by T L Dasha
“I assume it's nearby?”
“Have you ever been to the other side of the bridge?”
“What? Of course not. I would be robbed and murdered just for breathing the air over there.”
“It's a good thing this car is fast then.” I shrugged, amused by his reservations. “It's really pretty okay over there. It's not like I live right next to a drug dealer or something. He's at least three doors down.”
Aaron looked mortified. I wasn’t sure if he realized I was joking as he threw the car into drive. He pulled out of the hotel lot and made his way to the Bay Bridge to Oakland. He kept his eyes forward and focused, making it a challenge to continue talking. I wasn’t quite ready to ask him about Vegas, yet I wanted now, more than ever, to figure out who he was behind all of those stern looks. I just struggled to find a good way to start.
“So... How did your meetings go?”
He looked over at me, as if I had just snapped him out of a trance.
“Good. We signed the World Coffee account and have been building a number of new, potential partnerships.”
Speaking of new, potential partnerships...
“Oh, I love their coffee! I've always wanted to open my own coffee shop. Maybe I can transfer and learn the ropes!”
Aaron frowned.
“Do you not like working for me?”
“No, I didn’t mean it like that.” Real smooth, Jake. “My dad owned a chain of donut shops, so I always wanted to make the perfect coffee shop to go with it. That was what drove me to get my business degree. You haven’t lived until you’ve had one of his bear claws!”
“Of course.” He shook his head, then took a left on the other end of the bridge onto a narrow side street. “You have such a knack for charming clients, it would be a waste to keep you behind the front desk forever.” He spoke candidly, as if he was simply thinking aloud. “But wouldn’t it make more sense to work for your father then? Would that not be the perfect opportunity to learn the business?”
“Do you like working for your father?”
“Fair point.”
“Besides all that, owned is past tense. Do you know what a pre-nup is? Because I don’t think my father does.” I laughed despite myself.
“My family is well versed…”
“I can only imagine.” Maybe this isn’t quite how I want to bring this up. “But anyways, he lost the business to my fourth mom when I was a teenager. Now he just does consulting.”
“I’m sorry-- your fourth mom?”
“My dad kind of has a problem…”
I couldn’t help being amused by the confusion on his face. This must be why Trevor likes picking on him so much.
“It sounds like you don’t have a high opinion of marriage.”
Is he bringing this up because he actually doesn’t know? Or is this some kind of test?
“I just don’t believe in it. What does a big ceremony and a bunch of paperwork have to do with two people loving each other? Hell, you don’t even have to be in love to get married. It may as well be like signing a World Coffee contract. Just the thought alone makes me feel…”
“Trapped.” Damen finished my sentence. I looked over at him, surprised. Not because he had interrupted me, but because he had chosen the exact same word I was going to use.
“Exactly.”
We sat in silence for a moment, then he finally spoke again as he turned right onto my block.
“Perhaps I can find you a mentor. Teach you the basics of management.”
“Do you know a better mentor than THE Aaron Craig. Maybe I can pick your brain for a minute?”
He paused for a moment, sinking into a smile.
“Conner, I--“
“…. Oh, right here!” I pointed to a brick building, tightly packed in a row of similarly old apartments. He grabbed the first free parking spot he could find, about two blocks down the road. I couldn’t miss the way his eyes examined the neighborhood. The broken sidewalk wasn’t my fault, but I suddenly felt like I should apologize for it.
Before I had a chance to turn to say goodbye, he was out of his vehicle, straightening out his suit jacket and maneuvering to open my door.
“I’ll walk you to your door.” I watched his gaze dart around the street as if his eyes were a pencil, sketching a mental picture of every car and passerby. “It’s only proper.”
“No, you really don’t--“ He looked at me sternly, and I cut myself off mid-sentence. This was clearly going to be a fruitless protest. “I would like that.”
He kept a short distance from me, staying on the outside of the sidewalk, then took a quick step to grab the door to my building for me.
“If I didn’t know better, I might think you worked in customer service.” I teased as he stepped into the entrance behind me. “People are going to start thinking I’m rich hanging around with all this class and sophistication.”
“Proper manners don’t cost money. I would expect even the drug dealer three doors down to hold the door for a lady.”
“He does.” He looked at me as if I had just told him I lost his puppy. “… I’m kidding, I promise.”
“Of course. I knew that.” He forced an uncertain smile.
I motioned toward the staircase and he followed behind me. As we reached the third floor, I made a quick step to my apartment.
“Thank you, Aaron.” I smiled as I unlocked my door, and pushed into the room.
“I’m always happy to look after my employees.” He nodded, his words slow as he looked into the apartment behind me. My face flushed. I could only imagine what his home must be like by comparison.
“I’ll see you tomorrow.” I shut the door hurriedly, creating a barrier between us, then leaned against the door and exhaled. My apartment building was old, but it wasn’t dangerous or filthy. Sure the carpet was a little worn, and the walls could use a new layer of paint. Sure my space was only a studio, and I didn’t have enough room for much more than my bed. But I was making it on my own, so I shouldn’t have to feel bad. Well, I don’t think he was trying to make me feel bad. But in light of our equally bad decision, I forget sometimes exactly how far apart we really are.
I grabbed my phone from my purse and immediately started typing.
Anna, call me!
I waited for an entire minute, pacing back and forth in my apartment, checking my phone every five seconds. Nothing. Nothing. Still nothing. She must have chosen a country without cell service for her honeymoon on purpose. I grabbed my phone again.
Liz! Are you free tonight?
In as many seconds as it took to send it, I had a reply.
Raincheck? Got a date in five.
I pursed my lips in disappointment. Better to not be too dramatic and ruin her date.
All good! Nothing important! Talk tomorrow!
KK. I’ll text you later
“Dammit!” I threw my phone onto my bed in an exasperated fit, and let myself fall next to it, sinking into my comforter and staring at the spinning blades of the ceiling fan. I wasn’t sure I was quite prepared to sort all of this out on my own, but who else could I call? I refused to tell dad about it just yet, and both of my confidantes were busy having happy, functional relationships. Well, Liz’s might result in more “cuddly S&M” but even that felt more functional than mine did right now. Who else was there? Should I call Trevor? Ha! Wouldn’t that be something.
I closed my eyes and instead focused on the comforting darkness of a nap. My consciousness was just on the verge of slipping away when my phone started buzzing beside me. I answered without even looking at the name.
“Jake! I just got your message! What’s wrong? Did something happen?”
“Anna!” I’ve never been more excited to hear her voice. “I didn’t think you had service!”
“I don’t really. I’m using the resort’s phone. It would cost me somewhere around a thousand million dollars a minute to use mine. I was worried you might not pick up for a foreign number.”
“It’s
been such a long day that I’m still processing if I’m on the phone or I’m just imagining this conversation in my head, so it worked out.” I laughed, suddenly feeling light and reassured.
“So what happened?”
I hesitated to answer, but thought better of it. This was the whole reason I wanted to talk. I couldn’t chicken out now.
“First, don’t tell dad.”
“Oh? Okay, I promise.”
“Second…. Your wedding night may have been more of a party than I was ready for.”
“I’ll say.” Anna’s smugness was obvious even from the other side of the world. ”You just disappeared after the wedding. I was wondering what happened! Did you pick up a new boy toy?”
“I guess you could kind of say that. I want to say it was amazing, but I don’t actually remember any of it.”
“Uh oh-- you didn’t ‘Dad Wedding Number Six’ again, did you?”
“It maybe, sort of, possibly might have been worse.”
“Well, spill! All this foreshadowing is killing me. Plus I only get so many international minutes even on the hotel phone.”
“I got married that night too.” I blurted it out with the grace of someone who just couldn’t resist spoiling the ending to your favorite show.
“What?! What are you talking about? How? To who? When? Why? What?!”
“So, funny story, I guess I ran into my boss…”
“You can’t be serious. Aaron Craig?! The heir to the multi-billion dollar Craig empire? The guy who gives you a hard time at work all the fucking time? How does meeting your boss turn into marriage? I thought you guys hated each other.”
“We do.”
“Jake. Who do you think you’re talking to? You might do stupid things when you’re drunk-- like, impressively stupid things-- but it certainly doesn’t make you dishonest. I’m not about to believe that you, in any level of consciousness, would have married some guy who you didn’t at least fantasize about.”
The whole statement completely took me aback. Now that she mentioned it-- how DID that turn into marriage? I’m sure I never would have proposed it. Aside from finding him annoyingly attractive, I definitely wasn’t crushing on him or anything. All my feelings for Aaron were…. Disdain? I’m pretty sure.
“He… he must have proposed to me. There’s no way I had a hand in it.” As I spoke the words, I was hearing them in my own head for the first time. He proposed to me?
“Right. So devilishly handsome, super serious, uptight rich guy meets my cute little brother outside the office for the first time, and just accidentally asks him to marry him. Are you sure he ever hated you?” Anna teased with a playfulness that felt far too light-hearted for the knots it was tying in my stomach. “So what does this mean though? How did he react when you guys woke up all naked and dirty the next morning. Like, this is a pretty heavy thing to just ignore. Did he freak out? Did you get it annulled? Did he fire you? Where’s the crisis?”
“That’s just it-- I don’t even know if he remembers. I snuck out before he woke up, and I only found out he was the one under the covers a few hours ago…”
“What the hell, Jake?! Who wakes up naked and married in a stranger’s hotel room and doesn’t even talk to the guy?”
“People with social anxiety?”
“Jeeezus. I’m starting to wonder if you’re really dad’s son. He would have started making the plans to redecorate and move in together. ”
I laughed just picturing it. Anna continued.
“So back to that last question-- what did he do? I’m sure he woke up with a ring on his finger, too. Is at least one of you handling this like an adult?”
“He assigned me to spend a bunch of time with his brother. Who is just as hot, but kind of a scary. You know, in that ‘overconfident but kind of for a good reason’ kind of way. It’s been… eventful, to say the least.”
“Well, alrighty then…”
“Yeah…”
We both sat in silence for several seconds.
“Do you see why I needed my big sister?!” I finally shouted into the receiver.
“So, another important question-- what’s the deal with his brother? Do you like him?”
Do I? It was a valid question. I let my mind wander back to Trevor. I couldn’t forget the way his tongue tasted when it slid over mine, pinning it down with control and force. I couldn’t forget the way the heat of his body took over all of my sense, and the way his fingers pressed into me with desire that could have melded us into one if he had let it. The way my body reacted to his touch, practically begging for him to continue, until that final, unsatisfying moment when he pulled away. It was hard to resist the way he wanted me.
But Trevor wanted me for all of the wrong reasons. He was rough and unrefined. And to him, I represented a way to spite his family rather than any real feelings. I swallowed hard, unhappy with my own conclusions.
“I don’t know. He has his moments, but… It’s different.”
“You really got yourself in a predicament over there, Bro. My four o’clock skydiving session tomorrow almost seems less exciting than your current love life.” Anna tried to lighten the mood. “Well, obviously, you need to talk to your husband about it and get this sorted sooner than later. If he really was the one who initiated it, he probably likes you more than he can safely admit in the work place. Have some confidence! You have the power in this situation!”
“I guess you’re right. Thanks, Anna.”
“Any time! Alright, gotta go! Mr. Johnson needs some attention for his other Johnson.”
“Gross! Way too much information!”
“Ha! Love you, Jake!”
“Love you, too. Talk later!”
I hung up, feeling marginally more confident than I had before. Maybe she was right. Maybe Aaron hadn’t just picked me at random that night. At the very least, maybe this meant he would be open to talking about it. I rolled over in bed, and grabbed a pillow, clenching it tightly until it gave me some sense of security and comfort.
#
I settled in at my desk in the early morning, and collapsed into my waiting hands, propped up by my elbows on the desk.
I don’t know that I got any sleep last night. Every time I finally started to find myself dreaming, Aaron or Trevor would barge into my mind and ruin it. Aaron would politely carry me from the altar, laying me on the bed with a gentle hand, or Trevor would press me into a wall. Or they would fight, or I’d get fired, or I’d get bent over a table. I blushed at the last thought. Aaron was such a gentle lover in my subconscious; I couldn’t help but wonder if some of those images had stemmed from my own forgotten reality. As much of a mistake as this marriage may have been, I have no regrets if it had felt anything like that.
But today was going to be the day I talked to Aaron. If Anna was right and he did have some kind of very, very, very, very deeply hidden feelings for me, maybe it wouldn’t be so scary. I could see it now:
Aaron, I think we may have accidentally gotten married.
Oh Conner, there was nothing accidental about it. You are the only one I love. I only make you redo entire spreadsheets to hide my desperate need for you!
And I only screw up all of those spreadsheets so you’ll spend more time with me!
So romantic. This is going to go great…
UGH.
I gathered my usual paperwork, and headed over to Aaron’s office, not letting my doubts ruin my resolve. I wanted to get to him before Trevor did, anyways. The morning drop-off would be my best bet.
But as I approached his glass office, I stopped short when I realized he wasn’t alone. A young woman stood across from his desk. She was beautiful. Dark hair, pale skin, a super model physique. I could tell how important she was just by the way she carried herself.
I took a step back as I watched her lean over his desk, and kiss him softly on the lips, one hand supporting her weight, the other cradling his cheek. It was a quick peck, but it had an intimacy about it that didn't feel simple and
professional. Her lips curved gently upward, and she turned to leave, pushing through that invisible glass door.
She walked past me without so much as a glance. I didn’t even register on her radar. I felt dizzy. My stomach churned. My brain was reeling through a thick fog. I took another step back, then one more, then I turned on my heel and headed back to my desk. Perhaps now wasn't the time to talk to him. Later. Definitely later.
The dizziness didn’t seem to subside no matter how far away I got from Aaron’s office. Why did this affect me this intensely? I took another step toward my desk, and my lightheadedness was suddenly overwhelming. The whole room spun out of control, and I couldn’t figure out which way was up and which way was forward. I tried to force one more step, but it was no use. The last thing I heard as everything went black was the chiming of the elevator.
Chapter 7
Aaron Craig
Conner shut the door so abruptly, I couldn’t help but wonder if he had seen something dangerous outside. I glanced around the hallway, verifying there was no one behind me that I need worry about. I’ll admit I was a little surprised by his living quarters. I thought the only people who lived in Oakland were criminals and dock workers. It was eye opening to see him, so well kempt and prideful, pushing through this dirty old building. Perhaps I should offer him a raise.
I made my way back to the stairs and started to head back down to the lobby. Three floors and there wasn’t even an elevator. Astounding. I can only imagine him lugging bags of groceries all the way up to that room, his clumsy balance teetering on each step, occasionally chasing apples as they bounced away from him. The image took shape so vividly in my mind, I would have been shocked if it hadn’t actually happened.
I don’t know what I had been otherwise imagining for his home. Maybe a quaint family cottage in a suburb, or a condo with a roommate or two. I ran a finger down the hand rail, and looked at the dust it collected. This is how my husband lives?
I shook my head. Of course this is how Conner lives. Independent, asking not another soul for help. Imperfect, with nothing quite as glamorous and put together as you thought it might be. Practical, as it does exactly what is necessary to get the job done. Hopeful, as he persists in a city that could crush even the strongest men, knowing his compromises will one day be worth it. On the contrary, this was exactly what Conner’s living space should be. I smiled to myself. He’s special.
