Rollercoaster (The Circle Series - Part 3)

Chapter 10

*~*Later that night*~*

Julie buzzed opened the front gates since Jon was in with Sammy making sure their youngest was sound asleep. She stood in the fresh air, front door ajar, waiting for their friends to arrive. She shuddered involuntarily as the car pulled up.

She wasn't sure if it was the feel of eyes on her back knowing Ari was lurking nearby, from the cool evening breeze or the sense of foreboding that washed over her ahead of tonight's confrontation.

Leesha stepped from the car first and wandered over to Julie, putting her arm around her friend's shoulder. "Whatever happens tonight, we'll get through it," Leesha said in Julie's ear, "Okay?"

"Did I look that bad?" Julie chuckled wryly, as Ethan's brushed past them and into Ari's waiting hug. She had to smile at Leesha's pointed look at her question.

David joined his wife's side, "C'mon ladies, let's get this over and done with, huh?"

"Hey!" Julie nodded and turned before stopping the kids when they started for the stairs, "Lounge room. Now!" She stood pointing, brooking no argument. David followed the kids while Leesha went to the kitchen and pulled two glasses from the cabinets before opening a bottle of wine.

"Jesus, can they roll their eyes any harder?" she said to no one in particular. She glanced up to see Jon on the landing, "Everything okay, Rockstar?"

"Sammy's asleep," Jon made his way down the stairs, "I closed her door too. She doesn't need to know about any of this." He pulled Julie into a tight embrace, resting his forehead against hers, losing himself in her eyes before kissing her. "You ready, baby?"

"No, but it needs to happen," Julie sighed and pulled a face as he led her into the lounge.

Leesha had brought the wine in and was sitting with David on one settee, Ari and Ethan together in the middle one which left the last for Julie and Jon. Jon poured a whiskey for himself and David before he sat down.

There was a long silence as the women sipped their wine and the men nursing their drinks. "Babe, why don't you start?" Leesha asked David.

"I think Jon should," David brushed off quickly, blushing and sipped his whiskey. "He technically called the meeting and it's his house..."

"Thanks a bunch, asshole," Jon said, "I called this family meeting because I think these two have some explaining to do. Ari...you received a message while I had your phone today. Do you want to know who it was from?"

"Umm, obviously not, Daddy," Ari replied, playing dumb with an innocent smile.

Jon sighed, disappointed, and flicked a look over to David then reached into his back pocket and pulled out a bright pink phone. David held his hand out for Leesha to give him Ethan's phone. She handed over the metallic silver and black iPhone to her husband. Each of the men unlocked the phones and pulled up the messages between their offspring.

Ari squirmed and crossed her legs when Jon and David put the cell phones on the coffee table, giving them both a look of contempt. On Ethan's phone was a photo of Ari naked on the Master bed belonging to Leesha and David, and on Ari's phone was a picture of Ethan naked in the shower at the beach house.

Ethan flopped backward onto the sofa and groaned, resting one arm behind Ari and scratching her back with his nails. Leesha stared at her son's phone, her hands shaking. "What in the name of G-d and all that is holy possessed you to get into our bed?" She asked the kids then looked at her husband. "Did you know?"

"Not until earlier today when our son was smart enough to send another dick pic," David answered.

"And you didn't bother to tell me?" Leesha retorted. "Goddamnit." She drained her wine glass and refilled it. "This is gonna be a long fucking night."