ELEVEN
Celeste
I don’t even knowhow to begin the conversation I’m about to have with Tyra, especially considering she answered on the first ring. It’s just my luck that happened, too. I’m still attempting to wrap my head around this messed-up mess. I tried from the time Journey and Wylder Hayes walked in my spa until the time all of us girls walked out, with no success.
“Okay, my wine is poured. Let’s chat.” I can hear her sit back on what I’m sure is her couch. The oversized upholstery is a dream to sleep on, and we’ve both done our fair share of that through the years.
“Yeah, you do that. I’m going for something stronger.” I keep the phone on speaker, placing it on the counter face side up. Go to the freezer, where I keep a bottle of Patrón, my all-time favorite tequila that I’ll drink at home but not at bars or restaurants. Simply put, they overcharge. I chose Jose Cuervo. I’m not an avid drinker by any means; this bottle alone lasts me a good portion of the year. If it’s not a day from hell and I just want to unwind, I’ll gravitate towards wine or a hard seltzer drink. That’s not the case tonight. I grab a glass, pouring some of the clear liquid that I love so much.
“Jesus, this is bad, isn’t it?” Tyra asks while I’m tossing back the liquid in one swallow, feeling the burn in the back of my throat. I breathe through the fire, albeit needing it.
“Oh, it’s bad. Okay, that should help some.” Still not diving into the latest and greatest.
“Woman, if you do not tell me what is going on, I’m going to wake Von up, which you know is a nightmare in itself, and drive my ass over to your place. Now, talk to me.” True to her word, Tyra would absolutely do that. It would be the dumbest thing ever because Von is not the kid who would go back to sleep to save his life once he’s up.
“Wylder Hayes, I think that says enough, right? Nope, not after he kissed me stupid last night in the elevator, making me forget everything I’ve ever known, then giving me his business card with his personal phone number on it. Asking me to use it in case I leave the casino late at night, something about not wanting anything to happen to someone who is his,” I grumble, then take a deep breath while contemplating taking another large gulp of alcohol.
“Okay, so where’s the problem with that, except for all those damn forms we had to sign saying we’ll not enter into a relationship between employees, blah, blah, blah.” If only that were the issue.
“Oh, it gets better, or worse. Imagine my surprise. It’s going on noon, the spa is busy, not as busy as last night, but there’s a steady stream along with appointments. We hit a lull, and wouldn’t you know, there are Layla and Melanie standing around, gawking, but I’m like, okay, whatever, talk to them later, Celeste.” I think back on that moment. How I managed to keep it together I still don’t know. “When in walks Wylder. It wouldn’t have been so bad, you know, the man that drove me fucking mad, had me aching like I haven’t ached since before you know who.” God, we are never talking about that again. My ex-boyfriend was a piece of work, a perpetual mommy’s boy. If we had the slightest tiff, he’d go running to her, which in turn made her hate me. It put a strain on our relationship, making it to where I was walking on eggshells. I didn’t see it ending on good terms the longer time went on, so I did the adult thing, using the excuse of ‘It’s not you, it’s me.’ It was for the best, even if he did call me a bitch multiple times.
“Oh God, yeah, that was a time in our lives we’re not going through or down ever again. So, what was so wrong? Did he make a play for you in front of the girls?” Tyra’s hopeful. The girl has gone through a divorce, and her world turned upside down. Not because her now ex-husband cheated on her. They simply fell out of love. He worked too much, wasn’t home enough, and she was basically a single mom. And believe me, Tyra would rather live in a tiny shack than have all the money in the world that Mace was hell bent on making. That doesn’t mean she’s out of love with him, you can’t convince me otherwise. My best friend has a heart of gold, and if Mace would man up, figure out his shit, show her and Von that they’re worth more than a job, she’d take him back.
“No! I would have been happier if he had. Nope, instead, he walked in with a woman on his arm. This one wasn’t Vanessa either. I thought we sleuthed?” I go for the bottle again, needing one more, this time grabbing a Diet Coke out of the fridge to mix it with the alcohol instead of throwing shots down my throat. Men, you can’t live with them, and it seems you can’t live without them.
“What? No freaking way. What was her name? I checked from the beginning of time. Even on his tags on Instalook, there wasn’t a single inkling that he was with someone.”
“Her name is Journey Hayes, Tyra. She has his last name and, hand to God, those two together are one hell of a power couple. It’s the aura surrounding them, the sleek look. I mean, even I was in awe.” The flavors of my drink meld together, sweet with a slight bite, and one that won’t get me drunk off my ass, leaving me with a hangover tomorrow morning.
“Shit, fuck, damn, Celeste. This is crazy. There was no one with that name tagged on his profile, but he’s been seen with Vanessa. Maybe they have an open marriage?” I gag, literally, making the noise because while yes, some people walk around with their upside-down pineapple with pride, I could never. I am entirely too territorial. Maybe it’s because I’m an only child, but there are some things I refuse to share.
“Yeah, no thanks. I think I’ll just go back to living life like normal.” I’m going to change the subject in three, two, one, “Two more things: want to go out Saturday night since the spa will be closed Sunday and Von will be at Mace’s, my treat?” I persuade her. Tyra’s a single mom, and while she has got it going on, the child support she gets from Mace goes to Von, daycare, food, essentials. You name it, the woman doesn’t touch it; it all goes to Von. And the extra at the end of the month goes in his savings account for later in life.
“Oh, yes to the first. What’s the second?” That didn’t take her long to process the question. She must really need a night away from everything.
“I’m thinking I’d like you and Von to come to the shelter with me, see if they have something that’s up my alley.” I always knew I’d always have a dog by my side. The past six months without Creedence have been hard. I didn’t want to look for a new dog, making it seem like I replaced him because you never can replace that first pet, the one you tell all your secrets, that loves you unconditionally.
“You name the time and place, we’ll be there. Who knows, maybe a kitten wouldn’t be a bad idea. Less maintenance than a dog but still a pet for Von to bond with.” We finish making our plans, with Tyra laughing at the thought of trying to find a decent club-style outfit without attempting to look like we’re in our early twenties or that she looks too old, as if that will ever be a problem. We’re in our early thirties. Besides, who’s to say age means you can’t go out to a club, to dance the night away, have a few drinks, and have fun with your bestie? It doesn’t take us long to both start yawning back and forth, Tyra because she’s been chasing Von all day, listening to me, and ending it with wine. Me, well, that’s easy. Sleep didn’t come last night, my mind didn’t have a chance to shut down, and add in today’s epic bullshit, it’s made for an even longer day. I only hope that tonight, sleep comes easier. Maybe a certain man won’t invade my dreams like he’s invaded all my thoughts.
TWELVE
Wylde
“Are you fucking kidding me?”I’m sitting at my office, going over the reports for the last four days. I haven’t seen Celeste in those days. She left while the sun was still out. That I knew as much; it sucked that meeting after meeting kept me tied to my wing of the building. At least my security cameras gave me a glimpse of her coming and going.
I close down my computer with a click of a button, grab my black jacket, put it on over the button-down white shirt and burgundy tie, pick up my phone, and slide it into my pocket before leaving my office. It’s late. No way in hell should Celeste be leaving anytime past nine, not when her doors close at six on her late days. It has me wondering what could have kept her longer than normal. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the days since I walked Journey into Celeste’s spa, it’s that she’s as much of a workaholic as myself. There is the fact that I have yet to leave the casino since it officially opened to the public. Four days we’ve been wide open. Things have had some glitches, the restaurant’s point of service for one instance, the need to hire more security, and going as far as to hire a few more of Nico’s guys. Terry tried to buck up against what I wanted, until I told him he didn’t have to work here any longer. He shut up right away. The incident happening right outside of Celeste’s place was all it took for me to make sure things were better prepared.
The elevator doors open after I scan my card, and I stride inside, scan my card, and press the down button as well as the door closing one, attempting to get this damn thing down to the parking garage before Celeste makes it there. I saw her locking up her spa, this time without a key, seeing as how I made sure the work order she requested was approved on Monday morning, so the next day, Celeste had what she requested. A more upgraded model than the one she pointed out to our maintenance team. Monica raised her eyebrows when I signed off on the upgrade, allowing Celeste to open and unlock the doors on her app in case she’s with a client and by herself in a room, or if she feels unsafe, she can lock herself in or walk away, use the app and be on her way. The next thing on my list of plans was to link it to my phone. That way, it would alert me when she walked into her spa and when she left. Stalker much? Probably. Even Nico’s eyebrows touched his hairline when I mentioned that piece of information.
“Finally,” I breathe out as the elevator doors open to the employee parking garage just as Celeste rounds the corner. Talk about impeccable timing. She’s in her standard uniform of black scrubs, something that shouldn’t be hot as hell. The material is form fitting across her chest and ass. Her hair is up in a messy bun this time, and my hands itch to pull it out if its tie, my fingers tugging on it until her head tips up and my lips meet hers.
“I’m pretty sure we spoke about you walking through the garage late at night.” I come up behind her, proving a point while also getting a fantastic fucking view of her peach-shaped ass. Celeste’s body stops. My front meets her back, feeling the two globes that I’ve thought about non-stop, whether it’s holding her backside in my hands as my cock tunnels in and out of her wet pussy or the thought of licking her slick folds, my finger pressing into that forbidden entrance, feeling her suck it further, loving what I’m giving her.
“Son of a bitch, you scared the life out of me.” Celeste’s body isn’t relaxed like it was in the elevator or the last time. She’s holding herself completely rigid, as if I’m a stranger.
“Well, I wouldn’t have if you’d used the number I gave you,” I grunt, taking a step back. She spins around. That’s when I see it. The look clearly written on her face is one mixed with sadness and anger. The only problem is, I have no idea what or who put it there. I lift my hand, about to cup her cheek, but Celeste doesn’t allow that. Instead, she dips away.
“No, we’re not doing that, Mr. Hayes, not now and not ever. If you’ll excuse me, I’m going home for the night.”What the fuck?is all I can think of at the moment. My mind is trying to put the pieces together as I watch Celeste walk away while I’m standing there waiting for the answer to magically appear. It takes me a second or two, then my strides eat up the distance between us, wondering if it’s her being my employee or something else happened.