Chapter 30

Wesley

 

A few hours later, I drop my aunt back off at her house before heading home. Her tests are pretty routine, due to a breast cancer scare a few years back, and luckily it looks like everything’s fine, although we won’t know for sure for a couple days until we get the results back.

Still, I always worry. Aunt Shelly always seems to be strong and stoic, but I know she worries, too, underneath her mask of steel strength. She’s no spring chicken, and I would hate to lose her. I don’t know what my life would be like without her constant support and encouragement – even if she is a little weird with all the hippie stuff.

“Thanks so much for taking me in for the tests,” she says, as I walk her to the front door. “Do you want to come in and have some tea?”

“No, that’s okay Aunt Shelly,” I tell her. “I have to be getting back…”

“To the office to see that smashing young realtor you have a crush on?” she guesses. “How are things coming along with her? You haven’t mentioned her all day, and I haven’t wanted to pry, but I’m just dying to know.”

“Actually, pretty well,” I tell her, leaving out the part about her being at my house right now.

I don’t think I’m ready to spring that on my Aunt Shelly. I’m blushing just at the thought of revealing to her how quickly things have moved already. I can’t believe everything we just did back at my house. And I can’t wait to rush home for me.

“You were right,” I tell Aunt Shelly. “I think she and I are really into each other. And why let a little thing like age stop what’s becoming a very good thing?”

Or a little thing like me being her boss. Or her currently being homeless.

None of these should be obstacles that stand in the way of love. Right? Wait a minute. Is this love? Isn’t it a little early to even be thinking that word?

I don’t know what’s fucking come over me. Usually I’m a lot more practical – and skeptical – about who I date. Or I just go for a one night stand because things are less complicated that way. I had even promised myself that I wouldn’t date any more younger women, after that last one who was clearly just using me.

But, I have to admit that I’ve been looking for the right woman for me for a long time, and then Mariah just happened to fall into my lap… or, rather, I happened to walk into my office and find her there dressed up in a slutty schoolgirl outfit, as if she was mine for the taking. How could I resist?

“Well, that’s good, Dear,” Aunt Shelly says, breaking me out of my thoughts – which is probably a good thing, before I get too carried away. “I told you that you both had great energy. I’m glad you’re letting things unfold and seeing what the universe has in store for you.”

It’s more that I’m charging full speed ahead and taking what I want with consequences be damned, but I’m not going to quibble with her over small differences like that.

“Thanks Aunt Shelly,” I say, giving her a kiss on the cheek before she goes inside. “Have a good afternoon.”

“You too, Dear. Have fun with your new girlfriend!”

New girlfriend. Ha. I have no idea what the fuck has gotten into me, but I like the sound of that.

With a smile on my face, I head home, hoping like a silly teenager that Mariah is still there. My wish is granted when I find her on the couch in my living room, dressed in jeans and a cute blouse, watching the TV with the remote in her hand.

She’s scratching my dog Carrie’s head – they’ve quickly become fast friends. And there’s nothing I like more than someone who is friends with my dog. Now I’m really smitten. Carrie’s tongue is hanging out, panting happily, letting me know she’s smitten too.

“Hello there,” she says, getting up to greet me. As she wraps her arms around me and I bend down to give her a kiss, I think, a guy could get used to this. “I was just enjoying hanging out at your awesome bachelor pad, and not having to work for once.”

“It’s not much of a bachelor pad anymore,” I joke. “And, I guess getting to take random days off is a perk of dating the boss.”

“Dating the boss, huh?” she asks me, calling me out as soon the words slip out of my mouth. “Is that what we’re doing?”

“Is that what you want to be doing?” I ask her.

“Yes,” she admits, wrapping her arms tightly around me. Then she looks up at me, her face getting more serious as she asks, “How did things go with your aunt?”

“Oh, good,” I tell her, relieved. “I think things are fine. You’ll have to meet her one day soon. I mean, I know she was in the office briefly, but you two will have to get together and chat. I’m sure she’ll adore you.”

“I’d love that,” she says, with a smile on her face. Then, the smile gets even bigger. “And you know what else? There’s something else I’d love to talk to you about. I have to admit, though… I did a little snooping while you were gone.”

Oh, great, I think, half as a joke and half seriously wondering what she could have gotten into. The half naked photos of old girlfriends I keep in a shoebox under my bed, but really should have gotten rid of long ago, since most of them make me think of them with disdain instead of fond or sexy memories? The bad song lyrics I’ve tried to write over the years, that I keep in a journal in my bedside stand? The porn videos I’ve downloaded on my computer?

“I went into your office,” she confesses. “Like the rest of this house, it’s a great home office, by the way.”

“Thanks,” I tell her, breathing a sigh of relief as I realize that there’s probably nothing that embarrassing in there, since it’s all business related.

“I saw some paperwork about a house on your desk.” She breathes deeply, and I can tell that what she wants to say is very important. “And I was wondering if I could be the one to sell it?”

I look at her, not sure if she’s serious.

“That house? It’s a million dollar house.”

“I know.” She just stares at me, not even blinking. She is definitely serious.

“Well, I like the fact that you’re down for a challenge,” I tell her.

She laughs and I can’t resist giving her another kiss.

“It’s funny you should mention that house,” I say.

I suppose it’s time to be open with her about everything. I sit down on the couch and she follows suit.

“My dad was kind of an asshole when I was growing up. I know that’s putting it bluntly, but, it about sums him up. As he got older, he started feeling bad about things and trying to make up for the past. He gave me a million dollars, and I bought that house. Just to sit on it and see how much I could turn it into. I’ve never felt a connection with it – it brings back kind of bad memories for me, rather than good ones. The point was for it to make me feel better about my relationship with my dad, but, it still always made me feel worse instead of better. So, I had the paperwork out because I’ve been thinking about selling it. But I don’t know if I even have the energy and time to invest in doing even that.”

“Well then you’re in luck,” she says, beaming that pretty smile of hers at me. “Because I know someone who will take selling it off your hands for you. Can I, please?”

She bats her eyelashes at me seductively, and I wonder how I could ever say no to her, even if I wanted to. And I don’t really want to. It’s true that I don’t even want to spend the time selling the house, but I’ve been wanting to get rid of it. And here’s my chance to do that, and to make her happy too.

“Okay, sure,” I tell her, as she gets up and jumps up and down.

“Thank you so much, Wesley!” she explodes. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

It makes me feel good to make her happy. Now, I just hope she find a buyer who will get me a good investment – because the market has been tight lately and I’m not sure anyone has the cash to lay out for such an expensive house. I suppose only time – and the hard work, grit and determination that I know Mariah has – will tell.