Meant to Be (2 page)

2

Mike

Being the psycho person I was, I hired a PI to track Zeal down and bring her to my office. She was fed some bogus story about winning a yacht. Like an idiot, she actually believed him. Whatever.

I had to make this right between us for Cassandra. She didn’t bring up the ordeal, but I knew it got under her skin. She wanted her friends to like me and I was determined to make that happen. If the gang didn’t like her, it would give me a headache.

When she walked inside, she was wearing thin jeans and heels. A tight jacket with shiny buttons covered her torso. She approached the desk and her eyes widened when she recognized me.

“Yuck.” She looked at me like I was a dead skunk in the road.

I held back my anger. “Thank you for coming.”

“I didn’t. You tricked me.”

“Then thank you in advance for staying.” It was so hard not to blow my lid with this catty bitch.

“Who says I’m staying?”

I wanted to threaten her to sit the fuck down but I kept my cool. “Please stay for Cassandra. I want to talk to you.”

She didn’t seem persuaded.

“Please,” I begged. “There are a few things I’d like to say.”

“You’re a piece of shit and I’ll always hate you, Mike. You’re wasting your time.”

“I’d still like to have an adult conversation with you.”
Stay calm, Mike. Stay calm.

“Like you have any capacity of being an adult.” She crossed her arms over her chest.

I decided to plow through. “I love Cassandra with my whole heart.”

She rolled her eyes.

I clenched my jaw. “I’ve been an asshole to every other girl in my life, and I know I was. I’m not making excuses for it or lying about it, but Cassandra is special to me. I don’t treat her that way.”

“You just give her an STD,” she
jabbed.

“What’s your deal?” I snapped. “I slept with you a year ago. Are you really still mad about it? You were the one wearing a dress that was so
short, your ass cheeks were hanging out. You were alone, talking to different guys while they looked down your dress. If you didn’t want to be treated like a whore, maybe you shouldn’t have acted like one.”

Her eyes got so
big, I thought they’d pop. “That’s no justification for what you did!”

“I never said it was,” I snapped. “But you must be really ignorant if you think a guy is going to be gentleman if you’re parading around the bar like that. Honestly, I couldn’t tell if you were a prostitute or not.”

“Fuck you, Mike!”

“I’m not trying to put you down or start a war here. I’m just asking you to take down your walls and listen to me for a second without attacking me.”

Her eyes still burned in flames but she seemed a little calmer.

“Look. Cassandra means the world to me. I’ve spent my entire life looking for a girl that can put me in my place, render me speechless with just a word, a strong woman that doesn’t even need me to take care of her, someone so sexy it makes me want to cry, a person who is just as beautiful on the inside as the outside. And I found her. I admit I wasn’t the best guy in the world. I was a man I want my daughters to stay away from. But I realized how pathetic and depressed I was.
I wanted to change my life, become a better man. And I am that man with Cassandra.” I stared at her face, seeing no reaction. “I really want us to get along. Cassandra always speaks so highly of you and says you’re important to her. And if you mean that much to her, then I better get my shit together. I’m not asking you to forget what I did, but please give me another chance. I really am a good guy.”

She shifted her weight then dropped her gaze. She was thinking, but I had no idea what the
course of her thoughts were. “We can try.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s all I want.”

She put her hands in her pockets then swayed from side to side. “Every guy I’ve ever been withh as been a jerk, pulling the same number you did. I guess I’m tired of it. And Cassandra is a sweet girl who’s been through a lot. I didn’t want her to go through the same thing.”

“She never will,” I said firmly. “And I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Why is it I get the shitty version of you but she gets the perfect one?” The bitterness was in her voice.

“I really don’t know. But I was a different person when I saw her. I was looking for a serious relationship. As a result, that’s what she got. I dated a few girls before her, but didn’t hit it off with them. So I stopped calling.”

“And why can’t that happen to me?”

“You want my honest thoughts?”

She shook her head slightly. “I’m not sure…”

“Well, I’m
gonna tell you anyway. You’re hot, Zeal. There’s no beating around the bush with that. I wanted to fuck you the moment I saw you. But you aren’t going to find Prince Charming hanging out in a bar. The vultures are in there, looking for a piece of meat. They aren’t looking for the right girl, just the one to keep their bed warm for the night. I suggest you find a different hobby where you can meet better quality men.”

“Where did you meet Cassandra?”

“The first time I lay eyes on her, she was doing dead lifts at the gym. She wore a black sports bra that revealed her perfect stomach and gorgeous curves. Her spandex shorts showed an ass that could make a grown man cry.” She smirked at my description. “Then I saw her at work. She was sitting behind her desk, her long legs peeking out underneath. I made a total idiot of myself and rambled on about invoices. When she made me weak and nervous, I knew I wanted her. She was strong and fit, confident and smart, and just cool. The rest is history.”

“That’s a sweet story.”

“You’ll find it too,” I said. “You just have to respect yourself first. Cassandra made it clear she wasn’t a one-night stand kind of woman, and I respected that. I dated her for months and didn’t even kiss her. It wasn’t until I fell in love with her and she with me did I make a move for something more. I wanted her to be there the next morning. And every morning after that.”

She studied my face. “And what made you change so drastically?”

That was a long story. “My younger brother, a bigger playboy than I’ll ever be, got married. His wife is amazing, a really cool chick. I saw how happy they were together, happier than I was with my line of different chicks, and I realized how hollow I was. I wanted what he had. A beautiful wife that was my best friend, a home I shared with her, a person to accept me completely. So I chased it.”

“Well, Cassandra is very lucky.”

That sounded like an approval. “So…we’re okay?”

She shrugged. “I think so.”

I smiled. “Should we hug or something?” I wasn’t good at this affection thing.

“Okay.” She wrapped her arms around me and gave me a quick hug. I wasn’t attracted to Zeal, but I still felt weird hugging her, any girl for that matter. It was like I was cheating on
Cassandra.

I pulled away when I thought it went on long enough. “There’s something I’d really like your help with.”

She laughed. “You didn’t wait long to ask a favor.”

“Well, I’m desperate.”

“What?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Cassandra told me she never wants to get married…because of what your brother did to her.”

Her eyes flashed in emotion but she didn’t speak.

“I really want to change her mind. She needs to be my wife, the mother of my kids. I want something more from her.”

“I really don’t know how I could help with that…”

“Tell her she can trust me.”

“But I don’t even know you, Mike.”

I sighed. “Then tell her to not let what her ex did ruin her life. Have
a girl talk with her.”

“Well…don’t you think that’s a conflict of interest?”

“Are you telling me you want her to get back together with him?” That would make me explode in a rage.

“I don’t know…they were together for a long time. He just made a mistake.”

“A mistake?” I said angrily. “Where did he mean to put it? In her wallet?”

She sighed. “Look. I’m staying out of it. But if they did get back together, I would support it. I know my brother loves her. He regrets what he did—even now.”

I clenched my jaw tightly. I wanted to blurt what the motherfucker did to Cassandra but I held my tongue. If Cassandra didn’t want anyone to know, I’d keep her secret…even though it was killing me.

“Well, she’s with me and I’m not a cheater and a liar. I’m not going anywhere.”

“I didn’t say you were.” She held her hand up and backed away, flinching at my hostility. “I’m just saying, my brother isn’t a bad guy.”

I couldn’t argue about this anymore. “Just convince Cassandra that getting remarried wouldn’t be a mistake, whoever she ends up with.” Which would be me.
No one else. Me.

“I can try and talk to her.”

“You should.”

She shouldered her purse then headed to the door. “I guess I’ll see you around.”

“Can I take you to dinner tonight?”

“You really don’t have to be my best friend,” she said with a laugh.

“With Cassandra,” I added. “And bring Veronica and Lana.”

“Uh…they don’t like you very much.”

“One down and two more to go.”

“Hey. I never said I liked you,” she teased. “I just approve of you.”

“And that means a lot more than you liking me.” I opened the door to my office then let her walk out. “How about at seven?”

“Sounds good.”

When she was gone, I sat behind my desk and pondered the conversation. We made a lot of progress in a single meeting, and I was glad Zeal didn’t vehemently hate me anymore. If I could win over her friends, then maybe she’d reconsider marrying me. Cassandra was my dream and I’d do anything to make her mine until the end of time.

3

Sean

My dad started coming to work every day because he had nothing else to do. As soon as he walked into the building, everyone greeted him with warm smiles and affection. He was definitely popular.

Word had spread about his separation from my mom. And I noticed the women paid more attention to him, bringing him lunch or innocently touching him on the shoulder. Even the younger women did it. And hot women. I wasn’t sure if my dad had game or they were after his money. But my dad seemed imm
une to all their advances. He didn’t break his stride or think twice about it.

After work, my dad came into my office, a bag over his shoulder. “Want to hit the weights together?”

I smirked. “You work out, old man?”

He patted his flat stomach. “You think I look this good from sitting around all day?”

“I figured you had a fast metabolism.”

“Nope. We put a gym in the downstairs bedroom a few years ago. I tried to convince your mother to use it, but she preferred to do yoga with the wives of
the country club. I’ve never cared for yoga.”

He still spoke about my mom on a daily basis, like they were still together. When Scarlet and I broke up, I didn’t want to hear her name. It hurt too much. But perhaps it was different because my mom was still a part of our family, in a weird way. “Ready?” I asked.

“Let’s do it.”

We headed to the gym then changed in the locker room. Even though I never took off my wedding ring, the girls would still make passes at me. So I tried to look as unattractive as possible at the gym. I wore basketball shorts and a baggy t-shirt that hid my chest and muscle
s from view. It still displayed my swollen arms but there was nothing I could do about that. It was too hot to wear a long sleeve shirt.

My dad wore black basketball shorts and a sleeveless top. My dad always wore a suit or classy clothes, so I didn’t see his body very often. So when I saw defined muscles in his arms and calves, I was surprised. I expected him to be all wrinkles.

“What?” he asked.

“Nothing.”

“You’re surprised I look better than you?” he teased. “I’m not as old as you think.”

“Apparently not.”

We headed to the bench and spotted each other. I went first while my dad stood over me. His hands hung low so he could catch the bar if he needed to. I’ve never worked out with my dad before, and I was surprised how normal it was. When my arms started to shake, my dad immediately took the bar and racked it.

“Good set,” he said. “Now it’s my turn.” He lay on the bench.

I changed the weights, making it lighter.

“What are you doing, son?”

“Changing out the weights.”

“Sean, I can do it.”

“Um…let’s start light.”

He gave me a firm look. “Sean, please return the weights.”

I sighed then did as he asked. “There’s no reason to hurt yourself.”

“I’m perfectly aware of what I can and can’t handle.” He lifted the bar from the rack and did his set. My hands hung low so I could catch the bar if I needed to. But surprisingly, I didn’t. My dad didn’t even break a sweat. After he did three sets of ten, he returned the bar.

“I’m impressed, Dad.”

He stretched his arms. “I can do more than play golf.”

We headed to the leg press and took turns on the machine. My dad could meet my weight set and do the same number of sets. It left me baffled. I took a break and stood with my hands on my hips, catching my breath. My dad checked his watch.

I spotted a blonde across the room. She wore skimp
y shorts and a bra that pushed her breasts together. She was giving me the eye so I quickly looked away, not wanting her to bother me. I needed to wear a sandwich board that said, “I’m a married man.” So chicks would leave me the hell alone.

When she headed our way, I cursed under my breath. I hated being rude but sometimes I had to be. The last thing I needed was a rumor about me cheating to get back to my wife and get me in a world of trouble.

She came to my side but didn’t look at me. “I love your watch.”

Huh?

“Oh, thank you.” My dad smiled then flicked his wrist, watching the Rolex move. “I’ve had it for many years and it still works.”

“Money well spent,” she said with a smile. Her hands were on her hips and she had perfect posture. Her breasts were pushed out and her stomach was tucked in.

“I like your…shoes.” My dad looked at the ground, unsure what else to compliment.

“Thank you.” She pointed her toes then returned her look to him. “So, you work out a lot?”

I
can’t believe this chick was hitting on my dad. How did he do that?

“A few times a week,” he said. “Whenever I have time.”

“You sound like a busy man.” She gave him a smoldering look.

God, she wanted to screw my dad. Gross!

My dad started to turn red. “Well, I…have a lot going on.”

“Maybe you could squeeze me in and take me out for a drink.”

Hot damn. My dad has game.

His cheeks were even darker.  “Well, that’s very flattering…”

She reached into the cleavage of her sports bra and pulled out a business card. “Call me sometime.”

My dad took it with a shaky hand then she walked off.

I was frozen to the spot, shocked that a chick that hot just hit on my dad. I snatched the business card away and read her title. She was a workout instructor and part-time swimsuit model. “Wow.”

He walked to the next machine. “I need to work my quads.”

“What? Are we not going to talk about what just happened?”

“There’s nothing to discuss.” He adjusted the machine to his height.

“You aren’t going to call her?” I asked, still holding his card.

“No.” He seemed bored.

“Dad, she was fucking hot. What the hell is wrong with you?”

He gave me a firm look. “We’ve already talked about this, Sean.”

“But…just get laid, Dad. When was the last time you got any?”

He shook his head. “None of your business.”

“Don’t be a goody-goody,” I snapped. “Just take her out for a drink. She’s like half your age.”

“They are all half my age.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean they are
all
half your age?”

He shrugged. “That’s not the first time I’ve been hit on.”

Wow.
“Why didn’t you show me your moves when I was in college?”

“I don’t have any moves. I’m just a nice guy. And honestly, they just want me for my money.”

“How do you know that? You’re just a guy at the gym. They have no idea who you are or how much money you make.”

“Any girl who’s interested in an older man has father issues and needs money.”

“That’s not your problem! Fuck her and be done with it.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Watch your mouth.”

I rolled my eyes. “Just have fun, Dad. You’re single now.”

“I haven’t even signed the divorce papers yet.”

“Whatever,” I said with a wave of my hand. “No one would judge you for it.”

“Maybe you can screw around with a bunch of girls but I can’t. I have to actually care about the person somewhat to do something like that.”

“Don’t give me that,” I said. “I know you used to get around in college.”

“Yes, when I was twenty. I’m an old man now. I play by different rules.”

God, my dad was lame.

“If you left Scarlet, hypothetically, would you be chasing tail right away?”

Fuck no. I couldn’t even imagine being with anyone for the rest of my life. She could pass way, and ten years later, I’d still be alone. “Not the same thing.”

“Yes, it is. Now, would you?”

“No. But Scarlet is different.”

“Your mother wasn’t always off her rocker,” he said. “She used to be an incredible woman. And I miss that person.”

My heart squeezed for my dad. “I’m sorry.”

He shrugged. “That’s life.”

I sat on the machine beside him then handed him the card. “You want this?”

“Toss it.”

I threw it in the garbage can next to me. “I know it’s hard right now, but you’ll feel better eventually. I love you and Mom, but I think this is best for you. Mom didn’t treat you right and you’ll find someone who does. You’ll be happy again someday.”

“I just want to be married.” He released a deep breath. My dad was never sad or in a bad mood. Nothing could te
ar him down or make him feel weak. But now he was just a fraction of the man he used to be. And it killed me to see it.

I patted his back. “You got me and Mike until the end of time.”

He smiled slightly. “I know.”