“Kade!” she yelled loud enough to stun him into two-seconds of submission, just long enough to get the first metal tab into the buckle. “Take that, you stinker.”
Once she had him locked in, Oakley pressed a kiss to his forehead as a reminder to both of them that she loved him.
Kaden howled the whole drive to her parents house. Oakley thought of the moment at the hotel when Chris had admonished Kaden to listen to her and how good it had felt to have someone on her side when it came to discipline. Her parents were wonderful, but they were Kaden’s grandparents. Her mom was always saying how nice it was to get to be a grandparent this time around. Oakley could appreciate how her parents felt, she just wished it didn’t always fall to her when he needed an attitude adjustment.
Once she pulled into the driveway, Oakley quickly scrambled to unbuckle Kaden and grab his bag. Thankfully, her mother met her at the door. Oakley thrust Kaden into her arms with an apology.
“I’m so sorry, Mom. He’s in a mood and I’m late.” She kissed her mother’s cheek and ruffled her son’s hair. “I have to get going. Oh,” she called over her shoulder as she ran back to her car. “I couldn’t find his shoes!”
“Don’t worry. I forgot to text you earlier. They’re here,” Mercy called.
Perfect. She’d spent all that time looking for shoes that weren’t even at the house! Shaking her head, Oakley climbed back into her car and pulled away from the curb. Glancing in the rear-view mirror, she saw Kaden, not a tear in sight, snuggling into his grandma. The little traitor! She was the one who’d brought him into this world! Didn’t she deserve a little respect? Apparently not.
Traffic on the way to work was predictably terrible. It was just the way this day was going. Of course, instead of getting better, it just got worse.
“Is that smoke?” she cried into her empty car. Smoke billowed from underneath the hood. She had just enough time to pull over to a spot on the side of the road before her Honda died.
“Could this day get any worse!” she groaned, giving into the urge to rest her head on the steering wheel. Hard.
Now she had a headache. Or a worse one.
“Okay,” she mumbled to herself. She still had to get to work. At least she was within walking distance of Saint Ivory’s, which was somewhat good news at least. After taking everything out of her car that was halfway important, Oakley locked the door and headed toward work. On the way, she texted her brother about her car, telling him where it was parked and what had happened since he was the one who usually drove the tow truck their father owned. He replied back that it would be awhile because he was at the scene of an accident on the highway, but he’d get to it as soon as he could.
Next, she called Cam just to vent about her horrible day. She’d wanted to call Chris in a bad way, but the weird vibe she was getting from him not telling her anything about where he was going that night put her off. Besides, he was obviously busy.
“Oh, hon, that just stinks.” Calling Cam over her mother had been the right move. “Is Rafe gonna pick it up?”
Oakley explained about the accident on the freeway.
“Well, do you need a ride home? I’ll actually be over there tonight. Not at Saint Ivory’s but close by.” She rattled off the name of some club Oakley had heard of but never been to. “I should be done about the same time you are.”
“That would be great. Are you sure?” Cam picking her up would be better than asking her dad to drive into the city late and it sounded like Rafe’s day wasn’t going any better than her own. She could have called a cab or Uber, but that cost money she didn’t really have. Especially if she had an expensive repair to look forward to, or heaven forbid, she had to get a new car.
“Yeah, I might be finished a little before you, but I don’t mind scrolling through Pinterest until you’re done.”
Oakley nearly sagged with relief. One less thing to worry about. “Thanks, Cam. I owe you one,” she said as she opened the door to the employee entrance at Saint Ivory’s.
“No worries. I’ll text you when I get there.” Cam really was the best best friend.
They said goodbye and Oakley shot off a quick text to Chris venting again about her stupid car before pushing her phone deep into the pocket of her work slacks. Technically, they weren’t supposed to keep their phones on them, but her’s was small and fit perfectly into her pocket without being noticeable. The way this day was going she wouldn’t risk not having it on her at all times. Who knew what would happen next?
She should never have asked! Everything that could have gone wrong did. If it hadn’t been so busy she was sure Stan would have sent her home. Bad luck followed her around like a black cat, a bad penny, and a fun house full of broken mirrors all rolled into one. It began when she first walked through the door.
“Tinsley called in sick and I can’t get anyone else to cover for her.” Stan fell into place beside her. “You and Melissa will have to split her section between you.”
Oakley groaned. The dining room was already full and it wasn’t even time for their usual dinner rush yet. “Did you call Chad?” He was always begging for hours.
“I called everyone.” Stan patted her shoulder. “Buck up, kiddo. It’s gonna be one of those nights. I’ll try to help out where I can.”
He meant well, but Stan was already spread too thin. He took his role as manager very seriously, making sure to have real interactions with every guest during their visit while making sure the quality of food and service was at its utmost.
Oakley tied a black starched half apron around her waist, then slipped a pencil and note pad to take orders into one of the pockets. There was no way she was keeping orders straight tonight without writing them down. At the drink station, Melissa swept in with a tray of empty glasses held high over her head.
“You heard the news? No Tinsley?”
Oakley nodded. “Fair warning. This has been the day from H-E-double hockey sticks. I apologize in advance.”
“We’ll be fine. Don’t worry,” Melissa laughed, sweeping out much like she’d swept in, only with clean full water glasses.
Unfortunately for them all, Melissa was horribly, dismally, wrong.
First, Oakley dumped a full glass of water on the CEO of one of Denver’s premiere manufacturing companies. The woman had been gracious the first time, but after the second had complained to Stan and asked for a different waitress.
Next, she’d mixed up the orders for table twelve with those for table twenty. Of course, everything had to be scrapped and remade. Eight meals.
Eight.
Stan forced her to take a ten minute break after that.
Once she returned, after ten solid minutes of commanding herself to get her head on straight, especially when there was no text notification from Chris on her phone, she tripped with a full tray of dirty dishes she’d bussed from one of her tables and broken every last piece it held.
Stan had one of the bussers clean it up for her and then thankfully, she had a solid hour of not drenching anyone or breaking anything. She’d even managed to deliver the correct food to the correct guests.
With a smile no less.
Hoping her luck was changing, she got a little cocky, smiled a little too much and the next thing she knew, Stan was pulling her aside because the lady at table seventeen had accused Oakley of flirting with her husband.
Not even bothering to defend herself, Oakley stepped aside, giving the table to Greg, another waiter who had a section nearby, and wondered when the bad luck gods were going to start picking on someone else.
Cam texted that she was in the parking lot but Oakley still had thirty minutes left before she could clock out from her shift. It was tempting to ask Stan if she could just leave early, but things had slowed down enough he’d put her on dish duty, for which she was profoundly grateful. Usually doing dishes would have made her crankier, but not that night! Instead, the monotonous task soothed her frayed nerves. When it was time to clock out, she’d relaxed considerably,
in spite of her damp shirt.
She stopped by Stan’s office on her way out. “I’m sorry, Stan. I promise this was a one time thing. I’ll be back on my A-game for my next shift.”
Stan’s smile was understanding. “We all have bad nights, kiddo. If Tinsley hadn’t called in it wouldn’t have been so bad.”
But it was bad and hearing Stan confirm it was just the icing on the cake. “Have a good night. I’m really sorry.”
Stan waved off her apology as he turned back to the computer on his desk. “Have a good day off!”
Right. She didn’t have to come back in for a day and a half. That should be more than enough time to get her act together. And hopefully figure something out with her car.
Ugh.
Her stupid car!
Oakley headed out to the parking lot, inhaling a deep breath of fresh air. At least work was finished. Now, she just had to hitch a ride to her parents house and hug her little boy. Maybe Chris would be on his way soon and would be willing to swing by and pick them up.
Cam parked under a bright street light. Oakley saw her looking at her phone and felt bad. Grateful as she was for the ride, Cam would have been more comfortable at home than in the front seat of her car.
“Sorry about the wait, Cam,” she said as soon as she opened the door on the passenger’s side. “Thank you so-” Oakley frowned, getting a good look at her friend’s face. “Hey, what’s wrong? Did something happen? Are you okay?” Her eyes darted around the car, searching for the reason for the devastated expression Cam wore.
“Oh, honey. I’m just fine-,” Cam started to say.
“Oh, my goodness. You scared me.” Oakley put her hand to her chest, relieved. But then, she thought of something. “Wait. Did something happen to Kaden? My parents?” She searched her bag for her phone. She hadn’t heard anything since Cam texted she was waiting in the parking lot and finally, one from Chris about thirty minutes before saying he was leaving for the airport and would be in the air soon. He hadn’t mentioned her car and she’d expected to get a text saying they’d taken off, but maybe he forgot. Or, her throat closed, had something happened to Chris?
“No, sweetie. No. Everyone is just fine.” Cam placed a hand on Oakley’s arm, her eyes filled with compassion. Oakley shook her off. After the day she’d had, there was no way she could handle anything else. Cam beating around the bush was about to put her over the edge.
“Spit it out, Cam. What is going on?”
Cam shook her head. “I’m just so sorry, Oak. I really thought he was the one. You’ve just been so happy. And he seems so nice. I never expected,” Cam stopped, her eyes filling with tears.
Oakley’s chest flooded with dread. Chris. She was talking about Chris. And he wasn’t hurt. He’d done something Cam was sure would hurt her. “Just tell me. Don’t sugar coat it. Just say it.”
“I was scrolling through Facebook while I was waiting for you to come out. It’s all over the news sites.” Cam’s brows drew together, her lips pinched at the edges. “He was with someone tonight. A woman.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
There was a roaring in her ears. Sitting back, Oakley tried to breathe, but she couldn’t. She was drowning, falling. The world collapsed around her, surrounding her, burying her.
“What?” she finally asked.
Cam squeezed her hands. “There are pictures of him at dinner with a woman, an actress. Harley Stone.”
“Just dinner?” Maybe it wasn’t what Cam thought.
Cam shook her head and reached for her phone. “I took screen shots. Scroll.”
With shaking hands, Oakley took Cam’s phone and tried to focus, but truthfully, she was reeling. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. It wasn’t true, she told herself. Chris wouldn’t do something like that to her. He just wouldn’t.
Would he?
What did she really know about him? They’d spent a few glorious months together, that was all. She didn’t know everything there was to know, hadn’t even known his last name a couple of weeks ago.
With a loud groan, she pushed the phone away. She didn’t want to look, didn’t want to know. Cam was overreacting. She’d just ask Chris about it when he got back.
But he hadn’t told her about meeting with this actress, this Harley Stone. Oakley knew exactly who the woman was, had taken Kaden to her latest movie, an animated tale where she’d voiced a raccoon of all things.
“I don’t want to look.” Her voice came out barely a whisper.
“I know.” Cam opened the photo app on her phone. “You have to see for yourself, hon.”
She knew Can was right. She accepted the phone and focused on the first photo. It was innocent enough. Chris, looking incredible in a tailored suit, stood on a curb in front of a restaurant. His hand reached into the back of a limousine. A finely shaped feminine leg, ending with a four-inch stiletto, hung out of the open door. Oakley scrolled to the next photo, then the next. Each picture showed a little more of the woman as she emerged from the limousine until she stood beside Chris, his hand placed intimately on the small of her back.
Oakley choked back tears, blinking furiously. It looked bad, but still, so far all he’d done was help the woman from a car. A beautiful, famous woman whose dress plunged almost to her belly button and had a slit in the side all the way up to her hip, as had been displayed so expertly when she exited the limo.
She scrolled to the next picture.
Chris’s head dipped low in a move Oakley found so familiar, his cheek dangerously close to Harley’s lips while his curved in a confident smile.
Okay. That wasn’t so good.
She quickly moved through the remaining pictures. The photographer had been diligent, documenting the pair’s every move.
Chris and Harley smiling for the camera.
Chris leading Harley into the restaurant.
Harley sitting across from Chris at a cozy table lit by candles.
Them holding hands.
With each picture, Oakley’s heart broke a little more.
Until the very end when it shattered completely.
Chris held Harley’s elbows in his hands as he leaned over, his lips just a breath away from hers.
Oakley couldn’t take anymore. She handed Cam her phone. “Please take me to my baby.” Her arms ached to hold her son. Having Kaden, knowing he needed her, had saved her once before. She could be strong for him again. But she needed her baby. Being a mom was enough. Chris had played her. In the end, he was no different from Wes. He’d taken what he needed and when he was done, he moved on.
Worst of all. He wasn’t even man enough to tell her.
Chris couldn’t have been more pleased with the outcome of both of his meetings that day. As much as he hated to leave Oakley and Kaden, especially since he hadn’t gotten to see them before he had to be at the airport, his reasons for flying out were important. He couldn’t wait to tell Oakley all about it. He’d texted her as soon as he handed Harley Stone back into her waiting limo, letting her know he was headed to the airport. He planned to text again once they were in the air, but he’d gotten stuck on a call with Carter. The call with Carter had been interrupted by a call from Eric who had more news about the subject of their meeting and unfortunately, Eric was long winded. By the time they disconnected from the call, the plane was about to land.
Chris took the time to thank Bethany, Raul, and Ricardo for another seamless flight, then hurried to his truck. Once there, he took the time to turn on the air conditioner, but that was it, before texting Oakley, letting her know he was back in Denver. She should have been done with work by then, but he never knew. Texting was a safer bet until he knew she was done.
He decided to wait a couple of minutes for her to respond. While he waited, he scrolled through their messages and realized he’d missed one about her car. His stomach dropped thinking of her broken down on the side of the road. She’d had to walk the rest of the way to work! He hated knowing he could buy her a brand new car the next da
y and it wouldn’t even be a blip in his bank account, but she wouldn’t accept it.
When she hadn’t texted back after a few minutes, Chris decided to head toward home. Toward her. Because no matter how he knew he should fight it, Oakley had become his home. Feeling impatient, Chris texted again using the hands-free option connected through his truck, asking her to text him if she could or call.
Ten minutes from home he tried to call her. She didn’t answer, but as soon as he’d left a message and disconnected the call, his phone notified him of an incoming text. Unable to help himself, he glanced at his screen. It was a photo. From Oakley. The picture was dark and grainy, but familiar as he was with his own form on camera, he knew it was him. And the splash of purple beside him could only be Harley. It was the exact shade of the dress she’d worn to dinner.
No.
It didn’t take a genius to realize this was bad. Mind racing, Chris signaled for the shoulder and pulled his truck over. Gravel kicked up behind the truck as he braked hard, bringing the big vehicle to a stop before throwing it into park. Good thing it was late and there wasn’t as much traffic as during the day.
Picking up his phone, Chris said a prayer, maybe the first one he’d said in years, that the picture didn’t mean what he thought it meant.
But it did. And it was worse than he could have imagined.
She’d sent him five photos, not one. Each of them added to a story created by the photographer. By the time Chris got to the last one, where it appeared he was about to kiss Harley Stone on the lips, not her cheek like he’d actually done, he was hyperventilating. Oakley had seen these-
Chris cussed.
And then cussed some more.
He took two seconds to Google himself and read the most recent article before one last text came through.
Please leave me and Kaden alone. We never want to see you again.
Chris threw his phone at the windshield with enough force to crack them both.
Marrying the Football Billionaire Page 21