“I’m not upset that you left, per se, it’s more like… I don’t know. You met them; it’s embarrassing and then you left without a word. It felt as if you wanted out, or that I’ll blame you for it. That’s why I avoid introducing my friends to my mother.”
“Because she ends up having sex with them?”
“There’s that. Are you going to—?”
“Damn, Hayley, that’s out of the question. I have nothing but respect for your mother.” I narrow my eyes. “Well, not too much respect after that scene but I wouldn’t sleep with her. We’re friends, right?”
“Not sure, you and your ego are extremely obnoxious on a daily basis.”
“My ego as usual bleeds from your comments,” He chuckles and I smile. “There, smile, check. Now continue pulling and pinching as I read my magazine.”
“You’re getting flour on it.” I complain.
“You said you already read it, Hayley, now let me continue learning how to lose those pesky pounds while eating what I like.”
“I don’t know if you’re mocking the magazine, or me.”
“No.” He closes it and I notice the corner of his lips slightly lift. “I’m mocking whoever wrote this article. There’s no way in hell women like to eat alfalfa sprouts as it says in here. No one likes that. What you like to eat is a subjective term. This Kwarovsky guy needs to learn what women like to eat, then write an article. Why are you reading this? You need to eat real food. Today’s Fitness doesn’t talk about fitness, only diets.”
“You’re so not reading my other magazines.” I don’t even understand why he’s reading this one. I should place a yellow tape around my office that says No Mitch Allowed.
“Like Unique Woman?” He asks while wiggling his eyebrows. I feel the heat creeping through my face. “Certainly not. Since I don’t care about taking the quiz, ‘Does his size matter to you?’ but I am curious about ‘The biggest O yet.’”
“You read it, didn’t you?”
“No, only browsed it.” He bursts into a full-blown belly laugh. “So, little roll of dough, does size matter to you?”
I place my lip between my teeth and start fidgeting with it. How can I tell him that I don’t…? I haven’t… well… The term saved by the bell fits almost to a T. Except I’m saved by his ringing phone.
“What’s going on, asshole?” He answers the phone, then lifts his gaze and shakes his head. “I’m busy; I can be there in half an hour. Yes, doing my secret thing that I won’t tell you because I’m more important than you. Hey, those were your bride’s words, not mine.” Mitch places the magazine on one of the top shelves and walks around the working table to where I stand. “Half an hour, forty-five minutes. I have a few things I need to tie up before we leave for… yes, well you’ll have to repeat yourself. No, I’m not being difficult, I’m just making sure I take care of my… see you then, asshole.”
I take a side-glance at him, which is difficult when he’s standing behind me.
“Are you going to be okay without me?”
“Wow, conceited much?” I question his sanity. Why wouldn’t I be? “Mitch, you’re leaving for the day. Yes, I’m shaken up about my parents, that’s a daily thing for me. Funny, it hasn’t happened sooner to you and you’ve been visiting for about two weeks. I’m impressed.”
“That’s daily?” He takes a step back and stares at me in shock.
“Yes, and that was nothing. I think my mother controlled herself because of you or maybe her alimony check is due soon. Either way, things didn’t escalate the way they normally do. Now go and talk nicely with your brother.”
“My twin is being a pain in the ass; therefore, I’m entitled to be one too. As for leaving for only one day, I’m actually leaving for his bachelor party. I won’t be back until Sunday night or Monday. Will you miss me?”
“No.” I take a side step to look at his face.
“At least do something fun for once in your life, Hayley.”
“You know,” I tell him, deciding to give my weekend a chance. “I will have fun. Tonight I’ll map out a plan to enjoy a relaxing, fun weekend outside of New York.”
“Where are you going?”
“That’s for me to know and for you to never find out,” I beam, thinking about buying a few things for the trip. Perhaps even a new outfit and some killer sandals—with a heel. “Who knows, perhaps next Monday you’ll find a new and improved Hayley.”
We both laugh at the same time.
“If it’s not on the To-Do List, it won’t happen.”
“Or in my five-year plan,” I remind him. “Now, let me toss this dough away. It’s already crusty and will end up tasting like crap since you won’t be here to coach me.”
“I’m curious to know what this life change will be,” he snickers. “A new pen? No, I got it, a new notebook.”
“A new partner because you’re a nightmare.”
“If you replace me, Muffet, I’ll make your life miserable.”
“And what you’re doing right now is…” I wait for him to finish my sentence but instead he kisses my cheek.
“If you really go out of town, stay safe, kid. Call me if you need me.”
I watch him leave and wonder what it is that I can do in Vegas that’ll be fun and perhaps life changing. Get kicked out of the casino for counting cards or thrown into jail. Yeah, those are about the only things I would end up doing.
I can always lose my virginity to some anonymous hot guy that will search for me like Cinderella. The thought disappears as the bell announces the presence of a customer. No, instead, it’s my father and today he is dressed in a pair of slacks and button down shirt.
“Hi Pumpkin,” he greets me with a smile and removes his aviator sunglasses. “How are you today?”
I lift both shoulders and don’t say anything; instead I head to the kitchen for the buttercream spice muffin I saved for him earlier.
“You know I love you, right?” I stare at the muffin suppressing my thoughts and my tears. “Yesterday I wasn’t very nice with your mother and I apologized to her already. She’s the mother of my little girl and deserves respect. As for you, you’re not a mistake, cupcake. You’re my little piece of heaven who keeps giving me hope and happiness.”
Until the next time he decides to take another hit and call me irresponsible, useless, unreasonable or… the list can get long.
“Hayley, talk to me. What’s bothering you?” I can’t, it’s jammed right in my throat and refuses to come out, ever.
“Did you hear that Parker isn’t going to the wedding?” I finally find a safe subject or at least safer than talking about yesterday’s hurtful words.
“You shouldn’t go, cupcake, I have a bad feeling about it.”
“What can go wrong, Dad?”
I slam a hand on my mouth, Hayley’s Law. I hope I didn’t unleash the Haylmageddon.
Chapter 10
Mitch
I head to the office to make sure all the pending issues are taken care of, as well as coverage for the restaurants schedules for the next two weeks. Tonight, all the Knight boys—as Mom calls us—are leaving for Vegas to celebrate Jake’s bachelor party. I assured Emma I’d keep Jake busy the next week while she takes care of any last minute wedding preparations. Not sure how Hayley will handle the two of us, but I’ll make it work. I snicker, remembering her saying she’d be going out of town. As if she would dare cross the Brooklyn Bridge alone.
“Knight,” I answer the phone while heading to the stairs of the subway and dodging a few pedestrians that walk without looking ahead.
“Do I prefer swordfish or halibut?” Emma is on the line. “They ran out of the organic salmon and I’m trying to get the closest fish to it.”
“Steelhead,” I don’t say out loud. Neither of those she mentioned are close to salmon. It is probably the best answer, but I won’t start a two hour discussion about why I should’ve taken charge of the catering. A position I politely refused while explaining that it’s not my weddi
ng, and I have plenty on my plate to take care of without sounding like a jerk. Love Mom, love Em, but I can’t handle their wedding mode.
“Halibut,” I respond because it’s the lesser of the two evils.
“Thank you, Mitchel,” she says, then mumbles something and hangs up without saying goodbye.
I decide to text my twin, who I’m about to meet at my office.
MAK: On my way, Menu issues?
JAK: Yes, this is worse than being in the middle of a trafficking cell trying to rescue some innocent. I made the mistake of telling her to change caterers and Mom called me insensitive.
MAK: Did you handle the cake issue?
JAK: Yes, the girl made sense and promised to bake Em one when she’s back from our honeymoon—free.
MAK: That part I know, I meant if you found a new baker.
JAK: I have no idea. Is it too much to ask for an elopement kind of wedding?
MAK: Yes, both ladies will kill you. That’s why I’ll never marry—ever.
JAK: You’re missing the torture of a well-organized wedding. See you soon.
*
When I reach my office, Johnny informs me that my brothers are waiting for me in the conference room. I thank him and head to the fish tank, as I like to call it since the four walls are made out of glass, and it faces the Hudson River. I spot both of them speaking to each other and already wearing casual jeans and t-shirts. Nothing fancy, I have to change, I remind myself. Today, I had a seven o’clock video conference, followed by a visit to Hayley’s shop and now I’m here with these two clowns. I touch my suit pocket and am reminded about the jewelry store. I have to drop my grandmother’s engagement ring there to be sized. I’m planning on giving it to Emma as a wedding present. It’s not like I’ll ever use it for a future bride.
“At last,” Jake says when I open the door.
“What’s so important that you couldn’t wait to tell us during the flight or in Vegas?”
“Classified information, Mitch.” Jake takes his industrial boots off the table and composes his posture. “Look I’m not trying to scare either one of you because I think we have this under control. Except, I want the two of you are aware of the situation.”
He stands up and begins to walk from one side to another, like a trapped animal about to be shot.
“Last year, remember the Malasya mission?”
“No.” Liam responds.
“The mission I headed about a year ago, after I ran away from Emma. Women traffickers cell, the one where I ended up killing one of the guys I caught because I was upset about Em? The other man escaped before we turned him over to the authorities.”
“The mission you used as excuse to stay away for months?” He glares at me and bares his teeth. “Yeah, I do. Li, remember his prophet beard; I sent you the picture. What’s up with that?”
“As I said, the other man escaped.” His voice appears between his clenched teeth, annoyed that I didn’t understand. “I didn’t turn in one of the men to the authorities and now we have a loose end.”
He stares at me, and his dilated pupils reveal he’s not worried but scared shitless and doesn’t want everyone else to know.
“Nothing we can’t take care of but be aware that I might have to send Em to our parents and you two have to watch over her.”
“Yada, yada, yada… Routine lecture,” Liam says as he rises and walks to the door, then, as if he remembered something, he pivots and arches an eyebrow. “Can I use your phone, Mitch? As in closing your office door with no interruptions?”
I agree, and he leaves.
“How bad Jacob?”
“Bad, asshole.” He responds. “If anything happens to me, take care of Emma.”
“Nothing will happen but you know I will.”
“My people will hunt down this trafficking cell before those fuckers hunt me and my people down.”
“Well then, let’s enjoy your last weekend as a single, probably alive man,” I grin, trying to erase the sour taste in my mouth. We almost lost him once; I don’t think we will be able handle it again. Or that Emma can possibly survive it after the loss of her parents… and Chloe.
“So… are you going to tell me where you were earlier?”
“I’m helping a friend with her business,” I finally tell him, because I know that no matter how much he begs or threatens me, there’s no way Hayley will make him the cake. She already booked her cake of the week—we need to fix that too. One cake a week isn’t enough. Hayley needs to hire someone to help her. I should add it in that To-Do List of hers—it becomes a rule, I think. “You know Pieces of Heaven?”
“Fuck, you asshole.” He stands up roaring. “You’re nailing the cake girl and denied us the favor?”
“First, don’t ever talk like that when you refer to Hayley.” I warn him between clenched teeth and a whole lot of restrain, as I’m seeing red. “Second, a cake to San Francisco won’t make it.”
Before Jake can say anything, Liam taps the door and signals with his hand that it’s time for us to leave. I’m relieved because defending Hayley felt wrong—and so right.
*
Day one in Vegas so far had been perfect, we hiked, we raced boats, we bet—I won… but then as the clock hit five I suddenly find myself alone. Jake has work related issues that need to be addressed immediately. Hopefully nothing to do with the Malaysia case. Cade my cousin found a girl and Liam scheduled a meeting with a client. My only alternative is to head to the casino. I honestly fear that once I hit it, I’ll do something stupid; stupid Emma messed with my head. The memory from yesterday replays over and over,
“Get a room,” I said, when I reached the living room and found my brother and future sister-in-law slobbering—sickening was how Liam described them. Emma pulled at the hem of my brother’s shirt while he shook with laughter. The girl had an evil streak. “You begin that and I’ll start taping you, Emma Lilian.”
Magically they separated.
“Promise, you won’t come back married to some drunk girl, baby?” She touched her fiancé’s cheek. He shook his head and kissed her nose. Whipped. Then she looked at me. “He better come back in one piece and not hitched, Mitchel.”
“Emmy…” annoyed, I went to give her a side hug, “what gives you the idea that Vegas is a place where men do so many stupid things? Take a break from the television.”
My brother grinned and shook his head, snatching her from my arm and surrounding her with hugs. “I won’t do anything stupid, babe. Only miss you. If you want, you could come with me, and we can get hitched there.” He winked.
“Grandpa Judah might shoot you while Grampy takes you down with his golf clubs,” Emma said playfully and then kissed him again.
“Stop those PDAs,” Liam’s voice came from the front door. “We’re ready to go, Cade’s in the car waiting for us. It’s one weekend; he will be safe, I promise, Em.”
“Sahara Desert, Li.”
Jake and I look at each other trying to understand the sentence, but came up empty. Whatever they had going on wasn’t important. Emma had a great imagination, hence she might have thought about the ways her fiancé would come back with a new bride…or cold feet. The man had to beg her for the word yes. He proposed during Thanksgiving dinner, Christmas and New Year. Her ‘yes’ finally came when he decided to choose a non-holiday date. In three weeks, Emmy and Mom have planned a small wedding in San Francisco, along with the help of her two grandmothers.
Next week my brother would be the first and only Knight marrying. As for me and Liam, we decided to enjoy our twenties and thirties single. No girlfriends or other commitments.
“Babe, trust me and give me a call if you need me.” Emma nodded and gave him what I hoped was the last hug. “As for these two, I can’t promise they won’t come back hitched.” She began to laugh and stared at me.
“He’s going to come back hitched,” she pointed at me, “for laughing at me.”
“Want to take the bet?” I asked. Emma nodded. We shook
hands, and that was the easiest favor I had gotten in the past months. “Eternal servitude, Anderson.”
“Anderson-Knight,” my brother growled.
“Whipped,” I said, taking my duffel bag and heading to the door. We had planned a weekend of Knight Fun.
“That bet is an easy win.” Liam stepped inside the elevator. “For Emma.”
“You’re the poster child of let’s do something stupid in Vegas—or anywhere for that matter, Mitchel,” Jake said as the elevator doors closed, and I decided to concentrate my attention somewhere else, like the white stain on the elevator’s carpet. How did everyone describe Vegas? Oh yeah: Sin City, The Gambling Capital of the World…what happened in Vegas, stayed in Vegas. It did, except when Jake liked to bring up the time he had to bail me out of jail. That’s when I confused a hot girl who was actually an undercover police officer portraying a whore—for a hooker. “You still owe me money from the bail I paid.”
That was one fucked up weekend I’d rather not discuss with anyone, not even myself.
“Drop it.” I warn them both. It was always fun and games until they ganged up on me, then I got pissed off way too soon. “The three of us had done things we regretted. That was potentially the worst and, therefore, the one we should seal and never speak of again.”
“Unless you end up marrying tonight.” Liam grinned.
Jake spoke right after, “Or tomorrow.”
“Shut up,” I growled.
“Just accept it; you’re jealous because I’m going to be the first Knight getting married.” Jake gloated, and I closed my eyes for a second. He was baiting me so I’d lose, a low blow. “I beat you to it.”
“Go to hell, Jake.”
However, my luck is shining upon me as usual. Right in front of me they’re carding a girl who is dressed in a small, tight, orange dress that barely covers her ass and gives a wide view of her cleavage. This causes every perverted asshole in the room to salivate. Every curve she possesses are perfectly delineated; those same exact curves she tries so damn hard to hide.
Standing By: A Knight's Tale #2 Page 7