Page 17 of Filthy Commitments
With my hand on her knee, Asia and I sat on my parents’ leather sofa as they stared at us. “So, you really did it?” my father asked.
I held up Asia’s left hand, showing off the rings. “We did. Last night. In Vegas.”
The lies were kind of choking. It wasn’t as easy to lie right to their faces. It was much easier to do it over the phone.
“And you’re from L.A.?” Mom asked Asia.
“No, ma’am, I was raised in Queens. I go to college at Rutgers in Jersey. I was on vacation when I met Jett.”
I was glad she remembered our little story because I was the one who was finding myself stumbling over the lies. “At a night club,” I managed to add.
“The Banshee,” Asia said as she patted my hand that was resting on her knee. “He taught me how to dance. Prior to him, I thought I had two left feet. He was a fantastic teacher.”
“You made it easy.” I kissed her cheek. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my mother smile. “Then we went to eat after ditching her friend, Stacy.”
“Lola’s Eatery, Jett had scrambled eggs and toast.”
“Asia had waffles.” I was enamored with her. “And then I took her to the Motel 6 where she and Stacy were staying. I left her on the doorstep with one kiss on her perfectly pink cheek.”
Asia gazed into my eyes, and I felt as if the lies weren’t lies at all. I could see it all in my head as if it had been real. Her rosebud lips parted. “I knew I loved him even then.”
“You did?” I found myself asking.
She nodded. “From that little kiss and that wonderful night, I knew you were the one.”
“I had a strong idea you were the one for me too.” I looked at my parents who had their mouths hanging open as they looked at me with disbelieving expressions. “Anyway, we went out every night she was in town, and when she went back to school; the miles between us really helped us both realized how much we needed each other. We’d found love. So, I went to surprise her the day before yesterday.”
“He came to my dorm room. He got down on one knee and asked me to make him the happiest man in the world. I cried as I quickly accepted his proposal.” Asia ran the back of her hand over my cheek. “I’m so happy you asked.”
“I’m so happy you accepted.”
“So you went to Vegas and got married,” Mom said, taking our attention. “And now what will you do?”
“I bought us a house in the Sterling Ridge area of Harrison, New York. I thought it’d be a perfect place to live and raise a family.” I ran my hand over Asia’s cheek. “We can’t wait to get started.”
My father cleared his throat. “What about your job in L.A.?”
How could I have forgotten about that piece of the puzzle?
Panic had to have shown on my face as Asia’s eyes went wide and then she smiled. “Oh, he can still take care of things in L.A. he has a wonderful assistant he’s been training to take over for him when he’s here. Isn’t that right, honey?”
“Yeah, Seth Rogers is the man who’s watching over things while I take the next three months off. I’ll go to Los Angeles Monday through Thursday and spend the other three nights at home with Asia. I’ve figured it all out.”
“Okay, sounds like you’ve thought things through then.” Dad looked relieved. “One day I’ll want you back here anyway. You’ll take over the CEO position, and you’ll have to be here. Maybe this Rogers guy will be suitable to take over your place in L.A. altogether.”
“I can groom him for it.”
Mom got up and gestured for us to follow her. “Dinner is being served in the formal dining room. Hilda should have the appetizer on the table already. Come on.”
Taking Asia’s hand, I helped her up, and we followed a bit behind my parents. “You’re better at lying than you said you were.” I whispered in her ear.
“It’s important for me to help you, Jett. I guess I see it as my job.”
The idea that she was looking at this as a job didn’t sit right with me. I wanted her to like it. “Are you having a nice time?”
She nodded. “I am.”
“I can’t wait to see the house with you. I bought it without ever going to see it. I’ve only seen pictures online. It’s completely furnished, and I had a stylist fill the closet and dresser with clothes and shoes for you.”
