Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Weston
I climbed out of bed and pulled on my pants.
“I’ll go grab us a bottle of water,” I said.
As I opened the refrigerator, I heard a key insert and the apartment door flung open.
“Mom, my phone died and I couldn’t—” Zoey stopped dead in her tracks and stared at me.
Barefoot. Shirtless. Holding a bottle of water in her kitchen. Silence filled the space momentarily.
“Well,” she said, dropping her bag by the door. “Looks like I interrupted whatever chapter of your romance novel you two were in.”
I went to open my mouth, and nothing would come out. I could close multi-million dollar deals, but couldn’t survive a surprise encounter with a sixteen-year-old.
Sam walked in, her white robe loosely tied and her hair messy from the sex we’d just had.
“Oh.” She froze when she saw Zoey.
“Oh, indeed.” Zoey folded her arms and cocked her head.
“I didn’t expect you back until later,” Sam said.
“Maya’s mom came down with a bad migraine, so we had to head back early. My phone died before we even got in the car, so I couldn’t text you.” Her eyes went back and forth between Sam and me.
“What?” Sam asked. “Why are you just staring at us like that?”
“Okay.” She nodded. “So, we’re officially at the ‘shirtless in our kitchen’ stage. Noted.”
“Zoey!” Sam exclaimed.
“Hey, I’m just trying to keep up with the relationship timeline. So, Wes. I have a question. Were you planning on telling me you were moving in, or was I supposed to figure it out from the lack of clothing?” she smirked.
“I hate to burst your bubble, kid, but I’m not moving in. We just—”
“Had sex. You know, most people wait a few months before reaching the shirtless kitchen milestone.”
“Zoey, I swear to God,” Sam said as I stood there speechless.
“Just making a statement. Relax, Mom. Try to keep the noise down if you two decide to go at it again. I have homework to do for school tomorrow.” She grabbed her bag from the floor. “Oh, and Wes, make sure to put a shirt on before I come back out here.” She smiled and went to her room.
Sam looked at me. “I can’t believe that just happened. I’m sorry.”
“For what? I think it went pretty well.” A smirk crossed my lips.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“Maybe a little.” I smiled. “I’m going to get dressed and head home.” I kissed her lips.
“You don’t have to leave just because Zoey came home.”
“I know. But I do have some work to catch up on. Besides, I’m sure she’ll want to tell you about her day.”
After I got dressed, I kissed her goodbye and went home.
Pouring myself a drink, I sat in my office and stared out the window.
I thought about how easily Samantha fit into my life, and I already knew how this would end.
It wouldn’t end because Sam would hurt me.
I didn’t think she’d have it in her. She wasn’t selfish or dishonest. She was kind, patient, and a good person.
Those qualities made her dangerous. Because loving someone like her would destroy me.
I watched my parents leave one morning and never come home.
I’d spent years watching my grandfather betray my grandmother.
Forever wasn’t real. It was temporary. One phone call.
One betrayal. One tragic accident from disappearing forever.
Sam deserved more in life than a man who was waiting for the other shoe to drop.
She deserved to be with someone who believed in forever as she did.
She deserved a man who wouldn’t look at happiness and immediately start calculating how much it would hurt when it ended.
The more I thought about it, the more I knew I needed to quietly pull back before things went any further.
She was slowly changing me, distracting me from the only life I’d ever known.
I saw the way she looked at me, seeing me as something permanent in her and Zoey’s life.
The thought made my heart ache. Because for the first time in my life, walking away was something I didn’t want. It was what I needed to do.
I took another sip of my scotch while I stared out the window. If I continued to see her, it would make matters worse. It had to be done, and while I was willing to let her go for my own sake, it scared the hell out of me.
Samantha
I arrived early to school, set my things on my desk, and headed over to Greta’s classroom.
“I am so mad at you!” I pointed at her.
“I know. I know.” She raised her hand. “I’m sorry. I meant to call you last night, but Finn stayed over again.”
“I texted you like five times, Greta.”
“What can I say?” A wide grin crossed her lips. “I was indisposed. Forgive me?”
“I suppose,” I sighed.
“Come here.” She ran over and grabbed my hand. “I think I’m in love, Sam.”
“It’s literally been 48 hours.”
“I know it sounds crazy, but when you know, you know. Like with you and Wes. Finn told me that he’d never felt the way he does with anyone else, and he couldn’t explain it. But he didn’t have to because I feel the same way. He asked me to spend the night at his place tonight.”
“I’m happy for you, Greta. I really am. You deserve all the happiness in the world.” I gave her hand a squeeze.
“And so do you.” She pulled me into an embrace.
The bell rang, and students began to filter into the room.
“We’ll talk later. I have to get to class.” I smiled. “Good morning. Happy Monday to you all. It’s time to cut the cord to your lifeline,” I said, walking around to the students with my basket in hand.
After collecting their phones, I set the basket down and turned to the board, writing Pride and Prejudice – Chapters 5-8.
“Today we’re discussing social expectations, first impressions, and why Mr. Darcy desperately needs a personality transplant.”
The students laughed.
“Sam?” Devon raised his hand.
“Yes, Devon?”
“How was your weekend?” He grinned.
There it was. The question. The one I knew someone would eventually ask.
“It was good, Devon. Thank you for asking.”
“Just good?” His brow raised.
“Yes.” I narrowed my eyes.
“We saw the Page Six photos,” Gina blurted out.
“What Page Six photos?” My eyes narrowed.
“The ones where you and Mr. Castile are having breakfast at the Starlight Café yesterday morning,” Gina replied.
“You two looked pretty cozy,” Devon smirked.
Instantly, I could feel the heat rise in my cheeks.
“We’re discussing Jane Austen today, not my personal life.”
“But your cheeks are turning red, Sam,” Delilah said.
“They are not.” I turned to the board.
“Yes, they are,” the class said in unison.
“Can we move on? Please?” I begged.
“Nope.” Devon shook his head while his arms were folded.
“Devon,” I said.
“What? We’re invested,” he said.
“Fine. I saw Mr. Castile over the weekend, and we had a nice time. My dating life isn’t today’s lesson. Look, I’ll make you a deal. If anything else develops, you’ll be the first to know. I promise. Okay?”
“Okay,” sighs filled the room.
I loved how my students thought my love life was entertaining. Little did they know that it terrified me every day.
After class ended, I sat at my desk before the next batch of students arrived and sent Wes a text.
I heard Greta and Finn spent the weekend together.
The bell rang, and the second period was about to start, so I shoved my phone inside my desk drawer.
When it was lunchtime, I grabbed my phone and looked at it.
Nothing. No reply from Wes. It was Monday, we spent the weekend together, and I was sure he was extremely busy with work.
Grabbing my lunch bag, I went down to the teacher’s lounge and took a seat next to Greta and Ashley, one of the Science teachers.
My phone was out, and I couldn’t stop glancing at it with the hope that Weston would text me.
“Why do you keep glancing at your phone?” Greta asked.
“I sent Wes a text earlier, and I was just checking to see if he replied.”
“Did you hear a ding?” Her brow raised.
“No.”
“Then that means he didn’t text you.” Suddenly, her brows furrowed, but she knew better than to keep on with Ashley sitting next to us.
“My husband and I are getting a divorce,” Ashley blurted out unexpectedly.
“Oh my God, Ashley.” Greta reached over and touched her arm. “Why?”
“It’s not working anymore.” Her eyes filled with tears. “We’ve grown apart.”
“Haven’t you only been married five years?” Greta asked.
“Yes, but I had my reservations when he asked me to marry him. I should have listened to my gut. All he does is work. He leaves in the morning at the crack of dawn, and comes home when it’s dark.
We barely eat dinner together anymore, and we never go out on a date.
I brought up the subject of kids the other day, and he blew up, although he told me he wanted kids before we got married. ”
“He doesn’t want kids anymore?” I asked her.
“No. But I do. I want a family, and unfortunately, he isn’t it. So, I served him with divorce papers over the weekend.”
“I’m sorry, Ash. How did he take it?”
She breathed out a laugh as she wiped the tears from her eyes. “Well. Very well. He told me he was happy I filed first, so he didn’t look like the asshole. He packed his things and moved out.”
“I’m so sorry,” I said.
“It’s for the best anyway. I haven’t been truly happy in years. If you’ll excuse me, I just thought of something and need to call my lawyer.” She stood up, threw her lunch in the garbage, and walked out.
“Well, that sucks,” Greta said. “Now, what’s going on with you and Wes?”
“I don’t know. We had sex yesterday at my apartment, and Zoey walked in.”
“Ha.” She laughed and clapped her hands. “I wish I had been there to see her reaction.”
“You know Zoey. She pretty much accepted it after spouting off a few words to Wes.”
“I bet she did.”
“I’m just surprised he didn’t text me back yet. I sent the text a few hours ago.”
“He’s a busy corporate man who runs a multi-billion-dollar company, sweetie. I’m sure he’s super busy. Besides, Finn told me that he and Wes would be in back-to-back meetings all day. I’m sure he’ll text you the second he gets a chance.”
“You’re right.” I smiled. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“You’re in love, and you’re already thinking the worst.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes, you are. Relax. Weston Castile has major feelings for you.”
“Did Finn tell you that?”
“No. I have eyes. I can see for myself.”