Authors: Jennifer Loren
“I’m going to get some water … is that okay?” She smiles uneasily.
“I’ll get it for you …”
“That’s okay, I will get it. You stay in bed.” She said, exiting before I have a chance to stop her. I wait for her, knowing what is surely to come. Hearing her approach slowly, I look up, laughing at her wide eyes and open mouth. “Sean, did you know?”
“Yes, I’m sorry. I walked outside for a second and saw them. I tried to prevent you from seeing it.”
“Oh my… Sean that’s …”
“Disgusting?” She nods and I laugh again. “I know. I feel like I should take another shower.” I said, cringing as I hear Rebecca moan louder.
“Oh Sean, is that weird for you? She is your ex …”
“No, not weird. It’s long been over between us. I can barely stand her now, and seeing her like that …” I make a face as I feel my stomach churn. “It makes me nauseous, actually. I will never know what I saw in her.”
“She is very pretty.” Ava said with a questioning look in my direction. “Despite her horrible personality.” she mumbled.
“Trust me sweetheart, she isn’t the least bit appealing to me.” I said caressing her cheek with a smile.
“Sean, it’s one thing for them to do that with only us here, but when Lillah …”
“Don’t worry about it, I will talk to them tomorrow. I will make the rules perfectly clear to them.” I said, pulling her into my arms and breathing her scent in before drifting off.
The next day, I kiss Ava goodbye before she leaves for work. I work out with my trainer, then plug in my headphones, tuning out everything and enjoy the view of our home while I do some cardio. At least, until I catch a glimpse of Rebecca and Joel in the guesthouse, reminding me of the conversation I need to have with them. I decide to get the dreaded conversation out the way before I have to leave to pick up Lillah. I hesitate at the guesthouse door, not used to having to knock on the door to my own home.
After some harsh movements inside, the door opens. “Morning.” Joel said still wearing his boxers and his hair a mess.
“Good morning. I need to talk to you about something before I leave to go pick up Lillah and the boys.” I look at Joel as sincerely as I can. He instantly steps aside and motions for me to come in and I am immediately met with arms wrapping around my waist.
“Good morning, Sean,” Rebecca giggled. Grimacing, I undo her hands from my waist and she happily skips to Joel’s side, staring up at me eagerly, and waiting for me to speak.
“Like I was saying, I really need to talk to you both about last night.” I watch both of their clueless faces stare at me. “Anyway, Lillah will be back here and she is only two. We would like you guys to keep your …”
How the hell to say this?
“Your escapades hidden behind closed doors, if you would?” I tried to explain.
Joel seems to understand perfectly, “Oh, Sean, I am so sorry. We were both so drunk and not thinking at all. I am really sorry.”
“Not a big deal, but I wanted to make sure you are more careful when Lillah is around.”
“Absolutely. This is your house and we should have never disrespected you or Ava like that. Is she angry?” Joel asked.
“No, she’s not. We both actually thought it was kind of funny.”
“Funny?” Rebecca exclaimed loudly.
“No. I mean, we were surprised and drunk ourselves …” I tried to explain before Joel puts his hand up.
“We understand Sean, don’t worry about it. And rest assured, it won’t happen again. We promise.” He looks over at Rebecca and then back at me, emphasizing his point.
I nod, feeling a lot better, “Great, then we will see you for dinner tonight?”
“Sure, looking forward to it.” Joel smiled.
I walk back out the door as fast as I can and almost make it to the car before Rebecca stops me, striking her usual come-hither pose. “What?” I ask her with a sigh.
“Where are you going?” She asks, touching my arm and twirling her tongue.
“I told you I’m going to get Lillah and the dogs.”
“Can I go with you?”
“Rebecca, I’m not going anywhere exciting and I have to meet with Ethan. Trust me, you won’t have any fun or interest in coming with me.”
“But it’s boring with nobody here.” She pouts, and I huff at her while motioning towards the guesthouse. “Joel is working, so I will be sitting here all day by myself. I would much rather go out with you than sit around here by myself.” She pouts profusely, sticking her bottom lip out and putting her hands in her back pockets of her skintight pants.
Rubbing my face, I swear silently, “Fine, get in. But no complaining.” I emphasize until she nods. She jumps for joy and runs to the other side of the car.
I know I am going to regret this, I just know it.
“Why can’t we take that car?” Rebecca asks pointing to Ava’s car.
“Because that is a wedding present I got for Ava. It is a special occasion car for her only.”
“So, does that mean you can’t drive it?”
“No, but it’s a little difficult to get a car seat and two full grown dogs into an Aston Martin, Rebecca.”
“So why did you get her that car? Is that her favorite or something?”
“Kind of.”
“Kind of? What’s that mean?”
I sigh loudly. “Because I have the same car, so it reminds her of me. We enjoy riding together.”
“Oh. So how is your brother?”
“Good. He and Abbey just had their second child a few months ago.” I said, trying to make a long conversation as short as possible.
“Abbey? His wife?”
I look over at her, forgetting that she probably wouldn’t know that. She has not seen Ethan since we were dating, and only briefly then. I am not even sure Ethan would remember her. “Yes, Abbey is his wife. They were married a couple of years after …” I glance over at her.
“After we broke up?” She said with a disgruntled tone.
“Yes.”
“Well that’s nice, I’m happy for him.”
“Wonderful,” I said, exasperated.
“And I’m happy for you too, Sean.”
“Great.”
“So are you excited about the role you will be playing?”
“Sure.”
“It will be great working with you again.” She smiles, patting my hand.
“Uh-huh.”
“So do you like Atlanta?”
“Uh huh.”
“Even better than LA?”
“Uh huh.”
“Sean!” Rebecca screamed.
I jump, staring daggers at her, “Don’t fucking do that!” I yelled.
“Well you’re not listening to me,” she pouted.
“You know I don’t like fucking chit-chatting Rebecca,” I said, watching her cross her arms and proceed into full pout mode.
D
amn! I should have said no and drove off as quickly as possible, my own damn fault she is here.
“Fine, what do you want to talk about?” I smiled sarcastically at her. She ignored the sarcasm and goes right back into her questions.
I can’t drive fast enough.
I pull into Ethan’s, grateful for the interruption… at least until I see my mother’s car. “Rebecca, my mother’s here. You might want to sit in the car and wait. I promise, I won’t be too long.”
“Why do I have to sit in the car?”
“Seriously?” I ask her, shocked that she would ask such a stupid question. “If you recall, you and my mother don’t get a long too well.”
“Oh. That was a long time ago, I am sure we both have matured since then,” she said, jumping out of the car and waiting impatiently for me to lead her in.
Please Dear God, let me get through this.
I enter Ethan’s house as if it is my own and find Lillah in the floor playing with Collin. I sneak up behind her, putting one foot on either side of her and staying silent until she notices me. She looks down at my shoes, grabbing one and instantly throwing her hands up to reach for me.
“Daddy!” Picking her up, I kiss her energetically on her neck until she is laughing uncontrollably. After I sit her back down I find Collin, giggling already, as he scoots away from me and holding his chin as close to his chest as he can.
“And where do you think you’re going?” I grab him and throw him over my shoulder, turning him upside down and kissing his belly until he can’t take any more. I sit him back down to pick up Lillah who is determined to be the only one getting my attention. Abbey and my mother sit watching the giggle fest with great enthusiasm.
“Hello Sean,” Abbey said, smiling as she folds some clothes.
“Abbey, you look beautiful as always,” I said kissing her on the cheek. “You too mother,” I said, kissing her cheek with a cocky smile.
“You better not forget me,” my mother stressed with a smile.
“And what about me?” I look up to the second floor, spotting Ethan blowing kisses at me.
“Oh, I’m coming for you next sweetness.”
“Make sure to use tongue, you know how I like it,” he laughed.
“Ethan!” Abbey yells at him with a dirty look.
“Don’t worry Abbey, I’ll take care of your husband,” I give Ethan a wicked grin.
“Sean Grant, don’t make me call your wife,” Abbey said, glancing at me out of the corner of her eyes.
“Abbey, I thought you liked me?” I whined.
“I do like you, but I have enough little boys to take care of around here.” Abbey said as I look up at Ethan and smile.
“I heard that,” Ethan yelled as he walks down to us.
I turn to him quickly to fend off any possible attack coming my way only to see his mouth drop open. “Rebecca?” Ethan said quietly.
“Hello Ethan,” Rebecca said with a perfect smile taking over her face.
My mother instantly glares at me. “Rebecca you remember my mother, Mary?” I said pleading for peaceful actions.
“Yes, how are you?” Rebecca said unafraid.
“Very well, thank you. And you?” My mother said, nodding stiffly towards her.
“Great, thank you.” Rebecca said happily.
“And this is Abbey, Ethan’s wife,” I said, moving away from my mother’s reach.
“Nice to meet you” Abbey said, holding out her hand to greet Rebecca, unaware of the history.
“Nice to meet you as well,” Rebecca replied as she shakes her hand.
“Please, have a seat.” Abbey motions for her to sit across from them. Rebecca sits down, seemingly unaware of the uncomfortable air in the room.
“Okay I’m going to be only a few minutes, then we can go.” I said, waiting for Rebecca’s half nod. I try to avoid my mother but she has a way of drawing me in, but her glare nearly ignites me before I am able to look away from her. I follow Ethan up to his office and try not to think about the conversation that might be going on downstairs, only to realize Ethan is staring at me silently. “What?”
“What!” I move back in my chair shocked by his anger. “Sean, how could you bring …
that
woman into my house?”
“Whoa, calm down. I didn’t realize it would be that big of a deal Ethan.”
“Well, it is.”
“Okay, so now I know. Do you mind telling me why it is?” I ask, sitting back slowly in my seat.
“I don’t like her and I never did. Why are you with her?”
“She and Joel are staying in our guesthouse,” I said calmly
“You aren’t serious?” Ethan said, slamming his fists on his desk.
“Ethan they don’t have enough money to pay for a second place here. You should have seen where they are living in New York.”
“I don’t care. You shouldn’t bring her into your home. I can’t believe Ava is okay with this.”
“She wasn’t real happy about it, but she saw how they lived and agreed for during the shooting of the film they could stay with us. Then they can go back to New York with a little more money in their pockets and hopefully a lot better off.”
Ethan sits shaking his head at me and sighing, “This is going to end badly Sean, real bad if you’re not careful.”
“I will be careful Ethan, don’t worry. The next few months will fly by.”
“I hope so.”
We sit in silence for a few minutes until he finally moves on to more important issues. When we are done, I walk back downstairs alone and to an uncomfortable silence.
Damn this day.
My mother meets my eyes and moves quickly to head me off. “Oh shit.” I said under my breath.
“Sean, can I speak to you for a minute?” My mother asked as she walks into the other room, waiting for me.
“I guess,” I mumbled as I follow after her.
“Well?” She said with her arms crossed and her foot tapping in front of me.
I have not seen this stance in a long while.
I rub my face. “She and Joel are only staying with us until shooting is over and then they are going right back to New York. She wanted to get out of the house for a little while today, so she begged to come with me and I didn’t think it would be that big of a deal… but I am really regretting that decision.” I rambled.