“I don’t get it. I didn’t cheat and things were going well. I don’t understand what happened.”
“You didn’t propose, brother. That’s what happened. Rachel wanted a ring on it and told everyone about it.”
Noah tipped his beer up. “I wasn’t ready, but it still doesn’t mean I cheated on her.”
Noah’s always been looking for a happy ending. He wants the princess and the fairytale ending but no matter how many times he falls in love, it doesn’t last. He’s got a perfect family so of course he would expect a happy ending for himself too, but he just can’t find The One. Girls flock to us and the guys are only too happy to take what’s being offered and not worry about tomorrow because there’s always more on the menu. Noah’s the one who wants to know what they like, how they feel and what they want out of life. What he doesn’t get is, for the most part anyway, they want money, fame or bragging rights for fucking a rock star. Sometimes all three.
I can’t say I really know anything about it. I’m not out for happy ever after. Even if I was what do I have to offer anyone? Fucked up control issues? It’s not like I’ve got a family to bring anyone home to. How would it look if I brought a girl home to meet my best friend’s parents? And no one’s begging me for grandkids, not that I want to pass on any of my shit anyway.
My mother is gone. When she’d first seen me on television, she’d reached out to me asking for money. I gave her money and set up a time to have dinner. I wanted to talk to her about finally going to rehab now that we had the money to send her somewhere and then hopefully a treatment program once the drugs were out of the picture. She never showed for dinner. The next month she needed more money, and I knew better, I sent her enough for groceries and told her she’d need to meet me if she wanted more. I picked a local diner where I remember her taking me as a kid, somewhere familiar so she wouldn’t feel uncomfortable. I waited two hours, but she never showed. When I came out, Don was waiting.Just in case we needed him.He told me about his own mother growing up, explaining how sometimes parents just don’t know what to do and it isn’t a reflection on the kids. Reminding me about not always feeling responsible for something I can’t control.
It didn’t matter what anyone said. I didn’t take the next few calls, although I did go to Don to make sure she had access to money for food and her rent was always paid. Then one day last year, I got a call from Don letting me know her landlord found her dead. I always thought the drugs would get her, or she’d run afoul of some abusive asshole she always seemed to end up with, but in the end, it was just her heart. She’d had a massive heart attack and died. It might have had something to do with her lifestyle choices, but ultimately it doesn’t change anything.
At least she’s not suffering anymore.
A hear a squeal and I glance up at the pool to see Claire join Sterling. I didn’t even notice her get up. The two of them are clearly enjoying Ajax splashing them.
Does Sterling even remember that night several years ago? I do.
My phone buzzes. I check the text that’s come in.
Having fun?
I don’t recognize the number.
Who is this?
Three little dots appear. Then disappear. Huh.
I shove it back in my pocket. Weird.
“Hey guys, I’m ordering pizza tonight, what do you want?” Emma calls from the deck.
“Vegetarian, Mom!” Sterling calls just as Noah shouts to order him a Meat Lovers.
“People who eat pineapple on pizza are weird,” he says flicking water at Sterling. Sterling pushes her sunglasses up like a headband and starts arguing with him over the merits of pineapple. I can’t help but smile, remembering how Sterling discovered a love of pizza with pineapple after her surgery. She and Noah have been arguing about it ever since. Some things never change.
Noah throws a towel at Sterling’s head and she stands, her swimsuit bottom riding over the curve of her sweet ass and my palm itches to feel the smoothness of her skin. Her eyes meet mine and I watch her swallow hard, her chest rising as her breathing increases. I’m so attuned to her I can practically feel her heartbeat quickening from where I sit.
Some things never change.
3
Sterling
“When are you going to tell me what’s up with you and Tanner?” Claire asks the next morning as we jog along the tree-lined street.
I stop, bending over at the waist to rest my hands on my thighs. “What makes you think there’s something up with us?”
“Well, you seem pretty comfortable with the rest of the guys, but whenever he’s around you’re downright prickly.”
“Really?” I thought I’d done a pretty good job of pretending to be indifferent when he showed up yesterday. I stared so hard at the pool my eyes hurt. But the alternative would have been worse. I thought for sure I wasn’t the same stupid little teenage girl who’d cried after he left five years ago, but just the sound of his voice saying my name had me checking to make sure my bikini bottoms didn’t dissolve like sugar stirred in hot water.
“Yup. And he might be Mr. Cool, but he can’t seem to keep his eyes off of you.” Claire places her hands on the small of her back and stretches. “Psychology graduate here. I observe people and what I’m observing about you guys is that there’s some kind of history.”
“You took two classes, max. You have a Masters degree in Finance.”
She waves a hand. “Doesn’t matter, you and I met in psychology class and I use those skills every day to navigate my accounting firm.”
