Chapter 17
CHAPTER 17
MARIAM
B lack Friday was a big day for the girls and me. Every year, we went on an epic shopping trip, braving the crazy crowds in order to stock up on everything from new clothes, to cosmetics, electronics, and whatever else caught our eye.
It was a day of yummy holiday drinks, sales that were too good to be true, and in Gemma’s case, throwing her elbows out to ward others off if she had to. Deb always came with us, too, although she refrained from physical violence. I was sucking down a bottle of water with Laurel when the text from Arland came in.
Deb and Gemma had fought their way into yet another boutique, but Laurel and I had decided to take a break. We’d found a seat on a marble planter box in the mall, and we’d grabbed some waters so we wouldn’t dehydrate while waiting for them to emerge.
“No way is this guy coming to Austin,” I muttered, staring at my screen and typing out as much as my reply.
Laurel glanced at me, her brown eyes soft, but curious on mine. “Did you say something?”
Arland’s response popped up and I looked at it, doing a slow double take and blinking fast again when I realized that he absolutely meant to come to Austin today. I swallowed past the sudden dry spots in my throat. Inhaling and exhaling, I processed this news.
Last night when he’d told me that he didn’t mean to stay away from me anymore, I’d told him to prove it but I hadn’t thought he’d do anything quite as drastic as this. Part of me hadn’t even been certain whether he’d meant it or whether the cold light of day might make him change his mind. Three a.m. promises couldn’t always be trusted.
Sure, it had been tough keeping our distance with all the chemistry between us, but the reasons why we’d decided to do it hadn’t changed. Brian was still my brother and Arland was still my boss, but the thought that he wanted to take this risk with me was strangely exhilarating.
Almost as soon as I’d fallen asleep thinking about him last night, I’d jerked awake again, realizing that although a message wishing me a happy Thanksgiving wasn’t exactly risqué or groundbreaking, it did mean something. It meant something precisely because it was groundbreaking.
It had been the first time he’d texted me on a personal level, and he’d done it in the middle of the night. I’d suddenly been itching to talk to him in order to confirm my suspicions, and I’d been right.
If he showed up at Jefferey’s at five thirty.
If he did though, I’d be doomed. I definitely wouldn’t be able to stay away from him if he was waiting when I got there. I’d already metaphorically tossed the rule book out the window and I knew I wanted him.
I never did things for myself. Ever. It was always about something or someone else. Deciding to travel had been the first time that I’d actually thought of myself and only myself, and even then, it had taken me ages to actually follow through.
I didn’t want to take ages again. The fact was that I never wanted to stay away from him in the first place, and even though I knew Brian wasn’t going to like it, I’d decided that I was going to do this for myself.
Which meant it was time to tell Laurel. As I slowly lifted my gaze back to hers, I found her still staring at me with a quizzical expression on her face and I drew in a deep breath.
“I ticked off the first item on my list.”
Her eyes widened and then she squealed, smacking her hands over her mouth a moment later when the sound drew hundreds of eyes our way. Lowering her voice, she couldn’t contain her excited grin, but she leaned in to speak to me this time.
“What? When? Last night?”
“No, uh, the first night I got to Sun Valley,” I rushed out. “Before you get angry at me for lying about it, I just need you to know that it’s not because I don’t trust you or because I didn’t want to tell you. I think I was projecting my own insecurities. I only met him that night and he’s older. Like, way older, and?—”
She reached out to clamp a hand over my mouth, the excited, happy light still in her eyes as she shook her head. “No explanations necessary. I understand, Mimi. Was that him you were messaging with? Are you guys keeping in touch?”
“Uh, I guess you could say that.” I exhaled sharply, and then I dug deep, not only giving her the facts as they had happened but explaining how I had felt about it every step of the way. In the end, I simply concluded with what was important right now. “I’m making a mistake, aren’t I? This is the first stop on my adventure. I shouldn’t be getting involved right now, least of all with someone who’s tied down in Idaho, and that’s not to mention all the other reasons why it’s a bad idea.”
Laurel didn’t respond immediately, thinking it over for a beat before she shook her head and looked intently into my eyes. “I don’t think you’re making a mistake. You’re not on any sort of timeline with your travels. You can stay in Sun Valley for as long as you want, and going after someone who makes you feel things no one else does is never a bad idea.”
I felt a smile tugging at my lips and pressure at the backs of my eyes. “I thought you might say something like that, but it just feels strange, you know. Letting go of everything I know is actually right in order to chase what I want.”
She chuckled. “You’re not letting go of anything that is actually right. Why can’t you be with your brother’s friend? Plenty of people are, and they’re happy. Boys made up that stupid rule because their egos can’t deal with the thought of their sisters as women who may have their friends’ penises inserted into them.”
“That’s one way of looking at it.”
“It’s the truth.” She winked at me. “Plus, you were hired by Brian before you even met Arland. It’s not like you sleeping with him had anything to do with you getting or keeping the job, and even if it did, he’s the boss. He gets to decide who he wants to work there, right?”
“I suppose.”
“No, I don’t suppose . I know .” She held my gaze. “You’re not doing anything wrong, Mims. Stop thinking about it like you’re breaking so many rules. There are no hard and fast rules about stuff like this. The only thing that is right is going after someone who makes you feel good about yourself. Someone you can see yourself being happy with.”
“I’m not sure Brian is going to see it that way.” I grimaced. “He’s going to be so angry, Lulu. I don’t want to hurt him, but I feel so drawn to Arland and I can’t just ignore that.”
“Of course, you can’t.” Reaching out, she looped her arms around my shoulders and pulled me closer for a hug. “Brian will be okay. Maybe he’ll be pissed off for a little while, but he’ll survive. In the meantime, you owe it to yourself to explore whatever this is.”
I hugged her back, relieved at the validation I felt after our talk. “I’m sorry for not telling you earlier. I guess I’ve just been trying to work all this out for myself.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for.” She released me, smiling before her gaze slid to the side and she stood up. “Except maybe for reminding Gemma that Tylo Designs was also having a sale today. It looks like they’re finally done, though. Let’s go.”
I nodded and drew in a fortifying breath before I joined her and carried all my purchases to Deb’s car with the others. We put that stuff away, then made another circuit around the mall before we finally headed back to Deb’s house.
After transferring our bags from Deb’s car into Gemma’s, she and I headed back to her place. Everyone was exhausted after the day, but I was weirdly energized as we drove back to the house I used to share with her.
She glanced at me. “What’s up with you?”
“I have a date tonight,” I said in a sing-song voice, brimming with excitement to tell her. “Arland is going to be in Austin and he’s taking me to Jefferey’s.”
She shrieked, almost doubling over with joyful laughter and barely managing to keep the car in a straight line. “Tell me everything.”
“We spoke last night,” I said, breaking it down to only the highlights. “I asked him if he was done staying away from me and he said yes, so I told him to prove it. He’s meeting me here, so it looks like he’s really doing that.”
“I’d say,” she agreed excitedly. “In spectacular freaking fashion, if you ask me. He’s really flying to Texas just for the night?”
I shrugged. “So he says. Maybe he was coming for business anyway. I don’t know, but I guess I’ll have to wait and see if he’s even there tonight.”
“He will be.” Her voice was steady and confident, her eyes thankfully back on the road. “It’s Thanksgiving weekend, babe. He wasn’t coming to Texas for business already. He’s coming here for you .”
Butterflies exploded in my stomach, and immediately, my mind was flung to all the new garments I’d purchased today. Gemma had chosen a gorgeous, indigo blue shirt that she’d insisted was perfect for me, and while it wasn’t the kind of color I usually went for, preferring to stick to more neutral, understated tones, it made my eyes pop like I couldn’t believe.
“You’re wearing that shirt,” she said as if she’d heard my thoughts. “I have a pair of white pants that’ll look amazing with it.”
I knew it wouldn’t help to argue. Once she had an idea in her head, it usually stuck, but this time, I didn’t even want to argue.
The shirt was fitted to my curves, but still flowing, slightly off the shoulder on one side with an asymmetrical hemline that elongated my torso. The neckline was demure, but sexy, offering a hint of the top of my cleavage, but falling across my full breasts in a way that even I found alluring.
“You’re right.” I lifted my chin, that strange fluttering in my belly spreading into my bloodstream and making me feel lighter than I ever had. “Will you help me get ready?”
“Are you kidding me?” She shrieked again, her bubbly personality shining through in all its glory from that moment until I finally left to go to the restaurant.
The place he’d picked was nice. Really nice. The sort of restaurant where people made reservations for engagement and anniversary dinners.
Having been around since the seventies, it was legendary around here, a fine-dining establishment also known for their ice cold martinis. I’d never been before, but I knew exactly where it was.
It was even another of my personal Bucket List experiences, getting to enjoy a meal here. Nerves flitted through me as I strode from the parking lot, wondering if I was setting myself up for disappointment.
I figured that, no matter what happened tonight, I was going to take it as a sign, though. If he was here, it meant I was doing the right thing in going after what I wanted, but if he wasn’t, I would stay away. From now on, he would not even be on my rada?—
Oh. My. God. He’s here. This is not a drill. I repeat. Not a drill.
Standing outside the restaurant waiting with a massive bouquet of flowers was no other than Arland Stone. His salt and pepper hair was styled neatly away from his handsome, striking features, his jaw shaven clean but clenched.
He wore a suit that fit him like it’d been tailor made. Considering his house, it probably had been. I couldn’t quite tell if it was gray or navy from this distance, but it definitely wasn’t completely black.
Underneath, he had on a crisp, white button-down shirt with a mint green tie, and the picture he cut like this was mouthwatering. The man was attractive, and not even just for his age. He was just plain hot.
Pops of bright yellow, purple, and pink jumped out at me from the huge bouquet, and my heart lurched into my throat. I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face as I increased my pace, needing to get to him sooner rather than later.
Gaze scanning the street, it didn’t take him long to notice me, and when he did, the smile he flashed me was stunning. Blinding. Gorgeous.
I lost control of my heartbeat, letting the thing skip and race in my chest as I approached him. Before I could even say a word, he reached for me, taking my hand and squeezing it. “I can’t stay away from you any longer.”
Using his leverage on my hand, he tugged me into him and lowered the flowers to his side as I crashed into his chest. At the same time, his head descended, his mouth claiming mine in a searing kiss that provided the last bit of proof I’d needed.
Arland was in this thing with me. Consequences be damned.