Crashing Tides Duet: Anchored and Adrift

by Ruby Rowe

  “I know Sailor insisted you stay in touch with Nicole, but it’s not good for her or Sailor. You’re in control of stopping it, and you need to do it if you don’t want it causing problems in your relationship with Sailor.”

  “Did she say something? Because Sailor’s the one who sent Nicole to my room.”

  I grip the back of my neck. “Elliott, stop acting naïve. I know I’ve had little experience with relationships, but I’ve been around women enough to know that confiding in your ex-girlfriend will only cause your current girlfriend to suspect your relationship with her is in trouble. She’ll also worry you’re cheating.”

  “I’m not.”

  “Maybe not physically, but dude, do you still have feelings for Nicole?”

  He drags his hands down his face. “I don’t know. I’m confused. Maybe I do a little, or maybe I only want to be near her because she gets what I’m going through. Whatever the reason, I feel like I need her in my life right now.”

  “Fuck, Elliott. Sailor loves you, and we’re finally in a good place with our unique relationship. I know you have a lot on your plate right now, but you need to figure this shit out and fast.”

  Sailor strolls into the room, and she looks sexy today in snug jeans and an even tighter teal sweater. It’s noticeable her tits are growing, and I can’t say I mind.

  “I’m ready,” she says, putting in an earring. She looks at Elliott. “Don’t hesitate to call us if there’s a problem.”

  “I’ll be fine, especially since my mom’s coming over. I imagine she’ll stay a while once she hears I’m sick. She’ll probably turn into Kitty Forman from That 70’s Show and want to bake me cookies and do my laundry or some shit.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with that,” Sailor says. “Oh, crap. I almost forgot Maddie’s gift in the spare room. I’ll go grab it.” She heads for the stairs, and I look at Elliott.

  “Is it just me, or has she managed to become even more gorgeous?”

  “Her body’s changing because of the baby.”

  “Exactly. She’s pregnant. I know Nicole’s beautiful on the inside and out, too, but she’s not the one carrying your child or the one who did it alone the last time. Remember that.”

  “I don’t need you guilting me. I’m fully aware of how amazing Sailor is and all that she has sacrificed and gone through for me. I don’t plan on screwing up our relationship.”

  “Say you won’t, bro. Say you won’t mess it up.”

  “OK, I’m ready this time.” Sailor trots down the last few steps of the staircase and gives Elliott a kiss. “Call if you need us. I love you.”

  “I love you, too. Have fun.”

  Elliott

  I’m watching ESPN when Sailor and Jake enter the condo.

  “Hi,” Sailor says. “How are you feeling?”

  “Peachy as always. Boredom might kill me before cancer gets a chance.”

  “I brought home cake. I wish you’d gone. Jeanine and Carson were actually nice to me.”

  “If I had, they wouldn’t have been nice to either one of us.”

  “I see you’re still grumpy, but maybe some sugar will help. I’ll go cut you a piece of cake.”

  “Hey, man,” I say to Jake as he sits in a chair and yawns. “How was the outing and birthday party?”

  “Good. I’m tired, though. Maddie never stops moving.”

  “She was extra hyper today,” Sailor yells from the kitchen. She strolls out soon, and after handing me a plate, she sits next to me. “I guess since it was her birthday, and she knew she was getting a party afterward, she couldn’t contain her excitement.”

  “She wore me out, so I’m taking a nap,” Jake says as he stretches and walks over to give Sailor a kiss. “Wake me up in a couple of hours, and I’ll go grab us some dinner. I love you.” He ruffles my hair. “I even love you, Grumpy.”

  “No, asshole. Get off me.” I jerk away, and Sailor and Jake laugh as he leaves the room. “I’m tired, too, which is stupid since I haven’t done anything for weeks.”

  “I bet you miss work.”

  “Yeah, I do, and I was so close to finishing my residency. It sucks.”

  “Yes, but you will–I mean, I hope you will. If you get well, I’m sure you’ll have the opportunity to finish it and continue your career as a doctor.”

  My sweet girl. Sailor’s watching her words so she doesn’t set me off, but she shouldn’t have to. She caught on that I don’t want to pretend. I’m working on being more positive, though. I’m trying…

  “Damn, this cake rocks. Do you want to come upstairs with me? You can tell me all about the boring-ass museum you visited, and that way, I’ll get my much-needed nap.” I grin at her, and she pushes my shoulder.

  “I don’t tell boring stories. Be nice, or I’ll eat the rest of your cake.”

  Grabbing a fork full, I hold it up to her mouth.

  “I’m the sharing type … obviously.”

  She rolls her eyes. “I think you’re looking for trouble.”

  “Maybe a little. Unfortunately, my body is betraying me, and I’m wondering if a little is even possible.”

  “There’s only one way to find out.” Suggestively, Sailor drags the cake off the fork with her tantalizing lips.

  “If you’re doing all the work, I’m in.”

  Giggling, she gets up and takes my hand.

  “If you’re going to surrender control for once, I’m in.”

  Sailor

  As I suck Elliott’s cock, he fingers my hair, and I like it. I tilt my eyes up to look at him, and his are closed while he breathes harshly through his nose.

  For the first time, he’s letting go, enjoying what I’m giving, instead of trying to control my every move, which would consist of him pulling my hair and using it to control how deep he buries his dick in my throat.

  Not this time. He’s taking whatever I give him, so I do my best to make it memorable. We need to reconnect. I have to know if he’s still hanging in there with Jake and me or if he’s thinking about leaving us for another certain someone.

  I also need time with him to see if the stronger feelings I’ve been having for Jake are genuine or only because we’ve had the time to grow closer.

  Groaning, Elliott fists my hair. His hips thrust, and in no time, he comes in my mouth. Knowing I made him feel this good pleases me. I swallow and smile before I crawl up to lie next to him. Bringing me close, he presses his lips to my head.

  “That felt great.”

  “I enjoyed doing it, and you should let me more often. Orgasms are good for your health, especially blowjobs.”

  Letting out a short laugh, his chest rises against my cheek, and I think about the ugly cancer inside it.

  “I agree with the first part, but I can’t recall any medical journal I’ve read backing up your blowjob claim. Let’s ask Alexa. Alexa, are blowjobs good for your health?”

  “Hmm … I don’t know that one.”

  “Yeah, see, she’s not buying it, either.”

  “OK, no more blowjobs then.”

  “Hey, now. I didn’t say that.”

  I squeeze his waist, bringing his warm body closer to mine.

  “I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you, too, Sailor Girl.”

  “I forgot to tell you that I made an appointment with the lab. We go Wednesday afternoon for the paternity test. It’s after your appointment with the thoracic surgeon, and we’ll have the results about a week later.”

  “We’ll know that soon?”

  I prop myself up on my elbow. “Yes, and are you sure you want to do this?”

  “I’m sure. On top of wanting to know before my surgery if I’m having a child, I also need the answer before I get my finances in order. I don’t want anyone having to deal with a drawn-out probate if I die.”

  “I understand, but I’m worried it’ll upset you if our baby’s biologically Jake’s.”

  “It won’t. He and I are prepared to accept what is … what was meant to
be. I’m going to love Payton either way.”

  Hearing the doorbell ring, I hurry off the bed.

  “I’ll get it.”

  “I’ll come, too. I’m due to take one of my medications.”

  I run down the steps, straightening my tousled hair as I go. I open the door, and shit–my parents.

  “Hi, what are you doing here?”

  “Surprise,” my mother says. “We wanted to check out your home and visit.”

  I feel Elliott behind me. “Oh, fuck,” he says upon seeing my parents. I turn around and stare at him with round eyes. He’s barefoot in only sweats as he stands cemented to the floor.

  No one speaks.

  This. Is. Bad.

  “Elliott Roberts, is that you?” my dad asks.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “What’s going on? Why is he in your home?”

  “It’s a long story. Come in.” I step aside, and my parents grimace at Elliott as they pass by us. “You can have a seat on the couch.” They look around, surveying the place.

  “Would you like me to take your coats?” Elliott asks.

  “No. I have a feeling we won’t be staying long,” dad says sternly. They sit and stare at us, their eyebrows lifted as they wait to be caught up to speed.

  “This is Elliott’s home,” I say.

  “This is our home,” he interjects. Dammit. I shoot him a look. He’s not helping here.

  “You sit, too,” I say to him, pointing to a chair.

  “This was Elliott and Jake’s home first. It’s a long story, but I’ll try to condense it. You both already knew I met Jake through his niece, Maddie, who’s in my class this year. Well, I didn’t know Elliott was Jake’s roommate.”

  As I bite my lip, my breathing accelerates. The panic creeps in, so I look at Elliott for support. I feel a tingle on my skin as if something’s crawling beneath it, and I want to shed it and run right out the door. “The guys … they’re best friends, so I live here with them.”

  “OK. I guess that’s not the end of the world,” my mother says as her eyes ping-pong between us.

  “There’s more, and I don’t know how to say it.” I glance at Elliott again. “I can’t tell them.” Beginning to hyperventilate, I heave for air. The room spins, so I palm my eyes. “I think I’m gonna pass out.”

  A cool breeze washes over me as Elliott barrels past. I hear his voice in the distance … Jake’s … my parents’...

  “Sailor.” My hands are yanked down, and I stare into Elliott’s eyes. He’s blurry, and everything behind him is still spinning. “Breathe, baby. Take some deep breaths.”

  “What in the world is going on?” my father asks.

  Clutching my shoulders, Elliott steps closer.

  “I’ll tell them, but you have to calm down. Come on.” He directs me over to a chair, and I take a seat. Jake sticks a glass of water in my hand.

  As I inhale a deep breath, I see that he’s only in a pair of athletic shorts, and his thick hair is sticking up in several places from his short nap. Nice. The guys are barely dressed, and the three of us look like we’ve been rolling around in bed.

  Bending down next to me, he takes my hand.

  “No matter what happens, you have us.”

  “Sailor and I still had feelings for each other when we met up again,” Elliott says as he stands in front of my parents. “But she already liked Jake, too. She didn’t know how to choose between us, so Jake and I convinced her to date us both.”

  Gasping, my mom covers her chest.

  “Unbelievable. I expected better from you, young lady.”

  “The three of us are in a relationship,” Elliott continues. “I mean, Jake and I aren’t together that way, but we both date Sailor.”

  My father points at me. “Are you trying to kill off your mother and me? If so, you’re doing a damn good job.”

  “Hey! Don’t speak to her like that,” Jake snaps. “How she’s chosen to live isn’t hurting anybody.”

  “That’s bull. What if people find out?”

  “Dad, it’s not going to hurt your business.”

  He scoffs, “You have no idea, Sailor, what this could do to my reputation and my company. Christ, what about this illegitimate baby you’re carrying? Do you even know who the father is?”

  That’s it. They can shame me all they want, but they won’t speak negatively about my child.

  “No, I don’t know if this baby is Elliott’s or Jake’s, but we’re not hiding her like we did the last one.”

  My father stands, so my mom follows his lead.

  “You’ve been fighting us ever since your sister died, but I draw the line here,” he says. “I’m done.”

  “I’ve been fighting you because you’ve given me every reason not to want to be like you! The day you shamed your scared, fifteen-year-old daughter for telling you she was pregnant was the day you lost her respect.

  “Please, get out of our home, and don’t return unless you’re prepared to show kindness and unconditional love. I won’t accept anything less.”

  “Fine, we’ll leave,” my father says before he and my mother stride out the door, slamming it behind them. Jake and Elliott stare at me, waiting for my meltdown, but I take a drink of water instead.

  “I sure told them, huh?”

  They glance at each other before bursting into laughter, and I can’t help but laugh, too. My tears are reserved for those who deserve them. It’s why I’ve shed so many for the men in this room.

  Our situation is unconventional, so I respect the reasons why our parents’ generation may have difficulty understanding it, but I should still be more important than my mom and dad’s reputation … more important than their pride. Unlike them, I’ll never treat my children like they’re a disgrace.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Sailor

  “I don’t know how I’m going to go downstairs and do this,” I say to Carrie on the phone.

  “You’re going to do it the same way you’ve handled every other difficult moment in your life. The guys assured you they’re prepared to handle the news.”

  “People believe they can handle the truth because they’re still hanging on to hope that they’ll hear the truth they’ve wanted.”

  “Sailor, you’ve got this, and you’ve always got me.”

  “OK. I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  I set my phone down and read the email from the company who performed the paternity test. I gave my blood, and Elliott and Jake gave saliva samples. That was seven days ago, and as they watch a ball game downstairs, they’re oblivious to the fact that I have the answer to the life-altering question we’ve all been waiting for.

  Jake …

  I’m sorry.

  Me: Can you come upstairs please?

  Elliott: Sure.

  Swinging my leg back and forth off the side of the bed, I bite my lip and wait for him. He pushes my cracked door open.

  “Knicks are up by two. What do you need?”

  “I need to talk to you about something more important than the Knicks.”

  Sliding a hand through his hair, he gives me a panty-melting grin.

  “I’ll be the judge of that.”

  “You’re Payton’s father.”

  His grin is what’s melting away now, and in an instant, his greyish-blue eyes glisten with tears. I turn the laptop around, and he walks over to read the results.

  Once his eyes flit from the screen to me, I stand up and hug him. His trembling embrace draws forth my emotions. I focus on his thundering heart against my cheek and his choppy breaths.

  “I’m going to be a father.”

  I lift my head to see his face. “Yes, and even cancer won’t change that, Elliott. You’ll always be her dad. No matter what.”

  He kisses my lips, the touch tender, yet his appreciation flows between us like a powerful current of joy magnetizing the three beating hearts in this room.

  “I’m going to fight like hell to be there f
or you this time. Damn, we have to tell Jake.”

  “I know. I felt like you deserved to share this moment with me alone the way it would be if there wasn’t another party involved.”

  “Thank you, and we’ll tell him together.”

  Closing my laptop, I take it with me. Once again, my feet feel like vessels weighted down by the strongest anchors as I take each step of the staircase. These men and our baby are my whole world.

  I palm my belly. The being inside me either will divide this family or bring us so much closer. My heart believes the latter is the truth, but maybe that’s the reality I’ve been creating from hope.

  Reluctantly, I walk to the living room with Elliott by my side. Jake drags his eyes away from the TV for only a split-second to see us, but then something must click as he’s watching the television since his head jerks toward us, his gaze zeroing in on my laptop.

  “You got the email.”

  “I did.”

  “Well?”

  “The baby’s Elliott’s.”

  He looks away, his mouth slacking. “Somehow, I knew, but it doesn’t make it any easier to hear.”

  “We’ll have one, too. You know I want more.”

  Nodding, he gets up from the couch and grips Elliott’s shoulder.

  “Congratulations. You deserve this more than anyone … a girl that is.” He grins, and I suck in a sharp breath, the relief of his acceptance almost stopping my heart. I fling my arm around his neck as I hold my laptop to my side.

  “Thank you for being understanding.”

  “Don’t thank me.” Letting me go, he looks at Elliott. “Having a kid means the parents need to behave like grown-ups, right? I mean it, bro. Congratulations.”

  “Thanks, man, but you’re a part of this, too, especially when it comes to diaper duty.”

  “You can think again. Midnight feedings, maybe, but I draw the line there.”

  “How did I get so lucky to find both of you?”

  “We are pretty phenomenal.” Jake winks, and I sigh with contentment. I’m not going to be alone this time around, and the validation is extra meaningful today since tomorrow is the anniversary of Samuel’s passing.