Robert chuckled and sighed heavily, then yawned again before answering me. I sat with my cup of hot coffee not even wanting to drink it because I felt confused and hurt by how Veda just rejected any activity with me at all.
"Well, Asher, it's one thing you're going to have to relearn."
"Relearn?" I felt even more confused by his words.
"Yes… When a man gets sober, he thinks life just goes on the way it was, but you have to give people in your life a chance to slow down and see the new you. Veda knows only what she saw of you before you went to rehab. She's expecting a different personality, different moods… Heck, she might look at you as a different man—because you are. So give her time."
I didn't fully understand because Veda had only known me for about two and a half weeks before I got clean. But that short time had been long enough for me to fall for her without any hesitation. If she'd fallen for me the same way, I could see how sober me might be a shock.
"Yeah, you're right…" I mumbled, but I didn't feel much better.
"Look, there's a program dinner tonight. Folks from all over the city will be going. Why don't you come with me? I'll be able to introduce you to some of the men there who've been in the program longer than me." It was a kind offer, and with nothing else on my calendar, I couldn't refuse.
"Sounds great, Bob," I told him and I heard movement behind me. "I'll let you go. Sorry again for waking you."
"No problem. Remember what I said. Give her time and space. You'll see it'll all work out."
Robert hung up, and I turned to see Veda standing behind me fully dressed. I was shocked because I thought she was sleeping. Seeing her ready to walk out the door made that tinge of hurt grow.
"I thought you were sleepy?" I asked, setting my mug down and rising to go hug her.
"I am… but I have this horrible migraine and I just want to go home." Veda stood still so I could hug her and press a kiss to her forehead, but she was stiff.
"I'll drive you… Let me call my car." I was instantly moving, pulling back from her to get my phone from where I left it on the bar next to my coffee but she snagged my hand.
"I called an Uber," she said, and as if on cue, I heard a horn honking out front. "You just enjoy your coffee." She patted my chest and backed away, already heading to the door. "I'll see you at work Monday, but you can text me or whatever too…"
I stood there with my feet planted and my heart breaking.
Veda was definitely hiding something, but I didn't know what. And I didn't know how I knew, either. Something just didn’t sitright in my gut. She had no reason to rush off due to a headache after making an excuse about being tired. But there she went and if I tried to stop and question her, I was the bad guy.
Or that's what my conscience was telling me.
I sank onto that bar stool feeling my gut drop out the bottom. Clayton was a lying sack but he was still my brother. And now all I could think was what was Veda hiding that my brother would know about, and why was no one telling me?
Did I even want to know?
20
VEDA
Regan slid my third ginger ale in front of me and while it wasn't alcohol I knew it wasn't healthy. All that sugar wasn’t good for my body while growing a tiny human. But I'd cut out my bad snacking habits of sugary snacks and ice cream binges, so I allowed myself this one comfort as I sulked while sitting on a bar stool venting to my best friend.
"I'm telling you, Veda, the truth will set you free…" Regan sipped her own drink, which looked magically similar to mine except that it was rum, not ginger ale. I glowered at her utter freedom to drown her stress in drink and sighed as I took a sip.
"I don't think so this time." My head hung while I stewed. After that picture last night I bolted from Asher's place this morning. Clayton finally had dirt on me that was worse than the recording of me agreeing to hurt Asher and seduce him. It had made my entire day nothing but one massive headache and vomit fest. There was no way I'd ever have survived a day with Asher in his home or out doing the things he asked me to do with him.
"Yes, you're thinking this happily ever after fairy tale… And you'd be right to assume that won't work out. What did you think would happen when you let a man pay you a million bucks to?—"
"Half a million," I corrected, but she kept talking.
"Seduce his brother? Hmm? Veda, you're not getting the man. It's time to let that fantasy go and just get honest. You may still be able to keep your job. Your success there isn't based on how you got the job. It's based on how you've done while on the job." Regan turned and picked up a towel, flinging it over her shoulder as she set her glass down.
"You think I really want to keep working there if Asher dumps me?"
Regan chuckled and shook her head. "If?" Her eyebrows rose and she sighed before coming back over to where I sat. She took my hand and squeezed it. "There's no if, honey. That rich man isn't gonna stick around to hear your story once you tell him you were paid a half-million dollars to seduce him and wound up pregnant. It doesn't matter how you spin it. He'll see a gold digger… "
As harsh as her words were, they were said in love and I knew it. Regan was my ride or die best friend. Everything about her character was moral and ethical and upright. Had Clayton offered her this gig, she'd have chased him out of the bar and not let him come back. It was a wonder she even spoke to me anymore, given what I'd done.
