Page 21 of Love Unspoken

"Not much you can do, Amias."

I wished Hayes a good holiday and was in a sour mood when I got to my apartment. My very large five-bedroom penthouse apartment with a patio and private pool. We'd just been to Nolan and Kara's place, and it was ostentatious and large. And Naya was living in some small apartment.

I couldn't believe Ann had said that to her face at Legal Sea Foods. When I'd told Ann she'd been rude to Naya, she'd turned on me.

"She insists that Magnus stay with her. Kara said the carpet at her place is so old she's afraid Magnus will catch something."

"She doesn't have to leave her kid with her, Ann. They can hire a babysitter."

"She says she pays Naya."

"No, she doesn't as you very well heard from her boyfriend."

"Boyfriend? He's her sugar daddy. What does he see in her?"

I'd cut the conversation off after that, not wanting to listen to Ann continue to disparage Naya. I had no clue why she disliked her so much. Maybe because she was friends with Kara.

But the deeper question was what the fuck was I doing with a woman like Ann? What did I see in her? She was convenient. We knew each other well. The sex was amazing. She was a great hostess and easy to take to parties and events that I was invited to. She was charming when she wanted to be. She was fucking smart and had a successful career. So, she was a little selfish…? Who wasn't? I was quite self-involved myself.

But there was one person I knew who was not at all selfish. Naya.

I couldn't believe Nolan had lied to us to gain our sympathy while his sister was shouldering the burden of their father's medical bills on a much smaller salary than his. She'd also been the one who'd packed her bags and moved to Boston to take care of her father. I wondered if they'd made any money selling their father's house in East Boston and decided, probably not. Everything must have been used for the funeral and medical expenses otherwise Naya wouldn't be bicycling everywhere.

Ann kissed me when I stepped into the apartment. "I'm so looking forward to New York."

The Westbrook family came from old money, and I knew that was one of the things about me Ann found most attractive. She got along better with my parents than I did. Not that I didn't get along with them. It was polite and superficial, and we all got through Thanksgiving Dinner with practiced ease. No dramas were ever tolerated at the Westbrook family dinner table.

"I need a shower." I didn't feel like kissing her back. I was still seething about Naya being alone for Thanksgiving, her first since her father died. How the fuck could Nolan do that to her?

"What time is our flight?" Ann asked.

"Late, around nine."

I had chartered a plane to avoid the travel drama on commercial. Maybe I could invite Naya to join my family for Thanksgiving. I could get her a room at the hotel we were staying in, and she could…what?

Spending the day with my family and Ann would probably be torture for Naya, especially since Ann had her claws out when it came to that poor girl.

While Ann was doing whatever the hell she was in my living room, I took a shower, pondering on how to make this holiday a little less lonely for Naya. I wrapped a towel around my waist and stepped into my bedroom. I picked up my phone and called the concierge of my building.

"Mr. Westbrook, how can I help you?" Guillaume asked.

"I don't know if you can, but I wanted to check. I want to send a Thanksgiving meal to someone?"

"As in for the homeless?" he asked.

Fuck! Is that what Naya would think? That this was charity?

"No, a…friend. She's alone for the holidays and I…." I didn't know what I was trying to do.

"Sir, we can absolutely arrange that for you. How about I have The Godfrey send over one of their dinners?" he suggested.

The Godfrey was a fantastic hotel and did a big Thanksgiving do. "Yeah, that sounds good. Thanks, Guillaume. I'll just text her address to you."

"My pleasure, Mr. Westbrook. I'll make sure you get an email about what was sent and when. Would you want a card to accompany this dinner?"

I thought about it for a moment and then said, "Yes. Just say Happy Thanksgiving, Amias."

"Okay."