Page 27 of Mr. Aster
I couldn’t help but laugh in response. “You heard how I felt about that the other night when I told you about Sebastian’s.”
“Right. Well, it was one of our worst and silliest fights. I was determined to prove that we didn’t need the damn thing and that it worked the same as a cheap one would.”
“Exactly,” I answered her.
“Well, Jim is a businessman, and he won’t let shit go when he believes he’s right. I, too, am immune to letting shit go when IknowI’m right.”
“How did you guys end your fight?”
“Well, tasting from the two separate machines and discovering I was right, of course,” she laughed. “The difference was that Jim wanted the fucking thing, no matter the cost. For some silly reason, he was obsessed with having it, and then I brought money into play and dismissed his feelings.”
“Well, that’s easy to see why you would. You didn’t come from money like he did, so you see it differently.”
“Right,” she smiled, “but that doesn’t make it right to treat him like an indulgent asshole for not living how I used to live. The thing is, Jim and I might as well have grown up on two entirely different planets, but we both have flaws and imperfections and somehow, it still works.”
I began to remember her mentioning that I would hate her for this story, which made me wonder what the underlying point was. “Where are you going with this?” I asked.
“It’s probably nothing,” she said. “But the other night—when you were drunk—you said the same thing about Sebastian. Then you brought up your irritation with your mom for pointingout the kind of back-and-forth, argumentative, bantering relationship you two have.”
“Yes, and I don’t remember much of that conversation,” I said, wishing I had never gotten drunk on tequila and not because of the hangover I suffered yesterday morning, either.
“I just see how adorable you are when you talk about him and everything that infuriates you about him. It reminds me of Jim and me. We’re from two separate worlds, and the same things that piss me off about Jim are the things that piss you off about Sebastian.”
What the hell was wrong with everyone? Was Cupid shooting everyone in the ass on my behalf these days? Why would Avery come to such a conclusion after all the ranting I’d done about the guy? How could anyone look at two people who areconstantlyfighting and think it’s a good idea for them to be together? If ever there was a recipe for misery…
“For one, I was drunk,” I reminded her, “and two, from what Iknowabout Sebastian and what I can see from being around Jim, they are two entirely different men. Jim isa good and decent man; Sebastian is a dick.”
“But you’re dealing with the business side of the guy. I find it very interesting that he even includes you in conversation about his plans when you have nothing to do with them. You don’t evenworkthere. And make no mistake, the businessman side of these men arealwaysdick-ish.”
“I don’t see that in your husband, though,” I said, honestly.
She laughed loudly. “Oh, honey. Be grateful you haven’t had to deal withthatguy. Would it paint a clearer picture to tell you how I used to work for him, and hefiredmy ass? Left me hanging in the breeze with no job and a five-year-old little girl to take care of.”
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah. He thought I’d lied. He dumped me soon after.”
“Wow. Well, that sort of makes Sebastian look like a saint.”
“It’s what I’m trying to tell you. There’s always a soft side if you’re willing to look for it.”
“This is the thing,” I said with a smile. “I’m not willing to look for it. I truly do not find the man attractive, not in the way you found yourself with Jim. I have no idea what you smoked before you came out here, and I know that even if I were piss drunk at the time, I didn’t talk about the man like I wanted a relationship with him. I want his ass on that auction block and extremely uncomfortable, just like he’s made me and my family since he arrived at the estate.”
She laughed, “You may not see it now, but give it time, and I guarantee you’ll remember this conversation.”
“Shit,” I rolled my eyes and sat up. I had to pack my shit and head back to the miserable bastard that everyone seemed convinced I had a love connection with. “I thought Ashley was the spiritual hippie out of everyone,” I said, referring to Avery’s sister-in-law, “but apparently her incense has gotten to your head.”
“Hey, when I hear someone talk about a person the way you speak about that man, I pay attention. Maybe nothing comes of it, and I’m out of my mind, and maybe not. Time will tell.”
“What will come out of it is this: if the man didn’t hate me before I left for this mini vacation with all of you, he will when I get back, and he finds out this auction was all my idea,” I said, knowing that I’d sealed the deal on our destiny of never being together even if hell froze over.
“We shall see,” Avery chuckled.
“You wait patiently on that,” I started, “and I’m going to finish packing my stuff. I’ll meet you all for lunch before we get off the yacht.”
With that, I left Avery to continue thinking crazy thoughts about me and Sebastian and chose to focus and prepare myselffor coming face-to-face with the man who would undoubtedly want me skinned alive.
Though I disagreed with what Avery said, I had to smile at her fairytale way of thinking. I couldn’t and wouldn’t fault anyone for trying to find the good in the bad, but sometimes enough was enough.
