Find Me Alastar(65)

The boys smile broadly and Alastar picks up my hand and kisses the back of it without thinking. My eyes linger on his face a little too long and he glances over at me, raising a brow in question. I shake my head. For heaven’s sake, Emerson, stop openly swooning over this guy. You’re getting embarrassing.

“The other night he was supposed to be away,” Brielle continues.

“Aha.”

“And when I went to check on the kids, I saw something in his bedroom.”

Thomas puts his hands over his eyes. “Don’t tell me he was doing the deed with someone else?”

Brielle shakes her head and takes a huge gulp of her wine. “Nope.”

Alastar’s eyes dance with mischief as he listens.

“He was naked.”

“Naked,” Thomas repeats and Alastar smirks.

“And…” I shriek.

Brielle puts her hands over her eyes. “And he was pulling himself.”

“I told you he was a wanker.” Alastar laughs as he slaps his hand onto the table and we all erupt into laughter.

“And what did you do?” Thomas asks in shock.

“I stood there and watched. When he saw me watching, he kept going.”

“He kept going!” The boys both shriek. Alastar and Thomas high five each other.

“You dirty, dirty girl,” Thomas yells.

“Is Em this dirty, Star?” He points to me with his glass.

“Filthy.” Alastar smirks and we all laugh.

Brielle puts one hand over her eyes in horror and I grab her hand over the table as I giggle.

“And then what happened?” I ask.

“And then we have been weird ever since and he went out on a date. Then I accidently-on-purpose booby trapped his next date and told her about another date,” she says in a rush to get it all out.

The table falls silent and I put my hand over my mouth to stop myself from laughing.

Thomas goes into a serious thinking pose. “There is only one thing to do,” he replies seriously in that strong Irish accent as he narrows his eyes.

We all lean into the table to hear his solution. “What?” she asks. “I need help. This is a disaster.”

“You should take me home and f*ck me like an animal, really, really loudly so he can hear.”

The table erupts into laughter again.

“Hell, and just to be nice, you can do me on his bed if you want while he watches.”

Alastar raises his glass in a toast motion and we all join in. “To Thomas, forever the gentleman and willing to take one for the team.”

We all in fits of laughter as we repeat. “To Thomas, for taking one for the team.”





Chapter 13





I sip my coffee as I smile stupidly at my handsome breakfast partner who is sitting across the kitchen counter. Wearing grey sweatpants, a white t-shirt with bare feet, his hair is in its best messy, curly, f*ckable style. We have just showered and I am back in my dress from last night. I must look ridiculous. Alastar is going to take me back to my house so that I can get dressed before he drops me off at work.

He blows into the hot coffee in his cup as he contemplates saying something. I can hear his brain ticking from here. “I go away next Wednesday,” he tells me casually.

“Where to?”

“America.”

“For how long?” I ask.

“Indefinitely.”

“Oh.” My face falls.

He puts his coffee down onto the counter. “Don’t give me that face.”

I frown. “What face?”

“That disappointed face.”

I push out a forced smile and sip my coffee. I’m not sure what to say. I knew this was coming to an end all along. “So… you wont be back at all?” I ask.

He shrugs. “I don’t think so.” His eyes hold mine as if waiting for me to drop to the floor and cry or something.

“What about Fraidy?” I ask. “Who will feed him?”

“I have someone coming in to mind the house.”

Oh shit, he really is going. “Oh,” is the most intelligent reply I can muster.

He smiles, seemingly relieved at my nonchalance of this new knowledge.

My eyes drop to the floor. This is why he wanted to end it. He knew that he was leaving. Why did I sabotage myself and say I wanted casual? I should have ended it that day in the café when he told me he wasn’t married.

I fake a smile. “Who are you going with?”

“Thomas.”

“Sounds fun. Where are you going exactly?” I ask.

“All over.”

I nod as I look at my watch. I don’t know what to say without revealing my sadness. I want to get the hell out of here. “We should probably get going. I’m going to be late for work.” I stand.

He stands, seemingly unsure of what I’m thinking as he watches me intently. “We still have a week together.”

“Great,” I reply, deadpan. Stop it. Act cool.

He wraps his large warm arms around me and holds me tight, and finally I surrender. I put my arms around his neck and kiss him gently.

“Stay with me for the week,” he whispers against my lips.

I frown.

“Let’s go to your place, get your things, and you can come and stay with me for the week.” I pull out of his grip and shake my head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, but thanks for the offer.”