Ben & Matilda- Infinite Promise

by Tania De Melo

  door to an en suite equipped with walk-in shower, jacuzzi tub, double sinks, and a —, “Um, what is that?” I question pointing to a small ceramic tub by the toilet.

  “It’s a bidet,” he replies.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen one before.”

  He shrugs. “My parents are old school, so they had one put in.” He takes my elbow. “Enough of the bathroom. There’s more.”

  “More?”

  We head back out to the room toward another door. “And now for the pièce de résistance.” He opens the door, and my eyes almost fall from my head.

  “You have got to be shitting me.”

  Quinn laughs. “I shit you not.”

  I look to him, my jaw resting on my chest. “It’s as big as the bedroom. Quinn, you could probably rent this out as another room.”

  “I think there’s some sort of regulation about that.”

  I walk in and turn a couple of times, taking it in. “I don’t think I would even be able to fill it.”

  “Something tells me you would have no problem filling this closet.”

  I look at him. “I do have a lot of shoes.”

  “You don’t say,” he mocks with a chuckle.

  I take a deep breath, turning one more time, taking it all in, then turn back to Quinn. “How much?”

  He smiles and replies, “How much can you afford?”

  ***

  Once I got settled in bed, I pull out my phone to text Gwen. “Hey, I won’t be home today. I’m too tired to make the drive, so one of my colleagues offered his spare room for me to crash in.”

  The reply comes instantly. “Colleagues? His? Is he cute? Wait! Is he single?” I can’t see her, but just from her reply, I know she’s wiggling her brow suggestively.

  “Yes, a colleague. Yes, a he. Yes, he’s cute. And I have no idea if he’s single, because I never thought to ask, nor am I going to. It’s not like that. We’re friends. Actually, soon-to-be roommates.”

  “What?”

  I laugh to myself. “I’ll explain when I see you tomorrow. I’m going to get some sleep.”

  “Wait. Is it safe?”

  “Yes, I’m perfectly fine. I’ll text you when I get up before I head back into the hospital,” I reply. I know even though I tell her this, she is still going to worry. That’s what she does.

  “Okay. Love you.”

  I smile. “Love you too, sis.”

  ***

  The last two days flew by, and as the days passed, Quinn and I slowly started to acclimate into our new life of sleep deprivation and half-eaten meals. It’s early Sunday morning, and we’ve just finished our last shift until Monday afternoon.

  “You crashing at my place,” Quinn asks as we again make our way out the front entrance of what has become our second home.

  “No, my sister has Sunday brunch every week, and if I don’t show, she may send out the cavalry. Also, to be honest, I’m really missing my nephews.”

  He offers a smile. “Nice. Okay, well, I’ll see you on Monday.”

  Quinn starts to walk ahead, then a thought comes to me. “Hey, why don’t you come with?”

  Stopping, he turns to me. “Are you sure? I don’t want to just barge in on your sister’s family get together.”

  “You won’t be. Gwen always makes more than enough food, and I know she would love to show off her culinary skills to someone new. Her husband paid a pretty penny for her cooking lessons...which might I add, we are all very grateful.”

  Quinn’s brow’s pinch in some reservation, but he agrees. “Well, then count me in.”

  “Perfect. Although I will warn you. Gwen likes to try one new dish every month, and well, it’s this Sunday. You’re a newcomer, so the duty falls on you to be the guinea pig.”

  “What if I don’t like it,” he asks.

  “Lie!”

  He nods his head. “Got it! Should I send a warning signal to the others?”

  I let out a chuckle. “Oh, most definitely, but not when she’s looking.”

  Quinn lets out a laugh. “Okay, then, your car or mine?”

  Chapter Ten

  -Ben-

  I picked up Alex a little after nine, and we made our way back to Gwen and Liam’s for brunch. Everyone was already there when we arrived, well, except for Ati. She hasn’t been home in a few days, so I’m not sure that she’s even coming. That may be a good thing. This whole trying to convince Alex I’m over Ati will be a lot easier when she’s not here.

  “Alex, I’m so glad you could join us,” Gwen greets as we make our way into the dining room.

  “Thank you for having me,” Alex replies sweetly.

  “Well, pull up a chair. Food’s almost ready. We’re just waiting on Ati and her guest,” Gwen mentions.

  Guest? What guest?

  I shoot Gwen a look of confusion, but she offers nothing but a smile as a reply.

  I don’t like this.

  Alex and I make our way in, saying our hello’s to the rest of the family, and take our seats.

  “Nice to see you again, Alex. We thought after spending some time with Benny here, you would have left running,” Kai lets out. I shoot him a glare, but it does nothing to faze him.

  “Nice to see you all again as well,” she replies, looking to me. “And he’s not all that bad.”

  Ewan snickers. “Has he showed you his rock collection yet? It’s the bomb.”

  Idiot.

  Alex looks to me. “You have a rock collection?”

  I let out a sigh. “I had a rock collection...when I was ten.”

  “What about the ones on the shelf in mom and dad’s den?” Thea questions.

  Yet another reason I wish I had been an only child.

  “Those are rare rocks,” I defend.

  Alex chuckles beside me, and when I look to her, she offers a smile.

  Just as Liam is about to add his own dig, the front door opens, and within seconds Ati is rounding the corner followed by some punk. Yeah, that's right, some punk. Unkempt wavy blond hair and he looks like he hasn’t shaved in a week. Cargo shorts and a way-to-tight white golf shirt. What a douche. You can tell by just looking at him that he thinks his shit doesn’t stink. Where did she dig-up this asswad?

  “Hey everyone,” she greets, moving to the other side of the table, her wank companion following right behind.

  Thea sits right up, moving Asher from one arm to the other. “Who’s your friend, Ati?”

  “Quinn Hutton,” the jacktwat replies. Quinn Hutton; even his name sounds douchey.

  Everyone greets him like their all-accommodating selves, and he and Ati take their seats right across from Alex and me.

  Great, now I get to stare at this tool’s face for the next two hours.

  “Quinn works with Ati at the hospital. He’s one of the hot new doctors’ that just started,” Gwen informs as she walks in with the last of the food platters.

  Of course, he’s a doctor. Probably a narcissistic asshat too.

  He lets out a laugh that I quickly notice has all the women melting. “Nope, that title solely belongs to At.”

  At? What, Ati wasn’t short enough, he felt he needed to remove one more vowel.

  “So, do you get to look at vagina’s all day too,” Kai blurts.

  Ginny swats him on the arm. “Remember your filter. This is the only boy Ati’s ever brought home. We don’t need him thinking we’re all a bunch of Neanderthals.”

  Ati flushes in embarrassment. “He’s not the only boy I ever brought home.”

  Grace shrugs. “Ben doesn’t count; he was already family.”

  Ati’s face reddens even more, and her eyes are shooting promises of death at Grace.

  Quinn looks around the table, and when he lands on me, my face must give me away. He smiles slyly, then without another moment's hesitation, he lifts his arm over the back of Ati’s chair.

  “I’m sure my girl here had the boys pounding down the door.” He turns to her, then adds, “But not once she move
s in with me. Right, At?”

  What the—! Move-in with him? Are you out of your mind? You just met this plug.

  The table goes silent, and as I look around, I see everyone’s eyes on me—Shit! I said that out loud.

  Quinn clears his throat. “Well, sometimes, you just know.”

  I look to Ati, her breathing is heavy, her eyes locked on mine as everyone else is still quiet.

  “So, how about them Seahawks?” Bane lets out.

  “Babe, it’s July—wrong season,” Thea corrects in a whisper.

  Bane shrugs. “I was just trying to break the tension.”

  He’s right; the tension is palpable, and I’m not sure if more so for Ati and me, or Alex and douche-canoe, Hutton. Okay, maybe not for him, since he seems to be enjoying this way too much.

  “All is well on this side right, At?” Quinn inserts, looking down at Ati.

  She looks to him, a smile pulling at her lips but more nervous than playful. “Yep.”

  Through the corner of my eye, I see Alex tense, and I want to reassure her, but I’m almost certain my outward opposition to Ati and Quinn moving in together is far from forgotten.

  Thankfully, Liam steps in. “Well, I say enough of the chit-chat. Let’s eat before the food gets cold.”

  “Yes, I’m anxious to know what everyone thinks of this month’s new dish,” Gwen adds. A slight groan from around the table echoes. “Hey, remember, I’m the one that does the cooking; any nay-sayers will be cast out.”

  Quinn ‘The oh-so-valiant,’ pipes up. “Ati’s been raving about your tradition of a new monthly dish. I can’t wait to try it.” An audible release of held breaths makes their way around the table.

  “That’s the spirit, Quinn. And because you offered first, you are officially released from clean-up duty,” Gwen replies elated that someone has offered to be the taste-tester.

  This should be good. I love Gwen, but her signature dishes seem to always fall short of even somewhat edible. She scoops Quinn, a generous serving of what looks to be some sort of casserole. Maybe. He looks down to his plate and without any hesitation, shovels a forkful into his mouth. Everyone waits with bated breath. I’m waiting for the fallout of his heroic offering in hopes he will express his distaste for Gwen’s new concoction and fall from that pedestal she seems to have him on, but it doesn’t come.

  “Wow, this is dynamite, Gwen. A real culinary masterpiece.”

  Kiss ass.

  Gwen’s eyes beam with joy as she looks around the table. “At least someone appreciates my efforts.” She turns from the table to the buffet behind her, and Quinn discreetly looks around to the others with wide eyes, shaking his head vigorously. Once again, Gwen’s attempts are a fail. Not surprising, but as much as I was hoping he would express his true review of her efforts and end up in Gwen’s bad graces, he’s managed to do as all of us have done in the past and navigate around the truth impressively. Ati must have warned him. At least it wasn’t Alex Gwen chose as her victim.

  “So, Quinn. What are your intentions with our little Ati?” Kai questions.

  Quinn steals a quick glance my way, and just as Ati is about to say something, he wraps his arm around the back of her chair once more, giving her a squeeze. “What any real man wants to offer a beautiful, intelligent woman. A stable roof over her head. Someone, she can come home to and feel comfort in knowing he will be there to just listen to her about her day.

  What a crock of sh—

  “Good answer,” Kai lets out.

  I look at my brother. Is he seriously falling for that load of crap?

  “Very good answer,” Liam adds, and when I look around the table, everyone seems to be falling for the same line.

  I shake my head. “Bullshit!” I let out a laugh. “You may have them convinced about that good boy act you're feeding them, but any real man who takes one look at Ati has only one thing on his mind, and it’s not lending an ear to hear about her day.”

  “Ben!” My mother’s voice shrieks from the other side of the table. She’s been quiet until now, and I almost forgot she was here.

  Ati glares at me, her anger piercing at my soul. “You’re a dick.”

  I should apologize, but I won’t. I need her to open her eyes and see him for what he really is. “What? Are you that naive that you actually think this douchebag's first thought when he looks at you is not to get under you in bed?”

  Ginny stands from her chair quickly. “Okay, all the little people need to pick up your plates and follow me to the kitchen...now.” Grace and Gin gather the boys and lead them out of earshot.

  “What happens in my life, whoever is under me in bed, is none of your business,” Ati growls.

  Quinn leans over almost to whisper in her ear but speaks loud enough for everyone to hear. “Actually, At, I’m usually on the top.” He looks to me and smiles. “She’s a little lazy that way; says it takes too much effort to get on the top.”

  I jump up, my chair falling behind me, crashing to the floor. “Watch your mouth.”

  Quinn lays back in his chair, a smug grin playing at his lips. He goes to say something, but Ati covers his mouth with her hand. “Quinn, shut it, you’re not helping.” She then looks to me. “Maybe you should watch your mouth. I honestly believed that we could be friends. How stupid I was. Just about as stupid to have fallen for you all those years ago. And to think that I felt something for you again. What a joke. You did me a favor, Ben. You stopped me from making the biggest mistake of my life by wasting my time on you.” She looks to Alex then back to me. “How do you think this is making your guest feel?”

  Dammit! How did I forget Alex was sitting right beside me?

  Alex clears her throat. “Oh, no, please continue...this is quite the eye-opener for me.”

  My father stands from beside my mother. “Maybe we should all clear out of here and let the two of them talk. In private.”

  Ati turns to my father. “No need, Aldric. I think I’ve heard enough from Ben for one day. Actually, for a lifetime. I wouldn’t be at a loss if I never hear from him again.”

  “I’m just looking out for you.”

  She turns to me in anger. “No! What you’re doing is passing judgment on someone and a situation you know nothing of, all because your head is stuck so far up your ass you can’t see what’s right in front of you. But you know what Ben, it’s fine. I’m over this. Actually, I was over it long ago, I just needed a little dose of reality, so thank you for providing that for me.” Ati stands from the table. “Quinn, let’s go.”

  “But we haven’t eaten yet.” She looks over to him about ready to tear him apart, but he throws up his hands. “Okay, let’s go.”

  “Ati, please, don’t leave.” We all turn to Alex, who is pleading with Ati. “I have no idea what happened in the past with the two of you. But from what I can see, and I’m sure everyone else, it’s far from resolved. Honestly, as much as either of you try and convince yourselves otherwise...it’s far from over.” She then looks to Quinn. “You. Follow me.”

  Quinn looks to Ati, but she doesn’t say a word.

  “Okay, then.” He steps away from the table, and he and Alex head out along with the rest of the family other than my mother and father.

  My father doesn’t waste a second. “Here and now, this gets resolved. You are both a part of this family, and we will not be forced to choose sides because you two refuse to be honest with one another.”

  “Dad, please.”

  “No. I’m not going to stand by and watch you two try and one-up each other. I don’t know if you are meant to be together or not. But what I do know is that you both sure as hell need to get on the same page with what you want. Either together or apart, it needs to be decided. For god’s sake, you’re both grown adults now, and this unresolved tension is causing both of you to act like complete idiots.”

  “I—” Ati starts, but my father cuts her off.

  “Ati, I’ve never stepped in where you were concerned. Gwen was your guardian,
and she did a fine job, but I’m putting my foot down now. I will not have you pulling away from this family because of this.” Having said what he needed to, my father turns to my mother. “Maia, sweetheart, will you join me in the kitchen with the others?”

  “Of course, my love.”

  The two of them head off, leaving only Ati and me in the dining room. I look over to her, taking her in. She’s beautiful, that hasn’t changed. Neither has that bullheaded temperament she has, so I know I’m going to have to be the first to speak up.

  “I’m sorry.”

  Ati turns to me, her eyelids in slits, saying what her mouth won’t—she’s pissed. She holds her gaze for another moment then speaks. “For what, Ben? For making uncalled remarks about my guest? For ignoring yours completely? For embarrassing me? Or for just being an ass all around?”

  I let out a dry laugh. “I embarrassed you? What about that asshat of a friend of yours?”

  “See, there you go again. The minute he walked in here, you had it out for him. He did nothing to you. If you actually gave him a chance, you’d see that he’s actually a really nice guy.”

  “Nice guy? Yeah, okay! Ati, the things he was saying are not things nice guys should say about their girlfriends.”

  “He was joking, and only because you gave him an in. He read it all over your face, and he was fueling the fire. Was he wrong? Yes. But he was joking around, and if you gave him a chance, you would have known that.”

  I shake my head. “Why are you even dating a guy like that?”

  “I’m no—” she starts, then pauses and takes a breath. “Ben, who I date is no concern of yours. I don’t need to defend my choices to you. Just like who you date is no concern of mine.”

  I run my hand down my face. “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “That’s not for you to worry about, Ben. It’s my life.” She takes her seat back at the table. “Why, Ben? Why are you acting this way?”

  “Like I said, I don’t want you getting hurt.”

  “Bullshit! For once, Ben, just be honest with what you want from me.”

  “I have been.”

  She shakes her head. “No, you haven’t. It was the same way when we were together before, you just let it all build up inside, then when it was too much, you’d turn your back and walk away.”