“Pretended like I didn’t care about her.” He takes a bite.
My eyes widen, feeling how close to home his words really are. “Seriously?”
With a fresh plate of macaroons and an espresso cup on a tiny saucer, Grandma returns. “Seriously what?”
Reaching, he asks, “How did you know I wanted coffee?”
She holds them out of reach. “Answer me first. What were you telling her?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why change the subject?”
“We were talking about how much I love you.”
She sighs, and hands over the tiny cup, sitting beside her husband and setting the macaroons down on their coffee table. “If Tempest decides to ever eat something, we have enough now.”
“Can I move in with you guys?”
They look at me, stunned.
Grandma asks for them both, “You want to live with us?”
“Just for a little while!” I hurry to add, unhappy with how that blurted out of me. “Christina moved in with Bennett and I could handle our rent on my own when she stops paying, but with the rent of the studio that’s two rents. I don’t want to borrow money to start the business. I want to borrow time.”
Grandma claps her hands over her mouth. “Been so long since we had family in the house with us!”
Grandpa smiles at her. “What d’ya think, Lily?”
She bounces on the sofa. “That would make me so happy! Please say yes, Peter, please say it!”
“Easy now,” Grandpa laughs, “Don’t make me think you’re bored of me.”
Leaning into him, head coming to rest on his shoulder, tears brim. “He’s right, Tempest, I am bored of him.”
Chapter 5
Two nights later I’m out with my sister and Zia at O’Nieals on Grand Street, the restaurant bar-lounge made famous as Steve and Aidan’s bar “Scout” in the TV show Sex & The City.
The food is out of this world, every recipe on the menu created by the owner himself, cooked by a talented kitchen staff. I’ve never had a bad meal here, it’s not ridiculously priced and the bar — where we are right now — is very cool, that’s why I picked it to break the news.
Christina places her virgin daiquiri onto a small gold table set between velvet chairs and cries out, “You’re what?!”
Zia blinks at me, lips twisted in confusion.
“I’m going to live with Grandma and Grandpa for a while.”
My sister has a habit of touching her pregnant belly now that it’s growing more by the day, and she does this, leaning back against the red velvet booth. “I don’t understand. I’m still paying half the rent.”
I wave a french fry at her, “You’re never there anymore, Christina. You’ve all but moved in with Bennett,” and pop it into my mouth.
“But I wasn’t ever going to leave you high and dry!”
“First of all, it makes no sense for you to be paying half the rent to store your furniture.”
“And most of my clothes.”
“I need the rent for my new business.”
Zia grabs a fry and tosses it at me. “What?!”
It’s Christina’s turn to be speechless. Knowing my sister I count down, three, two, one.
She explodes, “What Tucking business?! How is this the first I’m hearing about it?”
I point at her belly. “You’ve been busy.”
“Not that busy!”
“Yes, you have. I haven’t seen you in almost a month. No, more than that.”
Christina is one year older than me, and many people think we’re twins. We’ve always been that close, even moving in together as soon as we left home. Everything I’ve ever considered doing — much less actioned into reality — I’ve passed by her for support or advice. To see her deflate like I’ve broken her heart, breaks mine a little bit, too. “I’m sorry, Chris, but you’ve been really absent for a while now. You’re starting your new life — your own family — and I get it, but I’ve been feeling a little left out. It’s okay, though. That’s what gave me this idea.”
She reaches across the mini table, bar crowd growing louder as the place fills up with the after-work crowd. “I have been absent, haven’t I? I’m sorry, Temp.”
Feeling the loneliness more now that we’re talking about it, I shrug, “This is the cycle of life.”
Zia agrees, “Those subway rides all the way to bum-Tuck Egypt just to stay in an apartment all by yourself can’t be any fun.”
Chris yells, “Gawd, Zia, really? Now I feel terrible!”
Our cousin shrugs one bare shoulder, “I’m just saying,” in a silver dress that would turn heads if Christina’s loud voice hadn’t already done that. “But staying with Grandma and Grandpa? Won’t that be weird?”
My sister grabs a fry, “You can’t stay with Mom now that they downsized. She uses the spare room as an office.”
“You think I want Mom managing me? Because she would, you know.” Lifting my frozen margarita, I take a sip. “I was being more tactical when I asked them if I could move in for a bit. At least I thought I was, but now I know the loneliness was an underlying incentive. It felt really good to share my dream with them. I know they’ll be supportive. They won’t hover. And Grandma burst into tears. She’s been missing having children in the house. Not that I’m a child…”
Christina blinks at me. “What dream? What business!”
I launch in with everything I told our grandparents. By the time I’m done we all need another drink, even if Christina’s doesn’t have alcohol. And the french fries are so gone there aren’t even the crispy bits. I glance around for a server to bring us menus.
“Tempest, look at me.”
I lock eyes with my sister. “Don’t tell me it’s a bad idea. I’m going through with it no matter what anyone says.”
“I think it’s a wonderful idea.”
“You do?” I glance over to see Zia nodding. “You guys really think I can do it?”
Zia throws up her arms. “Of course you can do it!”
Christina plants her hand on the table between us, the other hand on her belly. “I don’t know how I missed the business gene like you and Evan got, because what you just told us was so well thought out, and so obviously geared toward success, I can’t even wrap my head around how awesome you are right now.”
I cover my grinning shock with one hand. “Really?”
“The way your brain works, Tempest! Mine does not work like that! If it weren’t for Josh I would have no idea how to launch my charity. Every single thing he says about building its foundation, business plans, filing with the government — it’s like someone is teaching me a different language!” She sits back, and glances to Zia, rolling her eyes. “Thank God Josh is so patient. I feel terrible enough as it is.”
Looking for our server I mutter, “Yeah, he’s a gem alright,” and shout, “Excuse me! Can we get another round?”
“Too bad you were teaching class on Sunday. He didn’t come to Central Park with us. You could’ve come!”
“First of all!” I whip my head around. “The reason I didn’t want to go is because you two would be cuddling your asses off and I’d be a fifth wheel.”
“But we didn’t cuddle. Much. The boys were there.”
“Still would’ve felt bad because the only reason that Josh wouldn’t have gone is if I was going to be there.” They exchange a look, knowing it’s true. “Is that why he didn’t go? He thought I would be there? That’s why, isn’t it?” They nod, sending fury into my blood. “What is wrong with him?”
Christina hurries to remind me, “He’s grieving.”
Zia grumbles, “He can’t use that as an excuse every time he’s a jerk.”
I burst out laughing. Not some happy-go-lucky-isn’t-life-grand laugh but an oh-the-irony-of-life laugh that makes them stare at me.
The server finally was able to shove her way through. “Another round, did you say?”
“Make mine a double.”
“D
ouble frozen margarita?”
“Two shots in that bad boy. Thank you.”
Zia lifts her finger. “Same.”
Christina sighs, and points to her belly. “Another virgin. Because I’m clearly not one.”
Our flawlessly gorgeous server disappears with Zia staring after her. “Hope she comes back soon.”
Christina stares into a future with limited shelf space. “Where will I put all of my stuff? Bennett’s been talking about us getting a bigger apartment. We sleep in his old office.”
Zia whirls on her, “You do?” never having been there.
“Elliot’s in the master bedroom.”
“His ten-year-old son has the master while you both sleep in an office with a baby on the way?”
“It’s a long and personal story, Zia.”
“Josh came to my yoga class on Sunday.”
Their heads swing, jaws dropping to the table as eyebrows fight with chandeliers. Through my straw I make empty-glass slurping sounds until they explode, demanding to know how the Tuck that happened. It doesn’t take me long to explain, and soon they’re both laughing so hard they’re crying, reenacting it, Zia first.
“Come on, Josh, the whole class is waiting for your dumb ass!”
“Nope, Josh, I’m going to help everyone but you!”
“How’re ya doin’ there, tough guy?”
“Oh no, is that sweat pouring down your face?
“But it’s just yoga!”
“How ya like this doggie style position? Caught you looking!”
I cry out, waving him away. “That’s right, hurry on out of here. I’m not chasing you! I’ve got better things to do with my time!”
We’re the envy of everyone around us who wishes they could laugh this hard, and when our fresh drinks are passed around, Christina asks Zia, “Did Nax tell you about Josh going?”
“No, and Joe went back to California yesterday morning so Nax stayed at my place.” Black eyes sparkle secrecy and sex as she adds, “But to be honest, we didn’t talk much.”
I hold up my loaded margarita for a toast. “To a new start for all of us!”
Zia blinks at me wondering how this new start includes her, and then remembers she’s going back to school soon. Her glass rises up in pride. “To a new start for all of us!”
Christina grins, “Here here!”
Our glasses clink the high-pitched promise of good things to come, challenges forgotten for the moment, the future full of possibility.
Somehow we never order a real meal and two hours later I’ve got the whole place dancing, me on the bar with the owner trying to talk sense into me as he drags his hands through rockstar hair, “Come on, Tempest, get down from there.”
Cupping my hands like a megaphone, I shout over the music, “Should I get down off the bar, everyone? Can I get a Tuck no?!”
Hands raise like this is the concert of a lifetime, drunk crowd shouting in unison, “TUCK NO!”
Zia climbs up. “I’m Tucking joining you!”
My sister calls up to us, “I’m going home!”
Through my invisible megaphone I shout, “My sister says she’s going home! How do we feel about that?”
“TUCK NO!”
Christina points to her belly, grinning, “I’m sorry everyone, I have to go,” waving to us as we move to the sexy beat.
Tomorrow I will not remember her leaving.
But most of all I’ll wonder how I ended up in Josh’s bed.
Chapter 6
At two-thirty in the morning I wake to my phone ringing.
Giving the nightstand some groggy slaps I find it and roll over, catching a glimpse of Nax’s name before I mumble, “Hello?”
It rings again in my ear, and I swipe to answer for real this time, repeating a louder, “Hello!”
“Josh buddy, Can you uh…can you open your door?”
Rubbing my eyes, the room pitch black with curtains drawn, I argue, “You have the key, Nax. If you and Zia got in a fight or something, I don’t want to hear about it right now. I’m sleeping. Take the couch. I rolled up the air mattress already.”
“Just open your door.”
“Be right there.” I toss my phone onto the empty pillow beside mine and walk out in red boxers and nothing else.
Will’s bedroom is on the other side of our apartment, so he probably couldn’t hear my phone, but I cut a glance toward his room just in case, hear no sound as I trudge onward and scratch my sleepy head, hair reaching for every direction possible.
I was in the middle of a dream, can’t remember now what it was, and I try to reclaim it as I turn the deadbolt. Opening the door I stare at the tableau awaiting me — Tempest unconscious in Nax’s arms, wearing a skin-colored dress with flowing skirt that hangs long, like her hair, both floating as he shifts his hold to withstand the dead-weight.
Next to Nax, Zia waves, “Hi Josh. Sorry to wake you.”
Shock widens the door before my mind can catch up. Blinking hard into reality I demand, “Did someone hurt her?”
Nax walks in, “Yeah, she got sideswiped,” footsteps heavy.
“What? By who?! A car?”
“Some guy named tequila.”
Zia passes me with an apologetic look, carrying two clutch bags, and I turn to find my buddy laying Tempest on my couch!
I’m speechless as she moans and curls into a ball, facing us, hands under her head in the prayer position, lips parted, eyelashes sealed.
Stumbling closer I whisper so as not to wake Will, “Are you kidding me? She’s wasted?”
Zia covers her cousin with one of my throw blankets, setting Tempest’s clutch bag on my armchair to be easily found tomorrow, the other gripped in her hand so tightly as though she’s not sure this is a good idea.
Nax walks up, takes me by my arm, and guides me to the kitchen for more distance from my son’s bedroom. “I’m saying she may be a little wasted, yes.”
“Why are you bringing her here?!”
“Because…” Nax stares at me for a few moments before finishing, “…Bennett didn’t answer his phone.”
I thrust an arm toward my unwanted guest. “Why not bring her to Zia’s?!”
Blue eyes that never seem to stop smiling, implore me to be cool. “Because Zia and I only have this last night together before I go upstate for five days.”
“So what?! You’ll be back. It’s not the end of the world.”
He grabs my shoulders. “Josh, my son was here for a long weekend. I slept here with you, and as much I love you, we don’t share a bed in the same way.” I cock my head and he smirks, “Or at all. We don’t share a bed at all. And I have one more night with my beautiful lady who I love very much, before I have to say goodbye to her again. Then Joe comes back to town and it’s more nights apart. So I need you to take care of Tempest for me.”
Shaking him off, I pace, volume low but if it wasn’t I’d be yelling, “This isn’t college anymore, Nax. I have a son, too. You think I want him waking up to a drunk girl on our freaking sofa?!”
“You said you rolled up the air mattress.”
Freezing, I stare at my friend. “Look, this is really pushing it. I can’t have Will waking up to use the toilet and there’s Tempest, snoring!”
Nax looks over. “She’s not snoring.”
“She might start!”
“Okay, fine. I’ll carry her down the hall, take the elevator again, wait for a cab and bring her to Zia’s.”
“Good.”
He waits. “You really want me to do that?”
“Yes!”
Throwing up his hands, he heads back to the couch, whispering to Zia, “I tried.”
She sighs, “It’s okay,” her sad smile encouraging him to start all over.
Nax half-kneels by the sofa, takes a belabored breath, and starts to slide his big hands under Tempest’s curled body.
“Fine!”
He freezes, looks over his shoulder at me, and rises up to take Zia’s hand and head out. “Th
ank you. Just tell Will she wasn’t feeling well. That it’s a long subway ride back home. He’s been to her place. That’ll make sense to him.”
“I see you already had it all figured out.”
Nax smirks, “I’m here for you.”
“Funny.”
“Thank you, Josh,” Zia smiles, “Really, thank you.”
Nax nods once. “I owe you one.”
“No, you don’t,” I exhale, forced to admit, “You helped me, remember? I owed you one.” Cutting a wary look to my occupied couch, I shake my head, “Now it’s paid up.”
The fucker blows me a kiss before they disappear.
I turn the dead bolt, muttering, “I can’t believe this.”
As good a story as his fable was, she has no idea where she is and unless she’s in on it the lie won’t fly. If Will wakes Tempest up she won’t corroborate it. I don’t want to blow up the damn air mattress again. I need the office while I help Christina get her charity off the ground, and get mine back on track, too. I don’t want to work at the dining table while Nax is gone.
When he gets back, I’ll make due again, and he can take over the office again. Because he’s my buddy. And I like having him here. It’s not a big deal.
Wait, what time is it? Almost three o’clock. “That settles it,” I mutter. The pump is so loud it’ll probably wake Will anyway, compounding my problem.
She’s gonna have to sleep in my bed.
Walking over I kneel by Tempest, my head tilting as I figure out how best to go about this. What if she wakes up when I’m lifting her up? That’ll be jarring.
She might scream.
Not good.
Glancing to Will’s room, I shake my head again.
Do I have a choice?
Nope.
I’ll just slide my hands under the middle of Tempest’s back, and her knees, lift her up, and that’ll be that.
Reaching for her, palms flat and up, I move as slow as if she were a sleeping animal who might bite me.
You can do this.
Just lift the woman up!
But it’s not that easy.
I haven’t lifted anyone since I picked Leah up when she fell at our favorite restaurant, the brain aneurism instantly taking her away from me forever, with no warning. We were on a date-night, hadn’t been just us in months. Everything was perfect. Food was spectacular. The owner was so happy to see us again he made us a special dessert and said it was on the house. Leah never got a bite of it. She just looked at me, opened her lips to speak, and fell to the floor before I had a chance to catch her. Ambulance came but it was too late. Took me months before I realized I never paid our bill.
Every Single Thing About You: A “Tuck Yes” Love Story - Book 3 Page 3
