His Darling

Chapter Six

TRISTAN

Friends? Friends.

Why did my heart break a little bit when she mouthed those words? One minute I was right where I wanted to be, with my tongue inside her mouth. Then suddenly she threw a punch straight to my heart – yet my dick was still hard. He didn't understand that we weren't doing that, maybe not ever at this rate.

Sure, I could probably go out now and find some girl to hook up with but that didn't interest me. Not right now at least. I wanted to be with Willow in that sense, but she put a big red stop sign on that. Which is fine, at least she didn't ice me out like last time. But I would be lying if I said that punch didn't ache a little bit.

Napping with her briefly felt almost like a tease, she allowed me to be in her space but last time we were in her bed we were in engaging in other activities. I was getting confused in all senses but that doesn't mean I was going to stop. Whatever she allowed me to do I was all for it. If that meant only friends, then so be it but if she also allowed a few intimate touches, I was more than willing.

I dreaded going into work on Monday – I was exhausted mentally and physically. The idea of crunching more numbers dealing with everyone's problems seemed all too much.

The first phone call I took on Monday was from my sister Francesca. She rarely called me, so I wonder what this was about.

"Tristan Copeland." I answered and I could hear her rolling her eyes at me.

"Tristan, could you answer the phone any more pompous?" She asked.

"Fran, what do I owe this pleasure?" I asked her.

"Can't a sister just call you?" She asked and I couldn't hold in my laugh.

"You don't just call to chat; you intersect yourself in my life so you can meddle." I told her and she knew I was right which is why she was silent for a brief moment.

"Mamma misses you." She told me. Italian mothers and Italian sisters. They are professionals at the guilt trip.

"Does she have you call Matteo and guilt him too?" I asked. Matteo was our eldest brother – he was the perfect son though. He never missed a family holiday or failed in calling Mamma once a week. Already giving mom a grandchild, so he was deemed the favorite.

"Tristano – don't be rude. You already know I've called him." She told me. I loved Fran – she was around Willow's age, so I was protective of her just as James was for his sister. But damn, she could get on my nerves.

"You know I love Mamma and I make time for her when I can. I am busy at work and this week is hectic." I told her.

"Why? Because you have been more obsessed with Willow than your company?" She questioned and I could already see the smirk on her face.

"How do you know anything about Willow?" I asked her, using my stern voice which I knew has scared her since we were kids.

"I am friends with all the same people you are. You forget we grew up in a small town in Massachusetts." She accused me. Oh, trust me. I have not forgotten how much they gossip.

"Who told you, James?" I asked her – I was only slightly freaking out.

"Ginny mentioned that you were following her around at their engagement party. I just connected the dots." She told me. Okay well that could have escalated – and now Fran had a reaction from me, so she knew I was affected by Willow in some sense.

"We are just friends, so nothing for you to worry about." I told her – which was true. Just friends who kiss every once in a while, although not as often as I would like.