Chapter 4
Ana woke up stretched across Christian's bed. She fell asleep after the warm bath. She felt the fresh clean sheets and looked around at the empty room. She was wearing his shirt which was a nightgown on her. She grabbed a pair of his basketball shorts and rolled them on her waist 4 times before pulling the string tight.
She walked out and went to his office. He waved her in, "Are you ok? Sorry I left you. I got a call but I was enjoying watching you sleep." Ana smiled, "I'm great Christian." He closed his laptop and stood up, "Gail made dinner. You want to eat?" Ana nodded and they headed to the kitchen. "Sit and I'll make our plates." Ana laughed, "Christian, I'm not used to this." Christian grabbed the plates, "Well get used to it."
They were eating and enjoying each other's company when Kate and Elliot walked in. "You guys started without us?" Christian smirked, "You two usually don't eat, you're always busy." Kate narrowed her eyes at Ana. She looked different and she knew. Kate watched her all through dinner. Elliot's phone rang, "Grey!" He listened carefully, "Christian we need to take this." When they left, Kate grabbed Ana, "You did it, didn't you?" Ana rolled her eyes, "You're one to talk. Oh Elliot right there. Fuck me harder!" Ana smiled seeing her sister blush. That wasn't easy.
Kate hugged her, "Was he gentle?" Ana smiled, because Kate loved her more than anything or anyone. When Ana didn't answer, Kate pulled her back to see her face. She saw tears falling down Ana's face, "I'll kill him!" Ana laughed, "He was so gentle Kate. I'm crying because you love me the most. I wouldn't make it without you." The boys came back and they finished dinner. They all enjoyed a movie before bed.
Christian held Ana in his arms, "Christian, I love this." Christian kissed her, "You can stay permanently." Kate and Ana still had their own place even though they had been staying at Escala for the last month. Ana put her hand under Christian shirt and stroked his chest, "How about we just continue what we started earlier?" Christian shook his head, "Nope because I don't want your sore and you're changing the subject. I'll wait for you."
After they all celebrated the 4th of July, they were ready to celebrate Mia's grand opening of her restaurant. It was a really big deal. She opened it up to the most influential people in Seattle. She had every dish available from the menu for tasting. Elliot and Christian climbed in the front while the girls sat back. Kate needed Ana's help with her dress and jewelry so they wouldn't be late. As they pulled into the garage Elliot slammed on brakes. Christian yelled, "Shit Elliot! Pay attention! Girls, are you ok?"
Elliot was frozen as he looked at the person who stepped in front of the SUV. Christian turned and froze just the same. There she was, their worst nightmare. Elena walked in front of the vehicle and dragged her finger across the hood. Ana looked up since they weren't speaking or moving. She saw an older woman walking off. She was beautiful, but she had an evil smile that Ana didn't like. "Are you guys ok?" Elliot snapped out of it, "We're good." Ana wasn't sure and Christian's face wasn't helping. They all went to celebrate Mia's successful night. She was amazing and so was the food.
Over the next week Ana noticed Elliot and Christian acting differently. They were both whispering and distant. Elliot and Kate were having more arguments than sex and Christian hadn't attempted to do anything other than kiss Ana. "Kate, somethings not right. I mean you El are fighting instead of fucking. What's going on?" Kate sighed, "I think it's just work. I stopped asking what was wrong because it leads to bigger fights." Ana shrugged, "That's not Elliot and Christian is barely talking to me." Kate looked at her, "Ana let it go. They will come around. I have my meeting."
Ana went looking for her backup, her mom. "Mom, do you have a minute?" Ana looked at her with her binder, that meant she had a meeting, probably the same one as Kate. "For you of course I do. Are you ok baby?" Ana smiled, her mom was busy, but she always stopped for her kids. "Mom, do you think Christian and I and Kate and Elliot will make it?" Carla stopped, "Well, I think it all happened fast, but you four definitely have something special. Is something wrong?" Ana sighed, "They've been distant. Kate and Elliot have been arguing a lot." Carla nodded, "She told me and couples argue baby. It's life and it makes love more. You'll be ok."
Ana wasn't sure and grabbed her stuff. She left for the day. She walked out of the building and welcomed the fresh air. "Ana?" Ana turned, "Grace!" Ana hugged her tight. Grace was always so sweet. Grace explained she just had lunch with her mom, "I came to see you but they said you left and Kate was in a meeting. Want a ride to Escala?" She saw Ana frown, "Hey, how about we go to my house and talk." Grace watched Ana look out of the window the entire way. When they got to the house, Grace sat her down, "Ana, what's wrong? I know my son isn't perfect."
Grace had noticed Elliot and Christian's change. For the last month her boys were happy and excited. Ana shrugged, "Neither one of them are talking. I don't know what's wrong." Grace showed Ana a photo album, "The boys went through something similar when they were younger. Their behavior was awful. Ana looked concerned. She flipped the pages and laughed, "That's Christian? Oh my gosh, his hair is still the same." Grace laughed, "Yeah, hopefully you can talk him into a haircut." Grace sat beside her, "His life hasn't been easy. Honestly, neither has Elliot's. He loves Christian, but I always thought he felt like we loved Christian more. When Christian came to us, Elliot had some behavior issues."
Ana thought their story was like her and Kate's story. She kept flipping and then she saw her. She looked closely, that was the woman they almost hit in the garage. She was younger but it was her. She even had the same evil smile. "Grace, who's this?" Grace looked and sighed, "I didn't realize she was in that picture. That's Elena Lincoln. She lived next door and she was my best friend. That was their graduation party."
Ana looked at the boys, "They look sad. And why was she your best friend? What happened?" Grace nodded, "They went through an awful period together. We were used to Elliot giving us problems, but Christian went along for the ride." She told Ana about having to threaten military school, "That's how they met Taylor. As far as Elena, no clue. Her and her husband sold everything and left while the boys were at Harvard. I never saw her again."
Ana felt better, but she knew something was really wrong. Grace took her to Escala. She walked in and saw Kate and Elliot eating in silence. "Hey guys." Elliot nodded and Kate rolled her eyes. That was the look that said Elliot was in a mood. She heard Christian's feet, "Hey babe…" Christian yelled, "Where the hell have you been? You don't answer your phone anymore?" She was shocked. She didn't know what was worse, the tone or the cursing. Ana looked at her phone and saw 25 missed calls. Before Ana could answer, Kate spoke, "Don't talk to her like that!"
Elliot's attitude and arguing with Kate was one thing, but she wouldn't stand for Ana to be treated like that. "And don't you dare answer him. Ana, let's go!" Kate grabbed her stuff, "Don't call either of us until you two pull your heads out of your ass!" Ana looked at them and saw sadness. The girls decided to take a break. Kate said no way were they taking their calls before a week was up. They asked for their parents' beach house in California. It was private and quiet.
The boys were lost and the girls weren't taking their calls. They had to see the one person they didn't want to. Elliot and Christian stood in front of Ray and they were scared. "So, you hurt my girls and you want me to tell you where they went. Did you ask Ethan?" Elliot smiled, "Sir we just want to apologize. We've been dealing with a lot. We didn't handle this right." Ray looked at Christian, "What do you have to say? My girls, my family, we don't have secrets and we don't lie." Christian looked at him, "They deserve better."
Ray nodded, "They deserve your best boys and if you aren't going to give them that, then leave them alone." They hung their heads. "If you are going to give them that, here." Ray handed them a piece of paper with an address, "That's where they are and that is the code to the gate." Elliot and Christian thanked Ray. "Whatever this is, we'll stand beside you. And for the record beside and behind are completely different things. No secrets, no lies."
Elliot and Christian boarded their private jet. They talked along the way. They heard Ray, but they couldn't tell the girls anything. They agreed to keep it in the past. They got to the gate and drove in. The beach house was quiet and empty. Elliot nudged Christian when he saw them outside. Kate was in the water and Elliot saw her and walked towards the water. Christian walked over seeing Ana in the chair. When he got to the chair he saw her in this tiny yellow bikini and her top was off. He saw red, "Ana, what the fuck!"
Ana jumped up and Christian threw the towel at her. The sun was blinding, but she saw the look on Christian's face. He never scared her, she just wanted to know what this was. Ana looked and thought, Thank God Kate couldn't hear him. She was actually jealous that Kate and Elliot were kissing and Christian and her were still in an unsure place. Ana stood up and wrapped her towel around herself. She figured she needed to say something, "Christian, this is a private beach. No one saw me except Kate. Why are you upset?"
Christian snapped, "Elliot could have!" Ana snapped back, "Well neither one of you should be here anyway!" She walked away and Christian followed her. She walked into her bedroom and turned to look at him. She dropped her towel and pulled the strings on her bottoms and it dropped to the floor. Christian sat on the bed and ran his hands through his wild hair. He didn't even look at her and it made her feel inadequate. Ana rolled her eyes, took a shower, and cried. She was pushing him on purpose. She wanted to see some fight from him.
When she walked out of the bathroom, he was still sitting there. She heard Kate and Elliot going at it, but they weren't fighting, they were fucking. "I'm sorry baby! Fucking cum for me!" Just as she closed the door to block out the noise she heard Kate, "Fuck El! Fuck!" She walked over to Christian, "I need to change. Can you go?" Christian snapped, "You show your tits to everyone, but I have to go?" Ana rolled her eyes, "The beach was private and so is this room. Get the fuck out. Now! "
Christian grabbed her and his gray eyes burned into her blue eyes. He grabbed the towel and pulled it off. He pushed her on the bed so she was on her hands and knees. He smacked her ass hard. She winced and felt the sting. She heard his pants unzip and felt pressure at her entrance. Christian saw Ana grip the sheets and saw her breathing change. He stopped and walked away. Ana wasn't some girl he could treat like the girls he had been with.
Ana knew something was seriously wrong. She got dressed and her ass was still stinging. She walked out on the balcony. The smell of the salt water calmed her. She had her eyes shut until she heard Elliot and Christian talking. "Christian you were fine on the plane. We agreed, they don't need to know." Christian shook his head, "Elena fucked us up Elliot and she's back out of nowhere. Do you see an ending El? She wants something. And we're lying to girls we love." Elliot shook his head, "Do you know what coming clean to everyone will mean?" Christian shrugged, "I can't love her and lie to her El. You heard Ray, no secrets, no lies."
Ana went to the kitchen and saw Kate. She was a little a jealous, "Did you enjoy your make up fuck?" Kate laughed, "You mean make up sex?" Ana scoffed, "That wasn't sex." Kate looked at her, "What's up Ana?" Ana checked the lasagna, "I just want them to be honest with us." Elliot answered, "We know." They both turned around. Elliot walked up to Kate and kissed her, "You deserve the best." Christian walked up and kissed Ana, "No secrets, no lies."