Chapter 24 Mission Accomplished
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
“Are you ready for another show?”
Natalie patted his leg. “You said it won’t be like your father and Brandi and I handled that situation just fine.”
Arik had told her that Rylie looked like a teen model decades past his prime and still holding onto his high school years.
To each their own, but at least Rylie wasn’t younger than her. If that was who Erin Brown wanted to share a bed with, good for her to find a man to do it.
“I know you can handle it,” he said. “I have to confess something first.”
She turned to him in the driver’s seat, her palms slick with nerves, her heart thudding hard in her chest. It wasn’t just his words, it was the tone of his voice, low and reluctant, that told her he didn’t want to say whatever was coming next.
“What?” she asked, her voice drawing the word out.
“My mother brought up your name.”
Her shoulders dropped. “And she thinks I’m from one of the other sides?”
“Yes. I told her it’s not the case.”
At least he admitted it, which was more than he had to his father.
Part of her was thrilled the truth was out, but the other braced for the judgment she’d received most of her life.
“What was her response?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It does to me.”
He let out a breath, his lips flapping as his cheeks blew up. “I don’t care about those things and you shouldn’t either.”
“Easy for you to say in your situation compared to mine.”
“Stop, Natalie. I didn’t expect you to be this way. It’s the first you’ve indicated that my wealth bothers you.”
She forced a laugh. “I’ve made comments but didn’t want to be rude. I’ve said we are from two different worlds.”
“When it’s just you and me, it’s one. That’s what I see. That’s what I feel.”
It was what she wanted also.
“Words are easy,” she said.
“Actions are too. I thought last night I proved some of them.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t change the subject to sex.”
“I wasn’t.” His hand landed on her thigh and rubbed it bringing her some comfort. “I meant that I’m not going anywhere. That you’re holding back for that reason and I told you I was finding a place to stay for six months to start and not putting a timer on anything. Do you believe me?”
“I do.”
“That goes for how I feel about what you think are differences. Maybe you’ll get sick of the fact I sit around and do nothing in your eyes all day while you’re working.”
“It’s not nothing. You’re putting puzzles together.”
He laughed. “See. You can joke about it. My mother, she can’t. It’s liable to come up. As proud as she is of what I’ve accomplished, in her mind, I should do more. She thinks that I’m lazy.”
“That’s not nice.”
“She’s not trying to be nice or mean, she’s being her. I know that. I laid rules down. No talk of my father, my grandmother or anyone else in the family. No work talk. No talk about your family either nor my lack of ambition in her eyes.”
“That doesn’t leave much,” she said.
“It leaves a lot. There is an entire world of possibilities and topics out there. That is what I explore.”
“Do you like it?” she asked. “Being able to get up and decide daily what you’re going to do? What do you want to learn? Research? Read?”
“I did at first,” he said. “Now, it’s getting lonely. I could always go back to what I did before, but I know one thing, I don’t want to work for someone else.”
“That’s an important thing to know.”
“Exactly. I want something that fulfills me, pushes me to grow, and keeps me motivated without draining me, holding me back, or chaining me to a desk.”
“So you want to be independently wealthy?” she asked, tongue in cheek.
“Mission accomplished.”
“Arik, you have to do what truly makes you happy, not what other people think you should.”
“And that is where I’m stuck. I’m happy.”
“Who wouldn’t be in your shoes?”
“But I’m lonely. Or I was,” he said. “I’m not now.
When I get into a rental house, I’ll have more room to move.
More room to learn. I love to cook, but can’t do it in the hotel.
You know I’ve got a degree in engineering.
Putting things together, building, it’s something I did as a kid, but then was forced to play sports, go to parties, events, do the things my parents felt were important. ”
“So now is your chance to be you? That’s what this is about?”
“Sounds cheesy and immature, doesn’t it?”
“Not at all. You just said what you want and don’t want.
You’re craving something you loved in your childhood.
Do it. Go for it. Buy a bunch of tools and wood and build a piece of furniture.
There is an art studio on the island; learn to make pottery and paint.
Work with your hands along with your mind. ”
“You know, you’re the first person to say that to me. My parents always said the opposite. Use your mind to make your wealth.”
“That’s their life, not yours. You be you and let them be them.”
“Thanks, Natalie.”
“For what?”
“Thanks for the clarity. I was dreading this dinner with my mother, but now it feels like anything she says will just ricochet off me like a rubber ball.”
They pulled into Molly’s Restaurant a minute later. She was going to suggest Duke’s but knew the likelihood of running into some family member was great and not knowing how Arik’s mother would be, it was best to avoid any gossip.
She opened the door of his SUV when a Mercedes sedan pulled next to them. Right away, she knew it was Arik’s mother driving, giving her the pointed once over while a younger man in the passenger seat looked on with curiosity.
“Arik,” his mother said, opening her door. “Looks like it’s perfect timing.”
“Mom,” he said, coming over to her side. “This is Natalie. Natalie, my mother, Erin Brown and Rylie. I didn’t catch your last name.”
“Parker,” Rylie said, shaking her hand. Didn’t look as if he had ripped jeans on now. He looked right out of a Tommy Hilfiger campaign. Tan pants, navy sweater, white, navy and red collared shirt underneath with the cuffs peeking out the sleeves.
“Let’s go inside. It’s a little brisk out,” Erin said.
Arik opened the door and held it for everyone. Natalie instantly felt underdressed and out of place in her navy pants and gray-and-white top. Erin wore sleek black trousers paired with a vibrant red silk blouse, the real kind, not the imitation stuff taking up residence in her closet.
Arik was the only one in jeans and a button-down shirt. The man who was worth more than them all was the most comfortable.
They were seated quickly, their drinks brought over, then Erin spoke first. “Arik said you went to college together?”
“We did,” she said. “He was a year ahead of me, but I finished a year early.”
“Sounds like you’ve got a lot of determination and drive,” Erin said.
“I do. There was part of me that missed home. I started and wanted to finish there, but did it on my terms.”
“Good for you,” Erin said. “My son needs to get some more drive. Maybe you’ll rub off on him.”
That dig wasn’t so subtle.
She wasn’t going to take the bait and wouldn’t bring up Arik’s wealth or that she had knowledge of it.
Anything that cracked that window would be fair game for someone like Erin.
“I think Arik knows his mind and doesn’t need me or anyone else to guide him.”
“Natalie is used to dealing with the public, Mom,” he said. “She’s as smooth as you are in the courtroom.”
Erin pursed her lips and offered a slow, measured nod. “Maybe you should have gone into law. Arik didn’t want any part of it.”
“Not my thing,” he said. “What about you, Rylie? I hadn’t heard what you do?”
“I’m a nurse,” Rylie said.
Didn’t see that one coming. She expected a model, fitness trainer, maybe a bartender or server. Nurse, not even on her radar.
“It’s a wonderful profession but such a tough job,” she said.
“It can be,” Rylie said. “When I was in the hospital it was more stressful. My job at a plastic surgeon’s office is much more rewarding. Patients want to be there.”
“Is that how you met my mother?” Arik asked. “At her plastic surgeon’s office.”
Erin let out an exasperated breath. “If you must know, Rylie gives the best Botox injections.”
“Sounds like a conflict there,” he said.
“I moved to another practice when Erin and I started dating,” Rylie said. “Or I should say, same practice, different division.”
“Yes,” his mother said. “I see another doctor there.”
Natalie couldn’t believe they were just casually talking about cosmetic surgery and injections and work as if it were bubble gum and candy bars.
“Mom,” he said. “What vacations do you have planned?”
“Rylie and I are going to Costa Rica in early May for a week. Work is busy for us both, so we can’t get away as much as your father can do. I take my job seriously.”
Arik cleared his throat. “What did I say?”
His mother let out an impatient huff. “It’s difficult when he’s so insufferable.”
“Then stop looking at him, talking to him, and thinking of him,” he said. “You don’t want to make Rylie jealous, do you?”
She caught Rylie’s smirk. “I don’t have that worry,” Rylie said.
“Your father could never keep up with me,” Erin said. “Even with his ongoing prescription. Rylie doesn’t need one.”
Oh God. Please let them go back to the cosmetic surgery conversation.
Talking about sex in front of her parents was never done. Never even thought of. She’d prefer they thought she was still a virgin even though they knew she wasn’t.
No one was a prude by any means, but it was just... awkward.
“Add sex to the off-the-topic talks tonight,” he said. “Mom. Don’t even.”
His mother laughed. “You’ll wish you had my sex life when you’re my age.”
Natalie turned to look at Arik and saw his blush was mirroring hers.
This might not be the same level of embarrassment as Arik’s father, but it was damn close to being as uncomfortable.