Page 50 of What She Wants

Zoya smiles at him in a way that shows how much she adores him. “I’ll walk you out so we can talk for a bit.”

He waves at us and tells us goodbye before dropping his arm on her shoulder and walking out. I know surreal has been my word for the week but seeing her here is just that.

* * *

Marín

Having the pool party is a great idea and an even better distraction. I lean back letting my cousin entertain the guests more than me because I’m trying not to feel guilty about what I told my mother last night at the reception.

Maybe it’s because I haven’t been away from her for this long that it’s bothering me but I try my best. It dawned on me this morning that while I’m happy, I can’t share that with her.

It isn’t fair but when has my mother really put me before anything else? It’s always about reputation or what she needs… it didn’t click that I suppressed so much growing up but last night when I said something to her, a dam broke.

You’re making my life just as miserable as dad’s…

Those words, I said them to her and immediately after I regretted it. I didn’t get to take them back because my father told me to walk away and go be there for my wife, something he never got to do. Him and mom may have had their differences but he did love her at a time. She just didn’t know what fighting for love meant and he moved on, living his life to the fullest.

I’ve noticed how my family is here for me but it doesn’t feel the same without my mother anymore. I won’t be the type of person that is sad about it. It’s just really fresh right now and I need to realize that she does more harm than good in my life.

If my mother showed up right now, I’d forgive her after her apology to my wife. It doesn’t mean I’d let her just continue on as if nothing happened, no it would be different. That’s the only way she can be in my life now. Hopefully the distance between us has her realizing that she loves me more than her anger towards the Founders’ family.

The doorbell rings, pushing me back into reality and out of the feelings of misery that were trying to creep up. As a doctor, I know what this is but as just myself, just as Marín, it’s the boy crying inside realizing that his mother might not care about him at all. Let alone like him as a person enough to respect his wishes.

Esme is a bit busy with talking to her sisters and her cousin, Zoya who is a lovely person. All the LeClaire women are beautiful as hell but Esme is my LeClaire girl. Something special about this one and I’m glad she’s all mine. Walking by her, I pull her to me and give her a quick kiss on the forehead.

“What’s this for?” She asks with a sparkle of glee in her eyes.

“Just because you’re my Esme, baby.”

“Alright then, husband. Don’t think you’ll get away with whatever you’re planning.” she teases and I chuckle. She pulled me out of a mood, she didn’t even know I was in. ]

Leaning in, I whisper in her ear quickly. “I like that now, only call me husband when I’m fucking you so deep, you can’t think of anything else but saying thank you, husband.”

Esme blushes and before she can respond with her witty ass answers, I walk away and answer the door. “Hello,” I answer to a smiling Ainslee along with Mikonos, Markos, and two men I’ve never seen before.

“Hi, Marín. Glad someone opened the door, Mikos almost used your key.” she jokes with a wink.

“Where’s your husband?” I ask her, just to be annoying.

“At home, like a good little boy watching the twins.” She smiles wide.

“Ainslee, what the fuck are you lying about now?” Jagger walks up as if he knew that his wife was saying something ridiculous. And to think that he dragged her ass out of the wedding hall and now, we’re all about to become friends.

As they further walk into the house, I notice that Ainslee hasn’t introduced the two guests.

“Are you going to introduce us?”

“Yes, yes. Marín, meet Andres and Adrian, my little brothers. Andres is the tan man and Adrian is the lighter man.”

“Andy’s fine.” the tanned black man says. He’s tall, maybe 6 feet and 3 inches just like Adrian. They’re not that far in height but the brothers Markos and Mikonos tower over everyone, that’s a fact. The more I look at him, the more I realize he looks like Andres, well of them do.

“You can call me Adri.”

“So you two are…”

“Brothers. Same mother, same father.” Andy answers to that and for a minute, I don’t say anything. I just stare at them then look for Ainslee but she’s already with the girls talking about she’s ready to show how the twins gave her a better body and Jagger tells her to sit the fuck down which makes some guests chuckle.

“Keep up, pussy doctor.” Mikonos says. “Colombian mother, Puertorican and Black. It’s a toss up. One, Andy looks like a biracial lighter skinned version of Andres and Adri looks like he’s a fully colombian version of Andres. Boom and yes, this was after Ainslee. Stay out of his business. Papa doesn’t talk about his life with the rest of us . Funny huh? Now, point me to food, drinks and the fucking pool.” He shakes his head and lifts his hand. “I’ve got it. I know where everything is.”

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