Bittersweet Deceit

by Blakely Bennett

  Mason and Stay are so different. Mason is far more self-contained like me. Stay just lays it all out there. I’m flattered but I really need to keep my guard up around Stay. It would be nice if we could just be friends but he doesn’t seem like the type to back down from a challenge. I won’t complain that Stay has seemed to spur Mason on to spend more time with me. That’s a definite improvement. Now if I could just get Mason to open up more.

  I wonder what he has in mind for Saturday. Who wears a trench coat? I have to assume I won’t be a flasher. Maybe a detective like Sherlock Holmes, or a spy?

  I’m totally excited to see Ed Sheeran tomorrow night. Dinner I’m not so sure about. I think I’m going wear the new dress I grabbed from the shop. I hope it’s dressy enough. I have to remember to pack jeans and a T-shirt for the concert. Boots, definitely. Maybe the ankle high ones with the small heel.

  I still need to call dad. Maybe he’ll be up for a walk Sunday afternoon. I just don’t want to chance that Mom will tag along. I’m sure he’ll understand. Call him from work tomorrow!

  I closed my journal and set it back on my nightstand. With my alarm set, I changed my playlist to my mellow music and closed my eyes.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Suit & Tie

  by Justin Timberlake (ft. Jay Z)

  As soon as I arrived at work, with my bag of clothes and the maxi dress on a hanger, I put my stuff aside and called my dad.

  “Hey, sweetie.”

  “Hi, Dad, I’m calling about the walk. Are you free Sunday afternoon? I’d rather avoid Mom if possible.”

  “I sure am and you mother will be gone midday for one of her reading groups. Want to meet at Hollywood Beach, or would you like me to come to you?”

  “Hollywood Beach is great. Let’s say one o’clock?”

  “Can’t wait to see you.”

  “Me too, Dad. Love you lots.”

  “Love you more.”

  “Bye-bye, daddio.”

  

  Friday turned into another busy day at Bella and the time sped by quickly. By five o’clock the butterflies were fluttering in my stomach. “I’m going to get ready for the concert,” I said to Samantha.

  “Okay,” she said, refolding a pile of jeans that a customer had recently tried on.

  In the bathroom I freshened up and washed my face. After applying mascara and a burgundy lipstick, I brushed my hair smooth. I changed into my new Maxi dress, black sandals, and silver dangling earrings.

  Back out in the shop, Sam said, “What if you get cold?”

  “I hadn’t thought to bring a jacket. The temp has been fairly warm out the last few days.”

  “Give me a second,” she said and strolled toward a rack on the wall of the shop. Quickly returning, she held a short gray leather jacket. “Try this on.”

  “I don’t think it will fit—”

  “Give it a shot and this silver bracelet too,” she said, plucking one off the display carousel on the shelf next to the register.

  I slipped into the jacket and latched the repeating circles onto my wrist. The bottom of the coat stopped just where the broad lines of the dress changed from horizontal to vertical. “What do you think?” I asked Samantha.

  “You look stunning,” a deep male voice responded. I turned around and found Stay smiling at me.

  “Wow Stay,” Sam said before I could respond. “Looking mighty handsome. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think this is a date.”

  Stayman looked sharp in his black dress pants, matching coat, and dark-gray dress shirt. I gazed at him but was at a loss for words. We stared at each other for a second.

  Sam saved me by saying, “Stay, there’s a wire mannequin in the attic that I’d like brought down, and Lane and I can’t lift it. I wondered if you could do that for us. Not now. I wouldn’t want you to mess up your clothes, but—”

  As he removed his coat, he said, “It shouldn’t take long and I’ll just take off my shirt.” He started unbuttoning as both Samantha and I watched as he slowly revealed his chest. Stay slipped out of his shirt and laid it neatly on top of his jacket.

  His smooth, lean torso was highly defined and I got caught staring at his chest. He winked at me and then said to Sam, “Come on and show me the way.”

  Once they walked away, I glared into the mirror and said, “Don’t even think about it.”

  Minutes later, he had managed to carry the mannequin down.

  “Let’s put it in the back,” I said, leading the way. “It needs to be cleaned up before it can be out on the floor.” I showed him where to put it. Scanning his physique from his head to his shoes, I noticed that he continued to let his golden-brown hair grow in and chose to where black boots instead of dress shoes. To make matters worse, his five o’clock shadow was incredibly sexy. Damn, he looks hot. Look away, girl, just look away!

  “Here,” I said, holding out a lint roller, but not making eye contact.

  Some dust had settled on the front of his pants just over the zipper area. “You don’t want to help?”

  I turned away and said, “Go get dressed.”

  “Are you sure that’s your final decision?”

  “Very sure.” My rapidly beating heart settled down once his clothing was back on.

  “Are you ready to go?” he asked.

  “Let me go grab my clothes bag and my clutch and I will be.” Sam followed me into my office.

  “He looks hot!” she exclaimed. “He must really like you. I’ve never seen him dressed up before.”

  “Stop it,” I said, making sure my dress lay straight.

  “Forget about MM for the night,” she said to me with a serious expression. She pulled the tag off my jacket.

  “That’s not possible. Thanks for closing up and helping with the outfit.”

  “No problem.”

  We walked back into the shop and said our goodbyes. Stay followed me out the front door.

  “Where’s the Prius?” I asked, scanning around the parking lot.

  “I left her home. I thought I might introduce you to my other girl. She’s a 1956 Corvette convertible.”

  “Wow, she’s a beaut. The white side coves look great against the shiny, red paint job. Have you had her long?”

  “About five years now.” He walked me around the car and opened the door for me.

  “Thank you,” I said, settling into the red leather seat.

  “My pleasure,” he said, moving around the car and getting in. “Is the top down okay?”

  “Definitely,” I said, finding a hair tie in my purse and pulling my hair back into a ponytail.

  “You look amazing, Lainie.” He gazed at me with his bright crooked smile that lit up his face.

  I stole a quick glance and said, “Thank you. That’s a nice look on you too. Are you going to behave tonight?”

  “Not a chance.”

  I shook my head. “I don’t even know what to say to that.” I think I’m in trouble, I thought to myself.

  “Let’s just go and have a good time,” he said, as he drove out of the parking lot.

  “I’ll try my best,” I closed my eyes against the cool wind flowing around us. I felt grateful to have the jacket Samantha had suggested. “Where are we going for dinner?”

  “50 Ocean in Delray Beach. Have you ever been there?”

  “No, but I’ve wanted to try it. We should go dutch. That place is expensive.”

  “Not a chance.”

  “You’re pushy you know.”

  “Wait until you really find out.” He listed his head and popped his eyebrows.

  I decided to just shut up. Somehow he made everything sound sexual and my body seemed more than happy to be a puppet to his advances. My mind however, thought of Mason and what tomorrow would bring.

  I turned on the stereo in the car and found it set to 88.5, my favorite alternative rock radio station. Too Close by Alex Clare was playing.

  “Have you seen him in concert?” Stay asked as he drove down the h
ighway.

  “No, although I definitely would love to see him live.”

  “You should. His show was excellent.”

  Once we arrived and parked, I helped Stay close the convertible top and then shook my hair free. We waited for a break in traffic to cross the street to the restaurant.

  “This place is extraordinary,” I said when we walked inside.

  “Name please,” the young blonde hostess asked when we approached the podium.

  “Stills for two,” Stay said.

  Stayman Stills? I thought.

  “Follow me,” she said.

  The room we entered had floor to ceiling windows, deep-blue patterned carpet below and wood paneling with tropical, palm leaf fans above. We were sat at a dark, wood table against the window that gave us a nice view of lush trees and the ocean in the distance. Stay helped me out of my jacket and pushed the chair in behind me just before the hostess handed me a menu. He removed his own coat and sat across from me, taking the menu from the girl.

  “Your server should be with you shortly,” she said and then departed.

  “Did you see the bar when we came in?” I asked.

  “Yep, the blue, geode bar top is a real art piece, huh? Would you like to start with an appetizer?”

  I lifted my silverware out of the folded napkin and spread it across my lap. “Do we have enough time?”

  “Plenty.”

  I glanced up and asked, “What shall we start with?”

  “You strike me as a woman who knows what she likes. Ladies choice.”

  “Let’s see...” I said as I pursued the menu. “Rock shrimp pot pie, or mussels?”

  “Mussels. There’s more to share. I have a hearty appetite.”

  The double entendre wasn’t lost on me, but I chose to ignore it. “So do I.”

  The busboy filled our water glasses, and the waiter came to our table just after him. “What can I get you two to drink?”

  “A cola for me,” Stay said.

  “Water’s good for me.”

  “I don’t mind if you have a drink.” He reached out, touching my hand.

  I smiled at him and said, “Water’s fine.”

  “Can we get the mussels to start with?” His hand remained on my mine and once again his peaceful energy radiated from his palm.

  When the waiter moved away, I slipped my hand out from under his and placed it in my lap.

  “What are you leaning towards for your main course?” He looked up from the menu. “I love the color of your hair. What do they call it? Wheat?”

  “Thank you. Light-brown or dirty-blonde usually. It gets lighter in the summer.” I smiled and looked back down at the menu. “It all looks so good. What do you recommend?”

  “The scallops or snapper. If you don’t want another seafood course, the freebird chicken dish is another good one.”

  “They all look delicious. How to choose?”

  “Shall we share two?”

  I smiled. “Sure. I’ll order the chicken and you pick one of the others.”

  “Scallops. Now that that is settled, tell me something about you, Lainie.” He leaned in over the table. “Are your parents still together?”

  “Yes, but I don’t understand why my father stays with my mother.”

  “What are they like?” I felt like his deep-blue eyes were busy try to assess what went on behind my hazel green orbs.

  “My father is warm and non-judgmental. I wish I was more like him. We are close.”

  “Does he know about Mason?”

  If felt strange that yet another person knew about Mason, especially Stay, but it was also sort of nice. “Yes, he knows about him.”

  “What does he say about it?”

  The busboy returned with Stay’s drink and I waited for him to walk away before responding.

  “My father’s worried for me. He says the person in my position is usually the one left devastated.”

  “He sounds like a wise man.”

  I took a sip of my water and said, “He’s like a big teddy bear and I can always count on him. He helped me afford the shop in the beginning.”

  “And your mother?”

  “If you ever met her, one of the first things out of her mouth would be how she had the perfect figure until she had me. She loves that story and several others that are very unflattering to me.”

  “She sounds like a gem.”

  “A deep black onyx—maybe—letting in very little light. Her girlfriends love her though. She’s quite popular. To me, she’s always been cold.”

  “Brothers or sisters?”

  “No, you?”

  “No, thankfully. I was plenty enough for my grandmother.”

  “Is she still alive?”

  “Oh, very much so. I’d love you to meet her. She’s in an assisted living home, not that she needs the assistance. She just loves all the activities and socializing opportunities. She’s eighty-three and you would never guess it.”

  “I can tell you really love her.”

  “She’s my only blood I consider family. Bond is like a brother to me, though. I know you don’t care much for him—”

  “I’m sure he’s an incredible friend, but when you watch your best friend’s heart ripped out repeatedly, all of his best intentions are lost.”

  “I understand,” he said and I believed he did. His eye contacted became too intense and I looked away.

  Smoothing out the napkin on my lap, I asked, “So tell me, is he about to stray again? Will he be upfront about it?”

  “I can’t answer that. Anything Bond tells me is in confidence.”

  I angled my head back up. “You just answered my question. I hope when the shit hits the fan, Jacqs can finally mourn the relationship and move on with Red.”

  “I hope that for both of them. I’m guessing it will harder for Bond in the long run. He has to see Red with his girl or that’s at least how he sees it. I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know.”

  “Yes, that’s true.”

  The server placed the appetizer, two small bowls, and bread between us. The aroma of the broth surrounding the mussels made my mouth water. Stay spooned some into a bowl for me and handed it across the table.

  I took a bite and said, “Hmm, delicious. That chili broth has some kick.”

  “I’m glad you like it.” He served himself and watched me for a few minutes.

  “Aren’t you going to eat?”

  He flashed me a smile and took a bite.

  “I have a question for you,” I said after I drank some water.

  “Shoot.”

  “Why did you have two tickets to the concert? Were you planning to take your ex?”

  “No, Karen and I didn’t have the same taste in music.”

  Pointing my fork at him, I said, “Wait, was Bond supposed to go with you?”

  “No, OCDC, I bought the ticket for you.”

  “Shit.”

  “What shit?”

  “I thought you had an extra ticket and I was doing you a favor.” I placed my fork down and bit my bottom lip.

  “Oh, Lainie,” he said with his impish grin, “you are doing me a huge favor. You’re letting me win you over.”

  “Why, Stay? Why me?”

  “I’m not sure I can give you a satisfactory answer that would match up with the order you like to have in your life. I’ve been interested since before Karen but I didn’t do anything about it.”

  “Why not and why now?”

  He rested his fork in the bowl and said, “You had an impenetrable wall up when you first started hanging out with the group. You would come with Jacqs, but it took you a long while to get comfortable.”

  “Why now?”

  “Even though you probably won’t let yourself believe it, you’re far more receptive now, even with Mason struggling to hold onto your attention.”

  “There is no struggle,” I said emphatically.

  “Okay, okay.” He held his hands out in submission.
r />   “Your turn. So what happened with Karen?”

  “I have a loyalty problem.”

  “A loyalty problem? What does that mean?”

  He took a noticeable breath and said, “I have a hard time giving up on people even in light of evidence that should have me running for the hills.”

  “Given your history, that makes so much sense.”

  “How so?” He removed another mussel from its shell and dipped it into the broth before popping it into his mouth.

  “From what you’ve told me, your parents were only loyal to alcohol and your grandmother was exactly the opposite. She stuck by you no matter what and that’s love to you. Damn, Jacqs would be proud. She’s the psychoanalytical one.”

  “Yes, I’ve pieced that together for myself. Karen was amazing in the beginning. Laid back, breezy, spontaneous, easy going, but it all turned out to be a mirage.”

  After chewing a piece of bread, I wiped my mouth on the napkin. “I’m none of those things. I don’t see what you see in me. I’m at a loss.”

  “I think you have a value problem.” He set his fork aside and leaned back in his seat.

  The waiter returned and removed the appetizer. “Would you like another soda?” he asked.

  “No, thank you,” Stay responded.

  “More like a mother problem,” I said, lifting my clutch.

  “Yes, they are one in the same.”

  “Indeed. I’ll be right back.”

  Stay stood as I did.

  I made my way to the bathroom. After using the toilet, I refreshed my lipstick and checked my appearance.

  Since the first night I met Mason, we had lunch out once and have not gone out since. My apartment had become our sole enclave. I enjoyed being taken to dinner.

  “You’re not doing anything wrong,” I said to my reflection before departing the bathroom.

  When I returned our entrees had been served and Stay had move to my side of the table. He stood and held out my chair. “I thought it would be easier to share if we sat on the same side.”

  His energy surrounded me and I found his proximity unnerving. I decided to focus on the meal. “The food looks amazing.”

  “So do you, Lainie. Is the dress one of yours from the shop?”

  “Thank you again. It is. We just got it in a few days ago.” I tasted the chicken dish in front of me. “Oh, that’s good. What about your suit?”