Page 1 of Learning to Trust

Chapter One

DAVID

“Get the hell out of my fucking life and stay out!”

Lined up neatly side by side on the front porch, a pair of boots I’d given Tristan the previous week caught my eye. He’d wanted them for months, but on a librarian’s wage, they were out of his reach. On my way home from work, I’d noticed a pair on display in the department store window and had bought them to surprise him. It was always the case—what Tristan wanted, I provided. In my angry state, I imagined they were now mocking my stupidity. I bent down, scooped them into my hands, and lobbed them at my asshole, soon-to-be ex, who was standing beside a white Lexus I’d also been stupid enough to buy him as a gift. While one boot missed, the other connected with his chest causing him to yelp—a most satisfying sound to my ears.

“David, please.”

“I’ll send your stuff to Sebastian’s. The two of you can go to hell.” I’d lost my lover and close friend in one fell swoop, and despite my anger, it hurt.

Whatever David said next was lost in the front door slamming after I spun around and stormed into my home.

The couch emitted a sighing sound as I dropped onto the cushion, expelling whatever air had previously been trapped. The fingers of one hand dragged through my unruly black curls while I held my cell phone and pulled up the number of a locksmith with the other. After telling him I didn't care how much extra it cost me to have him out on a Saturday, he assured me he would be out in under an hour to change every lock in the place.

Next on my list was a phone call to my big sister, Janice. She was four years older than my thirty-six years—my confidante and best friend. The person I turned to for advice or when I was upset.

"Hey. You're calling early, considering it's Saturday. I figured you'd be curled up in bed with Tristan doing whatever you two do together.

I growled down the line. “I’m done with Tristan. I found out the asshole has been fucking Sebastian again.”

“Oh, honey, I’m sorry. So this is what—the third time he’s fucked around on you with Seb?”

"Fourth and last. All Tristan's promises about being faithful meant shit. I should have listened to you and Heather when you had doubts about us being together. I'm done, Jan. The two of them can go to hell. From now on, David Pennant trusts no one. Except you, of course."

My sister sighed loudly. “I know it’s not what you want to hear, but Tristan was never right for you. One day a man will walk into your life and steal your heart when you least expect it to happen. He will make you forget the hurt caused by Tristan, Seb, and all the rest of the assholes.”

“Nope. From this point on, I’m gonna be the meanest motherfucker men cross paths with, and they won’t bother to give me a second glance. I’m tired of being given shit at work and walked all over in my personal life.”

“You’re hurting, hon. Give it time and lick your wounds but don’t become a bitter, twisted old man like Dad. He’s done fuck all since retiring a year ago when, with his fortune, he could have been traveling the world. If Mom were still around, she would have been dragging him all over Europe.”

“I’m beginning to understand why he’s that way with the attitudes I’ve had to put up with since I stepped into his shoes at the company. Everyone said he was too young to retire since he was only fifty-nine, but the way things are going with that bunch of assholes, I’ll be retiring before my fortieth birthday.”

Janice laughed. “Yeah, they can be difficult.” She was the Senior Manager of advertising at Pennant Electronics, where I was now CEO. Our father had built it from nothing into a multi-billion-dollar industry. My sister dealt with the same problems and understood exactly what I was saying. “Seriously though, I’m sure everything will be okay,” she reassured.

“I have my doubts, but moving on, I called to see if you and Steve could help me out this afternoon to pack up Tristan’s stuff. I’ll organize a rental truck and driver to dump it at Sebastian’s place.”

"Wow, you really are serious about not giving him another chance and letting him stay."

“Deadly.”

"Lisa is having a sleepover at Wendy's, and Steve is dropping her off at ten this morning. Gavin has little league, but I'll call Belinda and ask if she and Roger can take him with Billy. They'll be happy to have him stay until we get home. We can be there around eleven, and I'll bring lunch."

“Thanks, sis, for always being here when I need you.”

"That's what big sisters are for; they care for their little brothers when they're in trouble."

Janice blew kissy sounds into the phone before I disconnected our call and got up from the couch.

I crossed to the security panel near the front door and flipped the cover down, mulling over what digits I should enter for the new code. They needed to be numbers Tristan wouldn’t easily guess because there was no doubt in my mind that he would return, intending to enter my home.

I could picture it now—I would come home from work after a long day and find him naked on his knees. Numerous red roses—my favorite flower, would be in several vases. Dozens of flickering candles would be dotted around the dim room. The living room would have a thick air of romance. He would apologize over and over until I finally accepted, and we would fuck until our bodies were boneless and we fell into a deep sleep. The following days would see us acting as two men deeply in love until it happened again.

I keyed in numbers Tristan would have no chance of guessing and then called the security company advising them that Tristan was no longer authorized to enter the premises. They asked me for a new password, which I gave them.

After hanging up the phone, a shower should have been my priority before the locksmith arrived, but instead, I crossed to the bar in the dining room and poured myself a large scotch. I didn’t give a fuck that it was barely eight in the morning and way too early for alcohol by any decent person’s standards. Holding the glass and an almost full bottle of liquor, I dropped back onto the couch and took a large gulp of the amber liquid, closing my eyes as it burned its way down my throat.

Laughing and voices outside had me pushing aside the curtains on the window next to where I sat. A removal truck was in the driveway of the house next door, and five men were busy unloading boxes to carry inside. I wondered if they had witnessed the scene between Tristan and me but decided even if they had, I didn't give a flying fuck.