The XOXO New Adult Collection: 16 Full Length New Adult Stories (275 page)

“You look pretty good considering,” she said.

“Mom!”

My dad approached looking a little older than I remembered. “How are you, Marin?” he asked with a smile.

“Good.” I sounded apprehensive. “I want you all to meet James.”

By this time my brother made his way over. They all gave James a once and twice over, but they didn’t seem to have the weary reaction that I’d expected. Instead, they greeted James politely. Michael offered James a cold beer, which he kindly accepted. The five of us sat at the patio table watching the kids play in the yard.

“So, James, how did you meet Marin?” my dad asked, prompting the conversation.

“Funny story actually.” He grinned and positioned his body to tell a long tale.

“Oh, no,” I said and buried my face in my hands.

“Wait. I want to hear the story,” Jennifer said as she appeared with the veggie tray and other snacks. She sat next to Michael eager to listen.

“So, I was walking home from an appointment in the city when all of the sudden I hear this awkward yelp.”

“It was not a yelp,” I said, annoyed.

“Oh, yes. It was a yelp.” James chuckled. “I see this woman face down on the ground with her purse spilled all over the sidewalk.”

“It was Marin?” my dad asked. James nodded.

“Did you forget Marin’s a klutz, Dad?” Michael’s comment made my cheeks flush.

“That’s true,” my mom said.

“I ran over to see if she was okay, and she was except for a small scrape on her knee. So, I helped her over to a bench. I carry a first aid kit when I work, so I was able to patch up her knee right there.”

I watched James tell the story with enthusiasm and purpose as if he had rehearsed it. He really seemed to enjoy it.

“She looked so embarrassed, but through the flushed cheeks I saw a familiar face. I realized that she was at David and Rachel’s wedding. She recognized me too, and we’ve been together ever since.” James relaxed in his chair and gazed at me as if his eyes wanted to say something.

Jennifer and my mom
ahhed
at the story, commenting on how cute it was and that finally my clumsiness resulted in something good. I pretended to enjoy the story as much, but I really wanted to roll my eyes and gag. James rubbed his fingers over my bad knee.

“Your knee’s been much better,” he said quietly referring to my long-term injury.

“Yeah,” I said. “I just hope I’ll be ready for the race in November.”

“You will.” James assured me with a smile.

“What race?” my mom asked.

“The US Half Marathon for St. Judes, Mom,” Michael answered.

“How’d you remember that?” I asked Michael.

“You’ve run that race for years.” I raised my eyebrows in suspicion. He continued, “What? You think I don’t pay attention to your interests.”

I threw my hands up to surrender.

We continued the friendly conversation for another twenty minutes before Michael and my dad started the grill. So far, the afternoon was going well. No condescending looks or comments. My best guess, they wanted to take it easy since I had just been jilted or they didn’t want to be rude to James. That would be a first.

Miles ran up to Michael with his bat and baseball. “Dad, can you play ball with me?”

“In a little bit, Miles. I have to get the food started so we can eat soon.” Miles put his head down and went back to the middle of the yard.

“Hey, Miles,” James called. Miles looked up.

“I can play with you until your Dad’s finished.” Miles’ face lit up.

“Yeah!”

I smiled at him, appreciating his kindness to my nephew. James tossed the ball to Miles who tried to hit it with his bat.

“Look at him, he’s a natural dad. He’s a keeper,” Jennifer said. “You did good.”

“I like him too,” my mom said.

“Seriously?” I asked. She looked at me as if liking James was the most natural thing in the world.

“Yes, Marin. Why is that so hard to believe?”

“You’ve never liked any of my boyfriends. You hardly liked Chad, you were just glad someone finally wanted to marry me.”

“Well, it’s true you haven’t always had the best taste in men, but all that matters is that you’re happy. Right?”

“Right,” I repeated slowly, skeptical. My mom never exhibited this nurturing attitude before. Something was up. “What’s with you? Are you dying or something?”

“No. Why would you ask me something like that?”

“Because you’ve never said all you want is for me to be happy.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Marin. You are my child, of course I want you to be happy.” She seemed offended that I would suggest such a thing, but I wasn’t buying it.

“Is this because I just called off my wedding? You’re trying to be nice, right?” I said. Yeah, that makes sense.

“Oh, Marin. Get over yourself,” she said, then walked back into the house. Jennifer and I exchanged astounded looks.

Jillian ran up from the yard and asked if I was ready to hear her song. I followed her into the house and into the family room where she had a beautiful baby grand piano to practice on. She settled on the piano bench and twiddled her fingers. She stroked the keys and immediately I recognized the song. “Canon” by Pachelbel. The same song I was going to walk down the aisle to. The song my mom walked to. I had dreamed about the song at my wedding since I was a little girl. Jillian played it so well that I became overwhelmed with pride and a bit of sorrow. When she finished I clapped as hard as I could and praised her wonderful playing.

“Why are you crying?” she asked, and I wiped my wet cheeks.

“I’m so proud of you.” I brushed her cheek and gave it a little pinch. “Why don’t you go back outside and play? I’ll be there in a minute.”

Jillian ran for the backyard, and I stayed in the family room. I scanned the assortment of family photographs that Michael and Jennifer collected over the years, from their wedding, to baby pictures of the kids, to pictures of the family at Disneyland. They truly had a picture perfect life, and I mourned over a life I could never have, a life I always wanted. I thought about the argument I had with my brother and how defensive he was when I asked if he had been faithful to Jennifer. It was clear that he probably had an affair, maybe two. All the late hours he worked. I imagined him with a sexy lab assistant or distinguished chairwoman of the board at the research center. Did Jennifer know? What would she think if she found out her picture perfect life wasn’t so picture perfect? I wiped the running mascara from under my eyes and headed outside. I heard a burst of laughter as soon as I opened the door. It was my dad, Michael, and James enjoying themselves by the grill.

“What’s so funny?” I asked.

My dad turned to me. “James was telling us about an incident he had with some quicksand on the golf course.”

“I didn’t know you played golf,” I said.

“I’ve been known to hit a few balls around the course,” he said, miming a golf swing.

“Next time, don’t go after the ball,” my dad continued with James.

“You got that right, Dr. Johns.”

“Call me Robert.”

Then I saw my dad give James a friendly pat on the back. It was a rare gesture, especially since they’d just met. My dad liked James. I felt my stomach churn, thinking about the disappointment my family would feel when James and I split, even if his infidelity was the cause. They still didn’t know that’s what really happened with Chad.

The hours of the afternoon passed like minutes. We spent them eating hot dogs and salad, playing badminton in the yard, and talking over iced tea and beer. Despite the awkwardness of faking it with James in front of my family, it was a great afternoon. I couldn’t remember the last time I had such an easy time with everyone.

While the sun set, Michael and I sat together drinking our beers with little words. My parents retreated inside to cool off, Jennifer stored the left over food in the kitchen, and James played with Jillian and Miles in the yard.

“I’m glad you came today,” Michael said with a slight smile. I shot him a look of doubt. “Seriously,” he said.

“Me too. I actually had a nice time.”

“Yeah, I think everyone had a nice time.” We watched the sky turn pink, then purple, and finally midnight blue.

“I haven’t, Marin,” Michael said. I looked at him, confused by his unprovoked comment. “The question you asked me in the lab. That’s the truth.”

I gazed into his eyes looking for a trace of guilt or dishonesty, but I didn’t see any.

“Really?” I asked.

“Really. I came close before, but I didn’t do it.” He gave an assuring smile, and I couldn’t help but believe him.

“Didn’t do what?” Jennifer asked as she approached from the backdoor. She put her arm around Michael’s shoulder and he looked slightly panicked.

“Sky diving,” I said. Jennifer threw her head back in a good laugh. It was a believable save. Michael was a dare devil in the lab, not so much in an airplane.

“Everyone ready for fireworks?” my dad shouted with his arms full of an assortment of Fourth of July paraphernalia. The kids howled in delight. James and I watched from the deck as the kids held sparklers and my dad illuminated the backyard with colorful explosions, red, green, purple, blue, and yellow. No matter how old I get, fireworks are always enthralling.

James stood behind me as I leaned on the deck rail. He wrapped his arms around my waist and whispered in my ear, “This was a really fun day. Thank you for bringing me.”

I didn’t know if it was the relaxed last eight hours with my family, the fireworks, or the little buzz I got from the few beers I drank, but in that moment my heart leaped. Something about being there with him, with them, felt right. I called off the guards of my own fight, at least for the night.

––––––––

F
ourth of July weekend was eye opening. Between my brother’s affirmation, my family’s positive reaction to James, and their new compassion toward me, I felt different, hopeful. Maybe there were good guys out there. If decent men existed, then James would definitely be one of them. Over the next few weeks, I felt myself relax. I maintained my guard, but I wasn’t so obsessed about catching him cheating. I spent more time enjoying his company, his laughter, his handyman skills, and his skills in bed. Yes, things were good.

That was until one afternoon in August when I had a sudden jolt back into reality, and my summer romance came to an end. James and I were taking our usual conditioning jog around the park. Out of nowhere, I heard a woman yell for James. We turned around to see a stunning woman in her running gear, which included skintight pants and matching Nikes. She could have easily been shooting a magazine ad with all the make up she had on. James ran ahead to greet her.

“Hey, Shanna. How are you?” he said.

“Great. You?” she said in a sensual tone, breathing heavily. Heart rate up or not, it was uncomfortably seductive.

“Great!” James stared at her a moment too long and I cleared my throat. “Oh, uh this is Marin,” he said. No “girlfriend” this time, huh? “Shanna’s a patient of mine.”

“Hi,” I said. She looked me up and down as if she were giving me a mental veto.

“Well, got to go. See you Friday.” She waved bye to James and ran in the opposite direction.

“Bye,” James waved and turned to watch her jog away. Her perky little ass bounced with each stride, and I swear I felt my own droop with resentment. I scoffed and crossed my arms. Was I really jealous? It was the first time I had seen James act slightly suspicious. Something was up. I could feel it and not like last time when the other woman turned out to be his sister. No, there was definitely something to discover, and I was going to find it.

Later at James’, I perused his appointment book while he was in the shower. Shanna Costa was entered for four o’clock on Friday. A late day appointment, huh? I put the book away and opened the bathroom door, steam covering my face.

“Hey, you wanna go to dinner on Friday?” I asked over the sound of running water.

“Wish I could babe, but I have a late appointment,” he said.

“How late?”

“Um, like eight.”

“Eight? That’s a little late for work, don’t you think?”

“Yeah, but sometimes I have to work around my patient’s schedule. Let’s have dinner on Saturday.”

I agreed and didn’t say another word about it. There was no eight o’clock appointment in his book. I double-checked. Shanna’s four o’clock appointment was the last one. Now why would he want to give himself an extra four hours?
Because he’s sleeping with her!
I knew he was too good to be true.

When I got home later that night, I called in for back up.

“Do you have a black outfit?” I asked Telly after she answered my call.

“For what occasion?” she asked.

“Spying.” It felt almost as exciting as it sounded.

“I’m listening.”

I told her the whole story, and she agreed to accompany me on a special spying expedition. There was only one Shanna Costa listed in San Fran, so it was easy to find her address. I only hoped it was the right one.

Telly pulled up to my apartment on Friday afternoon. When I opened the door, I saw she was dressed in head to toe black with sunglasses and a black beret. I was also wearing black, but opted for a ball cap with my hair tied in a ponytail.

“What’s with the beret?” I asked.

Telly whipped her head in my direction and in a phony French accent said, “It goes with le spying out-feet.”

I raised my brow. “We should get le going.” Within seconds, we sped off.

If James, in fact, had a four o’clock appointment with Shanna then it would be ending by five, which is exactly when we pulled up to Mayberry Street with its series of beautiful Victorian style townhomes on a steep hill. The kind of picturesque neighborhood revered on San Francisco postcards. Hmm, there was no sign of James’ SUV.

“Shit, he’s not here.”

“Do you think we missed him?”

“I don’t know.” I glanced at the house. Shanna was carrying a bag of groceries inside. Alone. “That’s her,” I whispered and ducked down in my seat.

“Why are you whispering?” Telly said, trying to pull me upright. I surveyed the street again, thinking I missed his SUV, but it was nowhere to be found.