Good Vibrations (Welcome to Paradise) (23 page)

Chapter 24

Evan

Mallory gasps, and it startles me. I bolt upright and find her holding the sheet tight across her chest and staring straight ahead wide-eyed.

“Aren’t we bright-eyed and bushy-tailed this morning?” Sunny chirps too cheery for this early in the morning. My eyes flash across the room and I see Zach and Sunny sitting on my couch facing us.

Mallory relaxes and flops back down onto the mattress.

Leaning over, I kiss her on the forehead. Her eyelids are heavy and she huffs in frustration. She looks right at me and whispers, “It was fun while it lasted.”

I know what she means. After that horrid fight and my mother’s surprise appearance, last night was good—really good—great even, and now our bubble has been invaded.

It pisses me off. I wanted a leisurely morning waking up with my girl, maybe make love to her… definitely make love to her, but that opportunity has passed. Irritated, I ask, “What the fuck are you doing in here?” Sitting back up, I glare at the two people who interrupted what I know would’ve been fantastic morning sex.

Zach, still looking way too comfortable considering my tone, says, “Calm down. The girls made plans for today and Sunny just wants to sort out the details. What are you doing sleeping in anyway, ya fucking lazy bastard? We’re missing some sweet waves today.”

My girl looks way too cute this morning tucked into my bed, and I can’t resist the soft smile that I know she has just for me. I fall back and cover us both up with the comforter, cocooning us away from the rest of the world. “Go away!” I shout, hoping the intruders get the message.

Mallory comes closer and kisses me on the lips. She whispers, “I guess I should get up and get to work. I also promised Sunny and your sister that I’d go shopping with them this afternoon.” She smiles. “When will I see you?”

“I’ve got a better plan. How about we just stay in bed all day?”

“That would be heavenly, but I’ve gotta earn some spending money, honey.”

Now I’m frustrated. After an overly dramatic sigh, I say, “I’ll see you tonight then.” I slide out of bed, stretching and not caring that I’m naked with morning wood in front of Sunny and Zach.

Sunny audibly gasps as Zach claps his hand over her eyes, and warns me. “A little respect, dude.”

“You worried your girlfriend will finally discover what she’s missing?” I laugh at my own joke.

“Brah, that’s just all kinds of wrong,” he snaps back.

“C’mon, Sunny, we’ll wait outside.” Zach drags her by the hand out the door.

I turn around and crawl across the covers and lay on top of Mallory, trapping her beneath me. “We might have enough time,” I say, wiggling my eyebrows, “to start the day off right.”

Before she has a chance to respond, I kiss her. I kiss her how she deserves to be kissed—with all I’ve got.

My hips start moving, pressing against her, the blanket keeping our heated centers apart. Her hands wind into my hair, urging me on, so I grind harder knowing that just humping could so easily get me across the finish line.

She mumbles into my mouth,
“Evvvvaan.”
She pulls back to get my attention. “I need to go. I’m sorry. I really want to stay, but I can’t.”

I brush her hair away from her face and smile. I want to tell her how I’m feeling. I want her to know how she affects me, but I only manage to say, “You’re so beautiful.”

A hint of blush colors her cheeks and she takes a deep breath seeming to calm herself. I can tell she knows I chickened out from what I should be telling her, but her hand still strokes across my cheek as she runs her thumb along my bottom lip. “I think you’re beautiful, too.” And, like me, I know she means more than what she said as well.

She crawls out from under me and makes her way into the bathroom. I throw on some shorts and a t-shirt and join Sunny and Zach by the pool. Stretching out on a lounger next them, I say, “Thank you for the, well, you know, stuff you said yesterday.” Zach helped both Mallory and me realize we were wasting precious time last night. The petty bullshit advice allowed us to see the bigger picture. My bigger picture is Mallory, all Mallory.

Zach glances at me. “You’re welcome. Now can we get on with our summer?”

I snicker. “Yeah, let’s do that. You wanna hit the water?”

“Totally,” Zach says, kissing Sunny on the cheek.

I’m jealous because they make it look so fucking easy.
I want easy for a change.

Mallory walks out and stands on the path, signaling us to come over. We all get up and make our way, walking together.

“You aren’t trying to hide over here, are you?” I ask, cocking my eyebrow at her.

She shrugs, obviously uncomfortable. “No,” she replies, keeping her eyes straight ahead.
She’s lying.

“You’re a guest of mine. You are welcome here anytime you want, so don’t feel like you have to sneak around. I don’t want you worrying either. I’ll talk to my mother.”

She places her hands on my chest and looks up at me. “I don’t want to cause any trouble. I especially don’t want you to fight with your parents over me.” She holds my hand, pulling me over to Sunny’s car. “Sunny is at Zach’s every night now. She said I can sleep in her bed. We can just stay over there more—”

“We’ll stay over there because we want to, not because we have to. I’m not ashamed of you and I’m not going to hide you or kowtow to their every fucking gripe and whim.”

She pecks me on the lips, and asks, “I’ll see you tonight?”

“Yeah,” I whisper with an added nod.

Zach and I watch as the girls drive off and then we make our way back down the path and into the main house.

“I need to take care of some stuff. It shouldn’t be long. Help yourself to coffee and breakfast.”

“Cool,” he replies, following me inside.

When I open the door into the kitchen area, my mother is standing, staring out the window, and drinking her coffee. I can tell by the lack of acknowledgment that she saw Mallory. I gulp and then address her, the proper way—the way she likes. “Good morning, Mother.”

“Good morning, Zach,” she says, not looking at me. That can’t be good.

“Good morning, Mrs. Ashford,” he replies, surprised.

She turns toward me, smiling, and says, “Evan, I’d like to speak with you for a few moments if you can spare the time. I know you must have a busy schedule between surfing, partying, and screwing classless girls, but do you think you might be able to squeeze a chat in?”

I’d say I’m shocked or outraged but this is her standard M.O. so I’m used to her passive aggressive bullshit. “I have time now.”

I follow her into the library and shut the doors behind me.

“Sit,” she says, pointing at a wingback chair stationed in front of the desk. She sits in the chair behind the desk and teepees her hands, resting her forehead against her fingers while closing her eyes, apparently, searching for the words to come to her. I’ve seen these dramatics before, but usually when we’re in New York when she has the grey clouds to back her mood. It all seems silly with the sunshine, blue sky, and palm trees outside the large picture window. She lifts her head suddenly, and smiles. “How are you, Evan?”

“Ummm… I’m fine.” I readjust in my seat. I’m weary of this new approach.

“I’ve missed you. You should come home for a visit.”

“I didn’t know I was welcome.”

“You’re always welcome. It’s your home, too.” After an awkward pause, she says, “You’ve changed in the last seven months. You’re very handsome and look a lot like your father when I met him.” She smiles with pride as she searches my features as if to find contrast. “Your face structure is clearly his, but your eyes match mine.” An expression I haven’t seen in a long time, a soft smile, appears. “Kate seems to be the opposite. She looks like me, but has your fathers coloring.”

“She’s a beautiful girl—”

“Let’s hope she has the sense to use that to her advantage.” She shuffles some papers in front of her as if she’s back to the task at hand. “What have you been doing with your time out here?”

“I think you know for the most part. I’ve been working. It’s not full time, but it’s steady.”

“Your father tells me you decided to take more time off from school. Why is that?”

“I don’t feel ready for the commitment school takes. When I return, and I will return one day, I want to be focused—”

“It must be nice to flounder on your parents’ dime—”

“Like you did?”

Her eyes lock on mine, her pupils narrowing. “I didn’t flounder, Evan. I have a degree from Barnard College. Because I chose to stay home and raise a family doesn’t mean I don’t deserve respect.”

My blood boils as she looks at me spewing these words as if they’re true. “You didn’t choose to raise us. Nannies raised us. You were too busy getting drunk with the ladies of society to give a shit about me and Kate!”

She quickly rises to her feet, slamming her hands down on the wood desk top. “I will tell you this only once, Evan. You do not swear at me and you will show me respect!”

“Respect is earned. Isn’t that why you always told me you didn’t respect me, Mother?”

“I don’t respect you because you let a small incident throw all my…
your dreams
away. You let one small bump in the road ruin your potential.” I jump to my feet, walking towards the door as she continues shouting. “You will not leave until I dismiss you.”

“I’m not your servant!” I yell, not missing her slip up about my fulfilling my parents’ dreams. Stopping at the door, I turn around waiting for her retort, the excuse that will allow me to justify once again that we have no real relationship.

“That’s obvious because you’ve never listened to anything I’ve said.” She sits down as if she’s calmed down. She straightens her blouse and gently smooths a few loose strands of hair back into her updo. “I don’t want to fight with you. I’m actually hoping for us to resolve this mess and move forward. Will you please sit down and talk to me?”

I want to stomp my foot like a petulant child, but I reserve my emotions, knowing I’ll take them out on some waves later. I take my seat again and lean down, dragging my hand through my hair twice before fully calming down.

“Let’s talk business,” she starts, “your father won’t be on the island long enough to go into any real details, but you and Kate are expected back for the annual company summer party. There’s no arguing this. You were noticeably absent from the holiday party and we missed you at home. I want you to be there for this event. I want my family back together. Can you do that? Will you come home for me?”

I can see the sincerity in her eyes and agree to her wishes by nodding, not able to give her more than that.

“Good. Thank you. In other business, a board meeting is scheduled for that week and since you’re still considered an active member you’re expected to attend. We’ve had a lot of changes that I’m sure you are unaware of so please study the details before you fly out. Your father’s company is resting in the hands of you and your sister and I expect you to protect what is rightfully the Ashford’s.”

“Okay.”

“Your father and I are still hoping you’ll follow in his shoes one day. I don’t think you’re a lost cause despite how you perceive my opinions. With power comes commitment, and we expect a certain level of respect from you. Your name is being sullied with rumors on a daily basis. You must show everyone that you mean business and you deserve their respect. That won’t come about with your flitting about being useless. It’s not been easy to squash the rumors thus far and will be even harder if you continue on your current path. So Dad and I need you to make some decisions and since school is off the table for the fall semester, you need to make better choices in your personal life.”

Oh, here it is. Here’s what she’s been trying to get at the whole time—
Mallory
. “Are we talking about my dating life?”

“We’re talking about your reputation, your image, and your future. There are plenty of,” she laughs with a casual gesture of her arm, “willing young ladies in New York. They’re beautiful, smart, and connected. They are the whole package. Surely, you can attend a few events during your visit.”

“Those debutantes are shallow and only care about fashion and gossip. I’m arm candy, a prize for them to display and use to make others envious. It’s pathetic. Anyway, I’m dating someone, someone that you treated like trash last night—”