Struck By You: Players (12 page)

“So I got that job at the small firm,” he said.

“That’s great, when do you start?”

“A week from now. So don’t think I’m trying to avoid you, I just can’t make it during the times you teach.”

“You don’t owe me any explanations,” I replied.

“Okay,” he agreed and kissed my forehead. We talked a bit more and drifted off to sleep.

He woke up early Sunday morning to me stroking his massive erection. He grabbed my face and kissed me deeply rolling over on top of me, kissing my entire body. He came back to my lips and looked into my eyes. “I want to make this work,” he exhaled.

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t lose you again, Riley.”

I ran my fingers through his hair and caressed his face. “You won’t, just as long as you treat me right and we stay out of each other’s business.”

     He sighed and buried his head down on my chest.

“That’s just it, I don’t want to do this anymore, and I’m done with all of it,” he began and looked into my eyes. “I feel things, emotions when it comes to you. I think about you all the time. When something good happens, it’s you who I want to call. I like hanging out with you, watching you sleep, watching you prance around your condo wearing next to nothing. The way you listen, you see me, the way you call me out on my bullshit, holding you, the lust in your eyes when you’re in ecstasy, the way you want me, but most of all I like this, spending this time with you, talking, last night, watching stupid funny movies and you genuinely care for me. I’ve never had that – my mother just spoiled us. That was the extent of her love. Threw money at our problems should we ever have any. When Carl came in the picture, it was out of control. He gave us everything my father wouldn’t.” He shook his head.

“The truth is,” he said and swallowed. “The truth is I love you Riley,” he said and my heart skipped a beat. “I think I’ve been in love with you for quite some time actually, and I don’t expect you to say it back, but I want you to know, I need you to know.”

My sister came to mind at that point, her jabs about meaningless sex, giving someone a chance, and perhaps having a future with someone. I had to let go of Jason and the pain that came with that and realize that not all men are the same.

I put my arms around him and kissed him madly.

We made love and it felt new again. I wasn’t ready to tell him I loved him yet, but I knew deep down I was already head over heels.

Chapter 15
Mason

    
S
omehow I felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders when I told her I loved her. She needed to hear it, all of it. I’ve had many sleepless nights due to her constantly being on my mind and trying to figure out why I couldn’t get her out of my system. I’d fallen for her, regardless of what dad told us, and what my brother was going to put me through once he found out. I was ready, ready for commitment, ready to have a life with her.

     I was on my way back to the hotel room with breakfast I’d just picked up for us when I saw my brother in the lobby checking out. I walked faster toward the elevator to avoid him, but he saw me through the reflection of the large mirror behind the counter.

“Mason, you fucker, wait up!” he yelled across the lobby, making people around me turn around to see where that came from and shaking their heads at my brother’s rudeness.

“Two coffees, let’s see, you got a couple of bagels there, two fruit cups,” he said as he was inspecting what I was carrying. “I’d say you got laid last night and she’s still there” he smiled.

“Yeah well, I didn’t let her sleep, if you know what I mean. Least I could do,” I replied playing along with him.

He looked at me suspiciously.
     “Well I’m going home with Carl and mom. They’re leaving in about an hour, so drop the bitch and come have a drink with me at the bar.”

     “No, I’ve arranged for alternate transportation.”

     Just then the elevator door opened.

     “I’ll see you next week Tanner,” I said as I got in the elevator with a group of seniors.

He looked at me from outside the elevator as the door was closing. He stuck his arm inside, making the elevator doors swung open again and stepped inside.

“What are you doing?”  I asked him, keeping my voice low.

     “You’ve sparked my curiosity little brother, so I’m coming with you. I want to meet this chick,”

“What? No!”

“Who is it? Do I know her?” he pressed on.

     “No you don’t know her, and you’re not meeting her either,” I said firmly.

“So is this the reason you’ve been MIA for days and acting like a pussy?” he said loudly.

“For Christ’s sake Tanner, keep your voice down.”

“Oh no fucking way, I know who it is,” he said suddenly.
     The elevator door opened and everyone around us got out, shaking their heads at us.

As soon as the doors closed he continued. “It’s that yoga instructor, isn’t it? I was wondering what the fuck she was doing here yesterday.”

“She’s Eric Hudgens’s sister-in-law. She was here with him and her sister.”

“You fucking liar. Eric and his hot wife were at the thing last night, I know, I was having a drink with him. Blondie was nowhere around.”

“Maybe she went home.” I was running out of lies.

The elevator door opened and I got out. He followed.

“Just tell me, what’s the big deal?” he said walking behind me.

“Why? What does it matter to you huh?” I said getting in his face.

“Oh hey relax, I’m just curious, just wondering why you’re holding out on me.”

“Walk away, Tanner.”

“It is the blonde, I bet,” he began. “Bet she’s a fucking animal. Is she a freak like I think she is?”

I put the food and coffee on the floor next to the door of my room.

“Tanner, I’m telling you right now, no it’s not her and walk the fuck away,” I said loudly.

Just then the door opens. She had a towel wrapped around her and her hair was wet.

“Mason what’s going on?” she said as she opened the door wider.

My brother started laughing. “I fucking knew it!”

She began to close the door but he stepped up and held it open.

“Hey sweetheart, we’re having a party at my place next weekend and you’re the guest of honor. My bro will fill you in.”

“Yeah no thanks, not interested,” she replied.

“Sweetheart, you don’t fool me,” he began. “I know you’re a freak and you’d get down with the two of us. I promise we never disappoint.”

I grabbed my brother and pushed him against the wall. “Shut the fuck up Tanner!” I yelled.

I heard the door slam shut.
“Did I say something wrong?”

“Tanner, please just leave us alone.”

“Us?”

I pushed him harder, picked up the food and used my key card to get back inside.

     “Riley.”

She was silent. She was already getting dressed, with her back to me.

“What the fuck was he talking about, Mason?”

“Nothing, he’s just being prick,” I replied, feeling sick to my stomach.

“You never disappoint? What, you do this often?” she said turning around to look at me.

“No, no we don’t.” I needed to figure out a way to finish this conversation – she had a disgusted look on her face.

“Whatever. I don’t want to know about the things you two have done, but don’t think for a minute I’ll take part in any of it,” she said.

I shook my head. “I brought breakfast,” I said walking up to her.

     She smiled. “Your brother is an asshole.”

I agreed. “He’s exactly like my father was, we just look alike. Which is why they never did get along.”

She nodded. “But you did.”

“Law was about the only thing we had in common, but even then, it wasn’t enough to win him over. He was a difficult man to please.”

She put her arms around me and kissed me.  “Are you staying with me tonight?”

“Yes, but I have the will and testament meeting tomorrow with dad’s lawyers and Tanner.”

“I have to work in the morning,” she replied kissing my neck.

“I’m sorry I have to miss class.”

“There’s a private make-up class at my condo later,” she said biting my earlobes.

“Check out is in forty-five minutes and I’m feeling filthy.”

She bit her lip. “Maybe you should hit the shower – water is hot just how you like it and I’m feeling a little filthy as well.”

Three hours later and a hefty surcharge for staying after check-out time, we were on the road making our way back to Toronto.

     Monday morning, after the meeting with the lawyers, I agreed to have lunch with my brother before seeing Riley.

     “So tell me about this girl,” my brother began as soon as our food was served.

“No.”

“Oh c’mon Mason, what’s the big deal, you pussy whipped now?”

“See, that’s exactly why I’m not telling you a goddamn thing.”

“So she’s okay with your lifestyle?” he asked.

“I’m not sure I’m okay with my lifestyle.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” he replied “We just inherited a shitload of money and you got dad’s business. You’re twenty-eight years old and in your prime. Think about all the pussy that’s coming to us. We should be fucking celebrating.”

“Celebrate away,” I retorted.

“She knows nothing about you, does she?” he said smiling wry.

“She knows enough and I intend to keep it that way, you hear me?” I said.

He laughed. “So you’re serious about this broad,” he said.

“Never been as sure about something as I am about her.”

“Wow,” he rose his eyebrows.

“What?”

“Nothing, just surprised is all.”

“Just say what you mean Tanner.”

“She’s gorgeous, don’t get me wrong, but who is she really, other than being related to Eric Hudgens,” he began. “She’s a fucking bartender at a strip bar and some yoga instructor. Just think about what you’re worth and what she can take you for if you should happen to have a change of heart.”

“Mom wasn’t rich either.”

“She is now, let’s face it, mom was smart.”

“Don’t even go there, you make mom look like a gold digger. Dad cheated on her, what the hell was she supposed to do?” I replied.

“She was perfectly aware of what dad was like, yet she married him anyway but only if he drew up a generous prenup. She did the same with Carl.”

“Riley doesn’t want me for my money Tanner, she’s not like that,” I complained.

     “Wrong, they’re all like that.”

“Okay I’m done with this conversation,” I said.

“Fine,” he said and looked at his watch. “I’m out, I have an appointment with my lawyer,” he said putting some cash on the table.

“What about?” I asked.

“A business deal. Talk to you later,” he said and walked out.

Chapter 16

    
I
was dreading going into work at the bar on Wednesday. I had to break it off with Paul without damaging our work relationship and try to maintain our friendship without it going sour.

     I knew Paul’s feelings toward me were deeper than mine for him. I could see it in his eyes that I was already hurting him.

As soon as I started my shift and I saw the look on his face, I knew something was wrong. He looked at me once and looked away with not as much as a hello. It was a busy night and we were short-staffed so I couldn’t get away to talk to him.

At closing time, I saw him going up the stairs toward his office. I quickly did the tallies and split the tips and went upstairs to see him. 

His office door was closed. I knocked but there was no answer. I had to give him the cash from sales so I opened the door anyway.
He was in there reading some documents.

“Sorry to disturb you, but I’m just here to give you this,” I said putting the bag with cash on his desk.

He didn’t say anything, just kept looking at the documents.

“You okay?” I asked.

“Not really, it’s been an interesting day to say the least,” he said continuing to look at the documents.

“Sorry to hear that,” I began, “Well if there’s anything I can do…”

He laughed and put the documents down.
“No sweetheart, you’ve done enough. Get out,” he said looking at me coldly.

I was speechless and walked away immediately. I was shocked, as I’ve never had him treat me that way since the day I started.

On the way home, I kept thinking about what I could have done to piss him off so much. We left off in good terms the last time we saw each other. We hadn’t made any plans for the weekend because as far as he was concerned, I was babysitting my sister’s kids. Maybe he’d heard from Carl about the funeral and he put two and two together. But even so, if he had found out, why would he reprimand me like that?