The Desire to Touch (38 page)

“Mom this is...”

“Ellie!” Julian appears at the edge of the room with his head hung low still holding his bag, I look over in shock and smile at him giving him a little wave.

“This is Ellie,” Trey huffs, he clasps my upper arm and pulls me in close but still maintains a reasonable distance between us, “This is my mom Clara.”

“Hi,” I smile pleasantly, trying to cull my nerves.

Clara is a beautiful woman, her hair is wavy and styled like Marilyn Monroe. Her makeup is perfect and she is a wisp of woman wearing an emerald green swimsuit with a blue long sarong, tied perfectly at her hips. Her face is aghast as she stares at Julian, slowly turning her attention back to me she says:

“Oh, so this is the young lady who found my baby?”

Baby? I would hardly call him a baby, but she obviously dotes on Julian. I look at Trey and his jaw is clenched again and he looks down at the floor. There is a portly gentleman with rosy red cheeks, a mop of perfectly combed grey hair and a pipe hanging out from his mouth standing next to Clara and he too rolls his eyes.

Clara holds opens both her arms out and steps forward to hug me, the man also steps forward and places a kiss on my cheek,

“Thank you for being his savior.” He smiles pleasantly and all I can do is smile back, my bangle twisting is in over drive.

“My father George,” Trey adds

“My dear, come in and meet everybody.” Clara takes my hand and leads me through the grand room, we pass many people and they smile pleasantly as they greet us.

We walk through the house till we reach the pool room, the doors at the back have been opened and a marquee has been erected to make the room triple the size. A stand sits one side with seating going up about thirty levels, there must be enough seats for at least two hundred people. We walk around the edge of the pool into the marquee, she leads me to a table and I turn around to see that Julian has followed us step for step. I smile at him then turn back to Clara. The decorating for the event is perfect, there’s real palm trees lining both areas, sand under foot in the marquee, a number of inflatable toys in the pool and a DJ playing music in the corner of the room.

“My dear, you have no idea how worried I was when I learned he had been lost.”

Been lost? I was under the impression he had run away. A waiter stops at the table with a tray full of champagne flutes, he offers us one and I more than happily start sipping. I look around to see if Trey is anywhere near, I spot him through the window back into the house, he and his father seem to be deep in conversation and every now and then they look my way.

“He has not stopped raving about you, do you have experience with the disorder?”

I look at Clara, “Disorder?” I ask confused.

“Yes, autism.”

“Oh, yes sorry.” I place my drink down, “I used to work for a clinic where they saw children with it, but I wouldn’t class myself as an expert.”

She smiles pleasantly and turns to Julian, “Come and sit?”

Julian places himself on the table in front of us, it’s fairly quiet in the room but every time someone shouts or laughs Julian panics. Clara’s eyes grow wide and a big grin spreads across her very perfectly cared for face.

“Oh good, Kyla is here,” She points as some people enter by the pool, “She is one of Trey’s closest friends, did you know they grew up together?”

I swallow the bile that has risen in my mouth and shake my head at her, “No, I don’t know very much about Trey.”

“Oh yes, she is a lovely girl and I hold out every hope that they will get back together one day and give me some grandchildren.” Clara’s mousey voice gets excited as she stands to go and greet Kyla and Sean.

I look around trying to avoid looking at them hug and kiss. I turn around to look at the bar behind me and see a sign hanging above it, ‘The Thomas Fund’.

So it’s obviously their own charity event then, I really should have found more about it. I grab my phone out of my bag to try and research a bit more on it, I am interrupted by Clara,

“Ellie, this is Kyla and Sean.”

I look up to see the best sun kissed legs ever to walk the earth, I look higher to see Kyla staring at me less than impressed. She is wearing a bright pink bikini and pink espadrilles, her body is perfect in every way and I feel so jealous right now. She smiles sarcastically, “Hi.”

I smile back resisting the urge to claw her eyes out, “Hi.”

“This is Ellie, she rescued Julian for us and Trey invited her as a way to say thank you.”

What the fuck? Really? Is that the reason I’m here or is that what he told his mum? I carry on smiling through gritted teeth as inside I am seething, great now I look like the pity date.

“Right,” Kyla says eyeing me up and down, “So Clara, where is the man of the moment?”

“Trey? He’s with his father finalising the speeches, come I’ll take you to him.” Clara turns to me and squeaks in her high pitch tone, “Help yourself to drinks and food dear.”

I smile at her as they turn away and leave, well that wasn’t awkward at all!

I sip at my drink growing more and more frustrated that Trey has left me all alone and I really am all alone, I’m on a table by myself and apart from the odd smile from strangers it’s just me sitting here tapping my foot to the background music. Julian has run off following his mum, not even the bodyguards are in sight at least I have my phone for company.

I start to text Trey when the chair next to me slides out from under the table, a familiar voice speaks,

“All by yourself?”

I turn around to see Tristan taking a seat next to me, I didn’t know he would be here, actually after the ill blood between him and Trey I would have assumed he wouldn’t have been invited.

“Hi,” I smile and grab my bangle, “Trey is around and he’s just sorting things out.”

Tristan takes a swig of the champagne and shakes his head, “Never leave a beautiful lady on their own I always say. I couldn’t leave you sitting here by yourself.”

“Oh I’m fine honestly, just taking it all in, never been to anything like this before.” I turn back and look at the room.

“Clara is known for throwing a good party, but this year Trey is taking the reins.”

I look at Tristan shocked by his level of knowledge on the family, I raise my eyebrows at him inquisitively.

“You didn’t know?”

“I don’t know much it would appear.” I think I spit some of the poisoned bile at him as I speak, I try to compose myself.

“Well, the foundation was set up by Clara in aid of helping those like Julian, George and Clara have run it for the past thirty years but they felt it was time for Trey to take over. He is Hollywood’s finest at the moment so it only seemed right, to be honest I think its Clara’s way of trying to push Trey and Kyla back together.”

His face changes to a grin and he sits back and takes a drink.

“Kyla’s involved?”

“Yes, Clara and George will still be on the board of the charity but Kyla and Trey will be the face of it, the advocates if you like.”

“Oh.” I whisper, lost for words.

The anger deep inside starts to rise and I grab at my bangle, squeezing it in the hopes it will bring me some kind of help, but nothing comes.

“So where do you work Ellie?” Tristan asks.

“I work in a hotel in New York city.” I grab my drink with such force I nearly send it flying, I finish it and a waiter arrives passing me a fresh glass.

“What about you?” I ask knowing the answer.

“Me? I’m just a director, nothing fancy.” He smiles, drinking more of his champagne.

“Very modest,” I laugh, “Must be interesting knowing you get to make amazing films?”

“Some?” he asks laughing.

“Oh, well you know what I mean.”

“Well, if you ever want to see an
amazing
film being made, just give me a call,” he slips a business card across the table to me. “If you find yourself with nothing to do just call me, I would welcome you along.” He smiles.

I smile back, he seems quite genuine plus we have a lot in common, oh yeah let’s not forget he has rescued me from being the loner at the party, “Thank you, I’ll bear that in mind.” I grab the card and pop it in my bag. Suddenly Tristan’s smile widens and I feel a hand on my back.

“Tristan.”

I whip my head around to see Trey standing behind me, the atmosphere has turned icy cold again.

“Trey,” Tristan’s face has arrogant written all over it, “I was just keeping Ellie company, you know I hate to see an attractive lady sitting alone.”

“Well I am back now,” Trey warns, “Dad has put your name down for the relay.”

I want to curl up, it feels like I am stuck in the middle of them in the boxing ring.

Tristan stands with a wry smile still etched on his roguishly good looking face,

“You have my number Ellie, call me anytime.”

“Thanks,” I smile as he walks away.

Trey crouches next to me at the table, his fingers start stroking back and forth on making me melt instantly.

“What was that about?” Trey asks.

“What?” I ask innocently.

“King being here, with you.”

“Oh, I was on my own and he just appeared, to be honest it was quite nice not looking like the leper with no friends.” I huff taking my drink and sipping.

“Sorry,” he looks at me, “I had some things to sort.”

“I know big day for you hosting the party.”

Trey looks at me bemused.

“Tristan told me all about it.”

Treys face turns impassive, he takes my hands in his, “You have his number?”

“Are you jealous?” I ask.

“No, well maybe, look I’ve told you he is not to be trusted.” Traces of worry spread across his beautiful face, “Please promise me you won’t call him or be alone with him.”

“What happened?”

“I’m not going into it now Ellie, Fuck knows why he’s even here,” Trey lets go of my hands and runs his hands across his face.

I raise my hand to touch him, but I stop myself and grab the bangle, as much as I want to touch him I feel he wouldn’t appreciate it right now.

“I was introduced to Kyla,” I grumble looking past him, catching Kyla’s eye.

“Sorry, Mom can be overbearing.”

“No it’s ok, she was mainly talking about Julian, then about how she hopes you and Kyla will bear your seed one day.” As much as the words hurt me to say, I manage a semi-genuine smile.

Trey rolls his eyes and shakes his head, “Mom likes to think that, she tries her hardest to force us together but it’s not going to happen. My Dad will tell you.”

I smile as if to say it’s fine but deep down my stomach is all knotted up and my fingers are white from where I’m clutching the bangle. Trey clocks this and grabs my hand to stop me, for a moment it looks like he’s going in for a kiss but he stands and says,

“I will come and find you in a minute, there’s one last thing I need to do. Please don’t leave, as I need to do this and I
can’t
leave.”

I look at him shocked, why does he assume I will want to leave?

Trey leaves the table and I watch as he walks towards Kyla and Sean, Kyla hugs him in a very over friendly manner, the longer it goes on the more I think its sexual harassment not a bloody hug. Trey doesn’t push her away as she kisses him on the cheek, I clock her look at me as she kisses him again. Bitch!

Tristan is hovering by the bar chatting to people and I try hard not to make eye contact but I think he can tell I’m verging on pissed off. Thankfully George walks over and joins me at the table.

“Do you mind?” He gestures at the chair.

“Not at all, please do.” I smile.

“How are you enjoying the party so far?” Georges asks sitting and relaxing back.

“Yeah it’s really good,” I lie, so far I’ve been sat here for forty five minutes, ignored the whole time and warned off of talking to the only person in here that’s friendly.

“It gets better in about five minutes when the games commence, will you be partaking in any events?”

I shake my head, “I’m not very good at water sports, I’m excited to watch though.”

George smiles and there’s a silence as we look around the room.

“Trey seems very taken with you,” he smiles, “It’s strange to see him so willing and happy. Clara, my dear wife, has it fixated in her head that Kyla and Trey were meant to be together but she is the only one.”

“Oh,” I smile and tuck a loosened hair behind my ear. Trey has told his dad about me?

“Clara is a very fragile person and over protective when it comes to Julian. Trey was, well
we
would class him as suffering from forgotten child syndrome.” He lights his pipe and the smell fills my nose, I like it.

I turn on my chair to face George, “I have noticed that Trey can be very…” I struggle to think of the word.

“Clingy, full on?” George asks.

I nod, “It’s confusing because one minute he’ll ignore me then the next he doesn’t want to let go, I struggle to know where I stand.”