by James, Clare
I take a seat and sing, the neck bone’s connected to the chest bone, while tracing a path from her chin to her décolletage, and then just above her breasts that rise with each breath.
“Why, Tristan Green,” she says. “Your fingers are dangerously close to my bosom.”
“Oh, is that the technical term?” I chuckle. “Bosom. Okay, I can work with it. Maybe even turn it into a filthy little word.”
“I always think of that word and women in those period dresses, like in Downton Abbey, when I’m with you in public.”
“Excuse me?” I feel an insult coming along.
“You know, the women with the heaving bosom, when they are upset or are turned on or ready to faint. I feel like that when I’m with you.”
“Wait a minute, time out on the heaving bosom for a sec, you watch Downton Abbey?”
“Mom’s gotten me into it, thrilled to have another romantic around. Well, a recovering romantic. Serena hates that crap.”
I imagine she does, the little minx.
“I can see it,” I answer, offering no more. “But enough of that, let’s get back to the heaving bosoms and our little anatomy game.”
“Stop that, and stop messing with me in public.”
“Hey, you brought it up,” I say, tracing a delicate line along that beautiful heaving bosom.
“Tristan.” She slaps my hand away, but her eyes grow dark.
“No one’s watching us, Ari. Stop being so paranoid.”
“I know. You’re right. I’m just used to people watching my every move.”
“Well, you’re home now and you’re safe.” I place my arm around her shoulder and squeeze. For the briefest of moments, she rests her head on my chest and melts into me. How I wish I could take away her stress outside of the bedroom as well as I do inside.
“Look, baby,” I say. “I’ve been thinking. I want to renegotiate our deal.”
It just comes out. Of course, I’ve been thinking of nothing else, but wanted to be a little more suave with my new proposal.
“Renegotiate,” she says. There’s a trace of panic in her voice and I want to kiss it away. “Why? I thought everything was going perfectly.”
“And that’s why I want to renegotiate. I want more.”
“More what?”
“More everything.”
It’s time to show her more as well. I want her to see how I am with Cade. Show her that there’s more to me, more to us, than just sex.
“Meet me at the diner at 3:00.”
***
It’s 2:50 when I arrive. I’ve been doing this almost every day now. Aria is usually done with the lunch rush and up in the apartment or library studying until Cade gets home.
She has no idea that when Serena takes the twins to speech class, Cade hangs out with Amelia and me.
“Teeee,” Cade calls out when I see him.
I hurry over, anxious about what Aria is going to think about all of this.
“Hey Buddy,” I greet him. “How’s it hanging?”
I look around for Amelia to tell her I can take it from here. Personally, I think she’s been waiting for it. Always talking to me about Aria. Her hints and thoughts have never exactly been subtle.
She’s a beautiful woman and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about Aria growing older to look like Amelia. I wonder if she’ll get the same streak of white around her face or the tiny lines around her eyes. I find myself hoping it’s something I’ll get to witness.
And now that she’s finally back in my life, I can’t imagine going back to that place of unknown. I’m confident even if we have to part now, we’ll part as friends. And that means almost as much to me as all the rest.
I search behind Cade to see if I can spot Amelia.
She’s not with him.
Shit.
It’s Serena.
“What the,” she says as she covers Cade’s ears, “fuck are you doing here?”
“I’ve come to hang out with my buddy like I always do this time of day.”
“Christ, you are so transparent.”
“What?”
She sends Cade to go see Jimmy in the kitchen.
“Trying to get back into Aria’s good graces by working over the kid. God, you’re pathetic.”
“I’m already in her good graces, if you must know, and it has nothing to do with Cade. I hang out with him because he’s a cool little person and I enjoy spending time with him.”
“Right.”
“Look, Serena,” I tell her, trying to keep my temper. “I’m sorry about that night at the bar. I didn’t mean to embarrass you, but I just don’t think of you that way.”
“That’s not how you were acting in the beginning. Don’t lie, Tristan. I know you wanted in my pants.”
“That’s before I knew who you were.” I fumble for a second.
“I knew it,” she says.
“Look, nothing was going to happen. I was just playing along. You were so drunk. It’s not like I would’ve brought you home whether I knew who you were or not. I don’t take advantage of women.”
“Whatever. I’ve grown up in case you haven’t noticed. I’m not her scrawny sister anymore and most guys would love to be with me.”
“I don’t doubt that at all, Serena. I’m just not one of them.”
“One of them what?” Aria joins us and the bottom of my stomach drops out. Why does this shit keep happening at the worst possible moments?
“Nothing.” Serena blows it off.
I almost want to kiss her for that.
Gritting my teeth, I try to calm down and tell myself that Aria didn’t hear the whole conversation. It’s going to be okay.
“So Tris,” Aria says with a smile that tells me I’m right. “Why’d you bring me down here?”
“So what, you guys are friends again?” Serena rolls her eyes.
“I guess you could say we’re a little more than that.” Aria leans into me.
My heart swells, and damn, I know I’m falling all over again. But this time, it’s for Aria and her kid.
ARIA
“So, what did you want to show me?” I ask as we walk past the diner.
Cade comes barreling out and stands on the sidewalk bench. “Let’s go T,” he says before noticing me. “Are you coming, Mom?” he asks.
Hey, that’s Mommy to you.
Tris flashes his eyes my way. They’re still intense, watchful as they always are, but also full of light. He backs up to the bench toward Cade, who in turn, jumps on his back. The movement is smooth, as if rehearsed. This is not the first time they’ve done this routine.
“She is, buddy,” Tris says when I can’t find my words.
With my son on his back, Tris reaches for my hand. “As I was saying, I wanted to show you that there’s more to me, and us, than what we have at the beach house.”
“Do you guys do this often?” I ask.
“Every day.” Cade narks him out.
His answer has me pulling my hand from Tris’s grip.
“Every day?” I question, waiting for Tris to answer this time.
Was this part of his plan? And did my mother fall for it too?
It had to take some work to keep this from me, and while I know I’m on the verge of overreacting, I can’t help but feel betrayed.
Tris reads my mind. “That’s not the reason why,” he says. “I was hanging with this dude, before I ever got in your pants.” He whispers the last part. “It was by accident, actually. Amelia needed my help one day.”
“Amelia?”
Oh, that woman was clearly up to something.
“Now, let’s race to the park,” Tristan says, taking off before I can ask another question.
As they run, I’ve never heard Caden laugh so much, and the image of those two melts away the anger. How can I be upset when I finally might be getting everything I ever wanted?
The mood is contagious and I pick up my speed to stay neck and neck with them all the way.
&nb
sp; ***
I’m high the rest of the day. It’s a dangerous situation because I’m beginning to see this thing between Tris and me working. Mom has made herself scarce, so he stays with us for dinner and Cade’s bedtime.
“I want T to read me a story,” Cade says once he changes into his pjs.
“Sure,” Tris says so easily. “But only if it’s a superhero story, like one of the guys on your pajamas.”
“Okay,” Cade says, pumping his fist in the air like a game show contestant who’s just won a new car. This is the best prize to him.
To me as well. Tonight has felt more like the family life I’ve always wanted. More than it ever did with Alex.
Tris helps me with anatomy and then does a bit of his own work as I finish up. And though I want to haul him in my room and get him naked once we finish, I’m fine making out on the couch. More than fine.
Too soon, he’s saying his goodbyes.
“I’ll quiz you tomorrow night too if you want,” he says.
“I don’t know about that, I think we did more kissing than studying. You’re not the best influence on me, Professor Green.”
“But it’s Wednesday tomorrow.” He smirks.
“Fine.” I pretend to be put out. “But only if you’re on your best behavior.”
Tris traces an X over his heart. “Oh, and bring that ancient paper planner you’re so fond of.”
“Don’t knock the planner. It doesn’t fail me when my phone isn’t charged. Sometimes paper is just better.”
“Whatever, just bring it.”
“Why?” I ask. It’s a strange request.
“Because I need you to make more time for me. I’m dying to spend time with you on Mondays and Fridays and Sundays. Actually, I’d rather not even think about what day it is, I just want more time.”
“How much more?” I ask, nerves in my belly jumping. This is a major next step.
“As many as you’ll give me,” he says.
In the next breath, his lips are crushing mine in the most sinful of goodnight kisses. His tongue glides over my top teeth and the roof of my mouth before tangling with my own in a seductive dance. Taking and giving until I’m out of breath.
“See you tomorrow.”
***
The next morning, I’m reliving the night, especially the goodnight kiss, when a call rings on my cell. And though we’ve never exchanged numbers, I get the sneaking suspicion that it’s Tris.
“Miss me already?” I answer.
“Not you so much as my son.” The answer comes back rough… and all wrong.
It’s Alex.
“What do you want, Alex?”
“Hey, no need to be short with me. I’m actually calling out of courtesy. I didn’t want to surprise you tomorrow.”
Dread washes over me. “Tomorrow?”
“I’m in town and we thought it’d be a good idea to have a visit with Cade before training camp starts.”
“We?”
“Yeah, my team. Roe and Steve and the guys.”
“Ah, so your agent and publicist are trying to work some PR magic. Coming for appearances, then?”
“No. I miss my kid, Aria.”
“That’s new. I didn’t hear any of those concerns when I signed the papers. Which, by the way, I never received the final document.”
“Yeah, about that.” He lowers his voice. “There’s something I have to tell you. Let’s meet for breakfast, the three of us, and then we can talk.”
“Are you high?” Rage claws its way up my throat. I have to keep it close because panic is not far behind. “You can’t just come in here and disrupt our lives. Cade is with Serena tomorrow while I have classes and work. I can’t take the day off.”
“Look Ari, I will clear it with your mom and your teacher, whatever. But I am going to see my son tomorrow and I think it’d be wise for you to show up as well.”
“You look, Alex,” I demand. “I have full custody.”
“It’s not quite that simple,” he says, cracking his neck like he does whenever he’s irritated or bored.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
His words don’t make sense. I know the divorce agreement is concrete. I couldn’t afford an attorney, but since it was an amicable break up, we used the same guy. Though I did go to the law school at the university and had one of the advisors look it over for me to be sure Alex wasn’t trying to pull a fast one. I’m not an idiot. It was pretty straightforward because we both agreed to the terms. Alex gave me sole custody of Cade and, in exchange, I didn’t demand any financial support.
“We don’t have an agreement yet, Aria,” he says. “ Because I never filed the papers.”
Suddenly, I can’t breathe.
TRISTAN
I’m so distracted the next day that I’m not really paying attention to Dad. I go through the motions, but my mind is on Aria and the cryptic message she left for me.
Dad’s fine, though. He eats and does his exercises. Then he asks for his program like he always does. Or so I thought. But if I’d been paying attention, truthfully, I would’ve seen the slight changes in his skin coloring and his speech.
I didn’t know he was coming. It’s all the message said, but of course, I know she meant Alex. We haven’t talked much about it, but I know she has custody of Cade. She did share that much with me. Though she’s never gone into detail about what ended the marriage. I didn’t want to know. Our original deal was about sex only.
Tell him to fuck off, I write back. Hell if I’m giving up Wednesday for that jerk-off.
He’s asking to see Cade.
The fucking clincher. How could I compete with that?
I couldn’t, something that was alarmingly clear when Alex arrived with the media in tow. On my way to Dad’s shop, the news crews were everywhere.
“Alex Anders returns home to see his son,” blared through my car speakers. Fucking local radio.
At the shop, the gossip continued.
Why couldn’t anyone get over this fucking guy?
And then the topic turns to Aria. In the small breakroom, I overhear two younger women talking.
“It’s so sweet he’s here to see his son. I can’t believe Aria would keep them apart.”
“It’s probably the only thing she has to keep the power. I heard she’s going to get millions once the divorce is final.”
Final? They’re not divorced yet?
“I heard she would’ve gotten half if she didn’t cheat on him.”
I clench my teeth and go back to the office.
Then I pick up my phone.
ARIA
I get Cade dressed and we meet at the bagel shop. I insist on a place other than the diner. That’s the last thing we need, to air our family business in front of all my co-workers.
If I was smart, I’d just have him out to the house, but I don’t want that either. I don’t want to be alone with him. I don’t want to infect our home, as crazy as it sounds.
Cade and I get there first, which is no surprise. We always had to wait on the precious Alex Anders.
He strolls in and the place lights up.
“Hey, Alex,” the greasy-faced kid behind the counter says. “Can’t wait to see you play with the Pack.”
“Thanks, dude,” he says, tipping his head. “Maybe someday, I’ll be playing a little closer to home.”
“Awesome,” the kid mumbles, pulling out his phone. I’m sure this interaction will fill his Tumblr feed, or Snapchat site, or wherever the hell.
Just keep us out of it.
Cade cuddles further under my protective arm. He remembers.
I had to be the strong one. Alex was always a mess. Temperamental and cruel. He couldn’t handle the stress the coach put on him, or another player second-guessing his plays during the game. After so many years of being treated like he could do no wrong, he began to believe it. And as high as this beast of a man got on the power and success, he sank low with the same intensity. Sometimes in the off-season, he�
�d sit in front of the TV for days, never changing from his sweatpants – eating cereal and drinking soda nonstop.
“Hey Big C,” Alex picks Cade up in one scoop. He doesn’t waver as Cade reaches for me. Instead, he uses his other hand to take a selfie of the two of them.
Cade’s always been just a prop to him.
“Hi, Dad,” Cade says.
Alex sits him down and really looks at him. “Man, you’re getting big.”
“That’s what kids do, Alex,” I say. “They grow up.”
He ignores me and says to Cade, “Tell me what you’ve been up to.”
Cade’s eyes get big and he smiles. “I have my own room at Nana’s and I play tennis.”
“Tennis?” Alex scoffs.
Thankfully, Cade doesn’t notice.
“We go to the beach and play with the twins and –”
“That’s great, Caden,” Alex cuts him short. “Really great. Now why don’t you eat that bagel so you can get big and strong for tennis. I need to talk to your mom.”
It’s like we never left.
“You look good, babe,” he says in what he thinks is his low sexy voice. Really it just sounds like he’s constipated.
“Tell me why you’re here,” I demand, even though I don’t want to hear any of it.
“To see my son.”
Cade looks up at me and I give him our be on your best behavior look – the one he knows means it’s the two of us against the world so let’s do it right.
I slide my phone over to him so he can play games as a distraction. He doesn’t need to hear his father’s confession.
“And.” I wave my hand to encourage. I want it all on the table.
“To tell you that I want to renegotiate terms of the divorce.”
That fucker. He never filed the papers. I knew when I was talking to him on the phone and that’s the only reason why I agreed to submit Cade to this. I have to figure out what the hell is going on. Why? Everything was in his best interest in those papers. Everything.
“Why, Alex? I signed the papers. You signed the papers. It’s a done deal.”
“I never filed them.”
Asshole.
“What do you want?”
