Stay

by B. A. Wolfe

  “You’d have done the same thing.”

  “Uh, no,” she remarked. “I’d have attached myself to his body like Velcro and told him to take me with all he had.”

  I gasped mockingly at her confession. I knew she thought he was a good-looking man, but her words never ceased to divvy out the shock factor.

  A smile tipped at her lips. “What? He’s hot as sin. He’s a fifteen on a scale that only goes to ten. Cass, you’re a dumbass.” She was harsh, yet truthful.

  “Well, it’s not enough to just have good looks.”

  “I’m pretty sure his heart’s bigger than either of us even realize.” The seriousness of her voice hit my chest. Aidan wasn’t just eye candy. I’d always known that. And if I could only disregard the fact his last name was Bradley, none of this would even be a question.

  Cassandra

  IF I GRIPPED MY coffee cup any tighter the lid would definitely pop off. Anxiety grew inside of me, spreading like cancer.

  My eyes wandered to my phone, checking the time. Parker had agreed to meet me and I hated that he was late. Not that I expected him to be on time, but the loop in my stomach was about to knot itself for good if he didn’t show in the next five minutes.

  The moment I lifted my eyes from my phone, my intestines coiled.

  Parker had finally arrived and stood next to my table. He was still the same good-looking guy he was when I met him a year ago. His hair was just as short and blond, and his blue eyes sparkled under the florescent lights. The only difference was that he sported a pinstriped dress shirt, a red tie, and black slacks instead of jeans and sneakers.

  “Gotta say, Cassandra. I never thought I’d hear from you again.”

  Gotta say, Parker. I never thought I’d be calling you again.

  I didn’t have a response that felt nice enough so I let a fake smile do the talking for me.

  He lowered himself onto the empty chair. “I was shocked as shit when I got your call. But I’m really glad you called.”

  “Thanks for meeting me.”

  “Of course,” he said, wiggling his brows. He leaned into the table, his hands folded in front of him.

  I knew what he thought. I could tell from his eyes. His cocky ass thought I wanted another piece of him. The way he looked at me had me ready to crawl under the table.

  “Do you want a coffee or anything?” I asked, trying to muster up the courage to get this conversation underway.

  He pursed his lips and shook his head. “Nah, I’m good.”

  Did he really think his cheesy, overzealous grin was going to get him laid? He was in for one hell of a shocker.

  “What’d you want to talk about, babe?”

  I had to gulp away the word ‘babe’ before I got up and left. Something about all of this was not setting well within me. “Parker, I’m not here to ask you on a date. So, don’t get the wrong idea.”

  His brows drew together and his lips continued to form a straight line.

  Here went nothing. The butterflies morphed into pterodactyl-sized birds in my belly. “I have something really important to tell you.”

  Tell him, Cassandra. Like ripping a band-aid off, just do it fast.

  “Do you remember—”

  “The night we had sex back in college?” Parker jumped in and finished my sentence.

  I about choked on my saliva. His forwardness caught me off guard. “Yeah. That night.”

  “Keep going,” His voice was eager as he urged me.

  Oh, God. It was time. I was about to wrecking ball his ass off the chair.

  Band-aid. Do it fast.

  “I got pregnant. I—we—have a baby together, Parker.” The color faded from his forehead, seeping down the rest of his face. “He’s almost four months old. His name’s Jase a-and he’s amazing.” By now the constriction in my throat had made it almost impossible to get anything else out.

  Parker was pallid. Puffs of air blew from his partially open mouth. His skin gained back more color with each passing second. I was starting to sweat less until his face beamed a shade of red I’d never seen.

  “God damn it, what the fuck. Now what am I supposed to do? You just throw this on me now?”

  His voice rattled through me. My eyes widened as I stared at his bloodthirsty features.

  “I was scared, Parker. I wasn’t going to keep it at first. I knew telling you would cause problems, but then I decided to keep the baby. I’m sorry it took me this long to tell you. I was going through a lot, okay?” My voice shook as I defended myself.

  His jaw muscles pulsated while his eyes seemed to be killing me slowly. “Fuck, Cassandra . . . It’s been well over a year. How do I even know it’s mine?” His smug ass leaned back in his chair, his daggers still piercing me.

  I released the grip on my hands, shaking them out to get the feeling back in them. “I just thought you’d want to meet your son. I’m not asking or offering anything but a chance to be a father to this amazing baby boy.” I blinked away a tear that formed in the inner corner of my eye.

  He sneered, his devil-like grin growing. “If I knew sleeping with you one time would have caused all of this, I would have made damn sure to stay far away from you. Do you do this often, is this your thing?”

  “Parker, how could you say that? I can’t get pregnant all by myself. We did this together! You can’t blame me.” The uneasiness in my voice wore off.

  “Yeah, I can. Because some chick told me she was on the fucking pill. I’m not falling for this fucking trap you’re trying to put me in. I didn’t want this. You won’t get anything from me.” His hands slammed down on the table and my coffee cup wobbled in response.

  My body tensed and suddenly I felt like shutting down. This was one battle I wasn’t going to win. I stared into his glaring eyes. All humanity had exited his body. Where was the smooth talking Parker I first met? The one who made me want to hang out with him.

  This Parker was a complete one-eighty. I expected shock, confusion, even for him to be upset. I didn’t expect shouting and slamming his hands on a table in the middle of a coffee shop. A coffee shop I chose on purpose. I thought maybe it would help me feel less anxious and more protected.

  I dropped my gaze. Nothing had prepared me for this moment with Parker. He took everything out of me. I didn’t know what to do next.

  “I’d watch your mouth if I were you.” An unexpected voice made me jump three inches from my seat. Batman. Fucking Batman was here.

  My heart did spasms in my chest, beating double time as my eyes met Aidan’s. God, was I ever grateful to see his soft, inviting eyes. Not even thinking, I jumped up and leaped into his arms, gripping him with all I had and thanking my lucky stars I chose this coffee shop. “Thank you,” I whispered against him.

  “I’ve got you,” he whispered back, breathy like it was a struggle to speak.

  His arms held me tightly until Parker’s voice broke between us. “And who the hell are you?” Parker was clearly taken aback.

  I kept myself tucked next to Aidan as he released me from his embrace.

  Aidan inched closer to the table and rested both hands on the edge as he defiantly stared into Parker’s mystified eyes. “Does it really matter?”

  “Yeah. You don’t even know what’s going on. Get lost,” Parker said, waving his hand in front of him. “This is between me and the conniving little bitch over there.”

  The veins in Aidan’s forearms bulged as his hands gripped the table. “I’d choose your next words wisely, asshole. And I know a hell of a lot more than you think I do.”

  He did?

  Aidan leaned his mouth closer to Parker. The smirk on his face grew. I couldn’t deny that I loved it.

  “If you ever talk to Cassandra that way again . . . well,” he paused, releasing a sarcastic and sadistic laugh. “Let’s just say, for your sake and mine, don’t even fucking go there or I won’t be held responsible for what happens next.”

  A chill ran through my spine, sending a blanket of goose bumps d
own my arms.

  “It doesn’t matter. We’re done here.” Parker stood, forcing his chair back, almost tipping it over.

  My body stiffened. Parker’s dark eyes found mine. “Don’t contact me again unless you’re sending me papers to sign my rights off. I want nothing to do with you or your kid.”

  I didn’t get to respond before he marched out of the coffee shop. Sensing everyone’s eyes on me, I closed my lips and fought hard to keep the tears in.

  Cassandra

  I SANK INTO MY chair, my hands catching my head to stare at the table.

  “Please tell me he’s not Jase’s father?” Aidan asked through clenched teeth.

  “He wasn’t like this when we met. Clearly, I wouldn’t have slept with the asshole if he was.” I lifted my eyes, acutely aware that his were already on me.

  His cheeks released a huge breath of air. “I don’t even know what to say.” His fingers ran over the stubble on his jawline.

  “It didn’t go the way I thought it would, th-that’s for sure.” My words tripped over themselves.

  The crease in his forehead relaxed and his voice softened. “Stay here; I’ll be right back.”

  I nodded. As much as I wished I could hide under the table and out of view of the bystanders, my body was glued to the seat.

  I hated what Parker had said, but I hated even more that Aidan got a glimpse of what Jase’s father was like.

  My cheeks were heated and I was mortified. Even through the embarrassment I couldn’t help but smile for the way Aidan moved in. I wasn’t sure whom to thank for that one. Myself for choosing a place I knew he came? Or someone else? I hadn’t meant to throw my arms around him. My body reacted and I let it. It wanted one thing and I let it have it. I also wasn’t sure what made my heart beat faster. The fact that he was there, or that he hugged me back when I leaped into his arms.

  Aidan returned, setting two iced teas on the table. “I’m sorry you have to deal with that shit.”

  I smirked at the tea in front of me. “Thank you.”

  His lips parted and then closed again, as if he were considering saying something. Finally, his mouth opened and he spoke. “I don’t like seeing you sad.”

  My hand desperately wanted to clutch my heart. He was like me. I hated when anyone around me was sad or upset. I wanted to fix it.

  “What are you doing here, Aidan?”

  “Stalking you.” He smiled, his eyes crinkling in the corners.

  As much as I wanted—prayed—he’d stop with his charm . . . it kept my heart going. Especially on days like the one I was having. “Thanks for being such a stalker. I honestly don’t know what I would’ve done if you weren’t here.”

  “Let’s not think about it. How’s work?”

  My head slanted to the side. “I’m almost in tears and you’re asking me about work?”

  “Yes,” he answered, a knowing grin splashed across his face. “We can sit here and talk about what a fuckhead, excuse my language, Parker is. Or we can talk about everything else in your life, because you can’t change what happened with that dipshit. And . . . he’s not worth one more breath of yours.”

  He parted our teas, forging a path to my hands, and sandwiched them between his. My body responded, relaxing under his touch.

  “So yes, I’m going to ask about work and then everything else I can. As far as I’m concerned, Parker’s going to get served with child support papers. You’ll get what he owes you and you’ll wash your hands of the rest. He’s not good enough to be in either of your lives.”

  I drew my eyes from our hands to meet his. He made perfect sense and I knew it. It didn’t help the hope I had held onto, though. I’d prayed the outcome of today would turn out different than it did.

  A father for Jase. Was that so much to ask? A father who wanted to be in his life, take him to games, and teach him to play sports. A father who wasn’t anything like my own, it was all I wanted. Life apparently had other plans. It always did.

  “Okay, you’re thinking. Stop it. Get up.” My hands were alone on the table within seconds. “Let’s go, Sweet Tea.” He stood, gesturing me to get in front of him. “Don’t be afraid.”

  I wasn’t. In fact, I was grateful for his distraction and pleasantly intrigued. With a smile spread across my lips, I rose from the table. “Where to?”

  “You’ll see.”

  Dan

  Several blocks later, we stood in front of my favorite bakery. Okay, it was the only bakery I knew, but it was still that fucking good.

  “What are we doing here?”

  “We’re here for a little slice of German Chocolate heaven,” I said. My hand rested on her back, guiding her in as I held the door open.

  “I don’t want cake right now, Aidan.”

  “I don’t believe you.” Who the hell doesn’t want cake?

  I led her to a small table and left, but caught glimpses of her checking the place out as I stood in line.

  It wasn’t a large bakery but definitely popular judging by the traffic at the door. When my turn came I slipped the cashier his cash, grabbed my mammoth sized piece of cake from the counter, and stabbed two forks into the coconut icing.

  Cassie’s eyes lit up, changing to the golden hue I loved as I set the plate on the table between us. I lowered to the chair opposite her and had to take a moment for myself. This was the first damn time I’d rather forgo the cake in front of me for a taste of Cassie instead. I shifted in my seat and sent a message to my cock to cool his jets.

  “This cake will change your life.”

  “That good?” she asked with her eyes glued to the sugar coma on the table.

  “Well, I can think of something else that will most definitely change your life . . . but this is a close second.”

  The smile on her face faded as fast as it came. “Aidan. We need to talk.”

  I shook my head back and forth. “I already know what you’re going to say. Don’t. Not right now. Let’s just enjoy this.”

  I wasn’t ready to talk about what almost happened back in Keaton. No way in hell. She’d tell me it was a mistake and we were only friends. The pep talk I had with Carter would be dumped in the trash. I wasn’t ready to give up. And I knew she felt something. The way she leaped onto me at the coffee shop, I thought I’d never be able to let her go.

  She sat quietly in her chair, her gaze narrowed on me.

  “Don’t make me eat this all by myself. You know you want some,” I teased, forking a piece of cake and flying it in front of her mouth.

  She fought back a smile as I tried to put the cake in her mouth.

  “Don’t make me do airplane sounds, ’cause I totally will,” I said, letting a playful grin spread across my face. “Open up.”

  Her lips separated, making more of an ‘o’ than anything. Fuck me. My cock was not behaving, whatsoever. My pants tightened, making it more than uncomfortable to sit. I moved to the side, adjusting, but it was useless. There was no looking at her ‘o’ shaped lips and not getting hard.

  “A little wider, beautiful.” I clearly wanted to make my cock as uncomfortable as possible in these jeans.

  Her eyes widened.

  I shrugged casually. “It’s a big piece.” In my defense, it was a large piece.

  “Are we talking about the cake here?” she asked, more upfront than she’d ever been.

  “What else would we be talking about?” A pop of my brows gave her all the answer she needed. We were definitely not talking about cake anymore.

  She parted her lips once more, widening the opening for my large piece of cake. The chocolate entered her mouth in one fluid motion. She shut her mouth as I slid the fork through her closed lips.

  Feeding her was more fun than I’d imagined. I didn’t care that it had me about to blow in my pants. It’d go down eventually. I’d have blue balls, and then take care of business later. It was worth it. Everything with her was worth it.

  “Leaves you speechless, right?”

  She nodded as she
finished chewing and then swallowed. I rested against the chair, giving as much extra room in the crotch of my jeans as I could.

  She was not having this fork back. It was mine. She knew it too, as her fingers wrapped around the extra fork.

  “That was the most delicious cake I’ve ever had.”

  “It seems we’re one step closer to ending our dessert battle. Now you just owe me a piece of your pie.” Ah hell. Did you really just say that shit, D?

  Her eyes were as wide as a semi truck.

  Not cool, man. “Cassie, that came out extremely wrong.”

  If I were with Carter, Moose, hell, even Jase that would have got the whole group laughing ’til they cried. But with Cassie, that was not good.

  She dropped her fork to the plate and I readied myself for Operation Get on Your Knees and Beg for Forgiveness. Instead, a gut busting laughter filled our table. She held her stomach with her eyes closed as she continued to laugh, hard. Tears fell from the corners of her eyes as she tried to stop. “I . . . can’t . . . stop . . . laughing . . .”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t apologize,” she said, cutting me off. “I knew exactly what you meant and I was about to say that I owed you my pie, but you beat me to it. Hearing it back though, I’m so glad you said it and not me.”

  I joined in and laughed with her. “Probably would’ve sounded worse if you offered me your pie,” I said, throwing in one last crack.

  She wiped the corners of her eyes. “I needed that laugh. Badly.”

  I loved being around her. She got me laughing, looking forward to something, and enjoying being out again. “What are you doing this weekend?”

  “I’ll be at your house,” she answered as if I was supposed to know.

  “My cake was that good, huh? You’re already planning on coming to see me.” I spread a cocky smile across my face.

  She rolled her gorgeous eyes. “Not your house in Denver, your parents’ house in Keaton. But truth be told,” She pointed her fork at the cake. “Damn good cake.”

  “I knew it.”

  She blushed, her gaze drifting down to her plate. “Keaton this weekend?” Her voice seemed unsure as she peered up.