Текст книги "Loving the White Liar"

Автор книги: Kate Stewart

сообщить о нарушении

Текущая страница: 4 (всего у книги 18 страниц)

 

 

 

Gerri: You are never going to believe what happened last night.

Me: I saw the red panties, MONA. I’m scarred for life.

Gerri: Mona?

I gave her a second to think about it.

Gerri: Ha ha very funny and so worth scarring you.

Me: Talk later, my mom is lecturing me. I have news too!

Gerri: :)

I set my phone down as my mother drove her point home. “I’m just saying, Hilary, it’s time you made a decision. You’re going to blink, and then you’ll be thirty and stuck in a dead end job.

“Mom, that’s what I’m trying to do. Trust me, I’m putting enough pressure on myself already. My new prospects may not be a career choice, but they are better than waitressing. I’ll handle it. You already have the successful lawyer in Alexis, the young tycoon in Bradley, Molly’s about to graduate and take over the fashion industry, and well, I can’t help you with Sabrina. Three out of five ain't bad. Cut your losses.” I gave her a stern look as I cut dough for fresh biscuits at her long, marble, kitchen counter.

“Never, and I don’t categorize my kids into a good pile and bad pile, or by what you’ve accomplished. I want you happy, and the way you’re burning through your years, I just worry. You aren’t married and you are still stuck in your habits from years ago.”

“MOM!” I heard Alexis call as she joined us in the kitchen. I’d never been so thankful for the interruption. She deposited a box full of liquor on the counter and my Mom eyed her suspiciously as she emptied its contents.

“What in the hell, child? We aren’t getting sauced at brunch,” she scolded as she studied each bottle.

“Chill, Mom, half of them are mixes and I wanted to stock up for later. I’m staying with you. I am officially on vacation for the next three days.”

My mother’s eyes lit up as she beamed at her first born. Alexis went and wrapped herself around our mother then pulled back and eyed her with concern. “How are you?”

“Most days are okay. I miss him.” She was referring to our father who had died suddenly last fall. One minute he was griping about raking the never-ending pile of leaves in our yard and the next he was gone. At least that was how it seemed it happened. He’d gone up to bed after Sunday brunch for a nap and never woke up. A brain aneurysm had taken him without apology, leaving us all completely devastated.

“It’s okay to talk about him, Mom, especially with all of us here. We need it, too,” Alexis encouraged. Our mother held his death close to her, but rarely spoke of him. We all assumed it was too painful for her and were giving her time to deal with it her way, but we were becoming concerned with each month that passed with little mention of him. Her denial was beginning to wear on us.

I stopped cutting the dough to watch my mother’s reaction to Alexis’ statement and it was the same response she always gave. “I will, baby, I promise. I just can’t do it yet. I know it’s not fair to you kids, but not yet, okay?”

Alexis nodded, cutting her concerned eyes to me. “Sup, sis.” She made her way to me and gave me a long hug. Alexis and I were the closest next to my baby sister Molly. We’d all agreed Sabrina was just weird but somehow she fit. My parents had managed to create five of the most insanely different children on the planet. Not only were our personalities unique to each of us, but our looks as well. Our family portrait looked like it had been cropped from others and pasted together. And my family was what I cherished most in the world.

“Mom!” Bradley entered the kitchen next, sans his forbidden girlfriend, and gave us all pats and grins until he reached my mother, who he hugged fiercely. “How are you, Mom?” It was the same concern Alexis had shown, which both comforted me and worried me. But today was not the day we would try and get her to crack her well placed stoicism where my father’s death was concerned. It was a special time for us all to be under the same roof and I relished in it. An hour later, and with the arrival of the rest of the clan, we dined on a five star breakfast courtesy of my amazing mother, with only a hint of my help.

I enjoyed cooking, but noted having to do it constantly when I wasn’t in the mood would ruin it for me. I mentally crossed it off of my list of possible career choices.

Chef

Sighing heavy, I sipped my extremely strong Bloody Mary and munched on my mother’s rosemary baby potatoes while looking absently around the house. Our family home was absolutely beautiful, and it was massive as well. It was a colonial style, country home complete with old fashioned shutters, and I’d always hoped to own one like it one day. I’d begged my mother after my father’s death not to sell it, for selfish reasons. I never really told her why, but I think she knew deep down I’d hope she’d keep it in the family. Somehow, I felt like it was the last piece of my father I had left. I sat in the expansive kitchen at the table thinking that if I didn’t get my act together, I could never afford to keep it up for her once she was unable to. The thought alone had me sipping more vodka and spiced tomato juice.

I looked down at Molly, who was her usual quiet self. She was doing her typical observing and only put in a comment here and there. Most of the rest of us were outspoken and it just seemed fit one of us would need to be more reserved. The funny part about it was if you pissed sweet Molly off, she would become the loudest and most obnoxious of us all. I chuckled thinking about her last outburst at Bradley. She’d mentally scarred him.

Bradley looked between me and Molly, seeming to read my mind. “Hilary, you still dating that douche bag?”

“No, Brad, I broke up with him almost a year ago and I tell you every time we come to brunch.”

“Good, I couldn’t stand him,” he said, shoveling a heaping amount of egg into his mouth.

“Well, it’s a good thing I have Jayden now.”

Every head at the table turned to me as my verbal diarrhea caught up with my brain.

Why the hell did I say that?

“Who is Jayden?” Sabrina asked as she moved her weave out of the way to take a bite of eggs. Yes, Sabrina had a weave. She also had thirty-two piercings, unlimited tattoos, and only dated men who used their last name as their first: e.g. Harrison, Ford, Turner, Carter. She was even more exhausting than me when it came to indecision. She had worked every job imaginable, as well as exercised her freedom in religion. She’d delved into Buddhism, Hinduism, the Wiccan practice, and actual witchcraft (which is different, just ask her) to everything else available. I looked at her with an honest answer.

“Honestly, just a guy I had one date with, no big deal.” I sat completely stunned that I’d even spoken about Jayden, though he’d been heavy on my mind all morning.

“Apparently he’s made an impression,” my mother chimed in.

“Maybe, and we’re not discussing it,” I said.

“You brought it up,” Bradley said, making me feel more uncomfortable. So I shot back, “Let’s talk about your girlfriend, Bradley.” Only my mother was allowed to call him Bradley. He narrowed his eyes. I still saw my baby brother as the awkward kid with the cute lisp who used to run around pulling pranks on the family. Namely duct taping the kitchen faucet so when we turned it one we were instantly soaked. I blamed shows like The Wild Boys and Jackass. They had been his greatest influences. It was a nightmare watching him reenact the stunts, including the time he slid down our huge staircase on a snowboard. He’d cracked his skull and needed sixty-two stitches. Nothing had ever been funnier to me than my foul mouth baby brother at nine years old cursing horribly on the doctor’s table to my mother’s horror like a grown man while getting his head stitched.

“If thath murther furken snowboard hadn’t been so flurking sthlippery I wouldn’t halph busted my head on the sthupid sthairs.”

From that day on I’d made it my sole responsibility to keep the boy safe from himself. I caught hell from him, but I couldn’t under any circumstances stop myself. He was my pride and joy and I couldn’t handle the thought of him getting hurt. I was sure one day he would thank me for keeping him from blowing his hand off with fireworks, or covering for him when he took the family car out at eleven-years-old for a joy ride. The child was a daredevil and I was the only one who knew his tells, or when shit was about to go down. He grew out of it a few years later when he discovered girls and that had been another nightmare altogether.

“Yes, Bradley,” Alexis added, “please tell me you are wise to her motives.”

“She’s not the one, okay. Lay off. I’m not an idiot and I’m not interested in getting married yet. I’m only twenty-two.” That was his explanation and he was sticking to it.

“She’s disgusting,” Sabrina said as I turned to her, noticing her newest hair disaster was filled with eggs. I pushed my plate away, no longer interested in my food once I observed it in hers. Molly chuckled as she looked as Sabrina’s protein filled hair then turned to me with wide eyes. We shared a private eye roll and giggle before Alexis caught it and smiled.

“Sabrina, you have eggs in your horse hair,” Alexis spouted as she nodded toward her drenched hair.

“That’s disgusting,” Bradley said, wrinkling his nose.

My mother seemed to be bothered by my sister’s new getup, commenting next, “Baby, you have beautiful hair. Why don’t you just let your natural hair through? What is the point of this wild Cleopatra thing you have going on?”

“Or the people of Wal-Mart thing you have going on,” Alexis added with a laugh and a snort.

Sabrina stiffened as she prepared to defend herself. “I like it, Mom. Screw you, Alexis. When is the last time you got action?”

“In the courtroom yesterday, sasquatch,” Alexis defended.

“Ladies, act your age,” my mother scolded before turning to Sabrina. “Then wear it your way,” my mother said softly as she diffused the situation then smiled at her daughter.

It was the look she gave Sabrina that confirmed my mother meant her words. She wasn’t keeping score; she was measuring smiles. I knew then no matter what decision I made about my life, she wouldn’t let me live with it until I’d found what made me do that the most.

 

 

I walked into my bedroom that night, grabbed my laptop, and looked up the location of the travel agency versus the address of the building of the architect as I weighed the pros and cons of each job. Money was a concern, but in the end, I took Jayden’s advice and was attempting to do “what made me happy.” It wasn’t long before I went with my gut. Being a flight attendant had always been on my list of possible career choices. Becoming a travel agent was the next best thing. I was off in the morning– Monday being our slowest day at the diner—and decided to make the call first thing to request an interview. I thought of Jayden, as I had the last twelve hours, and wondered if he was thinking of me. I knew our date went well, I didn’t wonder if he’d call. I just wondered if he had any sort of game to play or none at all. I didn’t want to over analyze, but I liked him.

Jayden: I’ve been thinking about you all day, fishnipple.

I gave it a minute or two before I replied.

Me: Is that nickname really going to stick? I mean, it doesn’t even roll off the tongue naturally.

Jayden: I disagree. Your nipple rolled off my tongue quite naturally.

Both me and my sex moaned in agreement.

Jayden: Sorry. Too much?

Me: No, I was thinking of something clever to say but I’m too tired. I’m going for the agency job. Wish me luck.

Jayden: I would but it’s already yours. Dinner tomorrow, my place?

I smiled as I answered.

Me: Can you cook?

Jayden: Bring dessert. Seven.

Me: :)

I set my alarm and woke up the next morning to call the agency. As promised by Jayden, Adam welcomed my call and we set up an interview for noon that day. Adam was kind, but explained to me quickly that I would be working under his wife, Marcy. After a brief but thorough interview with the two of them, I was set to start the following Monday after I worked my two week notice at the diner. I was more excited than I had been in years. The pay was decent—more than I was making now—and there was the added bonus of fringe benefits such as travel discounts, which appealed to me more than anything. I started making a mental list of the places I wanted to go and quickly filled the passenger seat on the imaginary plane with the blue-eyed man who filled my thoughts. During the drive, I felt nothing but gratitude as thoughts of Jayden crossed my mind.

In my kitchen, I prepared a strawberry rhubarb pie from scratch and spent the rest of my day waxing, buffing, and polishing every surface of my body. I wasn’t sure if tonight would be the night, but I was going prepared with no reservation. I didn’t want Jayden to think I was easy, and so far between my big “O” in his lap and my topless escapade at the pool, I probably wasn’t making a good impression of being a good girl. But with him, the attraction was undeniable. I’d decided to let him take the lead, and in all truth, he already had. Because if at any time on our first date he’d attempted to take off my clothes, I would have easily let him. And the truth was, I didn’t know him well at all.

At five after seven, I knocked on the door in my prettiest sundress, made-from-scratch pie in hand. He opened the door and drank me in one sweeping movement, making me instantly hot.

“You’re late, but the pie smells good, so you’re forgiven.” He took the burden from my hand as I followed him in.

Once the pie was on the counter he turned to me. “Thirsty?” I took in his bare feet, long athletic shorts, black wife-beater and was suddenly parched. He dressed super casual for our date and I appreciated every detail.

“Sure.”

“Beer? Tea? Water?”

“Tea,” I said, following him into his kitchen. His place was spotless, in a way that didn’t seem possible. I looked around and then at him. “You have a roommate, right?”

“Yeah, and it won’t last much longer. This is my place. I’m just letting him crash in between girlfriends. I’m not really the kind of guy who can handle a roommate.”

“I see. It’s so clean, I’m scared to put my purse down.”

He gave me a soft look over his shoulder. “I want you to feel at home.”

I dropped my purse on the floor to spite him then chuckled when he picked it up, handing me my tea. His lips brushed mine while he passed me to set it on the couch before resuming his work in the kitchen.

“Can I help?” I’d never really had a guy cook for me and was impressed so far. I swore I’d never again date an only child, but Jayden seemed the opposite of the mama’s boys I was used to. It seemed his mother taught him independence, how to keep a clean house, and cook. I was already applauding her with a standing ovation. My smile deepened when Jayden pulled a cut lemon wedge from a bowl in the fridge and dropped it in my tea.

“No, I’ve got this. Go have a seat. You can change the channel.” I made my way to the couch and took a look around, noticing he had simple taste. His furniture was absolutely stunning, and I knew he had made the coffee table and bookshelves. Looking toward the table on my right, I saw a beautifully carved, small wooden box. Picking it up, I studied it and realized Jayden had probably made it, as well. The wood was beautiful, deep red, and the carefully etched design in the trim made it apparent he’d spent several hours working on it.

“Pulling out all the stops with the cooking, huh?” I asked as I set the box down.

“I like my food better than half the shit in this city,” he called from the kitchen.

“Setting a high bar there, aren’t you?” I smirked into my tea, not giving a damn what was on TV. The Jayden show was ten times more entertaining. There was no way a man was this good and unattached. In a way that frightened me, so I just kept talking.

“What are we having?”

When he didn’t answer, I asked again.

He stopped what he was doing and poked his head out of the kitchen. “Sorry?”

“What are we having?”

“Oh, chicken casserole. My mom’s recipe. I didn’t even think to ask you if you like broccoli.”

“I do.” The minute I told him so his shoulders visibly relaxed. He seemed nervous and I found it adorable. He looked so gorgeous in his element, his rugged and cut features and perfectly toned arms accentuated by his stance. And of course the spatula in his hand was the best part. In that moment, I felt lucky to be with him. It was a good feeling, one that I hadn’t experience in far too long.

“You didn’t have to do this, you know.”

“I know,” was all he said before disappearing back into the kitchen where he completely ignored me the entire time he prepared our meal. I sat wondering what in the world I’d done to earn the silent treatment when he emerged minutes later with two piping hot plates and silverware wrapped napkins. I grabbed my plate, thanking him, and he smiled. “Do you mind if we eat at the couch?”

“Not at all,” I replied as the aroma of the casserole wafted up, making my mouth water.

Suddenly I was at ease after twenty odd minutes of silence. He grabbed the remote and turned the TV up. “I need the noise.”

Puzzled from his statement, I took a sip of tea. “Why?”

“I just feel more comfortable with it. I also need it when I sleep.”

“Yeah, I can’t sleep without a fan on.” He chuckled at my statement, which puzzled me further. Deciding not to dwell on it, I instead dug into his casserole, which looked amazing and was the perfect consistency.

One bite had my eyes widening. “Holy shit! What’s in this?”

“Gold,” Jayden agreed as he took a huge mouth full. “My mother is the best cook ever.”

“I may have to disagree in my mother’s defense, but seriously this is ...” I mumbled as I inhaled another savory bit. “This is amazing.”

“I know.” He winked, watching with pride as I inhaled it bite by bite.

I asked for seconds, feeling like a complete pig, and not really giving too much of a damn when I took another bite of the casserole. He watched me eat, which was both flattering and uncomfortable. I leaned back minutes later, belly full, thanking him as he took my plate.

“I’ll do the dishes,” I said, standing.

“No you won’t,” he corrected. Another few minutes of silence brought Jayden back to me with fresh tea. “Coffee? Pie?” he asked. I shook my head with a firm no and he set a steaming mug on the table in front of us.

“You are on your own with that pie.” I patted my full belly and thanked him then sat up when a realization struck me. “Oh, I forgot. Yes, I totally got the agency job! I love Adam and Marcy. They are amazing! Thank you so much for setting that up for me.”

He smiled and pulled me to him on the couch. “You’ll be good for them.”

“I hope so.” I leaned into him, my head on his chest as he grabbed the remote and turned to me.

“You have two choices.”

“Always two choices with you,” I smiled.

“We can bond on the surface, criticizing shit reality TV or,” he said with a grin, “we can start a serious relationship with Netflix, which technically would keep us glued to each other until it’s over. No cheating, it’s a commitment.” He smiled down at me and promptly added, “Tell me, baby, you think you are ready for that kind of commitment?”

His eyes shone with curiosity and I stared at the beautiful indent in his chin. “Sure,” I chuckled as he locked his eyes onto mine. He brushed his lips against mine and when he pulled away I felt the draw, my instinctive need for him. It was electric, tangible, and felt amazing. Butterflies began to circulate as he slid his hand up and down my arm, warming me. Affectionate and attentive, this man had my full attention.

“Okay.”

He shuffled through the Netflix menu and after few minutes of debate, we finally settled on House of Cards. The hours began to fly by as we took turns speculating the plot and for some odd reason we laughed every time Kevin Spacey faced the screen to perform direct commentary to the audience. Together, we both found it hilarious, even though the series was suspenseful and dramatic. Something about it set us off as we laughed hard, sharing our odd sense of humor. We also both delighted in the fact that the evil politician was from Gaffney, South Carolina, which was only about thirty minutes away from where we lived. We were even more amused as we realized that one of the plot points of an episode was the fact that the Gaffney water tower was causing highway accidents due to the fact that it looked like a giant vagina but was supposed to have resembled a peach. The tower was easily seen for miles from the highway and apparently was a cause for concern.

“It totally looks like a puss,” I agreed as I looked on.

“It does. Let’s go see it together when the series is over.”

“Totally, we’ll make a day of it. I mean, that is the day our relationship ends.” Jayden looked at me with sudden concern, then it dawned on him I was referring to our Netflix commitment.

“Nah, we’ll just find something else.” I turned to him as he held me tighter.

“Sounds good to me.”

And that’s when I knew that we had indirectly decided to start something. I was bursting inside with hope as we continued to get more and more wrapped up in the story unfolding.

“Netflix is crack,” I noted after our fifth episode. His arm still around me, he began to feather his fingers through my hair in a soothing motion. Reveling in the feel, I made slow circles on his chest with my fingertips.

Jayden would look down at me from time to time and I could see the heat building in his eyes. I was almost disheartened when I realized the hour and told him I should go so he could get some sleep for work the next day.

“I had fun,” I told him at the door.

“Me, too,” he said softly as he leaned in and I braced myself for a kiss. His answer was only a whisper of his lips and I found myself entirely deflated as he pulled away.

“Do I still fit the criteria, Jayden?” I asked curiously, revealing a hint of insecurity.

“God, that was rude of me. I sometimes say shit I don’t mean. I have a problem with my filter. I mean, it’s the truth, but with you sometimes I overshare. It can make me seem kind of like an asshole.”

“I happen to like it that you’re so honest.”

“Give it time,” he said with a look of dread. I wanted to depart on a good note, so I changed the subject.

“It’s cool. I was just wondering why the other night I was practically half naked in your truck and tonight you gave me a good bye kiss I would expect from my ninety-year-old grandmother.”

He burst into laughter then pulled me into his arms. After a few minutes of simply holding me at his door, he whispered into my temple, “I like you, that’s why.”

“I’ll take it,” I whispered back, pulling away to look up at him. “I like you, too.” And that’s when he captured my mouth, fulfilling my need for his touch. He kissed me long, hard, and thoroughly, letting me know that a kiss had been just as much on his mind as it had been on mine. My panties soaked and my mind on all things Jayden, I stood, hoping for an invitation he delivered.

“How about Wednesday?” he whispered as he tapped his lips against mine one last time, easing us out of the fog. I nodded in response.

“Goodnight, Jayden, and thank you for dinner. So good...all of it.” His dazzling smile muted me as I tore myself away, but not before memorizing his features, and tucking them away.

“Night.”