Crossing The Line (A Taboo Love series Book 3)

by M. D. Saperstein

  Nick takes a sip of his beer and I see Delilah looking at Charlie, then cocking her head. “Are you allowed to be lying on your back?” she asks Charlie.

  “I’m not technically lying on my back. But, yeah, at some point my doctor told me to sleep on my side,” she answers. I can see on Charlie’s face that her wheels are turning, but she doesn’t say anything else.

  “The time frame seems to be different considering which source you are reading,” Delilah retorts, and we are all now looking at her, wondering what’s going on.

  But we are all clueless, except for Charlie, who knows Delilah so well they might as well share a brain. We are all caught off guard when Charlie suddenly bounces off the couch, stands up and points at Delilah. “Tell me now, sister!” she shouts.

  All of us men look at each other as if we are watching a foreign film with no subtitles. “What the hell is going on?” Calvin barks.

  Charlie is still looking at Delilah, but addresses the rest of us morons. “Would you like to tell everyone, or should I?” she asks mischievously.

  Nick lets out a laugh then takes a sip of beer. “She’s got your number, Doll. Might as well share.”

  Delilah leans in and gives Nick a kiss then turns to us. “You may or may not have to push your wedding reception back a few more months…”

  “I knew it!” Charlie yells then runs – okay, maybe waddles - over to Delilah and tackles – okay, maybe falls on top of – Nick and Delilah then starts kissing her all over her face.

  She then leans back and smacks Delilah on the arm. “When were you going to tell me, bitch? How far along are you? When did you find out? Are you drinking a screwdriver?” she starts rapidly firing questions as she attempts to push herself up, but she is unable to, so Calvin and I leap out of our seats to help her up and back to her place on the sofa.

  Meanwhile, I hear Chance snickering in the background. His first experience with my friends, and boy did we give him a show. Then again, anything’s better than my family; that’s one place I will never take him. Doesn’t matter anyway because after this week, I will be nice and civil, but we will not be hanging out socially anymore.

  Once everyone settles back down, Delilah fills us in on all of the details. Apparently, she will be twelve weeks next week, ending her first trimester. She is also, by the way, just drinking orange juice. We all just assumed it was a screwdriver. I guess it kind of is, minus the vodka.

  “Do you know the sex?” Chance asks.

  “No, you can’t find that out until about twenty weeks,” Delilah answers.

  “Oh, okay. Charlie, do you know the sex of your baby?”

  “Babies,” Calvin answers for her.

  “Well, shit. I had no idea. Congrats, man. You, too, Charlie. I did think she was kinda big, but...damn.” Chance shakes his head. “You’re gonna have your hands full,” he adds.

  “Tell me about it,” Calvin agrees. “But my boys will keep me in shape. Calvin IV and Calvin V,” he announces while rubbing Charlie’s huge belly.

  “Like George?” Chance asks out of the blue.

  Nick raises his beer in cheers. “Yeah, man,” he agrees with Chance even though nobody else has a clue what he is talking about. I am starting to feel like every conversation is in code and I don’t have the key to crack it. I mean, I know I am drinking, but I am not stupid drunk.

  “Huh? What are you two talking about?” Delilah asks in confusion, pretty much for all of us.

  “George Foreman,” Chance explains. Well not really.

  Calvin lets out a laugh, apparently now “in” on the joke. “Yeah, like George,” he adds.

  Charlie starts getting frustrated. “Will someone please explain to the rest of us what you guys are talking about before I start throwing shit? Don’t make me take my shoes off!” she roars, yet unable to hide her smile.

  “Calm down, baby. Watch your blood pressure,” Calvin soothes. “George Foreman has five sons named George and a daughter named Georgetta.”

  “Hell to the no!” Delilah and Charlie both shout at the same time.

  I try to steer the conversation back to Chance’s original question. “You’re having boys?” I ask incredulously, since nobody bothered to tell me this interesting piece of information.

  “Uh, no, no, and no!” Charlie interjects. She answers my first question by letting everyone know that they don’t know the sex of the babies, they want it to be a surprise. Then she tells Calvin that in no way or fashion will all of her children be named Calvin.

  They get into a somewhat heated discussion that none of us can really hear. Then Charlie climbs on to Calvin’s lap, straddling him. They keep on arguing, and even though I can only minimally make out what is being said, I can’t stop watching. Like a goddamned train wreck. Look away. Look away. You don’t want to see what happens next.

  I hear Charlie saying something about a watermelon coming out of a penis when all of the sudden Calvin grabs Charlie’s face, trying to get her attention, looking serious and directly in her eyes.

  “Pinky, baby, did you just pee on me?” Calvin asks, dead serious.

  That got all of our attention.

  “What the fuck are you talking about? Why would I pee on you?” she balks.

  Charlie stands up and looks down at Calvin’s lap and it is soaked. So is the sofa… and the hardwood at his feet.

  “Oh my god!” she screams. “My water just broke!”

  Like a movie in slow motion, mass hysteria breaks out. Everyone is on their feet yelling over each other. Nobody making sense. Half of us silly drunk. From somewhere I hear a whistle. You know that kind of whistle that gets everyone’s attention. Then there is silence, everyone turning to face Chance.

  Chance

  I guess it doesn’t matter how educated you are or how much money you have – panic is panic. And when you are emotionally vested, it’s hard to see through the fog. But after serving so many years, not too much phases me. I try to get everyone’s attention, but they can’t hear me over the chatter, so I stick my middle fingers in my mouth and whistle as loudly as possible. That got their attention.

  “Charlie, do you have a bag packed?” I ask calmly.

  “Yes,” she whispers.

  “Okay, Parker, go get her bag and drop it at the front door. Then grab a few towels to dry the floor so the wood doesn’t warp. Delilah, I need you to take Charlie and get her cleaned up. Calvin, go change your pants, then call the doctor and hospital to let them know that we are on our way.”

  “What do you need me to do?” Nick asks.

  Charlie shouts on her way to the bathroom, “Call my parents! You have Bron’s number, right?”

  “Got it!” Nick shouts back to her.

  I continue to dole out orders. “Nick, after you call her parents, your job is to keep Calvin calm.”

  We all hear Charlie moaning from the bathroom and assume she is having a contraction. I look at my watch, do some math in my head, and instruct. “I want everyone at the front door within five minutes. Delilah and I are the only sober ones here. Let’s put Charlie in the Range Rover since it is roomy and I will drive her and Calvin. They can give me directions. Delilah, why don’t you take Parker and Nick in Parker’s Beemer; there’s plenty of room in it for the three of you.”

  Everyone nods in agreement and in less than five minutes, all six of us are on our way to meet the babies.

  Parker

  I am staring at two of the most beautiful girls that I have ever seen in my life. Caroline and Cate King were born an hour ago. We made it to the hospital just in time to deliver. Charlie had to push for less than an hour and all without drugs. She is one strong woman, but we already knew that. Mom and the babies are happy and healthy and it’s all because of Chance. That asshole. I can’t even say anything bad about him right now and that makes me hate him even more. With these beauties staring back at me, the world is a perfect place. Man, but when he was barking out those orders, I was finding it kinda…sexy? Fuck, no! This is not t
he time or place to think about that shit right now.

  Chapter Five

  Parker

  It’s been years since I’ve seen the inside of a church. Decades even. Except for my dickhead brother’s wedding. But that doesn’t count because I arrived last minute, did my brotherly duty of standing next to him, then escaped as soon as everyone was occupied to get back to the movie set I was working on. Thank fuck for that excuse. After enduring a childhood filled with being dragged to Sunday mass, forced to attend religious school, fighting the fate of an altar boy, receiving communion, making confirmation, and being endlessly tortured by the droning keyboard chords of tone-deaf Agnes O’Leary, I never thought that I would willingly and joyfully cross the threshold of one again. Especially not voluntarily.

  I’m sitting in the last row of the most beautiful Catholic church in New York City – St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It’s huge and grand and absolutely breathtaking. As I look around at the room full of churchgoers, I wonder how my life would have been had I never went to law school. Had I never met Nick and Calvin. Had I never become the most important man in a little girl’s life. Had I not been named her godfather. A shiver runs up my spine and a sneaky tear escapes an eye. I couldn’t ask for more special people in my life. My friends have become my family, and I couldn’t have chosen a better crew. My heart is full and I couldn’t ask for anything else.

  Just then, I spot Nick and Delilah and Calvin and Charlie sitting toward the front of the room. I see Nick lean over and whisper in Delilah’s ear and she blushes then smacks him on the arm. I can only imagine the dirty shit he is saying to her and that makes me chuckle. Then it makes me a little sad that I am sitting here in a room full of people. Alone. All by myself. With nobody to whisper in my ear. Okay, so maybe there is one thing I am missing in my life - the love of a good woman.

  I’m brought back to the sermon as I hear people mumbling, “Amen.” I continue to listen to the priest ramble on for another ten minutes, proud of myself for perfectly timing my arrival to coincide with the end. Lost in my thoughts once again, I am startled when I feel my cell vibrate. I thought I turned that thing off.

  Chance: You can’t pray away the gay

  Parker: What the hell are you talking about?

  Chance: Are you listening to this douche? Interpreting Leviticus 18 & 20 to fit his cause

  I look around to see if I can find him. Is he here? What is he doing here? My phone buzzes again.

  Chance: Yes, I’m here. Yes, I can see you

  Parker: What are you doing here?

  Chance: What are you doing here? Finding more reasons to avoid me?

  Parker: Fuck you, Steele

  Chance: Aw, come on, Hamilton. That’s not very Christian of you

  I don’t have the chance to answer because people start getting up, shaking hands, and hugging each other. And honestly, I just don’t have a witty comeback, so I pocket my phone. My good manners dictate that I stand up and follow along. My mind is spinning. Where is he and why is here? I see my friends approach the priest while the other churchgoers begin to file out. With my head down, trying to keep incognito, I make my way to the front so that I can get my instructions. Just as I am about to reach them, my arm is grabbed and I spin around to see him. Fucking asshole. Bane of my existence. And now he’s in a god damned, motherfucking, personally tailored, form fitting Armani two-button suit from Barney’s of New York. And he looks… he looks… fucking delicious! Cocksucker.

  “What are you doing here?” I ask accusingly.

  “I was invited,” he answers calmly, but smirks at me and I want to kiss that shit right off his face. “What are you doing here?” He is egging me on and he knows it.

  “Are you fucking kidding me? These are my friends. I am Cate’s godfather.”

  “Who invited you?” I ask harshly.

  “Charlie.” He shrugs.

  I am going to kill that sneaky little witch. I walk away shaking my head and refocus myself on why I am here. Cate and Caroline’s Christening. That’s what is important, and I’m not going to let this pain in the ass ruin it for me. I am going to be a godfather. I smile to myself as I approach my friends.

  “What’s with the goofy-ass smile?” Calvin asks.

  “I’m going to become a godfather today,” I answer, giddy like a schoolgirl.

  “I see your friend came to show some support.”

  “Whatever, my man. I don’t know why the hell he is here.”

  “Charlie invited him, and I completely condoned it. Oh, and he’s welcome at the club anytime.”

  “Why would you go and do some stupid shit like that? She’s got you pussy whipped already.” I duck then chuckle knowing that both Charlie and Delilah have my boys strung out. And who could blame them, really? I just wanted to make sure he didn’t punch me in the face for saying it out loud.

  “Happy wife, happy life,” is all he answers in return then lets out a laugh, too.

  Calvin slaps me on the back and squeezes my shoulder. “Just wait until you find your perfect woman. Don’t think she won’t cast a spell on your dick. We are all looking forward to that day.”

  Of course that would be the exact moment that Chance walks up to shake Calvin’s hand and thanks him for the invite. Doesn’t this prick have anything better to do than to be up my ass. Shit! I didn’t mean that. God damn it, he always gets into my head. And now I’m taking the Lord’s name in vain. While in church. Fuck me, I’m going to hell.

  Chance

  Damn, he’s gorgeous. Parker is up on the altar with his friends and I can’t keep my eyes off him. After I shook Calvin’s hand, which I purposefully did first because I just wanted to be close to him, I next went to Charlie to congratulate her. She then took me around to meet everybody and told each and every one of them the story of how I saved her delivery day. I’m not used to being shown so much warmth and affection from others – except maybe from star struck fans, but that’s not real, they don’t know me. It made me a little uncomfortable if I’m honest about it. I didn’t do anything special. I’m no hero.

  I met her parents and brother. Wasn’t that a little surprise I wasn’t expecting? Nick’s father and Delilah’s father arrived together. Nick’s receptionist, Carmella, who everyone is supposedly close to, is here. Calvin’s parents, sister, and grandfather are here, too. I felt a weird vibe from his sister toward Charlie, but the cool chick that she is, just blew her off. And Charlie’s boss, who is Parker’s agent, Eddie, is here. The only people I didn’t see were Parker’s family. I know he has parents and a brother that live close to here so I am curious as to why they are not here to watch their son become a godfather. Even I can tell how excited he is about it.

  Parker is now facing the Priest, his back is to me and my eyes are glued to his ass. That firm, delectable, bitable, fuckable ass. No, I don’t care that I’m having impure homosexual thoughts in a church. Don’t judge. Nick and Delilah are standing all the way to the left, holding Caroline, as they are her godparents. Charlie and Calvin are in the middle with the priest beside the pulpit, which has the holy water sitting on it. And Parker is standing all the way to the right, holding Cate, his goddaughter. He is concentrating very hard on every word the Priest says, trying to soak in every bit of knowledge he is offering. I’ve gained a new level of respect for him, and an odd sense of pride warms my heart. Enough of that shit. I let him get off – get your mind out of the gutter - too easy earlier. Times to spice things up. I shoot him a test text to see if his phone is on. If he checks it, there is no way he won’t be tempted to answer this.

  Chance: Hey, Parky!

  Success! Not only does he take the bait, but he responds….while holding the baby!

  Parker: Fuck off

  I laugh a little too loudly and Calvin’s sister turns around and sends me an evil eye. What crawled up her butt? She needs to get laid.

  Chance: Parkaroonie?

  Parker: Come on man. Can’t you just call me Parker, like a grown up?

 
Chance: Just Parker?

  Parker: Exactly. Now stop

  Chance: What? You’re a worldwide celebrity. Too good for two names?

  Oh, this is too much fun to quit now!

  Parker: Sounds about right.

  Chance: So, just Parker.

  Parker: You’re catching on, slick.

  Chance: Kinda like just Madonna? Or just Cher?

  Parker: On the right track. Maybe something a little less gay.

  Chance: Like just Elton?

  Parker: I said less gay, dickhead

  Chance: You weren’t asking for less gay while I had my tongue down your throat

  Radio silence. And with that, I slid my phone back into my pocket and enjoyed the rest of my day with my new friends, er, Parker’s friends.

  Chapter Six

  Parker

  I am exhausted. Not the ‘I stayed up late getting laid exhausted.’ Or the ‘I was at a Hollywood premier with A List celebrities exhausted.’ We’re talking the ‘I work all day and then stay up to feed two screaming babies all night exhausted.’ I don’t care what anybody says - being a parent is the most thankless, stressful, grueling, yet rewarding, pleasure filling job. These girls fill my heart and suck the life out of me at the same time. It is the best worst thing I have ever experienced.

  It’s been a little over a month since the Christening, and I have been going over to their house after work three to four times a week, trying to help Charlie and give her a break and time to rest. Calvin works nights and even though he has been trying to get home earlier than his usual, I don’t want them to be alone. Plus, I have to live up to my godfatherly duties. I don’t take that shit lightly. Fuck, maybe I should stop swearing so much. Crap! I did it again.

  Delilah and I finally convinced them to hire a night nanny to help them so that they can get some sleep. You may know her, actually. Her name is Carmella. She works at Nick’s firm, and was friends with Delilah’s mother. When Delilah found out that she was pregnant, they asked her if she would like to be their full time nanny and she was so flattered. She took the job, but in the meantime, she is going to help with the twins. I will still go over to see my girls, but it definitely frees up my nights. I need a woman.