“Everything is going to be fine,” I assured him, moving forward to wrap my arms around his waist. “Call me later to tell me how it goes.”
“I will,” he promised. “Damn, I’m going to miss you tonight,” he complained. “Are you sure you want to hang out with my sister? I’m more fun.”
“Aren’t you the one who told me Chelsea needed some girl time?” I asked.
“I did, but now, I don’t want to share you,” he admitted.
“You’ll just have to show me how much you miss me tomorrow morning,” I told him.
“I could come by late tonight,” he offered, and I was tempted to take him up on that. I’d slept with Ty almost every night for the last two weeks, and I’d definitely grown accustomed to waking up in his arms. Still, I didn’t want to put a time limit on my evening with Delaney and Chelsea.
“I have no clue how late we’ll be out,” I explained. “I’m hoping to talk them into helping me pack after dinner. I plan to bribe them with copious amounts of tequila. We all decided to take an UBER so we won’t need a designated driver.”
“I thought you had a rule about drinking at home,” he remarked.
“It’s not really a rule,” I said with a shrug. “I just don’t like to drink alone, and I rarely entertain here. Except for you, of course.”
Ty pulled me close and kissed me until I was ready to drag him back upstairs. “You have definitely kept me entertained. I wish I didn’t have to go to work.”
“If you don’t leave soon, you’ll be even later.” I almost laughed at the indecision in his eyes. “The talk with your uncle,” I reminded him.
With obvious reluctance, Ty pulled way. “Right, my uncle. I’ll call you later. Don’t get into too much trouble tonight.”
“Ty,” I began when we got to the front door. “Your uncle is going to be fine with this. He loves you, and he just wants you to be happy.”
“I hope you’re right,” he grumbled.
“Bet you I am,” I challenged.
He took time to give me a leisurely, toe curling kiss before heading out to his car. I stood watching him drive off, certain I had a sappy smile on my face. Shaking my head, I headed back into the house to start my busy day of packing.
About an hour later, my phone buzzed, and I answered without looking at the display, expecting it to be Chelsea or Delaney calling about tonight.
“Hello.”
“Elizabeth?” My mother’s voice immediately made me feel defensive.
“I’m still getting a divorce,” I said with an exasperated sigh. “Nothing you can say will change that.”
“Can’t you see how much you’re hurting me, Elizabeth?” She sounded surprisingly choked up.
“For the last time, I go by Brook,” I reminded her. “I am not Elizabeth anymore. That name reminds me of my old life as a cult member in Samson Valley. I’ve moved on from that.”
“Cult member?” my mom asked, clearly trying for a hurt tone, but sounding more angry than anything else.
“Mom,” I began, trying not to sound too impatient. “Why are you calling? Is it for more than to harass me into staying in a loveless marriage? Or is this all about getting me to accept being unhappy just like you have?”
As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt a twinge of guilt. I was acting like a bitch, but there was no denying this was how I felt. Soon, I’d be moving out of Rob’s house, and I was looking forward to putting this part of my life behind me. That realization made me feel guiltier because, if I was honest, I didn’t want my mom to call me again. Some might assume I didn’t love my parents, but that wasn’t true. My life would be much simpler if I hated them. “I’m sorry for snapping at you. Despite everything, I love you and Dad.”
“Then you want to make things work with your husband?” she asked hopefully.
“No,” I replied. “I’m definitely not planning to stay married to Rob. Listen, Mom, I don’t want to fight with you.”
“Then stop acting like a whore, Elizabeth,” my mother spat out.
So much for trying to be nice. “I’d rather be a whore than a miserable woman who cares nothing for her own child’s happiness,” I shot back. “Can we have one conversation that doesn’t involve you trying to guilt trip me into falling in line with your cult’s twisted logic?”
“You shame me, and you break my heart,” she accused angrily. “Do the right thing and beg your husband to forgive you for this foolishness. I will not claim a whore for a daughter.”
Not giving me time to reply, she ended the call, and I waited to feel something. It seemed I’d been pushed away by my mother enough times that all I felt was numb. I sure hoped Ty’s family confrontation was going better than mine had.
Chapter Forty-One
Ty
Since my uncle had been avoiding me, I decided to go straight to his office when I arrived so he wouldn’t have time to head out before we talked. Admittedly, it was possible I was reading too much into my uncle’s recent absences and refusal to answer my calls, but I was pretty sure I was right. No matter what his reasons for avoiding me, I needed to talk to him today.
I walked into his office and closed the door behind me. When my uncle looked up, he seemed more perplexed than pissed. My uncle was actually my great-uncle, and he was currently in his seventies. With a full head of white hair, and black rimmed bifocals, he was a huge man at six-foot-four. It wasn’t just his height; my uncle Calvin was also at the gym daily, and he still had a muscular frame with a broad chest and narrow waist. I’d met very few men his age who were as fit as he was. Actually, I’d met very few men my age who were as fit as my uncle.
“I’m glad you’re in the office today,” I remarked.
“It’s not like I had much choice,” he groused. “What the hell is going on, Ty? First, you leave a message telling me you weren’t coming in yesterday. I get no excuse, just that you’ve had your appointments rescheduled and need to talk to me. This is no way to run a business. You’re not an employee. This is your business, your future. While I understand you’re young, you need to be responsible. I’m retiring soon, so I won’t be around to take care of things when you want to screw around for a day.”
“I was registering for some college classes and meeting with a counselor yesterday,” I explained.
My uncle nodded his approval, looking much less annoyed. “Now, that’s not a bad idea. You should take some business classes to prepare for running things. I’ve always had an accountant and a bookkeeper, but you hear about those crooks landing business owners like us in jail all the time. Only way to get a job done right is to do it yourself.”
“I’m not taking business classes,” I told him. “I’m taking some classes in photo editing Chelsea suggested. I met with the counselor to discuss other classes I might be interested in.”
My uncle looked annoyed. “Listen, Tyler, we might take on some sleazy clients, but we don’t manipulate photos for clients. That would be unethical.”
“I’m telling you this all wrong,” I began and then sighed. “I’m not taking over the business. Before you start talking over the top of me, or trying to convince me it’s what I want, it’s not. I hate this job. I get why you love it, and that’s why I thought I would. For the last five years, I’ve been miserable, and each day gets worse. It’s time for me to change careers.”
“So, you’re going to take pictures like your sister?” he asked, sounding dumbfounded by the idea.
“For now,” I replied. “I’ll stay here a little longer to help you out. Sorry about leaving you in this position. I never wanted to disappoint you.”
“Disappoint me?” he practically shouted. “Don’t be a dumbass, Ty.”
I let out a startled bark of laughter. “I’ll try to avoid being a dumbass.”
“Ty, I love you like a son, and I’m proud of you,” he assured me. “Sure, I’d like to see you take over my business, but I’ll support you no matter what you decide. I’ve known for some time you were going to
leave, but I’ve been waiting for you to get up the nerve to tell me.”
When I stood and moved around his desk, my uncle gave me a warning glare. “Just because I love you doesn’t mean I’m going to be okay with any of that hippy love stuff. You better keep your hands to yourself.”
I laughed. “Yes, sir.”
“That’s more like it,” he huffed. “Order us some of those sandwiches I like. We’ll meet in the park for lunch in a couple of hours.”
I grinned, glad the conversation with my uncle had gone better than I’d expected. When I got to my own office, I decided to text Brook before my first appointment.
ME: You were right. My uncle is fine with me leaving.
BROOK: I win the bet.
ME: What bet?
BROOK: I bet your uncle would be fine with you leaving because he loves you and wants you to be happy.
I hadn’t agreed to any bet, but I had no problem letting her claim a prize, especially if that prize was sexual. A guy could hope, right?
ME: What do you want for winning?
BROOK: I get to be on top next time.
ME: Then I guess I win. I’m going to miss you tonight.
BROOK: I’ll miss you, too.
Chapter Forty-Two
Brook
I hadn’t spent much time with Chelsea and Delaney in the last couple of weeks. Take-out and tequila featured prominently in our plans for the evening since our favorite Mexican restaurant was booked for a party, and none of us wanted to listen to the Little League award ceremony while we hung out.
“Enchiladas may be the perfect food,” Chelsea stated with complete authority.
“You’re insane!” Delaney accused. “Nachos are the perfect food.” For emphasis, Delaney pointed to our half-empty container of nachos. “Look at all of this delicious food piled together. You could make nachos out of anything.”
“Are you implying you can’t make any food into an enchilada?” Chelsea asked, sounding as offended as a woman could manage after seven tequila shots.
We’d intended to make margaritas, but things had quickly escalated when Delaney had insisted we drink like real women. Delaney was a very bad influence most days.
“Wontons,” Delaney stated. “You cannot make enchiladas out of wontons.”
I shook my head, which was enough to make me fall off the sofa. I decided to stay on the floor since it seemed like too much work to climb back on the sofa. “That is not zoo. True. Zoo is not true.”
Chelsea giggled and flipped her blonde hair. “You are so drunk,” she accused.
“I know you are, but what am I?” I taunted.
“You’re wrong about the wontons, Del,” Chelsea said, shifting back to their heated debate about the perfect food. “You could use the wraps to make enchiladas and fill them with spiced pork.”
“Then it would be a wonton,” Delaney argued. “So, nachos are better, bitch.”
“You’re both insane!” I argued. “Cake is the perfect food.”
Delaney and Chelsea both made sounds of appreciation, proving my point about cake being the perfect food.
“I’m going to turn into one of those crazy cat ladies who lives alone,” Chelsea lamented with an adorable pout.
“If you had cats, you wouldn’t be alone,” Delaney pointed out.
“Don’t you hate cats?” I asked Chelsea.
“You really need a man,” Delaney said with a giggle. “It’s been too long.”
“It wasn’t really that long,” Chelsea added.
“You had sex and didn’t tell me!” I accused loudly.
“When?” Delaney asked. “Was his dick huge?”
“I haven’t had sex since I was married to Jason,” Chelsea assured us. “I just meant it wasn’t very long.”
“You know what I don’t get?” Del asked after taking another shot.
“The same thing Chelsea doesn’t get,” I teased. “Dick.”
“It is not nice to make fun of those of us lacking in male companionship, you dirty slut,” Delaney shot back.
“Can we not talk about Brook getting dick since it’s my brother’s dick?” Chelsea begged. “I may need a dozen more shots to wipe the images from my brain.”
Delaney snorted. “You’ll be passed out if you have even one more, but back to my point. Why is it that guys with cocktail weenies in their pants always think they’re huge? My ex thought he was driving the monster truck in the bedroom, when he really had one of those little smart cars in his pants. It was compact and efficient, but not very satisfying.”
Just like that, we all burst into a fit of drunken giggles at Delaney’s description. We were so loud I didn’t hear the front door open, and I was shocked when Luke walked in.
“I thought you were going out tonight,” he remarked, sparing a brief glance at my inebriated friends.
“Fucking little leaguers ran us out,” Chelsea complained. “I hate those smug little bastards.”
Luke regarded her with a grin. “How much have you had to drink, Chels?”
“Too much,” Delaney answered for her. “Blonde bitches can’t hold their liquor.” Delaney had been doing a good job sounding sober until she asked, “I’m not blonde am I?”
“Er, no,” Luke replied.
“We’re going to dye her hair later,” Chelsea told Luke with a giggle.
“What are you doing here, Luke?” I asked, leaning my head back on the sofa, and trying to decide if I should make the effort to get off the floor.
“I told you I was going to drop off some boxes,” he reminded me. “You asked me to bring them in since you were going out with your friends.”
“I do need boxes,” I agreed with a nod that made me dizzy. “Lots of boxes because I’m moving. Did you know I rented a place all by myself?”
“Yeah, I know,” Luke said with a chuckle. “How is everyone getting home? Or were you all planning to sleep over?”
“I can’t sleep over,” Chelsea insisted.
“That’s right,” I agreed. “Chels is planning to become a crazy cat lady. She has to get home to her cats, Luke.”
“I know a Luke,” Chelsea announced happily. “I would never let him feed my kitty.”
“When did you get a cat, Chels?” Luke asked. “I thought you hated cats.”
“Chelsea is all about the pussy. She could spend hours stroking her pussy,” Delaney added. “As for me, I have to get home to Justin.”
“Can Justin pick you up?” Luke asked.
“Oh, no,” Delaney said with an exaggerated shake of her head. “Justin can’t possibly drive.”
We were drunk enough that Delaney’s statement was so funny, it had us all laughing until Chelsea fell of the sofa, joining me on the floor, where she rested her head in my lap.
“He’s cute,” she whispered loudly, looking up at Luke.
“All right,” Luke began. “I’m going to help you upstairs, Brook. After that, I’m going to drive your friends home. Does everyone remember where they live?”
“I do!” Chelsea chimed in, raising her hand from her place on the floor.
“Excellent!” Luke sounded amused. He made us all drink water before helping me upstairs and making me drink even more water.
“Make sure my friends get home safe,” I ordered, as I laid down on my bed, fully-clothed.
“I’m going to drive them both home as soon as I leave here,” he promised. “I’ll make sure they get inside and into bed.”
“Don’t steal any of Chelsea’s panties,” I warned, letting out a sleepy giggle when Luke groaned.
“Did she tell you that?” he asked. “Or was it Ty?”
“I really love Ty,” I murmured, before drifting off to sleep with a smile on my face.
Chapter Forty-Three
Ty
Last night had sucked more than I’d expected it to, which proved I was more than a little addicted to Brook. That was why I was at her house at ten in the morning like the needy bitch Luke always accused me of being. Do
n’t get me wrong; I was glad she’d had a night with her friends. Now, I was looking forward to spending some time with her. At least an hour of that time would need to be spent naked. I’d gotten only one drunken text from Brook last night, and it had been to tell me she wanted cake and cock. Not gonna lie; I was a little offended that cock had been mentioned after cake.
Since I figured Brook might still be asleep after her wild night, I decided to let myself in. My plan was to strip down to my boxers and cook breakfast since she liked that fantasy so much. She was still pushing for naked cooking, but I wasn’t willing to leave my junk completely unprotected in the kitchen.
When I opened the front door, my mouth fell open. The last person I’d expected to see at Brook’s house this morning was Rob. Yet, there he stood, dressed in silk boxers, holding a cup of coffee. His blond hair was messy, as if he’d just woken up.
“Who the hell are you?” he demanded, studying me as if he couldn’t quite place my face.
My fists clenched at my sides as I glared at the asshole. “I’m here to see Brook.”
“She’s in the shower,” he explained, flashing a cocky grin. “My wife had a big night.” I saw the moment he recognized me. “Ty?”
“Yeah,” I said. “That’s me.”
“Damn! How have you been?” he asked with a genuine smile. I wondered why he wasn’t more shocked that I had a key to the house, but he might believe Luke had given it to me.
“I’ve been fine,” I replied, still not sure what to say.
“I didn’t even recognize you,” he continued. “How long has it been since I last saw you?”
“More than ten years,” I replied. Working past my shock, I decided to just get straight to the point. “What are you doing here?”
I knew for a fact Brook had changed the locks on the front door after Rob had left. She’d done it when Luke had lost his keys. That left me wondering how he’d gotten in. Brook certainly wouldn’t have let him in.
Dirty at 30 (Love Without Batteries Book 1) Page 17
