have the energy to talk about it. I’m spent. All I want to do is curl up in my bed and forget about life for a few hours anyway.
**
When I pull into work the next night Erin’s car is in the garage. “Fantastic!” I yell to no one. At least I don’t see Tyler’s car. My phone beeps telling me I have two unheard voicemails. I listen to the first message, it’s from my dad checking up on me and the second is a few days old, and it’s from Tyler.
“Hey, sugar tits, I was hoping to catch you before my flight. My plans changed. I was stuck in a meeting with a few of the dancers when you left. Hope everything is okay. Call me when you can.”
“End of messages.”
My stomach drops. Only good thing about my weeks is that I missed the visit from that other MC, the Grim Executioners. My chest constricts. Tyler says he was in a meeting. Which means I am an idiot and he was tied up in club business. Was I seeing things when I watched Erin walk out of that room followed by Tyler?
Guess I will have to put my big girl panties on and ask her. Making my way into the club, I am greeted with hugs and condolences. My radar is only set on one person, Erin.
She is seated at one of the dressing tables applying her lipstick.
“Hey, you got a minute?”
“Hey stranger, sure what’s up?”
“The last night I worked, when you were in the lounge with Tyler, what was that about?”
“Oh, um the meeting. He was talking to a few of us about his being gone for a couple of days and that he didn’t want you here when the other club was in town. Didn’t want his woman entertaining them seedy bastards, was his exact words I think. Why?”
“Just curious. Thanks.”
“Did you and Tyler have a lover’s spat or some shit?”
“He’s not my lover, keep your voice down, there are ears everywhere in here. Do you know when he is coming back?”
“I think he will be here tomorrow night, but I’m not positive. I told you my lips are sealed. Tyler has already talked to me about the importance of your non–relationship staying unknown, until he claims you anyway.” She puts her fingers up making quotations at me. “You missed out on that party. Them boys from Georgia don’t fuck around and they tip well too. One of them even proposed to me.” she laughs. “When is Tyler gonna claim you anyway?”
“Claim me?” I ask with pinched brows and a scrunched up nose.
“Damn, you really are out of the loop, aren’t you? Honey, when Tyler claims you, it will mean you are under his protection and that he will take absolute care of you.”
“Great,” I mumble putting my tail between my legs. I should have thought better of Tyler. He never gave me a reason to doubt him or his feelings for me. And now when he comes back, I get to make an ass of myself by telling him I fucked Brian. Maybe I shouldn’t tell him, but I can’t do that. My lies have only brought me misery. Maybe if I am truthful for once karma will shine down on me. Yea sure, I snort. Fuck, now I am talking to myself.
The night passes by in a blur. I haven’t heard anything from Brian since the other night. Maybe he was only interested in sleeping with me one last time. Not like it matters, now that I know he is drinking, I am determined now more than ever to keep him from Jace.
Later that night, curiosity rears its ugly head so I start Googling Tyler Mathews. Let’s see who you really are.
A few pictures pop up of him playing soccer in college. But the one article that grabs my attention is one about him giving up a chance to play soccer in Brazil. I click on the article and begin reading more:
Standout soccer star, Tyler Mathews, has turned down an opportunity to play in Brazil. When asked why he would give up the chance he stated no comment. Sources close to the athlete speculate that he takes care of his older brother who has muscular dystrophy. The cost of his brother’s care is too great for his parents to afford on their own and he has given up on soccer to work to help pay for his care.
Wow, Tyler is an amazing man. Now I know what he meant about loving someone and not giving up on them. I have ruined my chances with this remarkable guy. When I tell him I slept with Brian, he will walk away. But, I can’t not tell him. One lie only leads to more.
I read a little more about what a standup player he was.
How does a guy like him get mixed up with men like Bender and his club?
**
The next evening, I walk Jace next door to Caroline’s; her grandson is staying the weekend with her. He plays so well with Jace.
Tonight, I get to be up on stage. Dancing is a welcomed distraction. I haven’t been able to get Tyler, or Brian out of my head. I dress in a gold bustier. It coordinates perfectly with my black shorts an
d gold mask. I clasp my pearls around my neck. Pearls always make me feel classy. Trina gives me my cue, and I make my way onto center stage.
The music starts, tonight my song of choice is Damaged by Danity Kane. It fits how I feel about Tyler. I take the strand of pearls between my teeth as I slither my way across the stage. I lock my sights on Tyler, he is behind the bar. He looks so fucking good. I stop dancing when our eyes meet. He looks away and my heart sinks, but I continue my routine. Will he still want me after he learns what I’ve done?
Chapter Thirteen
We haven’t spoken in days and I miss him— Tyler. I miss his smile, his strong arms making me feel like everything will work out. I finish my dance and head to the dancer’s lounge. Tyler follows me, but he doesn’t lock the door.
“Hey.” He gives me a hug. “I am so sorry about your mom. Had I known, I would have tried to cancel my trip to Nashville. I should have known something was wrong when I didn’t hear from you.”
“I know, I’m sorry I was being an idiot. How did your meeting go?” I ask avoiding what I need to tell him. I’m the worst. He was right to not want to get involved with me.
“Great. You are looking at the co-owner of this club. I’m glad you weren’t here during the rally. Things got out of control. If anyone had put their hands on you, I would have ripped them off.” he chuckles, but his eyes tell me he means that.
“That’s great, I am really happy for you.” He leans in to kiss me. My guilt makes me stop him. “Tyler, I have to tell you something.” He looks at me with a curious face. “I did something stupid. The other night when I last saw you…I tried to come into the lounge and the door was locked. I sat at the bar and waited to see who would come through the door and I, uh. I saw Erin walk out and she was wiping her mouth. And well, the point is, you walked out after her, and you were buttoning your sleeves. I thought…”
“You thought what, Aria?” He pulls back from me and I don’t blame him. My assumption must feel like a smack to the face.
Dirty Truth (Fighting Dirty Series Book 2) Page 9