13: Meals and Mothers

DELILAH

Seth and I had gone on what turned out to be a four-hour hike, not returning until closer to lunch. Time flew with the beautiful scenery and more discussions about our childhoods. I smiled, sitting on the porch checking my messages. Our conversations reminded me about what I had been putting off.

Casually flipping it closed as my mom demanded I call her again, I took a deep breath, closing my eyes. Then opening them once more as I worked up to it. Watching Seth unpack his truck on the other side of the large house. Thinking about the conversation we had on our walk.

The more time with him, the more I was starting to enjoy his company. It was hard not to want to spend time with him. His very personality was infatuating to be around, light-hearted and funny; not to mention knowledgeable about his surroundings. He could not only name a lot of plants I didn’t know existed, but he discovered some really beautiful flowers hidden among the hills. One particular flower was probably the most breathtaking in my opinion, and the most delicate was something native to Oregon.

They were tiny orchids the locals called lady slippers. I had probably captured about fifty pictures without Seth rushing me to move onwards before I began to feel guilty. Then another twenty more for all the ones that we found after in abundance. It had been rather silly, but an enjoyable experience nonetheless.

“Enjoying staring at my brother?” Cole whispered, coming up behind me making me jump slightly. He joined me in the second rocking chair, getting himself comfortable.

~Stay calm.~ I mentally told myself. ~He’s just being an ass.~ “We were actually about to discuss your adolescence over lunch, care to join?” I replied smoothly, putting my phone in my pocket.

“Mmm, is that so,” he said, skimming his lips with his fingers. “Did you touch yourself to me this morning?” I rolled my eyes, not feeling in the mood for the conversation. Something he seemed to pick up on right away as the look on his face faded. “You alright?”

“Yes. Fine,” I replied, attempting to keep my voice even.

I wasn’t though, and in truth, I really needed to vent.

Cole was patient, staring at me as if waiting for me to begin my explanation. Not that I really needed to give him one for not wanting to be interested at this very moment. With a deep sigh, I turned to Cole in order to squarely face him. “No. I’m not fine. I’m frustrated and it has everything to do with my personal life and nothing to do with you. Alright?”

“Touche. You dig into ours. Why don’t you share it? Whatever it is, it seems to really be bothering you. You’re, almost, shouting at me, Doll.”

“Don’t call me ~doll~, I’m not your… toy.” I made a face, pulling out my phone as it buzzed once more. Another angry ranty text from my mother. Threatening to travel. “I don’t know how you found me, but you had to have done some sort of research on me. So are my problems really relevant?”

“Some, enough to know you had relocated and had a breakup. Strange though, considering your career seemed to be taking off. It doesn’t exactly give me the full picture. What changed?”

“I lacked transportation,” I retorted, though it was hardly the issue.

“You got your license six months ago,” He replied quietly, calling me out on my lie and leaning forward. “Was that because you knew of your impending bad breakup?”

My jaw locked, not wanting to discuss Eric and irritated by the fact he dug in enough to have some picture of my relationship status. “Not the reason for the move, thanks.”

“Then what was?”

I was quiet, watching the garage close as Seth waved at us both, pointing inside to indicate he was about to make lunch. We both smiled, and I waved back while Cole gave him a thumbs up. Taking a moment to collect my thoughts on what I wanted to say on the subject. Not that it was really one I wanted to go in-depth for at any length.

“I know you both were born to parents that weren't really parents, so you’ve always had each other, but I had parents and the whole doting family lifestyle. Only to the extreme in ways that make me want to run as far as possible. With a mother like mine though, even the moon wouldn’t be far enough.”

“So bad you had to quit a well-paying job? For a near minimum wage one?”

“If she didn’t have a key, she would break and enter. There’s no calling the police either, that’s my mother. It’s not something you exactly just do further south and then explain to an officer it was just because she thought someone was trying to murder you for the fifth time this week. I’d eventually be fined for wasting their time, and suffer the emotional family repercussions of my actions instead of hers.”

“Holy fuck. That sounds like a nightmare.”

“There really is such a thing as too much love,” I reflected as I stretched, trying to shake the tension from my shoulders. “So I’ve been avoiding calling her since I moved.”

“Is there a particular reason… why? If I might ask? No offense, but you dealt with that for years and having your parents’ love is better than none.”

I shook my head, throwing the now severely vibrating phone as she called me once more, onto the table giving Cole a disgusted look. Both of us watched it for a moment before it finally went silent. “Honestly? I have absolutely no will to talk to her. I don’t know why, but the sudden realization that I don’t have to pick up the phone?” I shook my head, placing a few fingers on my forehead as I tried to articulate how I was feeling. “It’s as empowering as it is scary. The longer I go, the worse I know it’ll be, so I just… don’t want to. I still love her, and you’re right to a degree, but I need my space.”

“Huh,” Cole said, leaning back and placing an arm behind his head. “You know, maybe it’s empowering because you finally feel like you have some sense of control over your own life through your actions. I know you wrote an article about that once.”

Just like the flip of a coin, Cole went from being a man on the prowl to a real person. Understanding me on a level he didn’t even begin to know the depths of. It was making me feel a little better about being physical with him, and would likely make me feel a little less sorrowful after our encounter. I hadn’t really slept with anyone since my ex, but Cole was the first one that seemed to be honest about what he wanted but was patient not crossing boundaries. The sex with Cole was already ten times better, and he hadn’t even penetrated me with his cock yet. Even last night, he stayed for a short pillow talk, not even expecting anything in return which was even more astounding and strange. Letting me go to bed only when I could barely keep my eyes open.

~I was exhausted, this was true, but even my ex in all the years we had been together—~

I shook my head, giving Cole my honest opinion. “I write good advice, but that doesn’t mean I live very well by it. It’s really hard to practice what you know is supposed to be good for you.”

Cole chuckled, his gaze darkening slightly. “I know the feeling, it’s really hard to resist certain temptations when they’re right in front of me.” A blush crept up my cheeks, the reaction he had been looking for in the beginning written all over my face in an instant.

His responding grin escalating as he began to get up and—

“Come make a pizza, guys, the dough and all the toppings are ready to form your own personal pies. The pizza oven is also hot and just about ready!” Seth announced, slapping Cole on the back with a grin as he came out.

Cole took the small hit like a champ, shaking his head as he staggered only slightly. “You really are insane. How early were you up?”

“Early enough to make the dough. Let's make some pizzas.”

“Yay! Pizza,” I said, lifting up a fist with a smile, happy to take my mind off the still buzzing phone as we headed inside.

“Are you going to get that?” Seth asked curiously, glancing behind us as the door slammed shut.

“Nope, just spam. I’ll grab my phone later,” I replied cheerfully, the truth not far off from the mark in my mind.

Lunch had been everything Seth had promised and more. When he said he had all the toppings ready— he really had ~all~ the toppings. It had taken me a while to decide where to start beyond rolling out my dough, considering he had two sauces, three rubs, two drizzles— and a number of toppings to boot. It was overwhelming, so by the time I got to the cheese, I decided to keep it as simple as possible with just pepperoni, mozzarella, and cheese. Opting for the poor man’s simple toppings.

While we sat, we discussed the evening events for tomorrow— as well as my departure. It sounded more like I would be enjoying myself than really interviewing anyone at the party; though both Seth and Cole did want me to comment on the aesthetics and overall timeline of the event since they were hiring an outside source to host it. Most of it was entertainment for the guests and a few charity events for rich people to buy things and donate to charity. Nothing too surprising, with an open bar to boot.

“I need to get going. Are you sure you don’t want to make another one?” Seth asked me for the fifth time even as he was putting small Tupperware of toppings away.

“Yes,” I replied, laughing as I slid away the last slice on my plate, covering my mouth. “I may be bigger, but I really don’t eat that much. I just lack the exercise.”

“I think you have curves in all the right places, but I suppose toning never hurts,” Cole replied with a wink, taking a sip of his soda next to me.

Seth frowned, acknowledging the exchange with a curious look. “I just want to make sure you're going to be okay here before we get back without a vehicle and don’t get hungry. If you do, you're welcome to help yourself to this kitchen. The main one is stocked too, but it’s full of catering food right now.”

“As if she even knows where the main one is, have you even bothered to give her a tour of anything other than the guest wing?” Cole scoffed, his tone making me frown.

“It’s alright, we’ve all been busy. Plus, I’d hardly expect either of you to have me stomping through the entire house considering how private you’ve been for everyone else. Especially for such a small news article,” I said brightly, trying to excuse what could be seen as an insult.

Whatever I said seemed to soothe tensions as Seth put on an easy smile. “Well, I’m certainly not opposed to showing off the house a little bit once I get back. I have to go do a photo shoot for—”

“I can show her around,” Cole replied, his tone laced with irritation.

Seth’s head whipped over to meet Cole's eyes, a look passing between them. “I thought you had to work.”

“That’s what this morning was for, I took the rest of the day off. Jewel was annoying me.” Something ticked in Seth’s jaw. The tension between them magically returned, making me more than a little uneasy. “You spent your time with her, more than an abundance. It’s my turn,” Cole added, his tone dark.

Taking a steady breath, I brightened my face—trying to keep things light and professional. “Well, that’s great. I still need to do your one-on-one interview you’ve been avoiding anyways. No comment isn’t exactly something I can put in the article.”

Cole smirked, tilting his head at his brother as if to say ‘see, we’re fine’.

I tried not to feel guilty. The fire in my stomach already building. I knew what Cole had for intent as far as showing me around; and it likely wasn’t the house. The bed, the shower, a secret hot tub even maybe—but the house itself was a very unlikely endeavor.

“I suppose you two have the afternoon all figured out then. I suppose it is better than leaving you alone for hours as our guest,” he gave a pointed look at Cole, as if to say any gaps where I was left alone were his fault to begin with—a look I had read very easily considering their small back and forth at dinner the other night when it was revealed Cole had invited me. For Seth, I had been a very unexpected but welcomed guest nonetheless. “I should be back around four o’clock or so.”