Chapter Twenty-Nine - Smith
Chella leaves early for work the next morning. She’s cheerful and upbeat, like last night never happened.
I don’t know if that’s good or bad. Maybe both.
I spend the day putting together the last batch of charitable donations for the year and then have the Club car take me over to my foundation headquarters to drop everything off.
When I’m done, it’s barely noon. So I go where I always go. The Club.
It’s very busy today, even though the White Room isn’t open to the public. Members are here for lunch and drinks, since Christmas is on Sunday and just about everyone is off work already.
I head upstairs where Quin is sitting in my bar sipping a beer.
“Hey,” he says, when I sit down. “Bric said there was drama last night?”
“Shit,” I say, shaking my head and motioning for the bartender to bring me a Scotch. “Her fucking father is an asshole.”
Quin nods his head. “I can only imagine.”
“Why?” I ask. “Did she tell you about him?” I’m instantly jealous picturing all the intimate conversations Chella might be having with Quin.
He shrugs me off though. “He’s on the news all the time. I can’t stand that asshole. So smug and full of himself.”
“Hmm. Did Chella ever mention her childhood to you?”
Quin shoots me a look I can only assume is suspicious. “If she did, I wouldn’t tell you what she said. It’s one thing for Bric to tell me you called her in the middle of their date, it’s another to ask me to spill about our time together.”
He’s right. I know he’s right. We don’t talk about it for a reason. We keep the jealousy at bay by living three completely separate lives with the woman we choose to share.
“Sorry,” I say, backing down. “I’m just trying to understand her better. And she’s going to be alone on Christmas. Did you get her a gift?”
“Of course.” Quin laughs. “You didn’t?”
The bartender comes with my drink so I use that time to think. “I’m trying to think of something she’d like.”
“She’s a woman, Smith. She likes attention. Real attention. So give her that and you’ll make her happy.”
“Is that what you got her?” I ask.
“We’re on a different level these days. You don’t need to worry about what I got her.”
“I wonder if she’s getting us something?”
“Why do you think she went shopping alone the other day, dumbass?”
“Where’s Bric?” I ask, changing the subject. “What’s going on with the Club this weekend?”
“Parties, brother. All weekend long. You gonna attend any?”
I almost snort my drink. “No. I’m with Chella until Saturday night. Why would I?”
Quin shrugs. “I’m going.”
He always does. That’s not news.
“So next week?” Quin asks. “You think she’s ready?”
“I’m ready,” I say, then regret it. “But yeah, I think she is. I’ll know more tonight.”
“You don’t sound very excited,” Quin says, eyeing me. More suspicion. “You have something to say about it?”
“No.” I don’t. “And I am excited. It’s been a long fucking time since we had someone together like that.”
“I’m really looking forward to it,” Quin says. “I can’t fucking wait. What night should we aim for?”
“Monday?” I say. “Why not start the week out right?”
“So my night.” Quin ponders this. “I’ll think of something special and let you know.” He stands up, downs the rest of his beer, grabs one last French fry from his almost empty plate, and says, “I gotta wrap some shit up at work. See ya later.”
I wave him off and stare down at the bar. Lucinda is here again, and when I look around, I don’t see her husband.
“Hey,” Bric says, coming up the steps into the bar and walking over to my table. “How’d it go last night? With the father?” He takes a seat across from me.
“Shit,” I say, before taking a long sip of my drink. “That man is a complete asshole.”
Bric laughs. “I figured that. But no trouble?”
“No,” I say, thinking about how amicable Chella was last night. She didn’t stand up to him. Not even a little bit. And I can’t figure out if she’s just not interested and possibly happy he’s leaving her behind to start a new life, or… she’s so sad she’s locking it up inside. I just don’t know her well enough to figure that out. “He came to tell her he was getting remarried and she’s not going to be a part of his new life.”
“What the fuck?” Bric says. “Who does something like that?”
“That guy,” I say, sipping my Scotch. “Anyway, I’m gonna get her a Christmas present. What’d you get her?”
“I’m not telling you,” Bric says, smiling. He knows I suck at this shit. I’m not a relationship kind of guy. And yeah, I got Rochelle presents all the time. But I never put any thought into them. I just spent money on her. She wasn’t like Chella at all. Nice things were new for her when she met us. Chella is steeped in nice things. Nice things aren’t the same thing as love and friendship, I know that better than anyone. And I’d like her to feel my gift is a sign of our love and friendship.
Do I love her? It’s a dangerous question considering what’s about to happen next week.
“But I will say, it’s nothing Earth-shattering. Just a present.”
I nod as we look at each other. “You should maybe put some more thought into it. I think she deserves that much.”
“You like her,” Bric says. “I get it. I’m not gonna interfere, Smith. If she makes you happy, I’m happy to step aside. I don’t know if Quin will, he’s having fun with her as far as I can tell. You might’ve misjudged him when you assigned him as Number Two.”
“Yeah, maybe. But he’s still in love with Rochelle, don’t you think?”
Bric shrugs. “He hasn’t talked about her all week to me. You?”
“Same,” I reluctantly admit.
“Does Chella want to continue this arrangement?” Bric asks.
“I think so.” And I do think that. If she didn’t want to experience all four of us together, she’d have seen everything I did last night for what it was. A declaration. But she missed it. She missed all of it. Maybe it was just the shock of her father’s message? Or maybe she doesn’t feel the same way about me? Doesn’t matter in the end because she just missed it.
“Well,” Bric says, “if you want my opinion, I think she’s got a problem, Smith.”
“What kind of problem?”
“Maybe problem is the wrong word,” he amends. “Maybe she’s just very curious. Or very horny. Or maybe she’s just into the gang-bang thing. I don’t know her well enough to figure that out yet. But she’s into it. You feel it, right? She likes this stuff. I mean, she went along on Wednesday night. We double-teamed her and she was ready for more last night. If her father hadn’t shown up, we’d have done it again.”
He’s right. She wants this. She’s known it was the objective since we started. And she’s still here, playing the game with us. Allowing herself to be a pawn on the chessboard.
“She needs it, Smith. For whatever reason, she needs it. So give it to her, let her think about it. And then if you still like her enough to back out of this arrangement, do it. I won’t stand in your way.”
I let out a breath of air. “I know that, Bric. I wasn’t thinking you would.”
“I’m just being clear with you. We’ve been friends for a long time and I’ve never seen you so… interested in one of the girls. Take her if you want her. But do it after she gets what she needs. Or she might regret it for the rest of her life. And you don’t want to start something new with regrets.”
I finish my drink and stand up. “Yeah,” I say. “I’ll do that. We can finish this game and then decide after. I’m gonna take off, man. Have fun this weekend.”
“Later,” Bric calls out.
But I’m already hopping down the stairs and heading towards the revolving doors. I’ve got an idea for a Christmas present.
Something she probably needs, but won’t ever ask for.
Something she didn’t get nearly enough of growing up.