Love Amplified (Heavy Influence Book 3)

by Ann Marie Frohoff

  “So, tell me again how it all went down. Why do you think…what you think?” My voice went hoarse.

  Aly explained over again, in detail, how she came across Sienna and confirmed again that Sienna had no idea she was there.

  “So, she lives just a couple miles away from here?”

  “Yes.”

  I looked away from her. “What do you want me to do?”

  When I met her eyes, a sad troubled look wrinkled her face. She shrugged. “I don’t know, Jake.”

  I took in a deep breath, closing my eyes, holding it in, thinking, and said, “Neither do I. I mean, what? Corner her and ask, Hey, is he my son?”

  Aly nodded her head. “Yeah…basically.” There was annoyance in her voice. “I would never have said anything, Jake, if that little boy didn’t look like you. You have to know. I have to know.”

  The emphasis on her needing to know sent a shock wave through me. “Why do you have to know?”

  She stared at me, surprisingly emotionless, as she drifted closer to me. “Jake, we have to know. No matter what happens, we have to know. I couldn’t live with myself knowing that I came across this and never said anything to you.” She dipped beneath the water again, coming up, and ran her hand down her face.

  “What if she denies it?”

  “What if?” She echoed my words, her eyes searching mine, asking for the answer.

  My head spun, unable to grip onto a plan. “What does Nadine think?”

  “We haven’t talked anymore about it.” She said, with water lapping at her chin and into her mouth. She spit it out saying, “She’s planning her wedding and I’ve been focusing on that.”

  There wasn’t any bitterness in her tone. Aly was full of surprises. It’d been years since we interacted on a real level, without us being the subject, and while there was a bond like no other between us, time had brought a maturity and calmness to her that amazed me. It made me think of Grace. I had thought about asking Grace for her advice while I was on the plane, but changed my mind. Grace didn’t need to be brought into any of this. I was on my own. I’d been bracing myself for an emotional, chaotic reunion with Aly, not level headed tranquility and solitude. It made me wonder if she’d instructed everyone to leave us alone.

  “Where’d everyone go?”

  “Don’t know.” She shrugged and moved to float on her back, making angel wings. “I’m sure they know we have things to discuss.”

  I reached out, grabbing her big toe. It slipped away when she straightened up to look at me.

  “I don’t know what to do.” I admitted. “Whether Sienna admits it or not, I should probably have her do a paternity test, don’t you think?”

  “Yes. I thought of that.” She agreed, evenly.

  “I just wanna go knock on her door, you know.” Aggravation stirred in my gut. “Run right over the pink elephant.”

  “No matter what, you need to take a paternity test. Even if she says it is true.”

  I nodded. “Okay.” And then I truly wondered. “Aly you really haven’t thought any more about this?” I sounded almost whiny and it pissed me off.

  “Of course I have. I can’t stop thinking about it…”

  “But you said you didn’t talk with Nadine. Isn’t that what chicks do?”

  “Just because I haven’t hashed it out with Nadine doesn’t mean I haven’t been thinking about all the possibilities, Jake.”

  Her tone made me feel stupid. I looked over my shoulder, searching for a towel. I wanted to get out of the water, settle down somewhere, and make a plan. Sensing my desire, Aly got out. She wasn’t as tan as I remembered her to be. The last time I saw her in a bikini, which was years ago, she was as brown as a toasted almond. Her figure was as fit as ever, and she’d actually filled out a bit more in all the right places. She dropped a yellow and white striped towel into my extended hand and wrapped a matching one around herself.

  We lay next to each other on lounge chairs under a pair of matching yellow umbrellas. Everything matched - the yellow house, the yellow on the towels, and the yellow umbrellas. Small talk about London was awkwardly exchanged between us until the subject of our drive in, and what the guys knew about my latest dilemma. Aly filled me in on her visit to the Versace mansion and how the staff tried to cover up that Sienna lived there, which made the situation even more gripping. Sienna definitely didn’t want to be found.

  Even with the weight of a gnarly confrontation ahead that could potentially change my life forever, having Aly lying next to me, and my best friends in the house gave me a sense of calm. The afternoon sun dipped low in the sky and we discussed how I should go about confronting Sienna. Just as I was about to share a plan, Marty and Nadine joined us. Marty changed from khaki pants to khaki shorts and had replaced his long sleeve button up with a short sleeved white one with little yellow pineapples all over it.

  “Very fashionable, Marty. You match the décor.”

  “You think?” He smiled like it was a good thing, running his hands down his shirt. I chuckled. Good ol’ Marty. “This is a gift from my lady love.”

  He was clueless, but Nadine wasn’t. She leered at me.

  “It’s totally appropriate, Marty. Nadine’s on point.”

  “Wine, anyone?” Nadine chimed in, putting an end to my teasing and held up a bottle of white wine. Only two glasses dangled by the stems in her other hand. Marty already had one. She looked at me, saying, “Not you, of course.”

  “Of course.” I said, dryly. Nadine had no idea I sipped wine occasionally.

  Aly hopped up, looking amused. “Yeah, pour me a glass. I’ll be right back.”

  Nadine sat a glass on the small round table nestled between our lounge chairs and filled it half way. She gave me a quick glance, pursing her lips. She was mad at me.

  “It’s a cute shirt, Nadine.” I said, my attempt at a white flag.

  “You’re just jealous because you couldn’t pull it off.”

  “Pshh,” I wagged my finger at her. “Now, now. You know that’s not true. Marty!” I shouted and he turned around. “Let me try on your shirt.”

  He looked at Nadine. “It’s not going to fit you. It’s a medium.”

  “It’ll be fine. Hand it over.” I stood, tightening the towel around my waist. “I just wanna see how it looks.”

  Nadine shook her head, trying not to smile, saying something under her breath, and sat down where Aly had sat, and poured herself a glass of wine. Marty unbuttoned his island inspired shirt, saying, “I know you’re messin’ with me, Jake, I’m not stupid.” I smiled at him, waiting patiently, as he slipped it off his shoulders. He continued. “I know I may miss some of your mockery, but I really like this shirt and could give zero shits that you think it’s silly.”

  “Dude, it’s totally island appropriate. Calm down. I’m proving a point.”

  “What point is that, Jake?” Aly said smartly, catching me by surprise. She held a tall glass filled with clear bubbling liquid. Green leaves were muddled in it and an orange slice sat perched on the rim. She looked at me, bemused.

  “Um…that I, too, can pull off this Tommy Bahama special.” I buttoned it. “And see?”

  They all laughed at me. It was snug fitting. I’m sure I looked ridiculous.

  “Oh my gawd! I have to get a picture of this.” Nadine burst with laughter. “Marty give me your phone.” He handed it to her. “Get in there.”

  “I don’t have a shirt…”

  “Stop being a little girl.” I swung my arm around his shoulders, pulling him close. “Flex, Bro.” I laughed. “You got more muscles than I do. What’ve you been doin’?” I cracked. He actually had better abs than I did.

  “Wait!” Aly ran over, giggling, handing me the drink she held. “It’s non-alcoholic and minty. You’ll love it.”

  Aly’s thoughtfulness yanked at me. The moment was a time machine back to our youth. Her eyes glimmered in the sunlight and her smile was magical. The happiness I felt was surreal. I was about to tell her I loved h
er when Nadine’s voice snatched Aly’s attention.

  “Aly get in there, too.” She ordered. “Okay, be silly!”

  When Nadine was done taking pictures, Aly rushed over, snatching the phone from her hands. I returned Marty’s shirt. “Cute! Geez, Marty!” Aly squealed, looking over at him. “You don’t look like you, you closet gym rat! Stop hiding yourself!”

  Nadine admired the picture over Aly’s shoulder. “He needs a tan.”

  “Send me every one of those.”

  “Okay! I’m here! The party can officially begin!” Marshall’s voice rang out. Bobby trailed him with a beer in his hand. He wore a pair of black board shorts. The last time I saw him in shorts, he was in middle school.

  “Man, Bobby, you’re ghostly.”

  “Fuck you, too.”

  Bobby strolled over to the other side of the pool to smoke his cigs. Aly announced she was going to make dinner.

  Of course, I had to follow her in.

  14

  Jake

  Stepping into the house, I noticed there were no doors and I inspected the structure, finding that they slid into a pocket at the side of the house. Ingenious. I love this type of open-air feature. The kitchen was entirely white, except for the grey swirls in the marble counter and the stainless steel appliances. The kitchen flowed into a large family room, with sofas and chairs the color of burlap sacks, with sea blue pillows strewn atop, homey and comfortable looking. I took my first sip from the drink Aly made me. It was a fizzy zinger with a bite.

  “What is this?” I asked, taking the orange slice off the side of the glass, dropping it in.

  “Do you like it?” She glanced at me curiously, as she removed the contents for a salad from the stainless steel fridge.

  I wasn’t sure, so I took another sip concentrating on the taste. “I think so. I’ve never tasted anything like it.”

  “It’s ginger beer.”

  “Such a thing exists?” I remarked, truly fascinated, and took another sip. “Thanks. I could get used to it. It’s refreshing.”

  She smiled coyly as she moved about the kitchen. I finished off my drink and walked in, placing my glass in the sink, thinking about grabbing my bag and putting some clothes on, and wondering if I should drive by Sienna’s in an attempt to catch a glimpse. Aly backed into me, stepping on my foot.

  “Oops. I’m sorry.”

  I instinctually wrapped my arms around her in a bear hug, nuzzling her ear, saying in a playful growl, “Watch yourself.”

  “You watch yourself…sneaking around.” She countered and gave me an easy jab in the gut with her elbow. “I’ve got skills to fight off would-be attackers.”

  Her hands gripped my forearms. Her fingers were cool against my skin from rinsing the vegetables. Her voice was low, making me fall apart inside when she said, “I’m happy you’re here.”

  “I don’t wanna be anywhere else, Aly.” I whispered back.

  She moved to face me and I released my hold on her. “I’m sorry for making this thing a big deal, but I think it is. If that kid is yours, you need to know.”

  It looked as if the words were painful for her to say and it struck me to think for the millionth time that if I did have a child with Sienna, would it mean the end of Aly and me? The total nail-in-the-coffin. Aly’s track record for not putting up with my shit and living the life she wanted to live, led to me to believe taking care of a kid that wasn’t ours, wasn’t in her life portfolio.

  I was too afraid to ask.

  When I didn’t reply, she took the pressure off by saying, “We’ll just have to see.”

  I nodded. “Agreed.” I turned away, uneasy. “I’m gonna put something on. Where do you want me?”

  “There are only three bedrooms.” She looked at me, humorously. “My stuff’s in the blue room.”

  The blue room was essentially the kids’ room, with twin beds. I chuckled as I lifted my bag onto the quilted blue and white seashell printed bed cover. I bet she picked this room. It was a large room, with a sitting area off to the left and wall-mounted TV. The L-shaped blue canvas sofa and white wood coffee table made it look like a little studio apartment, minus the kitchen. The bathroom was to the right. The room’s three windows faced the ocean.

  I unzipped my bag and dug out a pair of black shorts and a t-shirt, tossing them on the bed, and made my way to the shower. My eyes roamed over the white tiled countertop, then down to the floor and floorboards, then to the tub and fixtures. Clean. Just how I like it. Everything looked new, from the towels to the shower grout. Yes, I scrutinized the grout. In my sobriety, I’d become somewhat obsessed with cleanliness. Aly had already arranged her bathroom items on the counter top.

  My eyes bee-lined to the shower, looking for her shampoo. Wondering if she still used a strawberry or citrus scent. There sat two small white bottles. I reached for the one marked Biolage Hydrating Shampoo. Popping open the lid, I sniffed it. It wasn’t the scent that I’d remembered and clung to all these years, randomly, or maybe not, making my way down the shampoo aisles of various drug stores, trying to hold on to the memory of her.

  I used Aly’s new shampoo. Maybe it wasn’t new to her, but it was new to me and I inhaled its scent deeply in an attempt to engrain it into my memory. It was a fresh mixture of something or other I couldn’t pinpoint. Drying off, I eyed all the little bottles and tiny containers placed just so on the countertop. I wrapped the blue towel, that matched the blue everything, around my waist. I combed my fingers through my damp hair and stared at myself in the mirror. I was pale. New goal: get a tan on this trip.

  When I walked back into the bedroom, the twin beds mocked me. Yeah. A scheming smile crept to my lips as I slipped on my clothes. I picked up my bag from the bed and dropped it on the nearby sofa, then stepped over to the nightstand that sat between the beds. I bent over it, looking to unplug the white porcelain lamp.

  I lauded my handy work. The twin beds were now pushed together. I looked over my shoulder, feeling as if Aly was watching me, but she wasn’t.

  She’s either gonna laugh or punch me. I thought as I walked down the stairs.

  “There he is!” Marshall sang, as he placed white plates on the kitchen table, seating for six. “Dinner will be ready in a few minutes. Bobby’s at the barbeque.”

  “What’s he cookin’?”

  “Grilling chicken and fish.”

  “Nice.” My stomach growled. I spotted Nadine on the patio, munching on something. Aly was standing next to Bobby at the barbeque, holding a plate. I joined Nadine.

  “Hey.” I said, as I approached her.

  Nadine looked surprised when I sat down on the bench next to her. I laughed. “What?”

  “Nothin’, why?”

  “What’s with the look?”

  “I didn’t realize I was giving you a look.” She stuffed a grape in her mouth. I did the same.

  “What do you think I should do?” I said, chewing, and grabbed another grape.

  Nadine eyed me warily, sighing. “I don’t know.”

  “Have you thought about what it may mean?”

  She nodded yes and it took me off guard. “Aly said you two didn’t talk about it.”

  “We didn’t.” She confirmed and peeked over her shoulder like she was brushing her cheek. “It’s staggering to think about, Jake.”

  “Did you see him, too?”

  “Yes, but to be honest, it all happened so fast. I didn’t think to look at the kid. Aly didn’t tell me about the mommy part until after Sienna left the store.”

  15

  Jake

  Nadine gave me hope.

  Aly gave me courage.

  Sienna’s street was serenely quiet. It was 10 AM. Aly drove past a lone jogger and an older woman with long, gray hair walking her brown wiener dog. Aly and I glanced at each other, completely on the same wavelength, wondering if those people would pick up on what we were doing.

  Totally irrational.

  “This, this is the address.” Nadine announced, po
inting between us from the backseat. “That’s the house.”

  “I’m so nervous.” Aly exhaled heavily, driving past it. “I’m gonna go around the block and park back there. I wanna face the house.”

  I was drowning in apprehension when we parked. I stared at the front gate from across the one-way street and palmed the door handle working up the courage to exit the car.

  Sienna’s place was right in the middle of Key West, in a quaint little neighborhood of tight knit cottages on a tree-lined street, with broken sidewalks upheaved by old powerful tree roots. Most of the homes on the street were hidden behind thick hedges and big leafy foliage.

  “What the hell are we doing? This is crazy.” Nadine moaned.

  “It was your idea.” My voice cracked.

  “Oh yeah.” She threw me a dubious look. “So, you’re sticking to what we talked about last night?”

  “I’m gonna tell her I know about her every move…” I reiterated the plan. “She’ll no doubt believe it because we found her.” I opened the car door. “Nadine, you just let me do all the talking.”

  She agreed, rapidly nodding. “It’s all you.”

  Nadine opened her door getting out.

  My heart pounded in my ears as I walked across the street like I’d just run a marathon. With shallow breaths, I whisper, “I hope I don’t pass out.”

  “You wanna go back? We don’t have to do this.” Nadine held onto my forearm slowing me down. I shook my head no. We stopped at the front gate.

  “I just wanna get this over with.” I said, determined.

  I opened the waist-high gate by the silver knob and we stepped through into a fairly large yard. A paved path to the front door cut straight through the middle of thick green grass. Flowerbeds boarded the perimeter. Children’s toys were strewn about the lush lawn and a little red wagon sat at the foot of the steps leading to the front door. Seeing the toys made me think of Ethan. I adored that kid.