Strung Out

by Kaitlin Maitland

  “Busy doing what? She can’t possibly have your dick in her mouth at all times, Erik. Although, vulgar as it sounds, at least that would keep her too busy to embarrass us. Why on earth did you have to propose to this little minx? Couldn’t you have just stuck her in a townhouse and fucked her on the weekends?”

  Erik winced at the crass description of precisely what he’d tried to do. Knowing Talia as he did now, it was impossible to imagine treating her with such disregard. Yet he’d been prepared to do just that in order to have his cake and eat it too. “She’s been offered a slot in the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Not even you can argue with the prestige in that.”

  “Perhaps not, but you’d better take that little vagabond shopping for a proper wardrobe as soon as possible.” His mother stood up and examined her manicure. “Every time she appears in public in those knockoff rags, she embarrasses the hell out of your sister.”

  A grin played at the corner of Erik’s mouth. “Oh I think I can convince her to shop for some new clothes.”

  “And I hope you’ll buy more than just lingerie. While I’m sure that’s an important part of her wardrobe, I’m more concerned with what the public is going to see.” Without another word, she whirled about on her Manolos and clacked her way out the door.

  Erik slumped in his seat, lowering his forehead to the desktop and wishing the day was over. A nice, long bath sounded like heaven. And adding Talia’s silky wet body to the equation would put a bit of the devil into the mix.

  “What’s wrong with you?” He looked up to find Desiree poking her head into his office.

  “Didn’t you see Mother on your way in?”

  She stepped the rest of the way in and closed the door. “Sure. But she never seems to get to you.”

  The innocent expression on her face nearly made him want to wring her neck. “She didn’t get to me until Selena became a tattletale. Couldn’t you have possibly put a good word in for Talia?”

  Desiree propped her hands on her hips. “I’d have had to be an idiot to get in front of Selena once she started in. You know how she gets. Add Mother’s theatrics, and we were ready for Broadway this morning.”

  “I got that from my conversation with her not five seconds ago.” He lounged back in his chair and pointed a finger in Desiree’s direction. “Thank God I’d already found a decent compromise for the issue.”

  “So I heard on the way in.”

  “Then why are you here?”

  She rolled her eyes, looking every inch the big sister. “I was in the area, and I’m hungry. You’re going to take me to lunch.”

  “Wow, how gentlemanly of me.” He’d never been able to stay irritated with her for long.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  “It was the most embarrassing moment of my life, Les. I felt like a tiny zit on the ass of the musical world.” Talia wiped her eyes and tried to breathe deeply. Anything to stop the tears. They’d started right when she’d gotten onto the MTA in front of Symphony Hall and hadn’t stopped since. Now ensconced at the familiar school where she’d always belonged, it was a relief to let it all out.

  Leslie rubbed her back, everything that had happened at the museum forgotten. Because that’s what friends were for. Real friends, the ones that didn’t try to buy you with ridiculous promises and lies.

  “He just doesn’t understand, Tallie. Things are different for him. He probably thought he was doing you a favor.”

  “You’re defending him? What the hell, Les!”

  “You came in here less than a week ago and told me he tried to make you his mistress. How could you not see this one coming?”

  “Because this is so much worse.” Talia slumped into the seat in Leslie’s tiny studio, suddenly glad for the suffocating soundproof walls. “He insulted my ability. Hell, he insulted my intelligence. How could he think I wouldn’t find out?”

  “He probably thought you wouldn’t care. You have to remember this guy has always had everything bought for him. Now he’s an adult who tries to buy everything for himself. Why wouldn’t he assume you were the same way? How could he even understand that a spot on the Symphony Orchestra has to be earned and then offered?”

  “God! Then I went in there and looked ten times the idiot because I believed it.” Talia moaned. “Me. I believed that nonsense even though I haven’t made it to a chamber group yet.”

  Leslie made a soft sound of rebuke. “Give yourself a break. You were just excited.”

  “He understands baseball. Maybe I should explain to him that it’s like skipping from Little League to the major league. Would that make sense to his rich brain?”

  Seconds ticked by on the round clock hanging above the door. Talia wondered how long it would take him to miss her phone call. If he missed it at all. She was like a dog. When she was around, he loved her dearly. But when she was missing, it took him forever to notice.

  “What are you going to do, Tallie?”

  “I love him, Les.” Tears streaked down her cheeks. “God help me, I do. But I can’t live like this. I can’t go on waiting for him to turn to the dark side and become my Darth Vader.”

  “Then go to New York and ask Jupiter for another chance.” Leslie touched her arm and smiled. “This isn’t the end for you, Tallie. It’s just the beginning.”

  Talia took out the cell phone and selected Erik’s name from the list just like Jake had instructed. Moments later the thing was ringing in her ear. Four times and it clicked.

  Desiree answered. “Hello?”

  Talia tried to swallow back the teary hiccup that threatened. “Isn’t this Erik’s number?”

  “Erik had to step out for a moment. Are you all right? You sound awful.”

  She waffled, torn between speaking with him in person and giving him the chance to repent his horrible sins, and giving him a message through Desiree like a coward. It was so tempting. There would be no begging or pleading to deal with if she spoke to Desiree. She’d have a much better chance of sticking to her decision.

  “Didn’t your rehearsal go well this morning?” Desiree prodded.

  She took a deep breath, trying to remember this was the best decision. “I need you to tell Erik that I’ve decided this isn’t going to work between the two of us. There’s no place for me in the symphony. And I gave up a fantastic opportunity in New York to stay here in Boston. But I know now it wasn’t the right thing to do. So I’m flying out today to try and get a second chance at my big chance.”

  Her mouth was dry after delivering the speech. But there was only a brief silence on the other end of the line. “So, you’re leaving my brother?”

  “Well, I guess so.”

  “I thought you were offered a symphony spot so you wouldn’t have to give up your music. Wasn’t that what you wanted?”

  It was difficult not to scream like a crazy person into the phone. Talia tried to remember that Desiree couldn’t possibly understand. “It wasn’t offered, Desiree. Erik bought my way in. When I got there and realized what he’d done, I was humiliated. It was one of the most embarrassing moments of my life. How could he do it?”

  “He couldn’t have anticipated that, Talia.” Desiree sounded earnest. But she had already made her choice. Did it matter?

  “I need to go to New York. This can’t work. You know it can’t.”

  She tsk-tsked. “Don’t put that on me. I think you should stick it out. I haven’t always appreciated the spectacle the two of you seem to make of yourselves, but you’re probably the best thing that’s ever happened to my brother. But if this is what you feel is best for you, then you have to go with it. Nobody can make your choices for you.”

  “Will you tell him for me?”

  There was a large sigh on the other end of the line. “I hate being put in this position. But if that’s how you want it, I’ll say what needs to be said.”

  Talia stared wide-eyed at Leslie. “Okay, Desiree. Thank you.”

  Before she’d even finished speaking, the line was dead and Talia had manag
ed to sever all contact with the man who had touched her heart like no other.

  * * *

  Erik placed Desiree’s drink on the table and sat down. He motioned to his phone. “Did anyone call while I was up?” He’d left it lying on the table when he’d gotten up to refresh her drink at the bar.

  “Actually, yes.”

  She was abnormally serious, and a lump formed in Erik’s stomach. “Well?”

  “Talia called.”

  “And?”

  “She’s decided to pursue the opportunity in New York.” He half stood, and Desiree yanked him back down. “You can’t run off half-cocked with your dick in your hand. You’ve got some thinking to do.”

  “About what?”

  She set her chin, a sure sign she was about to blow. “Did you actually buy her a spot in the Boston Symphony Orchestra? Tell me you didn’t really do that.”

  He felt as though he was on trial. “She was disappointed that she had to give up the chamber spot with the Jupiter Symphony in New York. I figured this was even better.”

  “I’m going to try and remember your intentions were good. But you insulted the hell out of her, Erik. That’s like saying she’s not good enough to earn it herself.”

  “No, I was just using resources to pave her way.”

  Desiree rolled her eyes. “Let me put it another way. What you did is like saying the only reason you’re successful at your job is because our family already owned the company.”

  He shifted uncomfortably beneath her hot glare. “In a way, maybe it is.”

  “So if you weren’t an Aasen, you’d be incapable of success on your own?”

  “That’s bullshit, and you know it.”

  She lifted an eyebrow. “Then Talia doesn’t need the Aasens to make it either.”

  Erik picked up his glass and took a long swig of bitter liquid. “So you’re saying I should let her go?”

  “I’m saying you’re not ready to go after her unless you’re ready to let go of the idea that she needs you to save her.” Desiree sat back in her chair, a sad smile tugging at her lips. “In fact, I think you’re the one in need of saving.”

  * * *

  “You’re going to trip and fall flat on your face if you don’t quit turning around every five seconds.”

  Talia offered Leslie a tight smile and tried to keep still. She knew her friend was right. But she couldn’t help but think back to the last time she’d stood in the security line waiting to go to New York. Her whole life had changed that day. And yet here she was less than a week later, and it’d swapped back again.

  “So you’re going to remember to call me right when you get there.” Leslie nudged her in the shoulder to bring her back to the present.

  “I don’t know if I should use the phone, Les. It isn’t really mine, and I have no idea who’s paying the bill.”

  Leslie snorted. “Come on. Rich family like that? It’ll take their accountant at least three or four months to realize where the charges are coming from. Until then, you’ve got every right to use it. Possession is nine-tenths of the law.” She wrinkled her nose. “Besides, maybe you’ll get addicted to the stupid thing and get one of your own so I can finally call you whenever I want.”

  “Some days I wish I was as brave and crazy as you, Les.”

  Her friend nibbled her lower lip, a sure sign of something going on behind her pretty dark eyes. “I got a phone call yesterday.”

  Glad for the distraction, Talia eagerly played along. “From who?”

  “That guy at the museum. Seth something or another.”

  The line moved, and Talia tugged her suitcase forward with one hand while slapping the other one over her mouth in shock. “Ohmigod! Seth Overton called you?”

  “Yup.”

  “How about Josh Breckenridge?”

  “Who’s that?”

  “His blond friend.”

  Leslie shifted back and forth from heel to toe in her restless dance. “Why would he call if they’re friends? Won’t he respect the ‘bros before hos’ rule?”

  Talia wondered whether or not she should tell her friend what she’d learned about the two handsome lawyers. “Actually, I think you can pretty well expect that the rule isn’t valid at all in their case.”

  “You don’t make a damn bit of sense, Tallie. You know that, right?”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll be calling for details. And I bet you’ll get what I mean by then.”

  The front of the security line approached. Three more, then two, then Talia was ready to remove her shoes and open up her violin case for them to check it out. She turned around and looked once more at the terminal stretching into the distance. It was an ocean of people and not one familiar face in the crowd. Her heart lurched and shriveled just a little.

  “He isn’t coming, Tallie,” Leslie whispered. “Give me a hug, and move on with this amazing opportunity.”

  “You’ve been my best friend forever, Les.” Talia’s throat swelled until she could barely choke out the right words. “I can’t thank you enough for everything.”

  “You too. I’ll miss you like crazy. Call me! And Niles and I will clear out your apartment and ship your stuff to you whenever you’re ready.”

  “You’re the best, Les. Take care of yourself.”

  Leslie slipped beneath the ropes, and Talia toed off her shoes. After depositing them in a tub and stepping through the metal detector, she grabbed her violin and her suitcase and walked toward the next adventure of her life.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Erik caught his foot on the edge of his desk and spun himself back in the other direction. Outside the world was just waking up. Fiery pinks and reds dotted the horizon, lengthening into jagged streaks across the pale blue sky. Clouds reflected bits of color in their filmy exteriors. Some were wispy columns that disappeared to nothing as the sunlight crept closer to the city.

  Down below, the city would be coming to life. In his office, Erik had never gone home. Papers were strewn about a desk littered with crumpled memos and pens with mangled caps. Somewhere beneath the mess lay a cell phone that would not ring for the reason he wanted it to.

  He stood and stretched, his shirttails hanging out and buttons half-undone down his chest. His pants were hopelessly creased from the endless night, and he could feel the hair sticking up at all angles from his head. Reaching up, he ran a careless hand through the mess. Not that it mattered. Money didn’t care what he looked like. It didn’t give a shit about his health or whether or not he was wasting his life chained to a desk while condemned to pursue business objectives to make more money for people who didn’t need it.

  No. Talia had been the only one to care about that.

  Three weeks. It had been three fucking weeks of hell since she’d picked up and left without a word. Before that he’d only had her in his life for ten days. You couldn’t even accurately invest in stock that you’d watched for ten days. But one thing he’d learned, the most important thing he’d learned from Talia, was that people were not stocks. They weren’t pawns on a chessboard or pieces in a game. You couldn’t figure them out or predict their behavior with any regular success. They were unique. And they were worth much more than money.

  He walked to the windows and braced his forearm against the cool glass. Leaning forward, he rested his head on his arm and closed his eyes. The air beside the window was cool against his flushed face. Blinding light from the rising sun struck the window, illuminating the back of his eyelids and warming the pane of glass beneath his arm.

  Making money wasn’t a purpose. And if it was, it shouldn’t be a sole purpose. Work was something you did to enable you to do the things you loved or support the people you loved. But now more than ever Erik understood what Talia had meant when she asked why he let his work become his life.

  The door popped open, and Anita backed into the room with a stack of files balanced in her arms.

  He swallowed experimentally before trying his voice. “Good morning, Anita.”
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  She screeched like a chicken and threw the files up into the air. As they rained down around her in a storm of stock quotes, legal documents, and internal memos, she placed her hand against her heart and glared at him with wide eyes.

  “I’m sorry if I startled you. I never went home last night.”

  “Startled me? You damn near scared ten years right off my life!”

  He knelt down to pick up a folder, scooping up the papers that had been dislodged by their tumble. “I’m so sorry, Anita. I never meant to give you a scare like that. I’ll try to leave you a note or something next time.”

  “Next time?” She aimed a towering frown at him. “Are you planning to spend your nights here at the office?”

  Until that moment he hadn’t realized he’d planned things that way. Staying at the office was a helluva lot better than going home to a house without Talia. Just like working was better than facing a life without Talia. And never-ending celibacy was better than facing a future without her soft body welcoming him back as they made love.

  Made love? Since when did Erik Aasen make love? What happened to sex and fucking?

  “I know it’s not my place to say.” Anita wasn’t done with him. “But when are you going to take your head out of your ass and go after that woman? This moping around the office is driving me insane. And I’m starting to get concerned about the long-term effects on your health.”

  “Have you ever been in love, Anita?”

  She knelt in her prim skirt and nibbled her lip thoughtfully before making another neat stack of files. “Actually, yes. I was married for almost thirty years before my husband died of prostate cancer.”

  An odd sense of relief mingled with disappointment hit Erik’s midsection. “So in the end it would’ve been better to avoid love since you ended up alone anyway.”

  “No!” She reached out and touched his arm. “Absolutely not. I loved my husband. Jackson was my soul mate. I’d have given anything to have more time with him, but I wouldn’t trade the little bit we had for any amount of money.”

  She gathered up the files and deposited them on his desk before returning to her own. Erik sighed and began pacing a large circle around his office. The worst part about being a workaholic was he’d finished most of his usual workload for the rest of the week and now had nothing to do but pace and brood.