#Blessed by Malakai, page 12
“I don’t give a damn.” I deepened the kiss, pulling her up and into my arms as I did so. After a couple minutes, I finally ended the kiss. “I laid out a new toothbrush in the bathroom and you can use whatever I have in my bathroom that you want.”
She rubbed her sleepy eyes and glanced at the clock on the nightstand. “Shouldn’t you be at work right now?”
“I told Tyler to let the others know I wouldn’t be in today and to reschedule any meetings.”
She nodded her head as she glanced around again. “Your loft is amazing. It’s exactly the type of place I pictured you would have.”
My loft was three levels, and although the third level held two private bedrooms with connecting bathrooms, I’d chosen the bedroom loft on the second floor that overlooked my first floor.
Most of my place was brick and wood, which was exactly how I liked it. Artistic paintings and sculptures that I’d done, or were done by close friends in the industry, were stationed throughout my entire place.
I tossed Avery a grey T-shirt before she made it to the bathroom and waited for her to brush her teeth. Forgetting about the food, I knocked and told her she could shower after if she wanted, but that I’d made her breakfast.
“This is so sweet,” Avery remarked as she took a seat at my paint-splattered kitchen table. “I don’t think a man has ever made breakfast for me before.”
I shook my head. “I’m disappointed in some of the men out there,” I said, placing the orange juice, eggs, toast, fruit, and chicken apple sausage on the table I’d set earlier. “What happened to catering to a woman by waking her up to sex and breakfast?”
“I don’t know,” she replied with a laugh. “But I’m glad you still practice that rule.” She was looking at the wooden placemats I’d carved when I took a seat across from her at the table.
“I love how unique everything in your place is.”
“Thank you.” I took a bite of the chicken apple sausage. "Every piece has a purpose and every section of this place has a story. Painting and sculpting are how I make a living, but I don’t want to ever forget how much fun I have creating pieces that may never make it into my gallery or aren’t for a client.”
Avery took a bite of her eggs. "I was never much of a graphic designer or anything, but my sister and I used to create jewelry for fun. She actually designs and sells jewelry back in Tennessee at her shop, but her and I haven’t created anything in a long time.”
“Why not?”
Her face grew solemn. “We haven’t spoken in over three years,” she answered in a sad voice. “I guess I haven’t felt the urge to create anything if we aren’t doing it together.”
I didn’t want to pry, but I curious about the rest of the story. “Why haven’t you spoken in so long? Family argument? I assume it’s over something serious.”
"It is." She moaned. "Ugh, I'm sorry. This is so not the type of conversation we should be having after the body-numbing sex we had all night."
“I disagree.” After putting down my fork, I reached for her hand. “I want to know all about you, Avery. That includes the parts of your life that may not be so sunshine and rainbows. Hell, I know I’ve got shit that I hate talking about, but for you, I’d give it a try. So if you’re willing, I will, too.”
Her eyes softened and she squeezed my hand back. “Thanks for that.” Leaning back in her chair, she took a deep breath. “Although I’ve always been close to my parents and my sister, I haven’t seen my sister in over three years because she fell in love with my ex-fiancé while we were still engaged. They just got married two years ago.
“Damn,” I muttered, unable to help myself. “That’s fucked up.”
“Yeah, it is.” She shuffled some food around on her plate. “Back in Tennessee, I worked as a PR consultant at the top PR firm in the south. My ex, Julian, worked there in operations. He asked me out my second week working at the company and I guess you can say we fell in love fast. Too fast now that I think about it. I’ve always been particular with who I introduce to my family, so he didn’t meet my family until we’d already been dating six months.
“When I introduced him to my sister, Vanessa, I’d noticed the look of recognition in both his eyes and my sister’s, but when I asked if they knew each other, they denied it. For a while, I questioned my sister about it and she kept denying it. Therefore, to ease my own mind, I decided to do a little research and discovered they had both attended the same sports camp every summer. When I brought it up to my sister then, she told me they had known each other, but didn’t get along. When my ex had the same story, I let it go.
“Two more years passed and Julian proposed. I accepted, convinced he was the right guy for me. According to my sister, they had sex the night he proposed. She claims they only had sex twice throughout the course of our relationship, but she conveniently thought the best time to give me this fucked up news was two weeks before my wedding.”
“That is so messed up.” Shaking my head, I took a sip of my orange juice. “Didn’t Julian put two and two together before he met your sister because of your last name?”
“Vanny and I have different last names. My mom was with her father before she met my father. Her dad passed away and my mom met my dad who fell in love with my mom and her daughter. They got pregnant with me after only being together for a few months and married after I was born. Vanny is seven years older than me and my parents are celebrating their thirtieth anniversary this fall.”
“So you call your sister Vanny? That’s her nickname?”
“Yeah, it is,” Avery said with a strained laugh. “Her full name is Vanessa Marie Straton. Julian knew her as Nessa Marie because that’s what she went by every summer in camp. Vanny and Julian are about the same age.” She grew quiet and had this faraway look in her eyes. I was about to tell her she didn’t have to talk about it anymore if she didn’t want to, but she continued.
“The funny thing is, I’m not upset that Julian and Vanny didn’t tell me that they knew each other and dated every summer for five years. I’m not even upset that they are happily married now.”
“You’re not?” I asked, studying her face. “Because it’s understandable if you are. Especially since you haven’t spoken to your sister in over three years. I’m not sure I could handle that if one of my brothers married a woman I loved.”
“I know it sounds strange,” she said, “but I’m more upset that they had an affair when he and I were still together more so than any of my other stuff.” She looked me in the eyes. “When I look back on the time Julian and I spent together, all I see is everything that had been missing in our relationship. Even though we have differences and don’t look alike because we both take after our fathers, Vanny and I are a lot alike. I know now that the parts of me that Julian liked were the parts that reminded him of the girl he’d fallen in love with who he lost contact with once the sports camp closed. Social media wasn’t around back then, and neither of them are on social media today. Vanny didn’t even have a cell phone because they were just becoming popular. Their story was one of a love lost that was found again, but in this case, the person who helped them find each other was me, someone they both loved, but hurt in the process of reconnecting with one another.”
She smiled. “I want them to be happy, and when my parents tell me they are, it makes me smile. But it’s just so strange being around them after everything that’s happened.”
Instead of my heart aching for Avery, it grew in pride at the fact that even though she was the person they’d both hurt and disappointed by having an affair behind her back, she still wanted them to be happy. She was glad that they’d found their happily ever after, even if that meant she’d been hurt in the process. “You’re an amazing woman.” Lifting her hand, I brought it to my lips. “Some woman would say that they wanted to slash the tires of his favorite car or cut his dick off in his sleep if their man was cheating on her.”
“Oh I thought about slashing his tires,” she said with a laugh. “His tires and my sister’s, but I never did. And I’d never cut his dick off because even though this situation is awkward as hell, he needs his dick so he can give my sister some babies. She’s wanted to be a mom her entire life, so I know she’s probably anxious to start their family.”
“See, that’s what I mean.” I looked at her in awe. “Still thinking about what’s best for them. Tell me again why you haven’t spoken to your sister in three years? I know they hurt you, but you seem to be healing.”
“I have healed.” She sighed. “Marrying Julian would have been a mistake and I’m so glad I didn’t. Granted, I couldn’t wait to get out of Tennessee and it took a little longer than I would have liked to get to New York, but I’m not the same Avery Nightingale I was a few years ago. They don’t know this, but there were a couple times I was out with friends and I saw them on a date. They were so in love, and I’d never seen my sister look at any man like that. I’d also never seen Julian look at me the way he did my sister.
“Watching them, I had also remembered the stories my sister used to tell me about a boy she called JJ who she looked forward to seeing every summer. Even said he was her first love. Julian’s middle name was Jeremy. Once I pieced even more together, I got angrier for a little while and told my parents I wasn’t celebrating any holidays with them if Vanny was there. Therefore, my parents choose to celebrate separate holidays with us. One daughter for Christmas, the other for Thanksgiving. Alternating every year. Honestly, I forgave them probably a year after it happened and realized that maybe fate used me as a medium to bring them together. So yeah, I’m over it. I just don’t know how to approach the situation.”
I shrugged. “I think you approach it from the heart. As you’ve said, you’ve had time to heal and you forgave them a while ago. I agree, the situation is incredibly awkward, but I have a feeling that reconciling won’t be as difficult as you think it will. Avery, you’re great with bringing people together. Everyone at the office loves you. Hell, everyone you meet seems to want to be around you all of the time. Present company included.” I smiled, loving the way her lips slightly opened in a soft gasp. “Maybe you should just call your sister one day. You don’t have to have a heart-to-heart about what happened. At least not at first. But I bet your sister would love to hear from you and misses you.”
“I miss her, too.” Avery’s eyes were misty. “I think you’re right. Maybe I’ll call her sometime this week. Family is important, and regardless of what happened in the past, I want to move forward.”
We resumed eating, conversation flowing between us as effortlessly as everything else had been. Avery agreed to spend the day with me, but she’d declined my offer to take her to dinner, reminding me that I had to take out a couple of the women Dr. Parker had paired me with.
I nodded my head as if I agreed, but I didn’t. Not even a little. There was no way in hell I was dating those other women when I knew the only woman I wanted was sitting across from me. I had made a commitment to have the online sessions with Dr. Walker and I would. Talking to him was therapeutic even if it was in front of thousands of people. Even though I’d made a commitment with Dr. Parker as well, I had a feeling that I owed her a call to explain my situation and pray that she’d help me find a creative way to get out of my remaining dates so I could focus my attention on Avery without her freaking out.
Fifteen
Avery
* * *
“I’m such a homewrecker,” I cried, dropping my head to the table. With the exception of a couple meetings I'd had at Malakai's office, I hadn't been alone with him since I'd left his place. My emotions were at an all-time high, so I figured I needed to call my friends to talk shit out. I’d always been fine with sharing, and Tyler, Serenity, and even Jordyn—who usually didn’t pry—had each called or texted me for details of what happened after Tyler had found us in Malakai’s gallery.
“How so?” Serenity asked. “Malakai isn’t married.”
“Don’t you get it? I’m wrecking it for the future Mrs. Madden since it’s been a week and he hasn’t gone out on any night dates with any of the remaining two women. Only lunch dates.”
“How is that a problem?” Jordyn inquired. “I thought you liked Malakai. Especially since he finally popped your orgasm cherry. Why do you still want him to go out on dates?”
“I don’t still want him to go on dates,” I lifted my head. “But ‘Malakai Madden’s Journey to Love’ was my idea, so he has to see it through.”
“I still don’t know why you suggested this,” Tyler said, returning from the bathroom. “You already knew y'all had crazy chemistry before you put the plan in motion."
“I know.” I thought back to the meeting I’d had with Malakai when I initially presented my idea. “Deep down, I think that’s why I’d decided to go through with the idea. Our chemistry was so strong, I couldn’t handle the heat.”
“Speaking of heat,” Jordyn began, “was the sex as good as you thought it would be?”
Just as it did whenever I thought about sex with Malakai, my heart started beating twice it’s normal rate. Last week, we’d spent two days sexing each other crazy, only taking breaks to talk and eat. “It was better than I thought it would be. Sex with Malakai wasn’t just about the act. It felt like he’d known my body forever. And he hadn’t just been talking to my body. He’d been talking to my heart… my soul. As cheesy as it sounds, he had my nose and legs wide the fuck open and all I could do was give him whatever he wanted.”
“Damn,” Jordyn said.
Tyler winked. "When y'all get married and start having babies, don't forget who helped make the best sex of your lives happen.”
“That’s some deep shit.” Serenity’s voice was dreamy as she spoke.
“I know.” I fidgeted with the straw in my drink. “Did you guys see tonight’s live Twitter session with Malakai and Dr. Walker?”
“Of course we did,” Tyler said. “We assumed that’s why you wanted to meet tonight.”
“It was. I thought tonight’s session, which focused a lot on his family and the fact that he wants a love like his parents who have been married for almost forty years, was extremely touching.”
“It was.” Jordyn smiled. “I’m not even into all that soft, emotional shit. But he had me dabbing the corners of my eyes at his words.”
“You know what else I noticed?” Serenity began with a sneaky smile. “I noticed that the reflection of his dates was really PG. It seemed more to me like he was catching up with two friends than having romantic lunch dates.”
Tyler nodded his head. “I agree with Serenity. He had nothing but nice things to say about both women, but did anyone else peep the fact that everything he said seemed to be just on the surface? Like a friend who was trying to make another friend sound good so they could hook them up.”
“I don’t even know Malakai that well, but even I noticed that,” Jordyn said.
The table grew quiet as they each waited for me to mention if I’d noticed the same thing. “Yeah, I noticed,” I admitted. “Not sure what it means though.”
“Well,” Serenity smiled, “maybe you should ask him.”
I was about to tell them that I didn’t have the guts to do that when my phone rang. A quick glance proved that it was the man of the hour. I placed my phone back down as if it were lighting my hand on fire.
“Answer it,” Tyler encouraged.
Instead of listening to him, I stared at the phone a little longer.
“It’s not going to answer itself.” Jordyn gestured her hands as if to tell me to answer it now.
I cleared my throat. “Hi, Malakai.”
“Avery. Avery. Avery.” Each time he said my name was deeper than the last. “I have a favor to ask you.”
“Sure,” I replied, smiling in spite of myself. “What do you need?”
“I know this is short notice, but this weekend, I have to go to Cranberry Heights, my hometown. My parents are having their annual summer barbecue and I was hoping that you could accompany me.”
My mouth slightly parted. “Wow, I’m honored that you asked me.”
He laughed. “Is that a yes?”
“Uh.” I didn’t have any plans this weekend, but it seemed weird for me to go to his hometown and meet his family. Did he want me to go as a friend? As a girlfriend? Fake girlfriend? Image consultant? “Are you sure that’s a good idea? Didn’t you have any dates scheduled this weekend? Maybe you want to bring one of them?”
“No, I want to bring you. I want to show you my hometown and introduce you to my family.”
Okay, so that didn’t really help me decide which category I fell into, but I wasn’t sure it mattered. I wanted to say yes even though I knew I should probably decline.
“Pretty please,” he said in an adorable voice. “I really want to show you off. Plus, Crayson and Serenity are coming, so you’ll know some other people there if you’re worried about that.”
“I’m not worried about that,” I assured. “Okay, I’ll go with you.”
“Great.” His voice held promise. “I’m looking forward to it.”
We discussed a few more details before we disconnected our call.
“I assume from that dreamy-eyed expression on your face that you told him you’d go to the barbecue at his parents’ place in Arkansas?” Tyler questioned.
“You knew he was going to ask me to go?”
Tyler shrugged. “Maybe. I’ve gone to the barbecue for the past few years, but I have something with my own family this weekend, so I’ll be headed to LA.”
“I’ll be there though,” Serenity said. “The Madden family always invites the entire town to the festivities they have on Saturday.”
“I’m glad you’ll be there.” I smiled. “I’m not sure what to expect and I’m hoping folks don’t think we’re together. I’ll probably need at least one friend who knows the truth.”
The smile on Serenity’s face should have made me more nervous, but it didn’t. I couldn’t have any more butterflies swarming through my stomach than I currently did. My friends finally started talking about something else and paying me little mind.
