Alana pulled up in front of my house and we shared a silent moment before she said, “I had fun with you tonight, Kai.”
“Me, too,” I said with a convincing tone. Although my good time ended when Mark stepped into the picture, but I decided to just keep that to myself.
I started to get out of the car when I felt Alana touch my arm. “I can’t have a kiss goodnight?” she asked.
I closed the door, took a quick look outside, just to make sure the coast was clear before leaning in to give Alana a quick peck on the lips. I opened the door again, then felt Alana grab my hand – again.
“Kai?”
“Yeah?”
“I also liked how aggressive you were tonight,” Alana said. “It turned me on.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
I smiled, knowing that my aggressiveness stemmed from pure jealously of her old college acquaintance who had interrupted our night of solitude – but like I said, who was I to be jealous? I jumped out of the car and headed into my house to be with Todd.
CHAPTER 24
HIDDEN SECRETS
You would have thought Oprah herself was coming to dinner the way my mom was acting. When you haven’t had a boyfriend in a while, the moment you finally get one is a monumental event in the Edwards home.
Todd and I jumped into a cab and headed to my mother’s dinner party. I always liked to cab it when I went to one of her parties, because the one thing that got me through the night was an excess amount of alcohol, and I usually didn’t plan on being in any condition to drive afterwards.
I was quiet, thinking about how jealous I became when Alana brought her new friend over to meet me. I hated that feeling, especially when someone I shouldn’t even be with caused it. My cell phone rang and I looked at it; it was Alana. I hit “Ignore,” sending her into voicemail. Two seconds later Todd’s phone rang, but unlike me, he answered his. No surprise – it was Alana.
“Hey!” Todd sang into the phone.
I looked over at Todd as his whole demeanor changed. I just shook my head and looked away. Just as quickly as I looked away, I snapped my head back when I heard, coming out of Todd’s mouth, “We’re headed to Kai’s parents for a dinner party. You want to come?”
I gave Todd a look of death. What the hell was he doing?
“Oh, hold on. Let me see if it is okay with Kai,” Todd said as he pulled the phone away from his ear. I was sure he saw the steam rising from my neck.
If murder were legal, I would have stabbed Todd in his neck with my three-inch Jimmy Choo spiked heel. How dare he put me on the spot! If I said ‘No’ I’d look like the bitch.
I turned to Todd with a slight smile. “I’m sure my mom won’t mind,” I said through gritted teeth.
Todd hung up the phone and I turned to him. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“What?”
“Just inviting Alana like that, not to mention, putting me on the spot. I didn’t ask my mom if I could bring anyone extra.”
“Kai,” Todd said, “you’re always saying how your mom loves tons of people at her parties. Now there will just be more to envy her.”
I turned away and rolled my eyes; the last thing I wanted was my mother to meet my boyfriend for the first time not to mention the woman that I am fucking. How more perfect could that be?
“Baby, I’m sorry. I can call her and tell her not to come.”
“Yeah, and make me look like the wicked bitch of the Midwest, no thank you.”
“I can just tell her…” Todd said, his voice trailing off.
“Forget it Todd; don’t worry about it, really.”
“Sorry, I just thought it would be cool.”
I turned my head, and we rode the rest of the way in silence. We arrived in front of my mom’s house just as Alana was walking up.
Alana and I locked eyes as she and Todd gave each other a friendly hug.
“Hey,” I said.
“Hey, Kai, did you forget your phone at home?”
I knew what Alana was doing, throwing it out there that she, indeed, had called me and I, indeed, had not answered.
“No, I um, must have it on vibrate.”
“Right,” Alana said without trying to sound convincing.
As we walked towards the door in silence, I was very nervous about Alana coming with us to my parent’s house – but what the hell, there was no turning back now. I would just pass her off as Todd best friend. No one had to know that I was sleeping with her, too.
“Darling!” my mother sang as she swung open the front door to reveal me, Todd, and Alana, the happy threesome.
“Hey, Corrine,” I said with a smile.
“Todd,” my mom said, “it is so nice to finally meet you. I was starting to think that Kai was making you up. Then again she did have a vivid imagination as a child. Did she ever tell you about her ten-inch bedside friends that would keep her company when she would sleep on her own?”
“Mom, we don’t need to bore Todd with childhood stories,” I said, quickly cutting off “Chatty Kathy” before Todd did a beeline out of the house and out of my life. Todd extended his hand.
“Well, it is great to finally meet you, Mrs. Edwards,” Todd said, smiling from ear to ear.
“Are you kidding me?” my mom exclaimed, “You better give me a hug. It’s not too often that Kai brings home a decent man these days. By all means, please call me Corrine, I mean my own children do, so why not you too?” My mom glanced over at me then turned her attention to Alana.
“Who might you be?” Corrine continued, this time with more of an interrogating tone.
“Oh, this is Alana, Todd’s best friend,” I said, making sure the ‘best friend’ was emphasized.
“Well, it is a pleasure to meet you Alana. What a pretty girl you are.”
“Thank you,” Alana said with a smile.
“Alana is also one of the models for my ‘Just B’ campaign,” I added.
“Just what, honey?” Corrine asked, her face turning up to one side.
“The campaign Simone and I are working on with singer and songwriter Bianca.”
Corinne held her quizzical look. Classic Corrine – she only remembered things beneficial to her.
“The campaign is amazing, I love the different slogans: Just B sexy, Just B positive, Just B love,” Alana said, trying to jog Corrine’s memory.
“Of course, right, now I remember; that’s great honey. I know it will be a huge success since you are working on it,” Corinne said.
I hated how I always had to jog Corrine’s memory every time something about my work came up, but, then again, I am talking about my mother, Miss Self-absorbed. I love her but she really did live for the woman looking back at her from that vanity mirror.
“Well, enough of the small talk, come, come, in we go. There are already a few guests here,” Corinne said as she herded us in the house.
We all trailed in the house following my mother like goslings following their mother goose. We entered the dining room to see the table set for ten. I looked around, wondering who else would be here tonight, and then I heard the doorbell ring.
“That should be Mila and Charles,” Corrine said as she disappeared down the hall to collect yet two more guests for her oh-so-grand dinner party.
Todd, Alana, and I just stood there, not really knowing what to do or where to turn. I felt just as awkward as they did, and in my own parent’s home. I needed a drink.
“So, does anyone want a drink?” I asked, directing my question to Todd and Alana.
“Yeah, sure,” they said in unison.
“Be right back,” I said as I headed towards the kitchen to grab three glasses and a bottle of pinot noir. As I began to open the bottle, I had to stop and think; I mean, just in the next room were Todd - my boyfriend, and Alana - my, well, the woman that I am currently sleeping with. For some odd reason the thought brought a smile to my face.
I turned to see Mila standin
g in the doorway. I jumped a bit, not expecting anyone to be there. “Hey, you scared me!”
“Why is that, Kai? Were you doing something you weren’t supposed to be doing?” Mila asked as she entered the kitchen.
“No, Mila.” I said rolling my eyes. Ever since we were kids, Mila’s mission was to catch me doing something wrong. She really needed to get a life.
“So, I just met your new boyfriend. Very handsome, I have to say. Is this one for keeps or just another ship passing in the night?” Mila asked with a sarcastic smirk on her face. My sister had a way of getting her digs in, any way she could.
“Well, I hope so, and for your good, Mila. I’m sure you’re getting tired of coming up with all those witty comments.”
Mila ignored my comeback as she walked over to the counter and poured herself a glass of wine. “So who’s the girl on his arm?”
“Excuse me?” I asked.
“The arm piece.”
“She is not on Todd’s arm, and second, she is his best friend.”
Mila took a sip of her wine. “Pretty attractive looking best friend, if you ask me.”
“How about I don’t ask you, then?”
“Well, you should,” Mila said.
“Mila, what is your problem?”
Mila set down her wine glass and turned to me. “Oh, I don’t have a problem, but you may.”
“Okay, what are you getting at?” I asked.
“Just be careful who your man calls his best friend; that’s all.”
“Yeah, I’ll be sure to take that advice, especially since it’s coming from you,” I said, hoping she’d catch the oozing sarcasm in my voice.
“If you’re smart you’d take that advice from anybody,” Mila said as she poured herself a little more wine from the bottle, and then picked up her glass again. “You don’t want to wake up and have your man leaving you for his so-called ‘best friend.’”
“I’m sure that won’t happen, Mila,” I said, thinking if Mila only knew.
“Hmm, famous last words,” Mila replied. “I say, don’t let them come back and bite you in the ass, Kai.”
“Whatever Mila.”
“Don’t say you haven’t been warned,” she said,
I ignored Mila as I watched her head out of the kitchen. I took a deep breath and followed. I walked over to where Todd and Alana were standing. Corrine and Mila were chatting them both up, or should I say getting as much info to use against me as possible.
As the night progressed, I had to take a break and retreat to my old bedroom, now a guest room/den. I sat on the day bed, taking in the memories of the days I’d spent in this house. I had to work hard to block out the many bad memories and think hard to remember the good ones. I looked up to see Alana standing in the doorway.
“How long have you been standing there?” I asked.
“Not long.”
Alana entered the room and sat next to me on the bed.
“You okay?” Alana asked.
“I’m good, just taking in the night,” I said. “My family can be a bit much, as you can tell.”
“Yeah, but I’m sure they mean well.”
“Right, or at least they act like it,” I said.
I looked at Alana and couldn’t believe how attracted I was to her. I loved how she looked at me when she spoke. When I looked at her I was able to see myself in a much deeper and fuller way now.
“Hey, so sorry for crashing your mother’s dinner party.”
“Really?”
“No,” Alana said. “Kai, I really wanted to see you and, well, I knew you would keep blowing me off.”
“Alana, I’m not blowing you off; I’m just being careful, but you inviting yourself and putting me, you, and Todd in the same room is not being careful.”
“Well, as long as we don’t make it obvious, then he will find out nothing.”
“Please,” I said, “you are over-the-top obvious sometimes.”
“Not always, I just like being around you, Kai.”
Alana and I stared quietly at one another for a moment. “I like being around you, too,” I said.
I took a deep breath and thought of Todd and what he would do if he found out.
“So, do you think Todd suspects anything?” I asked.
“I doubt it. If you haven’t already noticed, your man is deeply absorbed in his practice right now.”
“This is true.” I felt my adrenalin rising with my next thought. “What if he did figure something out; do you think he would say something?”
“Kai, stop worrying, okay?” Alana replied.
“I’m trying, but it’s hard. You can’t blame me for feeling weird.”
“I understand,” she said, “but don’t let it mess up what we have.”
Alana put her hand on my leg. She leaned in and kissed me gently on the lips; I kissed her back, and then quickly realized where we were and what we were doing. I pulled back.
“Alana,” I said, “we can’t do this here. This is what I’m talking about – Todd is right downstairs. What if he comes upstairs?”
Alana sat back, crossing her arms. “Kai, I told him I was going to check on you so he thinks we’re just talking. Where’s your sense of adventure?” Alana leaned back in and began to kiss me again, this time on my cheek, then making her way to my neck, then closing in on my lips. I gave in and we fell back onto the bed. Alana crawled on top of me as we kissed and caressed each other. I started to lose myself in her when I heard a thump. I jumped up.
“What was that?” I asked.
“What was what?” Alana murmured as she continued to kiss me.
“That noise, did you hear it? Like a thump,” I said as I pushed Alana off me and sat up.
“No, Kai, you’re just being paranoid,” Alana insisted.
“Paranoid or not, we shouldn’t be doing this in my parents’ house,” I said as I started fixing my clothes and hair.
“Fine,” Alana said with a bit of irritation in her voice. I chose to ignore it because Alana didn’t have as much to lose as I did if someone happened to see us.
“Come on; let’s go back downstairs,” I said as I stood up and adjusted my clothes.
“Fine, Kai, let’s go,” Alana agreed.
As Alana and I headed back downstairs to rejoin the dinner party, I wondered if that thump I’d heard really was just a figment of my imagination.
CHAPTER 25
A SHARED MOMENT
Todd slept as I watched him. I looked at his peaceful face and felt a sense of comfort within me. It had been close to eight months since Todd and I started dating and I couldn’t imagine being with any other man. I knew that I could marry him and I hoped he felt the same.
Todd woke to me staring down at him. He smiled as he reached out to me.
“What are you doing?” Todd asked in his sleepy voice as he stretched his long muscular body.
“Just watching you sleep,” I said as I stroked his warm face. Todd reached out and pulled me in close to him, spooning me from behind. His warm, hard body felt good against mine and I felt his manhood growing.
“I love you; you know that?” Todd whispered in my ear.
“I love you, too,” I said.
“Do you really?” Todd asked with a concerned tone.
“Of course I do. Why are you saying it like that?” I asked as I turned to look in his eyes.
“I don’t know. It just seems lately you’ve been kinda distant.”
“Distant how?”
“Your mind seems like it is somewhere else. That’s all. I just want to make sure that you’re still happy,” he said.
I turned my body completely toward Todd as he sat up.
“So, are you still happy?” Todd asked.
“Yes, baby, I am.”
“You sure you still want to be with me?”
“Of course I do,” I said.
“So there’s, you know, no other guy?”
A shiver of fear rushed through m
y body. I sat up and faced Todd. He waited patiently for an answer. Todd looked like a child, innocence and eagerness all wrapped up in one.
“No, there’s no other man,” I answered. “You are the only man in my life.”
A broad smile crawled across Todd’s face as well as a flash of confidence.
“Well, you can’t blame a brother for checking,” Todd said. “We have to do that sometimes, y’know?”
“Yeah, I’m sure – you and that ego of yours,” I said in a playful tone. I leaned in and gave Todd a kiss on the lips. “So let me ask you a question.”
“Okay,” he said.
“Would you break up with me if I cheated on you?”
Todd was silent; he looked deep in my eyes, and then away, then back again.
“You haven’t, right?”
“No, but what if I did, would you break up with me?” I asked again.
Todd was silent again. He took a deep breath, continued to think, then, “Yea, I think I would. It would be hard, but I would.”
Then I said something that surprised even myself, something I knew I had to get out, but couldn’t say directly.
“What if I cheated with a girl?”
“A girl?” Todd repeated.
“Yeah.”
I knew I was skating on thin ice, but it was too late to turn back; I was already in the middle of the pond. I held my breath, waiting for what Todd would say.
“No.”
“Why?” I said as I silently breathed a sigh of relief.
“Because it’s a girl, and to me, that doesn’t seem like cheating.”
“Why not?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” Todd said. “It’s just different. I mean, you’re just licking her and she’s just licking you, which is kind of hot.”
Todd raised his eyebrow and cocked his head to the side.
My Man's Best Friend- Book 1 Page 12
