by Lea Hart
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Having something like that on hand would give us a chance to doctor up a drink and send it to Ace.”
“We don’t need to poison him because he’s a cheater and a liar.”
Courtney shrugged. “We wouldn’t kill him, just make several hours of his life really miserable.” She lifted her phone out of her purse and fiddled with it.
“What are you doing?”
“Making myself a note to look it up when I get home, so we’re never in this position again.”
Ignoring her friend, she popped her head up and saw Ace and his date being seated toward the front of the restaurant. “We’re going to pass them when we leave; should I stop and say hello or just ignore him?”
“Oh, we’re stopping, no doubt about it. I want to take a picture of him and post it on that site for cheaters.”
“That is not a real thing.”
“It most certainly is. There’s Cheaterville and The Dirty and probably hundreds more. It’s a huge thing.”
“You’re not taking his picture and to be a cheater you have to be in a relationship. And we didn’t have one.”
“But he had one with the woman who’s pregnant which made you a party to his cheating.”
Lisa shook her head and groaned. “God, you’re right.” Laying her head on the table, she tapped it a couple of times. “I don’t want to look that woman in the eye; I’m mortified.”
“You have nothing to be embarrassed about because you didn’t know.”
“I guess, but it still feels horrible.”
“We need to stop by if only to watch Ace’s reaction when he sees your face.”
“I bet he won’t have one and can barely remember my name.”
“He sure as hell remembers your name; don’t fool yourself.”
“We hardly spent any time together, and I’m sure he has flings all over the world. I doubt I made more than a blip on his radar.”
“Then, why would he bother saying all those things if he didn’t mean to stay in contact?”
“Who knows? Men are funny creatures. I gave up trying to understand them long ago.”
“Amen, sister.”
Lisa wiped her hand on a napkin and then folded it. “At least I know why he didn’t call. Seeing him with his baby mama gives me closure, and that doesn’t always happen.”
“True.” Twisting up her hair, she smiled. “Let’s add a little revenge too.”
“He’s not worth the effort.” Lifting her drink, she drained it. “Let’s get this over with.”
Courtney stood and straightened her shoulders. “Come on, lady, let’s give him a visual of exactly what he’s missing.”
Lisa stood and nodded. “I wish I’d worn a cuter dress.”
Pulling the front of Lisa’s dress down, she nodded. “There you go, now it’s cuter, and your boobies look perfect.”
“You do realize he’s not going to care what I look like.”
“Maybe so, maybe not. Either way, you need to rock some confidence.”
Sighing, Lisa turned toward Ace and his woman and couldn’t wait until the whole thing was over.
Smoothing down her hair, Lisa took a deep breath and felt Courtney’s hand at her back as they stepped up to Ace’s table. She plastered a smile on her face and waved when Ace turned. “Hey there.”
“Lisa!”
“Just wanted to stop by and say hi before we headed out.” Seeing his shocked expression made her wonder why he bothered giving her his number. When he didn’t say anything, she turned to the beautiful brunette that was snugged up to his side. “Hi, I’m Lisa, and this is my friend Courtney.”
The woman put her hand out and grasped Lisa’s fingers. “Nice to meet you; I’m Victoria.”
Lisa watched her take Ace’s hand and lace their fingers together and prayed her smile didn’t falter. “Nice to meet you.”
“Now, where do you know my Ace from?” Victoria asked.
Hearing Courtney cough as she mumbled bitch made her laugh. Stifling it as best she could, she cleared her throat. “We met in Yemen.”
“How…interesting,” Victoria replied.
The waitress delivered their drinks and, as she stepped to the side, she noticed Ace tug his hand away from Victoria. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Courtney pull her phone out. “Don’t do it,” she whispered. Turning around, she gave the couple a smile and noticed Ace looked miserable. Which made her feel surprisingly good. Not a proud moment to be sure, but one she could certainly live with.
Victoria lifted her soda and made a fake sad face. “Wish I could have a margarita, but I’m pregnant, so it’s no alcohol for me.”
“Congratulations, you two must be very happy,” Courtney said loudly as she started to lift her phone.
Lisa pushed her friend’s hand down and shouted WTF, silently to herself.
“It’s not what you think,” Ace said quietly as he looked up and held Lisa’s gaze.
“Uuhh…”
“Well, this had been…interesting,” Courtney interrupted. “But we need to be going.”
“Take care,” Lisa called as Courtney took her hand and dragged her toward the front of the restaurant. Once they were out on the street, she let out a breath and shook her head. “What the hell?”
“Whatever is happening between the two of them is not making Ace happy. Victoria, on the other hand, is happier than a pig in slop.” Shoving her phone back in her bag, she frowned. “That’s a shit-show in the making, no matter how it plays out.” She looked inside the restaurant and shuddered. “We don’t even need to worry about revenge because it looks like Ace is dying.”
“I never would’ve pegged him as a cheater,” Lisa said quietly. He’s a lot of things, but a slimy son of a bitch didn’t seem to be one of them.”
“Guess it’s good nothing more happened between the two of you.”
“Seems so.” Feeling strangely sad, she walked arm in arm with her best friend and wondered who the man inside that restaurant was because he sure didn’t seem to have anything in common with the one she’d met in Yemen.
***
Ace ran his hand down his face and looked at Lisa standing on the sidewalk and felt his gut clench. The situation he found himself in was completely fucked up, and he couldn’t abide it hurting her in any way.
And now that he’d seen her face, he knew it was impossible.
Glancing over at the woman who’d given him more grief than any other human, including all the tangos he’d encountered over the years, he let out a slow breath. “What the hell was that all about?”
Victoria let out a frustrated sigh and flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Nothing, Ace.”
“Bullshit!”
Slapping her hand on the table, she let out a huff. “I didn’t like the way she was looking at you.”
“Too fucking bad, Victoria. We’re not together and haven’t been in months. And as far as the baby goes, I’m one out of three possible daddies. Until we have a definitive answer, don’t infer that I’m the one who’s responsible for your condition.”
“But…”
Holding up his hand, he shook his head. “Don’t.”
“I thought we were going to try and work things out, in case the baby is yours. We were good together and could be again.”
“I never said I was interested in trying again and you know that.” He took a sip of his beer and felt his stomach protest. “I told you that if I was the father, I’d take responsibility. That, however, does not include trying to have a relationship with you.” He set down his glass and untangled himself from her hold. “And you know as well as I do that we were never good. We fought more than we were civil and, as far as I’m concerned, that’s not a great relationship.”
“We had a lot of great angry sex, though.”
“You winding me up like a toy until I explode is not what I want. I know you crave the drama and shit, but I don’t.”
“Then
why did you always come back for more?”
“If I could answer that question definitively, then maybe I could get rid of all my self-recrimination. But, I can’t, and I’ll just have to live with it.”
“That’s mean, Ace.”
Sighing, he knew having a logical discussion with her was impossible and trying only resulted in a headache. “We are never going to be anything, and my best guess is that I’m not the father of your baby since I always used a condom. So why don’t you just tell me how you want this to play out until we get the paternity test.”
“Well, I thought you could go to some doctor’s appointments with me and, you know…help out with expenses.”
“Why don’t you give me the names of the other men who are candidates and I’ll get in touch with them? We can put a little fund together and my brother, Brian, who’s an accountant, can hold the money in an escrow account; that way you can submit your expenses and then get reimbursed. We’ll split everything four ways, and when the baby daddy is named, he can pay us back.”
“Ace, that’s so cold and businesslike.”
“Yeah and that’s how it’s going to be with me. I know how easy it would be for you to soak all three of us, and I’m not interested in playing that game. So, if you want anything from me, that’s how it’s going to play.”
“Screw you, Ace. You can’t treat me like that.”
Shrugging, he moved further away. “Send me the names of the other guys, and I’ll work something out with them.” He slid out of the booth and opened his wallet and threw some money down on the table. “Dinner is on me tonight.”
He strode out of the restaurant and headed toward his truck, knowing that getting Lisa to understand his current situation was going to be damn near impossible. Pulling his phone out, he texted Caid, letting him know he’d be at Danny’s in twenty minutes.
Friday the thirteenth had lived up to its reputation, and he needed some time with his buddies, so he could figure out his next move.
By the looks of it, he was going to need to pull a rabbit out of his hat to get Lisa even to take his call. And he couldn’t blame her, considering he may have a kid on the way with a woman who was hell on wheels.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Hold your horses; I’m coming,” Lisa called out as the person on the other side of her door knocked repeatedly. Looking through the peephole, she groaned. “Uuugh, go away.”
“Open the door, Lisa, and give me a chance to explain.”
“I know how babies are made, so no explanation is required.”
“Please, Lisa. I need to talk to you.”
“I need ice cream to be calorie free; we don’t always get what we want.”
“I’ll stand out here until you give me a chance to talk.”
Sighing, she slid the lock and opened the door. “How did you find out where I live?” She watched Ace raise an eyebrow and realized it was a silly question. The man probably had enough resources to find out what kind of cereal she bought every week, should he be so inclined.
“Can I come in?”
“Why?”
“Because I’d like to talk to you.”
“I tried you a couple of weeks ago, and you didn’t see fit to return my calls, so why bother now?”
“Can I explain?”
Rolling her hand, she motioned for him to go ahead. “Make it quick because I have plans.”
“This is not a short conversation; can I come in?”
“It can’t be that complicated, Ace. You have a girlfriend and a baby on the way.” Frowning, she crossed her arms. “I hate that you made me a party to cheating. I never would’ve asked you out, and you know…done the other things, had I known you were taken.”
“I’m not taken and wasn’t when we got together.” Stepping closer, he took her hand. “I’m not a cheater, Lisa. You have to know that.”
“Victoria sees it differently and, in these sorts of situations, the woman is usually right.”
“Not in this one. Can I take you out for breakfast or coffee or…anything so I can explain?”
Looking up at the cloudless sky, she shrugged. “I am curious.”
“Then let me fill you in on all the gory details.”
Sliding her hand away, she stepped back and motioned him in. “One cup of coffee and that’s it.”
“Thank you, honey.”
“Don’t call me that.” Stomping into her kitchen, she cursed her insatiable nosiness and knew she couldn’t completely close the book on Ace until she had all the facts. She slid a pod into the Keurig and glanced over her shoulder. “Have a seat.”
“Appreciate it.” He looked around and then pulled out a chair. “I like your place; it fits you.”
“Thanks, my grandmother owned the building, and she left it to my sister and me when she passed. There are three units and my best friend Courtney rents the third one from us.”
“That’s who was with you at the restaurant, right?”
“Yes.”
“Why was she trying to take my picture?”
“She wanted to post it on The Dirty or one of those sites that exposes cheaters.”
“I didn’t cheat, Lisa.”
Ignoring his statement, she handed him a cup, then made her own. “Congratulations on the baby; that’s exciting.” She saw his face fall and hands fist and figured he wasn’t seeing it as a blessing.
“I’m one of three possible baby daddies. I don’t think it’s me since we always used protection, but nothing is a hundred percent.”
“Well, that’s…”
“A nightmare?”
“Challenging.”
“I dated Victoria…”
“Stop right there, Ace.” She covered his hand and shook her head. “It’s not my business, and you don’t owe me anything. I just wanted to make sure that I didn’t get in the middle of what you two have going on together.”
“I have nothing going on with that woman. We dated on an off last year and fought more than we got along. We were never exclusive, and she never asked me to be.”
“That’s not the picture she alluded to yesterday. Clearly, she thought you two were a couple.”
“She also thinks the world is flat.”
“She does not.”
“Uh, yeah, she does.”
“That’s concerning, considering she’s about to become a mom.”
“Trust me; that’s the least of the kid’s worries.”
“Well…”
Ace moved his chair closer and took Lisa’s hand. “Everything I said in Yemen, I meant.”
“Why didn’t you return my calls then? You could’ve just told me what was going on instead of blowing me off.”
“I wanted to fix it before we talked and was trying to figure out a way to do that.”
“That’s dumb.”
“I see that now.” He lifted her hand to her mouth and kissed it. “Would you be willing to get to know me even though I’ve got this thing hanging over my head?”
“I don’t think so, Ace.”
He nodded and then looked up. “I get that, but I’m not going to give up, so even if you say no today, I’m going to keep asking.”
Laughing, she pulled her hand away. “Has that technique ever worked for you before?”
“Don’t know since I never tried it.”
He took her hand again. “I’ve never felt the way I do with you, and I’m not giving up because a woman who I was briefly involved with thinks I fathered her baby.”
“But what if you did, Ace? That changes everything for you two. Maybe it would be worth trying to see if you could make something work, in case you’re the one.”
“Because something like that always turns out well,” he replied sourly. Lifting his eyes, he gave her a half-smile. “I will take responsibility if I need to.” He sat back and ran his hand over his face. “I always saw myself having a family and a bunch of kids, but this isn’t the way I wanted it to happen.” Looking up, he frowned. “It’s going
to be shitty for everyone involved if I have to co-parent with Victoria.”
“When will you find out about paternity?”
“She doesn’t want to do an amnio, so the other candidates and I have to wait another twenty-six weeks.”
“That’ll be fun.”
She looked up at the wall clock and pulled her hand away and stood. “I’ve got to go.”
“Can I come with you, so we can talk more?”
“No, I’m meeting some friends down at Sunset Cliffs; we’re taking advantage of the swell and surfing.”
“I’ve surfed a couple of times; I could tag along.”
Laughing, she put her cup of coffee in the sink. “This is a local break, and they don’t treat outsiders well. It’s also for advanced surfers, and kooks are chased out pretty quick.”
“Okay, Gidget.” Standing, he crossed his arms. “You do realize what a SEAL is capable of in the water, don’t you?”
“Yeah, but none of that is going to help you when no one knows you.”
“You know me.”
“Do I really, though?”
Moving closer, he rested his hand on her shoulder. “I sure as hell want a chance to get to know one another. The little time we had together in Yemen has made me crave your company.” He leaned down and kissed her head. “Think about it.”
“All right, but don’t push, and give me some time.”
“Thanks, should I stop by tonight and take you to dinner?”
Groaning, she pushed him away and pointed to the door. “Go.”
“All right,” he said as he stepped backward. “I’ll check in tomorrow.”
“Don’t call me; I’ll call you,” she called out as she watched him walk toward the door. He blew her a kiss and then slipped outside. Falling into the kitchen chair, she covered her face and wondered what her next best move was going to be.
When no answer was shouted down from the heavens, she got up and decided to go surfing. A lot of answers had come to her out on the water, and she hoped today was no exception.
***
Ace walked into the gym at NAB and saw Caid and Jax lifting weights. Ambling over, he sat on a bench and waited until they were done with the set. “Anyone want to take a run on the beach?”