by Kay Maree
“What’s Cora like?” I asked.
“Do you really want to know? She’s crazy Rubi, she graduated college and for the past six to eight months she’s been driving her parents silly. They’re frantic with worry. She parties with the wrong people, sleeps with the wrong people, and had no respect for herself. She knows she can’t do anything wrong in her parents’, or in Aidan’s, eyes but it’s been testing. Of course, it’s been quiet for a little while, but it appears she’s back to her usual shit. She knows Aid will bail her out and that’s the sad thing because she’s never going to learn to grow up if he doesn’t stop. It’s a moot subject though, because Cora is family,” Sibi rambled on.
Holy cow…I would never have pictured Aidan like this. It’s strange how judging a book by its cover is something we all do. However, opening it up and reading its pages can make you see things in a different light.
Aidan had walls up, a front, and that likely explained why he only ever took women to bed, showed them a good time, and then moved on. He wasn’t a man who had relationships, and the only reason for not having them would be for protection; he didn’t want to get hurt. However, it didn’t explain his fascination with me, and that would continue to confound me until I asked him. It was a pity that I wouldn’t see him for some time since he was going to be out of the country until further notice - and when he did return I wouldn’t be here. I’d be in France exploring the countryside, and all it had to offer.
Fucking life and it’s ever-changing obstacles.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
AIDAN
I hated this. My parents were fucking furious, and to be honest I didn’t blame them. I was also trying to figure out how the fuck had Cora gotten herself into this shit.
“Stupid, stupid, little girl,” my father yelled furiously. Cora was crying horrible, black mascara-smeared tears.
I closed my eyes and focused on the phone call I was about to have with the lawyers. I’d just called them and been put on hold while they transferred my call.
“Sorry Mr Northman, I didn’t mean to keep you. Now, we’ve been in contact with the Greek Consulate and they’re not pressing charges, which means Cora is free to go. However, they are fining her for public indecency and nuisance. The fine’s a little steep, but I believe it’s worth the price as she could have ended up spending time in jail.”
“How about Nic? Were you able to pull anything?” I asked.
“I’ve done what I can. He’ll be deported back to UK and he’ll serve a little time, but with good behaviour I’m sure he’ll get out in no time. I’ve made sure he’s signed a statement declaring your sister had nothing to do with the drugs found on him, but I highly recommend you get her into a rehab facility. She tested positive for not only Cocaine, Aidan, but the date rape drug was in such high levels I’m not even sure how the hell she’s still alive. I’d be highly grateful to the Greek medical profession for keeping Cora alive. But I have a feeling the friends she hangs with aren’t truly her friends,” Liam commented.
Fucking hell, she really was a stupid girl, but at least I could put her out of her misery now.
“Thanks Liam,” I said.
“No problems, I’ll send the bill in the next week,” he replied, hanging up.
If I thought the Greek authority’s fine was a little steep, I was sure Liam’s time would be even higher in cost, but it was certainly worth it. Cora didn’t need a conviction on her record, to have it publicly known that she was a drug mule. Fucking hell, she needed to wake up, grow up, and stop behaving like such a fucking teenage child. She wasn’t getting younger, and if she seriously wanted men to only think of her as a fucking whore then she could continue to slut herself around.
I hung up and glanced at Wayne, who got up from his seat to come and stand beside me.
“Liam?” he simply asked.
“She’ll go free, Nic will do a little time but he’s signed a statement declaring Cora had nothing to do with the drugs. But Liam said he’d been contacted by the hospital. She was drugged, not only was Cora sniffing cocaine but they found large traces of the date rape drug. What the fuck Wayne…I don’t know what to do anymore. Is she beyond help?” I asked.
“I’ll get in contact with a private facility. I’ll keep it concealed, the public won’t know,” Wayne declared, pulling his phone from his pocket and getting to work.
“What’s going to happen?” my mother sighed. This type of strain wasn’t good for her.
“Don’t worry yourself. Cora’s charges have been dropped. They’ll be no drug conviction and she has a clean record. However, Cora, you’re by no means out of this. From what I heard you weren’t innocent Cora, you took drugs and these excessive binges and booze-filled parties aren’t healthy.”
My mother looked at me before looking at Cora.
“I’ve booked you into a rehab facility. You’ll do the 90-day program; prove to us that you can get yourself clean, that you can accept some much-needed help. We’ll talk about what you have planned for your future when you’re sober,” I continued.
She was going to get help whether she liked it or not.
***
Wayne had pulled through, securing a spot at Europe’s best rehabilitation facility specialising in women with alcohol and drug related problems.
It was private, secure, and far away from the influential fuckwit friends who were only going to continue to steer Cora down the wrong path.
Switzerland, neutral territory, a world away from London. However, Cora wasn’t impressed that I’d sent her to the middle of nowhere to have therapy for her problems. Problems she honestly believed didn’t exist.
If she wanted her inheritance, then she’d stick out the 90 days and get herself fucking clean.
“Mother, please. This isn’t going to hurt her. She needs to get clean. Don’t you understand she could have died in Greece? They found the date rape drug evident in her system, not to mention the stupid girl was sniffing cocaine. If that wasn’t going to kill her, then the booze certainly would have,” I grumbled. Honestly, my parents worried yet still babied my sister, and she took full advantage of it.
“She’s just a child,” my mother said.
“She’s not a fucking child mother; she’d a grown woman who needs to learn to look after herself. If she can’t, then I’ll have no choice but to cut her off, because I will not have her inheritance blown on her having a fucking gap year filled with booze and drugs. Mother, I love Cora, but I won’t stand by and watch her kill herself, and neither will you or father,” I ordered.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
AIDAN
One month later
I can’t believe it’s been a month since I’ve seen you, and I won’t see you again for another two weeks. I typed before pressing send.
This had been our means of communication for the past month. She’d gone back to her city tours; she’d explored the countryside, Wales and Ireland. Now she was in France, the country across the pond from my home.
She’d be there for the next two weeks which was going to drive me crazy because I couldn’t wait for us to both get back home so I could see her.
My phone rang; I hit answer and placed it to my ear.
“It’s been a while,” Nate said.
“You married Sibi yet?” I teased.
“Fucking hell, you’ve been away for a month and you’re already teasing me,” he remarked.
I chuckled as I shook my head. He could take it because that was the type of person he was.
“Is she okay?” Nate asked. He had a soft spot for Cora and I knew he’d want to know about her.
“She’s fine, she’ll live,” I groaned. I hadn’t completely forgiven Cora for the shit she’d not only put my parents through, but put me through too.
“Charlie said dinner and drinks are on her if you’re up for it?” Nate voiced.
Wayne and I were about to board our flight from Switzerland to London. I’d been away
from work and Rubi for more than a month, and a lot had happened while I was away. I’d missed the grand opening of the London Museum’s exhibit that I’d spent many months planning. Thank goodness I had a great team who could make an appearance.
“Drinks?” I asked Wayne. “Charlie’s shout,” I added.
***
RUBI
“I can’t believe you told him you were in France,” Sibi said, a cheeky smile on her lips.
It wasn’t a lie, I was in France up until a couple of hours ago, when I’d hopped, skipped, and jumped back over the pond to Sibi and the London I’d grown to love.
“It’s meant to be a surprise; I think he’ll like it.” I grinned.
“Surprise, you’re going to give him a heart attack. Nate said he didn’t sound like himself on the phone,” Sibi commented.
“I can only imagine how draining his sister’s situation has been,” I said.
Cora needed help and her big brother was providing it, it was why he had been away for such a long time. He needed to make sure she received the correct care, and from what he’d told me Aidan had to talk his parents through everything as they were once again trying to baby Cora, and she’d never learn to grow up without treatment.
“That cheeky smile, what do you have planned?” Sibi asked.
“Nothing,” I said.
“Bullshit,” she rebutted.
I could be in trouble here, but she knew that Aidan and I were friends. However, the past month’s text messages weren’t exactly what I’d call PG. I guess a lot of wine and long distance seemed to work for us.
It had started innocently enough. I’d asked him what he was up to one night and I expected him to just say nothing, not to reply or tell me he was sleeping. Instead he’d replied with a picture of him wrapped in a towel, water droplets covering his toned abs.
The nice chill of the French air, mixed with the wine I’d been consuming seemed to make me crazy, because that picture made me burst out in laughter in the middle of a crowded terrace.
“What did you two get up to while you were away from each other?” she asked, interrupting my train of thought.
“We just got to know each other a little better, that’s all,” I uttered. She wasn’t getting anything else out of me. She was so nosey and I knew if I mentioned this to her, if I told her that I might have engaged in teenage-like behaviour with Aidan, then she’d have something to say. Not to mention that she’d tell Nate, and Aidan and I had promised that this was only between the two of us.
Of course, the morning after the picture incident I’d vowed it would never happen again, but after that night I found it extremely hard to control myself. I guess Aidan did too because before either of us knew it, we’d become as intimate as we could get, considering we weren’t even in the same country.
“Keep your secrets, but you can’t lie to me anymore. You two are obviously more than just friends,” Sibi stated.
I guess we were, and I was kind of excited to see where this new-found appreciation for teenage behaviour would lead us.
Aidan was coming home and he was going to flip when he realised I was here in London, not across the pond in France.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
AIDAN
We were about to walk into Charley’s Bar and Grill for a good feed and many drinks. The flight had been a little rough; turbulence kicking the private jet’s arse, as well as poor Wayne. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man go so white as he did when the cabin rattled a little.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I asked as I slipped out of the back seat of the town car I’d had Teddy use to pick us up.
“Just let me get a drink down and I’ll be fine,” he said, walking past me and pushing open the door to Charley’s. I bet the instant he saw the fiery redhead Charlie that he’d pep up.
Smitten, he was in love with that woman, but he’d never admit it, just like I’d never admit to the fact that I was very much falling for Rubi Davis.
I hated cell phones, the whole texting, instant email shit, it bugged me but I’d come to love it, like really love it, and that had something to do with Rubi, the woman who was now far across the ocean in France.
“Argh,” I silently grumbled. I pulled out my phone and dialled her number. It rang a few times before she picked up.
“Aidan,” her voice spoke. “Are you alright?”
“I hate that you’re not here,” I uttered.
“Are you coming?” Wayne called. I smiled, nodding yes, and stepped into Charley’s.
“Are you at Charley’s?” she asked. The noise in here was crazy; to be honest wherever Rubi was it appeared to be noisy too.
“Where are you?” I questioned.
“Hey, sexy arse,” I heard her say through the phone as I felt someone pinch my butt.
I turned around and saw Rubi’s big green eyes staring up at me.
Holy fuck, she was here. Rubi wasn’t supposed to be here. She was meant to be in France. How the hell was she here?.
“Surprise,” she said, a big smile on her gorgeous lips. Fuck, she looked amazing, her jeans encasing her very long legs, the coat wrapped around her body making me wish we were somewhere private so I could peel her out of it. Fuck this…I couldn’t hold back. I heard my phone hit the wooden floor as I scooped Rubi up in my arms and attacked her with ravenous force. My lips aggressively possessed hers in a hunger-filled caress. All the emotions from the shit I’d gone through during the past month, to being away from her, came rushing to the surface…and Rubi had begun to slowly torture my body, knowing I couldn’t do anything about it.
Women knew how to torment the male species, and Rubi was no different. The past month had been horrific, texting back and forth but unable to actually touch her, kiss her like I was now…I’d hated it.
“We’re supposed to be friends,” Rubi uttered through the kiss.
“Fuck this friend’s thing,” I replied as I continued to kiss her, my tongue diving in, seeking and tasting Rubi. Fucking friends, I detested just being friends, and I was going to make it very clear to her that this whole ‘just friends’ thing wasn’t an Aidan thing. It was all or nothing.
She smiled and threw her arms around my neck, leaning into me. I placed sweet tender kisses across her chin and down her neck.
“Do you want to get out of here?” she whispered.
Fucking oath I did. I pulled away and bent down to pick up my cell before taking Rubi’s hand and heading for the door. I stopped briefly to take a quick look around for the boys. Wayne was occupied with Charlie at the bar, and Nate and Sibi were nowhere to be found. I flipped Wayne a text and left the club with Rubi in hand.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
RUBI
One Month Later
Waking up with hot and cold sweats wasn’t my idea of fun. Waking up to find myself wrapped in Aidan’s arms should have been soothing and delightful, instead it only made me feel sick. I’d been out of the hospital for several months now but I was still plagued by nightmares. Flashbacks of a man filled with so much malice that it frightened me to think people could possess such cruelty.
“Are you alright?” Aidan asked, his voice slightly gravely. I guess I’d woken him up.
“I’m fine,” I uttered.
I wasn’t fine, but I’d survive. It had been months and I still couldn’t seem to push past it.. I wanted so badly to move on, but how did I move on from being attacked so brutally.
Aidan snuggled in closer to my body, his warmth soothing me. He’d been the only guy I’d trusted to touch me after what had happened, yet right now I needed to get away. I slipped from his grasp and out of the bed.
“Are you sure you’re alright?” he asked.
“I’m fine,’ I groaned, running a hand through my messy just-fucked hair.
“I’m sorry, I worry about you,” he retorted.
What the hell? Why was I now rethinking everything? Why was I recoiling from the man who
had so lovingly and passionately taken care of me last night?
“What’s wrong?” he asked, sitting up in the bed and letting the sheet slip a little to reveal his muscled chest.
“I can’t do this,” I uttered. “I just can’t…do this.”
“What do you mean you can’t do this?” he asked.
“Us, this can’t happen…it…”
“It already happened Rubi,” he interjected.
“I know, I know,” I sobbed.
What the fuck was going on?
“Are you in love with me?” I questioned.
“It’s a little hard not to be,” he said.
No, no, no…I was going to be sick.
It wasn’t easy to take a good hard look at yourself, to start to realise that maybe what you thought was such a good idea wasn’t a good idea at all. I hadn’t meant to hurt him, I only wanted to be friends, but it was hard to not be caught up in his web, to not love the man standing in front of me for so many reasons. However, I didn’t love him, at least not in the way he appeared to love me.
“I can’t do this,” I voiced as I dropped to the floor and began to pick up my clothing. I needed to dress, and to get out of here. I couldn’t stay and be around this guy.
We were meant to just be friends. This wasn’t meant to be anything more, and yet I had been stupid for sleeping with him, for allowing this to go further than I wanted it to.
You couldn’t have everything, maybe Aidan and I weren’t meant to be anything…maybe he was just a flicker in my life, one I’d never been meant to hurt but I could tell I was, nonetheless. I had wanted to just be friends not lovers, but I knew that after this, our friendship would never be the same.
“I have to go,” I said as I got up from the floor, my clothes scrunched in my arms as I tried to cover myself.
“What the fuck is going on Rubi?” he asked, slipping from the bed and walking towards me.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
FINAL CHAPTER
