by Jami Wagner
“You like him that much? To give him that title, to let him … oh fuck, is this the guy you … oh fuck.” Winston’s head drops forward.
“I really like Lennox, and I’d also really like for you to be okay with it, but if you’re not, well … you’ll just have to be,” Tripp says.
By the time Winston turns around, Tripp has moved to my side and has his arms around my waist.
“How long has this been going on?” Winston asks.
“A couple of months,” I say and try not to smile. It’s been a great couple of months.
“Two months! How did I not know about this?”
“Because we are good at keeping secrets.” Tripp shrugs. “Plus, we live together, so sneaking around was easy. We just went home.”
“Stop.” Winston holds up his hand as Tripp leans in for a kiss. “I don’t want to hear or see any of this.”
“Don’t be a prude,” Tripp says.
“Kass is going to flip out,” Winston adds.
“She might already know.” I smile up at Tripp.
“So does Mark.”
“Oh for fuck’s sake. I think I liked you two better when you hated each other.”
Ignoring Winston, Tripp says, “Let’s get a fucking burger. I am so ready to claim this lady in public.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you two if you’re going to be all lovey-dovey.”
“Fine. Stay here and starve,” I say, walking out of the room. I’m at the kitchen when I hear, “Hurt her and I’ll kill you.”
Well, at least Winston seems okay with it.
I quickly change and meet the boys in the living room. Tripp grabs my hand as we leave, and I swear it’s like falling for him all over again. Not hiding this feels good. Really good.
Winston is silent all the way to the diner.
Kass and Mark are waiting for us, and their eyes go wide when they see us holding hands.
“Umm,” Mark says, clearing his throat and pointing to Winston walking in front of us.
“I know,” Winston snaps and takes his seat. I don’t recognize this tone, and it sort of pisses me off because I don’t understand why he wouldn’t be happy. He knows I don’t trust easily and this is a big step.
We place our order and are having a simple conversation about classes and break and the normal stuff when Winston says, “I have to go.” These are the first words he’s spoken since he ordered.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“Yeah.” He doesn’t even look at me when he answers.
“Are you sure?” Tripp asks.
“I’m fucking fine,” Winston replies, almost yelling. He starts to walk out the door and I get up to follow him.
“Hey!” I shout. “What is going on?” I ask when he finally stops and I catch up.
“You picked him, Lennox. Really?”
Whoa.
“What do you mean him? Tripp is one of your best friends.”
“Exactly! He’s my best friend and you picked him over me.”
Winston tosses his arms in the air and turns.
“What do you mean him over you?”
“I mean exactly what you think.”
I wanted to be wrong about that.
“We are just friends, Winston.”
“I was never just that for me. And now …” He points behind me. Tripp’s pained expression matches my heart.
“Winston, I—”
“I knew it was never the same for you, but I guess I fooled myself into thinking that might change. Obviously, I was wrong.”
“I …”
“It’ll be fine, Lennox. I’ll get over it, I swear, and things will be just like they were.”
“Yeah, but—”
“Trust me, Lennox. I just need a little space,” he says and walks away.
Tripp comes up behind me and wrap his arms around me. He kisses the top of my head. “He’ll come around.”
“I know, but I wish he’d found out differently. I mean, he found me in your bed, Tripp. I should have told him.”
“Hey, don’t do that. Everything will turn out OK”
I nod, knowing he’s right, but I wish I could do something about it now.
Losing my best friend would be the worst.
Chapter Fifteen
Tripp
Being home never felt this good.
I’ve got my arm draped around Lennox’s shoulders as we step off the plane. We’d only packed carry-on bags, so instead of finding luggage claim, I lead her to where my father’s car should be waiting for us.
“Do you want to get an Uber or a taxi?” Lennox asks.
“Neither,” I answer as a black Lincoln Town Car pulls up in front of us.
Arthur appears from the driver’s side.
“Mr. McCain, it’s so good to see you,” he says, and offers me his hand.
I give it a firm shake. “It’s nice to see you, too, Arthur. This is Lennox,” I say. “Lennox, this is our family driver, Arthur.”
“Hi.” Lennox beams a smile at him. “Thank you for picking us up. I hope we didn’t cause you any trouble.”
Arthur glances at me, and I know exactly what he’s thinking. “Where in the heck did you find this one? You never bring home polite girls.”
My grin should say everything he wants to know.
“It’s my pleasure,” he replies to her. He reaches for her bag, but Lennox doesn’t let go.
“I can do it,” she says. “If you’ll just pop the trunk.”
Now the look Arthur gives me is panic.
“It’s okay, Lennox. Let him take your bag.”
“But I can put it in the car on my own. I’m not helpless.”
“I know you’re not, but it’s his job. This is why my father pays him.”
“Tripp, I …”
“Please allow me, ma’am,” Arthur cuts in, and I think his genuine smile is what causes her to release her grip on her bag.
While Arthur loads our suitcases, I open the back door for Lennox. She slides in and begins to put her seat belt on.
“Do you want to slide over?” I ask.
“Why?”
“So I can sit next to you.”
“You’re not sitting up front?”
“No.” I let out a small chuckle.
Speechless, Lennox scoots to the next seat.
We don’t make much conversation on the drive. It’s clear Lennox is taking in all there is to see from the airport to the house. It’s not much, but it’s all new to her.
Note to self: Bring Lennox back when it’s not a holiday weekend and show her all around Manhattan.
Lennox’s eyes go wide when we pull up in front of my family’s four story brownstone. Her eyes light up even more when I spot Amy standing outside the main doors, waving with a giant smile as we pull up.
Judging by the expressions on Lennox’s face, I used to take a lot in life for granted.
“Tripp!” Her cheerful tone greets me as I get out of the car. She pulls me in for a hug and holds tight. “It’s so wonderful to have you home.”
“I missed you too, Amy,” I tell her. “This is Lennox.” I motion to introduce her when I catch her and Arthur struggling to see who, in fact, gets to remove her bag from the trunk.
“Lennox,” I say louder.
My voice catches her attention, allowing Arthur the honor of unloading her bag.
“This is Amy,” I say. Lennox’s face lights up as she wastes no time wrapping her arms around the woman who raised me.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” Lennox says.
“Likewise, my dear.” Amy’s attention moves to me. “Your parents are running late. Is there anything I can get you before they arrive?”
“No, I think we are good. I’m going to show Lennox around.”
With a quick nod, Amy excuses herself and I lace my hand with Lennox’s before she can think to grab her bag another time.
Amy and Arthur have got this. I want her to relax this weekend. Let others pamper her
. I can’t wait to see her face when I tell I scheduled her a spa afternoon today.
***
Lennox is under my arm as we sit outside admiring the garden in the back of the house. She hasn’t said much since we got here. I can tell she’s still worried about Winston. After all, he’s been her best friend the last five years. I’m upset, too, sort of. I’m also irritated that he never said anything. He swore he didn’t have feelings for her when he did. Then again, had he been vocal, I wouldn’t be here today with Lennox.
“What’s on your mind?” I ask, squeezing her hand tighter.
She sighs. “More than needs to be.”
“Tell me about it. Then it can be on our minds, and maybe I can help.”
She twists to face me. “I don’t want to. In fact, all I want to do is enjoy this trip with you.”
“Are you sure? Because we—” She cuts me off with a kiss. I wrap my arms around her and pull her close. With the temperature being in the twenties and the wind blowing nonstop since we stepped off the plane, we’re both wearing an extra layer of clothing. I break the kiss and tug her toward the house.
Warm air brushes against us, and I silently thank whoever turned on the heat. I strip my coat, then hers, and between kissing and touching, we make fast work up the back stairwell to my room, removing everything else we have on on the way.
“Tripp, shouldn’t we be waiting downstairs for your parents?” Lennox asks, although she isn’t trying to stop me.
“They’ll be fine,” I say, closing the door behind us.
I slowly back Lennox toward the bed. Hovering over her, I slide inside her and easily forget the world around us. In fact, I don’t even notice that anyone is calling my name until she pulls out of my arms.
“Someone is outside your door,” she whispers. Really, again? How many people are going to interrupt us having sex?
“Tripp, are you in here?” I freeze at my mother’s voice.
“Yep, I’ll be out in a sec,” I shout, hoping she’ll get the double meaning.
She doesn’t respond, and I hear the front door click. I move off of Lennox.
“That was close,” I say.
“No, that was way too obvious,” she says.
“She didn’t walk in here.”
“Yeah, but I’m sure saw all the clothes from the hallway. I mean, my panties are out there, Tripp.”
“I didn’t even think of that,” I say, trying not to laugh.
We dress quickly, thankful that Amy had already brought our bags up and unpacked them, and step into the hall, both my mom and dad are waiting.
“Mom, Dad, I wasn’t expecting you to be right … here,” I say.
“Well, we were expecting you to be in the dining room for lunch, yet here you are,” my mother says, and her tone is all too knowing. She’s not impressed.
“Well, you two were supposed to be here an hour ago,” I say in return.
My mother is just preparing to say more when Lennox cuts in with “It’s so nice to finally meet you,” offering her hand to my parents. They both shake it but never take their eyes off of me.
“The pleasure is ours, dear,” my dad finally says, and the stiff air between us slowly disappears. “Let’s eat before we starve.”
***
“This is perfect, Amy, thanks,” I tell her and head out of the kitchen after approving the dinner menu she picked out for Lennox and I tonight. I feel a small twinge of missing this life, but I know it’s because I wish I could give this life to Lennox. If I had money like I did a few months ago, God, I can’t even imagine how much easier I could make her life. I’d do just about anything to give her life some relief now.
I quicken my steps toward the main entrance. I want to greet Lennox at the door when she returns from the spa so I can reveal the surprise I planned for her. I can’t believe the guys were able to hang all those lights in the back so quickly.
“Tripp, would you come in here for a moment? Your mother and I would like to have a word with you,” my father says, poking his head out of his office as I walk by.
I don’t know why he even asked. The tone in his voice makes it clear this isn’t up for debate.
I step inside as my father gestures to the seat next to my mother. His study is a large room filled will modern décor. Growing up, it was all oak, but as the times changed so did his office, and now I feel like I’m walking into a metal workshop. Even the shelves on the walls are metal. My mother is sitting to my left on the couch that looks hard as a rock; there isn’t a single wrinkle in the seat cushion around her. I take the chair instead, which is, in fact, hard as a rock.
“Things at school are going good, I take it?” Mother asks.
“Yep.” I don’t share how, between rent and tuition, I’ll barely make it on my paychecks. If Lennox can make it work, we can make it work.
“And you’ve found yourself an apartment?” Dad asks.
“Yep.”
“With the girl?” Mom clarifies.
“Yes, with the girl, and her name is Lennox, Mother. Please use it.”
“Lennox Ashby,” Father says, taking a seat by Mother. He doesn’t say it like a question, more like a fact. “Daughter of Harold and Louise Ashby. Born on June 16, 1997, in Casper, Wyoming. Her father was arrested for murder in 2000 and is serving a life sentence while her mother is working at a strip club in Las Vegas, where she spends most of her income on drugs and alcohol.”
I just stare at them. What the fuck?
“Did you have her investigated?” I ask, my tone seething.
“We needed to know who you were living with,” Mother almost yells.
“You didn’t give a shit about that when you kicked me out of my apartment,” I retort back.
“We might have overlooked a few consequences to our actions, but the end of the story is, you cannot live with that girl anymore. I won’t allow it.”
“I’m not moving out, and stop fucking calling her ‘that girl.’ Lennox is my girlfriend, and it’s time the two of you came to terms with it.”
I stand quickly. This is bullshit. I don’t have to listen to a word more, and Lennox sure as shit doesn’t deserve to have to spend her holiday with this crap. I’m packing our bags and we’re on the next flight home.
Lennox
I’ve never had a massage before today, let alone a ninety-minute Swedish massage. My entire body feels like rubber, and a nap is definitely calling my name. I can easily see why people who can afford this type of treatment go on a regular basis. I wouldn’t say no if the opportunity ever arose again.
Amy collects my purse and jacket as I step through the door. Having someone greet me every time I come and go makes me feel helpless. Tripp said it’s their job.
“How was it?” she asks.
“Wonderful,” I tell her with a soft smile. I let out a heavy sigh and head for the stairs, but I pause after only three steps.
“Do you know where Tripp is?” I ask. I want to thank him for scheduling the appointment for me. I can’t remember a time in my life where I’ve been this relaxed.
“Last I saw him, he was in the study with his parents.”
“Thank you.” I retreat down the steps and head down the hall.
His parents’ house is beautiful, but honestly, it’s too much. From the looks of some rooms, they don’t even get used. I don’t see the point of owning something so glamorous if you aren’t going to use it.
My steps slow as I near his father’s study. The voices I hear leave no doubt: This conversation isn’t a positive one.
“Enough,” his father shouts. My heart pumps faster. I shouldn’t eavesdrop. It’s not right. But then his mother speaks, and I can’t move. I’m the topic of their conversation.
“You will not leave this office until we are done with this discussion of where you stand with Lennox.”
“I’ve been done since the moment you two started talking,” Tripp says.
“She isn’t like us.”
“Seriously,
Mother, that’s the line you’re going with?”
“Tripp, we can’t have someone like her connected to our family.”
“Giving a shit about what someone thinks of our family should have been long buried the day Dad started sleeping with his accountant and the entire tennis club found out.”
“Don’t bring that up. That’s not what we are talking about.”
“Whatever. I’m leaving.”
“Leave the girl and your bank account will resume its balance before all of this silly nonsense.”
Holy shit.
Silence.
My heartbeat is so freaking loud, it could form its own band and play the lead drummer. I wait and then wait some more. Say something, Tripp.
After what feels like an eternity passes, and heavy footsteps approach the door. I jolt back to life and rush to hide behind the closet door, where I watch through the crack as Tripp heads up the stairs.
He never said anything. He was defending me up until they offered him money. And now … I don’t even know what to think.
Maybe he hasn’t changed as much as I thought.
I stay in my hidden spot for a few more minutes before coming out, just in case his parents decide to make an appearance. They are the last people I want to see right now. Actually, at this point, I’d rather see them than Tripp, but I know that isn’t possible.
Slowly, I head up the stairs. Do I tell him I heard everything? Should I give him the chance to confront me first?
I push open the door to the room we’re sharing and find Tripp sitting on the end of the bed. He’s leaning forward, his elbows resting on his knees with his face in hands. I want to think this position means he’s upset about his parents and that he won’t take the money, but I’m not so sure. Tripp fell into his routine here fairly quickly, allowing everyone to wait on him. Perhaps he misses this life more than he let on.
He takes a deep breath and looks up, jerking when he sees me. A sad smile stretches his lips. “Hey, how was your massage?”
Long forgotten, with all the stress back and in full swing.
“It was great. Thank you for that.”
“If anyone deserves time to relax, it’s you,” he says. He pats the spot next to him.
Since confrontation scares me and I don’t want anything to seem unnatural, I go.