Alluring Ties (11 page)

Everyone laughs and Max storms away.

As I watch him leave, I catch Olivia’s eye. She winks at me, inclines her head towards Max, and then gives me a quick “thumbs up.”
What the hell?! Does she know more than she’s let on?!
Before I can think too much, she turns away and Micah hugs me tight.

“You ok, baby?” he asks as he gazes into my face.

Smiling, I reach up and cup the back of his neck, pulling his face down. “Yup. I’m awesome. I love you… you know that?!”

Smirking at me, he sweeps me into his arms, Rhett Butler style. “You might have mentioned it once or twice.” Then he calls out to Erik and Lexi, “Y’all ‘bout ready to head out? Let’s head to Boudreaux’s and Thibodeaux’s.”

Everyone agrees and he sets me down after planting another steaming kiss on me. We walk the short block to the bar and have an amazing afternoon, enjoying the rest of the Saturday before Mardi Gras in downtown Baton Rouge.

Erik

Six months ago

“L
exi. Are you ready to go, love? You’ve been working on that cake for over eight hours just today. I demand that you stop.”

She looks up at me and I can’t help but smile. She’s got purple icing smeared across her face and some of her hair is a mess of curls around her face from where it’s escaped the top knot. My Lexi is in the zone.

She blinks. “What? What time is it? Eight hours? No way.”

Laughing, I walk over to her and take the apron from her as she unties it and slips it over her head, hanging it on the peg. “Yeah, it’s after six and you’ve been at it since we got here at eight this morning. Time to wrap it up for the night. I’m hungry and you need a break.”

She shrugs in embarrassment. “Sorry, E. I guess the time got away from me.”

Smirking, I grab her purse and sling my arm around her shoulders, pulling her into my side. “No problem, love. I know how you get. What would you do without me?”

She wraps her arm around my waist and mutters, “Work around the clock. I have no life outside of this bakery.” We call out to the baristas who will close for us tonight as we walk out the door. When we get to the car, she pulls on my waist and I stop and look down at her. “E, I know you work like you do because of me. Just because I’m a workaholic doesn’t mean you can’t have a life.”

Tapping her on the nose with my finger, I point at her. “Can it, Lex. I do what I want with my life. You know I am over the flings. I’m at a point where I want something real, but I am too nervous to put myself out there again. The first time wasn’t cool. And things are good now. We have a successful business. I have you, Micah, and Bradi. And when I need it, I have people I can call to let loose and have a good time. You aren’t holding me back from anything, ok?”

Lexi just looks at me for a long time and then sighs. “You’re completely full of shit. Do you know that? Joe was a chicken shit douchebag, but you can’t base all relationships on how things went down with him. You are fucking amazing, E, and you need to find someone who understands that.”

I arch my brow at her and chuckle. “Pot calling the kettle there, love? You haven’t dated in seven years. You don’t even try anymore. You can’t let
him
stop you from living your life either.”

She wrenches the door open and grumbles at me, “Shut the hell up. We aren’t talking about me. I’m fine and I don’t
want
to date. It’s just not something I’m interested in. I don’t have the time or the inclination to get involved with anyone.”

Getting in and shutting the door, I start the car. “Uh huh.”

Laughing, she punches my arm and purses her lips into a pout. “Shut up. Where are we going?” Her stomach rumbles loudly. “Guess I’m hungry too.”

“How does La Caretta sound?”

“Oh my God, that sounds like heaven and I could go for a margarita. Drive on, kind sir.”

Ten minutes later I pull up at the restaurant. We head in and are seated immediately. Drinks are the first thing we order.

We are on our second basket of fresh chips and salsa when I feel someone standing at the edge of the table. Lexi and I both pause in conversation and look up. She drops her chip onto the table and I have to do a double take to make sure I’m seeing things correctly.

Yup, I am.

He clears his throat and smiles awkwardly. “Hey, Erik. I thought that was you. I wasn’t going to walk over but, well, I couldn’t help myself.” I arch my brows at him and say nothing. He shifts from foot to foot with his hands in his pockets.

Lexi breaks the tension. “Hey, Joe. What are you doing here?”

He looks at her and smiles in relief and then gestures to a table on the other side of the restaurant, where two small blond kids are sitting with a pretty young blonde woman. They all look a lot like Joe. “Abbey is moving here and, well, I just got divorced. Those two are my kids. I’m thinking of moving in with her.”

I find my voice. “Moving here? To Baton Rouge?”

He shrugs and says, “It was a thought.”

I just gape at him.

What the ever living fuck is this?! I’m in the Twilight Zone. Joe is here. In Baton Rouge. He’s divorced. And he has kids. What the fuck. It’s Joe. In front of me…

Lexi smiles again and gestures to the table. “It was nice to see you, Joe. But we just got here and it’s been a long day.”

I’m finally out of my stupor at seeing the blast from the past and squeeze her hand under the table as my pulse races. Meeting his eyes, I reply to him. “Beautiful kids. Good luck with whatever you decide. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we came here to enjoy a meal and each other’s company. Take care, Joe.”

He stands there for a few minutes just staring at me and then he swallows. He looks away at his family and then back at me. “Oh, ok. Right. I didn’t mean to interrupt your dinner.” He nods and turns to walk away. Then, he turns back. “Look, I just want to tell you something.” He stops and I swear his eyes are glassy. “I have never forgiven myself for what happened with us. I love my kids. They are the best things to ever happen in my life, but I miss you every day. Every single day. I’m sorry for what I did to you, Erik. I’m sorry I wasn’t stronger.” His voice chokes on the last word and he turns on his heel and walks away before I can say anything. Not that I know what I would say anyway.

A few minutes later, they leave. Lexi has been trying to chatter and engage me, but my mind is everywhere but in this restaurant.

Finally, she waves her hand in front of my face and calls my name. It breaks the trance. “Erik! Earth to Erik. Are you here with me, E?”

Blinking, I focus on her. “What? I’m sorry. What did you say?”

She covers my hand with hers and leans over the table. “I’ve been talking about purple aliens and having wild, monkey sex with Matt Bomer for ten minutes and all you’ve been doing is grunting at me. Are you ok? I know that had to be hard for you.”

As I’m opening my mouth to respond, a soft voice with a slight English accent interrupts. “Excuse me. I’m sorry for interrupting.” We both look up at the blonde from Joe’s table. She points to herself. “I’m Abbey. I’m Joe’s sister. I know who you are and I know that was probably not easy for you. It wasn’t easy for him either. In fact, he’s a mess in the car with the kids.” We just gaze at her as we wait for her to get to the point. “I know it’s none of my business, but I’m moving here and Joe and the kids are going to be living with me. He’s never gotten over you.” Lexi opens her mouth, but she’s cut off as Abbey rushes on. “His marriage to Phoebe was never right. It was forced and uncomfortable and just sad to watch, but they did create those two perfect babies out there. My point is… I know he hurt you. He hurt himself too, but he’s here now and you’re here and this seems like maybe you were supposed to meet up.” She reaches over and grabs my napkin. There’s a pen in her hand. She writes. “This is his number. Now you have it. You can use it or not, but you have it.” She smiles at me and I see Joe in her face. “Again, I’m very sorry for bothering your dinner.” She hands me the napkin and turns away. “Goodnight.”

What the hell? Joe’s number. I have Joe’s number. The only man I ever loved and the man who helped me to be completely open with everyone about being me. But do I want his number?! What the fuck?! I’m in the fucking Bermuda Triangle right now.

The whole time I’ve been having my inner debate, Lexi has been watching me.

Just then, our food is brought out. Has it really only been half an hour since we got here?!

We eat in silence for a bit before she asks what I know she’s been wanting to know. “So, are you going to call him, E?”

Shrugging, I push my food around the plate and take a large gulp of my margarita on the rocks before answering her. “I’m not sure. I don’t know if that’s something I want to do or not.”

She looks at me with her whiskey eyes and I know she’s reading my mind. “What are you thinking, E? Tell me what’s going through your head right now.”

I’m tracing the condensation from my drink on the table as I work out my thoughts. Gazing at the drink, I speak as if in a daze. “My head?” I harshly laugh. “What’s going through my head? I’m shocked. I never thought I’d see him again. I never wanted to see him again. I’m pissed. How dare he come back here and how dare he talk to me. He cheated on me. He married someone else. He betrayed the both of us back then. And he now has kids. Kids! They are beautiful little versions of him. Kids he created with the person he betrayed me with. And I’m furious that a part of me was
glad
to see him.” I snort and look up at Lexi. She’s gazing at me with compassion and understanding on her face and it flips the switch. I’m suddenly furious. “Why was I glad to see him for a brief minute?! What the fuck is wrong with me?!”

“You were glad, because you
loved
him, E.
You loved him.
” She takes my hand and motions for the waiter to bring the check and boxes. “He meant something to you. He’s the only man you ever loved. Of course you reacted to seeing him. It’s normal. When you love someone… when you give your whole heart to someone… they always have a part of you. It sucks, but it’s just the way things are. But it’s up to
you
what you do with it.” She takes my hand and pries my clenched fingers open, intertwining her small fingers with mine. “You have his number, Erik. You have the power right now. So, decide. Are you going to call him? Do you want to call him? Are you willing to forgive what happened in the past? Are you even open to it? All of that is up to you.”

Looking at this beautiful woman, this smart, beautiful woman in front of me, I chuckle. “When did you get so wise?”

She laughs out loud and snorts. “I’ve always been brilliant. You taught me well.”

She throws two twenties and a ten down to cover the check and the tip and we box up our food. Then, laughing, we head outside and towards the car.

On the way out, I take the napkin, look at it intently, crumble it up, and throw it away.

Yeah, we all make mistakes, but my life is good right now and I want to keep moving in the right direction. Joe was an important part of my life, but he was the past. He helped mold me into the man I am today, but the past is where he needs to stay. No time for back steps in my life. Only forward progress.

Bradi

Present Day

“M
icah, hurry your ass up! How the hell am I the one who’s ready on time and you are dragging ass tonight?” I yell into the guest bathroom of Blue and Jessie’s town house as I slip on my boots and lace them up.

Micah pokes his gorgeous, perfectly styled head out of the bathroom and rolls his eyes at me as he says, “That’s because you are infatuated with Devil’s Lair. Why, I do not know. You are with me and other than being a rock band, they have nothing on me. How do you even find all of these bands?”

Cocking my hip out, I tease him. “You sure about that? I hear Jack Lair is h…u…n…g.”

He stalks me and throws me on the bed leaning over me and boxing me in. He growls. “So, what?”

Laughing and leaning up to lick his jaw, I rub against him and purr in his ear. “So, nothing. I’m not single. I just like rock bands. They’re sexy and these guys are good. They’re quickly climbing the charts for a reason. You’ll see.” I rub against him intimately again and smirk as he groans and I feel him swell through his pants. “Besides, you’re all I want or need. But, I do so love riling you up.” I nip his jaw again.