by Mia Ford
I stood at the side of the car watching as Natalie and Brandon came through the front doors holding hands and being followed by the whole of the reception. They laughed and waved as they dodged the wall of bubbles being blown in their direction. I smiled, knowing my best friend had found something I wasn’t sure I ever would. As they drove off, streaming sparkling lights shot up from the fireworks that lined the driveway. It was really beautiful and I could see Dex standing in the drive watching, his hands in his pockets, his bow tie hanging untied around his neck, and the glow of the fireworks casting shadows across his face. I wondered if that was what Seth would look like when he grew up, strong and sure with a lost look in the corner of his eye.
I took in a deep breath and ducked down into the car, asking the driver to wait until everyone went inside. I watched as Dex looked around the crowd, scratched his head and kicked at the ground beneath him. It wasn’t very ladylike for me to just run off without a word but I knew if I got anywhere near him, I would fall right into his arms. The last thing I needed in my life was to be heartbroken all over again. I told myself it was the right decision to make. I nodded to the driver who put the car in drive and pulled down the driveway.
I was making the right decision, that much I knew, but it was really hard to convince myself of that.
Chapter 5: Dex
My head was throbbing from the champagne I consumed at the wedding. I usually stayed away from the stuff, sticking to my normal whiskey and coke. But, it was there and once I got started I just kept going, especially after Casey disappeared and never returned. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. She was just as beautiful, if not more beautiful, than the day I met her and I was hoping to rekindle the flame between us. In my drunken state, I tried to find out her room number. We were in the same hotel so I thought it would be easy but the rooms had been blocked out with no names. Natalie had simply handed out keys when everyone arrived. The last thing I wanted to do was pound on every door in the hotel in the middle of the night just to find Casey. So, in my disappointment, I went up to the penthouse and passed out face down on the bed. It wasn’t until room service came knocking that I realized I had fallen asleep still in my tux and shoes.
I was glad my sister arranged everything, otherwise breakfast would have never even crossed my mind. I was more of a coffee and conference call kind of guy but Natalie knew that, which was why she sent food up. After my shower, I took note of the things the hotel needed to fix in the penthouse, which was a constant thing I did everywhere I went. I went downstairs and made sure my sister’s ride to the airport was on its way. They were going on an amazing vacation that Brandon planned. I tried to talk him into letting me pay for it but he refused, saying he saved up just for that. I liked how he did things, he was down to earth but at the same time, he understood my sister and her background. As I leaned against the side of the elevator, trying to stop the dizziness from overtaking me, Casey flashed through my mind. I could still feel her body pressed against me while we danced, the smell of her perfume had been absolutely intoxicating.
I shook the memory from my mind when I reached the proper floor and meandered down the hallway toward the honeymoon suite. I knocked on the door and smiled as I heard my sister talking and laughing loudly. Brandon opened the door and grinned, wiping his face from the brunch they were enjoying. He leaned in and hugged me warmly before stepping to the side and inviting me inside. I stepped over the door to find my sister dressed and ready to go, excitement etched in every line of her face.
“Good morning sweet brother,” she said, standing to kiss me on the cheek.
“Good morning.” I grumbled. “I came to let you know that your private jet is waiting on the tarmac and the car is downstairs. They’re scheduled and ready to get you to the South Pacific.”
“Excellent,” Brandon said, slapping me on the shoulder.
“Do you want some brunch,” my sister asked, pointing down at the mimosas and pancakes in front of her. My stomach flip flopped just looking at the bubbly.
“No, thank you. I got your breakfast this morning.” I smiled, taking a seat across from her while Brandon pulled their bags up to the door.
“So, how did things go with you and Casey last night?” She tried to sound nonchalant but I saw right through it.
“I thought they were going great,” I said, running my hands through my hair. “We were talking, laughing, dancing, just like we never missed a day. Then, poof, she was gone, nowhere to be found. I don’t know what I did but I completely struck out last night.”
Natalie sat quietly, finishing her brunch and setting her silverware down on the plate. She wiped her mouth with the anagrammed Canton Resorts cloth napkin and looked out the window. I could tell she was mulling over her next words, wanting to say the right thing. I always hated that silence, she usually came back with some lecture that was full of wisdom and truths I didn’t want to hear. She had a way of channeling our mother that I didn’t always appreciate. She turned back to me and smiled thoughtfully, reaching out to take my hand.
“Dex, I know you like Casey and I know you two hooked up before you left for Asia, but she is my very best friend,” she said with demure and class. “You know I love you but I also know that you are not the settling down type. You have this empire left by Mom and Dad and it’s your job to keep it afloat. You’ve done an amazing job but if you are just looking for another play toy, then you need to look somewhere else. Casey is not your girl if that’s all you want. She is so sweet and smart and deserves so much more than a casual lay. I could never be okay with you treating her like one of your play things, she is way too good for that.”
She patted me on the leg and took a sip of her mimosa, allowing me time to process her words of warning. Deep down, I knew this wouldn’t be as simple as waltzing back in town and picking up where we left off, at least not with a girl like Casey. She had a life, a career, and probably some sort of love interest that I couldn’t expect her to drop for another one-night stand. In all honesty, I spent the last five years completely dedicated to my work, not even thinking about any random trysts while I was away. However, the last thing I wanted to do was admit that to my sister and give her the wrong idea. My sister’s words did not skip over me. I took them to heart, knowing she had the best interest of both of Casey and me in mind when she spoke.
“I know.” I sighed, leaning back. “When she ditched, just left without a word last night, I got the message loud and clear. I don’t want to cause her any undue stress, Natalie. I may not be the relationship guy but I’m not a total asshole.”
“Oh, God, Dex, that is not what I meant,” she said, shaking her head. “I know you are a good guy at heart.”
“I don’t have any plans to pursue Casey,” I said, wanting to end the conversation. “I have a good couple of weeks in town and then, I am out again. I don’t want any complications either.”
“Good,” Natalie said, leaning over and kissing me on the cheek. “Glad we settled that.”
My sister was so cunning sometimes, it was like she knew exactly what she wanted to hear and when it was said, she lifted the burden and moved on. I watched as Brandon walked over, leaned down, and kissed Natalie on the cheek. Her cheeks blushed and she closed her eyes with a blissful smile. They were the perfect couple and it was almost nauseating. In three weeks, I was going to be on a plane to South America to finish up some new acquisitions for the company. From there, I wasn’t sure where I would go. My sister was going to spend the holidays with Brandon and his family as far as I knew, so there was no real reason for me to sit in an empty penthouse, staring enviously out at families walking through the park. I had my fill of that last year, though the end was much better than I thought it would be.
“You ready to go?” My sister looked up at Brandon and smiled brightly.
When we opened the door, the staff was standing there waiting to carry down the bags. I tipped them generously and took the elevator to the bottom floor with my s
ister and new brother in-law. With them leaving and me deciding against any kind of relationship, short or long-term, I felt kind of lost as to what I would do with myself in the city for the next three weeks. I figured I might as well get some extra work done while I was here. It would help me ignore all the holiday decorations the city was already putting up. We reached the bottom floor and walked through the lobby, smiling as some of the guests watched us walk outside. The staff went to work loading the trunk while I pulled my sister into a tight embrace.
“You take care of yourself in South America,” she said while I squeezed her. “Don’t drink the water and stay out of the rivers.”
“Yes mom,” I said, chuckling. She kissed my cheek and ducked into the car. Brandon turned to me and shook my hand, thanking me for everything I did to make sure their day was perfect. I stood on the sidewalk and watched as they drove off down the street. I looked around at the beautiful trees that had already changed colors and decided that building this hotel in upstate was a good idea, though I was ready to get back to the city. It was late in the afternoon on a Sunday, so I figured traffic wouldn’t be too bad. I would still have time to work when I got back.
I went back upstairs and gathered my things, hanging my tux on the door to be returned. I owned several tuxes but having been out of the country so long, it was easier to rent one for the occasion. I carried my small bag back downstairs and hopped into the limo that was parked out front. The driver wasn’t my usual but then again, nothing was really the same after five years away. As we drove along, I stared out at the passing farms, the crops brown and withered, and the trees dancing in vibrant colors of oranges and reds. Casey immediately flew through my mind. What I told my sister, though flighty in nature, had to be the truth. I was leaving and wasn’t sure how long I would be gone this time. There was no way I could promise my time to Casey in any concrete way. That night five years ago was so amazing it kept my mind occupied through all these years but it was just that, a memory. One that had repercussions.
I knew Casey would love more than anything to settle down like Natalie and Brandon but I just knew I wasn’t ready to do that. She needed a man who was here for her completely. I was here but only in spirit most of the time, regardless of how much I would worship her sexy body and lose myself in her steaming green eyes. It wasn’t a good idea to try to repeat that night. I needed to remember that, feel good about it, and move on with life. That was what was best for both of us, regardless of what my cock tried to tell me. As I repeated the words over and over to myself, I could feel a pang in my chest, something I hadn’t felt in a very long time. I breathed deeply and pulled my briefcase into my lap, ignoring the feeling and trying to focus my mind on something else, anything that did not have to do with Casey.
As we got closer and closer to home, I started pushing myself back into my work with my usual avid determination. I promised my sister I would leave Casey alone and I needed to stick to my word. Still, as we passed through Brooklyn, I looked out at the row houses and wondered what that beautiful girl was doing right at that exact moment.
Chapter 6: Casey
I was glad to be back home, back in my normal routine, and back remembering why exactly I left the wedding without a word. I could hear Seth packing up his pencils and crayons after he finished drawing his latest building. He was obsessed with drawing buildings, whether they were giant skyscrapers or little houses in the country. He was my little architect. As I heard him jump down and start running through the kitchen, I chuckled to myself, remembering he was only four years old. His light brown hair and hazel eyes made him look almost like my twin, which was good since I didn’t want anyone to know who his father was. However, when he curled up in my lap, shy and timid, and looked up at me with his big smile, I could see Dex hidden under the surface. It broke my heart every single time but I knew the choice had been mine and therefore the consequences were mine to bear.
My mother’s laugh behind me drew me from my thoughts as she caught Seth and sat him in the chair, tickling him to get him to calm down. It was dinner time and my favorite time of the day since I could sit with my family and talk about the week. It would be a week as of tomorrow since I escaped the warm, comforting clutches of Dex at the wedding but I still couldn’t get him off my mind. I worked all week, trying to make some extra money. My mother wanted me to continue to have a life and I knew she really loved looking after Seth. It was like he finally gave her something to do that took her mind off the silence that haunted our house since my father died. She was livelier than ever and I could see the young woman I remembered from when I was a small child burn inside her eyes.
I pulled the potatoes from the stove and scraped them into a large bowl, plopped a spoon in them, and joined my mother and son at the table. Though I loved feeding my son, I let my mother have the honor at dinner. It always brought a smile to her tired face. Seth was a lucky boy, he had two people who loved him more than the world. I sat down at the table and began to pass the food over to my mother. As soon as she handed it back to me and I went to fill my plate, a knock echoed from the front door. I looked up at my mother who stared at me with unknowing eyes. She had already begun feeding Seth so I sighed, set the food down, and pushed back from the table. It was probably some salesman trying to sell us more of something we didn’t need. I grabbed the door handle and opened the door, looking down at my messy hands.
“I’m sorry,” I said, noticing an expensive pair of shoes in front of me. “We don’t want….”
As my eyes moved up a very expensive pair of slacks and over the chest of a very strong and fit man, my eyes landed on Dex’s beautiful grin. My mouth dropped open for a moment and I stood there, just staring at him in the doorway. He was holding a beautiful bouquet of fall themed flowers and looked slightly awkward standing in a dirty hallway, primed and tailored for the big city. He raised his eyebrows and shifted in his stance.
“Um, may I come in?” I shook the look from my face and moved to the side, shut the door and stepped back in front of him. My heart raced, knowing he knew nothing about Seth, not even the fact that he existed at all. Seth’s laughter floated through the air and I watched as Dex’s face scrunched slightly in confusion.
“We just sat down to eat,” I said sheepishly, looking down at the floor.
I watched him look around the room, realizing he hadn’t been back here since the night we had amazing sex on the same couch that was still sitting in the living room. The smell of his cologne was intoxicating as he unbuttoned his suit jacket and casually stuck his hands in his pockets. I knew he was waiting for me to invite him to dinner but I didn’t know what I should do. If he came back there, he was going to meet Seth and I was terrified that he would put two and two together. I shifted uncomfortably in my shoes, trying to stall so I could come up with a good enough excuse. I could tell he wasn’t going to leave until he came into the kitchen. I sucked in a deep breath and met his gaze, feeling my heart flutter under the pressure of his deep blue eyes. God, why did he have to be so sexy?
“Would you like to come into the kitchen with me?” As soon as the words left my mouth, I was overcome with fear. On one hand, I couldn’t think of a better face to open the door to but on the other hand, I hadn’t even mentioned my son to Dex. I knew this introduction would be difficult. He smiled and reached up, pushing a piece of hair out of my face.
“I brought these for you,” he said, handing over the flowers.
“Thank you. They’re beautiful,” I said with a smile. “Well, let me get them into some water.”
I turned toward the kitchen and held my breath as we walked toward the room where my mother and son were waiting. As I rounded the corner, I glanced over at my mom who froze. She quickly recovered, clearing her throat and smiling at Dex. I grabbed a vase off the counter and turned around to watch Dex’s face when he found Seth sitting at the table. I watched as he tried to hide his surprise of finding my mother sitting at the table feeding a four-year-old boy. It took him
a second but he used his normal charm to twist that surprised expression into a nice smile. I wanted to grab his attention, completely fearful that he would start to put two and two together but I also didn’t want to make it obvious.
“So, Mom, you remember Dex,” I said, smiling.
“Yes,” she said with a kind wave. “How are you, sweetheart?”
“I’m well, thank you,” he said.
“And that little messy bug right there is my son, Seth,” I said, holding my breath and waiting for his reaction.
“Hey little buddy.” Dex chuckled. Seth looked at him with wide eyes before putting his head down with flushed cheeks. He was really shy just like I was and it took him a long time to open up to new people, which was good since I didn’t want Dex to have any idea that Seth was his son. “You’re shy just like your momma.”
I finished filling the vase with water and arranged the flowers inside, walking over and setting it on the table. I figured it would be rude to not invite Dex to join us. As much as I wished he would simply excuse himself and leave, I feared he would continue to stare awkwardly at the three of us. I sat down and pulled out the chair next to me, looking up at Dex.