Sweet Fate

by Laurelin Paige

  “Go,” she said. “I’m going to pace the room, anyway. It’s less embarrassing to do it when there’s no one else around.”

  I didn’t want to leave her alone, but I had to take care of this before it was too late, and while Aaron was in surgery was the best time to step away.

  Without my own phone, it was harder to do what I needed. I didn’t have Audrey’s number memorized, and when I called the staff number listed for her department on the Gallery website, I was told she’d called off for the day.

  I was sure she wasn’t ill. She was likely upset, and I hated myself for being the one who’d caused that.

  I had to get a hold of her.

  Donovan would be able to get me her number. My thumb hovered over his name in Ellen’s directory. Then I had another idea and dialed the number to my office instead.

  “I need you to do something for me,” I said when I’d been transferred to Amy’s line and she’d answered.

  “Dylan! How are you holding up? What’s going on with Aaron?”

  “He’s fine. Or, not fine yet. He’s in surgery, but I’m praying he’s going to be fine, and that’s not why I’m calling. I’ll give you an update on him as soon as I have it. I need something else in the meantime.” I spoke rapidly, running my free hand through my hair as I paced the length of the waiting room.

  “Uh, okay. What can I do?”

  “I’m not sure exactly. Something big, but I’m not very good at this so I don’t know quite what that is.”

  “This isn’t something I can work with, Locke.”

  “Right, right.” I tried to pull my frantic thoughts into something cohesive. “I need you to go to Audrey’s for me. I’ll give you the address. I need you to go over there with flowers and chocolates and...I don’t know...balloons! Balloons are good. Heart-shaped balloons. And lots of flowers.”

  “I think you have the holidays mixed up. It’s Christmas season, not Valentine’s. I’m not sure I can find chocolates and heart-shaped balloons.”

  “Do the best you can, then. Get whatever you think might be romantic. The biggest romantic things you can find, and then tell her I love her. Tell her I don’t want her to go, and that I love her, and that I’m not going to be scared anymore.” I paused, wondering if there was something else to add, but couldn’t think of anything. “Is that good? Do you think that’s good? Do you think she’ll think that’s good?”

  “I think she’ll think that’s quite wonderful. But she isn’t home right now.”

  The voice wasn’t Amy’s, and it came from behind me, not from Ellen’s phone. With the mobile still pressed to my ear, I turned around and suddenly the light in the room was brighter and my knees went weak and my heart was pounding like it would jump out of my chest.

  Because there she was. There was Audrey. Bundled up like an eskimo, her cheeks flushed, her eyes shining.

  “Never mind,” I told Amy, never taking my eyes off the woman in front of me. “Cancel it. Cancel all of it.”

  I ended the call without saying goodbye, and let the mobile slip out of my grasp to the carpet so I could have both hands free as I took Audrey into my arms.

  She threw her hands around my neck and pulled my head down toward hers. My mouth found hers easily, like it was made for this, made to only kiss her. I kissed her like it had been decades since I’d last seen her. I kissed her like I hadn’t been alive until now.

  I kissed her like I would die if I didn’t kiss her.

  Breathless, I pressed my forehead against hers. “Stay in London. Let me be the reason you stay.”

  She nodded, tears sliding down her face. “Okay.”

  Then I kissed her again, like I’d never let her go.

  Eighteen

  With my arms still around her, I pulled back to look at her. The enormity of what she’d done for me struck me suddenly. She’d gotten on a plane, flown across an ocean at the drop of a dime. The price of the ticket alone had to be an obstacle. “I can’t believe you came.”

  She pushed my chest lightly with her palm. “Of course I came. It’s your son, you ninny.” She searched my features, seemingly as in awe of me as I was of her at the moment. “Did you think I didn’t really mean it when I said I loved you? As soon as I got your message, I had to be here.”

  My breath felt trapped inside my chest. She’d said the words before, but I hadn’t been ready to hear them then. Really hear them. There was a great deal of things to say, things I should have said the first time she’d said them.

  But I hadn’t lost complete sight of where we were and what was going on. “Audrey, there are things I want to tell you, just…”

  She cut me off with a shake of her head. “It can wait. What’s going on with Aaron?”

  “He’s in surgery right now.” Suddenly I remembered my ex-wife. “I need to go back to his room to wait for him.”

  “Do you want me to come with you? Do you want me to go? Whatever you need…”

  I tightened my grip on her waist. “Don’t go. I want you to stay. Please?”

  “I want to stay, too. Thank you for letting me stay.” She sounded relieved, and I almost laughed at how ridiculous it was that she wasn’t sure that I’d want her with me, when I wanted her as acutely as I did.

  I was so grateful, in fact, that I couldn’t begin to tell her. I wasn’t sure I could speak at all, actually. I cleared my throat. “Would you...may I introduce you to Ellen?”

  Her lips turned up in a soft smile. “I’d like that.”

  I kissed her once more, quickly, simply because I couldn’t not kiss her, then grabbed the phone off the floor and held it in one hand and Audrey’s hand in the other as we walked to the hospital room. Along the way, I updated her on Aaron’s condition telling her about the abscess and the swelling and the possibilities of encephalitis and sepsis. All of it sounded just as awful as it had when I’d heard it from Dr. Sharma, but somehow the situation seemed a little more hopeful, just because she was here.

  At Aaron’s room, I unexpectedly became nervous. I’d never introduced another woman to Ellen, and something about that felt significant. More significant, even, than introducing a woman to my mother.

  I dropped Audrey’s hand so I could go in first. “Um, Ellen…”

  She was standing at the window, staring outside at the street below.

  I waited for her to shake out of her thoughts before I went on. “I sort of lied earlier, when I said I wasn’t dating anyone.” I reached behind me and pulled Audrey to my side.

  “Hi,” she said, offering her free hand to Ellen before I could complete the introduction. “I’m Audrey.”

  Ellen’s eyes went wide. She blinked a couple of times, a faint smile appearing on her face. She shook Audrey’s hand. “Ellen Wallace.”

  “I’m very glad to meet you, though I’m so sorry it has to be under such terrible circumstances.”

  “Nice to meet you as well.” She was surprised, I was sure, and why wouldn’t she be? I’d given her no reason to see it coming. She narrowed her eyes and looked curiously in my direction. “Dylan, have you been hiding her from me?”

  “No! No. Not at all.” Though I was at a loss of what to say to explain our relationship.

  Thank God Audrey was better at these things than I. “It’s not his fault,” she explained. “We’ve known each other for more than a year, but…” She looked at me, her cheeks pinking. “We’re only just now sorting out what we are to each other.”

  God, she was perfect.

  Ellen’s forehead was still knotted in confusion. “Do you live here? Or in London?”

  “I’m American, obviously,” she giggled. “And we met here. But I’ve been living in London for the past several months. I flew out here as soon as I heard about Aaron. Dylan didn’t know I was coming.”

  Ellen’s features relaxed. “Ah.” She gave me a knowing look that I couldn’t interpret. Not for lack of trying.

  She returned her focus to Audrey. “Dylan has always had a thing for American gir
ls.”

  “Really? I guess I never put that together. It works out, because I have a thing for this British man.”

  Now I was the one to blush.

  It was time to change the subject. “Did you hear anything while I was gone?”

  Ellen’s sober expression returned. “Nothing yet. It should be soon. I hope. I’m going crazy with the waiting.”

  “I can’t even imagine.” Audrey’s tone was genuinely sympathetic. A beat passed. “If you’ll excuse me, I could use some tea. I spotted a coffee station in the waiting room. Can I bring you both something?”

  Ellen declined, while I asked for Earl Grey, if they had it.

  As soon as she left the room, my ex-wife smirked. “Dylan, you dog. I can’t believe you didn’t mention her. She’s adorable.”

  “She’s young.” I was prodding her, trying to provoke her into admitting what she had to really be thinking.

  Ellen just rolled her eyes. “You’re young.”

  “She’s younger.” Maybe it was silly to expect my ex-wife to be shocked by the age difference, seeing as how she was ten years older than me.

  It was probably even sillier that I worried about the gap at all. I loved Audrey exactly as she was, and for some insane reason, she loved me.

  Ellen seemed to sense I needed more reassurance. “I’ll tell you the same thing my mother said to me when I brought you home for the first time: Right on.”

  She winked, and anxiety rolled off my shoulders. “I’ve still got it,” I said, boastfully, embracing the lightness of the moment, as fleeting as it might be. “It’s probably because I’m in a band. She’s an artist. She appreciates other artists.”

  Ellen full out laughed. “Oh, is that what she appreciates about you?” Her smile lingered. “Seriously, though. You have someone who will sit at the hospital with you. You better keep her.”

  That had been the knowing look she’d given me, I realized now.

  “I’m working on that.” I wasn’t sure how I’d expected Ellen to react to me having a girlfriend—was that what Audrey was? I hadn’t imagined bringing a woman around her since she’d cheated on me. Then, I’d fantasized an insane amount about the idea, about having a sexy, young, intelligent bombshell on my arm, about flaunting it in her face. I’d wanted to hurt her, make her jealous. Make her regret giving me up.

  This was nothing like what I’d imagined. It was so much better.

  A few minutes later, Audrey returned with the tea, then a few minutes after that, the shift nurse came in. “Mr. Locke, Ms. Wallace, I’m happy to report that Aaron is out of surgery. He’s in the recovery room now. Would you like to be taken down to see him? The surgeon can talk to you both there.”

  “Yes,” Ellen answered immediately.

  “I’d like to go as well.” We’d already been told only parents were allowed in recovery. I knew Audrey would understand, but I looked at her for confirmation.

  “I’ll be here when you get back, if that’s okay?”

  I wasn’t sure if she was asking me or the nurse. “Can she stay in the room while we’re gone?”

  “Sure. I’ll bring another chair. And your relation is...?” The nurse studied Audrey, trying to find a resemblance, perhaps.

  I waited for Audrey to play her usual game and claim to be my daughter or a niece, but she didn’t. She reached out and took my hand. “I’m his girlfriend.”

  So she was my girlfriend.

  I liked the sound of it, but also, it didn’t feel right. It wasn’t enough of a word to describe everything she was to me. Everything I wanted her to be.

  But right now I needed to see my son. The rest could wait until later.

  The procedure had gone well. Aaron would need a root canal and debridement once he got out of the hospital, but the surgeon was confident he’d gotten the bulk of the infection out. Now it was a matter of waiting for the IV antibiotics to take care of the rest. He expected we’d see progress within the next twenty-four hours or so.

  Like the last time our son had undergone anesthesia, Aaron took a while rousing. It was nearly two hours later before he was ready to return to his floor. He was still fairly out of it as they wheeled him into the room, and I debated whether or not I should wait to re-introduce him to Audrey.

  Turned out Aaron made the decision himself. “I know you,” he said, looking Audrey over. “You’re my dad’s girlfriend, aren’t you?”

  I grinned over at the woman I loved. “Seems he figured it out faster than we did.”

  “I knew the minute we first met that you were a smart one,” she said directly to Aaron. “I hope you don’t mind that I’m here right now. I don’t want to invade your family time.”

  “I don’t mind. You’re nice.” His eyes closed. “And pretty,” he added before drifting back to sleep.

  I didn’t say it out loud, but I had to agree. That kid really was marts.

  The rest of the day was spent at his bedside. Audrey became more than a comfort; she was also extremely helpful. She brought us food when we got tired of the cafeteria options. Ellen gave her the keys to her apartment and Audrey met the cable guy. She bought me a charger for my phone so I could distract myself with internet surfing. She engaged in idle conversation with each of us. She sat by my side.

  Through it all it became more and more clear how much I needed her, how perfectly she fit into my world, how completely she belonged to me. And even as my main focus was my son and his illness, the wheels worked in the back of my mind. Ellen’s advice played over and over on repeat—you better keep her. Little by little, I broke down what I’d have to do, what I’d have to become to make that happen. Little by little, I unraveled the knots that had previously been barriers to letting Audrey in permanently.

  As evening approached, she encouraged me to consider some self-care. There had been no changes in Aaron’s status, but no indication that it would worsen. Reluctantly, I left the hospital for the night. I was exhausted and needed a shower, a bed, a change of clothes. Audrey was just as tired. We collapsed into sleep as soon as we got to the flat.

  We returned to hospital Saturday morning for a repeat of the prior day, with one difference—Aaron’s swelling was receding. The latest antibiotic seemed to be working. It was easier to leave that night, and Sunday when we arrived at hospital, the doctor informed us that Aaron would be able to go home later in the day.

  The news was so overwhelming, I lost it. I had to make an excuse to step out of the room so Aaron wouldn’t see me overcome with emotion. Audrey followed, and I buried my head in her neck and sobbed with relief.

  After the episode passed, my head was clearer, as though a long lying fog had finally lifted. The foolishness of the vows I’d made the first night at Aaron’s bedside became apparent. Silently, I made new ones. I vowed to make Aaron my priority and to be the best father possible. The first step in doing that was to be the best man possible. Audrey made me that kind of man.

  I slipped out again soon after to make another phone call.

  “I need your help,” I said to Donovan when he answered the line.

  “It’s about goddamned time.”

  Aaron was discharged a few hours later. Audrey and I helped get him home. He’d had several gifts sent by friends and family members while he’d been ill—flowers, balloons and the like. Too much for Ellen to manage by herself. I also wanted to personally see him back in his normal environment. Even though he went immediately to bed, it was reassuring to see him in his own room rather than the clinical surroundings of the hospital.

  And I had reasons for not wanting to go back to my own apartment quite yet.

  We stayed for dinner, delivery pizza at Aaron’s request, and by late evening, I was finally ready to leave. I was more than ready, actually. There was nothing more I could do for my son. He was on the road to recovery. He was tucked in and medicated. He’d listened to me tell him I loved him countless times without protesting too much.

  Now I turned my focus to the woman who’d sat patie
ntly on the backburner throughout the ordeal. I wanted her. I needed her in a very different way than I had the past few days, and with the furtive glances she’d been giving me for much of the day, I was pretty sure she needed me in the same way.

  By the time we walked out of Ellen’s building to meet my car, the air around us was charged with arousal. My body felt too hot, even in the winter air. My fingers ached with the craving to touch.

  The driver held the back door open while Audrey slid across the backseat of the saloon. Seeing there wasn’t a window separating the front seat from the back, I turned to him before I got in myself. “I’m sorry for what’s about to happen,” I said.

  Though I wasn’t really that sorry.

  Audrey was on the same wavelength. As soon as the door shut beside me, she crawled on top of me, straddling her legs over mine.

  “This is familiar.” I gripped her hips and pulled her pelvis forward so she could feel the thickening pressure of my cock beneath her. “Are you going to ask me for some sort of lessons now?”

  She raised her chin so I could place open-mouthed kisses along her neck. “Actually, I’m going to give you a lesson.”

  “Color me intrigued.” I slipped my hands inside her leggings and palmed her ass. My mouth found hers and I sucked on her bottom lip, making it plump and swollen.

  When I went in to kiss her more completely, however, she pulled just out of reach. “Lesson time, Dylan.”

  I gave her a mock frown. I was eager for her lips, eager to taste her, eager for the talking to be over.

  But I did enjoy the idea of reversing our usual roles. “All right, then, Ms. Lind. School me.”

  “You have been a bad boy, Dylan Locke.”

  “Yes, yes. A very bad boy.”

  “I’m here with you right now because I love you, but I almost wasn’t here. You almost let me slip away. You almost lost me all together.”

  Oh. So this was a serious lesson then.

  Except, the whole while she scolded me, Audrey rocked up and down along the length of my cock.