Chapter 67: CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX

Alex POV

Still sitting in my armchair trying to forget the past.

I realised that I didn’t want to forget.

Well, not completely anyway.

Sarah was the best part of my childhood.

For a time at least.

As all my memories of her and our time together come flooding back, I hear my cell start to ring.

I look at it hesitantly.

I really didn’t feel like talking to anyone right now.

But it could be Cassandra.

The moment that thought pops into my head I race to answer my phone.

I look.

It wasn’t Cassandra.

It was my mother.

I let the phone ring a few more times before I answer.

“Hey mum.”

I say as sober as possible.

“Darling, how are you?”

She’s rather cheery for this time of night.

Something’s got to be up.

“I’m great.”

“How are you?”

I ask her.

I wanted to make this quick.

“I’m fantastic now I have spoken to you sweetie.”

“Good.”

“So, what’s up?”

“You don’t usually ring this late.”

I wait.

“Well, your right about that but a little birdie told me you paid a trip to the Hamptons this afternoon.”

“I just wanted to know why, and to see if everything was alright.”

At first, I thought Jericho had told her, but then I remembered…

“Dennis.”

She chuckled.

“Yes, he thought I should know that you had gone down there considering you haven’t been there in years.”

“What on earth possessed you after all this time darling.”

“Especially after the way they all treated you.”

I was sitting here trying to come up with a good enough answer for her.

More like a lie if I was telling the truth.

But I had nothing.

I think it best I just be honest with this one, after all she is my mother, she will know if I’m lying.

“Well, if I’m honest mother I went there chasing after a girl.”

I hear her tsk.

“Not again Alex.”

“I thought you were past this honey.”

“We can’t go through this again with you.”

“The last time was painful, on both sides.”

“You have to give this up, right now.”

I couldn’t believe she was acting this way after everything.

Making me out to be the bad guy.

Well, I wasn’t.

Not this time.

And I wasn’t going to give her up.

Not for anyone or anything.

Especially not my big-headed big brother.

“Mum, you don’t understand, it’s not like last time I promise.”

“This time is different, she’s different.”

She starts to laugh.

“Oh Alex, you said that about Sarah do you remember.”

“Yeah, but I didn’t know that she was screwing Jericho did I.”

“Language for Christ’s sake Alex.”

I start to snicker.

How is it she knows how to make me feel like a small child every time she reprimands me.

Must be a parent’s thing.

It’s definitely a gift that’s for sure.

“Anyway, what’s this young ladies name then?”

She asks and waits for me to respond.

“It’s Cassandra.”

I say.

“Pretty name.”

“Perfectly fitting for her.”

“She’s beautiful mother.”

I start to swoon.

“She must be if she’s got you hooked.”

“And Jericho.”

I slip.

“What do you mean?”

“What about Jericho.”

“Alex please do not tell me that you are messing with your brother again.”

“I thought you two were past this.”

Her tone starts to sound threatening.

“I just meant that Jericho may or may not be interested in her also.”

“Oh, Alex.”

“What have you gone and done now?”

“Nothing mum.”

“Don’t worry yourself with unnecessary situations.”

“You have nothing to be worried about.”

‘I promise.”

She exasperates.

“I hope your right Alex because when all is said and done, he will still be your brother at the end of the day.”

“I know that mum.”

“Did Dennis happen to mention that Jericho was also there with Cassandra and her friend.”

I hear her gasp.

“No, he didn’t.”

“Why were they there?”

She asks clearly frustrated.

“Well, it seems that Jericho had promised them a holiday and I just thought I would tag along and surprise them.”

“You, never.”

She exclaims.

“Are they still there?”

I wait to reply.

I didn’t know how I was going to explain their departure.

“No…”

“There were a few words spoken and things got a little bit tense.”

I say evasively.

“Alex, what did you do?”

“Did you go and upset your brother.”

I think for a moment.

Did I upset him?

If I did, that would make me so very happy.

I start to feel all warm inside.

I know, I know, I have some brother issues.

So, who doesn’t nowadays.

Sue me.

“To be fair, we both upset each other.”

“How?”

I start to explain.

“Well, he brought up the situation that led me to leave the Hamptons in the first place.”

Mother gasps.

“So, I kindly reminded him that it wasn’t me that was sleeping with my secretary.”

“Infront of Cassandra.”

“Oh, Alex, you didn’t did you?”

“What were you thinking.”

“He’s your brother.”

I was too drunk for this crap.

“Yeah, so what.”

“He wasn’t thinking about me when he was boning Sarah behind my back.”

“Or when he knew I liked his secretary, Amy.”

“It’s about time he got what was coming to him.”

I was angry.

“What is wrong with you.”

She speaks.

“I’ve never heard you like this before.”

“I’ve just had enough of living in my precious brother’s shadow.”

“Ever since we were kids.”

“Jericho this Jericho that.”

“I’m just so done with it.”

“And I won’t be backing down from this mother, not without a fight.”

I wait for her to respond.

She takes a minute.

“I can’t speak to you when you’re like this.”

She finally says.

“I will see you for lunch on Sunday.”

“Hopefully by then you will have calmed down and we will be able to have a rational conversation.”

“Goodnight Alex.”

“Night.”

Before I finish the call ends.

That was the first time she never said I love you at the end of the call.

I was such a dick to her, and it’s got nothing to do with her.

See, even when he’s not here he’s still driving me insane.

God, he was so frustrating.

I needed to take him down a notch.

I need to see Cassandra.

Finish telling her my story because by the time I’ve finished telling it I guarantee she won’t be wanting to be with him when it’s finished.

And then she will be mine for the taking.

Fuck you Jericho.

You lose this time.