“Please call me Trey, and thank you for having me.”
“Oh, our pleasure. When Lucas said Ian was bringing someone I was really excited. Well after the disappointment of not being able to set him up with one of my friends passed.” She laughed warmly. Ian smiled. Same ole Viv.
“Well, you met Jacob. Violet is around here somewhere. She’s probably with Lucas in the back. She took the whole daddy’s little girl thing and ran with it.” They walked through the living room and through the modern, spacious kitchen, which was filled with light. The wall facing the backyard was all glass giving an unobstructed view of the pool in the backyard.
“Your house is beautiful,” Trey complimented.
“It really is, Viv.”
“Oh thank you, guys. We love it. It’s just big enough for us not to be on top of each other and small enough that I don’t spend my whole day cleaning the place.” Ian looked around and noticed the place was spotless, except for a few toys in the corner. But maybe it was for their benefit.Women always worried about that stuff. Guys couldn’t care less how clean the place was.
Viv opened the glass door and called out, “Lucas, Ian’s here.”
“Hey, my man! Come on over here.” Lucas was behind the grill as he waved them over. “Trey, it’s nice to see you again.”
“You too, thank you for having me.”
“Sure, sure…Grab yourselves a cool one there in the fridge.” He pointed to a mini fridge that was built into the stone surrounding the grill.
“Lucas, for god’s sake, don’t make them get their own drinks!”
“It’s okay, Viv, we don’t mind,” Ian said with a chuckle. He went over and grabbed them a couple of bottles and handed one to Trey.
“Lucas, where’s Violet?” Vivian asked.
“Over in the sand box…Violet, come over here, baby,” Lucas yelled, but made no move even though he was standing and his wife had just sat down.
“Oh, I’ll get her,” Vivian huffed softly.
Moments later she came back carrying Violet. Her dark hair was cropped to her chin. She had large hazel eyes and a heart shaped mouth. There was sand on her tanned shins and she was only wearing one shoe, her mom carried the other.
Trey inhaled beside him. “Oh my god, she’s so precious!”
Ian agreed, she was pretty damn cute.
Viv set her down, dusting the sand off Violet’s sailor dress and removing her one remaining shoe. Violet grabbed her mom’s pinkie and walked over to them.
“Guys, this is Violet. Violet this is Ian and Trevia.”
They both said a soft hello to the shy little creature in front of them. She folded her fingers over and moved them up and down in a small wave.
“Can you say hi?” Lucas asked his little girl. She looked at her dad and shook her head.
Ian crouched down and said, “That’s okay. I’m shy around new people, too. Maybe if we get to know each other a little better then we can talk a bit.”
She smiled and nodded.
“I have a dog named Ruby. Do you like doggies?” he asked. She nodded enthusiastically.
“See my woom?” she asked sweetly.
“I’d love to see your room.”
Vivian and Trevia were smiling at the them as they made their way back into the house. Lucas shook his head. Vivian laughed and said, “Still has a way with the ladies, I see.”
Chapter Ten
Dinner was delicious. Lucas cooked ribeyes and Vivian made an array of different sides. They opened the wine Trevia brought.
“Sorry, I would have brought red if I’d known we were having steak.”
“Red, white, yellow or pink, who cares? If it’s alcoholic, I’m in,” Vivian said. They laughed and cheersed.
Trevia went inside to help put the kids down. Violet wanted her to read her a bedtime story. The men took up the task of drinking beer on loungers by the pool. Lucas had made a very feeble offer to come help with bathtime, but was waved away by Vivian as she mumbled, “No, no. I would hate for you to get off your ass.” Ian chuckled at their exchange. He could tell they had a good marriage.
“I see I’ve been replaced…typical,” Ian joked, but it was kind of true when he thought about his last relationship. Violet had given him a hug and a wet kiss on the cheek, so he thought he might still have top billing.
Ian looked up at the clear night sky and then raised his bottle.
“Lucas, my man, you’ve got a great life.”
“Thanks.” They clinked. “ I’m pretty lucky. I have great kids and a gorgeous wife who puts up with my shit. Luckier than most, that’s for sure…Trey’s an awesome girl, Ian. You might want to hold onto that one.”
“Oh, I plan on it. She’s definitely not just a temporary friend.”
“That’s not what I’m talking about.”
“What? We’re just friends. I wouldn’t want to screw that up just to get laid.”
Screwing up a friendship by getting involved. Where had he heard that before? He pushed that thought away super fast. This was different than what he and Katrine had, completely different. Wasn’t it?
“I’m not talking about a hook up and you know it…She’s a keeper, bro. That’s all I’m saying. If not you, some other lucky bastard.”
“Like I said I am keeping her…as a friend.” Lucas just shrugged and took a swig of beer.
Two minutes of relationship talk was about the limit for men. He was surprised it’d lasted that long.
“Thank you so much for inviting me. You were right. I loved them and had a great time. Their kids were really cute.” They were facing each other on Trey’s porch. It wasn’t awkward…much. Why was it awkward?
“Well, it’s late. I have to open tomorrow, so I’d better hit it.”
“Yeah, I have to be on site by eight.” The porch light spun a golden halo around her dark curls and Ian found himself thinking things he shouldn’t. Should he kiss her? He felt like he should. But that would be wrong, right? They were just friends…right?
Yes, just friends, so he kissed her, but on the cheek.
She smiled without showing her teeth and went inside. He stood there for a second and shook his head as he walked toward his Jeep.
Wait. Did she want me to kiss her? It kind of seemed like she did.
Nah, she didn’t.
But he could have sworn her lips parted just a little when he leaned to kiss her cheek. He chalked it up to the drinks and drove home.
The next morning Ian filled a large silver bowl with food. He waited, but his pup didn’t come into the kitchen. She’d been sleeping more and more lately, but still enjoyed her evening strolls. With that in mind, he rattled her leash hoping that would do the trick. Nothing.
Curious, he went into the bedroom and found Ruby still curled on her large brown cushion in his bedroom.The sound of the kibble hitting the bowl was usually the only alarm clock she needed.
“Can you not hear very well, old girl?” He rubbed his hand over her head and kissed her nose. She still didn’t move.
“Ruby?…Ruby?” She stirred but didn’t lift her head. Her dark eyes blinked and a warm puff of air came out of her nose. He felt a twinge of concern, but shook his head. She was just really tired, as thirteen year old dogs tend to be.
“Okay, girl. Just stay in bed.” He brought her food and water into the bedroom and scratched her ear. “I’ll come home at lunch and take you for a walk.” He always laughed at himself for holding one-sided conversations with his Ruby. She was, after all, a dog. But to him she was his four-legged kid. He resolved that if she hadn’t eaten by evening that he’d take her to the vet. She probably ate something that didn’t agree with her. The half eaten hot dog she’d found on the ground by the dumpster last night, for example. Bad meal or not he had to be on site in fifteen minutes, so he had no choice but to head out.
The museum was halfway completed. Seeing his design come to life was thrilling in a way he couldn’t describe, an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. Ian l
ooked down at his boots to hide the smile taking over his face. The project manager already thought he was way too young for a project this size, so he didn’t want to solidify his opinion by grinning like a fucking school girl. Thirty-six was relatively young in this industry, but he believed he was proving himself every day—that he wasn’t just some guy that drew the pretty pictures, as the foreman had put it when he thought Ian had already left. He wanted to tell the guy to kiss his picture drawing ass, but thought better of it.
The frame was now covered in concrete, so he took his time making sure the door and window cut outs mirrored his design. Everything looked good. The project manager, though gruff, was very thorough and meticulous. He made his way to the back, sweat was pooling under his hard hat. He made a point to learn everyone’s name and chatted up the workers. They weren’t used to the guy in the tie speaking to them, but they quickly adjusted to “Mr. Ian,” as they liked to call him. He made sure to tell them how much their hard work was appreciated. It was just his way. Everyone had a part in creating this museum or anything for that matter. You couldn’t be the “big” guy without the “little” guy—he knew that to be an indisputable truth.
When he was little his dad took him to a soup kitchen one Thanksgiving morning. He’d told him that before they enjoyed their meal they needed to feed others first, others being the less fortunate. Ian grabbed his hand and walked into the shelter not knowing what to expect. He couldn’t understand that not everyone had a pantry full of food. He understood that day. He was expecting to see old shabby homeless guys in line shuffling by with their dirty faces. That’s not how it was at all. There were families…kids. Kids his age and younger with their trays and grateful faces. But he noticed some were ashamed. He didn’t have a word for the emotion until he was much older. It wasn’t much, but it was something.
After that day they went every year and it instilled in him the belief that everyone deserved kindness and respect…until they didn’t.
Chapter Eleven
Ian looked down into Ruby’s bowl.
She had a few bites, right? Yes. There’s definitely less than before.
He wasn’t sure who he was trying to convince, but the proof was right there in front of him. He had to face facts…she was sick. He carried his fifty pound dog down the stairs and placed her in the back seat of his car. There was an animal hospital a few miles away and he sped the whole way there. He lifted her from the back and stood her on her paws. She was able to walk herself through the sliding glass doors, but it was a slow labored walk. Ian was starting to really get worried and there was an ache in his chest. He hated seeing her this way.
She lay by his feet as he filled out the paperwork, listless and dry nosed. He sent Trey a text while he waited, letting her know he wasn’t going to make it to the Royal. She wanted to come up to the animal hospital, but he told her not to leave work, that he’d keep her posted.
Blood was drawn, then X-rays, after which they waited some more, this time with Ruby on a metal table and Ian with his arms around her furry neck. He murmured to her, letting her know he would get her feeling better in no time.
The vet came in and introduced herself.
“Hi. I’m Dr. Maxwell. So Ruby isn’t feeling well, huh?” The older woman had a kind face and a soft voice. She scratched Ruby behind the ear first and shook Ian’s hand second. He liked that.
“Well, I went over her blood work and scan.”
Ian held his breath.
“I’m afraid that Ruby has Osteosarcoma. Bone cancer is common in the larger breeds.”
Ian’s stomach twisted. His head dropped and his hair fell into his face. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“Is there anything to be done?” he asked, his voice was raspy with unshed tears.
“She’s in the beginning stages, but at her advanced age I’m not sure treatment or surgery is in her best interest. I could prescribe pain killers, but we’d just be prolonging the inevitable, I’m sorry to say. This in an aggressive cancer and the fact that she’s already stopped eating…” Her lips folded into her mouth, making them virtually disappear. Ian could tell she hated telling him the bad news. That gave him comfort for some reason.
He nodded and knew what he had to do, what the doctor was trying to say…and his heart broke. The tears now fell from his eyes in slow streams.
“I’m sorry…I’ll give you two a minute.”
Ian wiped the tears from his face with rough strokes and then spied a canister of brown dog treats on the counter. He grabbed a handful and put them under Ruby’s nose. She sniffed and came to life, devouring the handful, then set her chin back down.
“Not much of a last meal. I wish I had some steak, or maybe a little peanut butter?”
Ruby blinked and nudged his cheek that was now buried in her fur. He touched her nose with his and cried. Like really cried, the silent kind that made your whole body shake. He held in the sound, afraid of the noise he’d make.
His best friend was dying, but he was the one that had to end it.
This was the worst feeling he’d ever had. He’d never lost anyone close to him in his adult life. Ruby had been his friend and companion for thirteen years…she was his sidekick. What was he going to do without his sidekick?
“You know how much I love you, right? You’re the best dog I could have ever asked for. Thank you for everything you’ve given me…” He sobbed into her neck and gripped her tightly to his chest.
There was a knock on the door. A tech entered the room, Dr. Maxwell close behind, holding a syringe. She stood beside them and looked at Ian. He could only nod.
A grown man crying beside his dog.
He climbed onto the table and laid beside her, holding her, until she huffed and stilled for the last time.
They left the room and let him hold her until he was ready to let go.
Chapter Twelve
“Hey. Come on in.”
Trey threw her arms around his neck and murmured her sorries. It felt good to be hugged.
“Thanks, Trey. But you didn’t have to come over. I’m okay. I mean, I miss her really bad, but I’m feeling better, I promise.”
She looked doubtful as she took in his disheveled hair and unshaven face.
“Well, when I don’t see you all week and you don’t answer your phone, I was forced to come kidnap you.”
“Kidnap me?” He then noticed that she was wearing a tank top with the straps of a bikini wrapped around her neck.
“Yes. Some friends and I are going to float the river and you, my friend, are coming with us.”
“When?”
“Now.”
“Now?”
“Yes, now! Go get your suit on and let’s get going. You can’t sit around here moping all weekend.”
“Why the hell not? I don’t feel like floating the river. I haven’t done that since college.” He walked away and threw himself on the dark leather couch. He reached for the remote only to have it snatched away.
“Do you mind? I have golf to watch.”
“This broody, depressed side of you in very unattractive, I’ve gotta tell ya.”
“Well, then you might as well leave, because I feel depressed and broody.” Ian tried to grab the remote, but Trey held it tightly.
“All the more reason to sit in an inner-tube, drinking beer on a hot summer day.” She went back into his room and took the remote with her, earning a groan from him.
“What can I do to get you to give me my fucking remote?” he yelled at the ceiling.
Her only response was to throw his swim trunks at his head.
“Put these on. I’m not taking no for an answer. Now move it, mister!”
“How did you find these? You went through my drawers?” He wasn’t sure why his voice was taking on a shrieky quality.
“Pu-lease. You’re so freaking organized, I only had to open two drawers…And you fold your underwear? That’s just OCD…are your condoms in alphabetical order? Ribbed, Thin, U
ltra-thin…”
“You open a man’s drawers without his permission and you lose all room to judge.”
“Fair enough…Now come on, handsome. I promised my friends some eye candy and I plan to deliver.”
He huffed. “Fine. Just let me go take a shower.”
“Shower? Just dunk yourself in the river.”
“Look, you want me to go, then I want to shower first.” He was being an asshole, but she didn’t seemed phased. Most women would’ve gotten defensive. He liked that she knew why he was being pissy and rolled with it.
“Deal. I’ll just watch some TV,” she said wiggling the remote in his face. He buried the smile that threatened to break out. He didn’t want to encourage her.
Two hours later he found himself laying in a tube floating down the Guadalupe River with a group of people he didn’t know. He had to admit it was relaxing. The water was clear and cold. The trees provided shade when you least expected it and needed it most. Trey’s friends were laid back and friendly. There was a guy and girl Trey went to law school with and two girls that worked at the Royal.
When he’d walked up to the group, the girls froze. He thought they might have been shocked that Trey had brought a guy, that is until Trey said, “I told you he was hot.” He rolled his eyes and elbowed her in the ribs.
“What? You are.”
Ian knew he wasn’t ugly, but he never thought himself above average despite being told the contrary time and time again. It wasn’t a lack of self esteem, he just didn’t see what the big deal was. But the girls, and guy included, were eying him up something serious. He thought about putting his shirt back on, but Trey promised eye candy and he was just too numb to care.
He knew he was depressed when he didn’t even notice her friend from work was showing ample side boob. Well, maybe a little, but he didn’t enjoy it.
They were floating with the current in pods— a hand on the other’s tube kept them connected. There were large black tubes with bottoms, which was convenient when you needed to get a cooler of beer down the river. The other guy with the group, Lance, was in charge of “beering” people. They’d yell,” beer me,” and he would launch a can. He seemed very mellow, grin on his face, soaking it all in.
Chasing the Sun Page 4
