Well, this is it for today. I have a new book group to get to and I haven't read the first three chapters. Yikes!
A Jog Into Spring.
Olga took the break up alright. I didn't want to hurt her but I knew my mom was right. I decided to break up with her right after Thanksgiving so it wouldn't be too close to Christmas. I don't know why I cared but I did. Now I was alone again. I threw myself into work until Christmas and then enjoyed the holiday with the family in Aspen. We enjoy going to Aspen for Christmas. I love skiing and so does Christian. We spend our days on the slopes and our evenings eating Carmella's cooking.
Carmella and my mom always put on a huge spread and Christian flies out our grandparents and a few other family members. It's a nice break from reality. I fell off the wagon a bit and enjoyed some of the holiday treats from Caribou. Some were blonde well actually all were blonde. Christian tried to give me grief about my "nightcaps" and I gave him grief about spending too much time in the office. Christian spent too much of his time in his office staring at spreadsheets. One night I actually convinced him to join me out on the back deck drinking Guinness not saying much. It was nice to spend time with him even if we didn't say much.
After New Year's, Christian seemed a bit distant. I didn't know if he was mad at me for not following through with the house and wife search. Honestly, I don't think he cares but the cold shoulder was making me think otherwise. I was working pretty hard during the week and would try to catch up with him on the weekends but he never answered my calls or texts. One weekend, I went over to Escala and the code on the elevator had been changed. Christian's car was there but he didn't answer when I tried to buzz up. I wondered what he was doing, if he had company, or if he was just ignoring me. I noticed a new red Audi in the garage. He must have someone there with him. I didn't want to interrupt so I went back to my loft. Sunday night I got a text.
Hey bro –C
Hey douchbag –E
Lunch tomorrow? I need to check up on my investment in Grey Construction. –C
Sure. I'll stop by around 12. Tell Andrea to expect me;) –E
I have to tease him about Andrea. He's so protective of her. I know he said she's irreplaceable and I wonder what that means. I wonder if she knows more about my brother's life than I do.
Christian and I have lunch and I know he's got something he wants to say. He starts with small talk and then brings up Flynn.
"So are you still seeing Flynn?" I'm pretty sure he knows the answer. He knows I've gone back to my manwhore habits.
"Nah, I don't think the whole talking about my feelings thing is for me." It may be for him but I'm the tough one, I think.
"You know, bro, I really don't want to come over and clean up your vomit again." That was a one time thing. I have everything under control.
"I'm good, Christian." I need to shut this Christian interrogation down quick.
"Why don't you come for a run with me in the morning?" A run. Well, maybe that would relieve some of the stress. Some of the stress I don't plan on sharing with my brother. I wonder why he's asking but maybe it's for the same reason.
"What time?" And with that began a ritual.
It's a ritual that I have begun to enjoy. It's now spring here in Seattle. It's just the beginning of May and Christian and I have been meeting up every weekday morning at six. We run together followed by Taylor and every now and then I join him for a workout with Claude. It's really helped to focus me. Christian still locks himself up in his ivory tower every weekend. Actually, he's in New York the last couple of weeks so as soon as he gets back I'm going to try to get him to get out and loosen up a bit. I know he'll ignore my texts but maybe if I stop by.
I've been going to this one new club in the city. It's full of lots of love 'em and leave 'em girls. They see me there and know what I'm there for. Tonight, there's a girl named Sabina. I like that name, Sabina. I buy her a drink and she's mine. We go back to my apartment and are up all night. Well, 4 times to be exact. I'm woken by the light shining through the window and I realize that it's Saturday and I have a girl in my bed. I need to get rid of her and don't have an excuse for leaving. I send Christian a text hoping that he's back in town.
IHOP? –E
Up early? Need an escape?-C
Yep –E
I'll pick you up in 20. –C
Thank goodness! I nudge the gorgeous and talented blonde on my pillow, "Hey, sleepyhead." I nuzzle her ear and she giggles a little.
"Sabina, I have to go. My brother is coming by to pick me up in 20."
"Your brother? Can I go with you? I'd love to meet him." She's got a sparkle in her eye and I know it's trouble. I wonder if she wants to meet the famous Christian Grey or if she is just clinging on to me.
"Sabina, my brother doesn't meet, " what do I call her, "girls that I spend the night with. He's very private."
"Elliot, I know who your brother is and I know he's private. I just want to spend more time with you. Maybe I can be more than someone who spent the night with you.
Shit! Danger, danger, red lights are flashing in my head. I've got to get her out of here.
"Sabina, this is an important meeting with my brother. I need you to leave." I speak with authority. I'm channeling my brother's CEO face. She seems to understand and starts to get dressed.
"Well, Elliot, I programmed our numbers in our cell phones last night. I hope you don't mind. I really want to see you again." She bats her eyes and I'm in shock. She's going to be a hard one to shake. I help her get her things together and walk her out. Her car is here and I vaguely remember her driving last night. I wonder if she had this planned and got me drunk just to hook up with Christian Grey's brother. The thought bothers me. I give her a quick kiss and she's on her way.
After I've gone upstairs and showered off Sabina, I start to get dressed. My brother sends me a text and tells me that he's waiting outside. Of course he is waiting outside. He wouldn't want to run the risk of walking in on me and my latest conquest. I throw some jeans and a t-shirt on and run out to his R8. He has his music on and I can tell isn't going to be very talkative. We drive out to the IHOP by my parents' house and he finally turns the music off.
"Elliot, I can't always come out and save your ass." Oh no, it's the father/son talk that he feels the need to give me. We can't all be celibate.
"Thanks, Christian, but we can't all be a twenty-seven year old virgin running a multi-billion dollar company. Some of us have needs that need to be filled. I tried the girlfriend crap. It didn't work." He looks at me with his steel gray eyes and he's looking straight through me. He knows it's not true. He knows that I still want that cookie cutter family life. And somewhere deep inside I know he's not a twenty-seven year old virgin. He's got a secret and isn't cracking.
"Let's get some grub. I need to rejuvenate after 4 rounds of Sabina." I jump out of the car and let him chew on that piece of information.
He follows me into IHOP and we sit in our favorite booth. Christian's "favorite" waitress comes over and smiles at him. Don't waste your time on him, I'll give you a ride you won't want to end. We eat our breakfast in relative silence. There's a bit of business talk. Christian helped me start up Grey Construction and so he always keeps tabs on it. He really respects my work. He always comes to me when he wants to make a change to one of his companies to make it "green".
After our breakfast, we head out to The Grace. I love Christian's boat. It's more than just a boat. It's amazing. His buddy, Mac, is waiting for us and we set out for a day of relaxation. I guess this is how Christian relaxes but I can't wonder why he can't just loosen up and find someone. After lunch, Christian and I are sitting in the cabin.
"Hey bro, you know you can tell me anything,right?" He looks up at me with a shocked but a bit pained expression. I don't think he believes me.
"Seriously, Christian, I just feel like you keep sec rets and I want you to feel like you can share." I don't know what has gotten in to me. Maybe it's being out in the water with no way for Christian to escape.
"Look, I'll start. Olga thought she was pregnant when I broke up with her." Christian's head snaps up and he looks at me. He's appalled.
"Elliot! She thought or she was? And what do you mean when you broke up with her? Did you know?" He's leaning forward in his chair and his eyes are full of judgement.
"No! I didn't know. She was crying when I broke up with her but I thought it was just the break up. I didn't know she was worried about being pregnant. She came over to my loft a week later and told me."
"Well, is she? Was she?" He's still fuming. I can tell he's holding back a Christian Grey lecture."
"No, it was some female ovary thing. She's fine and she was never pregnant. Look, my point is that we all have secrets. I haven't shared that tidbit with anyone but you, Christian. I trust you, bro." I lean forward and he's looking at me with those same scared eyes.
I can't believe I'm going to ask the next thing, "Christian, are you a virgin?" He looks at me and all of a sudden starts to laugh. My brother, Christian, is laughing. He never laughs.
"No Elliot, I'm not a virgin. Seriously, that's personal bro. What's gotten into you?"
I sit back more confused than ever. He's sharing that he's not a virgin and being so laid back about it. Should I ask him more? I don't know. I should probably stop while I'm ahead.
"You know, Elliot, how could Olga think she was pregnant? Isn't she on the pill? Don't tell me you're manwhoring all around Seattle not using protection!" Oh man, he's turning this back around on me. I got one piece of information and now he's going to continue on my "situation".
"Of course, I use protection. I know enough from mom's detailed sit down talks. Those talks were so embarrassing. Did you know, she bought me condoms until I moved out of the house? She even sent me a few boxes after I moved out!"
"No way, bro, that's awesome." Christian is having fun with this conversation.
"Did mom ever talk to you about sex?" Christian shakes his head and then gets up to grab a drink. I wonder why my mom never talked to him. I wonder if she just assumed what the rest of us have.
"Just make sure that you get checked out, Elliot. If Olga was worried about getting pregnant, then you should be worried about what you've exposed yourself to." Bringing the focus right back to me again, Christian. He's a pro.
"Mom sent me to a doctor every six months until I was 18, Christian. It was humiliating."
"What?" Christian wants more of this tidbit too. I wanted Christian to tell me his secrets not the other way around.
"Yes, Christian, while you were busy getting in trouble in school, mom was worrying about me catching some STD. She would pick me up from school in the middle of the day and take me to get checked out. It was embarrassing to have to be called down to the office and leave with my mom. I bet the school knew what was going on. It was horrible."
"So, while mom was worrying about you, I was getting kicked out of school. Mom deserves a medal." We both nod our heads and throw back another drink.
After, that Elliot tell-all, Christian and I got back to the harbor and headed back to the city. I enjoyed my day out with Christian. It was one of those normal days that I cherish with my brother. I think he feels the same.
Sabina is really driving me crazy. She keeps calling and texting. I can't seem to shake her. Why don't these girls understand that each and every text puts another nail in the coffin? If I don't call back then don't expect anything from me. I'm moving on to greener pastures. Speaking of greener pastures, I wonder if I can get out of town for the weekend. I grab the phone and call Christian.
*"Elliot?"
"Dude. I need to get out of Seattle this weekend. This chick is all over my junk and I've got to get away."
"Your junk?"
"Yeah. You would know if you had any." I can't help but grab that dig when he left that door open. I love going after my brother.
"How about hiking around Portland? We could go this afternoon. Stay down there. Come home Sunday." Holy Shit! This is so unlike Christian. I'm not going to pass up this opportunity.
"Sounds cool. In the chopper, or do you want to drive?"
"It's a helicopter, Elliot, and I'll drive us down. Come by the office at lunchtime and we'll head out."
"Thanks, bro. I owe you." I can't believe my luck. Now if I can just avoid Sabina's calls until lunchtime.
*The dialogue between Elliot and Christian is from EL James's wonderful book, Grey. If you haven't read it, you should. No plagiarism intended. This is all EL James's brainchild.