2X The Heat (2X The Pleasure 1)

Chapter Seven: Tristan

The four of us were hardly ever together.

I sat next to my sister, and my parents were across from us in the limo. My dad, he was pretty much my twin. Women still hit on him too, I could only hope that I would age like him. I was already entering the perpetual loneliness of divorced life. I have to admit, I wish it were as easy for me as it were for my parents.

They met in college. They were friends first, dated, and then got married. I was already divorced at thirty, still having sex with baristas in supply closets. With a condom, of course.

“You need to look like you want to be here.” Natalie whispered to me.

Mom and dad were off in their own world, their faces close as they held their conversation.

“I can try. Can’t really promise anything.” I adjusted the cuff of my shirt, I hated suits. Even when I went in the office every day, I never wore them.

“And be nice to everyone. I know they can be nosy, but sometimes they mean well.” She meant I should ignore everyone prying into my personal life about Vivian.

It was none of their fucking business, but god forbid you tell them that. They took it as a direct insult.

“Right. I’ll keep that in mind.”

The only reason I was even going to this thing was because Sasha was such a sweet old lady, and it is a good cause after all. If it were anyone else, I probably wouldn’t be going

The drive was pretty long since the ballroom was all the way downtown. And then once we got there, we were up to our fucking necks in traffic.

“Let’s go around the back, please.” Dad said to the driver. We usually always have the same one, but we hadn’t gone to any events in quite a while.

The driver took us around the back. The only thing here were the catering vans. Mom and dad didn’t usually like to make an entrance. The front walkway would just have a bunch of photographers anyway.

“Whoa, who did this arrangement?” Natalie commented once we got out.

We went in through the back door. Mom blended in with the color scheme in her cream-colored gown.

“I’m not sure.” Mom answered her.

The back went through a long hallway. We came across another door, probably the back entrance. I let them go ahead of me so I could mentally prepare myself for all the faking that I have to do. That other door opened up when my family rounded the corner, I did a quick look, but did a double take when I saw her.

It might have been in slow motion. Or maybe I’m just dizzy from not really eating all day, but she waltzed in like a cloud of blue silk. Her hair fell in waves of light strawberries, framing her angelic face. But that was all I got before she disappeared down the corner. The only reason I stepped into that party was to figure out who the hell that was.

It seemed odd, but in this circle, everyone knew everyone. And I had never seen her before. I found my way in and spotted the family at a table close to the front.

“Where did you go off to?” Natalie handed me a glass of champagne as I sat next to her.

“Bathroom.” I lied.

Mom and dad were already getting visitors. Dad put on his best friendly face, and mom just played along.

“So, Kit couldn’t come?” I said to Natalie, and she shot me a glare. Her thick eyeliner didn’t make her look any nicer.

“No, he comes back tomorrow though.” She answered anyway.

I sipped the champagne, but I needed some food in my stomach before I started hitting the alcohol. The event hadn’t started yet anyway. People were still piling in, and I was still looking for that woman. I replayed everything in my head; her wavy hair, her flawless skin. She was so far away I didn’t get a good look, but I was already stuck on her.

Then I had to tell myself to quit it. I wasn’t in the mood to get attached to any other women.

“Natalie, you couldn’t have worn something else?” Mom leaned in to the table to scold Natalie. I chuckled to myself, not believing we could still be chastised for what we wear.

“What, why?” Nat played dumb, looking down at her gold dress with a rather deep vee.

“You’re hanging out.” Mom hissed. Dad just frowned, and I kept laughing.