Beautiful Liar (7 page)

Watching the dirt be shoveled onto my mother’s coffin chills me to the bone. I have never had someone I love so much die before. I start to sweat, being here right now and seeing how precious and short life really is makes me see now more than ever that I need to tell Brody the truth. I say one more goodbye to Marla. I blow her a kiss and tell her I am about to make things right. I join Brody in his rental car. Leave it to him to get a flashy sports car. He is driving a yellow corvette. “Nice ride.”

“Thanks I am thinking I may need to buy it.” He flashes his famous lopsided grin at me.

“Hey I need to check in at my hotel and make a few phone calls. I figure we could swing by there before dinner.”

“Sure,” is all I manage to choke out. My stomach is flip flopping. The valet takes Brody’s keys and I follow him into the lobby. I feel like ‘Julia Roberts’ in ‘Pretty Woman’ walking into this fancy hotel with a handsome rich man. I know my situation is completely different, but it’s the way I feel. I take a seat by the nearest elevator and steal a moment to send Caroline a text to check on Aiden.

She tells me not to worry and to take my time. Brody gives me toothy grin, and leads me into the elevator. “I can’t believe I am really here with you right now.” He whispers against my neck. Being with him right now feels like we haven’t been apart for three years, it feels so natural.

Walking into his suite is surreal. This room is gorgeous. I don’t know why a person would spend so much for a room for a few hours. “Make yourself comfortable, I will only be a few minutes. Fifteen at the most.” I walk around the room and take in the décor. It looks like a honeymoon suite. There has to be at least three or more different floral arrangements in here.

He walks into what I assume is the bedroom and closes the door. I take a seat on the sofa and pick nonexistent lint from my dress. I can’t believe I am about to do this. I don’t know how to form the words. I play them over and over gain in my head. It is so much easier in theory.

There is a knock on the door. Peeking through the peephole, I see it is only a bellhop. I open the door and he reaches me Brody’s suitcase. I knock on the bedroom door. “It’s open,” he calls from the other side. I open the door to find a shirtless Brody sitting on the bed talking on his cell phone. He holds his hand up signaling that he will be just a minute more. I set his suitcase on top of the dresser and wait.

The past few years have been good to him. His build is more defined than I remember. I know I so shouldn’t be checking him out right now, but I can’t help it he looks good. Damn good. He ends his call. “You look like you could use a drink.”

“Brody, that probably isn’t a good idea.” I follow him into the kitchen area and he pours himself a glass of wine. I notice his hands are trembling.

“Are you nervous or something, your hands are shaking.”

“You being here in front of me, yeah it has me worried that I am going to say something stupid to fuck this up.”

“I see that you still like to drink.”

“Don’t worry I can handle myself now. I just have an occasional drink.” I give in and take him up on his over for a glass.

“Your mom, she had cancer?”

“Yeah, she was terminal but that’s not what killed her. She had a stroke.” Talking about it makes me start to cry again.

“Hey, it’s okay. Just relax.” He places his hands on my arms. I can see his heart beating through his chest. Dang he needs to put a shirt on. Him standing this close to me half naked is not good when my emotions are all out of whack.

“I have been waiting for this for so long Darby,” he takes a step closer. I place my hand on his chest to put distance between us, but he mistakes my gesture for an invitation. Placing his lips to mine, he murmurs, “better than I remember.”

I know better, but I can’t stop when my body responds to his. I clasp my arms around his neck. His kisses are so gentle, so tentative. He picks me up from the ground, pushing my dress up around my waist as my legs hook around his waist. So much for talking. He continues to place his tortuous kisses down my throat. He gently lays me on the bed. I feel so safe here with him, like nothing bad can touch me. Brody knows me, inside and out. He knows how to pleasure me. He has done it so many times before. Taking his time he kisses his way up to my center. Hooking a finger around my pink lace panties, he pulls the material to the side. He gives me a knowing smirk. I watch him, placing his lips to my folds, his warm tongue darts out and he licks me one single time.

“Still taste sweeter than sugar.” He removes my panties. “Careful I might melt.” I retort. My mind is telling me I should stop him, but my body is screaming more! I give into temptation and desire takes over. I grab the top of his head pressing his mouth to my sex. His tongue delves inside me. I pull his hair hard and buck my hips in response. He slides my dress down my body exposing my dainty peek-a-boo pink lace bra.

“So beautiful, how is it possible that you are better than I remember? My dreams haven’t done you justice.”

“You dream about me?”

“Every night of my life I go to bed thinking of your face. And wake disappointed that you’re not lying in my bed.”

“Hmm,” is all I can respond with as he flicks my nipple with his tongue.

Brody positions himself over my wet slit while he rolls a condom onto himself. Gently he eases inside of me. He takes a moment to enjoy the feel of me. “Baby, you have no idea how good you feel.”

“Shhh, less talking more action.”

I awake hours later alone in Brody’s hotel room. I wipe the sleep from my eyes. I look over at the clock, it’s one am. Shit! I hope Caroline isn’t freaking out. I should have been home hours ago. I flip the lamp on. There is a note on the nightstand.

Darby,

Tonight was amazing. I didn’t want to wake you, you were sleeping so peacefully. I had to catch my flight. Feel free to spend the night, checkout isn’t until 11 am. I hope to see you soon. I hope to see you in the stands at my next game. You have no idea of the power you still hold over me.

Brody

There are two passes to his next game peeking out from under the note. Fuck! I didn’t even get to tell him about Aiden. I call Caroline and apologize to her a million times. She tells me not to worry that Aiden has been in bed for hours. I let her know that I will be there soon. I can’t believe I was so irresponsible! I checkout at the front desk, and flag a cab to take me to my car.

I can’t believe I just had sex with Brody after my mother’s funeral. What kind of person does that? Apparently a fucked up selfish one like me! I bang my head against my steering wheel as I sit in my car and cry. Yeah, I am having a pity party for myself. Finally making it home I crash on my couch.

I wake up the next morning to the sound of bacon being fried in my kitchen. Aiden is sitting in the floor watching cartoons. I give him a quick kiss on the head and let Caroline know I’m going to take a quick shower. As the water beats down over me, I let my tears fall. I have made such a mess of things. How did I let the night spiral so out of control?

I dress and join Aiden and Caroline at the table for breakfast. She slides a cup of coffee across the table to me. “Now dish!” She gives me an excited look.

“You don’t want to know!”

“The h-e- double l, I don’t now spill.” She taps her impatient fingers on the table.

“Marla talked of this baby meeting his daddy for the past year, it was her dying wish!”

“What she never told me that.”

“Here I was supposed to wait before giving you this but here take it.”

She hands me a letter.

My hands start to tremble as I read my mothers final words to me.

Darby,

My beautiful girl, if you are reading this then I have succumbed to my illness. I don’t want you to mourn for me, rejoice in the fact that I lived a happy life. Being your mother and Aiden’s grandmother was the greatest accomplishment of my life. I wouldn’t take any of my mistakes back. They brought me to your father and led you and Aiden to me. Life has a funny way of bringing you the people you need most at certain times throughout your life. When people leave your life sometimes it only means that they have served the purpose they were meant to. And if a time comes that you need them again. God will put them in your path once more. So my sweet girl love hard and live even harder. There are no set promises, just promise me you will follow your heart. I only ask one thing, please tell Brody about Aiden. It is my last request of you. I know your intentions are true, but you and Brody aren’t your father and me. You have to live life and make mistakes so you can learn from them and grow. I know you will raise Aiden to be a fine young man. Tell him his Mam Mam loved him with all she had.

With all my love,

Mom

I get up from the table and take out the tickets Brody left for me from my clutch. They are season passes meaning I can go at anytime. I get online to look up the schedule for the Red Jackets. They have a game tomorrow. I’m not scheduled to work again for another two days. Looks like I have a flight to book. I can do this. I will do this.

Caroline is watching me as I start frantically pacing the floor while making calls to book a flight for Aiden and myself. I plan to show up for Brody’s next game with Aiden and fulfill my mother’s final wish. I explain to Caroline that I didn’t get the chance to tell Brody about Aiden last night and how I plan to just show up and surprise him. “You think I’m crazy, right?”

“No, I think it is quite romantic.”

I am in a rush to get to the airport. I managed to book the last two seats available on the last flight to Cincinnati for the night. I pack a carryon bag for Aiden and I, we will only be spending the night in Cincy tonight. We have to fly back late tomorrow evening. I decide against telling Brody we-I, well that we are coming.

Aiden and I barely make our flight. I am so nervous and excited. I don’t know what to do with myself. By this time tomorrow Brody will know the truth. I won’t be able to sleep a wink tonight. We get checked into our room, Aiden is fast asleep, but my mind is racing through my thoughts a thousand miles a minute. I am really going through with this crazy plan! Aiden is going to meet his father. I feel Marla is smiling down on me.

I wake the next day after a few hours of sleep. I am running on adrenaline and energy drinks. We have a few hours to kill before the game starts so I decide to take Aiden to the zoo. His face lights up so bright with each new animal we see. I get so tickled as he tries to mimic the different animal sounds. We take a cab to the stadium. I am so nervous! I have to fight the bile that keeps climbing its way up my throat. I buy Aiden some memorabilia to remember this day by. They are selling small jerseys and how perfect is it that they have one with the name Case on the back of it. I just have to put it on Aiden.

The guy who checks our passes tells me we have private box seats. This is Aiden’s first real game and he is going to be watching his daddy play. I wish he could understand how big this day is. We are seated by an usher next to an older gentleman. He does a double take at Aiden. “My goodness he is the spitting image of Brody Case. I didn’t know he had a son.”

“I’m sorry I don’t mean to be rude, but who are you?” I give the man a sideways glance.

“Marty Walsh, I own the team.”

“Oh, my apologies sir. I had no idea.”

“It’s a shame the little fellow won’t get to see his dad play today.”

“Oh why is that?”

He leans over close to me, and whispers. “So you haven’t heard? It’s all over the news. That jackass went and got himself arrested for a DUI last night. We had to suspend him from playing in today’s game.”

“Oh,” I let the mans words sink in. Coming here was a mistake, Brody obviously hasn’t changed. In fact he must be drinking more now than ever. I should have known when he was so eager to down that bottle of wine.

“Is he here today, at the game?” He shakes his head. “Please don’t tell him we were here.”

“Well it’s none of my business.”

We are already here so I guess there is no harm in letting Aiden stay and watch the game, well most of it anyways. He is so cute. He points and says, “Dat ball ma.”

I put a very tired little boy and myself on a plane back to Miami. Tomorrow life must go on. I don’t have to teach at the gym, but I do have to work at The Masquerade Club. I dread seeing Turner and that whore, Krista. Maybe I will get lucky and neither of them will be there. If only, I could never be so lucky.

When I pull into work the next night Krista’s car is in the garage. Fantastic, I yell to no one. At least I don’t see Turner’s car. My phone beeps telling me I have two unheard voice mails. I listen to the first message, it is from my dad checking up on me the second, is a few days old it is from Turner.

“Hey pumpkin tits, I was hoping to catch you before my flight. Parker Garrett bumped the meeting up. I was stuck in a meeting with a few of the dancers when you left. Hope everything is okay. Call me when you can.” End of messages.

My stomach drops. My chest clinches. Turner says he was in a meeting. Which means I am an idiot and he is in Vegas? Was I seeing things when I watched Krista walk out of that room followed by Turner?

Guess I will have to put my big girl panties on and ask Krista. Making my way into the club I am greeted with hugs and condolences. My radar is set on one person, Krista.

She is seated at one of the dressing tables applying her lipstick.

“Hey you got a minute.”

“Hey stranger, sure what’s up?”

“The last night I worked, when you were in the lounge with Turner, what was that about?”

“Oh, um the meeting. He was talking to a few of us about the big meeting in Vegas. He was seeing if there were any of us who would be able to fly to Vegas to do a live demonstration for Parker Garrett. I wasn’t able to go because it was so last minute. Why?”

“Just curious, so who is Parker Garrett?”

“PG is only the most eligible bachelor in sin city. Girl I can’t believe you have never heard of him, I mean he’s no celebrity, but he is in the tabloids. He is sex on fire! Did you and Turner have a lover’s spat or some shit?”

“He is not my lover, keep your voice down, there are ears everywhere in here. Do you know when he is coming back?”

“I think he will be here tomorrow night, but I’m not positive. I told you my lips are sealed. Turner has already talked to me about the importance of your non –relationship staying unknown.” She puts her fingers up making quotations at me.

“If he lands the account in Vegas, I hope I can transfer there. I think he has a great shot though. I heard somewhere along the line that Turner went to college with Ritchie and Parker.”

“Who is Ritchie?”

“Damn you really are out of the loop aren’t you? Ritchie owns the franchise, they all played soccer together I think. I bet you can find it online.”

Great, I mumble putting my tail between my legs. I should have thought better of Turner. He never gave me a reason to doubt him or his feelings for me. And now when he comes back I get to make an ass of myself by telling him I fucked Brody! Maybe I shouldn’t tell him, but I can’t do that. My lies have only brought me misery. Maybe if I am truthful for once karma will shine down on me. Yea sure, I snort. Fuck now I am talking to myself.

The night passes by in a blur. I haven’t heard anything from Brody since the other night. Maybe he was only interested in sleeping with me one last time. Not like it matters, now that I know he is drinking I am determined now more than ever to keep him from Aiden. Curiosity rears its ugly head so I start Googling Turner Mathews. Let’s see who you really are.

A few pictures pop up of him playing soccer in college. There is even a photo of him standing with Parker Garrett and Ritchie Donavon. But the one article that grabs my attention is one about him giving up a chance to play soccer in
Brazil. I click on the article and begin reading more. Standout soccer star, Turner Mathews, has turned down an opportunity to play in Brazil. When asked why he would give up the chance he stated no comment. Sources close to the athlete speculate that he takes care of his older brother who has muscular dystrophy. The cost of his brother’s care is too great for his parents to afford on their own and he has given up on soccer to work to help pay for his care.

Wow, Turner really is an amazing man. Now I know what he meant about loving someone and not giving up on them. And I have ruined my chances with this remarkable guy. When I tell him I slept with Brody he will walk away. But I can’t not tell him. One lie only leads to more. I walk Aiden next door to Caroline’s her nephew is staying the weekend with her. He plays so well with Aiden.

Tonight I get to be up on stage. Dancing is a welcomed distraction. I haven’t been able to get Turner or Brody out of my head. I dress in a gold bustier. It coordinates perfectly with my black shorts and gold mask. I clasp my pearls around my neck. Pearls always make me feel classy. Trina gives me my cue and I make my way onto center stage.

The music starts, tonight my song of choice is ‘Damaged’ by ‘Danity Kane.’ It fits how I feel about Turner. I take the strand of pearls between my teeth as I slither my way across the stage. I lock my sights on Turner, he is behind the bar. He looks so fucking good. I stop dancing when our eyes meet. He looks away and I continue my routine. Will he still want me, does he still want me?