by E. L. Todd
“I’m sure I’ll be fine. I’ll just stick to the cards.”
I tried not to stare at her so much. But it was a struggle. I wanted to fall into those beautiful eyes and never return. My natural instinct was to reach across the table and rest my hand on hers. I wanted our fingers to interlock, forming a tight bond that could never be broken. “Where’s the conference?”
“The Hyatt in Anaheim. It’s right by Disneyland so maybe I’ll stop by.”
I chuckled. “You remind me of a little girl sometimes.”
“I’ll always be a little girl. Ignore this womanly exterior.”
That was impossible.
“How’s work?” she asked.
“Pretty much the same.” Just a lot of bogus work. Mike and Sean handled all the cool stuff.
“When are you and Skye going to run the show?”
“Not sure,” I said. “Whenever they think we’re ready.”
“And are you ready?”
I shrugged. “I think so. But what do I know?”
“A lot, actually.” She turned her blue eyes on me, and the look was calculating.
I’d give anything to know what she was thinking. “I’m not in a hurry. I don’t want my dad to leave.”
“Why not?”
“I’ll miss him…”
Her lips stretched into a wide smile. “That’s really cute.”
“He’s become my best friend. When I was growing up I hated the guy. He was annoying and overbearing but now…he’s really cool, laid-back, and fun. We do a lot of stuff together.”
“You can still do stuff together when he leaves.”
“I hope so. He’s become my golf and boxing buddy.” I wouldn’t admit this to anyone else but Lexie. It was a girly thing to say. But with her, I could be myself—completely and utterly.
“I miss him. He’s a really sweet man.”
In the blink of an eye, I imagined my own wedding to Lexie. My father danced with her, spinning her while he smiled broadly. He treated her like his own, and only reluctantly gave her back to me.
Where the hell did that come from?
“You okay, Conrad?” Lexie noticed my facial expression.
I shook it off. “I’m fine. Just got sidetracked…”
She looked into her bag of chips as she spoke. “So…are you seeing anyone?”
The question hurt even though I wasn’t sure why. How could I see someone so soon? Lexie was still in my thoughts—all the time. But our relationship was meaningless so it wouldn’t matter if I were seeing someone. “No.”
She turned her gaze on me, and one eyebrow was raised. “You aren’t seeing anybody?” Accusation was in her voice.
Did she not believe me? “I’m not.”
She regarded me for another moment before she looked at her chips.
“Are you?” Why did I ask that? I didn’t want to know the answer.
“No.” She kept snacking on her chips.
What? She wasn’t? Then why did she end it with me? She was just bored of me? Was she lying? “Are you sure?”
She examined me with a suspicious look. “I think I would know if I were sleeping with someone.”
That made me feel good, but it also made me feel terrible at the same time. So, she just didn’t want me. There was no other explanation.
“Well, I should get back to work.” She piled her trash on the tray. “I’ll see you later.”
“Yeah…” I remained seated and didn’t stand up.
She dumped her trash and walked out.
I sat in the booth and stared at my food, which I no longer wanted to eat. I’d never wanted something I couldn’t have, but now I did. All I could think about was that beautiful woman who came into my life and made it a better place. And now that she was gone it was dark and empty.
***
Dad and I sparred in the ring. We both wore gloves as we danced around each other. Shirtless and sweaty, we moved and took jabs at one another. Dad got me a few times in the face but I gave him a nice bruise along the ribs.
“Move your feet,” Dad said. “You drag them a lot.”
“Take your own advice. You’re losing.”
Dad suddenly lunged at me and got me right in the jaw.
I stumbled back, caught off guard.
“I beg to differ.”
I leaned against the ropes and wiped the blood from my lips. The punch didn’t hurt but it came as a shock.
When Dad saw the blood he dropped his hands and came to me. “You alright, son?”
“I’m fine.” I wiped the blood on my t-shirt. “You hit like a girl.”
He smirked while he watched me. “Is that supposed to be offensive? Because your mother hits harder than I do.”
I dabbed at my lip until the bleeding stopped.
“You seem distracted.”
“I just…I saw Lexie today.”
“How’d that go?” He pulled his gloves off.
“Fine. We act exactly the same around each other…without the physical aspect.”
Dad crossed his arms over his chest as he watched me.
“She said she wasn’t seeing anyone.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
“Yes. And no.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“If there isn’t anyone else, why did she leave me?”
“Instead of trying to figure it out with me, why don’t you just ask her yourself?”
“I don’t know…it makes me seem pathetic.”
“You already are pathetic,” Dad said. “You may as well get the truth.”
“I just don’t understand why she ended the relationship to begin with. What we had was pretty great.”
“Maybe that’s why, Conrad.”
I gave him a confused look. “I’m not following.”
“Maybe she was falling in too deep and wanted to get out before she became too attached.”
“But it doesn’t seem like she misses me at all.”
“Everyone has a poker face.” He clapped my shoulder. “Just talk to her. Honesty goes a long way.”
“It’ll have to wait. She’s leaving for the weekend.”
“Where’s she going?” he asked.
“A conference in California to present her research.”
“And you aren’t going?” he asked in surprise.
I shrugged. “She didn’t invite me.”
“You don’t have to be invited to attend.”
“Well, I doubt she wants me there. She doesn’t want to sleep with me anymore.”
“Even so, she’s your friend, isn’t she?”
“Of course,” I blurted.
“And shouldn’t you be there for your friend?”
“I’ll always be there for her.”
“Good.” He stepped back. “Your mother and I will be there too.”
“Wait…what?” I tore my gloves off.
“We love Lexie, and this is important to her.”
“But…I’m not with her anymore.” Why would they come?
“I still love that girl,” he said. “And I think she’ll be my daughter-in-law someday.”
“Dad,” I said firmly. “It’s not going to happen. How many times do I have to say that?”
“A lot.”
***
I checked into the hotel two hours after the conference started. I hoped I wasn’t too late to hear her speech. The last minute travel arrangements were difficult to sort out, and booking a hotel at the last minute was impossible. I wasn’t sure where I was sleeping that night. If I had to crash with my parents I’d kill myself.
Wearing a suit and tie, I entered the ballroom and saw the lines of chairs and the stage. Tables laden with food were off to the side, as well as coffee and water. I searched the rows hoping I would see Lexie but she was nowhere in sight.
“Conrad, over here.” Dad waved from his chair.
I spotted my parents then sat beside my mom. “How did you guys beat me here?”
Dad shrugge
d. “I know my way around.”
Mom handed me a pamphlet. “Lexie is next.” Excitement was in her voice.
“You know what her research is about, right?” It was a little awkward to hear Lexie discuss sexual behavior in humans, especially when most of her data was from direct experience.
“We’re all mature adults here,” Mom said as she flipped through the pamphlet.
The host announced Lexie’s name and she took the stage. She wore a tight pencil skirt with a gray blouse. She looked thin and lean, with her tone legs and slim arms. Her hair was straight and framed her face. Just looking at her made me want her desperately. I missed feeling her body under mine in the heat of passion. I tried to concentrate on her and what she was doing but I kept daydreaming about kissing her.
She took the stage for forty-five minutes and presented her data and findings. She owned the presentation like she’d done it a hundred times. She didn’t seem nervous in the slightest. Even though I didn’t know much about what she did, I was interested.
Whenever she turned slightly, I stared at her ass. It was luscious and tight in her skirt. I wanted to take a bite out of it. My slacks felt noticeably tight because my cock was coming to life. My body missed her like my lungs missed air. I was going through withdrawals, needing to be inside her.
When the presentation ended, my family and I stood and clapped. Everyone else followed our example and did the same. Lexie smiled and gave a slight wave to the crowd before she gathered her supplies and left the stage. I wanted to run to her and congratulate her but we had to sit and listen to the other speeches for another hour. But as soon as the lights came on, we were out of our seats in search of Lexie.
I located her near the snack tables, talking to an older man in a suit. He had a noticeable beard and thick eyeglasses. He reminded me of a stuffy professor. I lingered a few feet away, anxious to move in and embrace her. I had an excuse to hug her and I was so excited I got to use it. I wanted to hold her flush against my chest and feel her slim body in my hands.
The guy finally walked away, and I moved in before anyone else could. I walked up to her and watched her reaction to me.
She searched my face like she thought I was an impostor. Then recognition spread over her face. “Con?”
“You did an amazing job.” I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her into me.
Heaven.
She reciprocated the affection, her head just below my chin. “Thank you…I didn’t know you were coming.”
“I’m proud of you. Of course I had to come.”
“But you didn’t tell me.” She pulled away and looked into my face.
“I wanted it to be a surprise. And I’m not alone.” I nodded to the right. “The old people came with me.”
“Your parents came?” Her eyes sparkled in excitement.
“Yep. And thanks for being more excited to see them instead of me.”
She chuckled. “I was just surprised when I saw you. That’s all.”
“Sure…” My hand was on her waist. “You have a crush on my dad. Just admit it.”
“Hell no. Your mom would knock me out.”
“Dad says she has a good throw.”
“Then I’m definitely taking the truth to my grave.”
I chuckled and kept her close to me, loving the fact it felt the way it used to. It reminded me of the time when she was mine. I wanted to hold onto that feeling for as long as possible. Then I would go back to my depressing existence.
My parents came over.
“That speech was fantastic, Lexie.” Dad pulled her in for a hug. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” She returned his embrace tightly and the smile on her lips wouldn’t fade.
“You did an amazing job,” Mom said. “Mike and I are so proud of you.”
“That was so sweet of you to come.” Lexie hugged my mom next.
“Conrad invited us,” Dad said. “And of course we had to come.”
Lexie turned to me with a soft expression in her eyes. “That was very thoughtful…”
Man, I wanted to suck her bottom lip right now.
“I’ll always be there for you.” It was an affectionate thing for me to say in front of my parents but I didn’t care.
Mom and Dad picked up on the tension. “We’re going to get some coffee…” Dad pulled Mom away.
Lexie turned to me, a distinct brightness in her eyes. “That was sweet of them to come.”
“They wanted to.”
“My own parents didn’t even want to come.”
“Well, they’re losers.” I put my hands in my pockets even though I wanted to grab her.
“You didn’t have to come all the way out here just for this…”
“I wanted to.” I moved closer to her, my lips just inches from hers.
She turned her face slightly away from mine. “Now the rest of the conference will be fairly boring since my speech is over.”
“Whenever I’m with you it’s never boring.”
She crossed her arms over her chest like she was on guard.
“Would you like to have dinner with me?”
“Of course. You flew all the way here just to see me.”
“And my parents will probably tag along—unfortunately.” They were being total cockblocks right now.
“I would love it if they came,” she said excitedly. “They’re so sweet.”
I shrugged. “They’re alright.”
She stared at me for a long time, her eyes glued to mine. I wasn’t sure what she was thinking, but I hoped it was what I was thinking. I wanted to take her on a mattress and make sweet love to her. I wanted to kiss those beautiful lips and never stop. “What are you thinking?”
She didn’t pull her gaze away. “I’m hungry.”
***
“How long have you been working on this particular research?” Mom asked over dinner.
“For about a year and a half.” Lexie sat beside me, and it was hard not to put my hand on her thigh.
“Have you ever considered getting your Ph.D.?” Dad asked.
Lexie laughed loudly. “God, no. Anyone who gets a Ph.D. is crazy.”
“Why is that?” Dad asked as he sipped his wine.
“That’s so much schooling,” Lexie said. “I don’t have the patience for it. A master’s is enough.”
“I think you’re already the lead professional in your career,” I said. “A higher degree doesn’t change that.”
She gave me a look full of gratitude.
“I’ve always wanted Conrad to get his MBA but he won’t budge,” Dad said.
“I hate school.” It was the truth. If I wasn’t partying and getting it on with super hot chicks I wouldn’t have survived. “I’m never going back. Besides, I already have a job.”
“Continuing your education isn’t the worst thing in the world,” Dad noted.
“Do you have a master’s?” I challenged.
“I do, actually.” He gave me a smug look.
Damn.
“Where did you go to school, Mike?” Lexie asked.
“Yale,” he answered.
Mom rubbed his arm. “My husband is a college boy.”
He chuckled. “You went to college too.”
“Nothing prestigious like Yale,” she answered.
“The name of the school is irrelevant,” Dad said, trying to be humble.
“I disagree,” Mom said. “I’ve wanted my kids to go to the finest school their entire lives.”
“And we still turned out to be brats,” I joked.
Dad gave me an affectionate look. “You guys are great—at least now you are.”
“What about you, Lexie?” Mom asked. “Where did you go to school?”
“NYU,” she answered. “I could never leave the city. It’s my home.”
“Cambridge was pretty nice, actually,” I said. “It’s peaceful. But it’s also close to Boston.”
“I’m glad you came back to the city,” she said, giving
me that look she used to give me when we cuddled in bed together. “And we bumped into each other.”
I would never forget the way we met. It was like our paths were meant to cross. It was so unusual and spontaneous that it was unbelievable. It wasn’t the type of story you would share with your family, but it was still memorable. “Me too.” My arm automatically went over the back of her chair. I didn’t realize what I did until the damage was already done. Since my arm was there, I played it off and acted like I didn’t do anything wrong. It was impossible for me just to be friends with Lexie.
We finished dinner then walked outside to the sidewalk.
“Well, good night,” Mom said. “Our flight leaves in the morning.” She hugged Lexie tightly and kissed her on the cheek. “So proud of you, sweetheart. You’re such a fine woman.”
Lexie’s cheeks blushed as she returned the embrace. “Thanks…it means a lot to me that you came.”
Mom pulled away and cupped her cheeks. She stared into her face for a moment like she was going to say something heartfelt. Then she whispered, “Such a beautiful girl.” She smiled then stepped away so my dad could move in.
“Congratulations on your paper,” he said as he hugged her. “You’re such a bright young woman, and so beautiful as well.”
Lexie hugged him back, emotion in her eyes. “Thanks…”
Dad pulled away then gripped her shoulder. “We’ll see you later.” He put his arm around my mom then they walked down the sidewalk.
I watched her, noting the feeling forming in her eyes. She continued to watch my parents disappear while my eyes were focused on her. Something was going through that pretty little head of hers.
Finally, she turned back to me. “They’re such nice people.” Her voice came out quiet, and it held intense emotion.
“Actually, they aren’t. They just really care about you.” I put my hands in my pockets while I stood before her. “They wouldn’t do that for just anybody.”
“Yeah?” A distinct coat of moisture formed over her eyes.
“Yeah,” I said firmly.
“They…treat me like I’m their own daughter.”
Because they want you to be their own daughter. “They love you, Lexie. And it’s not difficult to understand why.”
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “My parents have been good to me, but no way in hell would they come all the way out here just to listen to me give a speech.”