Chapter 10
It had beena week since my encounter with Keaton. And we have kept to our promise, sort of. It’s more him than me. But there has been no sex. Just everything in between.
I took a leave of absence from work and to be honest, it has done me the world of good.
I like my job, I don’t love it, but I am comfortable there, but after what happened I just needed a break and as long as when I go back I am only up on the stage and with the girls, I’ll be fine.
Walking towards the entrance of Jack’s Wife Freda, Connie had arranged lunch, and I am sooo looking forward to it. It’s been a hot minute since we have had the chance to sit down and catch up.
The autumn air is beginning to get a nip to it, and I miss summer already. Yes, it’s hot and humid, but I would take summer over winter any day.
Pushing through the door, I undo my light trench jacket and search the restaurant. I’m wearing a black skort, knee high heeled boots and a white blouse vest. Maybe a little over done for lunch but I felt like I had a spring in my step.
I spot Connie straight away.
Long brown hair that sits at her waist, beautiful dark hazel eyes and a figure to die for. Sitting next to her is Reese. Honey blonde hair and opal eyes with glowing tan skin. Tall, lean, hardly any boobs but I’m a little jealous. No need for a bra and she can lay on her front with no problem.
Walking up to the table, Connie stands up with a glisten in her eye as she pulls me in for a cuddle.
“Oh my god, Ari you look amazing!” she compliments me, and I hug her back.
“As do you,” I beam, and she does. She’s wearing a little capped sleeve scallop necked cream tee, high waisted skinny jeans and chunky doc martens. She looked good. Happy. Glowing.
Loved that for her.
Reese scooted out of her chair and wrapped her arms round my neck, embracing me.
“Totally gorgeous. We’ve missed you. Brunch just hasn’t been the same without you,” she sticks her pouty bottom lip out as she steps away from me and takes her seat opposite me, her British accent thick. She wears a white long-sleeved bodysuit, high waisted mom jeans and white sneakers.
“I know, I’ve just been swamped with work.”
Not technically a lie.
“We get it,” they both nod in unison.
Reese works with Killian, which is Connie’s dad, but also her husband. I scrunch my nose up at my thoughts. And Connie was their nanny for Celeste, which was her baby sister.
“So,” Reese browses the menu, her perfectly shaped brows lifting, “how are things?” she peeps over the top of her menu, nose turned up, eyes cast down.
In other words; have you sorted it out with your dad yet?
“Standard,” I half shrug, picking my menu up and looking for what I fancy.
Unfortunately, six foot five, dark and handsome dad’s best friend isn’t listed under lunch, and I let out a sigh, suppose I’ll have to settle for the prego roll.
Crying shame really.
“When will you sit down and talk to him?” Connie asks very blasé, as if the question is a routine one and not one out of nosiness.
“No idea, not interested to be honest.”
“I don’t believe that,” Reese lays her menu on the table, blinks a couple of times and I chew the inside of my lip.
“I love my dad, of course I do. Adore him. I’m just not ready yet. He hid stuff from me, he could have picked up the phone and been like ‘oh hey, guess what…’”
Connie puffs out her cheeks.
“Do you know what bugs me more is that he told everyone else before me. That’s what cuts me up. It isn’t about him being with Amora. I am glad he has found someone, I really am. He deserves it all,” I pause for a moment, “but he could have told me, yet he chose not to. I was forgotten about.”
“I get it…” Connie reaches across and places her hand on top of mine.
“Oh yeah, I forget that Reese was fucking your dad behind your back.”
And Reese chokes on her water, spitting it out onto the table, eyes wide.
“Ari,” Connie rolls her eyes, lifting her hand and grabbing some napkins to mop up the water while Reese is trying to catch her breath.
“I didn’t know he was her dad in my defense.”
I laugh, shaking my head from side to side just as the waitress comes over.
“What can I get ya?” she looks between the three of us, smiling as she jots down our order.
We fall into more casual conversation while eating, and it’s so good to catch up with them without it being too heavy. By the time lunch is eaten, we’re on our second pitcher of margaritas.
“Let’s not leave lunch so long next time yeah?” Connie says filling her glass to the rim.
“Work has just been kicking my ass,” I say, sipping my own drink. I mean it’s not a lie, it’s just not at the hospital.
“Well, you need to make sure you’re getting a breather, having fun…” she wiggles her brows.
“I am having lots of fun I’ll have you know,” and that gets both of their attention, their eyes pinned to me and I give them a half shrug.
“Ohhhhh, I see,” Connie purses her lips.
“Is he a hot doctor?” Reese edges closer, elbows resting on the table.
“Who knows,” I keep my answers vague.
“Is this a potential boyfriend or just casual?”
Pouting my lips I look at both of them. I can’t say what I want to, which would be casually fucking my dad’s hot as fuck best friend.
“Just a casual thing, quick hook ups, that kind of thing,” I sit back against my chair.
“Well, cheers to Ari having hot, casual sex.” Connie raises her glass just as I see Reese’s eyes widen behind me. Connie abruptly sets the glass back down, slamming her mouth shut.
I feel my skin prickle as I slowly look over my shoulder and I want the ground to swallow me up.
Kaleb, Keaton, Nate, Killian and you guessed it, my dad.
Oh. My. Fuck.
I slide down in the chair, cheeks flaming red.
“Oh shit,” Reese whispers, but gets a nervous giggle and I kick her shin under the table. Connie hides behind her menu.
“No point fucking hiding, they have already seen us,” I hiss through my teeth.
“How did they find us?” Connie whispers to Reese, her eyes not moving from the men in front of her.
“Killian has that find my phone thing.”
“Course he does,” I roll my eyes, “fucking possessive demon man.”
“Ladies,” Keaton’s dark, delicious voice licks at my skin like a flame, marking my cheeks in crimson.
I ignore him, sitting a little taller.
“Hi,” Connie squeaks just as Kaleb walks across, leaning down and smiling at her, his lips pressing against hers.
“Hey baby,” he croons.
“No public affection with my daughter, thank you,” Killian reaches for Kaleb’s shoulder and pulls him up.
Kaleb just chuckles and shakes his head.
“Ari…” My dad’s voice floats across and I stiffen.
“So, this was real nice but I think I am going to chip off now,” I smile, reaching into my bag for some dollars to throw in the middle of the table.
“Hey, no, don’t go… I’ll go,” my dad’s voice trembles, and I close my eyes, ignoring the burning lump in my throat.
I ignore him. Putting my money on the table, I scoot out of my chair, and walk straight for the door, not looking back.
I stand on the sidewalk, arm out as I try and flag a taxi.
“Hey, hey,” Keaton jogs up behind me, reaching for my elbow he tugs me round to face him.
“Was this some ambush plan? Walk into where we are having lunch like some coincidence?” I tug my arm out of his grasp.
“No, it wasn’t like that,” Keaton closes his eyes for a moment, head hung low. I cross my arms across my chest.
“Do you know what? I’m tired. I have work tonight, just go in there and enjoy your lunch.” Exasperation is evident in my tone.
“Blossom…” Keaton’s eyes widen, his head up and hand tucked round his neck.
Heat rises within me at the nickname. He only called me that during sex. Sex with Keaton is… hot as fuck sex.
Ugh.
Stupid Keaton and his perfect dick.
It’s all I can think of.
Maybe his dick imprinted on me.
I see a taxi coming, my arm is stretched out as it slows and pulls against the sidewalk.
“I’ll see you at home,” I don’t even look at him as I slip into the back of the taxi.
He just stands, hands folded inside his suit pants, but his eyes don’t leave mine until we’re pulling away.
“Blossom…” the nickname rolls off my tongue and I instantly regret it.
Do I?
She just stares, absent for just a moment and I hate that she felt ambushed. I mean she was, it wasn’t a coincidence but she knows that. Of course, she does.
“I’ll see you at home,” her voice is soft as she turns her body away from me and slips into the back of the waiting taxi and I have to stop myself from climbing into the back with her.
But what do I do? I stand, hands tucked deep into my pocket and watch her drive away.
Kicking the toe of my brogue into the sidewalk, I inhale deeply. I knew it wouldn’t work. But hey, what do I know.
Turning, a grimace apparent on my face as I walk back inside the restaurant and see everyone sitting at the table. Titus’s eyes find mine and I can see the desperation seeping out of them.
I shake my head from side to side and he drops his.
“Fucking stupid plan,” I grunt towards Killian and Kaleb, sitting smug as shit with their arms tucked around their partners.
“It was worth a shot, at least they were in the same room for a moment,” Killian pipes up and I glare over at him.
“You fucking ambushed her. She knew it wasn’t a coincidence that me and the fucking cast of the Muppets rocked up.” I ball my fist and sit next to Titus.
They say nothing.
“Just let me fucking deal with her. All you’ve done is push her further away.” I sigh, slipping my phone out to see if she had messaged but she hadn’t.
Titus rumbles beside me.
“It’ll be okay,” I wrap my arm around his shoulder, giving him a pat on his shoulder blade.
“I know,” he softly nods.
Silence creeps across the table and I take that as my cue to leave.
“Would say this has been lovely but…” I shrug a shoulder up and stand. “Catch you on the flip side fuckers,” holding my hand up, I walk out of the restaurant and wait for a taxi.