Trapped in her darkness

James PoV “Finally! I thought you blew me off! Again!” Andrew whines as he stands up to greet me. I roll my eyes at my favorite drama queen. “I am just five minutes late. Chill man!” “Hey! You and Ethan were never late. Now, you cancel on me every single time.” He sulks. Ethan and I have been busy lately, I’ll give him that. But it is not as dramatic as he makes it sound. We have more responsibilities now, and we cannot go out every night like we used to... I am not even interested anymore in our wild nights. “You do realize that by now, we would have already f****d one or two women.” He complains. I shake my head laughing at my horny friend as I take a seat at the table, our usual table at Baroque Hotel, one of the Harrison’s proud investments. “No one is c**k-blocking you, Andrew. You could have hooked up while waiting for me.” “I am not crazy to risk it. You will come and leave if you do not see me because I am busy in a hotel room.” “Mr. Palmer, it has been a while. We missed you.” a melodic voice greets me. “Lily, did Andrew put you up to that?” I joke, owning a confused look from our waitress and a pout from my friend. “Just kidding. I missed coming here as well. How are you doing Lily?” “I am good Sir. The usual?” she asks both of us. “Yes please.” I reply while Andrew just nods. She smiles and walks back to the bar, swaying her hips seductively. “I hate Ethan! No, I loathe him and his “Do not f**k my personnel” rule!” Andrew grumbles as he licks his lips admiring the rear view. “He cannot afford the drama that comes with you banging the waitresses.” I laugh, remembering why Ethan had to put this rule in the first place. “You were worse than me on this front!” Andrew smirks. Yep, I cannot only blame Andrew here. I also hit on one of the waitresses a couple of years ago and although the s*x was great, the drama was not. She got clingy even though I was clear from the start that it was just s*x. She fought with the other waitresses to serve our table, she attacked the girls I was hooking up with … Let’s say it was messy and I fully support Ethan’s rules! “So, how have you been, man?” “I lost my wingmen! We were the Bachelor trio! The men of the hour! And puff, just like that, you ditched me! Ethan for his stupid suburb life and you for your stupid work.” I chuckle at Andrew’s exaggerated views. Hearing him, one might think he hadn’t gotten laid for ages while he is still painting the town red every single night. “I saw this morning the i********: posts and t****k videos recounting your last night's activities. I will not feel sorry for you!” I laugh. “Yes, but I did it all by myself.” “I remember counting three women in the video and photo frames, Andrew!” “It’s not the same without you! I can understand Ethan given his new stupid life choices. But how about you, Ethan? Work cannot be more important than your friend... Or s*x!” “My mum was sick, Andrew. It is not just work.” I try to reason with him. “f**k! I’m sorry man, I did not even ask about Mary. How is she doing?” “Still shaken by the news. But the doctors are optimistic. They put her on powerful medicine, and they believe that the treatment could improve her heart condition and avoid heart surgery.” “I miss her. Tell her I will come and visit her soon.” “You know that you are invited to our brunches every single Sunday, right?” “ Brunches are for old people. I love your parents, and Ethan’s, but I cannot start spending my Sundays “brunching” with families and kids and.. ugh… It’s not my cup of tea!” “I can spike your cup of tea with Vodka.” I playfully mock him. I wonder whether Andrew will ever grow up… Will he find a girl who will take him to the suburbs like Sawyer did with Ethan? Or will he be the Hugh Hefner of our generation? I burst out laughing at this graphical picture, which owes me a frown from my friend. “What are you laughing at now!?” he complains. “Hey guys! Sorry I’m late.” Says Ethan as he takes a seat and loosen up his tie. “What is your excuse this time? Work, Sawyer or the kids?” Andrew scoffs. I glance at my friend, still unable to believe that he has kids now. Kids! As in plural! “What got into his panties?” Ethan asks me, using his index finger to point at Andrew. “Nothing. And this is the problem!” I laugh with Ethan as Andrew glares at us. “Very funny guys. Do you realize that we did not go out together since Trevor’s engagement party? That was five months ago! FIVE!” “What are you talking about? We meet every month at least twice.” Ethan huffs. “Yeh! For one hour at most and then you run to your family.” he complains, pointing at Ethan. “And you run to work or to your mother’s bedside.” He points at me now. We need to get some alcohol into him. Fast! Resentful Andrew is no fun! “It is more than one hour, Andrew.” “Ok. Two? Three hours? We used to go out every night and party until the break of dawn. We used to sleep with a different woman every night.” “I see your point, Andrew. You are right, we need to go back like before!” Ethan states. “Really?” Andrew grins, all hopeful. “Of course. I will tell Sawyer that you proposed going back to our old ways, f*****g a different woman every night.” Ethan smirks. “What! No! Do not do that! Your fiancée scares me!” Andrew mutters as his eyes widened in alert. Fiancé… Yep, my best friend is engaged now. I still cannot grasp how his life has changed in the past months. He reconciled with Sawyer, five months ago, when we pulled the performance of our lifetime. The next day, he whisked her away on a romantic getaway and they came back a betrothed couple. I glance at Ethan once again. Despite the fatigue and the dark light circles under his eyes, I can feel his contentment and happiness. They have both been through a lot and they deserve to be happy. “How is the wedding planning going?” I ask Ethan. “Good. Sawyer is enjoying all the planning with Chloe and mom. It is in less than three months now!” “It is a nice idea, the double wedding.” “Yes, it was mom’s idea, but you can imagine how happy Sawyer and Chloe were about her suggestion.” “Right. Those two are closer than sisters.” I chuckle. “Can we talk about something else? Like about the brunette at three o’clock.” Ethan takes his drink from Lily and does not even bother looking. Well, he is engaged. I am not. So, I turn around to check out this brunette, and I am not disappointed. She is sitting at the bar, wearing a tight dress that hugs her in all the perfect places. She is hunting just like us, and when her eyes meet mine, she smiles at me. A small yet seductive smile that is a clear invitation to join her. I nod appreciatingly as I take a sip of my scotch. “You agree, right?” “Yes, that would be a good catch. You take or I do?” I ask him, still eye-f*****g her body from afar. “Can you please stop talking like that?” asks Ethan. “What the f**k did you do with my friend!” yells Andrew. “He has a teenage daughter now, Andrew.” “Oh yes. Wasn’t she dating a college student?” Andrew asks. “Yes, until Ethan beat the s**t out of him and kicked him out of the city.” I laugh. I cannot believe that Ethan is a father now. Forget the engagement… This was the biggest and fundamental change in his life. I don’t remember how it happened. I just know that given Sawyer’s infertility problems, and her childhood in foster care, they had both agreed to adopt kids in the future. But the future turned out to be one month after their engagement when Sawyer’s friend reached out to her about three kids who needed a foster home. They had a big risk of being separated, especially because the two teenagers were a handful. And just like that, Ethan and Sawyer welcomed three kids into their new suburb home. Dakota is fifteen, Carl is fourteen and Camden is just seven years old. Camden is a cute little angel who immediately hit it off with Stella. Dakota and Carl, on the other hand, were out of control. Carl was involved in a gang and almost used as a runner! And Dakota was searching for parental affection in much older boyfriends. But those kids were lucky to have found Sawyer and Ethan because they were the most patient and loving foster parents that exist on this planet. “ OK guys, we need to talk about something important… Ethan’s bachelor party! I am already scouting a few strip clubs for…” “Wow. Wow. I told you no strip clubs.” “ OK, we can do it in the presidential suite here. And hire…” “No strippers!” “What kind of bachelor party do you want me to plan?” “A co-ed one.” Replies Ethan. “Are you f*****g kidding me? A joint bash? That will be boring like hell!” Here we go again… Now we are in for at least twenty minutes of complaining and nagging. I do not get the chance to listen to their argument though, as I am distracted by the ringing of my smartphone. I check the Caller ID, and it is my brother. I frown and shoot upright in my chair. “James? Can you hear me?” My brother’s voice is shaking, and I instinctively grab tight into the arm of my chair. “Yes. Are you OK Connor?” “Umm. I need your help, James. Can you come to my apartment?” “Connor, what is happening?” “Just come and I will tell you everything.” “Connor, is it mum?” “what? No. No. No. Do not worry, it is not mum.” “Then who? Our little sister?” “No. it has nothing to do with our family members. I… A friend of mine needs help. And… She needs protection, James. Can you please come?” I sigh. This is Connor to you people. My younger brother wears his heart on his sleeves. He is always busy helping someone, be it human or animal. I admire him for that, but it is also his biggest flaw, as when you are too nice, some people tend to take advantage of you. I do not know who this damsel in distress is, but I can bet you anything, that she is going to leech off my brother in no time. “James?” Connor insists. “Are you home?” I sigh. “Yes.” “Ok. I’m coming.” I groan in surrender.