by Piper Rayne
She busies herself with cutting the pie and getting some ice cream out of the freezer. A woman after my own heart.
“I like to make one of Henry’s favorites at least once a week. After Trevor and Katie’s accident, I like to see him smile.”
She turns around with a sad smile on her face and points to the fridge where a much younger Henry is wedged between the smiling faces of a man and a woman. He’s the spitting image of his dad.
“I’m sorry,” I say, and Reed slides a chair out for me.
“Thank you. It’s been three years now. If God would’ve allowed us, we would’ve had more children. Then Henry would be having fun with his aunt or uncle rather than learning how to play pinochle.” She glances over her shoulder.
“He’s a great card player.” Reed’s hand finds my thigh under the table.
“Let’s hope I can raise him decent enough not to be a card shark in Vegas when he’s older.” She brings two plates over.
“I’ll never allow it to happen,” Reed says, removing his hand from my leg and digging into the pie with his fork.
“I know you wouldn’t.” She pats his hand and stares over at me. “Reed is our savior. Treats Henry like he’s his son, not just a Big Brother mentor.”
I smile over at the man who’s stolen my heart. I imagine he’s collected Henry’s too. And Helen’s. Not sure about Ned.
“Well, we live just over on Monroe, Henry is welcome anytime.”
“Thank you. Henry said Jade is new. When did you move?” Helen asks.
“Reed!” Ned’s bolstering voice booms from the other room. “Come here!”
Reed wipes his mouth with the napkin Helen gave him and stands up to exit the room.
Once Reed leaves, Helen’s eyes rest on me to answer the question she asked. Is it wrong to be scared for Reed?
“We moved here a few months ago from Los Angeles.”
“Los Angeles? Oh, I was there once. A long time ago. Ned was stationed in San Diego right before he shipped out to Vietnam. We spent the last free weekend he had exploring southern California.” Her eyes glaze over and I assume she’s reliving some memory. “We’d thought that after Trevor left the house, we’d be able to do some traveling, but… God had other plans.” She pats the table and stands, exiting the room. “Henry! Jade! Come have some pie.”
Footsteps sound overhead to the sound of cheers.
“Never take time for granted, dear.” She presses her hand to my shoulder, stopping at the counter and cutting two more pieces of pie.
Jade’s never had blueberry pie. I hope she doesn’t offend Helen. I can’t help but take Helen’s words to heart. She probably never envisioned her elder years to involve raising her grandchild.
“Blueberry? YAY!” Henry jumps around and then his small arms cling around his grandma’s waist. “Thank you.”
She pats his blond hair and straightens his glasses. “It’s your favorite.”
He clings to her harder.
Jade stays by my side looking down at her small piece of pie and then back to me.
“Just try it,” I whisper.
“It’s so good, Jade.” Henry sits down, piling forkfuls into his mouth, leaving a purple stain around his lips.
Jade sits down next to him and only takes bites of the vanilla ice cream at first. Helen watches her intently.
“She’s never had blueberry pie before,” I say.
“You know Trevor and Katie were friends at their age.” She moves her attention from them to me. “Katie would sit right where Jade is. One of those next-door neighbors turn friends and fall in love things. It was such a romantic story. I’m glad I got to witness it.”
“My mom had dark hair too.” Henry points to the fridge at the picture I just admired. “Those are my parents.”
Jade looks over and then buries her head in her pie and ice cream. I have a feeling I’ll be playing a game of twenty questions later tonight.
“May I use your bathroom?” I slide out from the chair.
“Of course, it’s right near the front door.”
I walk through the dining room to find Reed and Ned’s heads bent over a set of papers, each with a glass of whiskey or scotch next to them. Reed glances up, the pen he’s using to keep his place as he reads through the papers pausing. His expression looks like he just saw the worst car crash. You know the one where you see the paramedics pulling someone out and goose bumps travel up your spine.
“I’m just going to the bathroom,” I say, not sure what else to say at our awkward exchange.
He forces a smile and then stares back down at the paperwork.
By the time I’m out of the bathroom, Jade has her coat back on and Reed is standing at the door with her. Helen, Ned, and Henry stand there to say goodbye.
“Oh, we’re leaving?”
“I told them how you need to study for that test,” Reed says.
Reed holds out my coat for me. I slide my arms through the sleeves. “It was great meeting you. Thank you for the pie.”
Ned shakes my hand. Helen hugs me and Henry high fives us, but hugs Jade close to his body.
I smile as widely as I can, baffled as to why Reed is pushing us to leave so quickly.
“Walk?” I ask.
“Yeah.” Reed’s hand smooths down his cheek and he blows out a breath.
Jade skips along in front of us, stopping to admire some tulips and flowers that are starting to bloom.
“So, are you going to tell me why we rushed out so fast?” I ask.
“They want me to be his guardian should anything happen to one of them.” There’s no tremor in his voice and he’s not fidgety. Does nothing get to this man?
“Oh boy,” I say.
“Yeah.”
“What did you say?”
We round the corner and Jade stops to pet a dog that probably just wants to do his business.
“I told him I had to think about it.” Reed seems lost in his own head.
I definitely don’t want to weigh in on the subject. I’m just a girlfriend, a recent one at that. Still, I can’t help but wonder what Reed will do. It’s not like when you agree to be a guardian for a young and healthy married couple where the chances are slim you’ll ever actually have to step-up. In this case, there’s a strong possibility that in the next eleven years, something could happen to Ned or Helen, and Reed will become solely responsible for him. Even for a saint like Reed, a request like that is enough to test anyone’s level of commitment.
Chapter Twenty-Six
“Thank goodness that asshole isn’t here.” Hannah slides into the booth at Torrio’s Table the following Tuesday, taking in the other patrons.
“Yeah, thankfully,” Chelsea agrees as her eyes sweep over the bar.
I have a feeling she may have had an appreciation for the silver fox that Hannah loves to hate.
“Why do you hate him so much?” she asks. “I mean I get the fact that he was your ex’s divorce attorney, but—”
“He’s a pompous ass who tried to take everything from me. Believe me, he has a reputation and my ex hired him because of that reputation. A surgeon’s salary and the house in North Shore wasn’t enough for my ex. He wanted my money and my trust fund, too. Thought he was entitled to it. After all the shit he pulled.” Hannah’s body tenses and I glance to Chelsea to with a look of warning.
Lucky for us the same waiter from last week comes by and places three vespers down on the table.
“Thank you,” Chelsea coos, her eyes taking him in.
He eye fucks her for a minute and then turns back around like he’s playing hard to get.
“Do not screw the wait staff here, Chels.” Hannah’s perfectly arched eyebrows raise.
“Never,” Chelsea says but fights the laugh that’s trying to escape.
“Let’s chat about Victoria,” Hannah says picking up her drink. Both sets of eyes shift to me.
“What?” I sip my vesper. The citrus taste is refreshing on my tongue and welcome with the
inquisition I know is coming my way.
“You must be exhausted from dodging our questions for two days,” Chelsea deadpans.
“Fine. We agreed to try to be together.”
“Sounds romantic,” Chelsea says with an eye roll.
“Try?” Hannah asks.
“It was romantic, actually. And yes, we’re going to try the dating thing.” I take another sip to fortify myself.
“I’m proud of you,” Hannah says, her perfectly manicured hand running up and down my shoulder. “That takes guts. What did your ex say about it?”
“My ex?” I place the drink on the table.
“About the steak?” Chelsea adds.
“I haven’t mentioned it yet. It’s none of his business. Reed doesn’t even talk to Pete anymore.”
The two of them share a look across the table and return their attention back to me.
“You need to tell him,” Hannah says what I know they’re both thinking.
“What are you going to do say, ‘surprise, I’m screwing your best man?” Chelsea’s overdramatic display causes some heads to turn in our direction.
“He’s coming for Jade’s birthday, right?” Hannah lowers her voice.
“Yeah.”
“Do you think he’ll see Reed?” she continues her questioning.
“I hadn’t really thought about it.” My fingers knot in my lap.
Chelsea knocks on my head. “Hello? McFly!” She does a spitting image of the asshole in the Back to the Future movies. “Plan ahead because this is going to crash and burn if you leave it to fate.”
“We’re all adults. Pete doesn’t care who I date. It’s not like I get any say in who he sees. We’ve been divorced for two years.”
They both shake their heads.
“Do I have to knock on your head again?” Chelsea asks, sipping her own drink.
“No.” My hand covers my head. “Leave me alone.”
“Sweetie, your ex, Pete…” Hannah says softly and slowly like she’s speaking to a child. “Pete is not going to be okay with this. Especially because you have a daughter, which means his best man is going to be seeing more of his daughter than he is. I think you should tell him and nip this in the ass right away.”
“Otherwise, he shows up and gets a surprise and you’ll be breaking apart a brawl. But,” Chelsea says, leaning in. “If that happens, call me first. I love a good fight over a woman.”
I roll my eyes then sit and think for a minute. Maybe they’re right. “Okay. I guess I should tell Reed I’m telling Pete first, right?”
“If you want to keep ‘trying,’” Chelsea puts the word in quotation marks. “Definitely.”
I glance to Hannah’s whose head is bobbing up and down in agreement.
“In the meantime, let’s celebrate you getting laid on a regular basis.” Hannah raises her hand and then puts up three fingers.
The waiter spots her, and I down the rest of my drink. Telling Pete about Reed? How come this never crossed my mind before? Chelsea should be tapping my head to figure out if there’s anything else in there besides air and googly eyes for Reed.
* * *
Somehow hours later I end up at Reed’s condo. Connor stands from behind the desk when I manage to get my half-drunk body through the revolving doors after whizzing around two times and realizing I was back on the street.
“Ms. Clarke.” He rounds the desk and studies me. “I don’t have you on the list for tonight.”
“Do I need to be on the list?” I ask, using his desk to prop myself up.
“Well, Mr. Warner has a permanent list. Let me see if you’re on there.”
“A permanent list?” My gaze blurs to follow him walk back around the desk. He types into the computer and I inch over the edge of the tall desk. “Tell me Connor, just between us, are there any other women on that list?”
He glances up, his non-verbal scolding telling me my answer. He’s not at liberty to say. “Ms. Clarke,” he sighs. I’m not sure if he’s upset with my intoxication or my curiosity. “You are on the list but let me ring him just to make sure he’s home. I haven’t seen him this evening.”
Spotting the chairs in the lobby, I make my way over on unsteady feet and sit down. “Whatever you say, Connor.”
I hear Connor talking for a moment, then his voice turns hushed and I know he’s probably telling Reed what bad shape I’m in. I should’ve listened to Chelsea and Hannah, but they over-served me and I’m horny and on edge about telling Pete.
My eyes close and what feels like a second later my body is lifted like an angel has me in his arms.
“Thanks, Connor. I got it from here.”
Reed.
I release a contented sigh. My eyes flutter open and I see that he’s carrying me into the elevator. My hand runs along his stubble and I can’t fight the smile on my face. “It’s you.”
He chuckles. “Is this what girl’s night entails? Getting shitfaced?”
I rest my head on his strong shoulder and then somewhere between staring at his beautiful blue eyes and luscious lips, we’re in his condo, where he lays me down on the couch.
“Is this where I’m sleeping?”
“I need your phone, Victoria.” He places my purse on the table.
“Do you have another woman in your bedroom?” My eyes finally focus in on his shirtless self, pajama pants hanging way too low on his hips to be appropriate.
“What?” he asks with a crease in his forehead.
“Who’s on your permanent list?”
“My permanent list?”
I sit up and the room spins for a second.
Oooooooooogggghhhhhhhhofofofofofofofffff
A huge burp escapes and my hand flies up to my mouth. “Excuse me.” Even with how drunk I am, I feel the heat rushing up my neck to my cheeks.
He chuckles. “I need to call your mom, babe.”
I pick up my purse and then put it in his lap. “It’s in there.”
My head falls back to the cushion and the weight of my eyelids wins. I feel him pick up my arm and use my thumb to open my phone and I’m suddenly too tired to protest or think of how ridiculous that is.
“Hi, Mrs. Clarke. This is Reed Warner, Victoria’s boyfriend.” There’s a pause. “She’s here, but she’s had a few too many drinks with the girls. Are you okay if she stays here tonight?” Another pause. A laugh because my mom is oh so funny. “You can handle Jade, too? Great. I’ll bring her home in the morning.” Another chuckle on his part. “Have a good night.”
He rounds the couch and I attempt to pick up my head, but it falls back down to the couch. “Good news, babe, your mom said you can spend the night.” He laughs, his two arms sliding under me again and picking me up.
“I thought I was sleeping here.”
“You sleep in my bed.” He carries me down the hall, sets me on the bed. He gently takes off my shoes, strips off my clothes, and places a t-shirt over my head before tucking me into bed.
“You’re sweet,” I say, my hand running along his cheek, my thumb pressing into the cute dimple on is left cheek.
“You’re drunk.” His smile says he’s not mad. “I just have to finish up some work. I’ll check on you in a few.” He walks to the door, turning off the light.
“Reed?”
“Yeah?”
“You won’t listen to Pete, right? You won’t let him bully you into not dating me?”
The light flicks back on and his footsteps on the hardwood floor grow closer. The mattress indents and he takes my hand in his, kissing my knuckles.
“Is that what you’re worried about?”
“That and your permanent list.”
He laughs. “You don’t need to worry about either. Pete can’t bully me into giving up the best thing I’ve ever had. Just because he’s an idiot and fucked it up, doesn’t mean I’m going to do the same.” He kisses my knuckles. “And, so we’re clear—you’re the only woman on my permanent list. Not even my mother is on there. I added you and Jad
e after last Friday.” He bends down and kisses my forehead. “Now, go to sleep.”
The mattress rises without his weight on it anymore and I slip into sleep at peace with his answer because I believe him.
* * *
When my eyes open next there’s still darkness filling the sky and I’m in bed by myself. Pulling the sheets back, I sit up and stay in that position for a second assessing how I feel. When I notice the bottle of water placed on the nightstand, I crack it open and down half the contents, feeling my hangover setting in already.
The echo of papers rustling, and buttons being punched on a computer comes from outside the bedroom and so I follow the noises to Reed’s dining room table. He sits there bare-chested in his pajama pants, a beer in his left hand, a pen in his right, looking over some papers sitting beside his computer.
“Hey,” I announce my arrival into the room.
He slowly glances over, and his smile warms my insides. Raising his hand, he holds it out for me and I walk over.
“I’m sorry,” I say.
“Don’t be. I quite enjoyed working out here knowing you were in the other room.”
My fingers entwine with his and he slides the chair back, pulling me onto his lap.
“Still, you saw me at my worst.”
He buries his face in my neck, kissing the delicate skin. “I liked taking care of you. I guess I’m kind of a caveman.” His free hand slides up my thigh, his fingers bypassing the edge of my panties. “Not to mention, I’m due for a break.”
“Oh yeah?”
He stands, holding me to him and I swear his muscles don’t even flex. We only venture to the other side of the table, where it’s not filled with paperwork. He lowers my body until my feet find the floor. Once I find my footing, he swivels me around, so I face the expansive window and the dark waters of Lake Michigan.
His hand slides down the edge of my panties and his chest presses to my back, his hot and wet mouth at my ear. He doesn’t say anything, but his rapid breathing is enough to tell me he’s as ready as I am.
Fisting my panties, he slides them down my legs, his mouth following on the back of my thighs. I can’t see what he’s doing, but from the shuffling of clothes, I’m assuming he’s taken off his pajama pants.