“Thank you for everything,” I told him softly.
“Anytime honey.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The minute Adam opened the front door, Trish walked in with a sleeping Layla in her arms. Her sad eyes met mine and quietly we got my princess tucked into bed, and then we went down to the living room.
Trish was still acting weird. She was strangely silent and wouldn’t look at me. Adam walked into the room and sat down in the chair across from us. He must have noticed her behavior. “Trish, are you alright?” he asked her.
She finally looked up and to my horror, she was crying. She rarely cried. I’d only seen her cry a few times.
“Trish, what’s wrong with you?” My tone was panicked.
“I have a feeling this is all my fault,” she cried.
I had no idea what she was talking about. “What’s all your fault?” I asked frantically. I was so confused. I watched as she took several deep breaths.
“This thing with Destiny is all my fault,” she whispered.
“What? Trish, you’ve lost me.”
She glanced to Adam and then back to me. “Did Landyn tell you what I did?” Her voice was cracking now and I was getting frustrated with her talking in circles. “Trish, just spit it out.”
She sighed loudly. “Did you actually see Landyn having sex with Destiny?”
“No, but it doesn’t matter, it was obvious,” I stated firmly. She stared at me a brief moment before speaking again. “Lex, I’m not sure what you saw, but I’ll bet everything I own that Destiny went there looking for me.”
That still didn’t make sense, so I waited for her to continue.
She cleared her throat. “Okay. Do you remember the night you caught Landyn in the bathroom with Destiny…” I cut her off with a glare and, “How could I forget?!”
“Lex, I wasn’t finished. Do you remember when we left that party, how I swore up and down that I would pay her back?” She had one raised eyebrow at me. I had a really bad feeling in the pit of my stomach and I felt my throat closing up.
“I remember,” I whispered
“Well, I never forgot about it, and two days ago, the opportunity to pay her back was handed to me on a silver platter.” She paused.
“I went with Tony to a party at the Hotel Derek, only to realize when we got there that it was a family party, more specifically, Destiny’s engagement party.”
I gasped. “Oh God, Trish, I’m shaking. What did you do?” I asked her.
“I had a few drinks. I wasn’t drunk; not even close, just buzzed. Her asshole fiancé kept hitting on anything in a skirt, so of course I caught his attention while Tony was off mingling. The asshole kept begging me for a quickie, you know, because he wasn’t ‘technically married yet’…”
I closed my eyes and begged her gently. “Please tell me you didn’t sleep with him T.”
“I didn’t sleep with him, but it probably looks that way. I actually did my best to ignore him, but when the jerk got so drunk that he was slurring and stumbling, it just hit me how easily I could get a little payback. I was also pissed that Tony left me by myself the majority of the night when he knew exactly how I felt about his sister.” Her tone was growing intense.
“So, I went with the guy to his room, or their room. He undressed completely and I undressed myself down to my bra and panties; I was never fully naked. I grabbed his cell phone and started snapping pictures. He was so out of it he even posed for some of them. The pictures weren’t dirty, but they also didn’t leave a lot to the imagination.”
She got pensive for a moment. “I never even let the guy kiss me,” she whispered.
“There’s more you’re not telling me T. What else happened?” I asked, glad that I spoke calmly when really I was mess inside.
“I told the guy, I still don’t even know his name that I needed to use the restroom and I locked myself in there while I debated what to do next. When I got up the nerve to open the door the guy was passed out on the bed. I got dressed, stole his phone and left. I took a cab home.”
When she started crying again, I got up and sat next to her so I could hug her. “Tony called me a few times, but I was so mad at him for putting me in that position and so mad at myself for what I’d just done, that I ignored him. I’m in love with Tony. I really am, Lex. I’ve never been in love before. I’m still a virgin,” she whispered.
“What?” I asked, completely thrown for a loop. “What do you mean you’re a virgin? How did I not know this? God, have I always been so wrapped up in my own crap that I didn’t even know my best friend was a virgin,” I whispered angrily to myself. Trish just shook her head at me.
I made eye contact with Adam who was staring at Trish with eyes bugging out.
“It wasn’t just you Lex,” Trish said. “I could have told you, I should have told you, but… I don’t know… I guess it was a little fun trying to live up to my so called ‘promiscuous’ reputation when in reality I’m just a prude in the sex department.”
She gave me a sad smile before whispering, “I was ready to give myself to Tony.”
I squeezed my eyes shut wanting to make this all go away. I was still pissed at myself for being such a horrible friend and I vowed to myself that I’d make it up to her. “It’s okay, T. We’ll figure this out. I’ll help you make things right with Tony. He probably doesn’t even know you went to that guy’s hotel room.”
“No, it’s not okay. Nothing’s okay. I didn’t do anything with the pictures right away or the guy’s phone; I changed my mind at the last minute. But when Ryan attacked you last night… I was desperate to do something. I couldn’t help but feel that none of this would have happened if it hadn’t been for Destiny. I was furious at Landyn too, but I’ve always known that you loved him no matter how much you lied to yourself.”
She paused and while she took a moment for herself, I tried to offer her some comfort. “I understand completely Trish. I also blamed Destiny. If it makes you feel any better, I think I broke her nose tonight. I’ll tell you the story when you’re finished, but it felt great.”
She gave me a shaky smile. “You don’t understand, Lex. The story gets worse. While I was sitting in the hospital waiting room with Layla, I forwarded the pictures to Destiny from her fiancés phone.”
I felt my eyes grow huge. “What?” I breathed out.
“I’ve ruined everything. I’ve called Tony over and over again since I woke up this morning, but he won’t talk to me. While I was packing, he sent me a text message telling me that he saw the pictures, and wants nothing to do with me. I assume Destiny went to Landyn with the intention of finding me since you’re my best friend.”
This was crazy! I was having a hard time digesting all this information so I couldn’t decide which part was worse; that my virgin best friend, who never told me she was still a virgin, just lost the guy she was in love with by doing me a favor she promised to make good on years ago, or the fact that I didn’t trust Landyn enough to give him the opportunity to explain himself.
Was that why Destiny was there? I vaguely remember Landyn saying something about her looking for Trish, but I couldn’t be sure.
I was tired; exhausted more like it. I squeezed Trish’s shoulders. “Everything’s going to work out, T. It has to. I’ll make it work out. I don’t know where either one of us can go from here in our relationships, but we’ll get through it together like we always do. I promise.”
“I’m just so sorry Lex. I never considered the consequences until it was too late.” I just squeezed her even tighter.
“I feel like I should say something profound to make you ladies feel better, but shit, you girls are nuts. Thank God I’m still single,” Detective Adam chimed in.
Trish and I both glared at him. “Shut it, copper. You just wait until you find a woman. She’ll have your head spinning so fast you won’t be able to walk straight. Actually, I might just have to find that woman for you,” I said deviously.
“I don’t want he
r if she’s anything like you two,” was his comeback.
Trish and I were both so taken aback by his comment that we sucked in air at the same time.
Surprisingly, he started laughing, more like howling. “I’m just joking! Calm down hens and unruffle your feathers. I tell you what… I’ll make you a deal. You both are more than welcome to find me a woman as long as she’s equally as hot as the two of you put together. An attitude like Trish here, with her sweet ass and olive complexion, along with your big, beautiful hazel eyes, long silky hair and tight little body, you got a deal.”
Trish and I looked at each other for quick confirmation and smiled. “Deal!” We shouted out at the same time.
He had a huge grin on his face while he shook his head at us. “Glad I could cheer you up. If only it wasn’t at my expense, but good luck on the hunt,” he said sarcastically, but I knew deep down he really wanted us to find him someone. We didn’t get into too much detail about his past earlier, but there was something special about this detective.
I’d worry about that later. Right now… sleep. I needed to hit the sack. I’d decide what I was going to do in the morning and help Trish with whatever she decided.
I grabbed Trish’s hand. “Come on; let’s go get some sleep, get this night over with and hope tomorrow will bring us something good.” We both stood up and I looked to Adam. “I guess you were right. Now, maybe tomorrow you can tell me exactly how I’m supposed to fix everything. Good night.”
When we made it to the stairs Adam spoke. “I have a feeling you won’t have much to fix, Alexis. The man I saw wouldn’t have cared if you beat him over the head with that bat you had earlier. He’d forgive you of anything.” Somehow I didn’t think that was true, but I wished so hard that it was, it brought tears to my eyes. I gave him an unsteady smile, jogged up the stairs to the guest room and cried myself to sleep.
******
There was incoherent alertness tugging at back of my sleep induced mind. I knew I was still in Adam’s house, in his guest bed, but I felt the warmth of a body cocoon me as legs entangled with mine. I was glad I took off my jeans before falling asleep. I felt hot breath at my neck as light kisses were pressed to my skin. A large, calloused hand slipped between my hold on Layla. The hem of my shirt lifted and Landyn caressed my stomach and the baby growing inside me.
Please let me remember this dream when I wake up.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
My eyes flew open when I suddenly realized that Layla wasn’t in the bed with me. I looked to the window and noticed the sun shining brightly through the curtains. I jumped up, threw on my jeans and ran downstairs.
A delicious smell filled the air and my stomach growled.
“Layla!” I called out. God, that little girl. I hope she hasn’t broken anything of Adam’s yet. “We’re in the kitchen!” Adam called back.
Oh, thank goodness!
When I rounded the corner of the stairs and into the kitchen I hit a brick wall. Landyn and Adam were both in the kitchen. Together. Cooking.
Adam was at the stove with a spatula. He wore boxers, socks and a white t-shirt while Landyn was at the counter holding a mixer and wore boxers, an apron, no shirt and no socks.
What the hell?
Layla sat at the breakfast bar giving orders.
“Mama likes pancakes with chocolate chips and lotsa syrup. And cereal with two dashesa sugar. And donuts with pink icing and sprinkles. If you go buy her that stuff, it would make Mama not mad at you anymore Daddy.”
The little fibber! Those were all her favorites.
I sighed inwardly. She was so young and already she knew how to work a man to get what she wants.
If anyone noticed me, they paid me no attention.
“Well, in that case, your mom will rarely be eating chocolate chip pancakes, cereal with a dash of sugar or donuts with pink icing and sprinkles, because I don’t plan to make her mad very often, precious,” Landyn replied sweetly and then he turned his head in my direction and made eye contact.
I swallowed hard when I suddenly realized that my dream last night was no dream. It was real. He did come to me.
I wanted to run up to him and throw my arms around his neck, but I held back. I felt a little foolish for my shocking reactions last night.
Who nearly starts a fight while pregnant? I think somehow, subconsciously, I knew neither of the guys would let it get too far, but I would never regret hitting Destiny.
I walked further into the kitchen at a snail’s pace. Adam and Layla had turned and were watching me with probing gazes now.
“Good morning,” I said softly in the uncomfortable silence.
“Lexi, baby, come here,” Landyn ordered as he pointed to the spot at his feet. I went to him at my continued slow pace until I was in close enough reach for him to grab me around the waist and haul me securely against his chest. My hands went to his shoulders, forehead to his chest and I cried, “I’m so sorry.” I was sorry for a lot of things.
He squeezed me harder and pressed a kiss to the crook of my neck.
“Layla,” Lan called out while still holding me. “Take over for me here and tell Adam how much you like football, okay? Your mom and I will be right back.”
“Yes!” she hissed and clapped excitedly. “Uncle Adam, can I mix the pancakes?” Layla screamed. All I heard was mumbling from Adam, as Landyn shuffled me out of the kitchen and into the living room.
Wait… Did Layla just call Adam, Uncle Adam? What the hell?
Landyn stopped us in the living room and tilted my head up to look at him. He looked lovingly at me while he studied my face. The arm that held me at the waist suddenly came around and I felt his knuckles gently caressing my stomach through my shirt.
“I can’t believe we made a baby so fast,” he whispered gently.
Then he reached down and tried to lace our fingers together, but it was the hand that, until that moment, I didn’t realize was very sore. I winched. Landyn saw it and looked down; my eyes followed. There was slight bruising across my knuckles.
Landyn looked back up and this time his expression was not happy.
“Don’t run out on me again, Lexi. I swore I’d never hurt you and I won’t. I expect we’ll have the same problems every other family has, but we’ll work through them. I’ll never cheat on you.”
When I didn’t say anything he exhaled noisily. “Destiny came to see if I found out where you lived. She was looking for Trish. She showed me pictures-” he was about to continue explaining, but I stopped him.
“Trish told me about the pictures and what she did. She didn’t sleep with that the guy in the photos; who is, or was Destiny’s fiancé by the way. Trish took the pictures as a way to pay Destiny back for having sex with you.”
When one of Lan’s eyebrows rose in expectation, I clarified. “Six years ago, when you had sex with Destiny, Trish swore up and down that she would pay her back. Those pictures were pay back.”
Lan gave me a smirk. “I figured there was more to the story. I didn’t actually think she would hurt Tony like that purposely. Destiny yes; Tony no.”
The situation with Trish was painful for me. If she hurt, I hurt. I swore to myself that I would help her make things right with Tony. It was the least I could do for her after everything she’s done for me. This, I knew, was going to take time, but I’d do it. So for now, I focused on the matter at hand.
“Landyn, I’m so sorry about last night. Well, I’m not sorry for hitting Destiny, but I am sorry for not trusting you enough to let you explain. If you look at it from my perspective, you have to admit it looked bad; you unexpectedly get called into work, one of your worker’s tells me you were in a meeting and then I show up and find Destiny there-” Lan put his finger to my lips and shushed me.
“I did go in for a meeting Lexi. Just… stay right there and don’t move,” he ordered before he hustled out of the room and up the stairs. I watched him go and he looked so freaking sexy wearing nothing but boxers and an apron.
A moment later he was jogging back down the stairs while he dug around in the pocket of the jeans he now carried. When he made it to me, he threw the jeans down, lifted my uninjured hand and placed a beautiful princess cut diamond engagement ring on my finger.
“Oh my God,” I breathed, as tears filled my eyes.
“Lexi, baby, I wanted to do this right, I wanted my proposal to be perfect and I wanted our wedding to be everything you’ve ever imagined, but it seems like everything having to do with us as a couple is more than unusual. Do you remember John Sanders?”
That was an odd question, but yeah, I’d never forget what happened at his house.
I nodded.
“He owns a jewelry store in Bellaire. I had him meet me at the office so I could pick out your ring. I hope it fits, I guessed at the size.” I was speechless, and the ring fit flawlessly.
“It’s up to you when, where and how you want to get married, baby. Just because you’re pregnant doesn’t mean we have to go to the Justice of the Peace or Vegas; we could have something small or we could have a big wedding, it’s your decision.”
I was occupied with wiping my tears, but I managed another nod and whispered, “Okay, I’ll have to think about it. I’ll have to get with Trish.” I paused. “I love you Lan and I’m so sorry.”
Landyn wiped away my tears with his thumbs. “I love you more, baby.”
At that moment, I turned when I heard a noise and saw a disheveled Trish dragging herself down the stairs. Her hair was mess, her clothes were wrinkled and she had make-up smeared all over her puffy, pale, cried out face.
Poor thing.
I turned again, in the opposite direction when I heard noise coming from the kitchen that sounded like it was coming closer. Eventually, Adam and Layla walked into the room hand-in-hand.
I didn’t like that. I didn’t think it was appropriate for Adam to be holding Layla’s hand and I figured Landyn would like that even less, but when I glanced at him, he looked calm. I silently wondered if it was only the calm before the storm.
Lexi, Baby Page 14