EricaTwo weeks later"Why don't you just tell me where we're going?" I glanced over at Matt as we rode toward the mountains. The last two weeks had been fast and furious. I had moved into his place, both me and Zek. It was bliss, and the time we had together just strengthened the truth that we belonged together.I had started to paint again, mainly just to shut Matt up. He was after me to find myself, to explore my soul and learn who I wanted to be. He was happy to fund my me time for as long as it lasted.The only thing he complained about most days was how fast I painted compared to him. He was embarrassed by it, which left me wanting to go even faster. Silly man. I wasn't rushing. It was my natural pace to move with efficiency. There were too many pictures to paint and not nearly enough time in the day."Be patient, beautiful." He took my hand and laid it on his leg before dragging it up to the thick bulge between his legs. "You're turning me on."I snorted. "What? I'm not even do
MattTwo Months Later"Please tell me again why the hell you two made me come to this." I glanced over at Erica and back at Bethany. It was mid-January in Dallas, which beat Seattle for sure, but being out and shopping for wedding dresses with two very girlie girls had me wanting to fake diarrhea."Because we need a male perspective. Come on. It's going to be fun, and you're my only sibling. Jeez." Bethany slipped her arm into mine. "And Erica is here because the two of you are inseparable.""And because you need someone with an eye for the arts." Erica wagged her eyebrows and slipped her arm into my other one. She glanced up at me, stealing my heart for the millionth time. "Are we inseparable?""Yeah. Especially when we do it like dogs. You know, they say that-""Matt!" They yelled together and let me go."Gross. Good grief." Bethany slipped her arm into Erica's as they walked to the dress shop, leaving me standing on the sidewalk by myself.I pulled out my phone and texted my brothe
EricaFive Months Later"So much has changed, has it not?" Erica stood encircled by my arms as we watched Damon and Bethany leave their wedding reception."It has, but it's been amazing." I moved back as she turned in my arms and glanced up at me. "Is everything ready for Kendal?""Yeah." He smiled and glanced around, his expression that of a little boy at Christmas. Kendal Tarrington was like a part of the family to Damon and Matt. His life had been such shit lately, but he'd finally found his way out of the dark hole he'd fallen in. He was going to propose to his girlfriend Dana, and we were all in on it.I was happy as hell for them, but I couldn't help but feel a little jealous too. I wanted my ring and my date. Matt and I had been together for almost eight months but had been in love for years."Let's get where we can see." I forced my wayward thoughts away and reached for Matt's hand, pulling him toward the dance floor. "So sweet!""Yeah. It's so good to see Kendal happy." Matt
MattTwo Months Later"Come on, baby. We're going to be late." Matt stood at the bedroom door and gave me a look. "You don't look so good.""What?" I turned around in the mirror, the black dress I'd bought fitting me great. "I love this thing. You don't?""I love everything you wear, Erica." He walked into the bathroom and picked up the little blue stick I'd peed on minutes before. "I meant that you look pale. When the fuck is this thing going to show us what's up? We're going to be late.""We'll look at it when we get home." She moved out of the bathroom, leaving me standing there, staring at a pee-stick."What? We're supposed to go all night and not know if you're pregnant?" I put it down, cursed the universe and walked out."Yes. I'm not pregnant. I keep telling you that.""Damon said you probably are." I grabbed her purse. "Your tits are sore, you're barfing all the time, and you've not let me make love to you in three days!""Three days." She put her hand on her hip and gave me a
LukeThe building was quiet that morning, which I liked. England pretty much shut down during the holidays, so the only sound was my footsteps on the marble tile as I walked in the direction of my corner office.I checked into the other offices, but I didn’t hear the regular clicking of fingers over keyboards or anyone on the phone chatting about numbers or negotiations with other companies.I closed my eyes for a moment and took it all in. I preferred it silent, but the hustle and bustle of people moving around the building meant that we were making money. Every time someone hung up the phone, I could almost hear the ring of a cash register.For now, I reveled in the peace, knowing it wouldn’t last for too long. I wouldn’t allow it.Celebrating Christmas wasn’t important to me in a religious sense, but I appreciated the lights, the decorations, and the sense of joy that filled everyone around me. A lot of people spent time with their families during the holidays, but I couldn’t relat
Luke“What is it, Maddox?” I shouted, more from him startling me than actual anger. “I told you, I’m not—”The door crashed open, and it was definitely not Maddox.“Father,” I said, straightening my spine. Tensing all of my muscles was a reflex whenever I was in his presence. Years of living in the palace with dignitaries and other royalty visiting our home had drilled the mannerisms into me so hard that they transformed my body within seconds.King Erol Shamon walked into my office as if he owned the place. Technically, he did but he rarely came to England unless something was wrong. He didn’t need to check up on me, though. So, why was he here?He glanced over my desk and then narrowed his eyes at the closed curtains. He untucked his hands from the folds of his bisht and strode to the windows to pull the curtains open.“What has brought you here?” I asked, annoyed at my formal tone. I was the boss of the company, and I had earned respect from my employees. But in the face of my fath
SophiaThe bubbles from the champagne tickled my nose as I downed my second flute. The flutes were plastic, so not regulation sized. The news never slept, so we were having the New Year’s party at the Dallas Post for employees and their significant others. The location was ideal, but the budget wasn’t quite there. Springing for cheap champagne and noisemakers was the extent of the party.Still, it wasn’t as if I had anything better to do. I was always looking for a story that would give me the promotion I deserved, but so far, I had failed to find something truly electrifying in my six years as a journalist.One great story could make my career, so I picked up any scraps of news that I could and wrote every article as if it were my last story.My boss, Mr. Fraser, always said, “You’re only as good as your last piece.” I lived by that motto to the fullest. My last piece was something I wanted to get past: a piece on the insect infestation at the local animal shelter. I had imaginary fl
SophiaMr. Fraser’s eyes darted between us as if he didn’t quite believe me. How did he expect me to keep up with a relationship when I was always in the office when he arrived in the morning and hours after he left at night?“I see,” Mr. Fraser said. “Sophia, I know it’s almost midnight, but may I have a word?”Matt downed his glass of champagne and grimaced. I stifled a laugh and the urge to tell him that I told him so. I should have had him sneak something in, but I was sure the car service from the airport wouldn’t appreciate stopping at the liquor store on the way to the party.“I’ll leave you to it, then,” Matt said and winked at me before heading in search of more booze.“He didn’t have to go,” Mr. Fraser said, staring after Matt.“Matt knows how important work is to me,” I said, smacking the head on the nail a little harder. If I were any more obvious, I’d need a piece of cardboard and a string of lights with the words “PICK ME” in big bold letters.Mr. Fraser smiled, but it d