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“Wow, babe, this place is great,” Wes compliments as he walks further into my place. I do love my apartment. It's nestled right in the heart of Playa del Rey. A super-cute, tiny beach town. It’s far enough from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, but close enough that I can get wherever I need to be with ease.
Mid yawn, I thank him. He walks back to me and scoops me into his arms. “Come on my little Thea, I think it's time for bed.” I pout because sleep is the last thing I want right now, but my damn eyes keep closing. “But I don't want to go to sleep.” I wiggle my ass in his arms and yawn again.
“Mmhmm, don't worry. We have all weekend for that. You need your rest,” Wes says while kissing my forehead. The connection of his lips on me and his promising words sends a shiver through my body, but my damn eyes won't stay open. I yawn again and try to fight back the sleep, but it’s no use.
The last thing I remember is being laid in bed and being cocooned in Wes's warm embrace. A girl could certainly get used to this.
Fourteen
Iwake with a pounding in my head and a warm body draped across mine. Ugh… must find Advil and water ASAP. Pushing Wes’s large body off mine, I wobble into the kitchen to grab some water and find the necessary painkillers.
Picking up my phone as I nurse the throbbing in my head, I see my mom has texted me to make sure I’m still alive. Geez, has it been that long since I’ve talked with her? Looking at my call log, I see it’s only been four days, so she’s just being her usual mom self. I love her dearly. She’s probably one of the best moms a girl could ask for. Always there to listen without judgment, gives great advice, fiercely loyal, and one amazing cook. But if you forget to call the woman every other day, make no mistake, she will call your ass out. I feel like I take after her in many ways, well, except for the cooking. I unfortunately did not inherit her skill set. I can somewhat bake, but cooking is definitely not my forte.
I decide to give my mom a call since Wes is still sleeping. Of course, she answers on the first ring.
“Well, there she is… I was wondering where you’ve been.” I can hear the smile in her tone.
“It’s literally been just a few days, Mom, but yes, I am alive and well.”
“You know I worry about you being on the other side of the country and all. It makes your father and I nervous.”
“You do realize I’ve been in L.A. for about four years now…”
“Yes, I know that… doesn’t mean we don’t worry about you. We will always worry about you all. It’s our job. Speaking of worry… have you spoken to your sister or brother lately?”
“I saw Eli last week when we all met up for drinks, and I haven't spoken to Maddie since the three of us went to dinner at Vincents… why what's up?”
“I’m worried about her, that's all. She seemed distant at dinner and has been quiet lately. You know how she gets.”
My sister has a habit of pulling away and secluding herself when life gets in the way. But as of the last time we had one of our “catch-ups” everything seemed to be going well. She was still dating that Chris guy, who she's been with for over a year now, and working at an accounting firm downtown. I wonder what's changed and if everything’s okay?
Unfortunately, we don’t speak as often as I’d like, and the time in between our “catch up” conversations has only gotten longer. If I'm being honest, our relationship shifted after the Wes situation. We still see each other and hang out when we’re on the same side of the country, but it's not the same. Even though I tried my hardest, it was like she saw me differently once she realized howhesaw me. Could she still be harboring feelings for him all these years later?You have, so why wouldn’t she?
Nope, nope. Not going there. We are grown-ass adults and have moved past all of this. I refuse to let any of that get between Wes and me again.
“I’ll make sure to reach out in a few and find out what’s going on.” I guess she should be the first person to hear about the two of us. It would be the right thing to do.
My stomach growls loudly while I chat away with my mom, and I attempt an egg bake my mom always used to make for us. Since she’s on the phone, I have her walk me through the steps. I told her I was going to freeze off portions, so I had it readily available when I wanted it. I forgot that it might look a little suspicious considering the egg bake feeds a whole family, and she still doesn’t know about Wes and me, even though I’m dying to tell her. Considering she raised three kids all around the same age, being prepared to feed an army was always necessary. Especially when Eli would have his friends stay the night. If you weren’t first to the breakfast table, you were basically shit out of luck. Those boys could eat.
“So, when am I going to see you next? Am I going to come to you or are you going to get your ass to New York?”
I laugh at her ever-so-direct approach. “I’m actually thinking I’ll be back in New York soon… within the month, for sure.”
Knowing that I’ll be there to see Wes, and hopefully, if all goes well tonight, to work on club business. Eep! The idea of owning a club in New York makes me all giddy.
“Oh, that’s great, honey! We’ll have to have dinner or something so everyone can get together.”
“That sounds perfect, Mom.” I now have the phone precariously balanced between my chin and my shoulder so I can clean up the mess of dishes I’ve made.
“Ooo, maybe we can do a girls spa day just like the good old days, before you left me to go as far as you possibly could from me.” She laughs at her own joke.
“Mom don’t forget I could have gone further. Like to Europe, like Maddie did for three years.”
My body jolts as I feel Wes’s arms wrap around my stomach. I lean into his warm embrace as he kisses my neck.
“Oh, please don’t remind me. I don’t know what it is about you three that made you all want to go so far away.”
“Mom… you raised us to be independent, responsible adults and to always follow our dreams. I think you should be very proud of how we’ve turned out.”
