Chapter Seven
JAMIE
Cautiously glancing around the party, I try not to make eye contact with anyone so that I don’t have to deal with any unwanted conversations. I’ve yet to experience the rude behavior I expected from a Sutton Hill party, but I know it can’t be far away.
There’s no doubt that I’m an outsider here, but besides Sam’s sister Nikki, everyone seems to be warm and welcoming, which wasn’t really what I was expecting. I could sense Sam’s nervousness our entire ride here, but he refused to acknowledge it even when I asked.
Knowing I’m the first woman he’s ever introduced his family to makes me feel very special, but I can’t help but worry about the pressure he must feel under. Finally, after turning towards a loud, boisterous laugh, I spot him, surrounded by a group of men as they all battle to yell over one another.
He looks calm and relaxed, amongst his family and friends, and I feel grateful he’s invited me to such an intimate celebration. His mother definitely knows how to throw a party. This is nothing like any other Fourth of July barbeque I’ve ever been to, but the food is fantastic, so I guess the chefs were worth it.
From inside the group of guys, Sam begins to spin, squinting as he pores over the crowd of people, and I know he’s looking for me. My stomach clenches realizing that even amongst his friends, he’s still thinking of me, just as I do with him. He’s been doing an excellent job of showing me how he’s willing to change and adjust his life so that I can fit into his busy schedule.
Bringing me to his party is a massive step for him, and I don’t take it lightly. In fact, I plan on showing him just how much it means to me when we get home. Staring from across the lawn, I smile at how handsome he is, laughing and joking with his family. It’s a new side of him, and the more I get to know him, the more I like.
It occurs to me as I watch him, that he doesn’t know much about me and my past. While I’ve been pressuring him to open up, maybe I should take my own advice and tell him more about my upbringing and the crazy family that comes along with it. Just thinking about how he’ll take my destructive and chaotic family makes me cringe, but I guess it will be necessary for us to move to the next level.
“Hey, girl!” Alyssa calls, walking over to my hiding spot at the edge of the buffet table.
“Alyssa!” I smile, trying to perk up after spending the past twenty minutes hiding from all human interaction.
“Are you alright over here?” She asks, looking a bit concerned.
Without knowing much about them, I’d have to say that Alyssa is my favorite of Sam’s two sisters. She’s kind and welcoming and makes me feel right at home despite the obvious. I can tell from her reaction to her son earlier that she is observant, so I’m sure she’s noticed that I’m alone in a corner, looking like a real outsider.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” I nod, trying my best to assure her. The last thing I want is to be paraded around the party as Sam’s girlfriend.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” She smirks while asking, and I know she’s alluding to the fact that I’m entirely alone.
“Yeah, it’s a really nice party,” I struggle to muster up some feigned excitement.
“I told you, our mom is obnoxious about these things. You don’t have to pretend it’s not weird,” she teases, gently nudging my side with her elbow.
“I was just telling Sam how it’s really nice to have these types of gathering. And everything is delicious,” I motion towards the long buffet table with everything you could possibly want to eat.
“You’re sweet,” she pauses, looking around the party before continuing. “So, tell me how you and Sam met. I’m sure he won’t spill any of the details without me prying him open.”
“Oh, we met at the dojo,” I answer after a few giggles.
“You do martial arts too?” She squeals excitedly.
“Yes, do you?” I frown, not taking her as the martial arts type.
“Hell no!” She slaps my arm, throwing her head back in laughter.
“I was going to be shocked,” I admit, laughing along with her.
I feel relaxed with Alyssa like I’ve known her for years. She could easily be a close friend of mine in another life. The party feels completely familiar now that she’s here, as we laugh together like two old friends.
“No, my only exercise these days is lifting a wine glass from the table to my mouth,” she jokes, and we laugh a bit linger together.
“Yeah, we both work out at the same dojo, so I used to see him every so often, and I guess it just grew from there,” I answer nervously, not wanting to tell too much since I have no idea what Sam has told his family about me if anything.
“That’s sweet. So you two are pretty new?” She asks, her thin lips curving upward as she hangs on to my every word.
“Oh yeah! We’ve just recently decided to give things a real shot, so only a few weeks,” I try to downplay our relationship.
“Well, he’s brought you here, so I’d have to say he’s as serious as you,” she smirks, give me the look of an old friend.
Every time I try to downplay my relationship to Sam, Lisa is continuously negated me, arguing that I only say that because I think he doesn’t feel the same. Sam is a discreet type of guy. He likes to keep his private relationship private, and I understand and respect that. The last thing I want to do is push him too far too fast.
His effort to show me how I can fit into his life is enough for me now, and I don’t want to mess up what we have by rushing it along. While Lisa, and now Alyssa, may think that’s unnecessary because of Sam’s reciprocation, I’m comfortable playing my position for the time being, as long as he continues to respect what we have in both public and private.
“I noticed you watching him while you were standing over here alone,” she mentions, tilting her head in anticipation of my response.
“I’ve never seen him with his family, so it’s a really nice treat to see this other side to him,” I admit, smiling through my nerves.
“You really love him, don’t you?” She asks, startling me.
“Yeah, I do,” I answer, looking down at my yellow toenails.
“I can tell, and there’s nothing to be ashamed of. I know my brother, and he wanted us to meet you because you’re special to him. While he may be a genius in the boardroom, I’m sure you’ve learned by now that he’s much less than that in relationships. Don’t give up on him, but he’ll have a bit of a learning curve,” she warns, and I nod knowingly as we both giggle.
“I’m just happy he’s making an effort. There’s nothing worse than not knowing how he feels, and since he doesn’t express his emotions too much, I have to gauge from his actions. Bringing me here was a strong statement,” I smile, sharing my recent thoughts.
“I always say that actions are the best way to judge someone’s feelings. A mouth will say anything you tell it to, but how you behave will serve as the true indicator of how you feel. He’s been looking for you since Michael pulled him away from you,” she motions towards Sam, who has just landed his eyes on the two of us.
With a nod and a smile, his shoulders relax as he realizes I’m in good hands with his sister before turning back to the group of guys. Alyssa’s admission makes it evident that she was watching us as we moved about earlier, and it makes me think she likes us together.
“He’s a good guy,” I sigh, looking on at him.
“Girl, you’ve got it bad!” She teases, and we both laugh together once more before her son begins running around the pool.
“No running!” She calls after him, but he doesn’t seem the least bit phased by her warning, as he races around the cement landing.
“I have to get him. I’ll see you later. Make sure to enjoy yourself. We don’t bite too hard,” she jokes before jetting off after her son.
Left back to my devices, I scour the party, looking through the clusters of people all grouped together like lunch tables in high school. There is
an older group of men huddled together, with Sam’s Uncle John in the center, appearing to tell a funny story as everyone looks on in amusement.
Then another crowd of older women includes Aunt Debby, though she is not the center of attention. Instead, it’s a woman in a formal fitting dress that looks a bit too uncomfortable for a barbeque, as the other women listen on, clutching their pearls. Without hearing one word, I am sure they are gossiping.
Next, I turn towards the pool, where all the children are splashing and yelling, enjoying the sunny day. Watching as three young boys hit a beach ball back and forth, I wonder what it must have been like to grow up in such a picturesque environment.
Turning back to the house, I shake my head at the grand architecture. By far the largest house I’ve ever seen, I can’t imagine calling a place like this home. No wonder Sam and I are so different, our lives aren’t even comparable.
Just as my eyes begin traveling back over the crowd, I feel a strange vibe, as if someone is watching me. Turning, I see a group of younger women, all looking at me with envy on their faces. Even now, with me returning their stare, they don’t turn away, as if they have the right to keep an eye on me.
Nikki, Sam’s sister who greeted us when we arrived, is in the center of the women. They all look stunningly beautiful, with their hair and make-up styled like they’ve just left the runway of a fashion show. Unlike everyone else, they’re standing off of the lawn, in a small cement circle near an outdoor bar. I imagine it’s to keep their stilettos from getting dirt on them, but who knows.
Finally, I turn around, accepted defeat in the stare down contest. I can hear their catty laughter behind me as I make my way inside the house. Maybe a little air conditioning will do me some good because I am just about ready to overheat from the pressure and those obnoxious girls.
Just when I’ve made my way into the living room, I watch through the wall of glass doors as Nikki walks with her arms interlocked with a beautiful blonde woman, heading towards the group of guys.
With her hand on his arm, Nikki pulls Sam from the crowd, and I watch in silence as she seems to introduce the two. My heart sinks as I force myself to turn away. I know that I’m nothing like the girls that Sam grew up with, and although he assures me that he likes that about me, I can’t fight the insecurity seeping through my veins. Is that the type of girl he wants? Or, even worse, is she the type of girl he needs?
Chapter Eight
SAM
“Come here!” Nikki annoyingly yells, tugging at my arm with her sharp acrylic fingernails.
“What’s up?” I ask, making my way through my brothers and cousins as they continue to debate the upcoming football season.
“I wanted to introduce you to Tasha. Tasha, this is my brother Sam,” Nikki smiles, changing her entire demeanor from when I saw her earlier with Jamie.
“Hi,” I nod to Tasha, and she bats her eyes at me while biting her bottom lip seductively.
She’s a gorgeous woman – thin and tan, with long blonde hair and big, fake tits. She would fit in at any Sutton Hills gathering because she has on the full uniform. Her dress is flowing in the subtle summer breeze, leaving just enough cleavage to catch my eye, without coming off as desperate. A thin necklace of pearls lines her neck, as she twirls her hair around her manicured nail.
“I think we met before,” she giggles like someone has made a joke.
“Oh really?” I frown, trying to remember meeting her. She looks so much like all the other women from Sutton Hills that is difficult to separate her from the pack.
“Yes! That’s right! You were at the Cheshire wedding!” Nikki exclaims clapping her hands as if she’s just solved a puzzle.
“Oh yeah, that was a few years back,” I nod, guessing that’s why I’d forget her.
“Let me go check on Mom,” Nikki says before abruptly leaving so I’m alone with Tasha.
“I’d never forget a face like yours,” Tasha says as soon as Nikki is gone.
“Excuse me?” I look at her with confusion coating my face.
“That’s how I can remember you from those years ago. You have a memorable face. Plus you made me a promise,” she puts her hand on her hip as she pouts the words.
“A promise?” I repeat, doubting its existence.
“Yep! You told me you were going to teach me how to surf,” she bats her eyes as she looks up at me through her false lashes.
“Did I now?” I ask, taking a sip of my beer.
She’s so desperate and obvious, just like my sister. It all makes sense now. Nikki was shocked I’d brought a girl to the party, but she was also upset because she planned on playing love connection with her friend. The realization is annoying, but I know better than to make a scene or make Tasha feel uncomfortable.
“Have you ever been surfing?” I ask.
“No, but you can’t let that deter you. I might not know a lot, but I’m a fast learner,” she blinks slowly, and I’m a bit taken aback by how hard she’s coming onto in such a family setting.
“I bet you do,” I tease.
“No, really. I played tennis growing up, and I’ve swum competitively since I was little. So, I’m really athletic,” she adds, smiling.
In another time, at another place, I might be interested in Tasha. Probably not for what she’s looking for, but I’d take her out and have some fun. Now, women like her just seem shallow and empty to me. She makes me appreciate Jamie even more, which makes me realize that I haven’t spotted her since she was in the yard with Alyssa.
“I bet you’d be great,” I assure Tasha, but my focus is on looking through the party for Jamie.
“Seriously! Don’t make fun of me,” she slaps my chest with her hand, begging for my attention.
I can tell she’s flirting, but I’m pretty sure I haven’t done anything to encourage it. She came here with this intention, and I’m going to let her get it all out. Hopefully, it will be the reason she doesn’t try this again in the future.
“I’m not. Surfing is hard, but it’s not impossible. If I can do it, so can you,” I smile, hoping that’s the end of our unnecessary conversation.
“So, then you will live up to your word? Because I’ve heard the Ellis word is as strong as oak, and I plan on finding out,” she smiles up at me.
“Sure. Let me know when you want to go, and I’ll be happy to give you your lesson,” I agree.
“What’s that? Are we setting up a date?” Nikki asks from behind me.
“Oh, there you go. I’ll be back,” I move to leave, but she grabs my arm again.
“What’s up now, Nikki?” I ask irritated.
“Nothing. Can I spend a little time with my baby brother? Would that be such a crime?” She asks sarcastically.
“Well, he’s just agreed to teach me how to surf, so that should be some cool sibling time. You can come with us!” Tasha excitedly invites my annoying sister.
“No, I think I should let you two have some alone time,” Nikki sinisterly replies, and Tasha blushes from her obvious hint at there being something between us.
“Do you know how to surf?” Tasha asks my sister as I again look around the party for Jamie.
“Oh, my god! Sam! Tell her the story of you teaching me how to surf when we were kids,” she giggles, turning towards me.
“You know how you were saying you’re athletic? This one is not. She fell so hard on her first wave, I had to carry her out of the water,” I quickly tell the story, and Tasha and Nikki break into laughter as if it was hilarious.
“I haven’t touched one of those boards since!” Nikki cries, her hand on Tasha’s shoulder as they both laugh hysterically.
“Alright. I’ll see you two ladies later,” I announce, moving to leave their performance.
“No! You just got here,” Nikki pleads.
“I’m not leaving. I just need to find Jamie. Have you seen her?” I ask, and her face instantly changes, her shoulders dropping as she shrugs and s
hakes her head.
“It was nice to meet you again, Tasha. See you later,” I excuse myself.
“I’ll let you know about the surf lesson. I’m serious! Don’t forget about me,” she reminds me, her voice sultry and needy.
There’s something about needy women that just rubs me the wrong way. Growing up in Sutton Hills with my last name, I was always bombarded by women who wanted nothing more than to be associated with me. The thought of being used for social gain has never made much sense to me.
These women would do and say anything just to be seen with me. It was beneath low in my book, and Tasha was another one of them. Don’t get me wrong, I slept with a lot of women just like her, but that’s all it was. And maybe that’s all they wanted from me because they never seemed disappointed when things came to an end.
The community was so small, everyone knew everyone, and gossip was cheap. After one date, the entire neighborhood would be putting me on the track to marrying someone I barely knew. Tasha was sure to try to parlay her opportunity into more than it was, and I doubted she cared about the exaggeration.
She was the type of woman I’d have to watch while out because she would secretly take pictures of me and then post them to social media as if we were more than friends. I couldn’t stand women like that, but it was all that Sutton Hills offered.
After strolling through the backyard with no sign of Jamie, I decided to head into the house, hoping I can at least find Alyssa. She’s always been very vigilant, so she probably knows where Jamie is at all times, making sure no one is giving her a hard time.
For the first time, it occurs to me that someone could have been rude to her or even made her want to leave. My heart rate spikes, as my adrenaline races, as I rush through the house to find her.
Twelve Weeks Page 4
