Kellan
“You’re not listening,” Hugh huffs, leaning back into his chair. “You’re not even fucking pretending.”
I drag my attention away from the bookstore at the end of block where I’ve been staring most our meal. Leaning forward onto my elbows, I nonchalantly counter, “I was listening. I just…I don’t have an opinion.”
Not lying. He was rambling about American football and I really don’t give a rat’s ass. Especially when my wife is a few buildings away, laughing it up and sharing secrets with a blonde bastard I want to hate but technically can’t.
He nods slowly and reaches for a fallen sautéed onion on his plate. “You seem like a bigger dick than usual. Not getting yours touched enough? Trouble in paradise?”
“Me and my cock are very satisfied. Why do you think I was late for lunch?”
Shagged my wife twice before we made it to the car. The impromptu taking on the other side of the stairs hit shortly after Guy offered to meet her at the bookstore to help pick out additional educational reading. It’s been almost two weeks since they started working together on her certificate and between you and I? It’s driving me insane. Literally insane. When I know they’re going to be studying late, which by the way is only when I’m working late, I can’t seem to focus on anything else. Isn’t that timing…odd? Why not study late when I’m available to do it with them? When they can be supervised? What? No. It’s not that I don’t trust my wife, it’s that I don’t trust that sneaky, slimy, bed hopping bastard. Well no…I don’t know he is a bed hopper for certain, but I recognize the signs. Need I remind you what I was before Brie’s paint stained chucks walked all over my life like she owned the place?
Hugh sneers at the information. “And where is Mrs. Kenningston? Thought she was eating with us.”
“She’ll be here shortly. She needed to stop at the bookstore to pick up some reading material to help with her studies.”
His face grows an inquisitive expression. “Is she alone?”
I pull my aviators down to block the bright sun. “She’s with Guy, her tutor.”
Hugh erupts into laughter and my hands tighten in irritation. “Wait, she has a male tutor?”
“It’s for the best-”
“Another dick in her life is for the best?”
The urge to growl increases exceptionally. “He’s a certified teacher who is helping guide her through what will be on the test-”
“You’re paying another man to ‘educate’ your wife?”
This is one of those bloody times when violence is the answer.
“He was offered a fee, but refused to take it.”
“Oh…” Hugh’s jovial attitude causes me to grit my teeth. “He volunteered to spend all his free time with your better half.”
I tried! I tried to force him to take the ridiculous amount of money I was offering him to just tutor her, but he refused insisting it was his pleasure…See. He’s trying to be a clever asshole. I’m watching him. You watch him too.
“You’re not paying him at all?”
“I am, but for a different task.”
“A more physical one?”
“Do not make me bloody backhand you in the middle of brunch.”
Hugh grins obnoxiously. “Is it still brunch? Seems like they’ve been in that store for so long that it’s officially lunch now.”
Payback will be a bitch for him. That’s all I will say.
“What task, other than wife stealing, has he been assigned to?”
I let out another annoyed sigh. “He is hired as one of the English teacher’s for Hannah’s Hope. From skill set, most likely he will teach the older half. However because of his diverse background, Felicity thought it would be a brilliant idea if he collaborated with Brie to pick out the remainder of the educational staff. Felicity believes since Brie has spent the most amount of time with the children who will be transferring the first year, she would have the best knowledge, which I completely agree with.”
Hugh nods. “She has been spending a significant amount of time there.”
A suspicious scowl scatters across my face.
“How do you know that?”
“Relax, Cujo. Dana’s shown me some pictures that blogs have posted.”
Every muscle in my body instantaneously relaxes.
“That’s right. Breathe easy. I’m not the one sniffing around your wife.” He chortles at his joke before stating, “So, that’s what’s up your ass? You’re jealous?”
Extremely.
“Not at all.”
“You’re a shitty liar.”
No. Do not agree with him. It’s the absolute last thing I need right now.
“I’m not. He’s not some random asshole who popped in out of nowhere with obvious ulterior motives. He’s an old friend of Felicity’s. Like I’ve mentioned he’s got an impressive resume and impeccable background. I only want the best for Brie and in this situation, it appears to be him.”
The words churn my stomach and I viciously bite the inside of my cheek to stop from vomiting.
Unfortunately, what I said is true. His resume is almost too amazing to believe. It’s definitely too amazing to not have him teach at Hannah’s Hope. The children would be beyond fortunate to have his expertise. As far as his background check, I had Clarence and our publicity team do extensive research, yet the most incriminating thing they could find was him decorating a public garden for Christmas close to an elderly home, which was technically vandalizing property. He’s basically a bloody saint. Patron Saint of Man Sluts.
“You hate it,” Hugh chuckles and snatches a chip off his plate. “You may be ‘for it’ on paper because you’re trying to think of the bigger picture, but you hate the idea of any other guy having her attention the way you do.”
God yes.
“You’re having to share,” he continues to poke. “You hate sharing.”
Unconsciously, I snap, “Why should I have to bloody share when you can get your own?”
“Because she’s a person and not a lacrosse stick.”
The reference to our younger years causes me to roll my eyes.
I know he’s right. I know it, yet I can’t stop myself from feeling like a toddler who wants nothing more than to stomp his feet, tuck Brie underneath my arm, and bite any time someone comes near. It’s ridiculous, infuriating, and embarrassing above all else. I’m thirty for Christ Sake. I should be past these idiotic, childlike responses.
My mouth drops to snip again when the sight of Brie coming out of the bookstore steals my attention. With Kage at her side, I watch her bid Guy goodbye and swiftly come strolling our direction. A smile begins to cultivate from simply watching her jean covered hips sway to a beat that only we can hear.
Maybe when you love someone as much as I do, rationale isn’t always a factor.
“She’s coming, isn’t she?”
I give a single nod. “Which means this topic of jealousy is over. Understand?”
Hugh chuckles again at the same time Brie enters the patio area through the small open gate. She drops her bags beside where she plans to sit and leans down to give me a soft, short kiss. Afterward, she pulls back, and quietly coos, “Missed you…”
Warmth spreads through my swelling chest, but I playfully retort, “Of course you did.”
Brie gags and flops down into her seat. “Not as much as I did fries.”
“Chips.”
“I’m American. They’re fries.”
“You’re in Doctenn. They’re chips.”
Our teasing demeanor causes Hugh to shake his head. “Something tells me you two will always be this way.”
In unison, we agree, “Probably.”
I flag over the waiter at the same time I ask, “Did you get everything you needed?”
“I did. Mainly developmental books about children, but there were a few about the history of Doctenn I picked up as well.” Almost immediately, she bursts with excitement, “Oh! And I got this biography on Da Vinci for casual reading.”
Hugh grunts, “That’s casual reading?”
“It is when you’re an art nerd.”
Brie kicks me under the table. “Enthusiast.”
“Not hearing a difference, Love.”
She promptly orders herself a burger with a side of chips and bites, “Now you know how I feel when you start ranting about the difference in plaid and flannel.”
“It’s important!”
“It’s not,” she denies with a shake of her head.
“More important than Da Vinci.”
“I’m sorry, did flannel or plaid create musical instruments or make medical discoveries before it’s time? Was I asleep in that part of history?”
Hugh laughs loudly and I shoot him another glare.
It wasn’t that amusing.
“Didn’t think so,” Brie mutters under her breath before grabbing my pint to have a sip. “While I’m personally more of a Michelangelo fan, Guy is a diehard Da Vinci supporter, so I figured I’d brush up on him a little. Should give us even more to talk about during lunches and dinners.”
I stomp down the groan growing in my throat.
Hooray…
Hugh lets his eyes flare in the amusement he’s not allowing the rest of his face to engage in.
“Oh! And Guy was telling me about this really cool art exhibit they have in Stelivanso-”
“Stellavanzo.”
“Mmmhmm,” she brushes off my correction, “they have this car themed display up right now where this couple has taken all the parts of a car and used every piece to create something. Sounds so amazing. I wanna go and take pictures to send to Merrick.”
“I....can take you.”
She shakes her head immediately. “It’s fine. Guy already agreed we could go together. I know you’ve got a lot going on-”
“I can make time.”
“You barely make time to remember to eat.” The humor in her voice barely masks her pain. “It’s really okay. I don’t mind going with him. He likes those sorts of things, like I do.”
So I’m constantly reminded…
Thankfully, my wife switches topics. “What were you two talking about before I got here?”
“Fashion week,” Hugh lies and sits up. “Kellan’s favorite time of the year.”
Brie gags.
“Typically, yes, it’s my favorite, but with Hannah’s Hope needing so much of my attention, I haven’t had the opportunity to thoroughly enjoy it.”
“I was actually just about to ask him if he was planning to join Dana and me at the White Show on Saturday or if he was being forced to attend the annual Valentine’s Day Ball instead.”
Her face scrunches instantly. “Please tell me we can skip both of those.”
With a smirk, I reach over and link our fingers. “You are more than welcome to, Love. Father is hosting the annual ball differently this year. Less formal, more friendly. And as for the White Show, I know how much you hate fashion. I won’t drag you to come.”
She smiles brightly and leans over to reward me with a kiss. “Thank you.”
After a short peck, Hugh questions, “So you are still coming?”
I nod. “Yes. The break from work will be splendid. Felicity and I are both looking forward to the Markay collection this year. He’s not typically one to agree with horrendous trends like the stripes that are apparently in season, so I’m quite intrigued to see what his new line will showcase.”
Brie squeaks, “Felicity is going with you?”
“She always goes. She loves men’s fashion almost as much as women’s. Unfortunately, her previous schedule hadn’t allowed her to indulge in it as often as she liked, which explains why I hadn’t run into her over the past couple of years.” When her frown deepens, I do my best to hide my amused expression. “Is there a problem?”
She presses her lips together and shakes her head quickly.
Liar…Okay so neither of us cares to admit how much we don’t enjoy the other one hanging out with someone of the opposite sex. Truth is my relationship with Felicity is primarily business. Rarely do we talk about anything outside of work and when we do it is about fashion, a subject might I point out the woman I married hates. I am no more interested in her than Brie is Guy.
“Did you say Dana is going?” Brie not so casually asks.
Hugh grabs his pint glass. “I did. She’s the fashion fan in our relationship. I’m simply attending for moral support.”
My head tilts at his sarcastically.
“Moral support and…she might’ve promised me a hand job in the limo.”
I chortle as I nod in approval.
“Why I don’t go too then?”
Her suggestion snaps my head her direction, positive I misheard her. “Pardon?”
“For moral support,” she pretends to tease. “If Hugh can do it for Dana, I can do it for you I guess. At the very least, Hugh won’t have to be miserable alone.”
“Could be fun,” my best mate states in a voice filled with mirth. “What’s the worst that could happen?”
The media cooks up some ludicrous report in which they accuse Felicity of being my mistress and how distasteful it is for me to have my wife in the same place as her…Or Brie purposely tripping Felicity in front of hundreds of cameras to humiliate her the same way Felicity not so subtlety tries to do to her despite her sworn statements.
Not wanting her to feel pressured into attending, I counter, eyes planted in hers, “It’s alright if you would rather stay home, Love. Honestly. Between projects at MINOH, time with the children at St. Cecila’s, and studying for this certificate, I’m sure a night at home with Netflix probably sounds like heaven to you. If you want I’ll even bail early on the White Show to join you. We can finish up the show about the serial killer in Ireland. You know the one where you try to sound Irish yet sound almost Scottish?”
She twitches a glare as her food and my fresh pint are delivered. “I do not sound Scottish.”
“You have to be the worst at accents. Like Joey from FRIENDS was better at them than you are.”
Sad but true.
“Oh…Now I wanna come to the show just to be the one to turn your white suit black.”
Hugh tosses his head back in laughter while I shake my head. “Absolutely not. If you come, you have to swear to leave my suit in its intended form and color.”
“That seems a bit much.”
My expression remains firm.
Brie snickers yet surrenders her hands. “Fine. Your suit will remain innocent.”
Still uncertain this is a good idea instead of the tragic one I believe it is, I fold my arms, and question a final time, “And you’re sure this is what you want? To attend with me?”
She reluctantly nods clearly swallowing an unspoken addition she isn’t comfortable stating.
“Alright then.” I attempt to brush off my nervousness. “Should be fun…”
More likely interesting... You’ve seen the glazed over look she gets in her eyes when I ask her opinion on shoes. How does she have any hope for surviving an entire night of nothing but fashion? I’ll give her credit for at least trying, even if it is to prevent me from spending additional alone time with Felicity outside of work. Who knows? Maybe I’m wrong and everything will be fine. At the very least I’m hoping to one up Hugh and Dana’s limo adventure with a blowjob. What! I’m not a selfish lover. I’ll pass on one to give her a reason to wobble in her heels…