My reasons for marrying Diane are simple: I’m a grumpy, evil bastard who is hell-bent on success, and Diane’s connections are going to get me there.
This was her idea, not mine. But she made a compelling argument, so I bit. If you haven’t guessed it, Diane is the daughter of the man I hate almost as much as I hate my father: Charles Bernstein.
I know. I’ve said I couldn’t trust her. To be honest, I still can’t. But you know what they say: “keep your enemies closer.”
My brother and best friend AB think I’m out of my mind, but I just don’t see marriage like they do anymore. I see it as two people with similar likes who are getting together on a business venture, where both parties come to an understanding to give each other what they need to sustain a healthy relationship. I promised to fuck her brains out whenever I feel the need, which can be often. I provide her with the wherewithal that allows her to live with the means she’s accustomed to and provide a stable home. She supplies me with her father’s business connections, as I deem necessary. She also lets me continue to be the asshole that I no doubt have become.
See, it’s a win-win for all parties involved. I’ll leave the madly in love shit to everyone else in the world. That shit isn’t for me.
I find the bar, mosey on up to the counter, and ask for the most expensive Scotch they have. My brother comes in and sits next to me after I’ve had at least two drinks and am working on my third.
“Starting already I see?” he asked me.
I didn’t make eye contact. I just nodded.
“I need to get ready for this great four-day weekend from hell that I’m about to embark on.” I finally faced my brother. “I mean of all places, we are at South Padre Island because AB’s woman got the urge to do a road trip for her birthday and wanted to go to the beach.”
“Well, at least we found a pretty decent hotel. This resort is pretty nice.”
We’re staying at the Pearl, which sits right off the beach, and I did have to admit the place was nice. The bar was and is just what I needed.
“So what’s on the agenda today? Do you know?” I asked him.
“I haven’t got the foggiest. I think Tiffany and Marie are cooking up something for us to do. So be prepared to play nice.”
I sighed, “Yeah, I won’t make any promises.”
As you can see, I haven’t been the best person to be around. I can’t put a finger on why I’m so moody. I mean sometimes it’s the littlest things that irritate the hell out of me. No one really likes to be around me much, except my brother and AB. For the life of me, I still haven’t figured out why they put up with me. I truly can sometimes be a complete asshole.
I drink more than I should too, which could be the reason for my fucked up attitude and moods. I won’t say I’m an alcoholic. But hell, what thriving alcoholic do you know will admit they can’t live without it. Look, I drink to keep the demons at bay in my dreams. Since I can hold my liquor, I have to start kind of early, so I can be good and fucked up when I lie down.
AB came up on the other side of me.
“Starting early, I see.”
“Yup. Don’t judge me,” I told him.
“Yeah, okay. Will you please just try not to be too big of an ass on this trip?” AB asked.
I looked at him.
“What on earth do you mean? I am a very pleasant drunk, if I do say so myself.”
AB huffed, and my brother smirked at me.
“Yeah well, just take it easy on Tiffany; she already thinks you don’t like her.”
“No. Actually she doesn’t like me,” I corrected.
“Well, hell. Can you blame her? Every time she sees you, you’re mouthing off at someone, getting into heated arguments over dumb shit. Then your brother and I have to come in and save the day before shit gets ugly,” AB informed me.
I ordered another drink.
“Well, shit. You don’t have to butt in, you know. I know how to handle myself.”
“Uh-huh, we know you do.”
He rolled his eyes and ordered himself a gin and tonic.
“Well, look. This trip isn’t about you, so can you please try and play nice?” my brother asked.
I took the drink I had to my mouth, but not before saying, “I can’t make any promises.”
Okay, so throughout the night I stayed on my best behavior. I drank as much as I could during dinner and in the restaurant at the hotel. Not once did I say anything untoward. I looked around the room at the company I kept and sighed.
My brother and his wife, Marie, who—if I hadn’t said it before—is a knock-out, are smiling and touching each other. They don’t care who is around to witness their public displays of affection. I mean sometimes it’s nauseating to see. But I have to admit that I’m envious of my brother. He has a great woman by his side that he loves and adores, and she feels the same way about him. They have three beautiful kids, and I think they are trying for one more. I know I don’t have that kind of happiness in the cards for myself, but at least one of us gets to enjoy life.
Now AB, or Abraham Butler, has been our best friend since childhood. He’s about the same height as my brother and I, and around the same build. He works out with us all the time. Well, I haven’t seen the gym in a while, but I still got it. So he’s in shape. He’s dark-skinned, and according to what some of the ladies say, he is easy on the eyes. I think Tiffany agrees, because she can’t get enough of him no matter how flakey he is with her. Tiffany is a stunner in her own right. She is about five seven and has curves in the right places. She is caramel in color and has shoulder length hair that she wears long and straight along her beautiful oval shaped face. She seems to be a sweetheart so, for the life of me, I don’t understand what she sees in AB.
AB is a player by definition; the entire definition. I typically see his ass with a different female almost every weekend. But most of his time, he spends with Tiffany. I’ve asked him if he and Tiffany were serious about each other, and he always says, “Well, I’m not sure about how she feels. But me; I’m not ready for a committed relationship.” It’s fucked up; I know. I asked him if she knows he’s not ready, and he claims she does. But sometimes I’m not that sure. I mean Tiffany seems to be a bright woman who when we are out can probably get almost any man she wants. I mean I sometimes see schmucks trip over their feet staring at her. So something has to be wrong with this picture. She can’t just accept AB’s treatment of her and not want more.
But, hell, what do I know, right? I’m marrying a woman for success and money. Hell, I don’t even know if she has feelings for me. I think she might have some. There are times where I catch her looking at me as if she wants to reveal some deep emotion, but I don’t let her. When she gets that look, I usually fuck her into silence, and she drops it.
Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t turned into a complete heartless SOB. I mean I care for her. We have a history together. Even though it’s made up of disloyalty and back stabbing, I still care for her. I wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to her, so that has to count for something, right?
Anyway, I tuned into the conversation when Tiffany mentions her cousin and best friend are coming tonight to join in the birthday festivities.
“When will she get here?” Marie asked.
“She should be here soon. I can’t wait either. I haven’t seen her in a few years, and I’m dying to have her back finally. She’s the closest thing I have to a sister and one of the only close family I have since my mom past away.”
Damn, her mom passed? I didn’t remember hearing about that. Last time I remember, her and her mom were planning a cruise this summer. I frowned and looked at her.
She looked over at me, “What?”
“Nothing… I’m … I’m just sorry to hear about your mom,” I stumbled out.
She looked at me strangely and, as I looked around the table, so did everyone else.
“Damn, what?” I snapped.
“Nothing, bro,” AB said quickly.
Mar
c and Marie just smiled. Diane looked at me as if I had shit on my face. Tiffany smiled at me for the first time since I met her six months ago.
“Thanks, Mace.”
“So, um… where has your friend been all this time?” Marc asked her, trying to get the attention off of me.
Thank God.
“Well, she’s been on the east coast for a very long time. She used to live with me in Dallas for a few, but some bad things happened, and she was forced to leave.”
“What do you mean bad things?” AB asked.
She squirmed a little in her seat.
“Well, it’s not my story to tell. But I’ll just say her father is a messed up and mentally twisted individual. His problems trickled down to her, and she had to leave the state. Anyway, she’s been gone for years and has decided to come back. She came for my mom’s funeral and decided it was time to move back to Dallas.
“Oh, that’s cool,” Marie responded.
Dinner was pretty good, and the view of the gulf through the windows was amazing. The weather in May typically is pretty good in Texas; not too hot and not too breezy. You can enjoy the day and night. Tiffany started telling us all the things she had planned for us this weekend. She wanted the guys to be able to enjoy ourselves, so she booked us tee time at the golf course a few miles from here. She rented a fishing boat for us all to enjoy. And when it gets dark, we plan on bar hopping or resort hopping to find some nighttime entertainment.
It’s sounding pretty great, but it’s odd that she had to plan her own birthday celebration. I looked over at AB and shook my head. He knew what I was thinking, but he just stuck up his middle finger at me and topped off the wine in his glass. I smiled; it seems I’m rubbing off on him.
I looked over at Diane. Drinking, of course, makes me horny, so I rubbed her leg and gave her a look that told her I was ready to go. She rolled her eyes but stayed put. See normally this works. But apparently I’m paying for something I’d done or hadn’t done, so I sat back against my chair and stewed. My brother, who knows me ever so well, just chuckled next to me.
I ordered another drink, knowing this was going to be complete torture and wondered if this night could get any worse. When Tiffany screamed at the top of her lungs and jumped up, I realized it probably could.
“Monkey!!!!” she exclaimed and darted behind me.
I looked over at my brother next to me and AB across from me, and we all mouthed, “Monkey.” I laughed and took my drink. Then for some reason, I started to feel funny. I frowned and touched my heart. The hairs on the back of my neck rose slightly. I felt like warm a little bit, and my senses heightened as if I was heading into battle. My brother looked over at me.
“You alright?” he asked.
I closed my eyes and tried to gather myself. I haven’t felt this feeling since…
“Ho-ly shit!” I heard my brother say.
I knew that my night—and my life, for that matter—had officially gone from worse to unbelievably desolate.
When I opened my eyes, I literally thought I was about to fucking pass out. Standing in front of the table was a woman whom I haven’t laid eyes on in years. I stood naturally, since it was ingrained in me to do so when a woman comes to a table to be seated. AB and Marc stood as well, since we all have been raised by my grandfather. We stood staring at the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, and the one that had given me the most pleasure in loving in my life.
My heart was beating a mile a minute. I thought for sure everyone heard it. I started to shake a little. I put my hands in my pants pockets, trying to hide the effect this woman had on me. My face was a mask I knew, but hers wasn’t. She showed intense hate and disgruntled feelings in her eyes and body language, and it was directed right at me. I raked my eyes over her body—from the t-shirt she wore showing the perfect swell of her breasts to her flat stomach, and down to her shorts that revealed those beautiful thick thighs of hers. I felt my dick actually start to wake up. It’s like he knows where he belongs, and he wanted to be home. If only she would turn around so I could see that perfectly shaped ass of hers, I know I will bust one right in my pants.
Fucking traitor. Should I keep up with the charade and pretend we don’t know each other?
“Everyone, this is Monkey, or rather, Maxine. Max, this is Abe.”
Humph. No title… Interesting.
“And this is Marie. Next to her is her husband, Marcus and his brother, Mason. And that’s his fiancée, Diane.”
Seeing the slight reaction on her face told me I definitely need not announce I know her. Marc looked over at me expectantly, but I didn’t move.
“It’s nice to see you again, Maxine,” Marc replied, reaching out to shake her hand.
Marie, of course, looked at her husband. But then she seemed to decide to not go there. So she smiled and shook Max’s hand too. I couldn’t move, and she didn’t seem to care either way. Diane was too far from her, so she just fake-smiled at her. Tiffany looked lost at first but didn’t say anything else.
“Alright, babe. I put everything in the room.”
A brown-skinned male came up behind Max and wrapped his arms around her waist. I frowned. What the fuck?
“And this is my cousin, Cory. Cory…”
Tiffany started the introductions, and I methodically shook his hand and mumbled a hello, trying to rein in my anger. I can’t believe this shit is happening. I haven’t seen her in two fucking years, and I’m fucking pissed that someone is touching her? We all sat down, and as the waiter came, I ordered a double Scotch.
“Don’t you think you had enough?” Diane whispered to me.
I gave her a look that made her turn quickly from me. I was enraged, and I didn’t know how I was going to calm down. Just watching his hands around her beautiful shoulders. Where my hands used to be. Where my tongue and lips used to caress.
‘Fuck, I need to calm down.’
“So how do you two know each other?” AB asked Marc.
Marc looked at me, and so did Max.
I said with as much avoidance of any emotion as I could muster, “He knows her from me.”
AB looked over at me, and so did Diane, Tiffany, Cory, and Marie.
“Really? From where?” Diane asked as I knew she would.
I haven’t mentioned Maxine or my time in Philly. It’s off limits to her, and she knows that. But since I’m the one bringing it up, I should at least give her a little bit of my past.
“When I stayed in Philly a few years back,” I said simply.
The waiter came back with my drink and asked the table if anyone wanted anything. I sipped on my drink and kept my eyes glued on Maxine.
“Oh, did she work for you or something when you were there?” Diane was trying to get an answer out of me that I wasn’t willing to give.
But I didn’t have to because AB whispered, “Oh shit.”
He looked over at Maxine.
Then Tiffany said to her best friend, “This is Mason James?”
Her eyes went wild, and she looked me over. Maxine didn’t say anything, but the look on her face told it all. Cory looked over at me quizzically, but he didn’t say a word.
The table was uncomfortably quiet, so I put everyone out of their misery. I stood and took the rest of my drink.
“Well, everyone, it’s been a fucking pleasure. Looking forward to golf in the morning, gentlemen.” And I left the table.
I mean, what was I supposed to do exactly? That table was the most uncomfortable scene since… Hell, I don’t know.
I made my way to the beach to try and get my shit in order. For the next few days, Max and I will be around each other. I need to get a handle on my jealousy first and foremost. I’m getting married, for fuck sake. I shouldn’t be pissed that she moved on. I mean she’s entitled, right?
And, hell, Diane is a catch. I mean she’s is a nice golden color with long black hair that is silky smooth. Her green eyes are beautiful, and she has a great body. She can take what I dish out, both verbally
and sexually… Well, somewhat, anyway.
I’m a lucky guy, right?
So, I should be able to handle this. So what if she moved on? So what if she’s fucking someone else only a few rooms from me?
‘Shit, shit, shit!’
I heard chuckling behind me, and I turned to find my brother coming up from the hotel.
“This isn’t fucking funny.”
“Oh, yes, it fucking is. I mean what are the odds Tiffany would be best friends with your ex-fiancée? I mean you couldn’t wish this kind of luck on your worst enemy.”
He smacked his hand on my shoulder, and I gave him a dirty look. I looked out on the swell of the water. The ocean, or any body of water for that matter, always settled me. It gave me peace of mind when shit was always garbled. When I was in the Navy, I used to spend countless hours sitting on the deck of the carrier or destroyer I was on…thinking about the next hell I would find myself in…hoping I could get out of it in one piece. The rough water always managed to calm me.
“Seriously, bro, are you alright?”
I shook my head.
“She looks good, doesn’t she? I mean a little on the thin side for my taste, but…” I said.
He came up to my left and looked at me, “Yeah she looks good. But she looked like that when I saw her last; maybe smaller.”
I looked at him.
“Really? Why didn’t you tell me? You said she looked amazing.”
“No, I said she was amazing. She looked like shit when I saw her; sleep deprived and I could tell she wasn’t eating. But what would you have done if I told you all that? Would it have changed your mind?”
I knew it wouldn’t have. But still it hurt to know how much I affected her. Damn, I was a son of a bitch.
“Yeah…I didn’t think so,” Marc added after I didn’t respond to him. “So what are you going to do now?”
I turned to face the hotel.
“Nothing…Look, she clearly has moved on, and so did I. The past is in the past. I’m not the same Mason she knew, so we shouldn’t have a problem.”
Ruined: Loving An Alpha Male: BWWM Romance Page 24