The Family Screw Up Finds Himself A Girl

Chapter Fourteen

"Quinn, I don't know what to do. I can't fly home now, I've got to stay in New York and see what happens with Philip." I'm on the phone to my sister in tears, she is trying to console me and it's not working, I am devastated. "Oh Sam, I told you about him didn't I? You shouldn't of let him suck you in like he did." I hate to admit it when my sister is right, but all the same I still have feelings for Philip and I know he has genuine feelings for me too. "I still want to see if we can have a future, Quinn." I can hear her chuckle to herself, "Get real you dumb shit! There is no future between you two. As soon as you found out who he was you should have ended it. He wanted to come with you to London to escape the law and you fell for it! Now, you get on the next flight home and forget about that arsehole. I've got to go back to work now, I love you sis. Take care." She ends the call and I feel even more alone than I did an hour ago.

I check back into the Edison Hotel, there is no way that I can leave New York without answers from Philip. The police were no help when I called them earlier; they said that as I am not a direct family member they cannot give me anymore information, other than the fact that he is due to appear in court tomorrow to enter a plea. I'm going as this could be the last time I will see Philip for a long time. I feel so alone, I can't stay in an empty hotel room by myself, so I take myself off out for a walk. As I'm walking through Times Square, I can see couples holding hands, taking selfies, and I can't help but feel angry. Why me again? I'm always the one who ends up alone, it's not fair and I feel like bursting into tears again.

Walking around New York alone is no fun, so I check in on my friend Jude, who lives in Brooklyn. His apartment is a dump, granted that he has recently had a team of forensics in here, it's still not what I would have expected from someone like Jude. "Sam, I'm so glad you came. I didn't see much of you at the funeral." I feel bad that I wasn't able to spend much time with him, instead I was too busy meeting with the Adams family in Long Island. I relay all of the events from the past few weeks to Jude, my week with the girls, how I met Philip, his subsequent arrest and Toby's offer. Jude sits back in his armchair. He runs his hand along his forehead as he tries to digest all the information that I've just chucked at him. "Wow! That is one hell of a month, Sam. Well, I'm no longer an expert in relationships, but do you love Philip?" I turn and look at the photos on the wall of Jude, his wife Mina, and their baby son. I feel an intense longing for a family like the one he had, and a normal, happy relationship. After Ian, my ex-boyfriend, I haven't really let anyone come close to me, it's been five years since I ended things between us, but the scars are still there and I always wonder if I will ever meet a guy that will make me happy again. "I don't know if I am in love with him yet, I care about him deeply, but maybe there is someone else out there who is better for me." Jude smiles, gets up from his armchair and sits next to me on the couch. "Sam, you are one of my best friends and all I want is for another man to see exactly what I have been seeing for the last twenty-seven years." I lean my head on his shoulder and he puts his arm around me, he feels like home and it's so comforting. "You know, I always thought we would end up together. Then you met Ian and things changed." I am shocked, I had no inkling that Jude was attracted to me, let alone that he had this idea that we would end up together. I have so much love for him, but he has always been like a brother to me. Being in a relationship with him would be weird, especially since he has just recently become a widower. I turn our side hug into an embrace and say, "I love you Jude, you're one of my best friends. That will never change, even though that confession has knocked me for six." He laughs, I can tell that he is embarrassed. "You're too good for me, Sam. I knew how you felt, anyway. So, forget about men for a minute and tell me about this Indie film that Mr Grummett wants you to star in." I correct him, "He doesn't want me to Star in it, he wants me and the girls to send him all of our points of views from what happened that week. He said that we will all receive a large sum of money, enough for us to never have to work again." Jude looks amazed, he grabs both of my hands and gasps, "Say yes! This is the most incredible opportunity, you must of made an impression on this guy." I cringe slightly at his comment, I can feel myself blushing and I can't help but giggle, "Maybe I did. I was always going to say yes to him, I just needed the go ahead from the girls." He nods in agreement, "Listen, I've got to go and pick up my son, but promise me that you will keep in contact even when you become all rich and famous." I love Jude so much, I know that he will always support me in everything I do. "Sorry, I'd better go too. It was lovely seeing you Jude and I'll definitely keep in touch." I kiss him on the cheek and say goodbye.

I'm back waltzing along the streets of New York, I hate how lonely I feel. So I take out my phone and scroll through my contacts, I really need someone else to talk to. I see his name and my finger skims back and forth across it, I don't know if I should do it, but I'm so angry and I think to myself why the hell not?

I go back to my hotel room, and get changed into a black lace long sleeve top with blue skinny jeans and black shiny stiletto heels. I wait in the hotel bar for half an hour with my Porn Star Martini, there is another one that I've ordered beside it. I'm tempted to down that one and order another, the waiter keeps staring, he must think that I've been stood up. His eyes shoot away from me and he is staring at the tall, handsome man striding in through the entrance. Fucking hell, he looks the best that I've ever seen him. He is dressed in a light blue shirt with the sleeves rolled-up and white trousers; he looks as though he's just stepped off of a yacht. In all honesty, I wouldn't be surprised if he had. "Hello there beautiful, is that one for me?" He says, whilst pointing to the second cocktail. I hand it to him and raise my glass to his, "Cheers Toby!" He smiles at me seductively and I can feel my pussy starting to get wet. He sits down and says, "So, I'm sorry to hear about the boyfriend, Je suis désolé." I have to jump in, "Oh please! You're not sorry at all about Philip." He nods, "That is true, but neither are you. You wouldn't of asked me to come over here if you didn't want to see me." The sexual tension between the two of us is immeasurable, I bite my lower lip and touch his leg with mine under the table. "You were right." He looks under the table and back up at me again, "Hm, right about what?" With a glimmer in my eye I respond, "That I am the best shag you have ever had." I down the rest of my drink and get up from the table, walking through the bar to the exit. I turn to look at Toby as a signal to follow me, he gets up slowly from the table and starts following me all the way to the elevator.