“Yes, you are. I don’t want you alone when you’re like this. What happened?”
Jake walked in and came over to me. “Go around to the other side and I’ll grab this arm,” my dad said.
“Hey, buddy, you okay?” Jake asked.
“She packed a bag and left.”
“Amelia did?”
“Yeah, we got into a fight,” I slurred as they picked me up and helped me up to the penthouse.
When we walked through the door, my dad called for my mom.
“Shit, Dad.”
“Quiet, son.”
“Oh my God. What happened?” she asked as she hurried to me.
“Your son and his girlfriend must have gotten into an argument because she packed a bag and left and he drank a whole bottle of whiskey.”
“Not the whole thing,” I slurred.
“Oh, Collin. Get him upstairs to his room,” my mom said.
My dad and Jake set me down on my bed. My mom followed behind and lifted my shirt over my head.
“On your side, mister,” she said.
I closed my eyes and all I could see was Amelia’s face, along with the pain and hurt that splayed across it when she found out I was the one who bought the house. I needed to sleep to forget.
Chapter 34
I woke up, and when I looked at the clock, it was five thirty a.m. My head was pounding, so I decided to take a shower. After standing under the stream of hot water for almost twenty minutes, I stepped out and pulled on a pair of sweat pants I found in my drawer. I went downstairs, started the coffee, and gathered the ingredients for the cocktail. My parents were still asleep, so I tried to be as quiet as possible. I ran up the stairs to find my phone. It was lying on the floor in my pants pocket. I pulled it out, and before I looked at it, I prayed that there was a text message or call from Amelia. There wasn’t. I went back to the kitchen and finished making my cocktail. A few moments later, my parents walked in.
“Here, let me finish that for you. Go sit down, sweetheart.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“How are you feeling?” my dad asked as he poured some coffee.
“Not real good,” I replied.
“Want to talk about what happened between you and Amelia?”
My mom set the cocktail down in front of me and I chugged it down to get it over with. “I took her to the Hamptons yesterday, to the house. I told her that I bought it and she got pissed. She got really pissed and I don’t understand why,” I said as I put my head down on the table.
“Maybe it’s because you kept something from her that you shouldn’t have,” my mom said.
“I told you, son, that you should’ve told her about the house,” my dad chimed in.
“I remember someone doing the exact same thing. Not once, not twice, but at least three times, Connor.”
“I know, Elle, and you know I regret each and every one of those times.”
“Okay, okay. I fucked up. What else is new? What am I supposed to do?”
My mom walked over and kissed me on the head. “Alcohol doesn’t solve your problems. It only creates more. So the first thing you’re going to do is lay off the booze. The second thing, find a way to make things right. You’re your father’s son. You can do it.”
She walked out of the kitchen and my dad sat across the table and looked at me. “Give her time. She needs to think. You need to think. Don’t call. Don’t text. Just give her time. When she’s ready, she’ll come around.”
“Easier said than done, Dad. I miss her like crazy already.”
“I know, son. Trust me. Maybe send her a small text and tell her that you love her and that’s it. It’s the little things, you know? She’ll forgive you. She loves you and love conquers all.”
“Thanks, Dad. I’m going to go into the office now. Do you want to drive with me?”
“No, Ralph is driving me in. I have a meeting across town this afternoon.”
“Okay. I’ll see you later.”
****
I sat in my office, trying to concentrate on the work that needed to be done. I threw my pen across the desk and pulled out my phone.
“I love you.”
No response. I sighed and decided to go to the gym. I always kept a bag in my office for those spur-of-the-moment workouts. I walked into the gym and went straight to our private locker room to change into my swimming trunks. I grabbed a towel and headed to the pool. When I opened the door and walked in, I was shocked to see Julia, my mom, and Brayden in the water.
“Collin, what are you doing here?” my mom asked.
“I needed to work out.”
“Does your father know you’re not at the office?”
“Mom, cut me some slack. It’s fine.”
I jumped in and swam over to Julia and Brayden. I took him from her arms and held him in the water.
“First swimming lesson?” I asked her.
“Yeah. Never too young to learn. How are you? Mom told me what happened.”
“I’m a mess, as usual. Nothing new there, right?”
“Don’t say things like that. Amelia loves you and she’ll come around.”
“I just don’t understand why she’s so upset. I thought I was doing the right thing.”
“Maybe she’s pissed off because you kept it from her and didn’t talk to her about it first.”
“I wanted it to be a surprise. She deserves surprises in her life.”
Brayden started to fuss and I handed him back to Julia.
“She’s not Hailey, Collin. I know what you’re thinking and I know you’re scared. This is your first fight, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it is,” I said as I looked down.
“First fights are always the hardest. Don’t worry; she’ll be back in your arms before you know it.”
“Thanks, Julia. I’m going to do some laps now. I don’t want to be gone too long because Dad will get pissed.”
“I think Brayden is starting to prune. I better get him out of the water.” She laughed.
“Where’s Mom?” I asked her as she got out of the pool.
“I have no idea. That’s strange, that she just left like that.”
****
Ellery
I hated seeing my son in pain again. It was bad enough what he went through after Hailey left him, and I didn’t want to see him like that again. I quietly got out of the pool while Collin and Julia were talking and went to the locker room to call Amelia.
“Hello,” she answered.
“Hi, Amelia. It’s Ellery. Would you like to have a late lunch with me? Say around two thirty?”
“Hi, Ellery. Sure. I would like that very much.”
“Great. Let’s meet at Aureole’s. I’ll call and make reservations for us.”
“I’ll see you then, Ellery.”
“Bye, Amelia.”
I went back to the pool and saw Julia and Brayden watching Collin do laps around the pool.
“Are you finished swimming, Julia?” I asked.
“Yeah, Brayden was turning into a prune. Where did you go?”
“I had to make a phone call.” I smiled.
“Please tell me you didn’t call Amelia.”
“I did, and we’re meeting for lunch at two thirty. Don’t you mention this to your brother or your dad.”
“I won’t. Good luck. But I don’t think you should get involved.”
“Well, I don’t want my son hurting and I would do the same for you.” I smiled. “Let’s go get this little guy back in his clothes. Bye, Collin. I love you.”
“Bye, Mom, Julia. I love you too.”
****
Amelia and I arrived at the restaurant at the same time.
“Hi, sweetheart,” I said as I hugged her.
“Hi, Ellery.”
We walked in the restaurant and were promptly seated. I looked at Amelia and could see the sadness in her eyes.
“How are you?” I asked.
“Collin told you what happened?” she replie
d.
“He did. After Connor and Jake found him completely inebriated and on the floor of his apartment. They brought him up to the penthouse to sleep it off.”
She looked down as she played with her spoon. “He shouldn’t have drunk like that.”
“No, he shouldn’t have, but he didn’t want to hurt anymore. I understand you being mad at him for not telling you about the house. I really do. Sometimes, people think they’re doing the right thing when they’re not. He should’ve talked to you about it first. Unfortunately, he gets that from his dad. Well, and maybe me too.”
“What do you mean?”
“When I first met Connor, I kept a huge secret from him and, when he found out, he left me. Actually, he left me in Michigan, alone in a hotel room, and made me fly back to New York by myself.”
“Wow. Seriously?”
“Yes. But I hurt him on such a deep level that I didn’t think I’d ever see him again. What I did was unforgiveable. But Connor loved me so much that he forgave me eventually. My point is that people make mistakes.”
“I know that, Ellery, but he can’t think he can just buy my parents’ house because I needed the money. I felt like such a charity case, and then, for him not to tell me. That right there proves he knew what he was doing wasn’t right.”
“Ah, I know the feeling. But you’re not a charity case. He wanted you to have that house to hold on to the memory of your family. He wanted to give you a piece of them. Don’t you think he would have just given you some money? He knew you needed it, but he didn’t offer to give you any while the house was up for sale, did he?”
Amelia shook her head. “No, he didn’t.”
“If you haven’t figured it out yet, my son is a very giving person. He’s the spitting image of his father.”
“I noticed that.” She smiled.
I took hold of her hand from across the table. “Running away doesn’t solve anything. Trust me. I’m not defending him, but I think you need to hear him out and he needs to hear you out. He loves you, Amelia. I’ve never seen him so happy.”
“Thank you, Ellery.”
“You’re welcome, sweetie. You know I’ll always be here for you.”
Chapter 35
The day seemed to drag on forever. I stared out the window of my office and thought about Amelia. She never responded to my text message from earlier. I really fucked things up and I missed her like crazy. My heart was hurting, and every time I thought about her, it broke just a little more. Since she was constantly on my mind, there wasn’t going to be a heart left in me at all. I needed to get out of New York for a couple of days, so I called the airlines, booked a flight to Chicago, and went home and packed a bag for the weekend. I didn’t want to ask my dad to use the plane. It was less complicated just to book a commercial flight.
I boarded the plane and took my seat in coach. I didn’t care because first class and business class were booked up and I just wanted to get on this plane out of New York. A few moments later, an older woman took the seat next to me.
“Hello. My, you are a handsome young man.” She smiled.
“Hi, and thank you.” I smiled back and then turned my attention to the window. As I was watching some of the other planes take off, I heard a familiar voice.
“Damn it. Why can’t I get this to fit up here?”
I turned my head and saw Amelia trying to stuff her bag in the overhead compartment.
“What the—” I said.
She looked at me and shock overtook her face. “What are you doing here?” she asked with an attitude.
“Flying to Chicago. What about you?”
“Same.”
I couldn’t fucking believe this. Amelia took her seat next to the lady who sat next to me and looked the opposite way. I stared out the window as the plane took off from the runway and into the sky. As soon as I could use my phone, I pulled it from my pocket and sent Amelia a text message.
“Why are you going to Chicago?”
I saw her look at her phone and then type a message back.
“Why are you?”
“Don’t answer a question with a question.”
“I can do what I want.”
“Answer my question.”
“No.”
“Damn it, Amelia,” I said as I looked over at her.
“Don’t swear at me,” she growled.
The poor lady who was sitting between us looked at us in confusion. “Would you like to switch seats?” she asked Amelia.
“No.”
Amelia looked over at me. “Why are you in coach anyway? Shouldn’t you be on your dad’s plane or at least in first class?”
“First class was booked and I didn’t ask to use the plane. I just wanted to get out of New York as soon as possible.”
The lady next to me got up and went to the restroom. Amelia sat there, looking straight ahead while I looked out the window. When the lady came back, she stood in the middle of the aisle.
“Excuse me, young lady, but you need to move over because I’m having bathroom issues and it would be more convenient for me to sit on the end seat instead of having to climb over you.”
Amelia looked at her and narrowed her eyes. She sighed and sat in the seat next to me.
“Thank you, my dear,” the lady said.
“I can’t believe you’re on this plane,” Amelia said through gritted teeth.
“I can’t believe you are.”
“Isn’t it funny how fate works?” The old lady smiled.
Amelia put her earphones in and I laid my head against the window and closed my eyes. Suddenly, the plane dropped and began shaking. Amelia grabbed my arm.
“Put on your seatbelt,” I said to her.
“I don’t want to let go,” she said with fear in her eyes.
I reached over and buckled her seatbelt and then mine. The captain came on and apologized that we were experiencing some turbulence and would be for a little while longer. It was a bit unsettling, but with the amount of flying that I did, I was used to it. I wanted to bring her on my lap and hold her tight and tell her that everything was going to be okay. I looked over at the lady sitting next to Amelia and asked her if she was okay. She smiled and nodded her head. The turbulence had settled and Amelia let go of my arm. She put her earphones back in and acted like nothing happened.
“No. You don’t get to do that,” I said as I took her earphones out of her ears.
“What the hell are you doing?” she snapped.
“You don’t get to hold on to me for dear life because you’re scared and then ignore me. You know what? Forget I said anything. I’m sorry. You go on with your business and I’ll go on with mine.”
“Oh no, mister. You started this and we’re going to talk about it.”
“I don’t want to talk to you anymore. Go back to listening to your music,” I snapped. “And for the record, I did nothing wrong but love you. Maybe more than I should have.”
“You made me feel like a charity case.”
“How did I do that?” I asked.
“By buying my parents’ house because I needed the money. You couldn’t just let someone else buy it?”
“I bought that house for us to have someday. I wanted you to hold on to something of them. Even though they didn’t have the house very long, it meant something to them, which means it meant something to you, and I couldn’t let that go. So, I’m sorry if you felt like a charity case because that wasn’t my intention. My intention was to keep a part of your family alive for you and the money was a bonus. Now, I’m done talking about this with you because you obviously can’t understand where I’m coming from,” I said as I turned and faced the window.
“He bought you a house and you’re mad at him?” the lady asked.
“It’s complicated,” Amelia said.
“I see nothing complicated about a man who loves a woman enough to buy something that meant the world to her.”
Go lady... go lady...go lady, I kept chanting to myself
.
The plane landed and Amelia and I grabbed our bags and exited the plane. We walked side by side through the airport.
“Where are you staying?” I asked.
“Holiday Inn Express,” she replied.
“Oh. Why?”
She laughed lightly. “Because it was cheap. Where are you staying: The Trump?”
“Yeah.”
“Of course you are.” She smiled.
“I would like it if you came with me.”
It was a longshot asking her, but I took it anyway. I didn’t want her in this city alone. It wasn’t safe.
“I’ve never been to The Trump before.”
“There’s a first time for everything, and I would love for your first time to be with me.” I smiled.
She looked at me as tears formed in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Collin.”
“Sorry?” I asked nervously.
“I’m sorry for acting like such a bitch. I’m sorry for saying some awful things to you.”
“I’m sorry for not telling you about the house when I bought it.”
We reached the outside of the airport and my driver was standing outside the limo.
“Good evening, Mr. Black. It’s good to see you again.”
“Good evening, Tom. Thanks for picking me up.”
“My pleasure, sir.”
We climbed in the back of the limo and Tom shut the door.
“Where to, Mr. Black?”
I looked over at Amelia and she smiled at me. “We’re going to The Trump, Tom.”
I smiled as I took my hand and lightly caressed her cheek before my lips fell upon hers.
****
After having the most mind-blowing makeup sex, Amelia and I lay back in the tub and turned on the jets. There was nothing like the feeling of her soft, wet skin pressed against mine. I wrapped my arms around her as her back pressed into my chest and her perfect small ass fit nicely between my legs. She softly ran her finger up and down my arm as I held her against me.
“Don’t you find it strange that we both decided to come to Chicago and we were on the same flight?” she asked.
“Yeah. But like the old lady said: fate.”
“I had lunch with your mom today.”
“You did? Why?”
“Because she called and asked me to. We had a nice little chat about you and how much you are like your dad.”