Shit. The picnic yesterday was amazing. My Angel is beautiful and sexy as hell. Who knew sex outside in the open could be so good and the after was even better. We went back to the house and spent the rest of the day in bed. And the day after that. We talked, kissed, and whispered things we wanted for and with each other. We showered together and got dirty all over again. It got so bad Carrie and Dex took to leaving plates for us outside the door. It was a wonderful fulfillment of life. Until reality set in.
We both realized the next day after our meeting. I was going to be flying out and we knew there is no choice, but to finally confront the elephant in the room.
“Perry, I just don’t know how this is going to work. We live thousands of miles apart.” She looks at me with tears in her eyes.
It is almost enough to make me say fuck it and leave my whole life. But if I did that, my family would never accept Portia and I don’t want that for her. Or our future together. No. I need to do this right.
Even though it is a family firm, my grandparents and parents made each of us sign an employment contract and a non-compete clause. I know. Seems excessive for family, right? But that is how the Gentry’s operate. Blood or no blood, business is business. So, if I just upped and quit, my own family would sue me for breach of contract. I need to finish my employment with them and ride out my contract, which is six more months of Boston and I can decide my own life.
Once I explained that to her, I made a proposal.
“Baby, I don’t want to leave you anymore than you want me to go, but it is my job and family. I need to do it right. What I am proposing is that we each try every month to visit each other for a weekend. Next month you will come to Boston and then the following month I will come to you. What do you think?”
It kills me that I can see the struggle warring inside of her. I can see her arguing with herself because she doesn’t feel this could work, but she also knows we need to try. What we have found with one another is rare and if we let it go now, we will have regrets. I grab her hands in mine and force her to look at me. Staring into my eyes one lone tear falls.
She says, “Ok Perry. Let’s give it a shot.”
I exhale a breath I didn’t know I was holding. She has quickly become vital to my happiness and the mere thought that she would have walked away from me or us has me seeing red. But in the end, love won out.
Love? Holy shit!!! I love her. I do. With all I am. I am blown away by the revelation, but not scared of it. If anything, I feel empowered to finish the contract and move on. But, more than that I need to seek a life that will allow me to have it all. With Portia.
Which brings us to today. I am meeting with Portia and the girls about the business venture they are embarking on and then I have to catch a flight back home. My heart hurts just thinking of it and I want to take a second to dwell on the fact, I can’t.
I am on my way to the airport to pick up my little cousin, Tabitha. She is the daughter of my Uncle Richmond. My father’s little brother. She called me early this morning when I was seconds away from being balls deep inside of Portia. The news she had to tell me is she has hopped a flight out here to see me, because she ran away from her parents. I tried telling her that I was leaving today to go back, but apparently it doesn’t matter. One of her friends from high school moved here and she will be staying with her for a while.
Tabby, as I so affectionately call her is 18 years old and a junior paralegal in the firm. She deals with the same pressures from our family and as my Uncles youngest child it’s worse. So here I sit, waiting for her to get off the plane before I can get to my meeting. Using this time to reflect, I can’t believe how fast my time here has gone by, but in that short amount of time I managed to find my forever.
“Perry! Perry over here.” Tabby’s little sweet innocent voice pulls me from my reverie. Turning around I am pleasantly surprised to find she hasn’t changed in tremendous ways. You know kids these days with weird hair colors, piercings, and shit
“Hey Tabby cat. How was your flight?” I ask riffling her hair. She immediately elbows me, because she hates it.
“It was fine. I am just so glad to be away from Boston.”
“You want to tell me what happened?”
“The usual. Mom and dad trying to set me up with old ass men. As if. I am not my sister. Cymion might be ok with her limp dick old man, but not me. I want love.”
I chuckle at her description of her sister’s husband, because that is exactly how I picture him. He is a 50-year-old, good ole boy who wants a trophy wife. He is wealthy and has plenty of connections, who runs in the same circles as the Gentrys. It made him a shoe in. For the life of me I don’t know why Cymi agreed.
“Ok Tabby. What is your plan? I mean like I said, I am leaving in about 5 hours.”
“I am going to stay with my friend Delaney for a while, so I can figure out my next move. One thing for sure, I am not going back.”
She sounds so serious and I almost believe her. Almost. But the thing is she has been accustomed to living a certain lifestyle so how she will survive with less is going to be interesting.
“Well Tabby Cat, you’re eighteen so I can’t make you go home. But promise me you will think it all out.” She looks at me and rolls her eyes.
“I promise, ghee’s. I am not a baby anymore.”
“I know. I’m sorry. Ok let’s go. We have to get the restaurant for my meeting and then I will drop you off at Delaney’s.” With that we walk to the car and drive off.
We walk into UTGARD, the restaurant owned by Loki Jorgenson and his brother. And are greeted by Loki himself.
“Loki, good to see you again. Thanks for offering us a private room for our meeting.” I am speaking to him, but he is not paying attention to me. His sole focus is on Tabby and if her lip biting is any indication, hers on him.
“I would like to introduce you to my cousin Tabitha. Tabitha, Loki Jorgensen. Owner of this establishment.” Without preamble, he lifts her hand up to his mouth and kisses it.
“The pleasure is all mine, kitten.” The endearment makes my head snap back and when I look at her she is red from head to toe. I seem to have a problem with this because my ire is rising. I mean she is my little cousin and fresh out of high school. What would a guy like him want with her. Nothing good. Deciding to put an end to this, I put my hand on her back intending to escort her to the room, when I hear a growl come from the side of me. Turning, I notice Loki’s eyes are penetrating my hand on her back. If looks could kill… Suddenly, he is by her other side, pulling her to him, growling out the word “Mine.”
Fuck. this is not good.
We make it to the room and though Loki seems reluctant, her releases her to the seat. As we are sitting there waiting on the others, I notice Tabby is scanning the room. One can only guess who she is looking for and as I start to ask her about it in walks my woman and her friends.
“Angel. I missed you this afternoon.” I say to her as I am kissing her in front of everyone. What the hell should I care for? She kisses me back and then steps away to make introductions.
“Migan this is Perry. Kennedy, you remember him. Right?”
“Yes. Good to see you again.”
“Thanks for having me ladies. I would like for you all to meet my cousin Tabitha.”
Everyone says their hellos and after ordering lunch we get down to business.
“Ladies, shall we?”
The meeting goes smoothly. Even little Tabby is useful and full of information for them. Looking at the clock I know I need to go. I signal for the check.
“Well ladies, I would say we have made progress. Tabby here can type up everything we discussed and have it all couriered to each of you. If you need me, Portia has my number in Boston. Portia and I are going to drive Tabby to her friends and then I have a plane to catch. Good luck.”
Standing up to leave, Loki appears and sends me into high alert with his next words.
“I will take her wherever she wants to go.” Is he serious? “Loki, she doesn’t know you. Why would I let a stranger take her anywhere?”
“It will no longer be a problem. She will know me soon enough. Now leave her and I will take good care of her.” I look to Tabitha to see how she is reacting to this and she is not only flushed, but her teeth have not left her lip.
“Tabby…?” I ask.
“Leave me Perry. I will be fine with him.” She says to me with bated breath. Holy shit. This is not good. But I cannot waste any more time. I must leave.
I turn to Loki and look him in his eye. “If you touch one hair on her head without her permission, I will bury you. Do you understand?”
He looks me dead in the eye and says, “Don’t worry. Everything I do to her, she will beg for.”
Nope not going there. I grab Portia and run out of there.
The car ride is somber and laden with sadness. But hell, I have no choice.
I just hope we are strong enough to withstand the distance.