Fulfillment (Book 3 in The Temptation Series) (38 page)

She continued
the whispered conversation, now referring to herself in the third
person, “Because Carly really fucking likes Derek.”

I dropped my
hand to hold hers by our sides conspicuously. “Oh Carls, that’s
great. Do you want to know a secret?”

“What?”

“He likes you
too,” I whispered with an impish grin.

“How the...,”
she blurted out, then looked around sheepishly and continued in a
more quieter tone “... fuck do you know?”

I kissed her
forehead, “Because he told me.” I then turned her shoulders around
and playfully smacked her on the butt, ushering her out the
door.

CHAPTER
TWENTY-SIX

I’ve always
considered myself a quietly confident type of person. Not cocky or
arrogant, but grounded and self-reliant. My parents had brought me
up to be assertive in all that I did, instilling me with the
mindset that you should always attempt what is attemptable. If you
succeed in your attempts, you will have experienced something
profound, but if you fail, try again. And if you fail once more,
learn from your failure, but appreciate why you failed in the first
place.

I think it was
that piece of advice that gave me the confidence to agree to do a
lot of things in life. It was either that or my lack of willpower
against peer pressure that had me doing things I would not normally
do, like performing at a local pub in front of...let’s say...an
easy one hundred or so people.

This day was a
perfect example of that, being the day where I was to perform “The
Only Exception” for Bryce at an inner city bar. I’d been learning
the basics of guitar for the past couple of months with the
intention to surprise Bryce and give something personal back to him
after our devastating loss. I’d told myself that I wasn’t doing it
because I felt responsible for that loss, but I guess if I was
going to be completely honest with myself, there was a small part
of me that was doing it for that reason. I also wanted to give him
something back; something only I could give him.

Derek had been
wonderful, not only with his instructions but with our last minute
secret get togethers in order to practice behind Bryce’s back. I
think he also enjoyed the one on one time so that he could get
information out of me about Carly. They had been on two dates
already and I assumed were taking things slowly as Carly had not
yet mentioned anything about his physique or stamina or his cock’s
look, feel, taste and ability—things she often filled me in on
right away.

Nate,
Charlotte, Carly and I were all waiting patiently while Live
Trepidation set up for their gig on the rooftop at Bar 22. Carls
had come along to see Derek perform, and I wasn’t sure whether I
appreciated that or not. If my performance for Bryce was
acceptable, then great, she was there to witness that, but if it
was a complete flop, then fuck, she was also there to witness that
and have the ammunition to never let me live it down.

It was a
perfect early summer Saturday afternoon, the temperature sitting
nicely in the mid-twenties. Although I felt rather hot and slightly
clammy, guessing it was a result of my intense anxiety. I scanned
my surroundings, taking in the modern contemporary styled rooftop
bar, with wooden bench style seats running along the boundary
walls. Walls, which were also wooden panelled to about half way up,
stopping to support an ornamental garden containing lights. The
lights nestled in the garden lit up the painted feature walls that
spanned the space from the garden top, all the way to the
veranda-styled roof. There were also mirrored Art Deco pieces hung
on the feature walls which grabbed the garden light’s beam and
bounced it back into the room.

The bar sat
opposite the stage which was set up in front of the furthest wall
when you walked onto the roof top. The rectangular space in front
of the stage and bar was filled with matching square-shaped wooden
panelled tables and groovy white and red tub chairs. We were seated
in those chairs around a table, the closest to the stage.

“Alexis?”

Carly’s raised
voice snapped me out of my scrutinizing.

“Yeah?”

“Are you
alright? You’ve been off with the pixies ever since I arrived.”

“Sorry, I’m
just...” I leaned in closer to her. “Nervous.” I sat back and
couldn’t help but display a terrified look on my face.

She screwed up
her face then leaned in closer to me. “Why are you nervous?”

I looked at
Charli and Nate who both had their heads down, attention fixed to
their iPods. “Derek has been teaching me how to play the guitar,
and I’m going to surprise Bryce with a song. I’m freaking out, I’ve
only been playing for a few months.”

“Fuck off!”
Carls said out aloud.

I glared at
her then subtly flicked my eyes in the kids’ direction—they didn’t
even flinch.

“Are you for
real? Oh, my, God, that’s awesome. So, why are you nervous?”

“Oh,” I
deadpanned for the smallest of seconds, “Let me guess...cause
there’s a whole roof top full of freakin’ strangers.”

“Who cares?”
Carls said bluntly as she picked up her glass of wine and sipped
it.

“I do!” I
blurted out as I picked up mine, sipping it not as calmly as Carly
had.

“Why? Who are
you performing for? Them or Bryce?”

I tilted my
head to the side in frustration. “Bryce.”

“So just play
it for him. Don’t even acknowledge anyone else.” She sipped her
drink again then focussed her attention on Derek, having convinced
herself that her advice was my solution. “We haven’t had vanilla
yet,” she added.

“Oh,” I gave
the kids another quick glance, checking to see they were still
occupied with their handheld devices and not catching on to the
fact that their mother and Carly were now talking about sex. “Why
not? That’s unlike you. You normally devour vanilla then jump right
in to chocolate or even Rocky Road.”

“I do not,”
she scoffed.

“Yes, you do.
There’s not many flavours you haven’t tried.”

“I like
strawberry, Aunty Carls. Do you like strawberry?” Charli asked, not
taking her eyes from her iPod.
Charli, you eavesdropping little
rabbit.

“Yes, Charli,
I love strawberry. It’s my favourite.” Carls pressed her lips
together as if to say ‘Mmmm’.

“Mum, what’s
your favourite?”

I don’t
know. Are we talking about sex or ice cream flavours?
“I like
vanilla with sprinkles and topping and chocolate chips,” I answered
quickly.
There, I think that about covers everything.

“Yeah, me
too,” she smiled at me. “Can I have some now?”
What?

I looked at
Carly, her amused face revelling in the fact I had to somehow dig
myself out of this dilemma. “What Charli? What do you want?” I
asked flustered.

“Ice
cream.”

“Um, sure.” I
dug out my purse. “Nate?”

“I’ll have
what she’s having,” he replied, unperturbed and like Charli not
even removing his eyes from the little screen.
This is the
weirdest conversation ever.

Carls was
laughing. I shook my head at her.

“Here, Charli,
go up to the bistro desk over there and order two ice cream
sundaes.” I handed her the money and pointed her in the right
direction. “Nate, go with her please.”

“Huh?”

“Go with
Charli to order your ice cream or I’ll change my mind,” I
threatened in a joking manner.

“Oh, okay
thanks.” He placed his iPod in his pocket and walked off with
Charli.

When they were
gone, I turned to Carls. “Why haven’t you fucked Derek yet? Carls,
what’s wrong with him?”

“Nothing. It’s
not him. It’s me.”

“What’s wrong
with you then? Is your fiery whole singed?” I said as I choked on
the wine I had just swallowed.

“You’re such a
bitch. No, I really like him, and I don’t want to screw this
up.”

“You’re not
going to screw this up, Carls,” I said quietly, as I pulled her
hands into mine and squeezed them with reassurance.

“How can you
be so sure?” she groaned.

“Well, I
can’t, Hun. But I know you, and you’re awesome. Derek seems to like
your awesomeness as well, so just be yourself and go with the flow.
Don’t try to change who you are.”

“It’s not that
simple,” she whinged.

“Carly?”

“Yes,” she
replied, her tone laced with hostility.

“Do you want
to fuck Derek?”

“Yes,” she
sighed.

“Well, that’s
fucking great, because I want to fuck you, too,” Derek said as he
stepped up beside Carly. “How bout tonight? My house. I’ll even
cook you dinner first.”

Carly looked
like she had shrunk about two sizes.

“I won’t bite,
Carls...” He bent down and leaned closer to her ear, “unless you
want me to.”

Her eyes
widened and a small, embarrassed smile appeared on her face. I
couldn’t help but smile along with her.

“Sure,” she
answered, shakily.

“Good.” He
stood back up as if he had not just blown Carly’s mind. “Alexis,
how you feeling?”

“As nervous as
fuck,” I answered, continuing with his blasé attitude and ability
to easily change the subject. I held up my hands to see if they
were shaking. Surprisingly, they weren’t.

“Don’t be. The
last time we rehearsed you were fine. I will pick up the chords if
you falter. Now, Lucy is gonna call Charli up on stage as soon as
our set finishes, then you’ll be next.”

“Okay,” I
nodded.

Carls still
hadn’t moved, still slightly stunned but now staring greedily at
Derek.

“Hope you like
chicken. I make a mean satay,” he declared before he kissed her
quickly then headed back to the stage.

I watched
Carly come back down to earth in the seconds after Derek left.

“I don’t,” she
said as she finally made eye contact with me.

“You don’t
what?”

“Like satay,”
she admitted.

I laughed.

“But fuck!
I’ll eat it for him. I’ll even eat it off him if he wants.” She
dropped her head to the table in surrender.

***

Charli and
Nate returned shortly after, eating their ice cream sundaes while
we watched the band kill some popular covers and play some of their
own songs. I hadn’t yet had a chance to listen to the CD that Derek
gave me for my birthday, but after hearing the two songs they
played, I was going to make it a priority—they were great
songs.

“When do I get
to sing?” Charli asked excitedly.
Geez, I wish I had her
enthusiasm.

“Derek said
when they finish this first set of songs, Charli,” Carls explained.
“So what are you going to sing?”

“I’m going to
sing “True Colours”. Lucy has been helping me practice. I like that
song because it’s about rainbows.”
Oh, my, God! When has Lucy
been helping her practice?

Just as I was
about to ask her, Lucy called her up on stage. She jumped up like a
grasshopper and made her way toward Lucy. Bryce took a seat beside
me and placed his hand on my thigh.

“We have a
very special guest here today to perform a song for you,” Lucy said
into the microphone as she adjusted her seated position behind the
keyboard. “I’d like to introduce you all to Miss Charlotte Summers.
She is going to help me sing “True Colours” by Cyndi Lauper.”

Charli took a
seat next to Lucy and moved the microphone down so that it was
positioned perfectly in front of her mouth. “Hi everyone,” she said
happily, addressing the room’s occupants with confidence.

Lucy started
playing the keyboard, making my heart beat heavily in my chest,
excitement and anticipation radiating through me. I sat straight up
and beamed at my brave and beautiful little girl, waiting for her
voice to fill my ears.

When it did
sound throughout the roof top, it brought a tear to my eye. She was
so confident and smiled as she sang each and every word. Lucy
joined in on the chorus which made Charli smile even brighter, and
before I knew it, I was dabbing my eyes more often.

Bryce squeezed
my leg and whispered into my ear. “She has been practising a
lot.”

“When? How?” I
asked, dumbfounded.

“Sometimes
it’s easier to hide something blatantly than it is to hide it
furtively.”

I shot him a
quick glance.
Shit! Did he know about my surprise?
I smiled
timidly and turned back to Charli. She was more than half way
through the song with no hesitation, just confidence and poise;
loving what she was doing. Her ability to take that stage and sing
to a room full of people made me so proud of her. It also gave me
the nerve I needed to do the same for Bryce, that, and Carly’s
advice to just sing it to him.

As the song
winded down to a close and Lucy slowly pressed the final keys on
the keyboard, the room erupted into a round of applause. I got to
my feet— thankful that I no longer needed any form of walking
aid—and clapped the loudest.

“Thank you
very much,” Charli said as she positioned herself in the middle of
the stage and curtsied. I laughed at her brazenness and winked at
her as she made her way toward me.

Meeting her
half way, I knelt down and wrapped my arms around her, giving her a
tight squeeze. “That was absolutely beautiful, Charli-Bear. I am so
proud of you.”

“That was so
cool, Mum! I want to be a singer when I get older.”

Normally I
would say ‘add it to the list’ or ‘that’s nice’ knowing she would
change her mind more than likely the very next day, but I could see
the determination in her eyes this time. “You can be anything you
want, Darling.” I gave her a quick squeeze then noticed Derek grab
Bryce’s guitar.

Lucy stepped
down from the stage and squatted next to us. “Well done, Charli.
That was perfect. Now it’s Mummy’s turn, and she is going to be
perfect too.” She gave me a reassuring grin. Charli looked at me
confused.