by Tracy Reed
“What…please. If I felt sorry for you, I would just pay one of the girls in my office to come on to you to boost your confidence.”
“What?”
“You’re my friend, and I want to see you with someone worthy of all this.” I drew an imaginary line from the top of his head to his feet.
“Is that all?”
“Of course it is.” I sipped my coffee. “So back to Savannah Moore. You need to ask her out. My suggestion is to send your invitation attached to a statement worry floral arrangement. Then…”
“I’ll need to book a flight to Toronto.”
“Now you’re talking. Dinner in Toronto would be great. However, something a little more local would be better. You don’t need to overshoot the rainbow on your first date. I’m sure I could get my dad’s jet or maybe…”
“She’s moving to Toronto.”
“What?”
“I have been wanting to ask her out for quite a while, but the timing was never right. Last night was another example of poor timing.”
“I’m sorry, but the way you two were going at it, I was about to send Collier over to tell you two to get a room,” I teased.
“Well, seems we were the victims of bad timing again. She left for Toronto this morning.”
“You’re kidding. So what was last night?”
“Coincidence or God telling me that she’s not the one.” He got up and topped off his coffee. “She got a promotion to her firm’s Toronto office.”
“Bas, no…”
“Yep. Seems the woman I waited to catch in between boyfriends has moved to another country. Oh, and let’s not forget the woman I’m in love with is engaged to someone else.”
“You know what you need?”
“No, Chloe, what do I need?”
“I’ve got nothing. I was hoping you could tell me, because I’m doing good to remember to put on underwear.”
“Didn’t need to know that.”
“Hey, you’ve seen parts of me that only Co…You know what? This isn’t about me.” I jumped up and went over to the credenza and topped off my coffee.
“Chloe Marie Jacobs…”
“Hold up. What’s with the full name call out?”
“What were you about to say?”
“We were talking about you.”
He walked over and got in my face. “Spill it.”
I exhaled. “I can’t believe…I was going to say, you’ve seen parts of me that only Collier and Orlando have seen.”
He stepped back with his mouth open and his arms folded in front of his chest. “Are you and Collier sleep…”
“We did when we were younger.” I grabbed his tie. “Sebastian Maurice Devereaux, if you say anything to Collier, I’ll sneak into your condo, and shave every strand of hair on your body. And you know I will.”
“Point taken.”
I sat down. “The way I see it, until you get closure with Kendell, you aren’t going to move on. Although, from the looks of that kiss last night, you are well on your way to recovery.”
“I have to get back to work.”
“We aren’t finished.”
“Chloe…”
“My dad’s assistant has a crush on you. Let me set you up.”
“No.”
“Why not? The best way to get over one woman is with another one.”
“You really aren’t going to let this go are you?”
“No.” I smiled.
“I’ll probably regret it, but okay. Do it.”
“Perfect. I’ll call Jennifer and…”
“Wait a minute. What does she look like?”
“She’s cute.”
“Cute…is code for…”
“Trust me. I’ve got an idea about your type.”
“Chloe…”
“Meet her for coffee and if you hit it off, ask her out.”
“Fine. Set it up.”
“One last thing.”
“What?”
“Don’t tell Alex.”
“Why not?”
“Because we all promised not to get involved in your love life.”
“Fine, whatever. Now can I get back to work?”
I walked over and kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll text you with the details.”
“Okay. Now leave. Bye.”
“Remember what I said. If what I said to you gets back to Collier, you’ll be a cute hairless man. Love you Sweetie, bye.”
* * *
Moses
* * *
“HEY MAN, WHAT’S UP?”
“I need to talk to you.”
“What’s on your mind?”
“Not over the phone.”
I looked at my watch. When your oldest and best friend calls and doesn’t sound like himself, you drop everything. “Come by…”
“Kinda don’t want an audience.”
This wasn’t normal behavior for Collier. “I’ll pick up some sandwiches, and be at your office in an hour.”
“Thanks.”
I shut down everything and went searching the house for Alex, and found her upstairs in our bedroom. I quietly walked up behind her, slipped my hands around her waist and kissed her neck. “Uhmm…that was nice. Be careful, my husband could walk in any moment.”
“I passed him on the stairs and he told me it was okay to come up and kiss you.”
“The nerve of him.” She turned around and wrapped her hands around my neck and I kissed her. “Tell my husband he can always send you in his stead.” She smiled. “Want to go to lunch?”
“Can’t.”
“Send my husband back,” she teased. I kissed her again. “I’ll give you one more chance.”
“Beautiful, I can’t. I have to go over to Collier’s office.”
“So, I’m being stood up for your bestie,” she teased.
I removed my hands and went to get a jacket. “Yeah, he just called.”
“Is everything okay?” She followed behind me.
I pulled out a jacket and she helped me slip it on. “I’m not sure. He didn’t sound like himself.”
“How so?”
“He sounded like…you know what? I’m probably just reading more into it than it is.” I grabbed my wallet and keys. “Has Chloe said anything?”
“No.” She stepped closer and eased her hands around my waist, and kissed me. “I like this jacket.” She kissed me again. “I really like it when it’s lying on the floor next to the rest of your clothes.”
I see Frisky Alex is in the house. “You do?” I kissed her.
“Hurry and get Collier straightened out, because I might need a little fixing.” She kissed me again.
“Is everything set for the party?”
“Way to kill the mood.” She stepped out of my grasp.
“What’s wrong?”
“Your mother…”
“What did she do this time?”
“She thinks it should be very glamourous.”
“That doesn’t sound too bad.” I took her hand and we walked down to the elevator and got on.
“Oh, it gets better. She thinks it would be nice if I wore my wedding gown.” She looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “That’s insane right?”
“Well, it is our anniversary party.”
“Exactly. It’s not our wedding.”
“I understand, but in her defense, it is a black and white theme and I think…”
The elevator stopped and we exited. “You agree with her?”
“I know it’s a rare thing, but yes.”
“I’m not…” I kissed her.
“Let’s talk about it when I get back. For the record, I like the way you looked in that dress.”
“Not fair playing that card.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The compliment card.”
“It’s the truth. I have to go.” I kissed her. “Love you.”
“Love you.”
I knocked on the door and waited to be invited inside.
“Come in.”
I pushed the door open and looked across the room at my best friend. “This better be good, because I left a frisky wife,” I teased, but he didn’t smile. I closed the door. Okay, this was serious.
“Hey, man.” He walked over and hugged me. “Sit down.”
His whole demeanor was unnerving. “What’s going on?” We walked over to the sitting area and sat down. “I stopped by Carlo’s and picked up lunch.”
“Thanks, but I’m not sure I can eat.”
“Okay. You’re my boy. So whatever it is, I have your back.” He pulled out a small black suede box, and placed it on the coffee table.
“Open it.”
I opened the box and staring back at me was a very large yellow diamond. I looked at Collier and the tension on his face was obvious. I knew a joke was needed. “I’m sorry, but I’m already married.”
“What?”
“The ring.”
“Oh.” Not even a fake smile.
I took my jacket off and took a sandwich out of the bag and handed it to him. I opened my pastrami and swiss, took a big bite, and realized I was the only one eating. “You talk while I eat.”
“I’m thinking about asking CJ to marry me.”
“I gather as much from the huge ice in the box.”
“Do you think I’m moving too fast?”
“I can’t answer that. Besides, it took me and Alex almost two years to get ourselves together.”
“CJ and I have history.” He looked at me.
“History?”
“Remember that girl I told you I saw every summer?”
“That was Chloe?” I tried to sound surprised, but Alex had already told me.
“You are such a horrible liar.” He smiled.
“Eat your sandwich.” I sipped my iced tea. “So, what’s the problem?”
“What if she says no?” He bit his plain pastrami.
“I know you. You wouldn’t have shelled out money for that rock if you didn’t think she felt the same.” I wiped my mouth. “So, what’s the problem?”
“I’m scared. If I do this my life will change dramatically.”
“What’s the difference in what you’re doing now?”
“What do you mean?”
“Every chance you get, you’re in Cali with Chloe and Parker.”
“Not true.”
“Where were you last weekend and the weekend before…”
“Okay, so I spend a lot of time flying.”
“No, bro, you’re spending a lot of time with your family.” I took another bite of my sandwich.
He wiped his mouth. “So you think I should do it?”
“I’m not going to tell you what to do.” I took another sip of iced tea. “I’ll ask you the same thing Mom Connie asked me. Do you love her or are you in love with her? If the answer is the latter, then you need to go get your family.”
Chapter Fifty
Collier
* * *
I KNOCKED ON THE DOOR and heard footsteps walking across the floor. The door opened quickly and standing before me was the woman I was in love with. I kissed her and followed her inside and closed the door. I turned and heard little taps running across the hardwood floor towards me. I looked down and saw the other person I loved, her son.
“It’s like he’s been waiting on you to get here.” She looked down at Parker. “I told you Collier was coming to tuck you in.” He lifted his little arms up to me. “I don’t know what you’ve done to him, but since we’ve been in New York, he won’t go to sleep until he sees you.”
“Hey there, little man.” I bent down and picked him up. “What are you doing up?”
“Dada.” I looked at Chloe and she looked at me smiling.
“Did you hear that?”
“Yes.” She reached for his hand. “Are you okay Baby?”
I cleared my throat. “Yes.”
“Here,” she reached for Parker. “I’ll take him.”
“No. I’ll put him down.” I walked into the other room and placed Parker in his crib. “Hey, little man, I’m going to do my best to make sure I’m always around.” He was dancing in his crib and laughing.
“What is going on in here?” Chloe walked in smiling. “Parker Alexander, do you know what time it is?” He laughed louder.
“Mama,” he called out followed by another loud laugh.
“Shhh Parker. It’s late and Aunt Taylor and Uncle Jason are next door trying to sleep.” He laughed out loud followed by a high pitched screech.
“Honey, let me try.” I picked him up. “Hey, little man, what’s going on?” I tried walking with him, but he was still wide awake and laughing.
“I don’t know why he’s so excited.”
“He’s okay, baby.” I smiled.
“Here honey, let me take him.” I handed him to Chloe. She started walking and rocking him in her arms and blowing in his eyes.
“Where did you learn that?”
“Your mom. She said she used to do you the same way. She said it calmed you down and within minutes you were asleep.” We looked down at Parker and he was yawning. “See.” She placed him in the crib and rubbed his stomach.
“He’s beautiful, Chloe.”
“Thank you. When I look at him, I don’t see the mistakes I made or how much Orlando hurt me. I only see love.”
I looked at her and then at Parker. “CJ, I wanted to go for a walk and--”
“I’m sorry. I forgot. Let me change my shoes and get Mrs. King.” She started walking away, and I grabbed her hand. “What’s wrong?” She turned and faced me.
“I was going to do this in the garden.”
“Do what?” I brushed her cheek. “What’s wrong, baby?” She looked at me with those big brown eyes and I saw my future.
“Everything is right.” I looked at Parker and took a deep breath. “You and Parker mean so much to me.”
“We love you, too.”
I took another deep breath. “Parker and I bought you something.”
“You and Parker bought me something?” She smiled.
I reached inside my pocket and put the ring in my fist. “Yes and I think that’s why he’s so active. I told him we were going to give it to you tonight.”
“Okay.”
“I have to tell you, I wanted the yellow one and he kept pointing to the white one. So we compromised. Close your eyes. No peeking.”
“I’m not peeking.”
“Hold your hand out...okay open your eyes.” She looked down at the very large yellow diamond ring sitting on a narrow band of white pave diamonds, and didn’t say anything. “Honey…honey…are you okay?”
“What is this?”
I took a deep breath. “I asked Parker how would he feel about having me around…permanently?”
She was still staring at the ring. “And what did he say?”
“He smiled and spit up on me.”
She looked up laughing. “I see.”
“I wanted to make sure we were on the same page, so I asked your parents to interpret his response for me. They said that was the Jacobs’ way of welcoming new people into the family.”
“Really.”
I got down on my left knee, took her left hand in mine. “CJ, I’m in love with you, and I love your son. I wasn’t ready the first time I met you. But thank God, He brought you back to me. I have you as a friend, and now I’m ready to be your husband, your partner, your lover and Parker’s father. If you and Parker will have me, I promise with God’s help to be the best in all those roles. Chloe Marie Jacobs will you marry me?”
She took a deep breath and I saw tears fill her eyes. “Collier Benjamin, I’m in love with you, too and yes, I’ll marry you and yes, you can be Parker’s Dada.”
I placed the ring on her left ring finger and stood up. I pulled her close, kissed her and heard laughing. We turned and saw Parker sitting up laughing and clapping his hands.
“Hey, little man, looks like Dada and Mama are getting marrie
d.”
Chapter Fifty-One
Alex
* * *
“WHEN I STEPPED OUT ONTO the patio and saw the girls, I knew something was up.” Moses kissed my hand. “Then I looked up and saw you.” I looked at Moses and I couldn’t stop smiling. “When did you decide to turn our anniversary party into a vow renewal?”
His smile disappeared and he stopped walking. “When I found you sitting in the shower grieving your son.” I reached up and caught the tear sitting in the corner of his eye.
“Baby…”
“It hurt to see you hurting. When my dad came to see you, he told me no matter what happened, I needed to make sure you knew I loved you more now than I did when I first fell in love with you.” He kissed my palm.
“Baby, I know you…”
“We had a nice wedding, but I know you agreed to that wedding because I pushed you.”
“You didn’t push me.”
“That’s the only lie you’ve ever told me.” He smiled. “I overheard you talking to Chloe.”
“I didn’t mean…”
“I know you didn’t want a large show and neither did I. But I knew you wanted your girls, your sisters there. So I called them and they helped me.”
“What?”
We continued walking. “When they came out for baby Ella’s christening, I told them what I wanted to do, and they went to work on it.”
“I can’t believe they didn’t say anything.”
“I gave them a budget, and they took over.”
“What about your mother?”
“I told her to work with the girls and to make sure you wore your wedding gown. I wanted to show you off.”
“I’m glad it still fits,” I joked.
We stopped walking and he turned to face me. “I may not be able to give you everything you desire or want, but I’ll do my best.”
“The only thing I demand of you, is that you love me.”
“I love you more every day.” He pulled me to his chest, wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed me like he did the first time.
“We’d better head back to the house.”
“Not just yet. I’m not ready to share you.” He stroked the side of my face and we continued walking.