The Backup Plan

by Jen McLaughlin

  He winced and looked down at me. “I didn’t mean that.”

  “I know that now,” I whispered, resting my hand on his heart. It sped up under his cotton shirt. “But I didn’t then.”

  He dropped his forehead on mine. “So, if we’re together, really together…your parents pay, and you lose your scholarship.”

  “Y-Yes.” I closed my eyes. “And yes, I’d fight dragons for you. I’d do anything for you. Because I love you, too. I’ve always loved you. I’ll always love you, and I don’t want you to fuck off.”

  He choked on a laugh, pulling back to stare deep into my eyes as if he was searching for something only he could find.

  “I missed you, and I couldn’t sleep, either. I hugged Mister Fluffybottom every night, but it wasn’t the same—”

  His mouth fell on mine, and I gasped as his tongue slid inside my mouth without hesitation or warning. Groaning, I clung to him, not realizing exactly how much I needed him and his mouth in my life until just now. I mean, I’d missed him.

  Duh.

  But this feeling of having his body pressed against mine, his mouth melded to mine, was more than just a feeling. It was like I’d lost a piece of myself, was walking down the road, and saw it lying on the sidewalk. I’d found something that had been missing, and I never wanted to lose it again.

  He pulled back, breathing heavily. “I’m sorry, that was rude, but I needed to kiss you.”

  I nodded. “I needed it, too.”

  He chuckled, kissing my forehead tenderly.

  “What are we going to do about your father?” I asked slowly, looking up at him nervously. “I can’t let my parents pay for my happiness.”

  “He’s going to make you pay, too.”

  “That’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.”

  “I’m not.” He clenched his jaw. “He doesn’t get to play God with my life and decide who is in it and who gets punished for not obeying him. Fuck that, and fuck him. It’s my life, and I get to decide my future. Not him.”

  My eyes widened as his words clicked. “Oh my God, your appointment. How did it go?”

  “I have eighty percent mobility back,” He said, his voice low. “The doc thinks I might even get almost full mobility back.”

  “That’s good, right?” I asked, smiling. “With more time—”

  “Yes, it’s good. I could possibly get back on the field in time.” He shook his head, his eyes holding a silent sadness, but he didn’t look lost. He looked determined. “But I’m not sure I want to be a quarterback for the NFL anymore.”

  I swallowed, staring at him closely because that was pretty much the last thing I expected him to say. “Why not? I know how important the game is to you. It’s your dream. Your passion. Your life.”

  “The thing is, dreams change. Passions change.” He smiled, and the sadness he had to have been feeling was chased away. “When you came back into my life, when you showed me how to live again, I got new dreams, and they included you. I wanted more than travelling the world and throwing a ball around. I don’t think I want that life anymore, but I’m still figuring my shit out. All I know is for sure is I want to make a difference—a real difference.”

  I bit my lip, nodding. “Whatever you decide, I’m here for you. You know that.”

  “I do.”

  “Your father, though…”

  “Can kiss my ass.” He frowned. “I don’t give a damn what he wants for me.”

  “I know, but…” I faded off. “My parents.”

  “He’s just a dragon to slay, and you know the best way to do that?”

  I tipped my head to the side. “How?”

  “Teamwork.” He smiled and pressed his thumb against my mouth. “I know exactly what to do, babe.”

  …

  Mr. Maxwell sat across from me, frowning at our surroundings like he was in a dive bar rather than Maggiano’s. Chase had come up with an elaborate mystery plan to get him off my back, and I wasn’t sure it was going to work, but it sure beat breaking up for good or hiding our relationship from all of Villanova University, so I was willing to try it.

  “Why are we here?” he asked, shifting uncomfortably.

  “You’ll see.” I glanced over my shoulder.

  Chase hadn’t told me the whole thing, just that I had to bring his father here at five o’clock. Well, it was five o’clock, and he was nowhere to be seen.

  And I was stuck with his father.

  “I don’t find this amusing.” He checked his watch for the millionth time. “I have a dinner meeting at six, and you’ve got me sitting here staring at you. Is something wrong with Chase? I heard he rejected Amanda, but he’ll come around.”

  No. No, he wouldn’t.

  “I’m sure,” I muttered, checking the window for any signs of Chase’s car.

  He pulled up, and I sighed in relief.

  “I checked his grades, and he’s doing well without you.”

  I nodded. “Indeed.”

  “He doesn’t need you.”

  I swallowed. “No one really needs anyone, do they?”

  “Young lady—”

  “Sorry I’m late,” Chase said, coming up behind his father. I expected him to sit down and start talking, working whatever magic he intended to work, but instead he reached down, cupped the back of my neck, and kissed me right in front of his father.

  I gasped.

  He smiled against my lips before pulling back and sitting beside me. “Hello, Father.”

  Mr. Maxwell’s face reddened, and he spluttered before speaking. “Listen here, son, this kind of behavior is unacceptable.” He looked at me, pointing a finger. “And you—”

  Chase narrowed his eyes and leaned in. “I suggest you get your finger out of my girl’s face.”

  A sound that could only be described as something dying came out of the other man’s mouth. “Your girl.”

  “Yes. My girl.” Chase smiled. “You see, Pops, I let you chase her away from me once when we were kids, and you almost succeeded again. Luckily, we found our way back to one another, and this time, you’re not sending her anywhere.”

  He leaned back, his face pinched. “I can do whatever I want, young man.”

  “Sure you can. But so can I.”

  I swallowed. “And so can I.”

  Chase smiled at me.

  Mr. Maxwell glared my way. “You knew the rules. You are forfeiting all contracts we agreed upon, and your parents—”

  “Actually, I looked at the contract you had her sign. Nowhere in that contract did it say we couldn’t be a couple.” He pulled a paper out and placed it on the booth table, flipping to the second page where I’d signed. “Right here, it says, and I quote, ‘Taylor is to help my son, Chase Maxwell the third, to reenter society, get good grades, and graduate on time with his class. Furthermore, she is to—’”

  Mr. Maxwell growled. “I am aware of what it says, since I wrote it.”

  “Funny, because you keep saying you won’t pay off her schooling as agreed in this legally binding contract, due to her breaking stipulations, yet those stipulations aren’t on this contract you wrote.”

  “Doesn’t matter. I’ll still stop.”

  “Go ahead.” He lifted a shoulder. “But we’ll take you to court. Publicly. I can only imagine how much fun the press would have with a former suspect in a murder case suing his high-profile father. They’ll dig up everything about me. Joey’s accident. The downward spiral I fell into after. My rehab stint. All the fights I got into. All the shit you paid to hide from your clients would be right there, in the open, for all to see.”

  His father spluttered. “You wouldn’t.”

  “Oh, I would.” He crossed his arms. “And if you fire her parents, or treat them with anything less than the respect they deserve, then I’ll slap you with a wrongful termination suit so strong you’ll get whiplash.”

  Mr. Maxwell leaned back, his expression looking torn between pissed off and a grudging admiration. His son was taking a stand, and
it was glorious. Even I couldn’t look away from him. “You’re serious?”

  “Dead serious.” He put his arm around me, pulling me close. “You will leave Taylor and her family alone, and if you play your cards right, you’ll get to remain in our life. But if you treat her or her family with anything less than complete and utter respect, you’ll not only lose me, but you’ll lose any hope in being in my life in the future, no matter what it might bring. Grandkids. Marriage. Jobs. You’ll miss it all.”

  His father paled, and he gripped the edge of the table. “Children.” He glanced at me, then back to his son. “Are you…?”

  “No, of course not.”

  I held my breath, waiting to see what Mr. Maxwell would say. “So you’re blackmailing me.”

  “I’m not blackmailing you,” Chase said, frowning. “I’m giving you options. It’s your choice which one you take.”

  “And if I refuse to play by your rules?”

  Chase shrugged. “Then you miss out on stuff you might wish you hadn’t. But if that’s a price you’re willing to pay, then so be it. I know I am.”

  Mr. Maxwell studied his son, his jaw ticking.

  Chase returned the weighted stare.

  After what felt like a million years, he released his death grip on the table and leaned back. “Fine.”

  Not satisfied, Chase said, “Fine, what?”

  “Fine, you win. I’ll leave her alone, and her parents, too.”

  “Thank you.” Chase pulled out another paper from his pocket, unfolded it, and slapped it on the table. “Excuse me for my thoroughness, but sign here, please.”

  I choked on a gasp.

  Literally choked.

  He’d made a contract. For his own father.

  His father frowned at the paper through lowered eyes. “Are you serious right now?”

  “Yep.” He placed a pen down cockily. “Take your time and read it. You should never sign something without reading it thoroughly.”

  His father did exactly that, leaning back and scanning the document. As he read, Chase ran his fingers up and down my upper arm, tensely watching his father the whole time.

  When he reached a certain part, he lowered the paper. “Might I say something about Clause D?”

  Chase stiffened. “Go on.”

  “I’d like to suggest law as a possible career choice.” Mr. Maxwell signed in a flourish. “You clearly know what you’re doing.”

  Chase’s mouth tilted up at the corners, and he glanced at me, his green eyes shining. “Yeah, maybe. Who knows? The future is wide open for me right now.”

  I swallowed, my heart thumping loudly. “Yes, it is.”

  Mr. Maxwell cleared his throat and stood. “Are we finished here, then?”

  “Yes.” Chase stood and offered his hand to his dad. “It was a pleasure doing business with you, Father.”

  The other man shook his hand, and if I wasn’t mistaken, he was glowing with pride. “Likewise.” He turned to me. “Would you please walk me out, Taylor?”

  “Um.” I shifted away from Chase. “Sure.”

  Chase frowned. “I’ll come, too.”

  “Alone, please.” He met his son’s eyes. “I signed the contract. She’s safe.”

  I touched Chase’s arm. “It’s fine. I’m not going anywhere.”

  He nodded once, his jaw tight, clearly not liking it.

  I could feel Chase’s eyes on us as we walked out the door.

  When Mr. Maxwell held the door open for me, I slid through it, palms sweating and heart pounding. “Sir, I know you don’t like me, and you think your son can do better, but I love him very much—”

  “Thank you.”

  I paused, blinking, completely caught off guard. “Wh-What?”

  “I can’t remember the last time I saw him actually give a damn about anything, and if that something that brings his fire back is you, then I suppose I’ll have to accept that.”

  I swallowed. “I love him very much.”

  “I’m sure you do. And he obviously cares for you.” He shrugged. “I still don’t think that you’re what’s best for him. The differences are too large for you two to work out long term, but if you prove me wrong, then I will accept you into my family and home as my own. Until then, you are welcome, as well.”

  I licked my lips. “Thank you.”

  “I might not be the best father, and he might think I’m cold, but I care about him in my own way, and I want him to succeed, so if you’re what he needs, then so be it.” He unlocked his Audi. “If anyone was going to snap him out of it, it was you, but it was a risk I was willing to take.”

  I took a deep breath and held it. “You knew we might end up together when you sent me here?”

  “I’m not a fool.” He opened his car door. Chase watched us through the window, his teeth clenched and his fists rolled at his sides. “And for what it’s worth, I never would have fired your parents. They’re family.”

  He shut the car door. I watched him go, unable to believe that he’d sent me here, knowing what would happen, and seemed to mostly be okay with it at this point. What a…a…

  There was no word to describe that man.

  None.

  The door to Maggiano’s opened, and Chase came out, wrapping his arms around me from behind. “What did he say to you?”

  “Just that my parents were safe, and that he wouldn’t give us any trouble.” I turned in his arms, wrapping myself up in him completely. “We did it?”

  “We did it,” he said, grinning. Lowering his face to mine, he kissed me, and I leaned into it, unable to stop being amazed that we were here, and we were together, and we had his father’s blessing…sort of. Ending the kiss, he smiled down at me, smoothing my hair out of my eyes. “I love you so damn much, Taylor.”

  I swore, on the steps of Maggiano’s that I was never going to lose him again. He and I, we were in this together, and no matter what road we took, no matter where Chase ended up in life, I would be right there beside him, cheering him on.

  “I love you, too,” I whispered, tears burning my eyes because I was just so happy. He’d done this to me. Made me cry with happiness. Completed me.

  Found me.

  And I’d found him.

  Epilogue

  Chase

  “Pass the butter,” Mr. Selmer said, picking a roll off the table.

  Mrs. Selmer elbowed him, frowning. “Absolutely not. You have enough on your plate.”

  “Did you seriously pre-portion my butter?” her husband groaned.

  “Yes.” She pointed her spoon at him. “Make it last.”

  My father picked up his roll, slathering some butter onto it. He wore a suit and the same red tie he always wore on Christmas, and he was at the head of the table. Taylor’s father was at the other end, with me and Taylor on one side of the table, and her mother on the other. There was one empty seat left where my mother would have sat if she were still alive. Father never sat anyone there, always left it open, as if she might walk in one day and sit down, miraculously brought back to life.

  Taylor elbowed me. She wore a sparkly red dress that was soft to the touch, and her hair was down and falling softly over her shoulders. She’d cut a few inches off over break. She smiled at me, her blue eyes shining, and I couldn’t look away. This girl, this woman, constantly amazed me with her humor, intelligence, and kindness. She was everything I wanted to be…

  And more.

  I still couldn’t believe she was mine.

  “Huh?” I asked.

  “I said, do you want the stuffing?” she said slowly.

  “No, thanks.” I rested my hand on her thigh and leaned in, whispering, “I can’t wait to sneak into your room later tonight to give you your present.”

  Even though we were together and clearly very happy, our parents had banded up and refused to let us share a room. Old-fashioned, maybe, but at least they were all accepting us together, and we were all eating together on Christmas Eve.

  “Is it you?” sh
e whispered back. “Because that’s all I asked for.”

  “Yes, and a little something else.”

  She frowned. “I told you not to buy me anything—”

  “I know, but you should know by now I don’t listen very well.”

  Rolling her eyes, she pouted. “It better not have cost you a lot of money.”

  “It didn’t.”

  I’d gotten her a rose gold necklace with my name on it, since she’d hinted how much she liked when guys bought their girls necklaces with their name on it. I wasn’t sure why she liked that so much, but if she wanted to wear my name around her neck, then so be it. I already wore hers on my heart for all to see.

  “Good.” She side-eyed me. “What is it?”

  That was my girl. She hated me spending money on her but couldn’t wait to find out what the surprise was. It was one of the million things I loved about her. “You’ll see.”

  She huffed and turned to my father, asking him something about a deal he was working on at work. As they spoke, I smiled and watched them, unable to believe I had managed to get so damn lucky. I wasn’t perfect. I wasn’t even close to perfect.

  Yet somehow, I managed to score a happy ending to my story, and I got the girl I’d always wanted by my side at the same time.

  I couldn’t help but feel that Joey was there beside me right now, smiling. He’d known what I was doing that night, that I had been trying to save him, and I’d been trying to let go of the guilt I’d carried for so long over his death. Taylor was helping me with it, but I was working on my own, too, to let go.

  Life was filled with choices, and I’d made a lot of them. Some good. Some bad. I had to live with those choices, and so did everyone else in this crazy thing we called life. We had to embrace those choices, those consequences, as our own, and do our best to hold on to the things we chose to hold on to.

  But as I looked at Taylor, with her hand over mine on her thigh as she talked to my father about business crap I didn’t give a flying fuck about, I knew, without a doubt, that the best choice I made in my life, the best decision…

  Was sitting right next to me.