Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
DORI
“And then his friend says to me, I have no shot. But he doesn’t know a thing about us, so I don’t think I need to take him seriously.” Melanie strolls around my office as we prepare to leave.
This conversation is killing me.
“Mel, you’ve been telling me this story for an hour and I still don’t know where you’re taking it.” As I’m trying to get up, my legs hit my bag, and it falls over. “Can you please get to the point?”
I bend over and pick up the contents. She laughs in a light and casual way like she has all the time in the world.
“The point is, if I wanted to date him, I could. I have my eye on other men, so it won’t happen.”
“Who are these other men you’re thinking about dating?”
If she mentions Jami, I’m going to scream.
“I’m still into Zengi, but he’s clingy. Luke is fun, but he’s more of a toy than boyfriend material. And that leaves room for one more. Logistically, that’s all I can handle.” She stops and peers at the empty space where Jami’s desk used to be.
I study her for a moment. The muscles in my chest grow tight because I see it on her face. She’s about to say something about him.
“I shouldn’t tell you this, but you’re my best friend.” She pops one of her legs out and shifts her weight from side to side. “The new rumor going around is that Jami and I are a hot new item.”
I already felt nauseous and now I want to hurl all over my desk. “When did you hear that?”
“Yesterday. I guess having dinner with a friend a couple of times means you’re dating.”
Is she trying to upset me?
I get my bag off the floor, place it on my desk, and shove a file in it.
My body tenses, but I have to know. “Mel, you’ve been talking about him a lot lately. I get the feeling you’re interested in him.”
“We’re getting close, but we’re not an item. He’s on some dating app, so it’s not me you need to be worried about.”
“He is?”
“Yep.” She strides to the window. “Now that Hunter has said you can explore your relationship with Jami, where does that leave things between you two?”
Jami being on a dating app, has a possessive hand reaching up and squeezing my heart.
How can I get that app erased from his phone?
“How do you know Jami’s on a dating app?”
“We were talking about it the other day.” She peeks back at me. “Don’t try to skirt the issue by getting me sidetracked. I want to know where you stand with him.”
I toss my bag over my shoulder. “Hunter isn’t on board with me exploring a relationship with Jami in a romantic sense. He believes I’m trying to rebuild our friendship.”
“And what do you think?” She grabs her purse off the desk .
“I’m not with either of them and have feelings for them both. It doesn’t put me in a very good place. A million things are on my mind and I feel like crap. So, I’m only thinking about getting home and relaxing on my couch.”
“One day at a time is probably best.”
I stroll toward the door, wishing this colossal screwup would combust and disappear. She leaves my office, playing with her jet-black hair.
I shut off the lights and close the door behind me. “I’ll deal with everything after my appointment tomorrow. Until then, I don’t want to think about Jami or Hunter.”
“What time am I picking you up?” She glances at me as we walk to the elevator.
“Since Jonah and Hunter are out of the office this week, I’m working from home tomorrow. That means we need to leave my place by one.”
“Sounds perfect. If it helps, you seem to be doing better.” She points to my stomach. “How are the pains you were having?”
I dread answering this question. There’s no way she won’t keep pressing me for information.
I pretend to check the contents in my bag to avoid her eyes while we wait for the elevator doors to open. “They’re still there. It’s probably nothing.”
“And the nausea?”
“Still there, but I’m able to power through.”
“Dori, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what’s wrong with you.” Mel uses a gentle tone as she confronts me. “Have you taken a test?”
“Not you too.” My shoulders slump and I shake my head in frustration. “I’m not taking one.”
“Why? You’ll have your answer.” She places her hands on my shoulders and peers into my eyes. “You can’t run from this. ”
“I’m not running. I’m waiting until a professional can tell me what’s going on. Not some stick that can produce a false reading. No, I’m not taking that risk.” I lower my head and stew in a thousand different emotions.
They run a relay race around my body. There are so many I can’t hook on to just one. I’m in a cesspool of dirty, grimy, deranged thoughts and emotions.
I can’t believe I’m dealing with this heaviness. It’s suffocating me and I only have myself to blame.
“Mel, I know you’re trying to help, but I don’t want to have any doubt. I want to speak to someone with a medical background. Can’t you understand that?”
“Okay, sweet pea. Don’t take the test. It’s just that I’ve never been through anything like this, so I’m thinking of ways to relieve your stress.”
“Thank you, but taking a test at home would be worse.”
“Why?”
“Because I have a lot of questions I want answered before I take a test. I would have no one to discuss those with, and that would take me out of my mind with worry.”
“I don’t want you to worry anymore, so I understand why you want to hold off. You’ll find out tomorrow anyway.” She squeezes my shoulders and steps away.
Two seconds later, I’m bawling in her arms. “I’m so confused and scared. What if something is wrong with me?”
She keeps me in a hug. “That’s what the doctor is for. If anything is of concern, she’ll be able to help you. You’ve got to trust that.”
I nod as my insides twist. I don’t know why, but I have a weird feeling in my gut. The pain isn’t something I’ve experienced before.
I could be sick with a disease.
What if I have a tumor?
What if I have something life-threatening wrong with me ?
This is the most out of control I’ve ever felt, and I can’t do anything to stop my world from spinning off its axis. The elevator doors open and we get on.
I wipe away my tears. “Thanks for being here for me. If you ever need me, I’m happy to return the favor.”
“Good to know, but I don’t plan on ever being in your situation.”
How did I let myself get into this mess?
I mull that over for a moment. “Do you think I’m an awful person?”
She rests against the back wall. “No. I think you need to continue working on addressing some of your issues with a professional, but that conversation can wait until another day.”
I shrink into myself. “Therapy is hard and doesn’t seem to be helping.”
“Like I said, we can talk about that some other time.”
The doors open, and we make our way to the sidewalk. We head in the direction of my place.
She hooks her arm with mine. “Everything is going to be fine. Once you get the answers you’re looking for, you’ll know what you need to do next regarding Hunter and Jami.”
“That’s another issue entirely. I can only deal with one thing at a time. First, I need to find out what’s wrong with me.”
“Understood.” She steps away from me. “Since you’re in this emotional state, I’m coming up to your loft and finding you something to eat. I’ll even cook for you.”
My stomach roils at the thought of food. “Ugh. Nothing sounds good.”
“I’ll find something because you need to have dinner.”
“Suit yourself.”
“I will because I’m hungry.”
There’s nothing I can say that will get her to change her mind, so there’s no use in arguing with her. She’ll only sink her heels in, so I drop the subject.
When we arrive at my place, she immediately rummages through my refrigerator. While she does this, I organize the advertisement schedules for our different casinos. It’s a mindless activity, and I welcome it with open arms.
She holds up a box of rice and a bag of frozen vegetables. “What sounds better?—”
There’s a knock on my door. I spin her way, wide-eyed. “Nobody comes here except you and… That’s either Hunter or Jami. I don’t want to see either of them.”
She’s already got her hand on the doorknob. She shrugs and peeks out the peephole.
“You’re only half right.” She starts to open the door.
“What does that mean?” I sprint to stop her and trip over my bag, stumbling toward her.
I’m trying to stop myself from taking a face-plant when four feet come into view. A fleeting thought makes me think it’s Hunter and Jami, but as I lift my head and get steady on my feet, my brother’s open arms take away all my fear.
“Aiden! What are you doing here?” I jump into his embrace. “How did you get them to clear you?”
“I have a lot of pull in my division.” He hugs me, lifts me off the ground, and squeezes as hard as he can.
“You do not, but I don’t care. You’re here and that’s all that counts.” My heart bursts with love and relief. He’s always been my rock.
“I should take offense to that, but I’m just happy to see you.” He places me on my feet.
For a second, I forget everything and only bask in how grateful I am that my brother is alive and in front of me. I’m hit with a steel bat when Jamison’s gaze catches mine.
His arms are folded over his chest, and he’s taking in how excited Aiden and I are. I know Jami, and his reaction is likely because he’s calculating how furious Aiden will be if he ever finds out about us.
The betrayal he’s inflicted upon Aiden is gushing from Jami’s pores. His expression says it all.
Any path where Jami and I are together or parents of the same child means my bond with my brother is forever severed. My joy collapses and the black cloud expands, taking over my mood.
“Hi, I’m Melanie, Dori’s best friend.” Mel steps up to Aiden and holds out her hand.
He shakes it. “Nice to meet you. I’m Aiden, and I’ve heard a lot about you.”
While they introduce themselves, Jami and I stare at each other with a gigantic question looming between us.
Aiden interrupts our connection by stepping between us, but still facing Mel. “We’re here to take Dori to dinner. You’ll join us, won’t you?”
Mel blushes. “You know it. How could I say no to a face like that?”
He laughs. “Good. Now that we have that settled. Let’s go. I’m starving. Dori, where should we eat?”
It’s a lost cause to refuse to go, so I pick a place down the street that has a large selection. I need to have choices because I have a feeling nothing is going to sound appetizing.
As we’re leaving, I catch Melanie and Jami exchanging a glance. She subtly shakes her head. He dips his head and sighs.
What question of his did she just answer with a shake of her head?
Aiden moves his noddles around on his plate. “You all need to stop fussing. I was only in the hospital for nine days. Once the swelling subsided, I healed rather quickly.”
“I’m never going to stop worrying about you, so get that out of your head.” I force down another bite of my soup.
Nothing sounded good to eat, and soup is easy on the digestive system. It doesn’t help my tiredness, but I’ll survive. The only real problem I’m facing right now is Jami analyzing everything I do with a careful eye.
He cuts into his steak. “When do you go back on assignment?”
Aiden shrugs and puts on a brave face. “That all depends. The assignment I was on isn’t over. They still don’t know who attacked me, so they’re not sure if it’s safe to send me back.”
Jami sneers. “I don’t like the sounds of that. You thought your cover was blown. You ended up in the hospital, so why the fuck would they put you back on that assignment? Are they looking to get you killed?”
It’s nice to see Jamison’s protectiveness isn’t just over me.
“It’s not my decision, Jami.” Aiden takes a bite of his pasta.
“I think what you do is sexy as hell.” Mel stares at him across the table with a seductive smile.
I playfully slap her arm. “Don’t hit on my brother right in front of me.”
“Why?” She faces me with her brows raised.
“It’s weird. He’s my brother and you’re my best friend.” I don’t realize what I’ve said until Jami shifts uncomfortably and turns toward the door.
My gaze flies toward Aiden. He’s watching Jami with suspicion gathering in his narrowed eyes. Aiden glances back at me just as Jami does.
“Since we’re on the subject of dating, why don’t you fill us in on your relationship, Dori?” Aiden sits back and waits for my reply with a vigilant stare .
To stall, I lift my drink and sip. It happens to be red wine, so when I do, Jami glares at me and shakes his head.
It isn’t the smartest thing to be drinking, but sitting at dinner with him across from me has my nerves firing off extreme amounts of anxiety. Wine was the best option for relief.
Mel chimes in to save me. “Her love life is complicated.”
Thank you, Mel.
I owe you one.
“How so?” Aiden tilts his head and studies Melanie and me.
I place my wine down and avoid Jami’s confronting eyes. “Aiden, I’d rather not talk about this, so can I take a pass?”
“No, not this time. I have backup with me right now. If we pick this up when we’re alone, you’ll think it’s only me who believes it’s beyond reckless to be dating your boss.
“Now tell me what your plan is when this whole thing goes south because it will. You’ve got to know that.” Aiden’s expression is all that of an overprotective big brother.
My insides twist. “You can’t say that when you know nothing about it.”
“Mm-hmm. The problem is, I know a lot about it. You remember our parents’ relationship, don’t you?” The tendons in his neck grow tight.
Jami leans forward and rests his crossed arms against the table. His eyes are stuck on me. Mel lifts her drink and moves back.
So it looks like my opponents are Jami and Aiden.
I wave off Aiden’s question. “Of course, I remember. But it’s different.”
My relationship with Hunter isn’t so different and I know it.
“Let me set the record straight.” Aiden stabs the table with his index finger, tapping it with every point he makes .
“He’s a billionaire CEO. He’s a known playboy. He’s quoted saying that himself. You’re his direct report and have a clause in your contract stating you can’t date him. Meaning if you get caught, you lose your job. So far, I’m seeing very little differences.”
“Dad’s not a billionaire, and Mom didn’t have a clause that she would get fired. She quit because they thought it would be better for their relationship. They got married, didn’t they? And they’re still married.” I internally grimace.
This has got to be the worst argument I’ve ever made. They all groan and shift around as if I were the dumbest woman alive.
Aiden starts back up. “Dad has cheated on Mom for the entirety of their relationship. That’s the playboy connection. Mom cheats in retaliation because she won’t leave the security of Dad’s support.”
“But—”
“Stop. I’m not done.” Aiden shakes his head. “Like I was saying, I’m not sure they even love each other. If you and your boss get serious, you won’t be able to stay working there and you’ll end up just like them. This is probably the worst decision you’ve ever made.”
I lower my gaze and quietly respond. “I’m not a cheater and neither is he. Yes, the work thing is bad. But we’re not together right now.”
“Yet you stayed with him the entire weekend.” The animosity in Jami’s voice booms.
Urgency takes over me with a desire to relieve the sting he’s feeling from having this topic thrown in his face.
“Jami, that wasn’t romantic. You know why I was there, so please don’t be mad.”
And if I was trying to cover up my feelings for him, I just threw that away. My stomach knots and reminds me of how nauseous I am.
I stare at him across the table with my eyes full of apologies. Melanie kicks my leg, so I turn to her. She subtly gestures to Aiden and takes a sip of her drink.
Shit.
Not wanting to, I face Aiden. He’s glaring at Jami. I may have just ruined their friendship.
Jami's cheeks turn red as he slowly glances away from me and directly at Aiden. Jami swallows and waits for Aiden’s line of fire.
He’s already on the attack. “You can’t deny it now. I’m sitting right in front of you two, and I’m not an idiot. What the fuck is going on between you and my sister?”