CHAPTER FOUR
Braden
Helen stepped into the room to tell us that breakfast was ready. We all walked into the formal dining room and took our seats as our plates were delivered to us. Mom and Braden were brought cups of steaming coffee and mine was refilled as I placed the napkin on my lap. I was still in my jogging shorts, but I had put my shirt back on.
Mom looked at her plate, sipping her coffee as something crossed her face. It looked like sadness and I glanced at Braden as he cut a piece of the toast off with his fork. She didn’t talk too much about what was happening with Dad with us but in her position, she was required to be strong most of the time. We didn’t press the subject since we had each other.
I noted that she picked at her food, mostly just drinking her coffee. I ate every bite and headed down to the basement to lift for a bit. I was vain, and I wouldn’t deny it. I was raised in the public eye and Mom was always mindful of how she looked. I guess it rubbed off on me as well as Braden. He joined me, working on legs as we worked out in silence.
“Do you think she’s okay?” Braden asked me as I dropped the weights and took a deep breath.
“I think it gets to her a hell of a lot more than she wants to admit. Do you think she talked to Aunt Sue or one of her friends?” I asked as he shrugged, pushing the heavy weight slowly.
“She’s out and about living her life. I guess she has to talk to someone.” Braden said as he let his legs fall back against his chest. “I still think that she’s got someone on the side. At least, she did at some point.”
We’d both suspected that for a while. Our parent’s marriage was an arranged one to begin with. It was a pairing made in heaven for their families and likely more of a business agreement than anything at times. They weren’t bad parents, but they had a lot more going on in their lives than just us. We had a nanny that was virtually full time until we were old enough to take care of ourselves. We had the space to fuck around like guys our age did though we had to lay down more rules than the usual player. We used our charm to tell them just how things were. There was no confusion and with any luck, no broken hearts.
We chatted as we worked out and I headed upstairs for a shower. I was meeting a friend to plan a bachelor party for another member of our social circle. He was a successful investor and made a name for himself just after college. He was marrying a scientist who was both gorgeous and smart, planning a full life of travel and fun. It was more along the lines of what I craved over living the life my parents did. Granted, Braden was first in line for the throne but that didn’t change the fact that I lived in a royal family. Nothing would.
I left my room after slipping into some fresh clothes and heard footsteps on the staircase. Freya popped into the hallway and blushed when she saw me.
“You’d think I would have some kind of separate entrance or something. It must be irritating to deal with staff in your home.” She shifted on her feet as I took her in.
“I don’t mind at all. You’re a lovely sight to see.” I watched her stare at the floor for a moment. Why was she acting this way?
“I… I have to go. Lunch is so short, and I need to get some food.” Freya stared at me for a moment and dashed down the stairs. It wasn’t the first time a woman was nervous around me but there was more to this. I shook my head and walked down to the garage, selecting the newest SUV to take into town. We were meeting at an exclusive restaurant where we could plan in peace and I pulled down the driveway slowly. I was appreciative of the tint of the windows as I managed to drive through the streets under the radar. I parked in the back lot of the building and hurried through the back entrance to meet the guys in the smaller private room.
We ordered lunch and drinks as we settled down to business. The soon to be married couple was on the adventurous side but he wasn’t looking to have an X rated bachelor party. He was happy and just wanted to have some fun. We planned a dinner at one of the best steak houses in town and then a night at a club that played jazz, which he loved. Both places would be closed to just us given the fact that Callin, and I were going to be there. It was always that way.
The waitress was clearly star struck by us and flirted heavily. I didn’t bite as easily as it would have been to hook up with her somewhere in the building. I chalked it up to just getting some yesterday, but red hair and green eyes kept popping into my mind. She was beautiful and challenging in that naïve way. I hadn’t been with a girl like that in a long time and my cock hardened at the thought of it. I knew that she was off limits but damn if I didn’t want to risk it. Brandy was hot but not worth the pain of Mom and Helen being pissed off. They didn’t even know that we both tapped her, blaming it solely on me. He took the fall in the past for me, so it was fair.
When the raven-haired woman came back with the check, her blue eyes were hard on me. I took it and slipped my credit card into the folder, glancing into her lust filled face.
“Thanks,” I told her dismissively as she turned and stomped out of the room. Ned gave me an inquisitive look and raised an eyebrow.
“I don’t think I’ve seen you turn one away quite like that. What gives?” The other guys laughed, and I sipped my beer.
“I got some last night. I think I’m good for a while.” I joked as they laughed harder.
“I thought your mom might have found you a wife,” Matt quipped as I rolled my eyes.
“Fuck that. She keeps trying but I have plenty of time. She invited another family over for dinner last night with royal daughters. We made them feel welcome and showed them to the door,” I told them as they shook their heads. All my friends were rich and used to the way that I lived. They kept me balanced when things got to be too much.
“Fuck, Braden. You’re too much.” Ned told me as I shrugged.
“I’m not one to turn a woman away when she follows me to my bedroom.” I told him as he leaned back, sipping his drink. “Are you sure you want to get hitched, Ned? The bachelor life is so great.”
“Hillary is amazing. I wouldn’t trade my life with her for the world.” He smiled confidently and made me realize how empty my life was. Sex was not companionship, making me push the thoughts down. We finished and walked back to our cars as I ducked inside. I didn’t want to face the press, but it seemed like I was safe as I headed down the main road as I thought about home and what was going on, turning down a road at the last minute. It led to a spot on the water that I could get some time to myself for a while. It was private and peaceful, and I parked under the trees and walked over to the small beach.
Living in Venice was supposed to be romantic. I’d never had a relationship. It was hard when I didn’t know if they wanted me for the power and money, or just for me. That was why I resorted to casual sex early on without the chance of confusion. Mom never had the chance to choose her husband, but I had that choice. As much as she disliked my freedom, it was a modern time.
I stood and looked over the water as the water lapped at the shore. I thought about the beach house that we had for the summer and how private that was. I thought about a lot of things that were great in my life, weighing them with the cons. Dad was in the forefront of my mind and I wondered how long we had with him. His lungs weren’t good.
I drove back home once I’d had some time to think. I headed in and glanced around as I walked to Dad’s room. There was the noise of staff working around the rooms and I ignored it as I approached his door. I opened it slowly, stepping inside to see that he was sleeping. Dad was once a big man at six feet two. Callin and I both took after him, height, and muscular build. Now, he was shrunken in the bed with his IV connected to his arm, merely keeping him stable. I sat down and stared at him for a moment, not wanting to wake him. The room was so quiet. Mom was still in their bedroom down the hall sleeping alone but he was stuck in here like it was a private hospital room.
I wasn’t fucking ready for him to go. I didn’t want to take over.
He stirred in his sleep and I leaned forward.
“Hey, Dad. I wanted to come in and say hello.” His eyelids fluttered, and I reached for his hand. “How are you doing?”
He mumbled something, and I knew that he was too drugged up for a proper conversation. It was bleak to sit here like this with him, but it was all I had. I stayed with him for a while before leaving, feeling the weight of the situation on my shoulders. I assumed that Mom was still gone and wondered if Callin was around. I was just heading upstairs when I noticed him coming down from the third floor.
“What are you doing?” I asked as I looked suspiciously at him.
“I offered to bring Freya a snack that Helen made her. She’s working hard up there, you know.” His grin was wicked, and I leaned against the wall.
“I’d imagine so. It was a mess up there when Brandy was working.” I sized him up slowly.
“Reliving old memories, Callin?” I asked as he chuckled.
“Not at all. Just being helpful. She’s a sweet girl, if not a little shy.” He told me as I thought back to our confrontation.
“I saw her earlier. She looked like a deer in headlights.” I looked towards the stairs. “What’s her story?”
“She didn’t say too much. I think that she was so shocked that I was there to begin with that it rendered her silent. Does she get embarrassed around you?” He asked as I laughed.
“I did notice that. I wonder why?” I mused as I closed my eyes. “Is Mom still gone?”
“Do you think that I’d be up there if she was?” He replied as I headed into the man cave. I needed beer. “Mom would kick my ass though Freya might be worth it. She’s gorgeous.”
“I agree,” I said as I got us beer and sat on the couch. I knew that my attraction to her was strong and wondered if that was the case for Callin.