Fighting Desire (Bay State Series Book 2) (8 page)

“So, how did you meet my daughter?” He asks, never looking at me.

“She happened to be in the bar I stopped in one day for a beer after a run. We started talking and the rest is history.” I took a seat as soon as I came outside so his back is to me.

He turns to stare me down and I'd be lying if I said that I don't find him intimidating. “Okay, there's no easy way to go about this so I'm just going to come right out and say it. If you ever and I mean ever pull some shit on her again like not telling her you were married, well let's just say it's not going to pretty. My baby girl was a wreck. And a father will do whatever it takes to make it so she never feels that way again.” He turns away from me again and brushes something on the meat before closing the lid and taking a seat next to me.

Shit! Why didn't I think that they would know about that. We were dating for three months. I had to have known she talked to her parents. I can feel the beads of sweat forming on my forehead and I just want to run. “I swear. I would never do anything to ever hurt her again. I love your daughter sir. I want to marry her some day. What happened back in December was a really poor judgement call on my part.” I swallow hard and try to gauge his reaction to my explanation. “I've vowed to be the best I can for your daughter and that starts with honesty. I'll never let her down again and that's a promise I would write in my own blood.”

“Good.” Is all he says and gives my knee a quick pat before standing up. “I need another. You?” He asks holding up his beer can. I'm not stupid enough to believe that this is the last I'll hear about it from him.

“Yes please. Thanks.”

Fuck. This is going to be a long weekend.

Goodbyes

“What did you say to him Daddy? He looks sick.” He looks out at Brent and starts to laugh.

“Just a warning. I wanted to let him know I knew about what happened in December. I think he understands.” He heads back outside to join Brent and I want to follow. He must be so uncomfortable. I assured him everything would be fine and my father threatens him after fifteen minutes.

“Can you go let Max out please? I'm sure he's just dying to see you. I'm surprised he's stayed quiet this long.” She asks. I'm sure she doesn't want to get into the fact that I asked her not to tell my dad about what happened.

“Sure.” I say as I fling myself off of the chair with a huff.

“No need to be snappy. He's your father, he has a right to know about things that go on in your life.” I hear her say while I'm walking back into the house. I take a right out of the kitchen and pass the basement, bathroom and den doors, before finally reaching the room that was once mine at the end of the hall. I open the door and see that all of my old furniture is still in here. There's only one slight problem, every surface is littered with clutter. What if I ever needed to move back home? Max is sleeping on my bed looking so peaceful. I plop down on the mattress next to him and rub him behind his ear, waking him up. He barks a few times and crawls over my lap, barking some more and licking my face. “You wanna go meet Brent big boy? Be nice.” I stand up and slap my leg getting him to follow me as I take one last look at, in my opinion, way too much pink. I was and guess I still am their little princess.

When I make my way back to where my mom is, my dad and Brent have joined her. Max makes his way to Brent and barely sniffs him. He barks a few times making Brent's eyes go wide and he looks to me for help. “He wants you to pet him.” I tell him and join him on the sofa.

“I'm going to get Luke.” My dad informs us and leaves the room.

“So Brent, Sarah tells me you two work together. How's that going?” And here comes the third degree. I should have known better. I guess it's to be expected.

Luke sits quietly while we eat, never saying a word. He does look a lot better. Still not his best. Only time can remedy that. “How have been feeling buddy?” I ask to try and break his silence.

“Why does everyone have to treat me like I'm a damn baby? I have or had cancer, whatever. I can't stand being tiptoed around.” He growls, getting up from his seat. “I'm done.” This rather awkwardly makes me burst into tears. What the hell did I say?

Brent takes me in his arms and lets me cry while my dad storms after my brother. I don't know why I thought a visit was a good idea. We're disfunctional to say the least. Moving to Boston was the best decision I've ever made. “I'm ready to go.” I whisper into his shoulder. “Please get me out of this house.”

I stand to leave. My mother stands with me and tries to comfort me but it's just too much. “Please stay for a little while longer.” She pleads with me and all I can do is just shake my head. “Your so ungrateful. Every time Luke has an outburst you just have to turn it around and make it about you.” How quickly her mood changes when she doesn't get things her way. And she thinks I'm selfish.

I grab Brent's hand and tug at him to stand up and come with me. “It was nice meeting you Mrs. Price.” He says over his shoulder to my mom as I lead him out of the door off the sunroom to where he was with my dad earlier and bring him around the side of the house to the driveway. I can hear Max start to bark again from the commotion and I try to block it all out. Brent opens the passenger side for me and I slump into the seat. I can't stop crying as I tell him the few directions to take us back to the hotel. Part of me is mad at him for being polite as we left and the other although small part of me has respect for him being able to keep his cool. I sure as hell couldn't have if we stayed any longer.

“I'm so sorry. Ever since Luke got sick this is how it is with us. I understand they're under a lot of stress. Why does it have to be so tense whenever I step foot in that house. I wish it would go back to the way it was before.” I have no idea how long we sat in the car while I cried. I didn't want to be in this city anymore. I didn't care that we would lose money on the room. I just wanted to go home. “Take me home please, yours, mine, I don't care. Anywhere but here.”

“Baby you have no reason to apologize. Okay? And I will gladly take you home.” I have no recollection of conversation after that. All I remember is waking up to him placing me on my bed and Fenway purring in my face as she rubbed against me. She has a way of knowing when I'm upset. I'm sure it has to do with the fact that when I first got her I was constantly crying. Brent held me in his arms as I once again cried myself to sleep. Why do goodbyes have to be so hard?

                                *****

The sky this morning portrays my mood. Stormy gray clouds fill the heavens, blocking out what little sun there is. Brent's on his way back to Leominster. We realized this morning that we never got our bags from the hotel room. I had no desire to go back so I stayed here, deciding to meet up with Latasha for lunch instead.

“Why do you look like hell? I thought things were going good with you and Brent.” She asks as I take my seat at the table.

“Thanks, I love you too. We're doing great actually. It's my family. It's always so tense. We went to visit yesterday and Luke is bitter, my dad's an ass and my mom, well she just doesn't seem to see anything wrong with their behavior. It kills me and I wish I could erase what happened with Luke but I can't.” I stare out the windows, wishing the weather would change. Maybe that would help. I don't know. I do know I hate feeling like this. “Not sure what I was expecting. We all try to act like one big happy family and the smallest thing sets us off.”

“Girl you need to focus on the positive and give your family time. This is all so fresh. I'm sure it will get easier.”

“I hope your right. I hate the distance between us. I'm so happy he's doing better but it's shadowed with everyone's moods around each other.”

We don't talk much as we eat our lunch. Or I should say she eats while I play with my food. “You know what you need?” She asks, eyeing me as I push my salad around the bowl. “Some retail therapy followed up with the spa.” She didn't even give me a chance to answer.

I just nod my head. Maybe it will, maybe it won't. Only one way to find out. “Okay, let's do it.” I say with a smile because let's face it, it does sound like fun. “Where to?”

“Do you feel like taking a ride to Nashua? Pheasant Lane has all our favorite stores and a spa. Win, win.” She talking animatedly

“Sure, but your driving.” I toss her the keys to my Fusion and we hit the road.

Aeropostle was having a sale so now I'm loaded down with bags as we take our haul out to the car before hitting the spa. We signed in and were told it was going to be at least a half an hour until they could fit us in for the works. Hands, feet and waxing. Just what I need. “I'm going to call Brent really quick.” I let her know as we walk back towards the mall. I pull my phone out of my clutch and take a seat on the bench outside of the entrance.

“Alright, I'll be in the spa waiting. Just meet me in there.” She walks through the door as it opens for her and I give her a quick wave of acknowledgment. His voicemail picks up and I leave him a short message letting him know I'll see him later and that I love him. Wonder why he's not answering. Surely he's back by now. I decide to send him a text letting him know I won't be able to answer my phone for a while, just in case he tries calling me back.

“We are a couple of hot bitches,” Latasha says when we're done being pampered and I have to admit I feel a whole lot better. “So how are your online classes going?”

“They're going. I think I'm going to take the summer off though. Being back at the office makes it hard to find any time when I'm not exhausted. At least when I was at home I had time throughout the day for it. Not so much right now. I'll finish eventually. I have a great job that I love right now so no rush.”

We talk about her love life the whole ride home and I'm thankful for the spotlight to be off of me for a change. Pulling into my parking lot, I'm excited to see Brent's Mustang. “Nice ride.” Latasha lets out a whistle of appreciation and I laugh.

“Yeah, my thoughts excactly, it's Brent's. It makes me hot just thinking about what I want to do to him in it.”

“Holy shit! Are you serious?” She gets out of my car and walks a few circles around his.

“Let's go. I want you to meet him.” She follows me up to my apartment. Well technically it's hers but she calls it mine too so I go along with it. For now.

Walking in we find him on the couch watching the Redsox game. “Hey babe, this is my best friend Latasha that I've told you about.”

He stands from the couch and wipes his hands on his pants before taking her hand. “Nice to meet you. I'm Brent. But I'm sure you already knew that.” He starts to laugh and she gives me a look that tells me she approves. He sits back down and continues to watch the game. It's the bottom of the ninth and the game's tied. The Yankees have runners on first and second with two outs. Stressful situation.

We join him on the couch and watch the rest of the game. The sox come out on top going eleven innings and by the end of it our voices are hoarse and adrenaline high. “Holy shit! What a game. Sorry I wasn't better company. You know how it is.” He apologizes to us and we both just shrug.

“Hey your not hearing me complain. I love watching my Sox play. Glad I caught some of it. I completely forgot we were playing tonight.”

We said our goodbyes to Latasha and promised her I'd keep in touch. After closing the door behind her I turn to find Brent hunched over with his head in his hands.

I kneel down in front of him, take his hands in mine and drag him off of the couch and into my arms. “What's wrong?” I ask, my voice laced with concern. He looks at me and I see there's moisture in his eyes. “Talk to me.”

“I went to see your father today.”

“You did what?” This time fury replaces the concern.

“Don't worry it didn't come to blows or anything. I hate the way he treats you. We had a discussion as adults and I left there feeling better than I did yesterday. He loves you, he's just hurting. He doesn't know how to handle Luke, he's frustrated and sad. He also said he misses you. He broke down and started crying as we were talking. Part of me can understand his outbursts but the other part can't comprehend how he or your mother for that matter can take out all of their hurt on you.” He shakes his head and I squeeze him tighter as he shivers. “I'm sorry. I should have said something to you about my plans to visit him.”

Is he for real? No one has ever stood up to my father for me. “Thank you. You don't know what it means to me that you would do that for me.” I bring him in for a kiss and it's filled with sorrow. “Dinner?” I ask as I let go of him and walk into the kitchen.

“What do you have in mind?” He asks and follows me, leaning against the counter. His hair is tousled and the color reminds me of honey. I want to run my fingers through it. Food. I came in here to make dinner. Not fondle him, although the thought is tempting, it's going to have to wait.

“Something quick. I don't know, what do you want?” He comes towards me and I can't help appreciate the man before me. He looks so relaxed in his running shorts and tank top. His muscles toned but not ridiculously cut. Just the way I like them. When he reaches me he leans around me and starts to look through my cabinets.

After his search he takes his phone out of his pocket. “Pizza or Chinese?” He asks while scrolling through his contacts. I see my favorite Chinese restaurant and point to it. “Why don't you go sit your sexy little self back on the couch and find a movie on pay per view for us to watch. I'll order the food and join you in a few. You want your usual?”

“Yes please.” I lean in and give him a kiss, turn on my heel and go find us a movie to watch. I'm so thankful to have him back in my life. Wish I could say the same about my family.

                                *****

Work's been so hectic this week with both Braydon and John being out of the office. Thankfully John will be back on Monday. I miss my lunch breaks with Brent. We've both been working straight through to meet deadlines and when Ilyanna called me to see if I wanted to go to their place for dinner I was hesitant.

I can't wait to start the weekend. Brent's making good on his promise and taking me to Hampton for some much needed relaxation time. But here we are pulling into their driveway. Maybe this time the night will end a little differently. I have no reason to believe otherwise.

I feel his hand venture up my leg, not stopping until he reaches my slit. He runs his finger between my lips a few times then retreats. I glare at him and he chuckles. “All in due time beautiful. Just giving you a preview of what your getting later.” He winks and opens his door. Urgh. I hate when he teases me. Especially when I have to interact with our friends and all I can think about is what he could be doing to me if we were alone.

I puff out a breath of air as he opens my door for me, takes my hand and helps me out of his car. “You don't play fair.” I pout and it makes him laugh even harder.

“Oh baby, anticipation makes it that much sweeter.” He swats my ass making me jump.

“You're so going to get it later.” I warn as we climb the stairs.

“I hope so.” He says and knocks on the door.