by DL Gallie
“I…he…Preston…I broke up with him.”
“What did he do now?”
“Everything. He’s kind and spoiling us. It's too much. I need him to leave us alone. We are over. I broke us. I can’t do this. I—”
“Cress, that man loves you and Lexi with everything he has. I have never seen him like this before. He’ll probably kick my ass for telling you this, but he’s been here twenty-four seven for the last week. Checking in on Lexi and making sure she was getting the best possible treatment every chance he got. He’d hover and wait for you to leave, or he’d hide out at the nurses’ station and watch her remotely.”
“What?” I say, completely shocked at her revelation.
“You didn’t know?”
“No,” I shake my head and hold my hand to my chest. My heart rapidly beating at this revelation. “I never saw him.”
“He’s been here in the shadows. Watching. Hovering. Doing what he does best.” She purses her lips. “This probably isn’t my place to say, but give him another chance, Cress. What happened with Lexi was no one’s fault. These things happen and generally without warning, especially in kids.”
“But—”
“No buts, Cress. He’s gutted you broke up with him, and he’s pissed at himself that he didn’t see this coming. You are the one for him, Cress, and I think, deep down, you know it too.”
“I…I need air, excuse me.” Stepping around her, I head toward the fire exit and race up the stairs to the roof. I found this place the other day when I needed air after breaking up with Preston.
Pushing the door open, I step out onto the rooftop. Walking over to the edge, I place down my coffee and stare out into the distance. My mind is racing a million miles an hour. The questions coming at me at light speed. Lowering my head down, I begin to cry as it all catches up with me and then it hits me: I made the biggest mistake of my life pushing away Dr. Knight.
31
Creed
This is turning out better than I anticipated. Cress broke up with the fucker and she’s teetering on the edge. She’ll be riding my cock, begging me for more very soon. It’s a shame the kid pulled through, but if I play my cards right, I can make her hate Cressida. Or maybe Dr. Fuckhead will fuck up and miss something else, and then she’ll die.
She races out of the room, tears pouring down her face. Dr. Fuckhead follows soon after, stopping at the nurses’ station. When the coast is clear, I go into the squid’s room. It looks like a fucking Pony explosion in here; balloons and toys are everywhere.
“What the fuck?” I snarl at the scene before me.
“Daddy Creed,” she says. Fuck, I hate it when she calls me that.
“It’s just fucking Creed, how many times do I have to tell you that?”
“Look what Prince Dr. Preston did for me,” she excitedly says.
“Looks like he’s trying to win you over for fucking up.” She looks at me with a confused look. “You know you're in here because he fucked up and your mother is a whore.”
“You are saying lots of naughty words.”
“Joys of being an adult, kid. Where’s Cressida?”
“She went for a walk, Prince Dr. Preston said she needed some air.”
“Seems she doesn’t care either.”
“She does so. Mommy loves me.”
“Really? That woman only knows how to love herself. She doesn’t love you at all.”
“Mommy loves me,” she cries.
“If she did love you, she’d be here now. She clearly has more important things to do than sit here with you. Lexi, she doesn’t love you.”
“Mommy,” Lexi cries, “does to love me.”
“Shut the fuck up,” I growl, reaching out, I pop a purple love heart balloon. The loud bang startling the squid and she begins to cry harder.
“For fuck’s sake,” I growl. “I’m your father, you need to listen to me and shut up. Stop with the tears.” Anger courses through my veins. “Shut. The. Fuck. Up.”
“I wish Prince Dr. Preston was my daddy, you’re mean.”
“And you whine too much. I’m your father, so you’re stuck with me and if I have my way, you will be with me always.”
“No,” she cries, “I want Mommy.”
“Tough shit. I want to see her and him suffer.”
Deciding that my daughter is coming with me, I walk toward the bed. I wish I could see the look on the bitch’s face when she realizes that her precious daughter is gone.
“Sir,” someone says from the doorway, “I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
Turning around I see the doctor’s side whore. “Fuck off, lady, she’s my daughter. I have a right to be here.”
“That maybe so, but I will not tolerate someone speaking to a child like that. The whole ward just heard how you spoke to her. You’ve upset her and she’s still recovering.”
“Yeah, recovering ‘cause both that bitch and fucker fucked up. I can speak to her however the fuck I want.” I pause and glare at the woman before me, but she’s one tough bitch and just glares at me. “Get the fuck out. NOW.”
The bitch turns on her heel and walks out of the room, leaving me with a crying kid. “For fuck’s sake. Stop crying, tears are for the weak. When you are mine, I will beat you tough just like my daddy did to me. No kid of mine is going to be a pussy.”
“Sir,” a deep male voice says from behind, “I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
“Make me,” I snarl, no one tells me what to do.
“Last chance, sir, you need to leave now.”
Turning around, I stare at him, this fucker looks like he means business and if I’m going to fuck Cress over, I cannot lose my shit now. “Fine,” I huff. “I’ll go but I’ll be back.” Without looking at the squid, I walk out of the room, shoving the guard in the shoulder as I walk past.
Entering the elevator, a plan formulates in my mind. Cress is going down…but first, a little fun.
32
Cress
Picking up my coffee, I take a sip, it’s stone-cold. “Ugh,” I whisper, “cold coffee, just another thing that’s gone cold in my life.”
Letting out a sigh, I continue to stare across the rooftops. I really wish I could call Ave right now, but she’s still recovering and doesn’t need this added to her worries. I know she’ll kick my ass but she has enough on her plate at the moment.
The silence is broken when I hear my name, “Cress.” Spinning around I come face-to-face with Preston. Worry etched on his gorgeous face.
“How did you find me here?”
“I will always find you, Cress, always.” We silently stare at one another; again that déjà vu feeling washes over me. “When no one could find you, I just knew you’d be here because this where I come when I need to escape.”
“It’s beautiful up here.”
“It sure is,” he says, but his eyes are on me and I feel like he’s referring to me and not the view.
We fall silent again and quietly stare at each other. The walls I previously put up begin to crumble and the regret at pushing him away festers within. My eyes well with tears when it hits me like a freight train; I want him. I need him. I love him. We need him in our life.
We.
Need.
Him.
But what if we’ve lost him? Because in haste, I pushed him away. That thought hurts like said freight train smashing into me, it utterly guts me that I pushed him away, I don’t want that. I want Preston Knight in my and Lexi’s life. “Preston—” I blubber.
He steps over to me and gently squeezes my upper arms. “Lexi is going to be fine…and so will we.” How did he know? “Nothing will keep me from you. Not even an outburst when you thought your world was ending.” He takes my cheeks in his palms and stares deep into my soul. “Cress, I’m never letting you go.” He gently presses his mouth to mine and all the sadness, anger, fear, and unease I had evaporates as soon as his lips touch mine and I know, without a doubt, he’s right.
&n
bsp; I was falling for him from the moment I saw him and I want to fall even deeper in love with him. “I don’t want you to let us go either, Preston. I’m going to jump in with both feet and give us my everything because you are my everything.”
“Good, because me plus you and Lexi are my forever. My everything.” He cups my cheek in his palm again. “I’m sorry I let you both down, but if you give me another chance, I’ll never let that happen again. I was devastated at causing you this pain. When I lost you and Lexi, I thought my world was over. That little pony-loving princess has wormed her way deep into my heart, just like you have.”
He wipes a tear from my cheek. “I love you, Preston,” I whisper, leaning into his palm.
“I love you too, Cress. I never stopped and I never will.”
Taking his cheeks in my hands, I press my lips to his. He slides his arms around my waist, pulling me into him. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I hold him tightly and pour everything into this kiss. He breaks the connection and rests his forehead against mine.
Everything is falling into place again. Lexi is getting better and I have Preston back in my life. Closing my eyes, I enjoy the moment.
Preston’s pager goes off, he looks down and frowns “We need to head back down. Creed was just with Lexi and she’s upset.”
My eyes widen and my heart begins to race faster. “What?”
“He was just asked to leave.”
My eyes widen, “We need to get back.”
“Okay, let’s go.” He laces his fingers with mine and together, we head back inside and down to see Lexi.
When I step back into her room, my heart breaks. My little girl is sobbing and wrapped in Andi’s arms. “Lexi, baby, what’s wrong?”
“Daddy Creed is mean,” she cries.
Fucking Creed, I think to myself as I race over to her bed. Andi stands up and I sit down and envelop Lexi into my arms. She cries and cries, it breaks my heart seeing her so upset.
Andi and Preston are quietly talking in the corner; from the look on Preston’s face he’s as angry as I am right now. Andi leaves and Preston walks over to us.
“Hey, Princess Lexi. You okay, Munchkin?”
She nods her head but the tears keep coming. “Wanna tell Mommy and I what happened?” he asks, as he pulls a chair to the side of her bed.
“He popped a balloon and said Mommy doesn’t love me and he swore. Lots.”
“Munchkin, Mommy loves you to the moon and back. You know this, right?” She nods her head. “Creed is just having a bad day,” I tell her, hoping that this will make her feel better.
“He said he wants to take me from you.”
My eyes pop open, rage simmers in my blood that he would say this to her. Shaking my head, I hold her tighter to me. “I won’t let that happen, Lex. I love you too much to let you go.” Kissing her head, I look to Preston. He looks like I feel—ready to explode.
“I’m going to speak to security, make sure he isn’t allowed back in.”
“Thank you,” I say, reaching my hand out to his. He takes my hand and squeezes it before bringing it to his lips and kissing my knuckles. He leans over and kisses Lexi’s head before he walks out to speak to security.
Lying on the bed with Lexi, I hug her to me. Her body relaxes and I know she’s fallen asleep. My mind plays over everything that has happened. I find myself smiling when I realize things are looking up again. Lexi is better, and Preston and I are back together. I came so close to losing both him and Lexi, now that I have them back, I’m going to hold on with both hands. I’m never letting them go, never.
33
Preston
Lexi has been healthy for six months now. If I’m not at the hospital, I’m with her and Cress. I’m watching her like a hawk, I will not miss her getting sick again. I’m in my office finalizing my proposal for the pediatric upgrade, the carrot offered to entice me to stay in Chicago. They weren’t happy when I called them to decline their offer but by staying here, I get the job and the girls, making my life perfect.
I’m meeting with Dr. Jenkins tomorrow and if she agrees to my proposal, its going to be amazing to see my vision come to fruition.
My phone pings with a text, it’s my brother. He and I have been playing phone tag for weeks now.
KEETON: Hey, Doc. You free for dinner? I have news
PRESTON: Now’s not a good time for dinner. What’s the news?
KEETON: I’d rather tell you in person. Don’t fret it’s good news. Great news in fact.
PRESTON: Good news I can handle, maybe next week?
KEETON: Sounds good, let me know when and I’ll set it up with Blair and Faith
PRESTON: Blair and Faith???
What is my brother up to now? And why am I being invited to dinner with his business partner and some chick?
KEETON: I’ll explain over dinner. See you next week
A few days later, Lexi, Cress, and I are in the blanket fort we made watching, you guessed it, My Little Pony. We are waiting for pizza to arrive when my phone rings and I smile when I see Keeton’s name on the screen. “Hey, baby bro,” I answer. I try and roll out of the fort but Lexi has a death grip on me so I lie back and get comfy.
“Are you alive? You didn’t get back to me to arrange dinner,” Keeton says.
“Duck, I totally forgot.”
“Duck? Really?”
“Umm, yeah, I’m at my girlfriend’s place and she has a kid.’
“Come again, girlfriend? With a kid?”
“Says the guy who wants me to have dinner with his business partner and meet some chick.”
“Touché,” he says, and I picture him nodding his head as he says this.
“So, are you going to tell me what’s going on in your life?”
“Are you going to tell me about playing happy family?” he retorts back. I look to Lexi and Cress and realize I am, in fact, playing happy family but there’s no playing. This is real life and I am one-hundred-percent committed to this family.
“You first,” I counter.
“Of course, you'd say that. How about this weekend we all get together at your place? Enjoy the last of this good weather? Barbecue and swim?”
“Sounds great, let me just check with Cress.”
“Pussy-whipped,” he coughs down the line.
“Asshole,” I whisper back.
“Prince Dr. Preston said a naughty word,” Lexi says.
“He did, Mommy will punish him later.” Cress winks at me and it goes straight to my cock.
“You guys free Sunday afternoon to meet my brother and his whatever they are?”
“Sounds good,” Cress says, as Lexi asks, “Can we swim and have burgers?”
“Yes,” Keeton shouts through the phone.
Cress and I laugh, “Of course, Munchkin.”
Lifting the phone back to my ear. “So you heard that?”
“Yes, and tell Lexi she has great taste and Uncle K can’t wait to meet her.”
“You’re a dick,” I tell him.
“He said a naughty word again, Mommy.”
“Double punishment is coming for him then.”
“You’re in trouble,” Lexi singsongs.
“Thanks, bro, I’m in trouble ‘cause of you.”
“Happy to help. See you Sunday.”
He hangs up and when I look over to Cress, her eyes are full of hunger and desire…I’m so looking forward to my punishment.
After pizza and more Pony episodes, I bathe and get Lexi into bed. Once she’s asleep, I walk back into the kitchen, and notice Cress staring at her phone. “He text again?” I ask.
She lifts her gaze to mine, she smiles but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Yeah, but I did what you said, I deleted it straightaway.” She walks over to me and wraps her arms around my waist and rests her head on my chest.
“Thank you,” she murmurs.
“What are you thanking me for?”
“For being you. For loving me and Lexi like you do.”
“I do love you both, with all my heart, Cress.” She lifts her gaze to mine and smiles, this time it reaches her eyes. She presses her lips to mine and when she pulls back, her eyes are full of hunger and desire. Taking her hand, I lead her into her bedroom.
She pulls away. “I just need some water, give me a minute.”
Nodding my head, I watch as she walks back into the kitchen, turning around I walk into her bedroom and remove my shirt and pants, leaving me in my boxers. I sit on the edge of the bed and fall back to the mattress, I’m shattered and cannot wait to crawl into bed with Cress. A throat clearing from the doorway causes my head to raise and when I look up my eyes bug out of my head.
Cress is leaning against the doorframe in the sexiest piece of lingerie I have ever seen. She’s wearing silky black panties that match a sexy as fuck white satin bra adorned with black lace, that flows into a black mesh that stops just at her panty line. “Fuck me, Cress. You are the sexiest woman alive.”
From behind her back, she has an open bottle of bubbly in one hand and a plate of chocolate-coated strawberries in the other. “We need to celebrate.”
“What are we celebrating?”
“There’s lots to celebrate, Dr. Knight.”
“Come here,” I growl.
Cress pushes off the doorframe and saunters over to me. Swishing her hips side to side as she goes. She places the plate of strawberries onto the bedside table and brings the bottle to her lips and drinks. She leans down and presses her lips to me, the bubbly going from her mouth to mine. Some spills down her chin and neck. Leaning forward, I lick down her throat and chest, lapping up the spilt bubbly.
Wrapping my arms around her waist, she straddles my thighs and stares at me. The air in the room is heated and thick with desire. Taking the bottle from her, I take a sip. Then I lift it up and pour some across her chest. Pulling her closer to me, I lick the cold liquid from her skin, goosebumps breaking out across her chest. Sucking her nipple through the material, it pebbles and hardens. Licking across her chest, I do the same to the other one. Her head drops back and I continue to lick and suck her chest. She circles her hips on my lap and cries out when she can’t rub herself on me.