Enlightened (Red Flags) (8 page)

"No.  I applied a while ago. I interviewed and I got it," Chase replied, then took another long sip of his beer.

"And you want that position?"  Hunter finally added in, looking inquisitively at Chase.

"It's the opportunity of a life time. I'm just looking at my long term goals."

An awkward silence was cast over the table when Chelsea finally ended it.

"You've lost your fucking mind, Chase!" Chelsea screeched, her high pitched voice reverberating throughout the building.  "And what the hell is wrong with you, Cara?  You're okay with this?"

"No, not at all," My sudden revelation had me backtracking, since I had told Chase that I was happy for him.

Glancing over at Chase, I took notice of the red hue of his face.  I wasn't sure if it was anger or embarrassment, but Chelsea was relentless with her disgust for the idea of any of us being anywhere near Jason.

"It's a good career move, Chelsea, that's all," Chase retorted.

"I don't get it.  I'd rather be unemployed." She looked at Hunter for confirmation, but he didn't give any.

"Actually, babe, I think this is good for Chase.  If Jason doesn't have any ulterior motives, this could set you up for a promising career," he said, looking directly at Chase.

"Well, good luck.  I don't trust shit that has to do with that guy," Chelsea said, with a sour look on her face.

The waitress came out with the order of fried calamari and took our orders.  Chelsea ordered yet another martini while I opted for lemon water.  I could tell if we didn't cut her off soon that our night would get even more interesting.

"Cara, fill us in about your new job, and of course that panty dropping boss of yours."  She winked and moved her martini glass up to her lips when I shot her a look of death.

I could see Chase growing more and more uncomfortable.

"Chels, you are ridiculous.  I have an awesome job, but I'm not fawning over my boss."

"You were all descriptive when telling me about Mr. Rolston," she said, allowing his name to roll off her tongue in a seductive manner.  "Nothing to worry about, Chase.  He's too old for Cara."

I kicked her under the table and she grimaced while laughing.  Hunter sat with a slight grin on his face, shaking his head.

"I don't want my boss and Chase and I are just friends -- nothing more."  I wanted to move away from that conversation quickly, so I redirected the conversation to Chelsea and Hunter.

"So what are the plans for the big day?  Any thoughts about it?"

Hunter scoffed.  "Your friend has been going non-stop about the wedding. I think we might have a bridezilla on our hands." 

I laughed. Hunter was absolutely right.

"I'm not a bridezilla. I just know what I want." 

In Chelsea's world, that meant the moon and the stars.  Hunter had been with her long enough to know that so I didn't feel sorry for him.

"Anyway, what are you doing tomorrow night, Cara?  I'm checking out some outdoor venues at night and I want you with me," she said, staring me into submission.

"Sorry, Chels, I have to work."

"Work?"  She questioned. "On a Saturday night?" 

"Yes.  My job is all about promoting and networking.  My weekends are going to be shot for a while."

"Well that sucks for you." 

I sarcastically smiled at her and dug into the food that had just been delivered to the table.  Chelsea was back, and this time with a ring on her finger and more of a reason to be crass.

Chapter 7

My beeping cell phone was the unwanted alarm clock that awoke me early on Saturday morning.  As I lazily reached out of bed to grab the phone, it dropped on the floor and I had no choice but to get up and retrieve it. 

I had two text messages from Mila asking if I wanted to meet up for a run at Del Mar beach, and a text message from Jason.

From Jason

Good Morning, Gorgeous.  Hope you slept well. 

I Love You!

I replied to Mila letting her know that I didn't feel like making that long drive and that I had a work engagement later in the evening. But I didn't reply to Jason's.  A couple of times my fingers fixed themselves over the keys, but just as I was ready to type a response, I remembered how much I wasn't supposed to feel for him, so I sat my phone down.

I jumped into the shower and allowed the water to soothe me into a daydream.  I kept thinking about Jason and how much I missed his sweet touch, but then thoughts of him and Stacey's smug face popped into my head, breaking me from the pleasantries.  I missed him, but every time I thought about reaching out to him, my conscience told me to remember the red flags that had been thrust at me.  I couldn't imagine going through what I went through ever again.

After finishing up in the shower and dressing in a tank top and a pair of mesh shorts, I sauntered down stairs to the living room, I heard the front door open and in walked Hunter with coffee and donuts in hand.  I smiled at him, wondering where Chelsea was.

"Morning, Hunter.  Where is that wholly inappropriate fiancé of yours?" I asked, laughing as I walked over towards him.

"She's still upstairs sleeping.  Too many martinis last night.  Coffee?"  He pushed a cup over to me, and I took it, along with a few creamers to make it more manageable.

I looked at Hunter as he popped a chocolate covered donut into his mouth

"What's wrong?" he asked, suspicion written all over his face.

I sighed.  "I've just been getting text messages, calls, and flowers from Jason.  I miss him, but I don't want to.  I need a guy's opinion."

He sat his donut down on the napkin and wiped his mouth.  I could tell the atmosphere was about to get serious.

"Cara, you had an emotionally up and down relationship with Jason so it's normal to feel these feelings.  Love is not something you can turn on and off.  You love him. There is nothing wrong with that."

I bit the inside of my cheek, really taking in everything he was saying.  "So you don't think I'm crazy for missing him?"

"No."  He laughed. "In fact, I would think you were crazy if you didn't."

I shoved a piece of donut into my mouth as he continued talking.

"Why don't you return his call so you can clear your mind?"

I shook my head vehemently.  "I can't do that. Talking to him will open the flood gates of all of our memories--the good and the bad."

"Well, it seems to me that you're already being bombarded with those memories."

I stopped chewing and laughed a haunted laugh.  He was right, the memories of Jason were there and I wasn't dealing with them very well.  I had been avoiding any sort of social media because pictures and posts of us, and about us, were littering the sites.

I couldn't stand to look at us back when we were happy.  I'd heard Slither playing on the classic rock station one night and I immediately turned the radio off.  It wasn't even our song, but listening to Dustin McCreed's voice brought back the memories of our first night together, and my fabulous birthday party that he had worked tirelessly to surprise me with.  I wasn't handling things very well, and Hunter--the silent, observant one--could tell.

"What do you think of all this?"  I asked him eagerly.

"I think it's your decision and yours alone.  You can't worry about what Jason thinks, or what Chelsea thinks--this has to be
your
decision."

"I know.  I just feel like the biggest fool in the world for not seeing all the signs, or rather, ignoring them."

"Love is blind sometimes, Cara.  You aren't the first person to follow her heart and forget her mind.  Before I met Chelsea I was in a no good relationship--" he stopped.  He'd just shared a little tid-bit of information about himself that I had previously not known.  "Look, if you want to know what I think about Jason and everything that went down, I will tell you this--he loves you.  He loves you dearly, and I don't believe shit that Stacey or Jacob said.  I was still there that night when you and Chelsea left, remember?"

My breath caught.  Hunter was not usually so talkative and forthcoming.  I peered at him through glossy eyes as he continued speaking.

"He broke down the night you left.  He cried for a long time, after he tried to break his brother's damn neck again."  He paused and smirked.  "His mom found us at the guest house and knew something was terribly wrong.  He told his mom he no longer wanted anything to do with the family and that he wouldn't go back because being with his family was worse than being alone."

I let a couple of tears that were hanging onto my lashes fall down my face.

"Mrs. Bradley broke into tears and pleaded with Jason to take it back.  She said they could work it out, get into the family therapy that they'd put off for a long time, but he didn't want to hear any of it."

"His dad came out and Jason told him that he only had one son…that he was done with him and everyone else."

"What did Mr. Bradley say?"  I asked through sniffles.

"He didn't say anything, but the look on his face was showed shock and hurt.  Jason and I didn't even stay at the guesthouse. We got a hotel room."

I looked at Hunter and realized just how awful that night had been for everyone involved.  Hunter's tale tugged at my heart strings.  I hadn't even given much thought to how Jason felt that night, or what he had been put through after my dramatic exit because I was so consumed with my own hurt and embarrassment. 

"I'm not trying to coax you back into his arms, Cara, because Lord knows there were times when I wondered what the hell was up with him.  What I do know is that he loves you, deeply.  He's a little screwy because of everything he's been through with that circus act, but he does love you."

I batted my eyes to keep the tears away. 

"I feel like an idiot, Hunter.  I went through so much with him and I don't think I can go back to that.  People would definitely think I'm a dumbass."

"Cara,
you
are the only one
you
should be listening to.  If you want to go back then go back.  If you don't, then don't.  You can't let anyone else dictate your feelings."

I nodded my head and wiped away another escaping tear.  Hunter walked over and gave me a hug and then sat down in the seat next to me to finish his donut.

<>

Frustration couldn't even begin to describe the feeling I felt while getting ready for the meet and greet.  I couldn't decide what to wear and whenever I thought I'd found the perfect outfit, it screamed
wrong.
  Chelsea came into my room and calmly strolled into my closet and walked out with a simple black dress and a white cardigan.  She laid them on my bed and walked back into my closet to retrieve a pair of black heels.

"There you go.  Business casual," she said, smirking at me.

I turned to my bed and stared at the outfit for a minute, picturing the party in my mind, and decided that once again, Chelsea was spot on.  Without saying a word, she winked at me and walked out of the room.

About an hour later, I strode confidently down the stairs.  I left my make-up rather light, wanting to maintain a professional appearance.  Chelsea and Hunter turned and looked at me as I stepped down from the last step, and I couldn't hide the impossibly wide grin that had spread across my face. Chelsea grabbed her cell phone and snapped a couple of pictures of me, saying she needed to document my first work event, like it was my first day of school.  I laughed at her as I grabbed my purse and walked out the door.

Traffic on the drive to the Red Lion had me flustered by the time I'd arrived.  I sat in my car, blotting my face with a tissue, before making my way into the hotel.  Even though I was dressed for the occasion, I felt completely out of place.  Golden marble floors that sparkled from the fresh polish job they had received were framed by plush, red carpets, decorated by robust looking lions. A sweet, melodic instrumental played over the speakers, giving guests a calming feel of luxury.  The concierge pointed me to the Regal Ballroom, where plenty of impeccably dressed men and women were making their way to.

I stepped into the room after a few men who easily stood over six feet and instantly pinned them for team members.  When they finally stepped into the room and out of my way, I saw Amanda and William standing together, no doubt impatiently awaiting my arrival.  When Amanda looked up and saw me, a bright smile replaced the look of anxiety that she harbored.  She looked amazing.  A one-shoulder navy blue dress adorned with glittery beads at the hem hugged her perfectly.  She wore a nude pair of heels that looked much too uncomfortable to spend more than a few minutes in.  She rocked them though, and looked fabulous doing it.

"Hey, Cara. Glad you made it.  Mr. Rolston was growing impatient."  Amanda said, with a slight nod in his direction as she said his name.

"Yeah, I bet.  I hit all sorts of traffic and got here in the nick of time."  I snatched a glass of champagne from a server's tray as he walked by. 

Amanda walked me over to William.  Even though his jaw muscles were held tight, I couldn't help but notice how utterly handsome he looked in a simple pair of black slacks and a baby blue button up shirt.  He looked me in the eye as I approached him, and when I got close enough, he whispered, "You're late."  I blushed and looked down, well aware of my dad's mantra that was coming back to haunt me. 

"I'm sorry," I muttered. 

"Mingle.  Amanda will introduce you to some pertinent people.  I have some business to take care of."  He still didn't smile, but gave me a brief nod.  I looked over to Amanda who simply returned his gesture and then we made off in the opposite direction.

I met the Head of Finance for our division, the creativity team, two of the writers for the project, and a few of the players.  It would take a while to remember everyone's names, but after seeing the stoic nature of William in a work environment, I mentally made it priority number one on my to-do list.  

Amanda and I had stopped to chat with one of the players when she suddenly checked out of the conversation.  I didn't want to be rude, but the way she abruptly stopped talking and stared off into the distance had me curious as to what had grabbed her attention.  I followed her line of sight, but with so many people gathered in one area, I couldn't make out a particular focal point.   Excusing us from the conversation, I slowly pushed away and worked on gathering information.