Another Brunch
Another Brunch
Presley smiled when Cruz’s hand rested on her knee under the table during their luncheon with their friend and family. He was acting like a possessive boyfriend, a real boyfriend, and while she knew he wanted them to be a real couple, it felt good to know he was still of this mindset even in front of the family.
He was doting and it felt nice and even her father shot a couple of little smiles in their direction.
Her happiness though felt a complete contrast to Halima’s. The woman was pissed off. She couldn’t help but snicker at the way Halima was shooting Anderson death glares and she and Sloane exchanged more than one curious look at the way their friend was behaving. They were realizing she was not as immune to Anderson as she said she was and to Presley and Sloane, it was kind of funny to see their unflappable friend
at a loss.
Her thoughts were interrupted by her name being called.
“Presley!” a voice called from the end of their table. “Wow, you have everyone here.”
“Paris,” she smiled at the woman. “How are you?”
“Fantastic! I think I might have sealed the deal to get rid of my party pooper friends,” she rounded the table and crouched between Cruz and Presley, “I saw Ramona out in the garden area sobbing pitifully and sent my friends to find out what was wrong with her. They brought her back to the villa for drinks. My husband and I
vacated to give them privacy.”
Her words carried around the table making everyone stop talking to listen.
“What is happening?” Anderson was frowning as he lifted his water glass to his lips.
“This is Paris. We met here. She has friends who are looking for a third in their relationship and thought maybe Ramona would be a good fit.”
Anderson choked on his water as the rest of the table appeared shocked.
“Oh, don’t be a bunch of prudes,” Paris mocked them all. “My husband and I are in an open relationship. I’ve been making a play for Presley here all week, but Cruz is very jealous and possessive. Apparently, his Ladybird is his and his alone.” She squeezed his shoulder laughing. “He does not want to share her despite how much I beg.” She winked at Anderson, “I mean I even said we could share her together and he said no.”
“I’m going to need another drink,” Gavin grunted causing Paris to really look at him.
“Oh, you’re Presley’s daddy and you must be her mom,” Paris was immediately on her feet and moving to get closer to Scarlett. “You and I should talk sweetheart. You are beautiful.”
Gavin turned to Presley with raised eyebrows, and she shrugged. Paris was older th than her parents however it seemed Paris was not opposed to an older woman as su Paris was well and truly on the hunt in Nice.
Presley but younger ogled Scarlett openly.
“Why have me when she can have the OG?” Presley laughed as Paris appeared quite distracted by her mother and Scarlett was chatting her up like a seasoned professional flirt. However, then Marsha was leaning closer to Paris and Scarlett was making introductions and Paris was definitely checking Odin’s mother out and the entire table were exchanging glances.
It was clear the three women were bonding in a weird way which made Presley uncomfortable, and her father
Another Brunch
shifted in his seat draining his entire wine glass and reaching for the wine bottle and filing if up
Cruz snickered, “get it, Paris and Marsha.”
Gavin reached behind Paris and smacked Cruz in the back of the head causing her to laugh and Cruz to rub his scalp with a grin.
“Totally worth it,” he whispered in her ear.
She put her hand atop his on her knee shaking her head at his antics.
“Dad?” Odin’s voice called out and the entire table went quiet. “Mom?” he was incredulous at the sight of
Marsha with his father and Scarlett. “What are you all doing here?”
“We told you they were coming, dork,” Presley commented as she looked him over. She frowned, “are you drunk already?”
“No,” he swayed on his feet and gripped the back of the chair Sloane was sitting in. When she smacked his hands, he slapped hers back. “Don’t be a b***h, Sloane.”
“Watch how you talk to my sister,” Anderson got up from his seat and glared at Odin. He leaned closer and sniffed him, “you smell like a brewery.”
“I had a beer or two down the street at a pub. I went for a walk, and it was hot, so I stopped for a drink. So what?” He stared at Anderson, “Why are you all here?”
“For our wedding,” Cruz called out. Before Presley could address her father’s stiffening shoulders, he continued, “We can talk more about it when you’re sober. How about you join us for lunch if you can behave like a decent human being for thirty minutes? We ordered a bunch of shareable plates. There is enough for
you.”
“Does this count as brunch for this month,” Odin pushed his luck as he moved to sit next to Anderson,
“Yes,” Presley nodded before her father could argue. She was impressed at how Anderson didn’t even move away and was completely comfortable with Odin, despite knowing what he knew. Anderson was a far better friend to Odin than he deserved.
When Odin reached for the wine bottle, he grimaced at Gavin when the man pulled it away from him.
“No more alcohol Odin. We’re going to have a chat once you’re sober. We thought it would be tomorrow but seeing as you’re half–cut by lunchtime I might simply lock you in a room until you’re dry.”
Odin looked at Paris after rolling his eyes at his father, “who is she?”
“My lover,” Marsha spoke bluntly and Paris, being the fly by the seat of her pants woman she was, nodded emphatically and rose from her position and moved to sit right on Marsha’s lap.
“But I saw her here yesterday with other people. She even was near Ramona last night.”
Paris shrugged, “I’m a free spirit, sweetie. I’m young, carefree and experimental.”
“I hid my sexuality for too long in order to protect your fragile ego, Odin and more importantly, I was scared of your shitty temper.” Marsha was blunt in a way she never was before. “Paris and her husband are here in Nice on vacation and I’m looking for a good time.”
Paris kissed Marsha’s cheek, “sweetie, we have a huge villa all to ourselves. We can help you be the woman you deserve to be. In fact,” she boldly looked at Scarlett and Gavin, “we can happily hold a dinner part with
2/4
the five of us and share some drinks and see where things go.”
What started out as a joke was now making Presley uncomfortable but then her father added in his
thoughts
“We might take you
up on that, Paris. Sounds like a good time. I’m happy to watch the girls have fun.”
Presley felt Cruz vibrating behind her as he tried to stem his laughter. Anderson was covering his face with his hand as looked everywhere but at Gavin, Scarlett and Marsha. Sloane and Halima were wide–eyed Odin looked like he was going to throw up
“You’re considering watching your wife and your ex–wife have sex with a stranger, another woman?” Odin glowered at his father.
“We are a table of adults and while I don’t typically talk about my s*x life in front of my children,” he shot Presley a look, “after your mother read out loud to me one of the scenes from your last book, I feel like this makes us even.”
“You can’t be serious,” Odin was almost hyperventilating.
“My husband will be there to keep you company Gavin, and he’ll certainly help you navigate us with our
boundaries.”
Odin looked at Presley, “you’re okay with this?”
“I’m not hung up on my parents‘ sexuality. Honestly, I’ve seen them have s*x more than once. I mean, I didn’t stick around. I simply covered my eyes and backed out of the room. Do I want to be around their little party? No but would I be upset at what they chose to do in their own lives? Nope.”
nad you’re not gay. You’re going to be in a room with another man?”
“Why not? I’m not a gay man but I’m not scared of another man’s p***s, either.”
Odin looked at the wine bottle longingly and Presley almost snickered as Cruz lifted it and filled his own glass and holding Odin’s gaze, sipped the glass and smacking his lips.
“You think this is cool?” Odin asked Cruz with his nostrils flared.
Cruz didn’t look away from the question and nodded, “why not? Hell, if Gavin and Paris’s husband decided to ing to remain calm, 1 wouldn’t care. I don’t go all the way with one another,” he smirked at Gavin who was care about such things, Odin. To me, love is love.” He draped his arm over Presley’s chair and kissed her temple, “right babe?”
“Definitely. There is nobody at this table who would ever judge a person on their sexuality. I actually wrote an entire novel where the female lead kept two male lovers, and the two men got it on all the time. No biggie.”
Anderson flexed and looked at Sloane, “we have a cousin who is a drag queen in Montreal. They’re amazing. They bring the most fun to family reunions.”
“True story,” Sloane tipped her wine glass at her brother.
“This is bullshit,” Odin started to go off but then Sloane cut him off before he could.
Sloane yawned loudly over Odin’s blustering, “it was such a long flight. I hope the food gets here soon
because I need to sleep off this jetlag. We have a wedding to plan.”
“You’re really getting married,” Odin glared at Cruz. “You’ve never liked her.”
Another Brunch
Anderson and Cruz exchanged a look and Presley didn’t miss it, What the hell was that? She wanted to but then held back knowing she didn’t want to make Odin question them in the moment.
“I have always liked her, Odin. I simply didn’t know how to express It.” Cruz shrugged. “I mean as kids, | considered her a post but only the way any best friend of an older brother would. As we got older, it change Spending time with her since I moved back to Vancouver has reaffirmed for me how much I do care for her She’s important to me Odin and I’m not ready to let her walk away from me now
A sick feeling settled in her tummy as Presley considered the words were only half–truths. She wanted them to be real. She wanted him to mean them.
“And you?” Odin broke into her thoughts. “You love him too?”
“Always have, always will,” she gave a tight smile and lifted her glass to her lips, taking a long sip.
The server arriving with their orders stopped further conversation and Presley was glad. This felt like it was going to be a very long day despite the fact it was already half over.
Comments
Watch videos get points (0/10) >
Vote
