Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Weston
The kitchen smelled of burnt cheese when I returned home from dinner at Bridges’. Mom stood by the stove, turning a grilled cheese sandwich and stirring tomato soup in a small saucepan.
“Mom? Everything okay?”
Mom sighed. “I spoke to Edmond today. Seems the attorney I’m working for doesn’t care for me as an assistant. I was laid off today, and Edmond said there’s not another open spot at the firm. I’ll find another job, okay. Don’t worry.”
I sat down at the counter across from her. “He did what?”
The thing that mattered the most to me was that my mother was taken care of. Hadn’t Edmond promised me he’d see to it?
“It’s not his fault, Weston. Edmond’s a partner at a law firm, but he doesn’t run it. They may not always have openings, but he said he’d keep me in mind if he heard of one.”
I reached for my phone because that wasn’t the fucking deal I’d struck with my father’s brother. Edmond gave me the impression he’d take care of my mother until I could do it, but now, he was telling her he didn’t have a spot for her at his fucking law firm? Oh, that wouldn’t work.
“Mom, he promised me he’d make sure you were okay for the year until the year is up and I prove myself to the board. I’m paying him back. You know the deal. I’m going to call him and find out what the hell is going on.”
Mom stared at me for a moment before she smiled. “Weston, I don’t need you to take care of me. I’ll find a job, son. I’ll be fine.”
I sucked in a breath. “I promised Dad I’d take care of you, Mom. I love you, and I’ll—”
“You’ll take care of yourself, Weston. I don’t need Edmond’s help, okay?” She put the burned sandwich on a plate and set it in front of me. I hadn’t texted her that I was eating at Bridges’ house, so she’d made me something to eat, which was sweet.
“Mom, that’s not true, okay? This is serious.”
May Aames stared at me for a moment before she laughed without humor.
“Weston, son, I’ve taken care of myself for years before I married your father.
I fell in love with him, but there were complications, as you well know.
I’ll take care of myself, Weston, and you worry about you.
You’re working very hard, I know, but you need to take some time for fun. ”
Mom went into the bathroom, closing the door. A minute later I heard water rushing into the tub. Her favorite thing was to take a soak with bubbles, candles, and some relaxing music. I felt guilty that she didn’t get to do it more.
Take some time for fun? I had the pressure of a million pounds on my shoulders to ensure my mother was going to be okay. I loved my dad, but I wanted to pummel him into the pavement for what he did to her.
Maybe I wasn’t the best son for him? I was a spoiled brat, for sure, but I cared about my parents. Perhaps I let Claude down while I was in my teens. I didn’t mean to do it, but how many kids had their shit together at eighteen?
My phone chimed on the island counter with a text.
West—I wanted to tell you that if you don’t want to deal with the messenger job, I’ll hire you here for a salary, not just to bank hours. There are administrative things that you could do that Alexis and I both dislike. Think about it. We can discuss it tomorrow. Bridges
I had a damn MBA so I should be able to do any tasks he required, but I knew someone else who could do administrative tasks better than me. I sent him a response.
I’ll weather through at Superior, but if you need someone to handle admin stuff, my mom needs a job.
Edmond was supposed to have an opening for her at his law firm, but the position was filled.
Mom won’t accept financial assistance from you without doing something in return, so if you still want to help us, could you hire her? West
Three dots appeared and disappeared several times before my phone rang. I checked the screen to see it was Bridges. “Hello?”
“Hey. I read your text, and I’m surprised. You said you and your mother would figure things out, so are you not having luck?”
I sighed. “She was counting on Uncle Edmond to help her find a job, but he told her the guy she worked for didn’t like her style.
I’ll keep working at the messenger service, but Mom could really use the job.
Her experience is great, but it’s not current.
She didn’t go back to work after she had me, but she’s really smart, Bridges.
She can come up to speed in record time, I swear. ”
Yes, I was begging, but I’d do anything for her. She’d kill me if she knew what I was asking of him, even if it was a good opportunity for her.
He didn’t answer for a moment, which had me worried that I’d pushed him too far. I definitely didn’t want to upset him after he’d already done so much for me.
“You know what? Never mind, Bridges. I’m putting you in a bad spot, so forget I asked. I need to go. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I hung up just as Mom came back into the kitchen in her bathrobe. “You want a glass of wine?” She opened the fridge and pulled out the bottle of wine she’d opened the previous night.
“No thanks. I’m going to shower and turn in early. Night, Mom. Love you.” I kissed her cheek and grabbed my phone before going upstairs. Why was life fucking with me?
After a quick shower, I went to my room and slid into bed, seeing a missed call from Bridges. My phone buzzed in my hand, and I dropped it on my duvet cover, scrambling to pick it up before he ended the call. “Hello?”
“Hey. Everything okay? You hung up kinda fast.”
“Yeah, sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you about the job. It’s not your place to help me with my problems, and I appreciate everything you’re already doing for me. Please, don’t worry about it.”
“Really, West, it’s fine. I didn’t mind, and if your mother needs a job, I can find something for her to do. Look, Claude has put you and your mother in a shitty position, and I don’t mind helping. I’ll see what I can come up with. I know you’ll probably say no, but I could loan you some money?”
Now way. Uh-uh. Never would I ever borrow money from that handsome man. I’d have to get another job on weekends.
“Thank you, but no. I appreciate the offer, but I’ll handle it. You’re already helping me so much. Again, thanks.” We said goodnight and hung up.
I grabbed my laptop from my nightstand and booted it up, going to a popular job-search site. “Okay, Universe. What’s out there for a part-time job?”
No doubt, I wouldn’t find anything in my field of study that only required one to work on Saturday and Sunday, so I skipped all the business options and went right to the hourly pay jobs.
“Barista? I like coffee, but can I make coffee?” Not well enough for it to be consumed by another human.
Moving on. “Deliveries. I know I can deliver shit, contrary to that BS I got from Andi this afternoon. It had to be Hank, the guy who answered the phones at Superior, who got the addresses mixed up when he gave me the ticket. Hmm…” Does Hank have it in for me?
I scrolled through the various job openings for delivery drivers until I stumbled across one that was something I could do—delivering food for a bakery and deli in my neighborhood.
I could get miles in and make some money.
I didn’t get tips from delivering packages to businesses in Manhattan, but I was pretty sure people tipped for food deliveries.
I quickly filled out an online application and sent it off.
Fingers crossed!
Friday morning, I rode my bike over to Eaton’s Cycles with my backpack filled with stuff I’d need for the Katy Trail ride.
We were flying into St. Louis to pick up a rental RV for Alexis and her girlfriend to accompany us.
The trail ran along the northern bank of the Missouri River.
There were highways and multiple access points to the trail for us to meet up with our support team, so I was excited. I also had some good news to share.
I rang the bell, and when a grinning Bridges answered the door, I was once again gobsmacked by how stunningly handsome he was.
“Come in, Weston. You can leave your bike here. I shipped the Elite Hybrid bikes to the hotel where we’re staying near the trailhead in St. Charles. You got everything you need?”
“Yeah, uh,” I pulled off my backpack and extended it to him if he wanted to see for himself.
He laughed. “I’m not going to check. You know what you needed from our last ride, so I trust that you brought all the things you need. As soon as Alexis and Steph get here, we’ll head to the airport. Do you want something to eat or drink?”
“I’m good, thanks. So, uh, again, I’m sorry about asking you to hire my mom. I overstepped, and I don’t want to make things weird between us.” My stomach had been twisted up since that phone call.
Bridges opened his arms. “Come here. There wasn’t a line to overstep, okay? No weirdness here.” He wrapped his arms around my shoulders and hugged me tight. My arms stayed at my sides because I was afraid I’d grab onto him and not let go.
My dick decided to inflate like a tube man in front of a car dealership. I shifted my hips back, and he quickly released me. “Sorry,” he said as he stepped back.
“No, no. I’m just—uh, may I use your restroom?”
He pointed as I rushed by him and down the hallway, closing myself into the bathroom to try to calm my dick. “You’re not getting any action. Get over it.” God, Bridges was tempting.
Once things had settled in my pants, I returned to the office where Bridges and Alexis worked, finding Alexis had arrived with a woman I assumed was her girlfriend. I stepped forward and extended my hand. “I’m Weston Aames. You’re being dragged into this trip because of me, so thank you.”
“Stephanie Williams, and it’s not a problem. I read that the Midwest is gorgeous this time of year with all the fall colors, so I’m excited. I’m looking forward to getting to know you, too. Alexis speaks highly of you.”
“Okay, everyone ready?” Bridges rubbed his hand together like my father used to do. It was no surprise. They’d spent a lot of time together before Dad died.
We grabbed our bags and went out to Bridges’ SUV so he could drive us to the airport, piling everything in the back. The ladies hopped into the rear seats and I rode shotgun next to Bridges.
Alexis recited Things to Do Along the Katy Trail information she’d found on her phone during our commute to Newark Liberty International Airport. Bridges laughed when she mentioned, “…and there’s an abandoned state penitentiary that’s allegedly haunted near Jefferson City.”
“You really wanna visit a penitentiary where prisoners probably died in agonizing ways?” Bridges glanced in the rearview mirror toward Alexis.
“It’s not me. My woman has a sick interest in ghosts and haunted places. Nobody would ever believe she was a pediatric NICU nurse.” Alexis leaned over to kiss Stephanie on the cheek.
“There will be plenty of places to visit that are near the trail, so you figure out what you want to do while we’re biking and enjoy yourselves.
Alexis, you have your company credit card so put everything on that.
Tonight, you’ll stay in a hotel in St. Charles.
That’s where the bikes were shipped. We’ll be staying at the campground outside town, so you’ll need to get a rideshare to pick up the camper in the morning. I’d like to be on the trail by six.”
Both women nodded.
“Saturday night we’ll stay in the town of Mokane, so you’ve got the day to get there.
It’s about a hundred and twelve miles. I made a reservation for you ladies at a small bed and breakfast. West and I are staying at a campground nearby.
They have a small café there to get breakfast. Sound good? ” Bridges asked.
“Sounds great,” Alexis said as Stephanie and I nodded.
We arrived at the airport, and Bridges valet parked his SUV. Thankfully, it was after seven at night, so the lines for checking in and going through security weren’t horrendous.
Once we were on the plane, I was surprised to find Bridges had booked the four of us into first class. It felt like old times traveling with my mother and father.
Of course, the dollar signs were piling up on the debt I was incurring with Bridges. God, everything had to work out precisely, or I was so screwed.