by M. A. Foster
“COME ON, BABY. Get your shoes on and we’ll go visit your angel before we go to the park.”
“I wanna go see Ahpee.”
“Not today, baby. Now come on.” I steady her foot to slide on her shoe, but she jerks it out of my hold and nearly kicks me in the balls. I take a deep breath and try not to lose my patience with her.
“No, Co,” she whines. “I wan Ahpee.”
And I snap. “I said no!”
Willow flinches, her eyes go wide and her face turns five shades of red. And cue the waterworks.
“Cole,” my mom admonishes, pushing past me to take Willow in her arms. “I understand you’re upset, but you’re taking it out on the wrong person.”
Fuck this. I need air.
I storm out the front door. “Fuck!” I shove my hands into my hair. I can hear Willow crying inside. I can’t remember the last time she’s cried like that.
Turning, I walk back inside to find my mom standing in the living room with a hysterical Willow in her arms.
“Come here,” I coo softly, taking Willow and heading to her bedroom. I sit her on the edge of the bed and squat in front her. “I’m sorry I yelled at you.” She pushes her bottom lip out. “If I tell you to put your shoes on, you listen to me. You don’t kick me. Okay?”
“Okay,” she says all pouty.
“Now give me a hug and a kiss and let’s start over. It’s just me and you today, baby.”
“JJ!” WILLOW SQUEALS.
“Boo!” Jay coos as she scoops Willow up and peppers kisses all over her face.
“Hey,” she says to me as she toes off her ankle books and curls up on the opposite end of the sofa I’m currently stretched out on. Willow climbs in Jay’s lap and starts playing with her hair.
“What are you doing here? Where’s your other half?”
“He’s at home. I’m here because I’m worried about you. You’ve been acting different these past couple of weeks. You’ve been sh—nasty to me—”
“I said I was sorry.”
“—and Harper. I know you’re sorry, and I’m sorry, too. What’s going on, Cole?”
Telling Jay about Harper means admitting Willow is mine. I’d always planned on telling her the truth, but I can’t tell her while she’s holding Willow in her lap.
“It’s a long story.”
“I’ve got all the time in the world, so start talking. I’m not leaving until you tell me everything.”
“Willow, go tell Aiden to get you a cookie.” That’s all it takes to get her out of the room. Willow scurries off Jay’s lap and takes off out of the room to seek out Aiden.
“I signed with Gulf Coast University.”
“Cole! That’s great.” She beams.
I sigh heavily.
“You don’t seem all that excited about it. Do you wish you’d chosen South Carolina?”
“No. It’s not that.” I drag my hands down my face. “I chose Gulf Coast for Willow.”
“Awww,” she coos. “You’re such an awesome big brother.”
“I’m not her brother, Jay. I’m her dad.”
“What?”
“She’s my daughter.”
“But… I thought she was—”
“Adopted,” I finish. “I know. That’s what everyone thinks, because that’s what they were told.”
She narrows her eyes. “Explain.”
So I do.
And when I finish, Jay is wiping at the tears streaming down her face.
“So you think Harper used me to get to you and Willow?” She sniffs and clears her throat. “You think she’s pretending to be my friend?”
“I think Harper used everyone and every opportunity to be near Willow. Starting with her job at Mac’s.”
“I disagree.”
“How so?”
“I think she got the job at Mac’s so she could feel closer to Willow, but I don’t think she pretended to be my friend. I’m the one who offered her a place to stay.”
I shrug. “I’m not ready to let it go. She’s still a liar.”
Jay tilts her head and pins me with a look. “So are you. And since I hate secrets, I have to tell you something.” She props her elbow on the back of the couch, resting her cheek against the palm of her hand. “While I was in California, I walked in on my mom and Cam having sex in the shower.”
I shake my head, wanting to tell her that I already figured it out. But since she’s finally talking to me, I’ll keep it to myself.
“How do you feel about that?”
She shrugs, picking at the hem of her sweater. “I think it’s too soon. Zach says my mom deserves to be happy and it’s up to her to decide when and who she chooses to be with. It bothers me, not because it’s Cam, but because it’s not my dad.”
I stretch out my arms. “I think we both could use a hug.”
“IS IT TRUE?” Jay asks from my doorway.
“Is Willow my sister’s daughter? Yes. But it’s more complicated than that.”
“Tell me you weren’t pretending to be my friend to get closer to Cole and Willow and I’ll believe you.”
“You’re my best friend, Jay. I wasn’t and I’m not pretending. You’re the first real friend I’ve ever had.”
“Did you really not know about my dad?”
“I swear I didn’t. I might’ve kept the truth about my sister and Willow from you, but I’ve never lied to you.”
“Why didn’t you trust me? I told you about my dad. You live in my house and you know all my secrets. Do you know how much trust I have in you to allow that? Do you know how much money you could make if you sold my stories to the media?”
“First of all, I would never throw you to the wolves. It physically hurt me when I saw what those jerks did to you in California.” I shudder. “I love you. You’re my best friend. I didn’t tell you not because I didn’t trust you, but because telling you the truth would put you in a position of having to choose between me and your family. I know how much your family means to you. I would never ask you to do that.” I pause and look at her quizzically. “Why are you crying?”
“Because you’re a selfless person.” She makes her way over to my bed and lies down beside me. “All this time, you just sat back and played the friend, the girlfriend, as if you hadn’t had your world ripped away from you and then dangled in front of your face. I could never sit back and pretend I was okay.”
We throw our arms around each other and we both cry.
“HEY,” JAY SAYS. “I don’t know how things will play out today, but Cole promised he’d be on his best behavior.” She rolls her eyes. “Which means he’s going to be a complete asshole.” She shifts nervously on her feet. “I know you’re both hurting, and I wish he would give you a chance to explain. I tried talking to him, but he’s pissed, Harper, and….” She lowers her head and clears her throat. “I’m afraid he’s gonna lash out and do something stupid just to hurt you.”
Her words are like a kick to the stomach.
But the truth is I expect it.
What Cole has yet to figure out about me is that this isn’t my first rodeo. I survived the heartbreak that’s been thrown at me repeatedly over the last four years, losing my mom, my sister, my niece, and my first love.
But I’ve also experienced unconditional love through my friendship with Jay. This beautiful person has given me more than I could’ve ever dreamed of. She’s not only given me friendship, she’s made me a part of her family.
The only thing I’ve ever wanted.
And because of the bond between us, I’m stronger than I’ve ever been. I just hope I’m strong enough to survive losing the love of my life.
“Thank you, Jay.”
“For what?”
“For not turning your back on me. For believing me. For not kicking me out. For being so understanding. Just… thank you.”
“That’s what friends are for,” she reminds me as she pulls into her designated spot beside Zach’s Jeep.
Before she even has the
chance to turn the car off, Zach is opening her door. “Hey, babe,” he greets as he leans in for a kiss. “I love minty morning kisses.”
Rolling my eyes, I shove open the passenger door and climb out, resisting the urge to look around for Cole as I move to grab my backpack from the back seat, then make my way to the front of Jay’s Rover, where she and Zach are waiting.
“Hey, Harper,” Zach greets with a tight smile.
“Hey.”
His gaze flicks between Jay and me as he brings his hand up to rub the back of his neck. “This is fucking awkward.” He fixes his gaze over my shoulder. His brows pinch together, and a confused expression crosses his face.
Looking over my shoulder, following Zach’s line of sight, I see Cole walking beside a familiar blonde. Claire Fisher.
I remember her warning that day in the bathroom. “Just be careful with him, Harper. You seem like a nice person and I’d hate for him to ruin you like he did me.”
Obviously, she’s still into him. Seeing the two of them walking side by side, they look like the perfect couple. She’s as pretty as she is nice.
So naturally I hate her.
And I hate him, too.
Not really.
Cole is so completely focused on whatever Claire is saying that he doesn’t notice me when he throws his arm over her shoulders and tugs her to his side. Wearing a smile so big it’s as if I never mattered.
Suddenly Cole’s eyes meet mine, his smile slipping only briefly before his usual cocky smirk pulls up one side of his mouth.
Seeing him with his arm around another girl is killing me, but the fact that he’s doing it to hurt me makes me question whether he ever really loved me.
My eyes shift to Claire, who’s smiling up at Cole as if she’s the luckiest girl in the world. I wonder if that’s how I looked when I was with him.
I’ll never understand how someone who claims to love you can purposely hurt you.
That’s not how love is supposed to work.
Not for me.
My eyes move back to his, and I respond to his smirk with a smile that says, ‘You’re a fucking idiot.’ There is no way I’d ever let myself fall prey to Cole Mackenzie ever again.
“I’ll see you guys later.” Turning around, I hurry through the common area and head for my locker.
“WHAT THE HELL, Cole?” Claire shoves me away from her. “Did you just pretend to make nice with me to piss off your girlfriend? Do you get off on hurting people?” She gives me another shove. “You forget, I know what it feels like to be on that side of heartbreak.”
“Come here.” I pull her to the side. “I’m gonna tell you something, and I hope you’re still the good person I know you can be.” I blow out a breath. “I didn’t use you, and I didn’t dump you because I didn’t have time for a girlfriend. I mean… it’s true but I had no choice because I….” Am I really doing this?
Claire frowns. “Because what?”
“Because I was irresponsible, and I got someone pregnant.”
Claire’s eyes go wide as she brings her hand to her mouth. “You’re serious?”
I nod. “Yes. I have a daughter. Her mom died the day she was born. I didn’t have a choice but to grow up and be responsible. I was sixteen. I didn’t have time for football, a kid, and a girlfriend. It was never about you, Claire. If things had been different….” I let the words hang in the air because, truthfully, even if Willow didn’t exist, Harper still does.
“Jesus, Cole,” Claire whispers. “I’m sorry that happened. I get it now. Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me the truth. I won’t say anything.” She sighs. “But that doesn’t excuse what you just did to Harper. Don’t be that guy.”
“HEY,” JAY CALLS from the doorway. “The boys are going fishing so us girls are going shopping. You wanna go?”
“Nah. I’m not really in the mood to shop. Thanks for the invite, though.”
“You sure? My mom is picking up Lexi and Kali. I figured you might want to ride with me since I’m picking up Willow and Zoe on the way.”
“Yeah?” I roll over to a sitting position with my legs hanging over the side of the bed and run my hands through my hair.
“Yeah.” She smiles. “Willow misses you.”
TWO HOURS IN Build-A-Bear with Zoe and Willow was both hysterical and exhausting. They’ve been wound up all day. When Jay and I showed up at Zach’s to pick up the girls, Willow was so excited to see me she almost cried. I almost cried too. Cole may have moved on, but Willow surely hasn’t.
Of course, Cole wouldn’t even look at me, instead focused on his phone and even hinted he was talking to Claire.
Not gonna lie. It hurt.
On our way out, Jay calls Emerson to let her know we’re heading to the car.
“The call won’t go through,” she says.
“You guys go ahead. I’ll go down to the shoes and let her know we’re ready,” Lexi offers, heading off to find Emerson.
“Okay. Thanks,” Jay says before she turns to me. “You stay here with the girls, and Kali and I will go get the car.”
Jay and Kali head into the parking garage to get the car while I wait inside the vestibule with the girls.
“Where JJ go?” Zoe asks with wide eyes, her bottom lip slightly trembling when she realizes Jay is out of her sight.
I squat in front of her and smile. “She went to get the car, sweetie, so we can go home.”
“Ahpee, I want out,” Willow whines, arching her back and kicking her legs. This little girl needs a nap like yesterday.
“In a minute, Willow. We have to wait for Jay.”
She should be pulling up any second.
But she doesn’t.
Standing, I pull my phone from my purse and dial her number. No signal. I try Emerson next. Again, no signal.
I lean down and unbuckle both Willow’s and Zoe’s belts, then help them from the double stroller. “You have to hold my hand,” I tell them, clasping their tiny hands in mine as I push through the door leading to the garage.
We take our time making our way to the car, and I listen as the two of them chat animatedly about their new dolls. I’m so caught up in their adorable toddler babble that it takes a moment to process the scene in front of me.
Kali is lying on the ground, curled up in the fetal position, seemingly unconscious.
Two men.
One is restraining Jay in some sort of chokehold.
The other has his hands all over her.
A startled gasp escapes my lips just as Willow calls out for JJ, drawing the men’s attention to us, and Zoe starts to cry.
I have to get these girls out of here. Slowly, I start to back away.
“Where do you think you’re going, red?” the man says with a cunning smile. He looks over at the one who’s holding Jay. “All these pretty girls. My day just keeps getting better.”
Jay lets out some kind of scream-growl before she lifts her leg, kicking the guy in the balls and dropping him to his knees.
“Run, Harper!” she yells as she brings the heel of her boot down on the other guy’s foot.
That’s the last thing I see before I turn and run, holding tightly to both girls’ hands.
“Get that bitch!” I hear one of them yell, and I can hear Jay’s heels tapping against the concrete, relieved to know she’s right behind me.
But that relief is short-lived when I hear her scream followed by a loud thump. My heart slams against my rib cage and I burst into tears, screaming for help as I race toward the mall entrance.
Just before I reach it, the doors swing open and out walk Evan and Grayson, followed by Lexi, Emerson, and Mimi.
Emerson’s face pales the moment she sees me dragging two screaming toddlers.
“Help her!” I scream hysterically as I stumble and fall to my knees.
After that, everything becomes a blur of screams, screeching tires, and slamming doors.
“THERE WERE TWO of them,” I cry as I recall what I saw to Levi as sirens
ring out in the distance and then fade, two ambulances pulling into the parking garage.
“Jay….” I shake my head. “She told me to run. So I did. She got away from them. I heard her. She was right behind me.”
“What about Kali?” Lexi chokes out.
I recall seeing her tiny body on the ground. She wasn’t moving.
I shake my head.
Troy walks over. “They all right?” he asks Levi.
“Is my granddaughter okay?” Mimi asks with a shaky voice as she rocks Willow from side to side.
“We’re not sure yet.”
His words are cut off by the sound of Mimi’s whimpers before she buries her face in Willow’s hair, prompting Lexi and me to burst into tears.
Two men dressed in T-shirts and jeans are heading our way. One is Max Mackenzie. The other has short blond hair and a badge clipped to the front of his jeans.
He looks familiar.
His eyes zero in on me as Levi moves forward to shake his hand.
Then it hits me, forcing the air from my lungs.
Even eighteen years later, he still looks the same as his picture. Just a little older.
What is my father doing here?
“Poss,” Willow cries out, reaching for Max.
Max pulls her into his arms, hugging her tightly to his chest and kissing the top of her head as tears slide down his cheeks. “It’s okay, baby.” He turns to Lexi and nods to Zoe. “Is she okay?” he asks, and Lexi nods.
Zoe cried so hard she fell asleep. It’s probably best.
“Patrick!” Mimi squeals, giving him a hug. “It’s so good to see you.” She turns to Max. “Is my baby girl okay, Max?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t know, Mom. She’s unconscious. The paramedics wouldn’t let Emerson ride in the ambulance with Jay, so Alex is riding with her instead.”
“And Kali,” I ask.
“She got it pretty bad, but she’s conscious. They’re both on their way to the medical center,” Max replies.
“And both men are in custody,” Patrick adds.