“When do the results for the surgery come in?” I asked, knowing they removed a tumor. The family was waiting to hear if all the cancer was removed and what kind of tumor it was.
“About three weeks.” He sighed.
“I feel terrible I couldn’t be there with you.” My head pressed to his chest and I hugged him. Truth was he didn’t ask me to come along on the trip, and I figured it was a tense time for the family and flying all of us out to LA would have been more than we could afford.
“Don’t feel bad.” He kissed my forehead.
“What can I do?” I asked, feeling helpless. “I’ve been praying she’ll be okay, that everything will be okay.”
“Thanks, Nat. That’s all we can do at this point,” he said, rubbing his temples.
“Do you need Advil?” I asked.
“I’ve got a headache.”
I went to the bathroom and grabbed the pill bottle and a cup of water.
“I was going to take Lily to the beach with Immy and Lewis, but we can stay home,” I offered because he probably wanted to spend time with Lily and me.
“I’m sorry I didn’t call. I should’ve. I was going through . . . I don’t know.” He shook his head. “Mom’s surgery hit me hard. Originally my flight was booked out for the 25th. I decided to stay an extra couple of days in LA,” he explained, and I tried to hide how much it hurt that he didn’t call to tell me he wouldn’t be home. I’d fixed a big dinner. Lily and I had waited anxiously for his arrival. By eight that night Lily had been rubbing her eyes. I’d put her to sleep and stayed up past midnight waiting for my husband to walk through the door but he never showed. I’d blamed his lack of contact on bad reception. Mark had always been good at staying in touch. He sometimes checked in numerous times during the day.
“Should I can cancel the beach then? Lily is going to be frantic about seeing you. She missed you so much.”
Mark turned on his side.
“How is my little munchkin? I missed her.” He smiled soflty. “I want to see her, but I think it’s best you guys don’t change your plans. I’m exhausted and have a killer headache. I just need sleep.” His eyes fluttered as he spoke to me.
My stomach sank. I understood he wasn’t feeling well, but we hadn’t seen him in three freaking weeks and he didn’t want us home. An ache filled my chest.
“Sure, of course.” I gave him a quick kiss. “See you later. Glad you’re home.” I turned to our walk-in closet and changed out of my work clothes. My mind was reeling from him arriving two days late like it was no biggy and then not wanting to spend time with us.
I worked as an assistant in a lab. It wasn’t my number one job choice but I never made it to grad school once I finished my bachelor’s degree. Mark and I were head over heels in love. He was five years older and itched to get married. With my work clothes discarded on the floor, I slipped on a bikini, a pair of cut-off jean shorts, and a bright pink tank top. By the time I left the closet, Mark was fast asleep. Since his mother’s diagnosis six months ago, he’d started withdrawing more and more into himself. I wanted to be his support system but he’d shut down, and it hurt because he was my person and I wanted to be his. He’d also stopped having sex with me, which was odd. We’d always had a healthy sex life.
His mood swings were becoming the norm. I had always been his center, and when Lily was born she shared that spot with me. Now it seemed like he had no interest in either of us. I didn’t want to call him on it, not wanting to come off as needy during a tough time for him.
I dashed toward the door, grabbing the bag I’d packed in a rush this morning. With the cooler on my shoulder and Lily’s diaper bag in my hand, I bolted out the door so I wouldn’t be late picking her up.
I threw my bags in the back seat of my Honda Pilot and drove speedily toward the freeway. The Best of You by the Foo Fighters blasted through the speakers as I bounced in the driver’s seat. Mark crossed my mind. I’d given him the best of me: my youth, marriage, and a baby. Now I was drowning in our marriage. I felt so alone. Dammit! I didn’t have the guts to ask my husband why he hadn’t called to tell me he extended his trip in LA. As his wife he owed me that. As my frustration built, I remembered the first time we met. My nerves eased, remembering that warm sunny day in LA. I lived with my best friend, Imogen, who I nicknamed Immy back in grade school. We were both enrolled at UCLA. It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon, and we were surfing. The waves in LA were so much better than the waves back home in Florida and so we took advantage on all our free weekends. I had just left the water with my wetsuit on and my board tucked under my arm when a ball smacked me in the head out of nowhere.
“Sorry, Miss.” Mark came up to me and winced. “We’re playing volleyball and my younger brother has the worst aim on earth.” He smiled widely, and I drank him in. Olive skin, dark soulful eyes, long dark hair slicked back. He towered over my five foot seven height. He had a narrow torso and chiseled abs, his shoulders were wide and strong.
I fixated on his beauty.
“That’s okay. No worries.” I smiled.
“You should tell your brother he should learn how to aim,” Immy cut in, and I’d forgotten she was beside me. I looked at her a little wide-eyed, and with a glare willed her to shut up. She gave me an impish smile.
“Sorry, you’re totally right,” Mark agreed. He took a deep breath and ran one of his hands over his hair. A dark strand had come loose and had fallen over his forehead. “You’re the prettiest girl I’ve ever seen on this beach, and I’ve been coming to this beach since I was a kid,” he said.
My chest warmed. Beside me I heard Immy say something under her breath, but I couldn’t make out the words. I think she thought he was feeding me a line and I was buying it. He was just that good looking.
“I bet you say that to a lot of girls.” I smiled at him, squinting against the sun. I was flirting. I didn’t usually flirt but he was gorgeous.
“Not at all.” He frowned. “I don’t make a habit of picking up girls on the beach. I’m here with my family. My three brothers and my sisters. We only come to the beach once a year,” he said.
I laughed. “Why only come to the beach once a year?” I asked. I went to the beach almost daily back home.
“My sister died here on this beach twelve years ago. We only come here once a year on the anniversary of her death. All my siblings. So, like I said I don’t make a habit of picking up girls while I’m here.” The air got sucked out of my lungs. I looked to Immy and back to him.
“Sorry, I’m Mark.” I blinked not realizing he extended his hand to me, but I was rendered speechless.
“I’m Immy and this is Natalia.” Immy spoke for me. She knew what had caused my silence.
“Nice to meet you, Natalia.” His wide smile washed the sadness away like a new wave.
“Nice to meet you too.” I finally spoke.
“Can I get your number?” he asked next. I didn’t believe in fate. My life had been a series of situations that had brought me to this moment. People made decisions that had repercussions at least that’s what I believed until this day.
I nodded. I didn’t have a pen. I was acting like the cat got my tongue and even though Mark didn’t know why, Immy did.
“Let me grab my cell,” Mark said, and I watched his firm muscles as he walked toward an umbrella with some girls sitting under it. I assumed they were his sisters. He wore a light blue pair of board shorts that complemented his dark skin. His ass was round and firm. The breadth of his wide shoulders and muscles in his back made it impossible for me to look away.
He returned, and I gave him my number and that was it. I believed our fate was sealed because I had lost my brother to the ocean. Matt was a competitive international surfer who died during a surfing competition in Hawaii.
I didn’t tell Mark my story that day, but after we began dating I did. We shared a sense of loss over a sibling, we connected on a deep level, and he became everything I never had, love and family.
Be
ads of sweat rolled down my back before the car’s AC finally kicked in. After four years of marriage and four years of dating, the initial fizzle of the relationship could end in a slow burn, but I naively believed something stronger would form in its path. A bond, a sense of family, an intimate friendship and we had all that . . . six months ago, before his mother was diagnosed with cancer and underwent chemo. I truly believed Mark and I were soul mates. Me, the girl from a broken home, the girl who promised to never marry. I always found that funny. Instead of never marrying, I married very young. My own parents were a dysfunctional wreck. I had friends growing up whose parents were truly in love, and I saved those memories in my mind, hoping one day to have what they had. A sense of family, love, support. With the AC blasting in my face and Beyonce’s voice pulling me from my sulking thoughts, happy vibes bounced through me as I pulled into the parking lot of Lily’s daycare one minute before dismissal.
The only available parking spot was the farthest from the center, making me speed walk through the intense heat to arrive on time.
“Natalia,” I heard Immy’s voice from behind me. I must have driven right past her in my haste to not be late.
I turned around quickly and realized she had a gorgeous guy standing beside her.
“Oh hey, sorry I didn’t see you.” I walked toward them and my flip-flop bent on a small pothole in the ground. “Shit.” I went flying forward, almost faceplanting, but the hot man grabbed me by the arm and steadied me. My body melded flush with his; looking up, I squinted against the sun, noticing his blue eyes first, clear and playful before my gaze moved higher to his amazing hair, caramel colored ringlets that hit his shoulder. A soft sigh escaped me before I snapped my mouth shut.
“Whoa, are you all right?” he asked. His accent was like Immy’s husband, Shay.
My focus lingered on him a moment longer. Holy crap he was hot. Leave it to me to make a fool of myself. I can be such a klutz sometimes.
“This is Hayes, Shay’s cousin. He surprised us last night,” she said, and that explained it. I would’ve known if Immy had a houseguest.
“Pleasure to meet you,” he said, his eyes raking up and down my body. The heat level in my own body took on a new meaning. That accent was British and made my heart beat faster.
I blinked twice. Think, Natalia . . . start talking. “Natalia, nice to meet you.” I smiled. What the hell was wrong with me? He looked young . . . and yes, there was the small fact I was married. My inner self gave me a scolding. Shit! Get your head on straight.
His eyes took a quick sweep over my body, and his blue eyes darkened.
Holy shit! Gulp.
I grinned like a school girl. Someone really needed to whack me upside the head.
“All ready for the beach?” Immy asked, pulling me from my fixation.
“Yeees. I’m in desperate need of a beach fix.” My belly danced, my heart fluttered, and I smiled stupidly.
“Me too.” She smiled.
Damn! The kids! “We’re two minutes late,” I said, but it was more like I was reminding myself.
“Relax.” Immy waved me off. I didn’t like to be late for Lily. Mom was always late picking me up from school because she was working or she had an employee from her office pick me up and it wasn’t part of their job description since she ran a successful advertising firm. Because of the way I grew up, I liked to be on time. Breathless from my brisk walk in the humid air or maybe the sight of Immy’s houseguest, I reached the line and asked the teacher to call Lily.
“Hayes is here for a few weeks. He lives in New York, attending college there. Before that he was deployed in Afghanistan with the British Navy,” Immy explained, always one for providing details on everyone and everything.
“Thank you, dear cousin, for that intro.” He chuckled, looking at Immy, his blue eyes bright and playful like a breath of fresh air. At a minimum of six foot three he was muscular but lean . . . Stop checking him out! I chided myself.
“Whoa. Afghanistan . . .” My eyes widened. Remember to speak, Natalia, so you don’t look like a dumb idiot staring at him.
“The military is intense. I’m glad to be out. I traveled through South America during break. Nice to be able to choose my own travel destination.” He smiled, and his sea blue eyes twinkled.
Lily came barreling out of class with Lewis, Immy’s two-year-old son. He was born a week before Lily, and they had spent almost every day of their lives together. We hadn’t discussed getting pregnant at the same time. Mark had wanted a baby, but Immy was finishing school and had planned on waiting until she had a job first. Lewis was a surprise.
Lily wrapped her hands around my legs, making me lose my balance.
“Easy there.” I felt Hayes hand on my hip, catching me again. Jeez! What was wrong with me today?
“Thanks.” I looked back to him with a grin.
“Of course, Natalia.” He nodded, but he wasn’t smiling; he was just watching me.
“Hi, sweet girl.” I bent down to pick up Lily, balancing her on my hip and gave her a kiss. She was exactly the distraction I needed to keep me from salivating over Hayes.
Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Hayes pick up Lewis and prop him on his hip. “Hello, Lewis.” The child smiled. “Give me a high five.”
“Should we meet there?”
Hearing the sound of Immy’s voice caused my gaze to turn to her. “Hmm?”
“At the beach. Are we still on for the beach?” Her brows creased together as she eyed me curiously. My best friend was too perceptive. That was for darn sure.
“Yeah, uh . . . Mark just got back home, but he has a killer headache and he’s tired,” I mumbled. “So yeah, we’re coming to the beach.”
“Usual spot then, near the showers?”
“Yes,” I answered, still breathless and dazed and needing to get my wits about me before I made a fool of myself. I’d already almost fell on top of the guy—twice.
Immy nodded. “See you there.” She walked across the parking lot, and I walked with Lily propped on my hip toward my SUV.
I placed her in her car seat, but my attention was clearly elsewhere. “Mama.” Lily smiled touching my face and pulling my attention away from the hot and young Hayes. I kissed her nose and buckled her in.
“My Lily.” I closed the door. Hayes looked like someone I would have dated when I was in high school. If I had a type, he was it. The irony being that my husband looked like no one I’d dated before with his tanned skin, dark hair, and dark eyes. I thought it meant the previous guys weren’t my type. Our relationship had consumed me from the start.
We snagged a parking spot next to Immy, and I got out of my SUV.
“Lily fell asleep.”
“Lewis too. Two peas in a pod.”
Hayes stood beside the car and my pulse quickened. This couldn’t be good. I spent a lot of time with Immy. Having an attraction to her husband’s younger cousin was an unwanted complication. Still I wondered how old he was. What? Shit. My mind was in the gutter. I couldn’t think this way. Six months of no sex and I was getting hot and bothered by someone who wasn’t my husband. I disgusted myself. I was not a cheater. My father cheated on my mother, and my relationship with him hadn’t been the same since. I had to get a grip here.
“Let’s unload and set up,” she suggested.
Hayes came around to the trunk, and I took in his scent of citrus and sandalwood. I held my breath, hoping his proximity would affect me less that way. “Let me unload you guys.”
“Thanks.” Immy blew out a tired breath. She had recently found out she was pregnant with number two. I liked to keep things a secret the first three months, but Immy announced to all our friends she was expecting the day she found out.
“Go ahead and choose a spot; I’ll bring everything,” he said, and it wasn’t an offer. The accent rolled off his tongue thick and sexy.
“Thanks, sweets, I need the stroller, no way am I carrying Lewis that far in this heat,” Immy said, as he pulled it out o
f her trunk.
“Not sure how to open this up.” He laughed, trying to force it open.
“Yes, we all learn at some point.” She flipped the stroller open with the flick of her hand. I remembered the days I didn’t know how to open a stroller either. I opened my stroller and placed the diaper bag on the handle then set the beach bag and cooler on the ground.
“I’ll grab your stuff too.” He winked at me, and my stomach betrayed me and made flips.
“Oh, I’m fine. No worries.” I grinned, trying to prevent a blush crawling up my cheeks. I lost the battle.
“Natalia, please,” he insisted, clearly a gentleman.
“Okay, thanks.” I shrugged as if I wasn’t affected by him at all.
“There’s a nice breeze today,” Immy said as we pushed our strollers with sleeping children along the boardwalk, looking for a place to squat for the late afternoon.
“Yeah.” I looked out to the ocean, inhaling the fresh salty air. The beach had always been my happy place, but then it became the place I felt closest to my lost brother.
“Is over there good?” She pointed.
I nodded.
It was going to be a bitch pushing the strollers through the sand.
The hot sand burned the bottom of my feet through my flip-flops as we made our way closer to shore.
“Here is good,” Immy said, and we stopped. We both turned around, and she waved at Hayes. He spotted us but couldn’t wave back with his hands full.
I started to laugh. “We do bring a lot of stuff.” He had bags propped on each shoulder. An umbrella in each armpit and coolers in each hand.
“Ah! He’s a strong guy. He can handle it.”
“You didn’t mention you were having a houseguest,” I said since he was out of earshot.
“He was traveling wanted to come to Florida to see Shay and meet Lewis. He called yesterday morning and was here by nightfall.”
Hayes made his way over to us and set the two large umbrellas in the sand. I got to work opening a large sheet for us to sit on. We parked the strollers under the umbrellas so the kids were blocked from the sun, and I grabbed a cool bottle of water from the cooler and gulped it down.
Butt Ending: A Big Stick Novel 2 (Standalone) Page 26
