“But nothing happened. No matter how bad it looked she should have listened to me and trusted me. I’ve told her a million times, Chris has told her, hell even my dad has explained to her before that the you and I are just friends.”
“You’re right, but you’ve been moping around here for six days. You obviously miss her.”
“Yeah, it fucking sucks.” I could see the pain in his eyes that he had been burying all week. If he wasn’t willing to do something about it I was going to have to. I couldn’t let him stay miserable.
“So, you never did tell me how you worked up the nerve to ask her out in the first place.” He hesitated a minute before going into the story.
“Not long after you left, Chris started seeing this chick who worked at a coffee shop. I was with him one time when he wanted to drop by on her lunch break. Of course he ditched me to go make out with her in the back office. Lissa was working there as well. We talked for a minute while I waited for Chris and I found out that she’d broken up with that tool Justin right after graduation. When Chris came back and we were ready to leave I said goodbye and almost walked out. At the last minute I turned around and asked her to have dinner with me that night. She said yes, and after that I went back almost every day until I convinced her to say yes to being my girlfriend as well.” When he talked about her his whole expression was lighter and softer than I had seen it all week, and I was even more determined to help make things right. Bas deserved to be happy and she was the one who made him that way.
After Izzy’s nap we took her to the park just down the road from my house. She made us go down the slide with her at least fifty times and she giggled so hard when Bas pushed her in the kiddie swing. She would let out the cutest little squeal when he would pull her all the way back and then run underneath, releasing her way up high. “Again, do again.” She would cry out. When Bas’ arms were finally wore out, she looked at me. “You go now Auntie Jaxy.”
When it was time to leave she tried to run away from us but it was really more of a quick waddle. Bas pretended to chase her around the playground and her laughter sounded the entire time. When he snatched her up we had to promise to bring her back the next day to keep her agreeable. Bribing her with setting up the pool and sprinkler also might have had something to do it. She splashed and ran and giggled until the sun was going down and we had to drag her in the house for dinner.
When it was bedtime she was so excited to find out she would be staying the night in my old room. We didn’t have any trouble getting her to go to sleep. She couldn’t wait to climb up and sleep in the princess bed. When she was all snuggled in the blankets, I grabbed a book off the shelf and sat down on the edge of the bed beside her. It was my favorite fairytale of all time, and I began, “Once upon a time, in a very far-off country, there lived a merchant …” By the time I finished the classic tale of Beauty and The Beast she was sound asleep. I remembered begging my mom to read that one to me at least once a week until we both knew it almost by heart.
Looking down at the peaceful little angel in my bed and thinking about all the times my mom probably sat here and watched me after I had fallen asleep caused a swell of emotion to rise up in me. I brushed Izzy’s hair back and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“Sweet dreams little princess.” I whispered. Bas was leaning against the doorframe watching me when I got up to turn out the light.
“I remember having to listen to that story at least a million times. Every time I stayed the night I would ask your mom for stories with knights or dragons and sword fights, but all you wanted to hear about were the princesses.” I chuckled thinking about the nights that we would argue about what story we wanted to hear.
“Do you remember her story, Jaxyn the Beautiful and Sebastian the Brave?” I asked as we moved back downstairs. It was his turn to chuckle softly. We sat on the couch and recalled the tale my mom had made up about the first day Bas and I became friends, of course instead of a pink bike with a flat tire there was a noble steed with an injured foot and just to make Bas happy my mom had included a fierce dragon that Sir Sebastian had to fight in order to rescue Princess Jaxyn. Bas had been so proud of his fairytale self that when Halloween came around he insisted that he dress up as a knight and had to be the fair maiden for him to rescue.
After that, every year he planned our costumes right up until our senior year when we both dressed as hobbits. Wasn’t the most flattering costume on me, but we had a good time. The year before I had been able to convince him to go as Dean Winchester and I dressed up as an evil spirit. He would never actually admit that he was just as addicted to that show as I was.
“You know we would make awesome parents together.” What?
“Where did that come from Bas?”
“I was just thinking how easy it is with us. You joked that Lissa was the only one who would put up with my shit, but you’ve always put up with me. We get along perfectly and we’d never grow apart. We’d have a happy life together.” I was speechless for a minute. I knew Bas was only saying these things because he was still missing Lissa so much. He didn’t really want to be with me, I just needed to remind him of that.
“You’re probably right. We would be happy together. Spending the rest of my life with my best friend doesn’t sound terrible at all. We could have a really comfortable life together, but you and I both know that’s not what either one of us really wants. Besides we’d have to have sex to have kids.” He got a horrified look on his face.
“Maybe we could just adopt or you could get artificially inseminated with my sperm or whatever.”
“Okay, stop. I don’t ever want to hear you talk about your sperm again.”
“You’re the one who brought up the two of us having sex, that’s so much worse. I’m gonna have nightmares now with that image in my head.”
“That’s exactly the point I was trying to make. We shouldn’t marry someone who repulses us sexually.”
“Hey now, repulse is a strong word. I think I’m offended.” His brow furrowed. “I’m an incredibly attractive specimen and you would be lucky to be married to such a stud.”
“Yes you are, and yes I would, but come on, we’re not meant for each other. Neither one of us should have to settle for ‘safe and comfortable.’ I want mad, passionate honest to God real love. I want to feel a touch that ignites a fire in every part of me and be kissed like there’s no one else in the whole word. I want to experience crazy, intense make up sessions after every argument and fight. It should be terrifying, challenging and extraordinary; the feel it in the depths of your soul kind of love.
“The kind that even after fifty years you look at that person, with all of their flaws and imperfections and still think they’re the most beautiful, wonderful person in the whole world and you know without a doubt that God put them on the earth just for you. You look back on all the years, some filled with struggles and overcoming obstacles and some with the happiest most fulfilling moments of your entire life and you’re so thankful that you took the risk, that you gave your whole heart to someone even though they could’ve crushed it. That’s not you and me.” He was quiet for a moment but then sighed.
“I hate when you’re right, but you really have to stop reading those romance novels.”
“Never and you’ll thank me after that fifty years when it’s not my beautiful face you’re waking up next to.” I assured him.
“As long as you’re still there in fifty years, I’ll be good. No matter who we end up with and even though you don’t want to birth my children, you and me are still forever.” He said playfully and wrapped his arm around my shoulder, tugging me into his chest and squeezing me tightly.
“Wouldn’t want it any other way. You’re stuck with me for life.” I threw my weight onto him and pushed him over until I was laid out over him squishing him into the cushions.
“Good.” He said right before flipping over and reversing our positions and pinning me down. A devious smile lifted his face and I knew what wa
s coming. “Our children would have been fucking beautiful.” He exclaimed right before initiating a tickle war that was very one sided considering he had about fifty pounds on me and wasn’t even ticklish.
My face was beet red and my eyes were watering when he finally ceased his attack. We curled up on the sofa and flipped on the Tv, then proceeded to watch three hours of Buffy reruns before going up to bed.
Chapter 12
The next morning I was wiping oatmeal off Izzy‘s face and hands when Bas’ phone rang.
“Hey Mom.” I could tell Bas wasn’t especially thrilled about talking to his mom. He’d never been as close to her as he was to his dad. She wasn’t a bad mom, but she was generally more concerned with the goings on at her country club and her social calendar than the lives of her sons. She thought their affection could be bought with gifts, but didn’t have a lot of time for them. Now that they were adults, their lives stayed pretty separate unless she needed them to make an appearance at an event. Bas’ stepdad was the CEO for some giant conglomerate and close friends with the governor so they were heavily involved in politics. Often Bas had to be the dutiful son and attend some function or other even though he hated going.
When my mom and I first moved in here Bas and Chris would stay at their mom’s any time their dad had to work, but after we became close and our parents got to know one another, their dad allowed them to stay with us. They both said it was more fun at our house because their mom and step dad didn’t make much time for them and they didn’t get along very well with their stepsister or their half-brother.
When my mom passed away Bas and his dad wanted to take me in, but as a single parent who regularly had to work over night, he wasn’t allowed take me on his own and Bas’ mom didn’t want to be responsible for anyone else’s kid. Bas’ relationship with his mom became even more strained after that. I didn’t blame her, but he did.
I could tell from the side of the conversation that I could hear, Maureen was requesting Bas’ presence at a luncheon today. Bas tried to talk his way out of attending, but she was persistent and eventually he caved under her relentless harping.
“Mommy dearest need you to show your handsome face at lunch for the governor?”
“Close, senator Kellen. She insists that she told me about it weeks ago, but I know for a fact that she didn’t. I hate when she springs this crap on me last minute; I don’t have enough time to think of a good excuse to get out of it.”
“That’s probably why she does it.”
“Yeah. Probably.”
“I’m guessing Vi will be there as well?” I asked, knowing her parents ran in the same social circles.
“Yeah, I would imagine her parents are making her attend. My Dad is still at his conference so I’ll call Chris and see if any of the guys are around today. I’m sure one of them wouldn’t mind hanging out with you girls.” Under other circumstances I would argue that I could manage a couple hours on my own, but I wasn’t willing to take any chances with Izzy.
I took her into the bathroom to get her dressed for the day while Bas made the call. He came in a few minutes later to say that Chris had talked to the guys and they agreed that one of them would be here before Bas had to leave.
“Did he say who it was going to be?” I couldn’t decide whether I was hoping it would or wouldn’t be Kyden.
“Nah, he said they still had to figure it out, but one of them would be able to.” As usual Bas saw right through me and rolled his eyes. “I doubt it will be Kyden.” I didn’t ask why and he didn’t elaborate, but I should have felt relieved. So why didn’t I? Bas watched me intently and I tried to hide my thoughts. I was unsuccessful.
“You want it to be Kyden?”
“No.” I said adamantly. “Maybe. Crap, I don’t know.”
“I know I’ve said this already, but please be careful.” I was trying. It wasn’t like I wanted this and yet three hours later when I opened the door to find Chris and Kyden standing on my front porch, the rush of excitement I felt couldn’t be denied.
“You’re staying here with her?” Bas asked, surprised, when we walked into living room where he was building a giant tower for Izzy to knock over. Kyden just nodded, and Bas got a confused look. “You’re not going to the luncheon?”
“No.” I didn’t understand why Bas had asked him if he would be going with them. Bas’ parents didn’t usually like them to bring friends, and I doubted they would consider the lead singer of Chris’ band appropriate company for their sons to be keeping.
“Bas, we better take off or we’ll be late and Mom will have a conniption.”
After they left, Kyden lowered himself to the floor and leaned back against the couch. Iz immediately forgot about the blocks she had been playing with and launched herself at him. Apparently there was no age limit on his appeal to the female population.
“So why did Bas ask you if you were going to the luncheon?” For a minute I thought he was going to ignore me when he continued to play with Izzy instead of acknowledging my question, but he finally looked up and met my gaze.
“Because it’s a lunch for senator Kellen’s campaign and my father is Stefan McCabe.” I’m sure the shock I experienced was apparent on my face. I had gathered that he came from money, but a Senator’s son? Even with the last name I wouldn’t have put that together. Crap, I was even more out of my league than I thought. What would he think if I told him my father’s name?
It was one thing for Bas and Vi to be friends with me even though they had parents among Boston’s elite, but there was no way the son of senator would want anything to do with me knowing who I really was and what I came from. If I just came clean it would probably put a stop to the flirting and solve my problems there, but the more I considered it, the less I wanted that.
“I can see your brain churning. Don’t make a big deal out of it. Now you know who my parents are, but it doesn’t change anything.” If only that were true.
“Won’t they be upset that you aren’t there?”
“They learned a long time ago that they can’t control me. I was only going to hang out with Sebastian and Chris, but I’d much rather be here. I’ll take a beautiful girl over stuffy, superficial politicians any day.” My cheeks turned pink before he smirked and lifted Izzy up in the air above his head. “And this right here is the most beautiful girl I’ve ever met.” Of course he meant Izzy, I never thought he meant …
“And you’re not too bad either.” He winked at me while Izzy started laughing and squirming in his arms.
“Park park. We go park now with Ky Ky.” Izzy squealed excitedly.
“Not yet sweetie. We have to have lunch first and then nap time, but we’ll go to the park later. I promise.” I stole her out of his hands and ran toward the kitchen making racecar noises as we sped through the house. She giggled and joined in with her own cute little car noises. “Bwoom bwoom.”
After our gourmet meal of macaroni and cheese and bananas with peanut butter, a personal favorite of mine, it was time for Izzy’s nap. The little play tent was set up with blankets so she could nap in there. She started to throw a little bit of a fit, but when Kyden offered to sing for her she climbed in pulling him in after her, by his fingers. He didn’t fit all the way in and his legs hung out the door.
“Auntie Jaxy come.”
“I don’t think I’ll fit Iz.”
“Auntie!” She pleaded and I couldn’t resist. I got down on my hand and knees and poked my head in the entrance. Kyden shifted to the side as much as he could and then tugged me inside. I landed in a heap on Izzy’s other side. It was a tight fit and she was sandwiched between the two of us. Our legs were overlapping outside the tent.
“Sing me, sing me Ky Ky.” I wondered what he had in his repertoire that would be appropriate for a child.
“I can show you the world.”
I was in awe when his low voice came in soft and sweet singing the first verse of “A Whole New World.” Izzy and I were both ensnared by the enchanting sound
and magical lyrics. God had truly gifted him with the ability to touch people with his voice. Hearing that particular song, written to melt the hearts of every girl in the world, coming out of those lips, dissolved the last of my resistance. I could no longer deny that I had a full blown crush on this complex guy.
This realization was followed by the sinking feeling that there was only one way it could end for me, and that was painfully. No matter how sweet he could be, he was a heartbreaker down to the core and my heart was in line to be the next casualty.
With every perfect note he sang, my heart fell further. I tried to ignore the feeling and ran my hand through Izzy’s hair, gently caressing her head as sleepiness overtook her and her eyes drifted shut. So soft, that it was almost a whisper, he hummed out the final words. Izzy was fast asleep.
“So, you watch a lot of Disney movies, or did you just learn that one so you could seduce girls?” I whispered. The only answer he gave was his signature smirk.
“I will admit I never thought I’d be using it for this.”
As carefully and quietly as we could, we both tried to extricate ourselves from the tiny structure without disturbing Izzy. Trying to wiggle out backwards, we ended up a tangled mess of limbs. When I was almost clear of the tent, I tried to lift myself into a crouch so I could crawl the rest of the way out, but Kyden had the same idea and I ended up tripping over the lip of the tent door and taking us both down.
I found myself in a very familiar situation, only this time I was on top, with Kyden pinned beneath my weight, my chest flattened on top of his and my eyes staring directly at his lips, mere inches away. His hands were resting gently on the strip of exposed skin just above my hips. I became aware of a heat radiating from his touch, spreading it’s warmth through my body.
“You have to stop trying to jump me Princess. You need to at least buy me dinner before I let you have your way with me.” My eyes widened and once again my cheeks returned to the bright pink color that was becoming their natural state in his presence. I muttered an apology and quickly tried to lift myself off of him. Instead of letting me go, he tightened his grip on my waist and rolled us so that I was on my back and he was on his side leaning over me with his one arm laying across my stomach, his fingers still heating my flesh.
Finding Ever After Page 14