by Claire Angel
I didn’t understand why Lauren was ignoring me. I thought we had something special. Then it hit me like a shovel. Perhaps I was to Lauren what Giselle was to me. A good shag, but a dispensable one. It hurt like a son of a bitch, but that was life, and the sooner I faced the truth the sooner I’d get over her.
Back in Paris, I instructed my staff to tell that crazy woman I was out whenever she called me. I recalled the hundreds of calls and messages she’d left the first time I stepped in it, and I didn’t have the strength or the patience for round two. In fact, I decided that my trip home to Texas was a fine idea. The timing couldn’t have been better, so I called my family and arranged a visit. Fresh Texas air, and crazy hyper brothers were just what I needed.
***
LAUREN
Dad’s condition improved bit by bit, every day. I’d been home for two weeks when he rounded the bend and started to mend. Sadie was surprisingly human about my compassionate leave, but I knew that I’d go nuts if I didn’t have work to focus on.
Then there was the elephant in the room—Chris Carter. I waited for his call, but it never came. By the time I phoned the hotel, he’d left early. I supposed a man with his commitments had to work hard to keep the cogs turning, so I comforted myself with the thought that he’d get a hold of me as soon as he could.
After a further two weeks, I gave in to my pathetic neediness and called his office in Paris only to be told that Mr. Carter wasn’t available. The first time I called I believed it, but the second time, I got the message loud and clear. Chris wasn’t in love with me. It was simply a one night stand, a shag in an olive grove. Message received.
After a month in the hospital, Dad came home. Mom was all over him like white on rice, seeing to his every need. It was sweet to see them so in love. I wanted that for myself, but put the thought out of my mind. Some people found their soulmate, and others didn’t. Who knew which category I’d fit into.
Between work and Diane, I had my hands full. I spilled my guts to her after a week of moping about like a sad fool. Of course, the first thing she said after I told her about Chris was, ‘I can’t believe you bonked a billionaire!’
I laughed at her assessment of the situation but as time went by, I lightened up. At least the trip wasn’t a bust. The event was a roaring success, securing our place as part of the Carter corporation’s events furniture, and Sadie couldn’t be happier, and I had a substantial feather in my professional cap.
“We haven’t taken time away from the salt mines for a while, Lau,” Diane said one Friday evening. “I think it’s time for a road trip.”
“That might not be a bad idea, D,” I answered. “I could do with a break.”
“Cool. I’ll set it up for next weekend. Friday is a holiday, so let’s leave on Thursday afternoon. What do you say?”
“Sounds heavenly. I’ve been feeling crappy of late. I think all the stress with my Dad, and throwing myself back into work, took more out of me than I realised,” I said as I rubbed my stomach. “I hope I haven’t picked up a stomach bug.”
“Yeah, well if you have, keep it to yourself, thanks. The last thing I need is hanging over a toilet while you’re having a jolly old time.”
“Thanks for the concern, my dearest friend. Nice to know I can always count on you.” I grinned.
“Oh, get over it. Get better or you’re staying home, sista!” She laughed as she swerved in front of a slow driver, and gesticulated her displeasure at his driving.
I awoke on Saturday morning feeling like a train hit me when I wasn’t looking. I spent most of the morning hugging the porcelain and lying on the cold tiles in the bathroom. I was feeling very sorry for myself when the phone rang.
“Uhg, it’s official,” I said to Diane, “I’ve got a stomach bug.”
“Ah, man! Now I’m going to have to find a hazmat suit and babysit your ass for a few days.”
“Yup, that’s what friends are for,” I groaned.
“Chicken soup or tequila? Which do you prefer?” She chuckled.
At the thought of chicken soup, I threw myself, once again, at my new best friend, the toilet bowl.
“Oh, gross,” Diane commented when she heard my dry heaving. “Okay, I’m on my way. Don’t die before I get there.” She ended the call and I went back to cooling my body on the bathroom tiles.
I was exhausted after my vomit marathon and must have fallen asleep on the bathroom floor. The doorbell woke me up, along with Diane’s voice calling through the door.
“Yes, yes...hold your horses. I’m coming.” I dragged my sorry ass to the front door, then lay down on the couch in the living room while Diane faffed around in the kitchen.
“Can I make you some tea, Lau?”
“Not sure if it will stay down, but that would be nice. Thanks, D.”
I wished on the TV and clicked over to the news channels. I liked to stay on top of the who’s who, as one never knew where a fabulously wealthy paycheck would come from.
And there he was, shaking hands with another mogul, smiling his gorgeous smile, and hugging his suit like it was painted onto his ass.
“Hey, it’s your billionaire bonk. He’s a looker, all right.”
I wasn’t upset by her comment. Diane often opened her mouth to change feet. There was no way she could have known how I felt about him. Or rather, how I used to feel about him before he revealed his true colors.
“Sorry, Lau,” Diane said when she looked at me. “I was only kidding.” Something in my face must have tipped her off, because she stopped fooling around and came to stand behind the couch where I sat. She rested her hands on my shoulders and gave them a squeeze. “I’m sorry he was such a jerk to you. He’s the big loser here. He’d kick himself if he knew how fabulous you really are.”
“Thank, D. I’m okay.” I put my hands on hers, and said,” Now get me my tea or I’ll have to replace you.”
“Yes, your highness. How about some toast with that?”
“You’re a doll. What would I do without you?”
“Beats me.” She laughed, and I tried my best not to puke on my new couch.
Tea and toast went down like a fat kid on a swing, but I was exhausted, so I told Diane I would lay down for a while. She was in the middle of a movie, so she stayed while I slept. It was dark when I awoke, confused but feeling a little better. Diane left me a note on the fridge.
Sorry, Sleeping Beauty, but I had to run. Call me if you need anything.
Kisses.
I was starving. I was happy as Larry when I found the chicken soup Diane had left in the kitchen. I ate it slowly, waiting for the nausea to hit me between the eyes, but it never did. Yay, for the healing powers of porcelain. I must have drifted off again around eleven, which was surprising seeing as I’d slept most of the day. I sat up slowly and waited a bit before I got up. So far so good.
Nothing started the day off like a good cup of coffee, so I flipped the switch on my machine and got the beans from the pantry. The coffee was brewing, and I was awake. Life was good again. I ran a bath with lots of suds and headed back to the kitchen to pour myself a decent cuppa.
I felt a little iffy, but I supposed that was to be expected. Tummy bugs didn’t disappear overnight. I pressed on. The moment I brought the delicious coffee to my mouth, the smell overwhelmed me, and I lost it. Like a volcano, the contents of my entire body spilled out like hot lava. I ran for the bathroom but my body had a mind of its own. Never did so much erupt from such a small sip of coffee. By the time I got to the porcelain, it was all over. Great! My slippers were ruined, and I didn’t expect my PJ’s to make it either.
Stomach Bug: One
Lauren: Zero!
Chapter 11
CHRIS
Home was a warm blanket on a cold day. My family was always happy to see me. Mom cornered me, after a day or two.
“Okay, who is she?” she asked me.
“Who?” I pretended not to know what she was talking about.
“Really? You want t
o play this game again? You’re really bad at it, you know.” Mom smiled and took a sip of her coffee. “Come on, you’ve been slinking around here like a dog with its tail between its legs for days now.”
“Trust you to notice, Ma.”
“Spill it,” she said with a determined chin that told me she wasn’t going to let it go.
“Her name’s Lauren. I met her at an event in Paris. She’s the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen, Ma. I thought we had something special, but she left in a hurry and I haven’t heard from her since.”
“Is the billionaire out of airtime on his hundreds of cell phone contracts?” she threw at me very casually. “Or are you waiting for her to come to you?”
Mom was right. I was being a complete ass. It didn’t help that I’d slept with Giselle the very day after Lauren left for home, either. What a mess.
“Your stubborn streak will be your undoing, Christopher. If you care for this woman, then get off your high horse and go after her.”
Uh, oh. There it was, ‘Christopher’. I was being reprimanded like only a son could be at the hand of his mother.
“Thanks, Ma. I’ll think about it.”
“Don’t think too long, Son. If she’s as amazing as you say, she’s not going to be on the shelf for very long.”
“Great, thanks. Now I feel much better.”
“Oh, stop being such a baby and call her.”
My mom was right. I was hiding behind my pride and my ego, but the only one suffering was my stubborn ass.
“I’m gonna take a ride out to Ryan’s,” I said. “See you later, Ma.”
Ryan and I had been friends since we were in Kindergarten. We beat the shit out of each other on the first day we met, and that was that. Besties for life. He ran his own ranch just a few miles down the road from ours. Usually I called him before I made a trip home to Texas, but this time I thought I’d surprise him.
I drove the pickup to his ranch and went straight to the stables. Ryan was nothing if not a horse enthusiast of the first order. He spent more time in the saddle than most Texans I knew, so there were no prizes for guessing where he’d be on any given day.
I saw him on a testy stallion when I arrived at the stables. Ryan had his heels dug deeply into the stroppy horse’s underbelly, refusing to let the magnificent beast win the battle.
“Well, as I live and breathe!” he shouted when he saw me standing next to the riding area. “What the hell are you doing loafing around these parts, big shot?”
“I’ve come to check up on you. I know how much you pine for me when I’m gone.” I grinned.
“Yeah, yeah. Hang on, I’ll be right down.”
After a few more minutes, the stallion realised he wasn’t going to win the battle, so it yielded to its master.
“He’s a beauty, Ryan. Must have cost you a pretty penny.”
“No shit! I could rival the GDP of a small country with the money I paid for him. But he’s worth it. Isn’t he fantastic?” Ryan’s eyes danced as he led his horse to the stables and handed it over to the groomsman.
Then the bear hugged me and shook me a little. Ryan was a mountain of a man, with hands the size of paddles. I was glad I put him on his ass in grade nought, because that was the last time I’d ever be that brave, or stupid.
“Come on, let’s go get a beer,” he said as we walked toward the pickup. “You’re buying,” he said, and slapped me on the shoulder.
My pickup practically drove itself to the bar around the corner from Ryan’s. It was between breakfast and lunchtime, so we didn’t have to wrestle for a table. I ordered us a beer each.
“The place looks about the same as the last time I was here.” I smiled.
“Well, if ain't broke don’t fix it,” Ryan said, matter of factly. “So, what’s new with you, cowboy? It’s great to see you, and all, but this isn’t your usual time of the year for a Texas recharge.”
Ryan knew me too well. He and I were closer than my brothers and I were, which wasn’t surprising, since we spent practically every waking moment together when we were kids.
“Just need a break from the shark tank,” I said.
“Don’t suppose there’s a tooth from a female shark stuck in your ass, is there?”
“Why would you think it’s a woman?” I asked.
“Are you kidding me? You’ve got a billion dollars! What else could it be?”
I laughed at his simplistic, practical approach to life. He wasn’t wrong, of course, but he did make my plight seem a little ridiculous.
“A little simplistic, but not totally off the mark.” I grinned.
“Must be some broad,” he said after draining half his beer in one go.
“She is,” I said.
“So, what’s the problem? She married? Used to be a man? Too old? Too young? Hates money? What?”
“You are such an ass, Ryan.” I laughed out loud. “None of the above, dumbass.”
“Okay, I’m stumped. What’s the little honey’s problem?”
I shared my sad tale of unrequited love and woe with Ryan, while he listened and drank beer. When I finally stopped talking, he looked at me for a while before he spoke.
“Where are your balls, man? I knew sending you off to pussyland was a risk, but I didn’t think for a minute that they’d take your spine and your dick! If you want this woman, why are you here with me? Get on your jet and find her. Show her some more of that Carter cock and get the job done, you big girl!”
And there it was at last. Logic. What the hell was I wallowing in my puddle of self-pity for? I was Chris Carter for fuck’s sake, billionaire and all-round stud. Was I on an extended period, or what? Ryan was right. I’d forgotten that I was a Texan. But that was over. I was done being a wus.
“So, are we going dress shopping Christina, or are you gonna get your ass back home and find your woman?”
***
LAUREN
“It’s been three days, and you’re still puking your guts out. I think it’s time we got you to a doctor,” Diane said when she called me on Monday morning to check on me.
I felt like shit, I smelled of vomit, and my eyes had dark circles under them. “Okay, you win. I’ll make the appointment, you drive.”
“Fine, I’ll pick you up. Let me know what time.”
“Okay. Gotta go. I’m gonna chuck up again.”
I managed to get dressed without throwing up on myself, which was an incredible accomplishment, considering. I made an appointment with my doc and messaged the time to Diane. Then I lay down and waited for death to take me. When the doorbell rang, I dragged myself off the couch and slothed across the living room to the front door.
“Holy crap! You look like something out of a body snatchers flick,” she said as I opened the door.
“No, please, tell me what you really think. I insist.”
“I think we better take a bag with us. If you puke in my car, I’m gonna puke, too, and neither of us want that.”
Bag in hand, I walked with Diane to her car. I was almost as happy as D when I didn’t need to use it. The doctor was running ahead of schedule, so he saw me as soon as I arrived at the surgery.
“You’re looking a little fragile, Lauren. I think all the stress finally caught up to you. I’d like to do some bloodwork, and a urine test, just to make sure you didn’t bring back any stowaway bugs from your travels.”
“Take whatever you need, Doc. I just want to feel better.”
“Here, you think you can pass urine into this cup?”
“No problem.”
The doc drew a vial of blood, then sent me off to the loo.
“I’ll call you this afternoon with the results, Lauren. You rest for now. We’ll get you better.”
“Thanks, Doc.”
“You hungry?” Diane asked me as we got into the car.
“Starving,” I said, counting my ribs under my shirt.
“What’s it gonna be? Chinese, Italian, Indian?”
“A burger! I would k
ill for a burger and fries right about now.” I smiled.
“You got it.”
Diane stopped at the drive through and ordered two burgers, two large fries, and an upsized soda. The smell made my tummy rumble. I was ready to eat right through the packet, but I controlled myself until we got home. Then, all bets were off. I ripped into that burger like a man-eating, fur ball, critter.
Food had never tasted that good. I wasn’t taking any chances, so after lunch, I went straight back to bed. My plan was to sleep through whatever nausea would befall me. It seemed like a good idea.
I felt better when I awoke mid-afternoon. I drew a bath, and lay in the soothing water for as long as I could before turning into a raisin. The phone rang after I dried myself and put on my bathrobe. I felt a new spring in my step as I left the bathroom.
“Hello,” I answered, feeling half human again.
“Hello, Lauren. It’s Doctor Berning. How are you feeling?”
“Hi, Doc. I’m feeling better, thanks. So, did you find any stowaways?” I asked in an almost jovial voice.
“Indeed, I did.”
“Oh, thank goodness. So, what’s the plan, Doc? Antibiotics? Anti-viral? What are we gonna throw at this little pest?”
“Nothing that nine months and a little love won’t cure,” he said.
“What? I don’t know what you mean.”
“You’re pregnant, Lauren. You’ve got a bad bout of morning sickness, but apart from that, you’re healthy as a horse.”
“Pregnant. Are you sure?” I clung to the possibility that he was wrong. Perhaps the lab made a mistake, swapped my blood with someone else’s.
“I’m sure. Please pop by tomorrow, and I’ll give you something for the nausea and some pregnancy vitamins and minerals.”
“Okay…”
“Congratulations, Lauren.”
“Okay…”