Chapter Seven
Sebastian
There’s a light tap on the door and I quietly peek around the corner from the study as my mom answers it. I watch as the door opens and a Spanish looking woman that appears to be about my Mother’s age stands on the other side.
“Hi. Can I help you?” my mother asks.
“I’m looking for Samuel, is he here?” the woman asks as she looks past my mother, taking in the sight of the entryway into our home.
“No, I’m sorry he isn’t here. He’s currently deployed overseas. Can I ask who you are?” my mother asks curiously.
There’s a sadness on the woman’s face as she says, “It doesn’t matter.”
“It does to me. I think I have the right to ask who is looking for my husband.”
The woman sighs. “I’m Isla.”
“As in Samuel’s ex-girlfriend Isla?”
“The one and only,” she says with a shrug. “Look, I didn’t come here to start any problems, but could you let Samuel know when you speak to him that it’d be nice if his first-born son received some of the military benefits too. It’s the least he can do.”
“Excuse me?”
“I’m sorry, I have to go,” Isla says, turning and quickly retreating from our house.
I watch my mother as a mix of emotions cross her beautiful features, confusion, anger, sadness. It breaks my heart to see my mother in any kind of pain, and it’s obvious this news has her upset.
A few hours later the phone rings, and it’s my father calling home. My mother picks up, telling him about our unexpected visitor and immediately demanding he explain himself. He told her how he was with Isla when he and my mother met but that he knew as soon as he met her that she was the one. So, he broke things off with Isla for my mother. He claims he had no idea that Isla was pregnant until she called him after the baby was born to tell him he was a father. The baby was a boy and is a year or two older than me. She named him Lazaro.
The memory of Isla showing up at our door when I was ten fills my mind as I slide into the driver’s seat of my rental and stare out the window towards where Lazaro is standing. I don’t fucking believe that he’s here of all places, my home fucking town and the boyfriend of the woman I intended to pursue. I put the car in drive, pulling away as I glance in my rearview mirror at Tristan standing next to her car. The look she gave me still plays in my mind and I suddenly feel bad for being my typical cocky self. Cocky. I scoff at myself. Hitting the call button on the steering wheel, I call Ben.
“Hey buddy! How’d it go?” Ben says when he picks up.
“Everything went great! I think they’re going to be your buyers, but we’ll have to wait a day or two to be sure.”
“That’s great, man. Thanks so much.”
“You’re welcome.” I pause for a moment, before continuing. “Hey, could you send me the email you have for Arianna’s assistant?”
“Yea, sure. But why?”
“It’s a long story, I’ll have to explain later. Can you just text it to me?”
“Sure.”
“Thank you! Want to meet at Beck’s around eight?”
“Sure, sounds good. I’ll text you her email now.”
“Great thanks.”
I hang up with Ben and dial Helen to check on my mother as I head back to the hotel. I eat, shower and relax a bit. But the relaxing but doesn’t come easy. I do my best to try to not think about Tristan, but I can’t help it.
The thought of how her body felt against mine, like she was made to be in my arms. So perfect, petite and sweet. She shivered and moved closer to me as I ran my hands over every delicious curve on her. My cock is hard, throbbing and straining against my slacks. Fuck me.
I’ll definitely bring the bartender back here tonight otherwise it’ll be Rosy palm and her five sisters, and I hate jerking off.
Chapter Eight
Tristan
I try to suppress the negative thoughts that have begun running through my mind and resolve to talk to Lazaro when he gets home, about how distant he’s been. Perhaps I might suggest we go on a date night, lord knows we need it. Pulling into the lot of our apartment complex, I check the mail before making my way upstairs. I toss my keys on the counter and pull my phone from my pocket to text Arianna.
Me: Hey Ari. Building tour went well. I think it would be a really good fit for us. I will send you an email with all my notes in just a little bit. I had some car issues, so Lazaro is at the parts store getting the stuff to fix it.
Arianna: Great, thank you! Sorry you had car troubles. If you need anything or if Laz needs help fixing whatever the issue is, let me know and I’ll send Landon over to help.
Me: Thank you! It’s a simple fix so I think he’ll be okay, but thanks for the offer! He just pulled in so I’m going to talk to you a bit later.
Arianna: Okay! Thanks again for filling in for me today! Heaven’s fever finally broke and it hasn’t been back all day, so hopefully she’ll be able to go back to school tomorrow. TTYL
I lay my phone on the counter and am about to open the door when it opens, and Lazaro walks inside. Smiling at him, I step forward hoping he’ll give me a hug to reassure me that my fears of us are unwarranted. He doesn’t.
“I got the stuff to fix your car. I just need my ratchet set,” he says, his tone cold.
“Oh okay, do you think it’s fixable tonight?” I ask.
He looks at me. “Why? Are you planning on going out somewhere?”
I shake my head. “No, I hadn’t.”
He huffs. “Who was that guy?” For a moment I wonder who he’s talking about then I remember he means Sebastian.
“Oh, that was Sebastian Abbott, the real estate agent showing me around the building Arianna wants to buy. Why? Do you know him?”
He shrugs. “No, I thought I did. But turns out I’m wrong.” It feels like a lie. He doesn’t look at me. “I’m going to fix your car then return to work.”
“You’re going back to work?” I’m disappointed because I thought we might have been able to have a nice night in.
“Yes, Tristan, you know I’m busy. I’ll be home later.” With that he disappears into the bedroom to get the ratchet set and leaves the apartment without even so much as a goodbye. I stare at the closed door. I felt my resolve crumble the moment he walked in the door. I should’ve asked him a different question. His answers didn’t reassure me we are fine.
Throwing my hands up in exasperation. I decide to email Arianna about the building and pour a glass of wine. I’ll talk with Lazaro when he’s home from work and finally sort us out.
Ari-
OMG!! You needed to take the tour of this one. Because turns out the guy giving the tour was the very same one who called me sugar tits, yes you read that right. Below are my notes from the walk through.
-Building has a good amount of square footage.
-Rooms are large, one specifically would be great for board meetings.
-Has a few smaller rooms that would be perfect for storage and file hardcopies.