Page 20 of Irreconcilable Attractions (Westwend Boys #1)

Derek

It had been a few days since Colton and I’s last basketball game. Things felt like they were back to normal again. But a new problem had come up. Literally .

We’d always been more physically affectionate with each other, but now I was hyperaware of the places Colton touched me.

When he hung on my shoulder to watch me cook in the evenings, it felt like my skin was on fire, even through my clothes.

The casual shoves, shoulder bumps, and bro-hugs suddenly felt far more loaded.

Even if it was just Colton being Colton.

It was a constant battle to not pop a boner around him.

Shit, there were things I hadn’t even realized could be turn-ons, but were clearly doing it for me. Like how his eyes softened when he’d find me sitting in the living room after his late-night shifts. Or the sleepy smile he’d wear when telling me to have a good day at work.

Fuck, even the scent of him. It was this woodsy, warm, citrus smell I imagined was a combination of his shampoo and body wash. It’d sometimes waft off him like temptation on the air.

That intoxicating scent had plagued me all morning, and now here I was, daydreaming about his sleep-rumbled hair and his soft smiles at the office instead of doing casework.

Bzz-Bzz-Bzz

I pulled my eyes away from the file I was decidedly not reviewing and groaned.

“How can I help you, Cecilia?” I tried to keep my voice neutral as I answered the phone but it bordered on annoyed.

There was a pause on the other line before, “Really, Derek. That is no way to answer when your mother calls. And for the last time, do not call me by my first name.”

Her voice rang through, shrill and full of indignation. I sighed, trying to scrape together my composure.

“And I will tell you again, mother is a title you have to earn. You are not my mother. Toni is. Now, how can I help you?”

Cecilia’s molars grinding together was almost audible as I waited her out. We had this same discussion every time she tried to command my respect by dropping the ‘mother’ card. I could be cordial with her when I needed to but I made it very clear where my loyalty lay.

“While I want to remind you that I gave birth to you, which by default makes me your mother , I don’t have the time.

George and I have a function in an hour and I need to get ready.

” I could just picture her straight nose turning up as she said that, like she wouldn’t be doing me a favor by ending this conversation.

“This Thanksgiving, George will be hosting some very important clients. I expect you to be here.” She commanded.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. While I was an adult who was more than capable of ending this once-a-year tradition, I didn’t have it in me.

There was still a small part of me that wanted the woman who birthed me to acknowledge I was more to her than the kid she had too young.

More than the one she saw once a year, and now used to schmooze her new husband’s wealthy finance clients.

I was still nothing more than a dollar sign to her.

But, every year I kept going back while hoping she wanted to be called mom because she loved me—cared for me. Not because she felt entitled to it.

“You’ll need to fly in on Tuesday so that George can take you out to golf with some of them beforehand. We’ll have someone pick you up at the airport. Make sure your flight gets in before noon.”

I listened to her drone on more about her expectations, all the fight in me slowly withering away.

“I can’t come on Tuesday. I’ll come Wednesday.” I stated flatly.

“Derek,” She began, “You are necessary for George to seal this contract. Think of the money we will lose if he can’t close this.”

“I don’t care.” I leaned back in my seat. “Your finances are not any of my concern. If I’m spending Thanksgiving with you, I want to see Lucy beforehand.”

She tsk’d like the reminder of Lucy was an inconvenience to her.

“She’s a child, I doubt she’ll even care or notice if you’re not there. You’ll have plenty of time after?—”

“I come on Wednesday or I don’t come at all.” I interrupted, anger rolling through me at the blatant disrespect for the relationship I had with my sister. “You can take it or leave it.”

There was another long pause before she sighed dramatically.

“Fine. Wednesday it is, then, since I have no choice. You really are such a disrespectful child, Derek.”

I bit my tongue against the insults I wanted to hurl her way.

When the call finally ended, I dropped my head to my desk. My body felt like a lead-weight. I was emotionally and mentally drained, as usual after dealing with Cecilia.

Pushing myself upright, I shot a text message to Lucy to inform her of the plans. She sent back a line of red-faced emojis with special characters over the mouth.

LUCE:

damn that witch, i’m surprised her facial fillers haven’t rotted her brain yet

LUCE:

*bitch

ME:

Now, now. We don’t need to be rude toward the facial fillers. But, remember, less is more.

She sent some eye-rolling emojis back.

LUCE:

i’m really sorry derek. you don’t have to keep going to these things. she’s literally an energy vampire. stay home and get fat on pumpkin pie with me!!

I smiled at that. As much as I wanted to back out of this, I knew unless I was in a coma or six-feet under, Cecilia wouldn’t accept any other excuses. I had committed.

ME:

Wish I could. You know she’d be breathing down Dad’s neck if I didn’t go. All of you guys would suffer. It’s better I go. It’s 48 hours and then I’ll be back.

LUCE:

you’re a real masochist but whatever… kill a plant or something while you’re there. idk, we have time to brainstorm on how to mess with her

LUCE:

ooooh, what if you stole something and when she asks where it went we gaslight her into believing she never even had that thing?

LUCE:

wait, scratch that. bitchtopher columbus probably has cameras all over including the bathrooms

I barked out a laugh before responding back.

ME:

Cameras in the bathroom sounds extreme, even for her. Bitchtopher Columbus?

LUCE:

yeah, shes claiming she’s your mother when she’s not, enslaving you to do her bidding while stealing up all the gold, and she is a huge bitch

LUCE:

i think its a pretty accurate nickname, tbh

ME:

Whatever you say, kiddo. Gotta go, love you.

She sent a bunch of heart emojis back and I clicked the button to lock my screen.

The tension Cecilia had instilled in me wasn’t budging, even with the brief exchange with Lucy. I rolled my neck, hoping to loosen the strain there. Absently, I shuffled some files.

Who was I kidding? I hadn’t been focused even before she had called. I was basically useless at this point. I groaned, checking my watch. It was still too early to slip out of the office unnoticed. But, what I needed now was a beer or five.

I collected my things and made my way out of my office space. As I was heading to the elevator, I ran into Charlie. He smiled warmly but eyed my briefcase.

“Headin’ out, my boy?” He drawled, his mustache ruffling some.

“Yeah. I’m not feeling too hot, and I’m just not getting anything done here. I’m going to go home, shower, and then hopefully go over some things tonight.” I sheepishly rubbed the back of my neck.

Charlie shot a hand out, resting the back of it against my forehead.

“Well, it doesn’t feel like you’re running a fever, so hopefully a shower will do you some good.” He patted my shoulder softly. “Rest up. Let me know if you need tomorrow off.”

“Nah, I doubt it. Thanks Charlie.” I gave a half-smile.

He nodded a bit but continued to eye me like he was searching for whatever ailed me. After a moment, he pulled me into a bear hug, catching me off guard.

“I may not be your Pop, but you can always talk to me.” He murmured as he patted my back gently.

Moments like these made me jealous of Colton and his brothers.

My dad had changed a lot after Toni came around.

She grounded him in ways and gentled his approach to life.

The version of our dad Lucy got was a different man than the one I’d had growing up.

He made time for her, was sure to encourage her and her efforts, and was present for the things that mattered to her.

I was grateful for that, but sometimes it stung too.

I knew he’d been dealing with a lot when I was growing up, between trying to support a family that was slowly falling apart at the seams and being a student.

But, even after the divorce, I’d had to care for myself most of the time.

My grandparents had been there in the beginning, but their support fell off pretty quickly.

Dad had tried to be better when I was in high school by showing up to baseball games or events I had.

But, sometimes it still felt like he wasn’t putting in any more effort than necessary because I’d be going off to college soon.

Either way, it was times like now I would be forever grateful I’d met Charlie Shaffer.

I slapped his back a bit, trying to swallow around the lump lodged in my throat. “Yeah, I know.” I choked out.

When he pulled back, he squeezed my shoulder again before letting go with a smile. “You get some rest now.” He stated, passing by me.

“Yes sir.” I cleared my throat and blinked a few times before making my way toward the elevators.

When I walked through the front door an hour later, Colton looked up from the couch, his smile faltering some as he eyed the six-pack of beer in my hand.

“Hey,” he looked at me questioningly. “Everything alright?”

I shrugged, using the hand that held my briefcase to undo my tie slightly.

“Define alright.” I grunted, slipping my shoes off and trudging past him to put the case in the fridge. I heard Colton shifting on the couch and turned back to him with a beer in hand. “Want one?” I asked as his eyes scanned me over.

“No…” He trailed off. “What’s going on, dude? It’s like barely four o’clock.” He had his arm slung over the back of the couch, body turned to fully face me.