28
C ruz opened the front door, then stepped aside for Erin to enter. They were having lunch with their parents and officially introducing her. Lunch instead of dinner had been decided on because of the auction event that evening, and they wanted to do it before Cruz left tomorrow afternoon. His mother must have been keeping an ear out for the door because she was coming down the hallway no sooner than it closed.
“Erin, so good to see you again,” she greeted, pulling their girlfriend into a hug.
“You too, Ms. Lena,” Erin responded, returning the hug.
“Please, just Lena. Hey, boys.” She kissed both of their cheeks after releasing Erin. “Lunch is almost finished. Come.”
They followed her into the kitchen, where Ancel was seated. When they entered, he stood and approached them.
“Papa, this is our girlfriend, Erin,” Paetyn started. “This is my father, Ancel.”
“It’s nice to meet you officially since we’ve met once,” Erin stated, smiling at Ancel.
The older man furrowed his brow momentarily before a lightbulb went off. “Ah, yes. It was a good time, no?” Ancel asked with a teasing smile.
“What are we missing?” Cruz asked.
“Oh, nothing, nothing,” Ancel responded. “Come, Picardias. The boys tell me you’re a tattoo artist, and I have something I think you might like.” He placed his hand on Erin’s back and steered her from the kitchen. “No need for the two of you to come. You’ve already seen it,” he threw over his shoulder to him and Paetyn, pulling a laugh from Erin and a snort from his mother.
Cruz could only shake his head as he went over and sat at the bar, Paetyn following suit. He would ask if his mother needed help, but she’d turn him down as usual. Instead, they would keep her company while Ancel showed Erin whatever he thought she would appreciate.
“You better be careful, or your father’s going to try to steal your girlfriend.”
They both chuckled at his mother’s words. “He can try,” Cruz responded. “But he won’t succeed.”
“Besides, we all know he’s whipped,” Paetyn added.
“The same way the two of you are for Erin,” she responded readily. “I didn’t miss how the two of you looked at her during Thanksgiving at Nik’s. She might have, but I didn’t.”
“You’ve got us there, Mama.”
“Good. It’s about time you two settled down because I’m not getting any younger and—”
“Lena,” Paetyn interrupted with a groan. “Please don’t start the grandchildren talk.”
“Paetyn, do you know the most efficient way to ensure we don’t have this talk? It’s to give me a grandchild,” his mother countered, and Cruz snorted. Of course, it was. It wasn’t like they were opposed; they didn’t want to rush Erin.
They caught up on a few things that had gone on since the last time they’d spoken, which had only been a few days. She told them that she and Ancel were going on a vacation in a few weeks. She said it was nothing special, but they wanted to get away for a few days.
When lunch was ready twenty minutes later, she walked to the kitchen entry and yelled for Ancel to bring Erin back because it was time for lunch. Cruz refrained from rolling his eyes. If he, Paetyn, or Ancel yelled in the house, they would hear her mouth, but it was fine if she was the one doing the yelling.
He and Paetyn were bringing serving dishes to the table when the two walked in a couple of minutes later. Erin shook her head as she laughed, and Ancel looked quite pleased with himself.
“Okay, you old flirt. That’s enough. I’m sure the boys don’t want you monopolizing their girlfriend,” his mother stated.
“Yes, yes,” Ancel responded, letting go of Erin’s hand, and Cruz pulled a chair out for her.
“Thank you, baby,” she stated, taking a seat.
Lena started the conversation when they were seated, passing the dishes around and filling their plates. “I take it the two of you met at the wedding,” she directed towards Erin and Ancel.
“We did, “Erin responded. “I was coming down the hallway and tripped. Ancel was nice enough to catch me.”
“I told her I’d never seen an angel fall from heaven personally, but I was glad I lived to see it,” Ancel added.
His mother laughed while he snorted, and Paetyn shook his head. “How corny, Papa,” he stated.
“Says the man who calls me angel,” Erin supplied.
“She’s got you there,” Cruz stated with a chuckle.
“Our boys have been treating you well, right Erin?” his mother asked.
“They have. Sometimes it still feels like a bit much, but I know their intentions are good, and I’m working on allowing others to help me and do things for me.”
“Good because we didn’t raise them to be dismissive and inattentive,” Ancel stated.
“I can assure you, they are far from those things. If anything, they might be too attentive, but it works because they can always tell when I need something, even if I haven’t figured it out yet. You raised excellent men. Trust me.”
“How do you feel about this dynamic? About the relationship the three of you have?” Ancel asked.
“It’s different, but I find myself enjoying it more. It’s a new type of experience, and I suppose when you jump into something like this, you can make mistakes before it begins. Because this was new for me, I appreciate how they went about it, sitting me down and talking to me, answering my questions; it helped make the initial steps easier.”
“It takes patience,” Lena stated. “I was unsure how they would make this work the first time they introduced us to someone they were dating, but I chalked it up to them being young and it being a passing thing. Over time, I realized this works for them. They know what they’re looking for, and if neither of them felt excluded or forgotten, then Ancel and I would support their decisions.”
Cruz listened to Erin hum in acknowledgment. Their parents always liked to ask the women they dated how they felt about the relationship and discuss it with them. It wasn’t that they didn’t trust his and Paetyn’s decisions, but they liked to know for sure that the woman they were with was in it for the same reason they were: to build a future and not just a fun time that could be checked off the bucket list.
“I can see why that would be a concern, but everyone is going to come into this differently or have some idealistic expectations that aren’t reality. These are two different men. For me, excluding one or forgetting one seems impossible.” She paused for a moment, looking between him and Paetyn. “My mindset isn’t to want the same things from them because they aren’t the same person. There are things that I know I’ll get from one and not the other. Things that I know will be different when doing it with one than the other.
I know Cruz will call me on my mess bluntly, while Paetyn will take a different approach. In that same aspect, I know I can get away with it more times with Cruz than with Paetyn.”
The table chuckled at her statement, but she was correct. Cruz assumed she’d figured out those nights in their playrooms that he would give her more chances when she broke the rules and acted like a brat, and she’d probably assumed it would translate outside the bedroom. She wasn’t wrong.
“I also know I can get many of the same things I need from them. So, no worries about me only trying it out,” Erin concluded, smiling at his mother, and she returned it.
“Good,” his mother responded as Ancel nodded. “Tell us more about yourself. Do you have any siblings?”
He and Paetyn moved simultaneously. Cruz placed his hand on her thigh and gave it a soft squeeze while Paetyn grabbed her free hand.
“I did. She passed when we were younger.”
“I’m sorry, Picardias,” Ancel stated, and Erin gave him a small smile.
His mother, sensing the mood change, quickly switched the subject. “So, Erin, have you thought about kids?”
“Mama,” Cruz stated in warning, at the same time Paetyn said, “Really, Lena?”
Erin laughed, and the question seemed to have his mother’s intended effect, though he knew she was also asking seriously.
“I hadn’t, but I’m not opposed to having children in the future…with the right men.”
He and Paetyn looked at her, but she wouldn’t meet either of their eyes as she took a bite of pasta. The conversation continued and shifted to other topics. Still, Cruz could feel the excitement beaming off his mother and knew Erin’s answer had only increased her pestering for grandchildren.
E rin was looking at a glass-blown piece displayed for the silent auction with Chayse and Alijah. It was a beautiful piece, and Alijah was having a hard time deciding what to bid on it. She wanted the piece but didn’t want to go overboard on her bid.
“Bid what you’re comfortable with, and if you lose, you can commission them to make you something,” Chayse suggested. She took out her phone and snapped a picture of the artist’s contact information next to the piece. “I’ll text this to you.”
Alijah nodded, writing her name and bid down and placing it in the locked box on a small table beside it. “Are the two of you bidding on anything?”
“I thought about it, but I might pass. I don’t want to fork over far more than something is worth to have, even for charity. I’d rather donate, and in the words of Kevin Hart, the way my bank account is set up…” Chayse trailed off, and the three laughed.
“Don’t act like Nik wouldn’t foot the bill for whatever it was you wanted,” Erin stated.
“The same way Paetyn and Cruz would for you. So, why aren’t you bidding?”
“That’s different. I’m still taking baby steps when they want me to spend their money freely, especially since we’ve only been together for almost five months. You and Nik have been together for over a year, and Alijah and Kieran are married. The two of you bidding makes sense.”
“I get that,” Alijah started. “I had the same issue, and I still do at times, but I realized after we got married that as long as I’m not abusing the trust he’s put into me, then indulging myself sometimes is fine.”
“I think I’m almost to that point where I can accept that, but Nik’s ass was hella extra in getting me there,” Chayse stated with an eye roll.
“What happened?” Erin asked as they walked to a corner with fewer people.
“He told me he forgot a vendor was stopping by Paradise 826 to deliver some things and pick up payment. He said he was busy and couldn’t get away, so he asked me to meet the vendor and give him the check from his office. I agreed, and when I got there and unlocked his desk, I found the checkbook, but they were all blank. I call him and tell him he didn’t leave a check for the vendor, and he says, ‘I know, love, write him one.’ When I told him I wouldn’t forge his signature, he asked me why I needed to do that when he’d added me to his accounts.
When I tell you, I was so mad at him because it clicked that he had me sign some papers. I can’t remember what excuse he gave me when he was doing that. Admittedly, I should have looked at what I was signing, but I was editing pictures since my deadline was approaching.”
“He added you to all of them?” Erin asked.
“All of his personal ones, and one he uses to pay suppliers for all his clubs and lounges,” Chayse clarified. “So make peace, honey, and spend some now and then before they pull some shit like that on you.”
“I have,” Erin stated, though she was sure those didn’t count because once had been to order lunch for her and her employees when Cruz told her to, and the other was for the outfit she was currently wearing, but again, it was because Paetyn had given her his card to do so. “Besides, I don’t think they’d do that.”
Alijah hummed. “Paetyn might not, but Cruz is a different story. I feel like he and Kieran are the same person, just in different fonts, and Kieran would have done that had I continued to refuse to sign those documents after he proposed.”
Erin thought about it and hated admitting that her friend was right. Paetyn would not, but she could see Cruz trying it primarily since he’d used a game to push her towards accepting their actions quicker.
“Hello, ladies,” a woman spoke as she approached them with two other women. “I wanted to introduce myself. Alijah Cayman, correct?” she asked, eyes on Alijah.
“Yes.”
“Thought so. I’m Lilian Finch. Our husbands do business together.”
Erin caught the snort Chayse was trying to cover up, and she knew there was tea there. She made a mental note to ask her about it later. It seemed like she wasn’t the only one who heard it as Lilian slid her eyes to Chayse.
“I don’t believe they do, but nice to meet you,” Alijah responded. Erin knew her friend was being nice. As his personal assistant, she would know his business contacts.
“I wanted to congratulate you on the nuptials.”
“Thank you.”
“It’s quite the accomplishment—tying down Kieran Cayman, and you aren’t even pregnant,” Lilian said, looking Alijah over.
“You’re rude and out of line,” Erin informed her.
“I’m just making an observation. We all know it happens like that at times. That was the case for me. I don’t think Victor and I would have gotten married otherwise.”
“So…you trapped him,” Chayse stated because it was not a question.
“I secured my future and my future past him. I get a nice little settlement according to our prenup. I wanted to have options, but you’re young and optimistic. When you get it, I’m sure you’ll be glad for that little guaranteed payout since I’m sure Kieran was quite generous. What will you walk away with?”
Alijah shook her head. “No,” she stated.
“You get nothing out of it?” Lilian asked as if she was appalled, and the two women with her looked embarrassed. “You poor girl. You should have been smarter and asked for something.”
Alijah opened her mouth to say something, but this woman was getting on Erin’s nerves, and she beat her to it. “You give women a bad name. Going around, trapping men into marriages, and then pocket-watching everyone else because you’re actually miserable with your life. You want to make yourself look so fucking important and above everyone else, but you just come off looking desperate and shallow. I pity you, and I’m sure there’s a long line of people for me to get behind.”
Erin could tell she’d hit a nerve by the way Lilian’s eye began to twitch. The women behind her seemed stunned and amused. She would guess they were always putting up with this woman’s bullshit.
“Women like me?” Lilian asked with a scoff. “You don’t have room to talk. I saw you walk in on Paetyn Silva’s arm, and then I saw you kiss Cruz Adair in the hallway. People that live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.”
“Girl, my house is made of the sturdiest brick with the best foundation. So, with all the disrespect I can muster, bitch fuck you.”
Erin felt an arm wrap around her waist, pulling her back into a chest. She didn’t have to look to know that it was Paetyn. Kieran stood beside Alijah a few seconds later, his arm around her waist.
“What’s going on?” Kieran asked.
“We were having a pleasant conversation, and then this one,” Lilian stated, pointing at Erin. “Decided to attack me verbally.”
“This one is about to break your fucking finger and chop you in the throat,” Erin responded with a smile.
“Angel,” Paetyn warned.
Erin ignored it. “We weren’t having a pleasant conversation. You were just being nosey. Who asks someone what they’re getting according to their prenup if they get divorced?”
Cruz and Nik joined them. The latter went to stand behind Chayse, one of his arms over her shoulders, while Cruz stood next to her and Paetyn.
“I simply stated that I’m sure he was generous,” Lilian said, and Erin looked that bitch upside her head because that was not all she’d said.
“I wasn’t generous,” Kieran stated. “Because I didn’t ask her to sign one.”
Lilian’s eyes doubled in size, and Erin didn’t understand why she was so worried about other people. “What?” she asked, shocked.
“I guess that means I love and trust my wife more than your husband trusts you,” Kieran drove the nail home. Alijah stuck her tongue in her cheek to keep from laughing while Chayse giggled, and a shit-eating grin spread across Erin’s face.
Lilian’s eyes swept over them in embarrassment, and when they shifted between Paetyn and Cruz, they seemed to light up. Not today, bitch, Erin thought. She leaned back against Paetyn, angling her head to kiss his chin. A second later, he dropped a kiss on her lips. She pulled Cruz to stand in front of her before pulling him down to kiss him. Erin refrained from flipping Lilian off while doing so and was proud of herself.
The noise the other woman let out was laughable, and she was stomping away when Erin looked around Cruz.
“She and her husband are quite the pair,” Alijah stated.
“She’s going to stroke out on the other side of the room now, Erin,” Chayse laughed.
Erin shrugged. “Fuck her. Let this be a lesson to stay out of other people’s business.”
Cruz retook his original position. “Where are Remy and Lawrence?” he asked.
“They left,” Chayse supplied. “Remy said he had other things to do.”
“Other things being Lawrence,” Nik replied.
“Doing other things doesn’t sound like a bad idea,” Cruz stated, and Erin could feel his eyes on her.
“I agree,” Kieran cosigned. “Let’s go home, gorgeous,”
“I can’t think of a reason for us to stay any longer,” Nik stated.
“It is getting late,” Paetyn agreed. “We should go.”
All three women laughed as their men swept them toward the door, barely acknowledging goodbyes from others as they did. Erin had already planned on doing other things. Cruz would be leaving tomorrow afternoon, and she wanted to send him off right.