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Iloseallfocuson the date with Brittany when I notice Laina leaving the restaurant with Eli as I just happen to turn my head.
Like the others, Brittany is beautiful and about as interesting as a rock. She doesn’t have any actual drive with life and I need to find a way out of this vicious cycle my mom has me caught in because I’d never settle with any one of these women. I wouldn’t want a woman that would be happy being arm candy for me because of my wealth.
Every single one of these women I met seemed like they were just killing time until they find a man to tuck them away in a castle and take care of them forever. They want the events for charity to show off their new designer dresses and talk about their kids as if they spend time with them and don’t leave them with a nanny.
I appreciate my wealth and the life it allows me, but I want more than everyone around me. At least, it feels like that.
I struggle with the conversation through dinner and walk her to her car, declining the invitation to come to her place for a nightcap. I know Mom will yell at me tomorrow for not giving Brittany a chance like she does everyone else, but I can’t do this anymore.
I just can’t.
I drive to my house and wonder if Laina is dating Eli. He seems to be a good enough guy, and he’s part of my most successful team. She won’t be making a bad decision if they were on a date, but something bothers me about the idea.
I blame still feeling protective over her from all those years ago as I pull into the parking lot of a store to grab a fresh bottle of whiskey. After tonight, I need it. I add a bag of my favorite chips to the counter, telling myself I’ll work out extra tomorrow.
I’m just hungry. The food tasted like cardboard after I saw Laina leave, and I tell myself to find a way out of these dates. Why do I need to settle down at all to run a company? From the rumors I heard, a lot of the married guys are involved in scandalous affairs.
I get to the house and change out of my work clothes into some shorts and a t-shirt. I open the chips and pour a glass of whiskey, catching the scores for the day as the moon reflects on the choppy water outside of my window.
I know I might like to settle down if I found the right person, but not right now. I still felt young, and I had a lot to learn as a CEO even if I had worked for the company for years. Being in charge like this is an entirely different animal than being an employee. Why do I need to add a relationship/engagement/marriage in a few months’ time to further complicate things? Just because it looks good on paper?
I thought back to being a kid again. Well, the part where I was friends with Laina, and everything felt simple. We had our friendship and a connection I’d never felt with someone since. The food we ate was homemade, but the love in her house had been plentiful.
In my house, it felt like my parents had never been home and a chef cooked everything for me. A woman cleaned the house every day. I have close to that now but more for the fact I work so much and otherwise, I’d live on takeout or unhealthy food.
There must be a way to change this for me. I can tell my mother to drop the stupid wedding idea, but she doesn’t back down easily.
I drink another glass of whiskey and finish the chips, groaning at the feeling in my stomach when I walk to the kitchen to put everything away. Tomorrow is when I need to work out. I also have to figure this shit out.
As I crawl under the covers, I stare at the ceiling and sigh. Then an idea hits me, and I smile as I examine it for a while. A fake relationship could get my mother off my back for a while, and I can finally relax for a change. What can that entail?
Some dinners at a restaurant like I’m doing now. Maybe some appearances at charity events like the one coming up in a couple of weeks? How hard can that be? The press would eat it up and since I’d be with one woman, everyone would think it’s a relationship and it might save my reputation.
It’s perfect.
I know who to ask about this plan. There’s only one woman I can stand to spend that much time with, and I glance at the clock by my bed. It’s probably too late to reach out tonight, but tomorrow I would first thing after a workout.
I wake up in a better mood and go for a long run on my treadmill with a smile on my face. The chips didn’t do as much damage as I thought, so I shower when I finish, and I feel relieved I didn’t drink more whiskey to drown out the bad memory of the date last night.
This is all going to be good. I dress and grab my keys and wallet to go to my favorite coffee shop, pulling up with a nervous smile on my face.
I walk inside and don’t see Laina anywhere. Was I late?
Did she stay the night with Eli after their date? I hate the idea, but don’t want to think too hard about why I feel that way. Laina is a nice person and deserves someone good in her life, and the crush I had on her is in the past. Even then, it was a silly childhood crush, and she never felt the same way.
I order my usual and sit at a small table, catching up on emails and reading the news on my phone. It all feels normal, but the way I kept looking at the door wasn’t normal.
I send Laina a message asking her about seeing some of Seattle tomorrow, since I owe her. I am going to avoid Mom like the plague this weekend and not deal with her dating ideas.
I leave the shop with a plan for the following day and go to buy a tuxedo for the upcoming charity event, bumping into a couple of friends of mine.
“Kyle. How’s it going?” I turn to see Remy, a friend in the same social circle, with a smile on his face. “Are you here for something for the upcoming event like us?”
“Remy. Peter. It’s good to see you,” I tell them, shaking their hands. We all grew up in family businesses, but I met them when we moved here, and Dad took over C&K. “I am here for that very reason. You’ll be there?”
“Of course. We’re both donating to the cause since it’s the local animal shelter. Your mom picks some good ones.” Peter smiles, and I nod in agreement. She has a good heart, but I can do without her matchmaking skills.
“She does. How are Logan and Kinsley?” I have not seen their kids in a while, but my friends are good fathers despite doing it alone.
