Chasing the Sun (A Rebound Novella Book 2) (12 page)

“Me? Never…Your father wants to talk to you.”

“Hey, son. You nervous about your big night?”

“Hi, Dad. Nope, I’m okay. Just anxious I guess. Thanks for coming down for this.”

“Wouldn’t miss it, son, not for the world.”

Ian smiled. The sound of his dad’s rich tenor made the knot in his stomach ease, he always had a calming affect on him. When he needed advice, his father was his first stop. Ian loved his mom, she was his biggest fan, but she could be a bit overbearing at times. All in all he’d really lucked out in the parental unit department.
 

“Thanks, Dad. Are you sure you don’t want me to swing by and pick you up?”

“Your mom doesn’t want to ride in your Jeep. Something about her silk dress and hair-do.”

“I can put the top on and the seats are covered in fabric, not velcro.”

“I know, son, I know. You know your mother. Her mind’s made up. You just pick up your lady friend and we’ll meet you there.”

“Okay. Just call me if you change your mind.”

“Will do. Love you, son.”

“You too, Dad.”

Rory opened the door and Ian stood in shock. She was wearing a long, fitted dress, somewhere between rust and dark orange. It looked like lace, the old fashioned kind, not underwear. Her hair was tamed into a low bun with a few curls framing her face.
 

She laughed.
 

“What? You thought I was going to wear a skirt made of burlap with a rope for a belt? I do own dresses.”

He shook himself.
 

“No, no…it’s not that. I’ve just never seen you so dressed up before…wow.”

“Thank you.” She kissed him on the cheek. She was tall barefoot and in heels she was his height, statuesque.

“By the way, Ian, you look wow, too. I’m not usually a suit kind of girl, but I may have been converted.”

He smiled, dimple in full view.
 

“Thanks.”

He wore his light summer suit with a white shirt open at the collar. He didn’t think it was anything special, but he felt like he cleaned up pretty well. He had a nice tan going and he was having a good hair day which meant the dark wave that was forever in his eyes was swept to the side. The rest fell just below his ear in a light curl.
 

“Shall we?”

 
He offered her his arm. She took it and they made their way to his off-roading chariot.

“Ian, it’s amazing,” Rory complimented, as they walked up to the museum. Well-dressed people milled about inside and out. Strategically placed lights illuminated the single floored structure and the shallow trough of water that spanned the length of the walkway that led to the entrance.

“Did you design the outside, too?”
 

“Yes, the sculpture garden is around back, as well as four more water features. The curator selected the actual sculptures that are on display, but it was my concept and spacial parameters. Usually there’s a landscape architect, but I happen to love that aspect, so I included that in my original pitch.”
 

They’d made it to the entrance, two floor to ceiling glass doors that were now propped open so the guests could move inside and out freely. The entire front facade was glass, as a matter of fact.
 

Ian and Rory made their way inside where she continued to be dazzled by the place.

“Oh, there are my folks.”

His parents were in front of a large painting, three thick black lines and a few streaks of primary colors. Both had glasses of chilled white wine in their hands.
 

“Ian!” his mom called out. She looked lovely in a black sheath dress, her hair swept up in a twist. His dad wore a sharp suit in charcoal gray and his thin wire rimmed glasses.

She embraced her son and kissed his cheek. His dad shook his hand and gave him a hearty pat on the back.

“This place is absolutely gorgeous, Ian. I’m so proud of you!” his mom gushed.

“It is truly remarkable, son.”

Ian was struck bashful by the praise, but it was appreciated all the same.

“You must be Rory,” his father said.

“Oh, sorry. Yes, this is Rory. Rory, these are my parents, Elena and Max Radcliffe.”

“Nice to meet you,” Rory said, shaking their hands. She was at ease, not that he was surprised. His parents smiled and returned the sentiment.

“Can we get a tour? I’m dying to see the sculpture garden,” Ian’s mother said, taking a sip of wine.

“Sure. Let me just grab a drink for Rory and as soon as the others get here I’ll take you around.” Just as he said that Lucas and Viv joined the group. Lucas knew his parents and they hugged. Everyone else became acquainted as well.
 

“Lucas, let’s grab a drink,” Ian suggested.
 

They took the girls’ orders and hit the bar, which was set up in the corner behind a ten foot sculpture, of what was anyone’s guess. It was bronze and swirled, that may have been a face at the top end. Lucas and Ian threw out a couple of guesses, both perverted.

“Ian, this is really impressive. I’m really proud of you, brother. It’s been so nice having you around. I hope you come visit more.”

“Thanks, man. You can count on it.”
 

“So, where did you meet Rory? I was a little surprised you didn’t bring Trey. Viv was excited to see her. I guess they bonded or synced cycles or some shit.”

Ian laughed.

“I told you about her. She’s the one I played guitar for at the Royal. We’re just hanging out.”

“Hanging out as in coffee, or hanging out as in copulation?”

“Ha, none of your business.”

“Copulation it is,” Lucas guessed.

They grabbed their drinks.

“Trey’s coming, in fact she should be here any…” Ian cursed under his breath.
 

“Speaking of…” Lucas said.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Nude heels crossed the pale wood floor. The dress she wore clung to her curves like a crimson sheath, pooling at her ankles. The neckline tied around her neck and plunged deep in between her breasts. Her curls shined like onyx under the lights and were worn loose down her back. She looked beautiful.

She paused and smiled at them both, but her eyes were on Ian. She looked over her shoulder and a sharply dressed man sidled up to her, offering his arm. Jealousy gripped Ian and his stomach rolled like a storm cloud. He felt Lucas elbow him and the sounds of the room came crashing back.

“Dude, you all right?” Lucas asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Well, Mr. I’m Fine, put a smile on, ‘cause you look like you want to rip that guy’s arm off.”

Trey and her date reached them. She threw her arms around Ian’s neck.

“It’s gorgeous, Ian.”

“My thoughts exactly,” Ian replied.

She pulled back and smiled. “I was talking about the museum, but thanks. You’re not so shabby yourself,” she teased. She stepped back and the unidentified dead man had placed his hand on her back, which Ian now knew to be bare.

“Hi, I’m Lucas,” he said, putting his hand in front of Trey’s date.
 

“Brandt Weiss,” he answered, shaking Lucas’s hand.
 

“Where are my manners? This is Brandt. He’s a philosophy professor at the University. Brandt, this is Ian, and you just met Lucas.”

“Nice to meet you, Ian. This place is spectacular.”
 

Ian grasped his hand with all the warmth of a robot. Philosophy professor? He hated philosophy. This guys was obviously a total pussy.

“Yeah, you too. How do you know Trey? Isn’t it against the rules to date students?” The second elbow from Lucas was a sign he might be acting like a dick. Ask him if he cared.

Brandt smiled. “She was never my student. The law library is in the building next to mine. I noticed her, I mean who wouldn’t notice her, last semester.” Ian didn’t like the way this guy was looking at Trey. And he sure as fuck didn’t like the way Trey was smiling up at him.

“He never asked me out for some reason. I was on campus yesterday to buy books for fall and there he was on a bench. So, I asked him out.”
 

“Imagine my surprise. I had no idea she was even interested or I would have, believe me.”

 
Ian wanted to punch this guy in the face, repeatedly.

“There you are. I’ve been wondering where my wine was,” Viv said, grabbing a drink out of her husband’s hand.

“Trey!” Viv noticed her standing beside them. “Oh my god! You look amazing.”

They hugged enthusiastically.

“So do you, Viv. Yellow is definitely your color.” Trey introduced Viv to her douche, um date.

“Ian, can we have our tour now? Your mom is grilling Rory.”

Oh shit. He’d completely forgot about Rory…his date.
 

“Oh, Rory’s here?” Trey asked. He couldn’t quite get a read on the tone of her voice.
 

“Yeah, she’s with my parents.” He could have sworn her jaw twitched. Maybe he wasn’t the only one who was a bit jealous. Maybe Brandt was just a pawn. A pawn that was practically putting his hand on her ass.
 

Ian started to walk and the group followed him until they reached his parents.

“Sorry, guys,” Ian apologized to Rory and his folks.

“No problem, sweetie. Rory here was just amusing us with stories of communal living,” his mom said. “Who is this lovely creature?”

“Mom, Dad, this is my friend Trey. Oh, and her date, Brandy…”

“Uh, it’s Brandt, actually,” Trey’s date amended.

No one cares, asshole.

“Oh Trey, it’s so nice to finally put a name with a face.” Ian’s mom gave her a hug and his father smiled shaking her hand.

“So nice to finally meet you both,” Trey said, her smile wide and genuine.

“Hey, Trey. You look great.”

“Hey, Rory, you too.”

Ian cleared his throat. Their tepid greeting was awkward, but no one else seemed to notice.

“Okay, so now that we’ve all met, how about that tour?” Ian offered, putting a guiding hand on his mom’s back.

They made a quick round of the interior, then to the sculpture garden, which covered a half acre of land in the rear of the museum. This was the first time Ian had seen it completely finished. The landscape design looked just how he’d imagined it, this pleased him beyond words.
 

“It’s beautiful. You should be very proud,” Trey said. She’d come to stand beside him in front of the large reflection pool in the heart of the garden. The lights in the water started a pale yellow and ended in a deep amethyst. The rest of the group was walking around on their own accord now. Rory was with Lucas and Viv, pointing up at a sculpture of a large red and blue helix.
 

“Thanks, Trey. I’m really pleased with how it turned out.”

“By the look on your face I’d say you’re more than pleased.” She gave him a nudge with her elbow.

“It just doesn’t seem real yet. I’ve been working on this for over a year and now here I am walking around the finished product, that
I
designed. I can’t seem to wrap my brain around it yet.” He slung his arm around her shoulders as they enjoyed their surroundings.

“So, who’s the guy?” Ian asked.

“Like I said, he works at the University. He’s intelligent and cute, so I asked him out.”

“Hmmm.”

“What, hmmm? Aren’t you here with Rory, who you’re currently sleeping with? Can’t I have a date?”

“No,” he teased.

“That is so not fair, buddy. You don’t want me, but no one else can have me, huh?”

“That about sums it up.”

She moved from under his arm and pushed him towards the water. They were gently wrestling and laughing.
 

“Okay, okay. Truce,” Ian said holding his hands in front of him. She nodded.

“You do look achingly gorgeous, by the way,” he said quietly, touching a soft curl he knew would smell like citrus and ginger.

“Hey, you guys ready to go back in? I need a drink,” Rory said, joining them. Ian had dropped the strand of hair, but had a feeling Rory may have seen their moment…It had felt like a moment, but the hell if he knew what it meant.

The group helped themselves to the hand passed hors d’oeuvres, washed down with more drinks. Ian’s mom was getting red cheeked which meant she’d surpassed her two glass limit. Seeing her cling to his dad as he placed gentle kisses on her temple, made Ian smile. It was nice that after all of these years his parents still felt that way about each other.
 

He wanted that—love, marriage, kids…all of it. He just had to find the right girl. Had he already? Was she the one that got away or the one he refused to grab onto? Maybe, just maybe, he let himself fall for the girls he could’t have completely. A subconscious ploy to keep from finding the “one.” Who knew, and it wasn’t something he wanted to think about tonight.
 

This was his moment and he was going to grab another drink and enjoy it.

Chapter Twenty-Five

“Is something going on with you and Trey?” Rory asked, slamming the door to her apartment. They’d just gotten home from the museum, he hadn’t even made it to the couch.

“What do you mean?”

She rolled her eyes and threw her purse onto the kitchen counter.
 

“Please, don’t be a jackass.”

“I’m not trying to be a jackass, Rory. I just don’t know what you’re talking about.” The problem was he did, but chose to act clueless.
 

Men have used this tactic since the dawn of time. When all else fails, act obtuse.

He didn’t mention the fact that he’d seen a splash of red in the dark. Then when Trey wrapped her arms around her date’s neck and kissed him beside the reflection pool he wanted to run out and drown him in the six inches of water. It was a good thing he was in the middle of pretending to listen to the owner of his firm.

“I know you’re leaving and we haven’t defined this…” She waved her finger back and forth between them. “But I know it’s not just fucking. I know it, so cut the shit.”

“Okay, what do you want to know? If I have feelings for you, for her, what?”

“All of the fucking above…Ughh, I hate feeling like this,” she whispered the last part, wrapping her arms around her stomach. He pulled her into his chest and kissed her hair. The scent was earthy and pleasant.