Chapter Twenty

Bro Talks

Keith’s POV

  

    “I am finally seeing a pattern with the Gustavos. They like to jump on business trends so if we…” Sebastian cocked his head to the side and asked. “Are you with me, bro?”

  “Yeah, yeah, I am with you.” I replied distractedly, still thinking about the occurrences that happened two days ago.

  He nodded his head and continued. “Good, Good, as I was saying, the Gustavos follow a particular pattern and I believe that if we hack it to the peak, we will…Keith, you are not listening to me.”

  “I am!” I defended but in all honesty, I was distracted.

  He placed his pen on the mahogany table, and sat back on his chair, then asked. “Okay, what was my last sentence? In fact, what's my proposed plan for the Gustavos?”

  “You talked about the..the pattern?”

  “What pattern?”

  I sighed and raised up my hands in defeat. “Okay, fine. I wasn't listening.”

  Sebastian sat forward in his seat and asked. “What's going on, Keith? You've been in a zombie mood since you came here. What's up with you, man?”

  I sighed and raked my hand through my hair. “She's so frustrating but then she's so intriguing I just can't get enough. I just don't get the big deal about a commitment.”

  “And who are we talking about here?” Sebastian asked me with furrowed brows and I almost laughed at the expression on his face, because you would barely see him with confusion smeared on his face. He always knew what to do.

  I bite my lips for a short while then spat out. “Helena.”

  “Helena, Helena. You mean Helena Montoya? Maria's best friend?”

  “Yes, the same one.”

  “Yeah, you did tell me during the week that you wanted to tell me something about her. What's going on?”

  I raked a hand through my hair again then stood up and started pacing the length of Sebastian's terrace.

  We usually meet every Saturday to run through the week's report as my father's firm handles the legalities of his firm and we meet twice in a month as best friends to unwind and discuss life in general.

  This was not an unwinding and discussing meeting but I just couldn't concentrate.

  I felt like Helena had done a number on me.

  “Are you sure you are alright, man?” Sebastian asked me again as he watched me pace.

  “You know Helena and I met for a drink the other day?”

  “Okay?”

  “After drinks, we uhmm..we went to my house and spent the night together.”

  “Okay? Doing what?”

  “Doing laundry.” I replied and rolled my eyes. “Of course we had sex. What do you mean by doing what?”

  He laughed then shrugged and stood up to pour water in his glass. “Well, I am not a mind reader or a magician so I wouldn't know what you guys did in your house. She could have been stranded or something and spent the night ‘sleeping’ in one of the rooms in your house.

  Sebastian never drank alcohol when he was working. He preferred a clear state of mind.

  “Man! That's just bull.” I half shouted and he bent forward laughing. “Anyway, after that night, we started texting each other and met again, had sex and continued texting.

  “Oh, so it was her! I was wondering who has got you acting like a love struck teenager. You would literally race to your phone whenever it beeped and you walked around with a dazed look like you were in some fairytale. It was interesting to watch.”

  I rolled my eyes and asked. “Like you do when it concerns Maria?”

  “Are you flipping right now?”

  “Am I? Sebastian, you should have seen yourself the day she got trouble with the press or the week you planned the bookish getaway thingy for her. You looked like you were on cloud nine. Also, let's not forget the night you two had sex. I have no idea where because I was waiting for you right here in your house. You were glowing.”

  “Oh, shut up!” He brushed me off and now it was my turn to laugh.

  “So, Helena. What happened to your honeymoon with her?”

  Hearing her name brought back afresh memories of all that happened so I sighed and slumped down on my seat.

  “We texted a lot when I travelled for the one week business conference, and funny enough, she gave me hints but I didn't grab them. I couldn't stop thinking about her. I couldn't wait to come back so that I could see her, so I FaceTimed her alot. I came back and visited her home two days ago. We had sex, I told her that I wanted a committed relationship and she threw my clothes in my face and asked me to get out, saying she only does casual flings.”

  “Was that the last time you two spoke?” Sebastian asked with a serious expression on his face.

  “Yeah. I texted her the other day and she texted back that if I still have the idea of a committed relationship, I should leave her alone but she's open for a casual fling.”

  “Helena is a woman who knows what she wants and goes for it. She has told you what she wants, and you can't force her to do otherwise or do what you want. You have two options here; you can leave her alone since you want something serious or you can go with her flow. Who knows? She may fall in love with you along the line.”

  “The idea sounds nice when you say it like that but the thought of her being with other guys. I don't know if I can stand that.”

  “Well, one thing I know is that people do not just wake up and make those kinds of decisions. Why don't you get to know her and find out how she got to that school of thought.”

  “That's a great idea, Seb.” I reasoned.

  He shrugged and continued. “Listen, I had sex with Maria the other day, yes but she told me, more like warned me not to think anything serious about it, it's just sex. Sounds familiar?”

  “Sounds like Helena, although not exactly the same.”

  “Right! In all the time I have been with Maria, I see her act all tough, independent, and robotic. That's because she's a beautiful, warm woman who has been hurt over and over by people she loves and cares about. She wouldn't talk about it with me but I see her pain and hurt hover around her like scars that won't go away. You should have seen how warm and childlike she was during the getaway or whenever she is with her son. It could be the same for Helena, so if you are serious about her then first of all, find out why she is wired that way.”

  “Are you saying that I should agree and start a casual relationship with her?”

  He chuckled softly. “That's the only way that woman will allow you to go anywhere close to her so you better start thinking of smart ways to penetrate while in the casual whatever. I believe that when you spend more time with her, you will decide if you really want something serious with her or not.”