Chapter 9

Adrian slows his pace on his treadmill to a slow walk before stopping and getting off. He grabs a towel and wipes sweat off his face and neck, his thoughts swimming in sky-blue eyes. He can’t stop thinking about her full lips, her velvety skin, and glossy curls. He’s fantasized about her at length since the day he saw her seated in his conference room.

He hasn’t been able to think of anything other than seeing her again. And the more time that passed since the evening he’d asked her to work for him, the more on edge he felt. When he hadn’t heard anything from her for a week, he’d caved and called her. He isn’t someone who likes waiting around. Especially for something he wants. He always gets what he wants, when he wants it as long as he pushes hard for it. But this time around he might have to live with whatever choice she makes.

He faces the floor-to-ceiling mirrors while catching his breath and almost doesn’t recognize the guy he sees in the mirror. When was the last time he’d been excited about anything? He sinks onto the weight bench and starts unlacing his shoes, wondering at his newfound exhilaration. He hadn’t made it this far by allowing himself to be distracted. And she had distracted him. He hopes it wasn’t a mistake to offer her a job.

Adrian stands and heads for the shower. It’s a Sunday so he’d let himself sleep in for a change. He could still have been on time for the gathering with his family. But when he’d woken up with explicit images of Beth in his head, he knew he needed a couple of minutes on the treadmill to clear his head before he could meet them.

He doesn’t mind that his grandma insists on having a family dinner every last Sunday of the month. He loves his family. He just isn’t eager to sit through another session of his mom bothering him for grandchildren.

The thought of grandchildren sweeps away what’s left of his light-hearted mood. His legs suddenly feel tired, his heart heavy as he spins the knobs on the large stone-walled shower. He steps beneath the spray and considers the possibility Beth hadn’t been grateful for his butting in and isn’t going to accept his offer.

As the steaming water pounds against his neck and back, he thinks it’s probably for the best.

****

Adrian is greeted with chaos the second he steps into his parents’ house. The venue of the dinner rotates monthly and this month it’s at his parents’ house. His Grandma is the first to see him. Although she has a house of her own, she usually stays with his parents. She barely says hello to him before offering him food.

“Adrian, darling,” she greets as she shoves a plate of baby carrots in his face.

He barely has an appetite but he definitely can’t say no to her so he gives her a wide smile and accepts it. “Thanks, Granny.”

“Adrian.” His mom steps out of the kitchen and makes her way toward him. He’s been avoiding her all week and he feels a bit guilty about it. She uses every opportunity she has to talk to him to mention her desire for grandchildren. He’s certain she’s itching to bring it up again especially in the presence of the rest of the family because they’ll be sure to back her up. He isn’t prepared for another trip down memory lane. He curses the fact that he’s the oldest and has to bear the brunt of her insistence. She reaches him and he bends to kiss her cheek. She uses the opportunity to wipe some invisible speck off his face. When she releases him, she gives him a knowing smile. “I know you’ve been trying to avoid me and I know why.”

He feels slightly uncomfortable but her smile suggests that she isn’t offended so most of his guilt slips away.

“I’m sorry if I’ve become intolerable with all my talk of grandchildren. It’s just that your father and I aren’t getting any younger and we could do with a little bit of noise in the house now and then…”

He scoffs “Mom! I thought you were trying to apologize.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” She laughs but it winds down to a sigh. “I love you. You know? And I just want what’s best for you and your siblings.”

“I know, Mom.” He gives her a hug.

“Hey, man!”

Adrian turns to the source of the greeting and is surprised to see his brother, Vincent, walking toward him. He has his arms stretched out with his ever-present grin plastered on his face.

“What are you doing here? I thought you planned to be out of town the whole month?” He hugs his brother giving him a clap on his back. Vincent had texted him on Friday saying he was out of town for a medical conference and wouldn’t be able to make the dinner.

Just like Adrian, Vincent is completely devoted to his job. He’s even less likely to settle down and start a family because, unlike Adrian, his job served as more than just a quest for domination. He is dedicated to saving lives and just helping people generally. And for that, Adrian has the utmost respect for him and looks up to him even though he’s his younger brother. It’s probably also for that reason that his mom directed most of her demands for grandchildren toward Adrian. She knows she’s more likely to convince him to focus on something other than work.

“Yeah. That was the plan originally. But plans change,” he says, giving him a wink.

Adrian raises a brow. “Why are you being so cryptic?”

Vincent gives him a sly smile. “You’ll see.”

He walks away and makes his rounds across the room, leaving Adrian confused.

“Adrian!” his sister’s voice calls from the kitchen. “You haven’t said hi to me!”

Alya. Ever the drama queen.

In the kitchen, Alya is standing by the sink rinsing vegetables. He walks over to her and gives her a playful nudge.“Hello, stranger.”

She returns his nudge.

“How’s my little bug?”

She groans loudly. “I’ve told you a million times to stop calling me that.”

“Not happening.”

Hands in his pocket, Adrian walks to the French doors leading out to an enormous patio. He can see his dad squatting beside the grill, trying to get the old thing to work. Adrian has offered to buy him a new one several times but he refuses every time, insisting that the old grill ‘still got some life in it’.

“Sooo, about the internship…” Alya starts with the tone she uses when she wants to borrow his car without her driver’s license. That tone means trouble.

“I’ve told you, if you want an internship you’ll have to apply. No favors.”

“Not even for your little bug?” she asks with a mildly cute puppy-dog face.

He chuckles. “Now you like the nickname.”

She turns away from the sink and places the rinsed vegetables on the counter. She pauses as she’s reaching for the chopping board. “You look different,” she says, eyeing him.

“What do you mean?”

She shrugs. “I don’t know… Brighter.” She narrows her eyes. “Are you seeing someone?”

He laughs. “Why are you bringing this up?”

She smiles her cat smile at him and starts chopping the vegetables. “Call it feminine intuition.”

“Or I could call it…delusion. You know me better than that. I don’t date.”

“Well, people change.”

He grabs a beer from the fridge and twists off the cap. “Maybe. But not me.”

****

Twenty minutes later, the house is packed with every known relative of the Dane household from cousins to granduncles and aunts. He’s seated around the outdoor table between Colin and Alya to a delicious dinner of barbecue chicken, grilled veggies, and balsamic roast potato. They drift in and out of conversation until everyone’s plate is empty and they’re all lazily sipping their drinks.

Vincent stands and taps the side of his glass with a fork. “I would like to say something. I’m happy to announce that I’m getting engaged.”

The table erupts in cheers. His mom in particular gasps and nearly falls out of her chair. Adrian stands to give Vincent a congratulatory pat. He’s genuinely happy for him, however unexpected the news is. He’d known Vincent was seeing someone but he’d had no idea it was something serious.

When he returns to his seat, Alya leans in and whispers into his ears giggling, “Told you. People change.”

He scoffs before taking a long sip of his wine.