Never Saw it Coming

by Bernadette Marie

  Jason’s brows lifted. “She’s not going to let you.”

  Mike shrugged. “Worth the asking, right? I have a pencil that needs sharpening too. Gabe has a sharpener in his office. Lock the door. I’ll knock and use my key to get in.”

  With a simple nod, Jason went right to work on writing down the homework problems from the computer.

  Mike pulled the door shut and headed down the stairs. Leaving him in the apartment was a small test, he’d decided. There was no doubt he’d be okay at home alone after school for a few hours. There wouldn’t be a need for it if he had anything to do with it. But, a boy should know he could handle it.

  The dinner crowd had thinned out, and Chandra filled a table order of drinks at an empty bar.

  “Where’s Jason?” she asked immediately when she saw Mike standing there, alone.

  “Doing some homework. I thought I’d give him five minutes alone. He mentioned that he thought he could be at home alone, he doesn’t realize I’ve left him.”

  “You didn’t tell him?”

  “I told him. He just doesn’t realize I did it so he could understand it. I’ll be praising him in five minutes.”

  She wiped her hands on a towel and then leaned against the counter. “Dane is lucky to have you as a dad,” she said softly enough he leaned in to catch the compliment.

  “And Jason is lucky to have you. He was telling me how you do a great job.”

  She lifted her eyes to his and seemed to have braced her hands on the bar. “He did?”

  Mike slid onto an empty bar stool and leaned in over the bar. “He’s proud of how hard you work. He says you do a great job being a mom.”

  He watched as she batted her eyes, no doubt holding back tears that threatened.

  “I got lucky,” she said. “I have a good kid.”

  “That’s not luck.” He reached his hand across the bar and covered hers. “You did that. It’s called respect, and it’s something that is taught to children.”

  She caught the first tear that slid down her cheek with the back of her hand. “I still have three hours to work. Don’t make me cry. I only cry over my kid.”

  Mike patted the hand he’d covered. “I’ll get out of your hair.” He stood and retracted his hand to his pocket. “I only came to get some provisions if you have some. You can’t do math homework without a snack.”

  At least she laughed, he thought. Then wiping her eyes one more time, she let out a breath. “I’ll even deliver them.”

  Mike gave her a nod then turned to head back upstairs after he sharpened the pencil.

  “Mike,” she called out, and he turned. “Thank you. You’re a good friend to both of us.”

  He smiled, then went on his way.

  He’d be a good friend to her as long as she’d have him, he thought. But at that very moment, it killed him not to be more.

  There was a great need brewing in him to kiss her, just as Jason said he could. But not yet, not now. She knew where he stood, and it hadn’t changed. He was still interested, but when he was the only one. Mike had never had much patience with women who played the field. They took what he had to offer, and made a commitment, or he walked off into the sunset.

  Of course, no one he’d ever fallen in love with had a family before. This was a first for that. There were many layers to it now, he thought as he walked into the office, sharpened the pencil, and then closed the door as he left.

  He’d also built relationships with Chandra’s mother, son, and boss. There was no walking away when she chose Austin over him.

  The moment of enlightenment darkened.

  Mike climbed the stairs back up to his apartment trying to wrap his head around the rise and fall of emotion he’d just had. When he’d moved to Denver, he hadn’t considered a woman at all. It was all about the job and the opportunity. Chandra was a gift, he decided as he took his keys from his pocket. Even her friendship was important.

  So, he concluded, as he knocked on the door and put the key into the lock, that he’d have to get used to hanging on, even if he wanted to walk away. They might not be romantically involved, but they had a relationship, and it too had layers.

  He could hold on.

  He wanted to hold on.

  And maybe in time, he could take that permission he was given, and kiss her again. Perhaps then, it would be the right time, and he wouldn’t have to keep starting over.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  When Mike pushed open the door, he heard Jason talking to someone. That wasn’t settling well with leaving him alone, he thought, until he heard his son’s voice.

  “Your Skype rang while I was on the website. I saw it was Dane so I answered,” Jason said shifting the computer so that Mike could see his son's face.

  “Hey, Dad! Still doing math homework?” Dane joked.

  “I must love it. I’m helping my friend out here,” he said as he ruffled Jason’s hair. “I could go watch TV and leave you two to it.”

  “Sounds awesome, but I’m finishing up this essay I had to write. I have to include pictures with it. That’s why I was calling. I wanted to get a screen shot of your face.”

  “You can’t find a better picture than that?”

  “Dad, it has to be current. I’m writing about people who change lives for others.”

  Mike sat in the chair next to Jason, not moving the computer to make the conversation private. If Dane wanted that, he’d call back.

  “So what do you need my picture for?” Mike scrunched up his face.

  “You and mom changed my life. You might not have stayed together, but you worked it out together. You taught me how to play soccer, and you did my homework with me, just like you are with Jason. Oh!” He moved out of the line of sight and grabbed a pen and an index card. “Look, you’re still doing it.”

  “Doing what?”

  “Changing lives. You go to Jason’s games, and help him with his homework,” he said, and Jason lowered his head as if to hide the smile.

  “Jason and I are pals. I’m not changing anyone’s life.”

  Jason picked up his head and inched in toward the screen. “What about my grandma and Tracy. He’s changing their lives by buying that old house. They’re all partners now.”

  “Right,” Dane said as he wrote that down. “Dad, you’re just an awesome man about town.”

  Mike laughed. “You’re going to fail out of college writing about me.”

  “Worth it. So we have our plane tickets in hand. Me, Doug, and James will be out there in a week.”

  He felt his chest nearly burst at hearing that. “I can’t wait. It’ll be a little cramped, but it’ll be a great time.”

  “Hey, Jay.” He nodded toward Jason. “Are you going to get to go skiing with us? It’ll be great.”

  “I’d like to.”

  Mike tapped the pencil to his chin. “We’ll talk to his mother.”

  “Perfect. And we’ll get a game on with these guys I’m bringing out. They suck at soccer, so we’re going to win.”

  The glow from Jason’s expression could have lit the room. “Yeah, man. That’s great.”

  “Okay, I’ll talk to you both later. Love ya, Dad.”

  “I love you too, kiddo.”

  The screen went dark, and they both stared at it.

  “Do you think he got your picture?” Jason asked.

  “I don’t know,” Mike said chuckling and clicking back to the math homework at hand. “He’s a crazy kid.”

  “I like that you say you love him all the time. Mom says that to me. Dad’s don’t usually get mushy like that.”

  “You think that’s mushy?”

  Jason shrugged. “I don’t know. Sorta.”

  “Maybe it is. But he knows how I feel.”

  Chandra knocked at the door. She could hear laughter from the other side, and she smiled. When the door opened, Jason stood in front of her with two pencils shoved up each nostril.

  “What are you doing?”

  He laughed. “
We heard you coming. I thought it would be funny.”

  It took her a moment to not scold or turn unnecessary anger toward Mike. It was funny, so she laughed.

  “Disgusting. Don’t erase anything with those erasers,” she warned.

  Jason stepped back to let her in. “You actually brought snacks?”

  “You thought I’d let you down? You need fuel, right?”

  “And it’s not food scraps.” Jason moved in to inspect the tray as she shifted a look to Mike, who held his hands up in defense.

  “He came up with that on his own,” he said looking at the tray with the pretzel appetizer and fresh veggies with ranch dip.

  “Gabe had some Gatorade in his fridge. I borrowed them.” She winked at Jason.

  “Thanks. Hey, Dane and his friends are coming next week to go skiing. He said we could all play a game of soccer. I’d be on his team, and he says the other guys suck.” He laughed as he took one of the Gatorades and opened it.

  “Sounds like a good time.” She exchanged a look with Mike. “Could I talk to you for a moment in the hallway?”

  “Sure.”

  “Get that math going,” she said as she walked through the door. “You’re super smart.”

  “I know, I know, in the mouth,” he replied as he had to their joke a million times before.

  Mike followed her to the hallway, and she pulled the door closed. “I’m in a bind. Can he stay with you until I’m done? We’re not too busy, so we think we can close up early.”

  “He’s always welcome. What happened to me taking him home?”

  “Austin called. He and some buddies went to a strip club,” she said, and had to clear her throat to get the words out. “He thought since Jason was in good hands…” The words trailed off as the tears that stung surfaced in her eyes. Then they spilled over, and she spat out a curse as she wiped them away.

  “Hey, hey.” Mike took her arms and studied her. “What’s going on?”

  “I told you. I only cry over Jason.”

  “So why are you crying over Austin?”

  She opened her mouth to speak, to argue, and then realized that was exactly what she was doing. Quickly, she wiped away the rest of the tears.

  “Jason doesn’t deserve him,” she whispered. “He deserves someone who cares about every part of his day.”

  “Then why is he here?”

  “I don’t know.” She winced, gritted her teeth, and squeezed her eyes shut. When she’d bit back the anger, she opened her eyes and looked up at him. “You’re good to him. You’re good for him.”

  “He’s a good kid. I’m glad we’re friends. Dane can’t wait to meet him in person.”

  She’d brushed him off when he’d kissed her and told her he was interested. Why had she done that? Couldn’t she have pursued that and let Austin visit?

  “Listen,” he took her hands in his. “Jason can stay as long as you need him to. If it gets late, he can fall asleep on the couch. I’ll be up.”

  “You’re too good to us.”

  “That’s what friends are for,” he said, and it sharply reminded her that that was what she’d made them be—friends.

  He still held her hands in his. A warmly regarded friendship, she decided. But that wasn’t what she wanted anymore, was it?

  Chandra lifted her eyes to meet his. They were warm, oh so warm, looking back at her. He looked at her as if he could see her soul, the very essence of who she was.

  No one had ever looked at her like that—especially Austin.

  Her heart sank a bit as his thumb brushed over her knuckles. She’d worked so diligently on the hard exterior she showed everyone, but this man was making it crumble.

  “Go back to work. Jason is fine here until you’re ready to go home. I’ll make sure he gets some rest.”

  Mike gave her hand a squeeze then turned back for his door.

  She should have let it go at that. She should have let him go back into that apartment without another word. Things would be left just as they were and everything would be normal, but she couldn’t do that.

  “Mike,” she said with her voice full of heat and air.

  When he turned, she lunged at him, pushing him up against the wall as she encircled her arms around his neck and took quick possession of his mouth.

  There was no argument from him. He pulled her close to him, his hands pressing possessively at the small of her back as he accepted the kiss she had sprung on him.

  Heat and passion collided. Need and desire swam between them.

  His mouth opened to hers as his hand moved up her back and pulled her in even closer, which she hadn’t even realized there was room between them.

  The breath in her lungs grew heavier, and the temperature of her body warmed.

  She’d been an idiot to take Austin back into her life. His touches, his kisses, everything dimmed when she thought of Mike. And oh, God! It paled in every way to the touch of his hand on her clothed body or his mouth on hers.

  They broke from one another when they heard stirring in his apartment.

  She backed from him just as the door opened. “Are you guys okay out here? You’re taking forever. And I’ve eaten most of the pretzels,” Jason said causing Mike to laugh.

  “Figures,” he said and then looked at her with that same infatuated gaze. “I have math homework to do.”

  “Yeah, get to that,” she managed before she hurried down the stairs.

  She’d avoided eye contact with Jason, and she wondered what he thought. On second thought, she didn’t want to know. For one moment she only wanted to live in the bliss of that kiss that seemed to have rocked her world.

  As she closed the door between the stairs and the restaurant, she decided that kiss was what she wanted. She wanted more of them. There was an adventure to be had with Mike, and she wanted it.

  Jason had a vested interest in this now too. He liked Mike, and Mike liked Jason. It was a win-win as far as she was concerned.

  Trying to put her head back into her job, she realized she needed to be realistic. Jason was as taken with Mike as she was. It wouldn’t always be a perfect ride. There were going to be hard times if this was what she chose. And one of those hard times would be making Austin go away.

  He’d never fully leave her life, and she understood that. But he had to leave her house. He had to never—ever—worm his way back into her bed.

  Sickness washed over her as she moved behind the bar. That should have never happened again, she scolded herself. What had made her take him in that night?

  It was because she’d turned Mike away. There had been a need to be loved, and she always turned back to Austin—who always disappointed.

  As she pulled the orders from the printer, she silently promised herself that she’d never let that happen again. If it didn’t work out with Mike, fine. She’d enjoy what he was willing to offer. But she would never go back to Austin.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  It was nearly ten-thirty, and Mike assumed Chandra would be up any moment.

  Jason had taken his invitation to lay down on Mike’s bed until his mom got there. He’d been asleep nearly an hour and a half. It was understandable. Math was exhausting Mike humored to himself.

  Turning on the TV, and making sure the volume was turned down low, Mike found a replay of Super Bowl XL. The Seahawks and the Steelers. He decided it was good TV. He couldn’t even remember who won the game. This would have been the game for the 2005 season. That seemed like a lifetime ago he thought as he kicked his feet up on the small coffee table.

  Fifteen minutes later, and a Steelers touchdown, there was a gentle tapping at the door.

  Mike hurried up and to the door. When he opened it, he saw an exhausted woman standing there, though he wasn’t sure how she was doing it.

  “Looks like the evening was rough,” he said pulling her inside and taking the liberty to envelop her in a hug.

  She sighed as she rested her head on his chest. “It went to shit.”

&nbs
p; There was time to ask in a moment. For now, he wanted to hold her close and smell her hair. The need to just feel her breathe kept his arms wrapped around her.

  After a few moments, he pulled back holding her arms as if to keep her near. “Let me get you something to drink. Maybe something to eat. You didn’t get dinner did you?”

  She winced as she shook her head. “Like I said. My evening went to shit after I was up here.”

  “Sit,” he said as he let go of her and moved to the kitchen. “I want you to tell me everything. I’m going to make you a sandwich. I have sour cream and onion chips or Doritos.”

  A slight smile formed on her lips. “Doritos.”

  “Good choice. Ham or turkey?”

  Her face contorted as she thought. “I love them both. Surprise me.”

  “Pepsi, Bud, milk, or water?”

  Again she had to give it some thought. “I’ll take a Pepsi. I’d love the Bud, but I have to drive home.”

  “Not for a while. I’ll share the Bud with you,” he offered and pulled it from the fridge.

  Mike laid out the parts to the sandwich and began to assemble. “Homework is done. We even called Dane back to ask a few questions. You know, to get an opinion on how to do something I don’t think I’ve ever seen before, but he knew how to work the problem. That lead to soccer talk, but I nixed that in ten minutes.” He slathered mayonnaise on the bread and added a mix of meats. “I got one of the pretzels. So, I’ll be taking one or two bites of this sandwich, because I’m hungry. And if we’re going to kiss each other before you go, I might as well have some Doritos too, so we have equal breath.”

  She laughed, and he forced himself to not look at her. He wanted to calm himself first.

  He was about to let her tell him about her shit night, and he wanted to give her his full attention. So much had happened, obviously, between their kiss and now. It had been hard to compose himself with Jason for the thirty minutes after she’d left. All he’d wanted to do was to chase her down and do that again.

  Somewhere, his message of interested got through. Or so he hoped. But he needed that confirmation that it was only him. He wasn’t going to kiss her like that and have her run back home to sleep with her ex.