The Significant Other (The Relationship Quo Series Book 4)

by Nicole Strycharz

  “I’m really close to paying off the debt!” She hurried to tell us, “It’s not really whoring, okay. He just sort of suggests dates to his clients…”

  Chance rubbed his shoulder, “I’ll see if I can-.”

  “No,” I looked him square in the eyes, “I meant what I said. I don’t want him around you either.”

  He just blinked, “You realize I’ve known the man for years. I don’t need your guidance. I don’t need your worry.”

  “Consider it a favor,” I held his eyes so he would reap all the innuendos he wanted. I couldn’t even believe I did it. The last favor he did me was on his knees.

  He gave a nod.

  I looked back at Jolee, “We go to Thanksgiving, after we get back, you leave.”

  She looked shocked.

  “I mean it,” I told her, “You pack, you move. No New York City. Trix doesn’t need this and nor do we. We go for the holiday and then you’re gone.”

  She shed a tear but my robotic emotions didn’t feel it. “Deal?” I prodded.

  She sniffed. “Yeah,” her breathing shallowed. “Deal.”

  TRIXIE

  Adam’s family is a dress up for dinner kind of family. So this means we all board the plane looking like dinner guests. It’s only four hours or so.

  As I dressed in the loft I couldn’t help but realize I was maybe dressing for someone.

  “Damn,” said Jolee from the bed we now shared. “I think we should just always buy two of the same thing.”

  I looked down at myself. Little black dress with a lace over layer and a white pea coat with a flared bottom and black tulle lining the end. Along with killer heels, I’d say I slayed the classy but eccentric since I dyed my hair again. Now my crown is dark violet and fades into shades of deep magenta. It was time to go all out. I usually stick to highlights but since the breakup, I want to be bold.

  “I look okay?” I asked her.

  She grinned, “Like Adam is going to flip.”

  I didn’t say anything about us not being together.

  “You okay?” I asked when I saw her shift uncomfortably.

  “Yeah,” she smiled in a fake way. “I’ll hit the shower and be right down.”

  I kissed her nose then grabbed my purse. My luggage is already in line at the door near Adam’s and he’s out doing errands.

  Liam is on the couch with Buddy by his side. He looks good. He’s wearing a very nice dress shirt with black slacks so his legs appear longer.

  “Hi,” I said as I came down the steps.

  He turned to see me and his eyes lit up, “Hey,” he looked me up and down from head to toe, “Wow,” he stood up. “You look amazing…” he stopped at my hair and grinned, “That has got to be the hottest hair color I’ve ever seen on a woman.”

  I felt the red coming off my cheeks, “I don’t color all the hair, I usually keep it auburn with highlights but I’m feeling… like starting over. Doing new things.” I ran my fingers through the rolling curls at the bottom. “You really like it?”

  He reached out and tested the silken feel of my hair between his fingers, “I think it suits you.” He took his hand back and rubbed his wrist like he didn’t know what to do with his hands. “You’re a sight, Trix, the whole package.”

  “Thank you.” I looked him over, “You look great too. They’ll love you.”

  “They’re really okay with me coming? I’m a stranger.”

  I went to sit where he’d been, “Adam’s mom loves feeding people. She’s an amazing cook. Trust me they’ll be glad you came.” He sat beside me and I tilted my head, “When’s the last time you had a good Thanksgiving?”

  He rolled his neck, “Five years maybe, when my mom was alive.”

  I took his hand and he opened it for me to fit. Our fingers locked and I embraced the tingle that went up my arm again.

  “You always ask the personal questions,” he said. “My turn; why don’t you spend Thanksgiving with your own parents? Will you visit them at least?”

  I looked at our hands, “Um, no. They view Jolee and I same as anything else in the house. They care but they forgot us in stores and malls more times than I can count.”

  He looked disturbed, “So they suck?”

  I nodded, “Jolee doesn’t even talk to them.”

  “Well, they are still your parents.”

  I fought for words. I’m not as secretive as most. I don’t leave people to guess my past troubles but it’s still hard to just come out with it, “When we were little they dropped us with our uncle a lot. He put us in this enormous bedroom with two beds. I thought he was the coolest guy for years.”

  I whispered the rest because Jolee doesn’t need to hear me, “I didn’t find out until I was thirteen that he’d been coming in at night and…touching Jolee. He thought she was me. She never corrected him because she didn’t want it to happen to me. He finally figured out what bed I was in but before he could try anything I broke his nose and with a swift move of my knee, I’m fairly certain he can’t have kids now.”

  He frowned, “That’s terrible.”

  “Yeah,” I agreed, “That’s why I defend Jolee so much. That’s why I deal with her crap. She’s awful sometimes and she’s so irresponsible but look what she gave up for me. She did the same thing about what Jax did. She ‘forgot it’ and pretended to move on. She doesn’t confront the bad stuff.” I sighed, “that’s why being hard on her rips me up. She probably wouldn’t be this way if I’d known what was happening to her as kids. When she finally told our parents they didn’t believe her, even when I told them what happened. So she doesn’t talk to them and I rarely do.”

  He held my hand closer, “When you thought I was a rapist… that must have really freaked you out.”

  “I know what you are.” I smiled and he smiled back.

  I wondered if I could get away with kissing him. Was I brave enough to do that? Kiss a guy that wasn’t Adam?

  I won’t know for quite a while since the band just showed up.

  ADAM

  Upon landing in Colorado, Chance started to resemble a human. His ways are always cool and collected. Even though I was the robot, Chance was from the outside, just as unmoved but not when he saw Little Water, Colorado.

  The town is small so we landed at the airport two towns over and rented a van. He was immediately drawn in by the view of the place.

  “You guys said between two mountains,” he said, “you really meant, between two mountains.”

  I was driving but looked over at him in the passenger seat, “And you can put your wallet in your back pocket too.” I teased.

  He laughed.

  It was snowing very lightly after a storm from two days ago. The mountain tops were covered as usual but the town itself was white. All the stores on either side of the street had a blanket of snow on their rooftops and it made them look like they were out of a catalog.

  The traffic was light and slow and the people walking that recognized me waved.

  My house was three miles outside of Little Water but as soon as they heard the wheels in the driveway my parents were outside. A few months ago I might have cringed at their excitement but since seeing Chance’s environment I feel more like asking if I can move back in.

  We got out and mom assaulted us with kisses, “Baby!” she squealed, reaching up and grabbing me by the face. She kissed my cheeks and looked me over for flaws, “Oh, look at you! You got taller!”

  “I stopped growing, mom.” I laughed.

  Trix ran up and closed my mother in with a strong hug. Mom turned her attention on Trix. “Look at you too!” she pulled back to inspect Trixie’s hair, “that is a stunning color on a stunning girl! Oh, my word! You know, I would do that too if I was younger, maybe a passion pink.”

  My dad was hugging Jolee tight and laughing with her about something.

  Blaze, Knox, and Diego all ran after mom and lifted her at the same time. I rolled my eyes at their attempt to steal her as a parent.

  Liam and
Buddy came out but stayed back.

  “Momma Ryder!” The band chanted as they crushed her with hugs.

  “Oh, boys!” She kissed all their cheeks as they set her down and they bent for the privilege, “Boys! Oh goodness! I’m so glad you all came! Blaze you look handsome honey!” She fixed his tie and he jumped on his feet like a puppy.

  “Food!” he hooted, “We’re so hungry oh God, I can’t feel my stomach it’s that bad.”

  She pointed behind her, “Snacks in the living room, help yourself, hon.”

  He ran inside like the Flash.

  Diego pulled mom into a side hug, “You look lovely, Madre,” he said.

  She beamed, “You like this dress? I found this at a thrift shop. Three dollars.”

  I looked over at Trix just as she was bringing Liam forward, “Mrs. Ryder,” she hugged Liam’s arm and I noticed the burning jealousy I normally get didn’t respond. “This is Liam; he’s part of our band now.”

  Liam looked humbled as he held out his hand, “Nice to meet you.”

  Mom laughed and hugged him anyway, “Aren’t you such a gentleman but hon we hug in this family.”

  Liam laughed and I looked back at the van where Chance was standing a ways off. His hands were in his coat pockets as he observed the interactions but if I didn’t know better I’d say there was a dim light of fear in his eyes. Maybe not fear but apprehension.

  I slung my arm around my mom, stealing her from Knox and steered her toward the van, “Mom, this is our boss back in New York,” I explained.

  Almost everyone was heading in but she turned loving eyes on Chance.

  He straightened his shoulders a little and nodded at her, “How ya doing?” he asked putting out his hand like Liam had.

  She grinned and opened her arms.

  Ugh. Awkward. Chance isn’t a touchy feely guy and I forgot to warn either him or mom.

  He stood with eyes darting every which way as he tried to decide what to do.

  “Come on,” she encouraged, “Gimmie a hug. Let’s go, don’t hesitate, just feel the love.”

  I rubbed my hand down my beard and sent Chance an apologetic look.

  He took stiff steps to where mom was and leaned a little. He was dwarfing my mother by miles, making her look two feet tall as she wrapped her little arms around him- or at least tried.

  I felt something in my core at seeing my mother hugging Chance. He tried to seem less foreign to touch but it didn’t work.

  “Wow,” Trix whispered at my side. “I didn’t think our convicted boss had an endearing side…”

  I checked behind us to see we were alone, “That’s just it,” I said looking back at Chance and Mom as they talked. “I’m the robot, Chance just appears like one. He’s actually fairly big-hearted but in pretty desperate need of affection.”

  She quirked a brow, “Maybe you’re just the robot to give it to him.”

  “Don’t,” I laughed.

  She knocked my shoulder with her own, “Maybe Chance is what you need to deactivate the cyborg-ness. I think seeing him need makes you more willing to give…”

  I bumped her right back, “Are you pawning me off?”

  “No, but it’s easier to lose a guy to a guy. If you were after a girl with bigger tits than me and blonde hair, I might bury you before giving you up.”

  She giggled which made the moment light.

  We all went inside and Dad pushed for answers about New York. He wanted details. He’s never been out of Colorado.

  I got away by distracting him with my phone, which was full of pictures. Then I caught mom alone by the steps.

  “Mom,” I led her further down the hall. “Hey, so about the sleeping arrangements-.”

  “I got this, honey. Blaze and Diego will bunk in the first guest room, Knox and Liam in the other, Jolee and her boyfriend Chance can stay in my sewing room, there’s a bed in there now and you and Trix can stay in your old bedroom.”

  I winced. “Yeah… about that… Trix and I… we aren’t a couple anymore, Mom.”

  I thought she was going to fall backward and pass out like in movies. “What? Honey, why? No, Trix is so kind. I love that girl. What happened?”

  I debated how to put it, “I think-. Um. I was sort of holding on to her for the wrong reasons. We’re okay. I love her. I always will but anyway, we don’t share a bed anymore. We haven’t in a long time.”

  “Then I’ll switch her with Jolee, she can sleep with her sister in the sewing room. Can Chance bunk with you?”

  I was about to shake my head but then again…

  “Yeah, that’s fine.”

  What did I just do?

  A couple hours later I found the guys including Liam piled in the living room with my dad watching football. There was outrage and excitement hollered from there at least every twenty minutes and Dad was constantly feeding the dog snacks.

  I peeked in the kitchen to find mom talking with Jolee and Trix while they all helped out with the meal and while there was a die down I took my duffle bag up to my room.

  Chance was in there and finding his back to me made me pause.

  “What’s up?” I asked as I came in.

  He looked back at me then held up a picture of me with my parents.

  I smiled, “Mmm right, that was a puberty strike. Pimples and shit.”

  “You guys look close,” he observed.

  His scent was filling the air in my room. “We are. They’re great people.”

  “Must be nice,” he looked down at the picture, “I’m almost jealous.” He set it down and I tossed my bag on the bed.

  I went up to stand by him and he picked up another picture.

  “Graduation,” I explained. In the picture, I was in a cap and gown with my diploma and Dad had his arm around me.

  He put it back and looked up at the wall where my bookshelf was.

  “Was I stupid to bring you here?” I had to ask. “I feel like I’m rubbing my life in your face or something.”

  The corner of his mouth curled upward as he looked over my first guitar. “I’m not that fragile, Adam.”

  I followed him to where the instrument stood. “No one would mistake you for fragile. I just mean…”

  He smiled at me, “It’s nice. Seeing what normal must have looked like.”

  “You could still find out for yourself, you know.”

  His walk was slow and calculative as he investigated other bits of my room, “When I leave this world the only thing I’d regret is not having a kid. The rest is all bullshit.”

  I sat on the edge of my bed, “Love is bullshit?”

  He shrugged one of his broad shoulders, “Most the time.”

  “What about Lamar? Would you say your love for him was bullshit?”

  He picked up the Rubik’s Cube on my desk and started turning sides, “Lamar was probably it for me.”

  I pushed down the anger, “But you fuck around.”

  “It feels nice.”

  I watched him turn sides, “Then you’re right, who needs anything else?”

  He stayed focused on the cube, “I didn’t say that. I like very intense sex. I have high standards. It has to be hot, and I’m my best when I’m in love. You don’t find that just anywhere.”

  I tried not to guess at what he was trying to say. “In the end would you settle with a woman then?”

  He cleared his throat and smiled, “No, I can’t take them for long periods of time.”

  He put the cube down and gave me eye contact, “Thanks for inviting me. Never know, maybe I’ll actually have something like this one day.”

  He took his time walking out and I took my first breath. One of us was going to have to bend if anything was ever going to happen. I’m just having trouble being the one to do the bending. I looked over and saw that he’d solved my Rubik’s cube.

  What the fuck?

  I’ve been working on that damn thing since I was fifteen!

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  ADAM

 
“Dinner!” My mom later screamed from the kitchen.

  There was an instant stampede.

  Blaze shoved Knox into the wall, Diego tripped Liam and my Dad shoved me off the fucking couch. I wasn’t even in the race.

  Everyone grabbed a chair but Chance was the last to ease into the dining room. Mom had the long Cherrywood table decorated with pumpkins, brightly colored leaves, pinecones and more food than a grocery store.

  “Who’s carving,” she asked over all the noise. It was so loud, everyone talking over each other.

  “I’ll do it!” Blaze stood up but Knox jerked him back down.

  “The hell you say,” Knox snapped, “You’ll carve your portion then sit down. She means for the family.”

  Trix raised her hand, “I’ll do it.”

  Dad stood up, “No, no, women don’t carve; sit down.”

  Jolee protested, “It’s called twenty-first-century equality.” She debated.

  Blaze put his hand in her face, “Know your place, woman.”

  Chance pulled out a chair across from mine and sat but he looked like a kid starting his first day at school. He was unsure and quiet.

  “Mom,” I stood up, “I’ll do it.”

  Dad picked up the meat cleaver, “Shut up, Adam I’m the man of the house, I’ll do it. Gimmie,” he motioned to the turkey.

  I laughed and sat back down.

  “Sorry, Adam,” Mom winked.

  Dad started going to work on the bird, “Give us some grandkids and you can carve all the damn birds you want,” he grumbled.

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” I said placing a napkin over my lap.

  “He’ll get to it,” Mom defended.

  “Trix,” Dad looked over at her with warm eyes, “You got a bun in the oven yet or what? Do it before I croak, will ya?”

  She snickered and Jolee cracked up, “Actually,” Trix began and I bugged my eyes at her. Mom handled it but Dad? The Band?