We are all sitting round the hardwood dining table after finishing our Italian feast prepared for us by Sarah's mom.
"Oh no" Crystal says suddenly.
We all turn to stare at her and she points to the picture window. Outside, rain has started pouring down.
"Well, there goes our hike" Amanda says, sadly.
Is it weird that seeing Amanda sad sours my mood?
I think back to all the times I've seen Amanda smile genuinely and I got my answer.
"We could go into town" I suggest at the same time Anthony says "Perfect weather for fishing"
"I'll go fish" says Liam.
"Let's split up. Boys go do their boring outdoor activity. Girls go shopping" Stella says, excitedly. She's always down for shopping.
Chris doesn't fish, never liked it. I know this and apparently so does Crystal.
"Chris, you're going fishing?" Crystal asks.
We're almost out of wood. Even though it's summer, the fire is very welcome on this how day."Sarah, do you know where the wood for the fire is kept?" I ask Sarah, who is sipping a glass of daiquiri.It's amazing how easy it is to bond over shopping. Amanda's gotten more comfortable with the girls and Sarah's become a friend."In the garage, I think" she answers "You should ask my mom""I'll just check the garage" It'll give me an opportunity to explore.The rain has eased off when I venture outside and head to the three-car garage adjoining the house. The side door is unlocked, I enter and switch on the lights.There's one Audi, two snowmobiles and two trail bikes, both 125c. I remember learning to ride this. Unconsciously, my hands starts to rub the part where I badly bruised my arm in a fall."You ride?" Chris asked from behind me.I tu
"Two bottles if the Cristal, please" Anthony orders after waving a waiter over."The 2002, if you have it" I modify the order."Because the 2002 and is so much better than the 2003" he rolls his eyes."To the discerning palate, Mr Trev" I grin, using the words Chris himself had said to me once."You have a very discerning palate, Mrs Trev" he laughs."That I do"Emily is the first to get up to hug Crystal and Chris. We take turns hugging the couple."Congratulations, Crystal" I clutch her in a fierce hug."Way to go, champ" I give Chris a brief hug and a pat in the back."About earlier..." He starts but I cut him off "I know... The ring"He nods and grins widely.Anthony congratulates the couple after me.The waiter has returned with the champagne which he goes ahead to open with a flourish.Anthony holds his champagne flute aloft "To Chris and Crystal-Congratulations"We all raise our
Anthony joins me on the dance floor and it's liberating-fun. He whirls me around with consummate skill, making me graceful, sexy even as he goes.He makes me feel loved but how can that be? He doesn't even like my type if women, he prefers the blondes.These thoughts make me a little exhausted and I'm grateful when the song morphs into another one."Can we sit?" I gasp."Sure" He leads me off the dance floor."Ugh, I'm all hot and sweaty now" I whisper as we return to the table.A lascivious smile tugs at his lips. The hungry look in his eyes unfurls something deep down in my groin.I look away hastily and try to steady my breathing.At the dance floor, Chris and Crystal are being rather indecent. I wonder why they've not been thrown out yet.Suddenly, I'm tired and I want nothing more than to go home and curl up in bed."Can we go?" I ask Anthony."Yes, let's go" he answers. Chris and Crystal join us
When I wake up, I'm warm...too warm. Anthony has his head on my shoulder, the demarcation I made out of couch pillows has been destroyed and the pillows now lay all around on the bed, some on the floor.Anthony has his legs threaded through mine and his arm wrapped around my waist, his soft breathing fans my neck as he sleeps.I've seen this in a movie once or twice. I should scream and push him off me but I can't. This isn't too uncomfortable, actually it's pretty comfortable.I try real hard not to move, aware that if I do he'll wake up and I don't think he gets enough sleep.Hazily, my mind wanders through the events of yesterday. It was really nice of Anthony to get my friends over just to make me happy.Did Stella and Emily come all the way from Portland just for this? My brother was in town but I'm not sure about Chris and Crystal. Did everyone come rushing over just for me?
"Hey, sleepyhead" Anthony wakes me by shaking me gently "We're about to land. Buckle up"I fumble sleepily for my seat belt but Anthony fastens it for me."Thanks" I mutter sleepily.A long hike and a picnic lunch on a beautiful mountain have left me an exhausted mess.I glance at Amanda. I wonder how her campaign with Luke is going. My eyes find hers and she gives me a small, sad smile before going back to looking through a magazine she picked up earlier.I shift my gaze to Anthony. He looks serious as ever, reading through a contract and annotating the margins. He works way too much.I shift my gaze to Liam. I think he feels my eyes in him because he looks to me. I give him a small are-you-okay smile and he shrugs lightly in response.Chris is snoring softly next to Crystal.The female pilot flying with Scott announces our approach to the airport and Anthony grasps my hand...a kind gesture I'm indeed grateful for.~∆~
I march right into Anthony's office without even knocking."Ms. Hart. How rude" he shakes his head."It's Mrs Trevelyan" I take off my employee ID.He stares blankly at me."You can't fire Brianna and Ethan" I say. It comes out more authoritatively than I meant but I couldn't care less." 'course I can" he shrugs "it's my company""Brianna. She needs this job. She has an older sister who's really sick. She pays her hospital bills and a lot of other bills. She can't afford to lose this job""She should have thought about that before messing around with another employee" he's cold- nothing like the Anthony I spent the weekend with."We're married, yes?" I attack his direct contradiction of his policy "I have a job here. Does that count as messing around with an employee?""That's different""Oh, really? Diff
"So you don't want to help me?" I croak, having barely recovered from my shock."Don't get me wrong. I only help people who need help and want to be helped. You seem perfectly fine to me" she shrugs, unapologetically."Are you sure you're a psychologist?" I ask, perplexed "cos I've seen twelve of those and they sure as hell see something wrong with me""Let's just say, I've had different training" she smiles "I know what it feels like to have a parent hurt you bad and half blame yourself for the mess they caused""Wow" I breathe, liking her already."I'm not gonna try and help you because you're not broken, Jade but I am gonna pull you out of that dark, scary haven you have made for yourself"Wow, she really gets it."And if I can't get out of it?" I ask, quietly.
I'm snapped out of my thoughts by a voice next to me."I hate seeing you so sad" Anthony says.Why the hell is he here?"How did you find me?" I frown."I called Liam" he says and it's enough explanation.My brother knows me well enough to know that the first place I'll go when I'm upset is the beach."How did you know I'll be in this exact one though?""I didn't" he says simply "I checked all"What?"You singlehandedly scanned every beach in New York?" I snort."Not singlehandedly" he shrugs "Olivia, what happened?""Nothing" I say and shift my gaze to the ocean.Looking at the waters, I realize that I've not looked at the ocean since I got here."This isn't nothing. Olivia, please talk to me" he pleads."Why?" My voice is low but my tone