by K. A. Linde
A throat cleared behind us, and we launched apart. Our chests were pounding as the realization of what we had been doing and where hit us.
“Sorry to have, uh…interrupted,” David said from the doorway. There was a small blush on his cheeks.
“Patrick was just leaving,” I said quickly.
David held up a bag. “I got you dinner. I knew you hadn’t eaten today.”
“Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
“I’m going to, uh, you know, leave this here.” He dropped it onto a chair by the door and then disappeared.
I sank back into my own chair and put my head into my hands. “Well, that went well.”
“David is fine,” Patrick said. “He’ll be fine.”
“I know. He’s not going to say anything, but I just…I don’t know. I’m so stressed. I should take this week to get caught up.”
“Do what you have to do,” he said. “Just come over to my place, or I can meet you at yours whenever you finish. I don’t care what time it is.”
“Are you sure?” I asked with hopeful eyes.
He dropped to his knees in front of me and forced me to look at him. “Of course I’m sure. We’re together, right?”
I nodded.
“I might be new to being in a relationship, but I’m pretty sure I already knew what I signed up for with you.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“A slightly neurotic workaholic with a heart of gold.”
“That sounds like me,” I said with a short laugh.
“I like you just the way you are. So, come see me when you’re finished here.”
“All right. I’ll do that.”
He kissed me again and then left. As soon as he was out of the office, my headache returned. I sighed and got back to work.
It was Thursday before I finally left the office on time. I’d made plans to hang out with Sutton and her best friend, Annie, while David watched Jason. I knew it was important to spend time with my sister right now. She was only five months without her husband and still fragile.
I changed quickly at my apartment and made it over to Sutton’s house right on time. She trotted out of the house in an all black ensemble that would make Emery and Julia proud. Annie followed close behind in forest green pants and a black sweater. Her red hair swayed behind her. They both hopped in the car.
“Thanks for coming out with me,” Sutton said by way of greeting.
“Sut, of course! I’m glad we get to spend some time together.” I grinned at Annie in the rearview mirror. “Hey Annie.”
“Sup, Morgan.
“So what’s the plan?”
She sighed, and I suddenly noticed that she looked like she’d aged beyond her twenty-three years. I felt bad for noticing.
“Can we just go to a movie? I’d really like to be somewhere quiet without any responsibilities.”
“Sure.”
I pulled away from her house and started to drive to the local Alamo Drafthouse. I didn’t know what was playing, but it really didn’t matter.
We bought tickets for some obscure indie film that none of us had ever heard of. The theater was empty, and we picked seats in the very back.
As soon as we sat down, Annie’s phone started ringing. She groaned. “It’s Todd. I’ll be right back.
She disappeared back down the stairs. I arched an eyebrow at Sutton.
She waved her hand. “New guy. I don’t like him.”
“I see.”
“So, what’s been going on with you?” Sutton asked.
“Just work stuff.”
She raised an eyebrow. “I don’t think so. You seem off.”
“I’m here for you, and you’re the one interrogating me?” I asked a little defensively.
“What’s there for you to ask me? My husband is dead. I have an eighteen-month-old son who will grow up without his father. I’m pretty much the same.”
I winced at her harsh words and wished that I hadn’t. This anger, I knew, was part of her grieving. I couldn’t be upset that she was taking some of it out on me. For a while there, she’d hated the entire world. The fact that she was leaving the house, even for something as mundane as seeing a movie, was major progress.
“You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize to me,” she said. “Just talk to me. I’m tired of being treated like I’m made of porcelain. Everyone tiptoes around me. I won’t break.”
“We don’t think that.”
She shot me a classic Wright look of indignation. It was so perfect, I actually laughed.
“What?” she gasped.
“You just…remind me of Jensen.”
She sighed and sat back heavily. “I don’t mean to act like this. I can’t control how angry I get at everything.”
“It’s okay. You can be mad at me. I’m used to that from you.” I laughed, and Sutton rolled her eyes. “I guess there is one thing I could ask.”
“Oh, great, here it goes,” Sutton said.
“What’s up with David?”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s great with Jason. He seems really interested in helping.”
“He is,” Sutton agreed. “I don’t know what’s up with him, but I appreciate his help. It sucks, being a single mom.”
“You’re a great mom though.”
“Thank you. But there’s nothing between David and me, if that’s what you’re asking. I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready to start dating again. Let alone right now when, most days, the only reason I get out of bed is because of my son.”
“I wasn’t suggesting—”
Sutton held up her hand. “It’s fine, Mor. Now, tell me why you’re acting so weird.”
I took a deep breath and decided it was time. I couldn’t hold everything in, and I figured a test run on Sutton would be smart.
“I’ve…kind of started seeing someone.”
“Really?” she asked, brightening. “Who?”
I paused uncomfortably before saying, “Patrick.”
Sutton squealed. She actually squealed. I stared at her in utter shock. My little sister was back for that one moment of pure joy. And it was all for me.
“Finally! I’m so happy for you! Oh my God! When did this happen? How did this happen? Why aren’t we celebrating with everyone?”
“Because…other than you, only four other people know, and they all found out on accident.”
“Why?”
“I’m not sure if you’re aware, but we have three scary older brothers, and one of them is Patrick’s best friend, who just got out of rehab.”
“So?”
“Austin slept with Steph when she was in high school. Patrick blew a gasket, and he doesn’t want to lose his friendship with Austin.”
“Okay. So, he thinks it’ll either be you or Austin, and he can’t have both?”
I shrugged. “I think he’s just nervous, and he doesn’t know what to expect. When we first started, I was all for it. You know our brothers are nosy and get in our business and are all judgmental. This is so new and fresh. I just want to experience it without anyone else’s thoughts about it.”
“But now?”
“But, now…I don’t like hiding.”
“Then, don’t hide.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“It is that simple. If you love someone, then there are no obstacles too great.”
“I mean…love,” I whispered, choking on the word. “I’ve liked Patrick for years, but love? Love is something that takes time and dedication. It takes reciprocation. It takes, you know, actually saying the words and meaning it and having the other person say it and mean it back.”
“You two have been circling each other for years. Love is not too strong a word to use when you’ve crashed into each other’s orbit.”
I blushed and looked down. “When did you get so wise?”
“Trust me, you don’t want the life experience it takes,” Sutton said. “Just appreciate what yo
u have when you have it. And tell Patrick how you feel. You don’t want to wake up one day and remember all the things you never said.”
Twenty
Patrick
I stood between Austin and Julia outside of the Wright Construction building.
It was two weeks since Morgan and I had returned from San Francisco and the day of their annual Christmas party that they threw for the entire corporate headquarters. The top floor restaurant would be cleared out for dancing while hors d’oeuvres circled, and an open bar would pour drinks all night. I’d gone every year since college when Austin and I would crash his dad’s party for the drinks. It was strange, not to be here as an employee, and I found it was equally strange not to be here on Morgan’s arm.
Ever since she’d gone out with Sutton, our relationship had been even better. She was still working herself into the ground, but it was pretty much impossible to deny that this was the best and most stable relationship I’d ever been in. The only one I’d ever really thought of as a relationship.
That should have been an indication that it was time to come clean to Austin. To her whole family. But, every time I thought about it, it was with dread. She hadn’t brought it up again, but I knew that she wouldn’t stand for it much longer. A girl like Morgan deserved more than hiding anyway. I hated that I just wanted to enjoy the bliss with her rather than deal with the inevitable drama…but I did.
Fuck.
I couldn’t do it. I didn’t want to. Not yet.
“Your tie is crooked,” Julia said.
I snapped out of my melancholy and adjusted my tie. “Better?”
“Eh,” she said noncommittally and then fiddled with it herself.
“What would I do without you?”
“You’d be lost,” she confirmed.
“Definitely.”
“Hey, hey, hey,” Austin said, bumping in between us. “That’s my girl.”
I laughed. “I’m well aware of that. I remember all the groveling and single-man tears.”
“There were no tears.”
I held my hands up in defense and displayed my classic smile. “Sure, bro.”
“Fuck you.”
“I know. I love you, too.”
“Okay. If you two are finished with your little bromance, can we go inside?” Julia asked. “It’s fucking freezing.”
Austin pulled the door open. “After you.”
When Julia walked in, he butted in front of me and tried to shut the door in my face. I flipped him off. He laughed and then let me inside.
“You’re a real dick, you know that?” I said.
“I think that’s why we’re friends.”
We both laughed as we moved into the elevator and upstairs. I wished that I had come here with Morgan, but I’d been stupid and said I’d come with Austin. Too late to fix it now.
“How does it feel to be back?” Austin asked. “Can’t believe you’ve been gone from the company this long already.”
Of course, Austin didn’t know that I’d been at the company a lot after-hours. Now that David knew about my relationship with Morgan, it was easy to be there with dinner and ruin their evening work sessions. Both of them worked too fucking much anyway. But saying that to Morgan was a whole lot of in one ear and out the other. She was a workaholic. That was just who she was.
“It’s good. Feels like home.”
When we exited onto Morgan’s floor, we all piled out and found Sutton and David chasing after a particularly rambunctious Jason. I laughed as he ran around my legs and clung to the back of Austin. He scooped him up and onto his shoulder.
“Who’s the biggest now?” Austin asked, bouncing him up and down.
“Me!” he called. “Da, go!”
Sutton gasped softly and covered her mouth. I could see her threatening to break down.
“Excuse me,” she muttered and then disappeared down the hall to the restrooms.
We all stood there in awkward silence at what had just happened. No one was willing to acknowledge that Jason had just called Austin the D-word. And not the one I’d used earlier.
“Hey, slackers, are you going to get in here?” Landon asked, stepping out of Morgan’s office.
“Yeah,” I answered for everyone.
Austin pulled Jason off his shoulder, and we all entered the office as a group.
“What’s going on?” Landon asked. “I feel like I walked in on a ticking time bomb.”
“And where’s Sutton?” Heidi asked next to him.
Julia shook her head as she strode eagerly toward Heidi and Emery. “She’ll be back.”
At Julia’s comment, Jensen glanced at Jason in Austin’s arms. Then, he pushed his way out of the room without a word. I was sure he was on his way to talk to Sutton.
My eyes drifted away from the rest of the Wright family and significant others to the stunning woman standing behind the desk. Morgan was radiant in a slim black cocktail dress. Her hair was down, and she looked fierce and beautiful. All I wanted to do was force every single other person out of this room and take her right then and there on that desk.
She caught my gaze, and the room heated. Fuck, she was wearing red lipstick. Gorgeous fucking red lipstick. It suited her. Maybe I could convince her to wear it all the time. I didn’t care if it got on all my clothes…and anywhere else, too.
Her smile dropped when she realized I hadn’t made a move to walk forward. Our distance was suddenly that barrier again. The one that kept me from announcing to our friends and her family that we were dating. There was so much history keeping me from speaking the words.
She glanced away from me without a word. “Once Jensen gets back, we can all go upstairs. The party has already started. I’ll give my speech soon, and then we can all enjoy ourselves. Thanks for another successful year. And thanks for believing in me to be CEO of Wright Construction.”
“Were you practicing your speech on us?” Austin joked.
“Ha-ha,” Morgan deadpanned.
“It was pretty well done if that’s part of it,” Landon agreed. “I’d keep out the part about believing in you as CEO. That’s sentimental.”
Morgan rolled her eyes. “You know I can fire both of you, right?”
Austin clutched his chest. “Threats! I’m going to take this to the head of HR.” He turned to his girlfriend, who was the current head of HR. “The CEO threatened to fire me for making fun of her.”
“Eh, you deserved it,” Julia said, crossing her arms.
“Whose side are you on anyway?”
“Probably Morgan’s.”
Austin scrunched up his face at her and then smacked her ass. Her eyes rounded, and she smacked him back.
“Watch it! That hurt!” she shrieked.
He grinned like a fool. “I meant for it to.”
“Please keep the sexual harassment claims to a minimum,” Morgan said dryly.
“Or just in the bedroom,” Landon muttered under his breath.
“Children,” Jensen said, entering the room, “are we fighting again?”
“No, Dad,” Morgan said with an exaggerated eye roll. “We’re well behaved, competent, and productive members of society.”
“I wouldn’t go that far,” Jensen said.
Everyone laughed.
It was a good day when Jensen got in on the jokes. He was usually too busy with fixing everyone’s problems and acting like the only parent of the bunch to join in on the antics. When he cut loose, he was a really fun guy though.
I usually stayed out of all of it. I was treated like family, but I wasn’t family. They all had their own dynamic that no one else, even people like me who had been there from the beginning, could entirely breach.
“Sutton is going to meet us upstairs in a minute,” Jensen announced. “And our other guest should be here”—he glanced out of the office—“now.”
The Wright family’s uncle walked into the office.
Owen had been perfectly nice to me both times I met him—at Thanksgiving and o
n campus. He seemed like an upstanding guy. Maybe even one who had been misunderstood all these years he was away in Vancouver. It might have helped all the Wright siblings if they’d actually had a parent or relative around to help raise them. Their mom had died too young, and their dad had been a chronic, abusive alcoholic. Jensen acted more like a parent for a reason.
But I could feel Morgan’s death glare from where I was standing. She had every reason to believe that Owen hated her. It had made her do a one-eighty, too. Working a hundred hours a week and pushing herself to the brink of collapse. Even if he wasn’t really trying to harm her, he was doing it anyway.
“Hey, everyone,” Owen said with a bright smile and wave.
They all seemed happy to see him. Relieved even. Like he just seamlessly fit in with their family. But I knew Morgan was silently seething and trying not to erupt.
“Glad that I could be here for the annual Christmas party. Of course, I’m sad to be missing the one back home. It’s a lively affair. I usually make a big speech.” His eyes landed on Morgan. “If you need help with yours, let me know. I’ve been doing this a long time.”
Morgan clutched the desk until her knuckles turned white. “I think I’ve got it covered.”
“That’s a nice offer though,” Jensen said.
“Yeah. Super nice,” Morgan said flatly.
“Also, I brought this,” he said, holding up a bottle of Moët & Chandon champagne. “I thought we could all toast to another great year at Wright.”
I froze in place. And then, suddenly, all eyes shifted to Austin. He’d only gotten out of rehab six weeks ago. The fact that he was coming to the Christmas party at all was a big deal. It was his first event where he’d be around alcohol again. But to just toss it in front of him like Owen was doing was tantamount to treason.
“We don’t drink,” Morgan bit out. Her voice was clipped.
“Oh,” Owen said. “I’m sorry. I thought it was an open bar upstairs. I wanted to bring my favorite champagne to toast with.”
“I said, we don’t drink. Not here. Not between us,” Morgan snapped.
“Mor,” Austin muttered, “it’s fine. It’s a nice gesture. I’ll just go outside.”
“You are more part of the family than he is. You’re not leaving.”