Someone Else's Ocean(56)

“She did,” Ian confirmed as he took a sip of his beer.

“She had a huge future.”

“Mom,” I warned. She looked around the beach house she hadn’t visited in years. “It still looks the same doesn’t it, babe? Nothing’s changed. I guess our girl is safe enough here.” My father shot her daggers as he took another sip of his beer.

“Ian, I’m sure you have things to do.” With the tension thickening to choking level, I had to give him an out. “Don’t feel obligated to hang around.”

Ian didn’t move, his eyes challenged mine. Thoughts of what happened between us swirled around my newly aching head. I tried to read him but was disappointed when he flicked his eyes to my mother. “I have nothing pressing.”

“How long will you be staying?” I asked my parents as casually as I could muster, and my mother took immediate offense. Before she could open her perfectly painted lips and let words through, my dad piped in.

“Only a few days, and we’ll get a hotel tomorrow, we apologize for the intrusion.”

“It’s not an intrusion, Dad, this is your house.”

Uncomfortable silence followed until Ian swooped in and saved the day turning to engage him. “Koti told me you used to work with some pretty big bands.”

Conversation flowed easily from that point as my dad spoke about his days as a sound engineer and threw in a few stories including the one of how he met my mother.

“She hated me, it was so obvious.”

“I didn’t hate you,” she chimed in.

He gave Ian a wary look. “Oh, she hated me, and I’ve never had to work so hard for anything in my life.” My mother smiled, genuinely smiled at my father and a part of me sighed. Though I’d painted her the big bad wolf at times, and she was hard on me, she was a lot of other things. A loving wife being one of them. My parents clasped hands and my dad winked at her. They had a healthy marriage. It had been full of everything a union should be, mostly because my dad worshipped her, and she needed that worship. They met at a time where their hectic lives were winding down and I could always see their genuine appreciation for each other. I was a bit envious. And I saw Ian notice the same. My parents had wicked fights, mostly due to my mother being hardheaded in regards to me, but my father stood his ground and when he did, she seemed to respect him more for it. He’d done it a lot, especially where I was concerned. I’d almost missed the change of conversation until I felt all eyes on me.

“What?”

“I was just telling Ian how you tried the piano.”

“Yeah,” I said wrinkling my nose, “never got the hang of it. Ian plays beautifully.”

Ian’s flattered smile was brief, but I caught it. “I’m horrible.”

“I don’t think so.”

My dad’s eye darted between us and Ian looked at me with a mix of curiosity and something I couldn’t put my finger on.

My father smiled at me with pride. “This little woman has great taste in music, though. I think she got that from me.”

“I have your flat butt, that came from you.”

“Maybe” he laughed. “And my business sense.”

“Not sense enough,” my mother jabbed and everyone at the table ignored her.

She eyed me curiously and then let her gaze drift between Ian and me. Ian ignored her scrutiny and kept his beautiful grays on me, filling me with much-needed warmth. My father stepped in, offering us a reprieve from her silent interrogation. “Let’s go to bed, Blair. It’s been a long day.”

“I’m fine,” she said as she looked at me pointedly. I was too tired for the conversation she wanted to have and to answer the questions in her eyes, questions even I didn’t have the answers for when it came to me and Ian.

“Now, Blair.”

My mother’s eyes said it all as she reluctantly bid us goodnight and followed him upstairs.

Ian didn’t miss a beat before speaking up. “Jesus, you’re that uncomfortable with your own mother around?”

“I’m tired,” I moved to stand.

“Stop, look at me.” I turned to look up at him feeling the zing of his touch while electricity rode through my body and sent a shock wave to my core. He peered down at me. “Koti—”

“Please, just don’t. This isn’t fixable, no matter how you see it—she’s not going to let up, ever. I’ve been down this road so many times I could drive it blindfolded. So whatever suggestions you have, just know I’ve tried it. And I have to agree with you to some degree. When it comes to her, words mean nothing.”

Ian peered down at me as I bit my lip and shook my head. “Whatever you’re thinking, don’t tell me.”

“You have no idea what I’m thinking.” His fingers drifted up my arm slowly until they reached the strap of my cami. Eyes intent, he toyed with the material between his fingers before he gently pulled it down. His breath hit first sending goosebumps up my spine. I tilted my head back as soft lips landed and I sank into him. His teeth grazed my shoulder as his tongue darted out. I soundlessly moaned as he gripped the side of my neck with his palm and blazed a trail from the nape to just below my ear. I kept my moan internal as I gripped his hand, leaned into his mouth, and let out a word filled whimper. “Please.”