by S. Moose
“Well, go mingle and have fun.”
Lisa’s home for the weekend before heading back to school. She’s so happy, while Stephen hates the idea of his baby sister dating someone older…someone like Jensen.
“Stop looking at them!” I whisper. “They’re fine and she’s happy. Be the happy big brother and stop being so freaky.”
“Hey, girl.” He kisses my cheek. “Not my fault. He’s like, what, ten years older than her? Fuck, man. Why can’t she find someone, I don’t know, younger and without all the bullshit.”
“Love is love.”
“Fuck that. Love’s for the birds.” And here we go. “I’m sorry, but y’all got some drama enough for all of us. I’m staying a single man and gonna live it up.”
“It gets old, Stephen. You’re the only single one in the group. Find someone!”
He shakes his head. “Na, I’m good.”
“You’re a dork.” Nudging him to the side, I walk around and make small talk with our friends. Stephen joins Nicholas at the grill and the girls lounge by the pool. That’s my cue to finally sit down and relax.
“Everything’s good?” I ask Lexi.
“No. I’m so hot right now! God.” She bends and points at her stomach. “Kayden, if you come out right now, I promise you Daddy will buy you anything you want! You want an Audi? Your own toy store? You name it and Daddy will buy it for you!”
Jana and I shake our heads. “You can’t bribe a baby!”
“Ha! Just you wait and see!” Glaring at Jana, Lexi huffs. “Can’t you be fat like us and not wear a skimpy bikini?”
“She doesn’t mean it. She’s hormonal.”
Jana shrugs. “Sorry; not sorry.”
I let out a sigh and sit on the chair, stretching out my legs and arms. It’s a beautiful day out. The perfect day to be out hanging with our close friends.
“Thanks again for bringing Bradley back!”
“You owe me. My ass hurts.”
Ass? Hurts? Ew ew ew! “Jana! I do not need to hear about your and Bradley’s kinky shit!”
“Kinky?” Lexi’s head pops up. “I want kinky!” she whines, throwing her head back. “Larry’s all careful with me because he’s afraid he’ll hurt the baby! I want it rough, God!”
We die laughing. When we look over, we see the guys are staring at us. Jana and I wave while Lexi’s still whining about wanting hot, rough sex.
“Do you know the other night I was riding him and he told me to stop, then jerked off? I’m all, hello, I wanna cum, ya know!”
“Babe! Really?” Larry yells.
“That’s what you get for not giving it to me!”
“Don’t need to hear about my sister’s sex life. So please stop! Nasty.”
Jana laughs. “At least you get a break. Bradley’s been into the kinky shit with cuffs and blindfolds. He ties me up almost every night and spanks me, hard.”
The guys bust out laughing, congratulating him. Ew, again, don’t need to hear that.
“New topic,” Bradley yells. “How’s the wedding coming along?”
There’s the dreaded W word. Every time I bring up the wedding, Nicholas says “later” or “we can wait a little.” You know, for a man who says he loves me and wants to be married, he sucks right now. The girls are always asking me about plans and I don’t know what to tell them. We have no date, nothing. Not even a year. I know Patricia is itching to get more information, but how can I give that to her when I don’t know what’s going on?
He’s been secretive and, when I ask if he’s okay, it’s the same answer. My biggest fear is that Jamie has him in some mess again. But he promised no more secrets and I have to believe him.
The girls look at me. They know what’s going on and why I won’t talk about it. “It’s coming.” I smile, looking at Nicholas, who won’t look at me. Ugh. I can’t help that worry in the back of my mind. I have to trust Nicholas and our love because if I don’t, then what’s the point of being together? Without trust, a relationship will crumble and I don’t think I’ll survive going through another break up.
SEPTEMBER COMES AND GOES. Work is busy as we prepare for big changes and my becoming a partner at the firm. Long hours means I miss out on family dinners, although the weekends are strictly family time. Saturday and Sunday are my favorite days and I wouldn’t give them up for anything. We’re in a good place and not arguing like before. Karly’s agreeing to my hours and understands. She’s itching to get a job and do something, but I refuse to have her work. I want her home and pregnant so our kids will always have someone waiting for them. There’s no need for her to work when I can provide for my family.
The rehab facility keeps me informed of Jamie’s care and progress. She’s going through intense therapy and can’t have any visitors. Her temper is through the roof, but they reassure me it’s normal.
Karly keeps asking about the wedding and starting to plan it. I always come up with an excuse. Jamie needs to be out of our lives for good before we can move forward. I don’t want to start my life with her when I’m still connected to Jamie. We need to be able to start fresh, on a clean slate.
“Angel, I’ll see you in a few hours,” I kiss the side of her head and leave for the office. It’s another day full of meetings, but I can’t get my mind off the secret I’m holding from Karly.
We’re healing. We’re getting better, but keeping a huge secret from her isn’t how I want to start our marriage. The promise I made to her slowly eats away at me. I’m an asshole for keeping this from her and I know I have to tell her before anything else comes up. If Karly finds out anything through Jamie, she’ll leave and I can’t have that happen. Losing her means losing Baby Nugget. I decide to take the rest of the day off and head home.
“Angel!” I yell, looking for her.
“Nicholas? What are you doing home? It’s only two.”
“I know,” I answer her. “I have to tell you something and I’m not sure you’ll like it.”
We sit at the table and I tell her about the trip and Jamie. Her face contorts into anger and I don’t blame her. With everything I do, I keep messing up.
“I’m sorry, Angel. I didn’t know what else to do. She needed my help.”
“So you rush to her side? You’re always doing this. You always help her and then apologize. I don’t know what you want from me. We’re finally getting better and then you do this. How is this fair to me?” She pushes the chair and walks away. I quickly get up, grabbing her waist, falling to the kitchen floor.
“You can’t leave!” I beg. “Please don’t leave. I’m sorry, okay? I am fucking sorry. I keep messing up and I don’t deserve you. But I need you and Baby Nugget. Please don’t leave me. Without you, I’m nothing.”
I can’t lose her. I hold her tighter, taking her in and keeping her close to me. Leaning back, her eyes find mine and I have to look away. It’s too much to think that she wants to leave me. There’s still so much to tell her, to explain and pray she’ll understand my reasons.
“Nicholas, get up.” I do as she says and we head outside to sit down. She studies my face, not saying anything. I need her to say something. “Why did you do it?”
“I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t save her. I couldn’t look at Emma, knowing that I was the reason for Jamie’s death. You didn’t see what I saw. It was awful. She was in a filthy corner, nearly naked and beaten almost to death.”
“Is it over?” I nod. “Are you sure?” I nod again.
“After her rehab care is over, I’m done. The divorce is final so we can start planning our wedding and I can give you everything you want.. Everything will be okay.”
“You keep saying that and I keep believing you. I don’t get it! You keep trying to save her. I know she’s your first love and all that crap, but I’m here and we’re getting married.”
“I know and I’m sorry.” She lifts her hand up, telling me to stop. “You’re my main focus now. You, Emma, and Baby Nugget. You have to believe how sorry I am.
” I pause, afraid to ask her a question. “Do you still love me?”
“Oh, Nicholas.” She reaches for my face. “You better mean it this time because I don’t know how much more I can take. I’m always gonna love you. I’m so mad that you keep things from me and think it’s okay. We’re going to make mistakes and we’re gonna fall, but that doesn’t mean I’ll ever stop loving you.”
“You don’t know how happy that makes me. I wish I could rewind the past few months, but I can’t. I can only hope we can work past this and start our forever.”
Tears shine in her eyes and I hate myself. I’m always the reason she’s crying. “Can you please stop making mistakes? I’m serious, Nicholas. It’s so hard loving you sometimes.”
“I don’t want it to be hard because loving you is the easiest thing for me to do. It comes naturally. I love being in love with you.”
“Then show me.”
“My pleasure,” I smirk, knowing she means something else, but we need this moment. I take her in my arms, kissing her sweet lips. Grabbing her ass, I pick her up and rush inside, not wanting to wait another moment. She moans in my mouth, wanting and needing more. The taste of her lips on mine drives me crazy. Shivers run down my body; fuck, she does it for me. “Only you,” I breathe into her.
“Yes, only us. Forever.”
Letting her down on the couch, I pull up her dress and tear off her panties. My tongue finds her awaiting heat as my cock stands up, aching to be inside her. When I lick and tease her sexy clit, she screams for more.
“God, you taste so good, Angel. I can’t get enough of you.”
“Please…Nicholas, more.”
“Mmmmmm, of course.” I suck and lick, placing my fingers inside her. “Tell me you love my lips sucking you.”
“I love it…so much.”
A deep satisfaction circles around me and, soon, I find myself slamming into her. She grips my waist, lifting her ass and making me go deeper. Fuck, she feels so good. This girl, my fucking sexy girl, is mine and she’ll always be mine. I go faster and her breathing quickens. Damn, I love the sounds she’s making. Bringing one leg up and opening her wider, I fuck her and hear her scream my name.
“Fuck! Nicholas! Holy shit, this feels so good. God, keep fucking me.”
She’s dripping wet and so hot on the couch, wide open for me and only me. Hungrily, I go faster, needing her to come.
“Yes, keep going! I’m almost there. Nicholas! Oh fuck! Nicholas!”
“Karly,” I roar out, finding my release with hers.
As I kiss her face and lips, her soft eyes look at me. Wow, she’s beyond beautiful. It’s easy being with Karly. She’s honest and tells me what’s in her heart. At first, she wasn’t like this, but now, as we get closer, I’m in all the way and I know her inside and out. When I’m around her, I lose all control. Whenever our eyes meet, or I find her looking at me, a piece of me is with her. Actually, my whole being is with her.
The soon-to-be Mrs. Hayes completely owns me and I’m okay with that.
“LEXI! I AM NOT HIRING AN INTERIOR DESIGNER!”
“Why not?” Placing her hands on her hips, she glares at me, very annoyed. “Having an interior designer is a good idea! You and Nicholas are starting a new life and you need someone to take away all the negative energy that Jamie left behind. I mean, y’all have the money, so why not use it and buy some new furniture?”
“You kill me! I hope you know that.” Grabbing my purse, I tilt my head towards the door and we head to the appointment with an interior designer, all thanks to Lexi.
When we get to the brick building, Lexi and I head inside, but then, out of nowhere, I feel someone watching me. I turn around and see someone in the far distance.
Jamie?
Lifting my sunglasses from my eyes, I look closer and I swear it’s Jamie. I pull Lexi’s arm. “Lexi! It’s fucking Jamie!”
“Where?” I turn back around and she’s gone.
“I swear I saw her there! She wouldn’t be back, right?”
“No, girl. Nicholas told me she’s in rehab and the facility is secure. There’s no way heifer-bitch is getting out, so don’t worry.”
“I don’t know. I don’t trust that place. I have a bad feeling. I know I wasn’t imagining seeing her. She’s here, Lexi.” My biggest fear is coming true. If Jamie is here, it’s not for a good reason. They can all tell me Jamie’s locked away, but something isn’t sitting well with me. She’s so manipulative and evil. She’d find a way to come back.
“It’ll be okay. Come on, before we’re late.”
The appointment is pretty good. I like the ideas from Dominic, my interior designer, but then I see the bill and nearly die.
In the car, I’m holding the bill in my hand. “Fifteen grand!? Are you kidding me? Well, if it’s serious, he should take me out to dinner and swoon me before fucking me like this.”
“Karly Lynn, my goodness; that potty mouth. Do you think Kayden or your little Nugget needs to hear those words?”
“Ugh!” I text Nicholas, telling him about the bill, and he’s okay with it. He loves the idea of redesigning our house.
“See? If Nicholas is okay, then you should be too.”
“Whatever.” Putting back on my sunglasses, I head home, ready to spend the rest of the day with Emma and Nicholas.
“What are you thinking about, almost Mrs. Karly Hayes?”
“Nothing, Mr. Hayes. Just loving our life and everything that’s going to happen. I mean, we’re going to get married.”
“Angel, everything’s going to be okay. I promise. I love you.”
Wrapping my arms around his waist, breathing him in, I whisper, “I love you too.”
The next morning, after getting Emma on the bus, I straighten up the kitchen and let out a sigh. Waking up wrapped in Nicholas’ arms, helping Emma get ready, and talking to Baby Nugget are the best feelings.
I get Nicholas’ coffee and breakfast ready. I’ve stopped arguing with him about my life and am completely okay with being a stay-at-home mom. Once Baby Nugget is here, that’ll be a full time job, but I’m ready.
“Morning, Angel.” He kisses my lips and takes his coffee and takes a few bites of his breakfast. “I’m sorry I can’t sit and eat, but I have a morning meeting and need to head out.”
“Okay, that’s fine. Here; take an apple so you don’t get too hungry.” After I toss him an apple, I give him another kiss.
“Meet me today for lunch?”
“I’ll check my hectic schedule, but I think that’s possible.”
“Cute.” He laughs. “Okay, gotta go. I love you.”
“I love you too. Have a good day!”
Well, now that I have some free time before this afternoon, I text Lexi and we plan on a hot yoga session and more shopping for Kayden before I have to meet Nicholas.
Sitting alone at the restaurant, I tap my fingers on the table, so annoyed. Nicholas is supposed to be here. He texted me and told me to meet him here, but it’s been almost fifteen minutes and he’s still not here.
I give him a call and let the phone ring a few times before almost hanging up.
“Angel?”
“Hi? You asked me to meet you for lunch, so where are you?”
“I’ll be there soon. Can you order me something and, when I get there, it’ll just be us. I love you.”
Before I can answer, Nicholas hangs up. Something is wrong and I’m going to find out what the hell he’s up to. Telling the server something came up, I quickly rush to my car and head to the firm. Pulling into a parking space, I take a few deep breaths and walk inside. Hurrying to the elevator, I press his floor and patiently wait. I swear, if Nicholas is up to something, I’m going to kill him.
As soon as the doors open, I rush out and speed walk to his office. I see Larry coming on my right side and I give him the “don’t you dare stop me” look. He stops and opens Nicholas’ door for me. Inside, I see him on the phone and on the computer. Larry and I watch him, wondering what
the hell he’s doing.
“What do you mean, she’s gone? How can she escape a secure facility?” You’ve got to be kidding me! She’s gone? “Find her now and get her somewhere safe.” He pauses. “No, I never signed her out or gave authorization. She’s very unstable. FIND HER!” He hangs up the phone and looks up. Oh, he’s so going to die.
“You stood me up for a phone meeting? For Jamie again?!”
“Angel,” he gets up and walks around the desk, “listen to me, okay? She escaped from the facility. She was in intense therapy and wanted to kill herself. I don’t know how they let her out without my consent, but apparently, she got someone to get her out who was pretending to be me. We need to know where she is and what she’s doing, just in case she decides to come back and do something stupid. I need to keep you and our kids safe.”
“Which I get, Nicholas. But this whole keeping things from me needs to stop! You told me no more lies. No more secrets, and look at you!” Larry places his hand on my shoulder, trying to calm me down, but I’m so pissed off. I hate Jamie. I fucking hate her. Even though she’s not here, she’s still managing to cause more problems and I’m sick of it.
“I’m done, Nicholas,” I yell. “I need time alone.”
“Angel! No, wait.” I quickly turn around, ready to push him and run. “Please, I am sorry.”
Shaking my head, holding back the tears, I take his hand and honestly look at the man I know I still love. “I need time. You need to respect that.”
Without thinking, I leave and I can hear him yelling for me. But I need to walk away. I need time.
Checking into the Hilton, I relax on the bed and cry myself to sleep. Tears of anger and sadness flood the pillows. I’m not sure what to do anymore and I hate that this is happening…again!
I make sure Patricia knows to pick up Emma and to let her know I’m okay. I text Lexi and she knows I’m okay. They know I need time alone. It’s too much to handle now and the more I think about it, the more I hate Jamie and begin to hate Nicholas. Placing my hands on my stomach, I promise Baby Nugget everything will be okay. This is what I need to keep telling myself so I can believe it.