Chapter 24

I skirt his car and move to get in quickly, inhaling heavily to calm my rattled nerves, I slide in and put on my belt while he stows my bags in the rear then comes to join me inside. He looks me over for a second, a hint of sheer bewilderment, before starting the car. The frown and the sudden silence I know only too well. He is mulling it over and I can’t tell what conclusion he has come to. I also know him that if he doesn’t like a subject, he drops it fast and moves on quickly. I already know that’s what he is about to do.

“To the Hamptons,” he finally states as he maneuvers us back into traffic, not really looking at me. He shifts in his seat to get comfy, adjusts his mirror and fiddles with a couple of dials on the stereo without looking my way. Fidgeting is something he does rarely. Okay, never, and it only super sensitizes my already frayed nerves. That bite of anxiety and I take a long, slow, deep inhale to calm myself. I hate that these last few minutes of conversation has weirded him out this way.

We‘ve barely gotten up to speed when his ringtone shrills through the car, cutting through the tense atmosphere like a welcome alarm. He flicks something on the panel beside the wheel, hitting the dash button to answer it on speaker without checking caller ID, and carries on watching the road.

“Hello, Arrick Carrero speaking.” He answers brightly in his normal business tone. I relax back in my chair, trying to push all the tension forming inside of me away, and try to forget the last five minutes by brushing it off as nothing. This is a four-hour road trip, and we have enough to get through before I get home without starting out with awkwardness and strange ‘joojoo’ between us.

“Hey, Darling.” Natasha’s voice oozes over the internal speakers, a little too honey-like for my liking. Try as I might to warm to her, I just can’t. To me, she is the absolute worst for him, they are alike, yet she is also boring, anal, and far too prim. Like a nineteen fifties reject who dresses like a Stepford wife. We’re not that far apart in age, but she acts like she’s my mom’s age at times and she seems to make him forget that he is still young enough to have fun or freedom.

“Hey.” Arrick glances at me with a slightly raised eyebrow, warning me to behave, knowing that sarcasm is a swift reaction. Not that he can ever stop the crap that comes out my mouth when it comes to her, it’s impulsive, like breathing or throwing up when you drink too much.

“Are you on your way home already?” Over the phone she has the sort of sweet girly voice that is used in cartoons for romantic heroines and Disney princesses. I have to curb the urge to eye roll, picturing that bright curly brown hair and elfin-like pale face. I can almost see her in her baking apron decorating cupcakes as birds clean the kitchen and I slump down in my seat to rest my chin on my hand on the windowsill, staring at passing scenery in complete irritation. Natasha is the gray cloud to my sunshine, even on the brightest day.

“We just picked up Sophie’s things from her apartment; she didn’t have a whole lot and heading there now. Did you want something before I left the city?” Arrick is relaxed again, seriousness passed, sitting back as he effortlessly controls his sporty car. I, on the other hand, am squirming to get comfy and trying to ignore the urge to cancel his call via the middle button, just so I can kill that shrill voice. My stomach aches with the sheer need to swear at something.

“No, it’s okay. I’ll see you when you get back. I just left something at your place, but it can wait. I will miss you, Darling.” That nauseating sweet tone oozes with sickly emotion; she obviously knows she is on speaker, so I don’t get the over the top ‘lovey-doveyness’.

Bitch!

“You too, Tash.” Arrick frowns as I eye roll at him, a bad habit I can’t curb even when I try really hard. He lets go of the wheel to roughly shove my shoulder and gives me another warning look. I stick my tongue out at him in response, annoyed that he always takes her side, even though there isn’t actually anything to defend right now. It just annoys me that he can’t see how god-awful she really is, or that she always wears the wrong shoes with just about every ugly dress she ever puts on. An occasional belt or nice accessory wouldn’t go amiss, or even a heel that is above an inch.

“Have a nice trip and say hi to your family for me. And you, Sophie. I hope you have a nice trip too.” That super gaggy sweetness gives me and stick my fingers down my throat. I pull a face of utter disgust and mouth a mock repetition of what the girl has said, Arrick shoves my shoulder a little harder and this time glares my way hotly. I have the urge to shove him back, as that one actually hurt my arm. Tossing my frostiest glare instead and stick my finger up in a very classy bird. I narrow my eyes, warring with the silent scolding he’s giving me before I relent with gritted teeth and a pasted on ‘uber’ fake smile he has always hated. I’m doing it for that reason.

“Thank you, Natasha. I’m sure I will have a thrilling time,” I reply cattily. Arrick lifts a palm in question, another narrowed frown my way and mutters something at me through his own gritted teeth. I raise my eyebrows at him snootily and go back to staring at the scenery with an irritated surge of anger building inside. I hate that girl more than any of his last girlfriends, not that I met many, and I wouldn’t care if she choked to death - on one of her overly pink cupcakes I am sure she makes with gluten-free flour, and organic fat free, flavorless sweetener!

“I’ll see you when I get back to the city. We’ll have dinner at that new place you want to try.” Arrick smiles, his tone friendly, despite still throwing me daggers. I think his jaw has probably started to spasm with the amount of tensing and teeth grinding he’s doing; I really want to poke him in that muscle that keeps moving in his cheek but keep my hands to myself.

“Okay, Arrick, I love you.” Natasha croons, and another slice of anger hits me in the gut, another eye roll and sigh as I mouth the words to the window in disdain. Breathing it out like poisoned smog. I have no idea why she feels the need to drag it out, or even call at all, seeing we left her less than an hour ago.

“You too, Tash. I’ll call you later.” Arrick ends the call via the dashboard and abruptly shoves me harshly in the shoulder again, this time so my nose bangs the window that I’m looking out of. I turn on him angrily in outraged reaction.

“What?” I feign innocence with an aggressive attitude. Rubbing my face and slapping his arm in retaliation. “That fucking hurt!” I snap at him.

“You know what!” Arrick snaps right back. Sighing and returning to watching the road. “You need to stop with the hostility; she’s my girlfriend and has been for a year and a half, Sophie. This is half the reason we don’t hang out as much! Just because you’re tired, and cranky as fuck, doesn’t mean you can start this shit again.” His furrowed brow almost overtakes his face. I just huff at his profile and throw myself back in my seat, lifting my feet to his dash and popping both shoes off so I can nestle barefoot, no longer caring if he is pissed.

“You have shit taste in women!” I scowl in accusation, huff some more and turn back to glare at the passing scenery to vent some of my frustration on other drivers passing by instead. The startled look of the woman at my side almost makes me feel bad.

“You have shitter taste in men, but I don’t act like a prize prick when I meet any of them.” Arrick snaps again, his normally cool demeanor fraying a little today. Last night, sitting up most of the night with me is obviously taking its toll on him. Or maybe eighteen months with the queen of proper has him like this all the time, not that I would know, as he never fucking spends time with me anymore!

“Excuse me? You were a complete asshole to Colin, and to Dexter. You threatened to break Alex’s face if I remember rightly!” I retort smartly. The anger inside of me bubbling away now that I’ve gotten myself into the swing. I have no idea how we got from fun and messing around to arguing in less than ten minutes.

Arrick doesn’t answer, knowing I’m right, and instead just shakes his head while focusing on driving again. This is one of the things he at least does right, when he knows he is wrong; he shuts up and lets it go.

Wise move.

“Just try for once. Try to get along with her because who knows … I may end up with her for a long time, and then where will that leave us? If all you can do is be a bitch to her? This works two ways, Sophie. If you want me around more, then you need to make it easier for me to be around.” He glances at me, still that green storm brewing in those hazel eyes, but the brows have lifted a little, and he looks less likely to throw me out the car.

“Fine … just don’t expect me to braid her hair or have sleepovers. I can do civil, but don’t ask me to be her bestie, because I have one of those, and you’re more than enough to deal with at any given moment!” I stick my chin up defiantly, shrugging, simmering, and give him a narrow glare. Arrick just sighs heavily once more and leaves me be.