by Tia Siren
“How long?” I asked, drawn to the caring in her bright eyes as she smiled wistfully.
“Two years. I’m twenty-seven and I just graduated a few months ago. It’s crazy.” Brea glanced up at me and smiled. “I feel like I am so out of the loop.”
“What was your major?” I asked.
She sighed heavily. “Cinema studies. Great, huh? I want to be a filmmaker in the biggest, most competitive city on the planet.” She shook her head as I looked down at my drink. I didn’t want it, and I regretted the other drinks I’d had on the way over. While I wasn’t my mother and didn’t suffer from her addiction, I also didn’t need alcohol to have a good time. I set it down and looked around, reaching for a soda as she tilted her head curiously at me. “Change your mind?”
“My mom drinks a lot. I’m pretty sure she’s a closet alcoholic, but I’d never say that to her face. When you were talking about your dad, I thought a lot about her. She’s not sick, not like he was. She’s probably headed there though.” I looked into her face, taking in the thick hair that hung over her shoulders before I looked into her eyes. “I’ve always said that I’m not like her. I don’t drink often, but when I do it feels like I’m proving a point, like I’m telling myself I’m not her. I don’t even know why I bother, because it isn’t all that great the next morning.”
“No, it’s not.” She smiled at me in agreement and started to sip her soda before she held it up. I clinked mine to hers and we laughed as she shook her head. “I’m sorry I babbled your head off the second I got here. I normally don’t do that kind of thing, I swear. You’re just easy to talk to.”
I was different with her than I was with other women. I’d inherited the alpha male quality from my father, and hated it. I was glad she didn’t see that side of me tonight. Hell, what good did it do him when my mother just pushed him around anyway?
“It’s fine. I like when you feel like you can just talk to someone, you know? No awkwardness.” I smiled at her and saw the look in her eyes as I made it one of my more charming ones. Brea was hot, and I watched as she laughed and looked around.
“What do you do?” she asked. I frowned. Here Brea was so smart and compassionate and I hadn’t even gone to school past high school. When I’d been younger, I had just wanted to enjoy life and had assumed Dad would shove me into the family business. He had tried, but once I’d felt like I’d had more of a voice, I had told him that I didn’t want to do it.
Somehow, I never made it to college.
“I’m floating around right now,” I told her. She raised a perfect brow at me. “I’m deciding what I want to be when I grow up.” That was a lie since I had no choice in the matter. I would get married just to get the inheritance. Then I could finally start something of my own and fake it until we could dissolve the marriage. It would give me the start I needed, and even though I was going to cave to my father’s wishes, I felt like it would be the key to my freedom.
“There you are. Holding down the booze?” I heard my best friend Lewis say as I rolled my eyes. He had worked his way into this party once he’d heard that I’d gotten the invite. He was a trust fund kid, though his had come much easier to him, and he joked that he liked the hippie girls at Lucy’s parties. I’d corrected him several times already, and my skin bristled as he checked out Brea with a hungry gaze. “Who are you?”
“This is Lucy’s best friend, Brea. Brea, this is Lewis.”
She gave me a curious look and then stared him down as he checked out her curvy body. She wore jeans and an off-the-shoulder shirt that was extremely flattering.
“Hi,” she said without offering to shake his hand. I smirked. A lot of women fell for Lewis’s blond hair and blue eyes, but not too many from this crowd. He was a hit at the parties our friends threw.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he told her, leaning over and giving her a confident gaze. I thought he already had a friend-with-benefits deal with Lucy, though I didn’t get why.
“Yeah. Right back at you.” There was a bite in her voice as she shot him down, and I felt pleasure race through my veins at her smart-ass comment. Brea was not going to be another notch on Lewis’s bed post.
I wondered if she would be on mine.
CHAPTER 2
Brea
I ended up mingling throughout the night, laughing and talking with mutual friends as I keep a loose eye on Ryan. He was hot with his dark blue eyes and tousled dark hair, and I smiled as I realized who he was.
Ryan’s family was in the banking business and filthy rich. My friend at work stalked all the local celebrities, and he was at the top of her list right now. I chuckled as I imagined her reaction to him being at this party.
He claimed he was floating around. Did that mean he was just being the son of a rich dad with no real purpose in life? No, he seemed to have more going on than that, though I couldn’t say the same about his friend. Lewis was clearly a rich kid who expected the world to fall at his feet, and it dawned on me that Lucy saw him sometimes.
It was nothing serious. They just hooked up here and there. I shook my head as I watched him flirt with a girl near the window. No matter what he and my best friend were to one another, his actions were tacky.
“Hey!!” Lucy said in my ear. I jumped and turned to glare at her. “What do you think of Ryan?”
“Your cousin?” I asked. She nodded with a glint in her eyes. “I like him so far. He seems a little like a rich kid, but he’s got more heart than most of them. Though his family is quite the talk around this town,” I said, shrugging. “Is this a setup, Lucy?”
“Well, you’re finally done with school and I thought you might want to loosen up and have some fun.” She frowned as I stared at her. “Yes, okay? Yes, it was. I knew he was coming and I thought you two might hit it off.”
“Will he pay off my student loans?” I joked softly as I looked out the window at the city lights. My debt was looming ahead and quite large, making me worry about my job as a barista. I had a roommate at an apartment down the block and I made it, but the addition of that bill might break me.
“Oh, sweetie,” Lucy said softly as she wrapped an arm around my shoulders. Dad had blown all his money on alcohol. By the time he had died, there’d been nothing left. Mom and her new husband did fine, but they had their own life. I was a smart girl and I’d figure out how to make it work, but I wished I had studied something like accounting. “You’ll figure that out.”
“I sure hope so,” I said as I leaned my head against her shoulder. We spent some time there, talking about things, before turning back to the party. When I did, I saw Ryan looking at me. “You know, I don’t need help getting a man. When I’m ready for it, I’ll find him. I’ll find the one I’ve been wanting to meet.”
“I just want you happy.” Lucy kissed my cheek with a wry smile, and we walked through the living room to talk to more friends.
I ended up back in the kitchen, nibbling on egg rolls Lucy had made for the event, and I quickly noticed that Ryan joined me. He was holding another soda and grinned at me as he grabbed a plate. I picked up another egg roll and took a bite as I looked over to see Lucy and Lewis disappearing into the hallway. I shook my head at the sight. “I don’t get those two,” I murmured as I added a pastry to my plate. I hadn’t eaten much today, and that was half the reason I’d come to this party. Lucy always had the best food.
“It’s what they do. They certainly aren’t a good match, but something seems to work between them,” Ryan said, shrugging as he bit into a wonton.
I thought about her ex-boyfriend, Phillip. That had ended just a couple months ago. I snickered as I glanced at Ryan. Lucy wasn’t the kind of girl to be monogamous. Ryan raised an eyebrow at me. “How long have they been doing that? She had a boyfriend not that long ago.”
“She did,” he replied vaguely, and I shot him a mock glare. “They’ve known each other as long as I’ve known Lucy. He’s been my friend for years.” I watched him think carefully about what to say next. “I�
��m not for him being with my cousin, but they’re adults. They can make their own choices.”
I knew from Stacy that Ryan did his fair share of dating as well, and I sipped my soda slowly. I hadn’t dated anyone lately, not with school and Dad. I had always been working toward getting a scholarship for college, but I hadn’t been so lucky. Dad had been high maintenance enough. “Yeah, that’s true. They can decide what they want for themselves. He just seems like he’s into any woman who will give him attention.”
“I liked the way you shot him down,” Ryan complimented, and I laughed.
“Like I was going to fall for that!” I shook my head and we laughed together. Ryan was easily one of the most gorgeous men I’d ever seen, and I smiled slowly as I pushed myself back. There was no need to get lost in thought, thinking about a future where I’d end up with a guy like him. I didn’t want his wealth, but I was also painfully aware that it didn’t hurt. It would be nice not to sweat my upcoming loans, to just be carefree for one second of the day.
A girl could dream.
“So, where do you work? You mentioned a coffee shop. Is it one of the corner Starbucks?” Ryan asked me. I smiled.
“I work at The Press,” I replied, and he nodded. “That was my college job, and it seems to be my real life one as well. Getting into film isn’t as easy as I’d hoped it would be, especially making any real money.” I shook my head. “Silly college dreams.”
“Not silly at all. If that’s what you want to do, then go for it. I’m sure you can build a name for yourself soon enough,” Ryan said.
I looked at him with a grateful smile.
“What’s your dream?” I asked. A wicked smile crossed his full lips, making me lose my train of thought for a moment.
“How about I tell you over dinner tomorrow night?” The invitation surprised me, and I smiled at him for a moment. “Anywhere you want.”
“I know all about you and your fancy life. My friend at work stalks you.” That earned a laugh from him. “How about something around here? There are some good dives.”
“I agree. Lucy makes me eat at them with her every time I stop by to visit,” he said. “That sounds great.”
“Good,” I said as we shared a smile.
We hung out for the rest of the party and were still together when Lucy and Lewis reappeared. They were both a little messy, and I saw the blush on Lucy’s cheeks as she glanced at me. The party was intimate, but fun with good music playing and lots of laughter. I felt like a human being again. I hadn’t relaxed in a long time, and I let Lucy lead me around the room, meeting new friends of hers as she planned her upcoming gallery showing. It was going to be small, but I was so proud of her.
Lucy had been drinking since she’d started getting ready for the party, and by now she was giddy. I glanced at Ryan, who shook his head before looking back at her with a warm gaze. He cared about his cousin and her well-being. I couldn’t say the same about Lewis. I glanced around, seeing him in the kitchen at the makeshift bar. Lucy danced to the new song that played, and everyone started to join in as Ryan placed a hand on the small of my back.
He was a good dancer, and I watched his muscles flex underneath his fitted gray T-shirt and worn jeans. I didn’t need to be drunk to appreciate them, though I suspected he might have had some drinks before coming here. I didn’t know what I did to make him pass on it upon arriving here, but I appreciated it. I couldn’t be with anyone who drank heavily after all the pain surrounding my father’s death. I dropped my head back and felt his arms around me, securing me to him as I shook my generous hips.
I liked this feeling. It made me want to let some of my walls down and just have fun the way I’d watched friends do throughout their twenties. I wanted to stop worrying about my responsibilities and just be free. I swore that the music got louder as we moved together and I felt his breath on my ear. “I’d really like your number so I can call you about tomorrow.”
Oh, yes. I looked up at him and found my phone in my purse to hand to him. Ryan quickly punched something into it and handed it back as our eyes locked. He might be a perfect distraction as I tried to sort out the mess that was my life. I pushed the phone back into my small purse and secured it as I glanced over to see Lucy grinning at me. She was dancing with Lewis, and I had to admit, they did have chemistry.
The party ended late that night with Lucy’s announcement of the gallery where she’d be having her show. Then we all got ready to leave. Lucy held my hand to keep me there while she kissed and hugged people good-bye. Ryan was the last to leave, and he gave me a look of longing as Lucy kissed his cheek and told him to get home safely.
I was surprised that she kicked Lewis out as well before locking the door and dragging me to the couch to sit down. “Stay here.” Her voice was firm as she walked into the kitchen and came back with waters and two pieces of cake. “I saved these for us in the fridge. I can’t allow anyone else but me and my best friend to enjoy anything Felicia makes.”
“Thank you,” I told her as she sat close to me and handed me a fork.
“So, what’s up with Ryan?” she asked as I took a bite of the moist cake with a low moan. It was delicious.
“He’s taking me to dinner tomorrow,” I responded. She grinned at me. “My terms. I know who the guy is, and I don’t want all that rich boy nonsense. I’m a simple girl.”
“He’s definitely a rich kid, but he’s different than the others. Ryan has a good heart,” Lucy told me as I looked at her.
“He’s not the least bit alpha male?” I asked, and she laughed softly.
“I’m not going to lie about that. He is, but in a sexy way, if that makes sense.” I stared at her for a second as she shrugged. “I think that once he gets away from his parents, he’ll be a good adult.”
“He mentioned a bit about them,” I murmured. She shot me a long look.
“Ryan doesn’t tell anybody anything about his family. I wonder what made him do that.” She searched my face, and I shrugged.
“I went a little over the edge talking about Dad when we were talking about drinking. I sounded like a fool, Lucy. I just want to be a normal girl with a regular life that isn’t so foreboding. I want to move on from that.” I sighed, and she smiled at me. “Tell me about Lewis.”
“Not much to tell. We just hook up a lot. I like him enough to keep sleeping with him and maybe more, but you know how much I hate the idea of getting too serious.” Lucy stared at me with concern in her eyes. “So far, he seems to be good with casual.”
“He’s a big flirt. You know that, right?” I asked her. She just laughed.
“How do you think we first started?” I took another bite of the cake and shook my head. “I know that he’s like that. I know that I can be like that too. So, we’re safe and nothing bad will happen. It’s just a little fun for a moment in time. He’s pretty good in bed.”
“I don’t need to hear that,” I said quickly, and she laughed. “I don’t want to hear that.”
We finished our cake and she looked around. “Molly is out of town. Want to stay here tonight? You have tomorrow off, right?” Lucy asked as I closed my eyes wearily. I loved this soft couch so much, and getting home felt like too much effort.
“Sure. Maybe we can grab breakfast in the morning,” I said as she opened her water bottle.
“We can also plan for your date. Maybe I can help you get ready.” Lucy sounded excited, and I groaned.
“It’s a date, not the prom.”
CHAPTER 3
Ryan
I couldn’t stop thinking about Brea all night. I took a cab home to my place and pictured her emotional eyes as she talked about her dad. She had some baggage, but who didn’t? I had my own experience with alcoholism, so I understood her. I understood the pain of growing up with that, though she had a definite edge with the death of a parent.
There were days when I wished mine would die, but seeing her sadness had made me take all that back last night. My parents frustrated me so badly, but I di
dn’t want anything to happen to them. I just had to extricate myself from them and get married.
I thought about Brea and how I’d love to be married to her, even if it was fake. I could laugh and talk with her more than with other women.
I laughed as I opened my eyes and looked around my large bedroom. My penthouse was at the top of a building in Manhattan and had a stellar view and three bedrooms. I thought about how I could fit Lucy’s entire apartment into my living room as I played the party back through my mind. I could still see Brea, and I glanced down at the tent in my sheets. “She’s pretty, and I know you’re there for more than just your morning greeting. You want her too, don’t you?”
I pushed the sheets back and walked to the bathroom, kicking off the boxers that I’d worn to bed. I took care of business and looked around for some sweats to wear, even though nobody could see me in here. I had surprised a maid a time or two, though, so I tried to always have clothes on now.
