Page 18 of We're Just Friends
“We’re going whether you like it or not,” Richard announced, taking that as a challenge. “Besides, you need to have some fun.”
"Fine… but I'm not singing any duets with you."
Richard rolled his eyes and laughed. “Good!”
It was good to be home.
* * *
After droppinghim back at the office, I drove to the mansion and situated myself within the office of his guest house. I couldn’t get over how peaceful and quiet it was out there, with nothing but the birds making noise as I worked. In San Diego there were birds, but the only ones that seemed to catch my attention were the damn Tijuana Parrots squawking at seven in the morning outside of the office.
I had a lot of work to catch up on, which I pushed myself to finish a little quicker than I should have. My body was in desperate need of a workout, and I wanted to fit it in before I had to get ready for karaoke. After authorizing a few things that were needed in order for my business to run smoothly, along with a quick call to my secretary, I changed into some workout clothes and headed to the gym.
It wasn’t too crowded that afternoon, which I appreciated. It was impossible to workout at my gym back in San Diego without fighting for the use of a machine. I had even tried going around two or three in the morning, when most people were sleeping, but even then it was busy.
I hopped onto the elliptical machine, plugged in my earbuds, and cranked up the house music on my cellphone. It felt good to work my leg muscles again, and what man didn't enjoy being surrounded by hot women in tight yoga pants? Of course…the River Valley gym had a few hot gals, and then a serious amount of middle aged women that forced my attention back down to my phone.
I was just getting going when my phone rang. Hillard's ridiculous grin popped up on the screen. I jumped off the elliptical, quickly wiped down the machine, and took his call. I just so happened to be behind a redhead in black yoga pants and a red racerback workout shirt. My eyes followed her every movement as she got in her pre-workout stretch session.
“What’s up,” I said.
“You tell me? How’s the trip going?”
“It’s going great. I had lunch with Richard, saw my dad, and now I’m working out at the gym. You should see my brother’s place, man. The guest house is bigger than my entire condo.”
“Is he looking for a roommate?” We both laughed into the phone.
I wiped the back of my neck with my towel. “Since when are you so eager to leave San Diego, with so many hotties flocking to you at the bar?”
“I’d love to see some of the chicks in River Valley, man.” Hillard was being weird.
“Since when are you interested in women from my hometown?” I chuckled.
“Since you showed me that picture of Julianna,” he replied.
I palmed my hair, remembering that night in my penthouse. We had just gotten home from a party, I was wasted, and spilled my guts about Julianna. Of course, Hillard would have suspicions about my trip and the possibility of me contacting my high school friend. “Speaking of which, I called her to see if she wants to get a drink while I’m in town.”
“I knew you’d want a hookup,” he said so loudly that I had to pull the phone from my ear.
“It’s not like that,” I said giving a passing woman a shy smile.
Hillard yawned. “You’re a guy. You have needs. Why not have a little fun with her?”
“We have always been just friends,” I said as I watched the redhead do squats in front of a mirror. “And she’s married.”
Hillard laughed. “Since when has that ever stopped you before?”
The married women I’d slept with, in my defense, were always separated or in open-relationships. At least that’s what they had told me.
Not that it would have mattered.
“Like that night in Las Vegas, right after you made your first couple of million dollars. You took two very attractive blondes, both with wedding ring sets on, back to your suite in Caesar’s Palace and told me all about it the next morning at lunch.” Richard liked to remind me of every wild night I had, no matter how long ago.
I smiled though, remembering that night. It was pretty wild. "Their relationship status just never came up."
If they didn’t want to explain their wedding rings, then who was I to question it?
“All I’m saying is that if she makes a move, and she will because every woman does with you, don’t miss the chance to get it on just because she’s married.”
