Frenemies With Benefits (Geek To Chic Book 2)

by Brinks, Nikki

  "Mr. Porter? Your wife is asking for you, sir." The kindly nurse said as she nudged him in the shoulder. He must have dozed off for a bit.

  Scraping his hand down his face, he smiled at the nurse and nodded, thanking her for letting him know. He stood and walked to Izzy's room. Inhaling a deep breath, he pushed through the door. Izzy was exactly as he left her, lying comfortably on the bed. The monitor of his child's heart beat echoed through the room loud and strong. "Hey." Was all he could manage as a greeting, as he sat next to her, taking her hand in his stroking her knuckles gently with his thumb.

  Izzy's attention seemed to be focused on their joined hands. They sat in silence for a few minutes. Neither making eye contact with the other. Finally, Izzy withdrew her hand from his and spoke. "The doctor says the baby and I are both doing fine. He wants to keep me here for a little longer to be sure. I will have to be on bed rest for a week or so, just to be on the safe side but everything is going to be fine.” She smiled at him, but he knew it was a fake smile. Meant to comfort him and to hide whatever was going on in that head of hers.

  Taking her hand back in his, he answered with his own awkward smile. “That’s great news. You have no idea how relieved I am to hear that the two most important people in my life are going to be fine.” He kissed her knuckles. “Once we get you settled at my place, I will run to the store and get everything you like to eat. I’ll go to your apartment to and get you extra clothes and your iPad. Oh I better get the books off your nightstand...”

  ~*~*~*~

  “Alex!” Izzy snapped, cutting off his rambling plans. Pulling her hand from his again, she grabbed her hair and pulled a little in pure female frustration. Three deep breaths, and four internal murder plots later, she finally directed her attention back to the overly frustrating man sitting next to her. “Stop! Stop! Stop with all the plans! I am not going to stay with you while I am recovering. I can take care of myself. You have to work. I know you guys have a lot going on right now, and that you should not be taking time off.” Her hands flew around as she spoke. Huffing in air as she finished, she glared at him.

  The asshole had the gull to smirk at her tirade. Giving her that panty dropping, I always get my way smile, he grabbed her hand. Holding her hand firmly between his, ensuring she could not break the contact, he spoke to her softly and calmly. “Honey, I know you could take care of yourself. The point is you don’t have to. You’re carrying my child. I like being with you. I am going to take care of you. End of discussion.”

  No longer able to control her anger at his sudden and unpleasant high handedness, she let out a sound that was very similar to a growl. Before she could speak he held up a single finger and walked out of the room. The action of course, turned her anger into pure rage. She was just going to have to explain to her child one day that his or her father was an idiot and deserved to be strangled with her IV tubing.

  Moments later he walked back into her room, trailed closely by the doctor. “Dr. Jackson, will you please tell my dear wife that she cannot stay alone right now?”

  Dr. Jackson looked between Alex and Izzy and laughed a little. “I take it that the Mrs. Porter would like you to go to work during the day and leave her be?”

  “Yes, that is exactly what Mrs. Porter would like at the moment.” Izzy answered between gritted teeth.

  Unfortunately for Izzy, the doctor shook his head. “Sorry ma’am your husband really should stay with you. I don’t want your feet to hit the floor except to go to the bathroom or take a quick, and I mean quick, shower. You will need someone with you to help you. Consider this bed rest your opportunity to boss your husband around all you like. Now if you’ll excuse me.” The doctor slapped Alex on the shoulder on his way out of the room with a look of pure amusement on his face.

  “See, even the doctor says you need me.” Alex beamed. Hands shoved into his front pockets, he rocked back and forth on his heels. The act made him look unusually innocent, and vulnerable. Not a combination that she was used to associating with him. A combination that was very dangerous to her heart.

  “Fine, I guess we have some things to work out anyway. This will give us some time to take care of all of that.” Izzy begrudgingly agreed.

  “We have a lot to talk about. First, I want to make sure you are recovered. We can talk about our relationship after we know you are completely fine.”

  She swallowed hard. Looking down at the covers she spoke. “We don’t have a relationship Alex. We’re friends, barely friends. Now we have a baby on the way, and you want to pretend that means that you are suddenly madly in love with me and want to marry me.”

  The room turned deafeningly quiet. The quiet went on for an uncomfortable amount of time. Finally, she turned her eyes to meet his, the look she found there was a mixture of anger and hurt. Before she could even fathom a way to backpedal, Alex took her hand and spoke gently. “As I said, we have a lot to talk about but only after you’re off bed rest.” He placed his large warm hand on her stomach. “Once, you and the baby are safe, we will talk. We will figure everything out, I promise. Just please come stay with me, let me take care of you. Please?”

  How could she say no to this very sweet man? “I’ll stay with you. Only for the week though.”

  “A week got it.” Alex said before kissing her hand.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Safely tucked in Alex’s soft bed, surrounded by books and her iPad, Izzy was bored out of her mind. She had been home from the hospital for two days. Two days of bed rest and she was going out of her mind. Of course, Alex playing the part of overprotective nurse wasn’t helping. He refused to let anyone visit, stating she needed her rest. He had barely left her side. This made thinking through her plans for the future for her and her child almost impossible.

  Suddenly she heard commotion ensue in the living room. “She’s napping. You’ll have to come back later. I am not going to wake her.” She heard Alex’s harsh tone begin to come closer. The sound of someone tripping in the hallway let her know that Roni had arrived from France. The sound of more feminine laughter, told her Roni wasn’t alone. A minute later her best friends flung open the door to the bedroom. They all piled into the room, before C slammed the door in Alex’s face, sticking her tongue out at him as she did, and locked it. Ensuring that Alex would not be able to kick them out.

  “Oh, Izzy. Are you ok?” Roni rushed over hugging her so tight she could barely breathe. She coughed a little and Roni released her. “Sorry, sorry. I am just so happy to see you.” Caroline, Jemma and Gracey hugged her too, more gently.

  “I’m fine. You didn’t have to come back from France on my account.” Izzy told her friend. “And you three didn’t have to miss work.”

  “Oh, yes I did.” Roni protested.

  The four faces in front of her all took on a comical look as they sat on the edge of the bed, quietly staring at Izzy.

  “What?” Izzy finally snapped.

  “Are you ready to talk about you and Super Asshole? Or is it Alex now?” Gracey laughed.

  “What…what are you talking about?” Izzy stammered.

  “The two of you have been acting weird for months around each other. Now, you are in his bed. He is caring for you after your accident. And his over protectiveness has him playing warden outside the door to make sure you get rest.” Jemma ticked off each example on her fingers. “Now, tell us.”

  Stunned Izzy stammered again, “We have been sleeping together since I moved into my apartment here. I am so sorry I didn’t tell you guys.”

  “Yeah, we know. Mama Porter outed you a few months ago, well to us girls anyway. We just wanted to hear it from you.” Gracey beamed.

  “You’re kidding me?”

  “Nope. That woman couldn’t keep a secret if the fate of the world was dependent on it, I swear.” C answered with a smirk.

  Izzy shook her head trying to make sense of what they had just told her. “Wait a minute, then what was all that talk a few weeks ago at the bar about Alex never set
tling down. If you knew we were together why did you say all of that?”

  “Honestly, I wasn’t thinking when I said those things. Plus I had no idea, that Alex and you were serious in any form. Since you two hadn’t told anyone. We only knew that you two were hooking up. The things I don’t know are why you hated him to begin with or how you and Alex ended up doing the horizontal mambo.” Caroline inquired.

  Sighing dramatically, Izzy wondered where she should begin. Looking between Roni and Gracey, she asked. “Do you remember our trip to Cabo our senior year of college?”

  “Of course.” Roni scowled. “We were having an incredible time, until that shit head left you after sleeping with you!”

  Smiling a little at her friend’s continued anger on her behalf; she readied herself to tell her best friends in the world who Alex really was. “Well, Alex happens to be that shit head.” Confusion crossed their faces. “He lied about his name in Cabo. Using his middle name, Jeremy, instead.”

  “Oh my God!” C exclaimed with great excitement, bouncing up and down on her knees as she knelt on the bed. “You’re Cabo girl?”

  “What? You knew about me?” Izzy was so embarrassed.

  “I didn’t know the girl he called Z, was you, but yeah I knew about her. He came home early from that trip. This was very unusual. He dragged me out drinking with him every night that week, since Derek was still in Mexico dealing with clients. I have never seen him so drunk. Like he was trying to numb himself or forget. Finally I asked him what the hell was wrong with him. In a drunken stupor, he told me how he had met the love of his life. He went on to tell me about sleeping with her; I mean you, and leaving you and what a mistake he made. Alex was certain he would never meet another girl who captured his heart the same as you did. He believed he would be alone forever. He was a miserable fucker for months.”

  The room was completely silent. All the girls processing the news that Alex had regretted what he had done. He believed she was the love of his life. Hope grew inside of her that maybe he hadn’t proposed marriage because of the baby. Maybe the baby just sped up the timeline for marriage. Maybe they would have their happily ever after.

  “So when do you get sprung from prison? We need to go have a girl’s night of heavy drinking to figure out this cluster.” Gracey broke the silence.

  Now, Izzy had to tell the girls the other secret. “I can’t drink for a while, Gracey.”

  “Do they have you on pain killers, honey?” Jemma asked sweetly, stroking Izzy’s hand.

  The girls all looked concerned. Izzy almost found it amusing. “No, I’m not on medication of any kind. I can’t drink for another say…28 weeks.” She waited for the girls to catch on to what she meant.

  “Holly shit! Mama Porter does have magical baby making powers.” C snickered.

  The girls all fell into a fit of laughter. “That settles it. I am doubling up on my pills and Derek is wearing two condoms!” Roni professed, making the girls laugh harder. “Speaking of Derek, I have some news.”

  ~*~*~*~

  Since Izzy was surrounded by the women who loved her, Alex decided to take a break from his ever vigilant care giving duties. Collapsing onto the couch, his head fell back on the back of the couch, his eyes instantly closing. He knew he was going a little over board when it came to caring for Izzy, he just couldn’t help it. He hadn’t been to the office since her accident. Choosing to work at home, rather than going into the office. Although he was getting little work actually accomplished, since he was constantly checking on Izzy.

  Chuckling a little to himself when he remembered the last time he went to check on her, she called him the demon warden from hell. Accused him of holding her hostage, following it up by throwing a book at his head. After that he gave her a little space.

  The front door opening and closing had him opening one eye. He already knew that it was most likely Derek. Sure enough in walked his best friend. Derek had a smug smile on his face and a plain envelope in his hand. He waved the envelope in front of him. “Didn’t think I would have to retrieve this from the lawyers so soon.” He laughed, tossing the envelope at Alex. He fell onto the couch next to him. “Well, go ahead and open the damn thing.”

  Alex looked down at the envelope lying on his chest. “Should I get my checkbook ready?”

  “Open it” Derek smirked, while dialing his phone. “Yes, I would like to make a reservation for two for 7:00 tonight. Last name is Porter. Thank you.” Derek hung up. “You need to get cleaned up if you are taking me to Sullivan’s tonight. I can’t let people see me with a date that has an overgrown beard and clothes that haven’t been changed in a week.”

  Shooting Derek the finger, Alex opened the envelope. Sure enough, when he pulled the card out Izzy’s name was scribbled a crossed the white paper. “So when do I have to publicly declare your awesomeness?” Alex stated flatly.

  “You can do it, during your toast at my wedding.” Derek casually said.

  Taking a beat to catch on to what Derek was saying, Alex turned on the couch to face his friend. “Wait, you asked her to marry you?” Alex’s voice clearly reflecting the shock he was experiencing.

  “I did. I was walking back to the hotel from a meeting the night after we arrived in Paris. In the window of one of the jewelry shops was the ring. I took it as a sign. Bought the ring right there and then. That night I took her to this small restaurant near the Eiffel Tower, I was so nervous I thought I was going to puke all over her.” Derek laughed, shaking his head at the memory. “I must have been paler than I thought because she kept asking if I was ok. By the look on her face, she was really worried about me. So instead of doing the ultra-cool thing and whispering sweet words of love to her, I blurted out ‘will you marry me?’”

  Alex chuckled at his friend’s lack of smoothness. “It must have worked if I have to plan a toast? Congrats, dude.” Alex was very happy for his friend.

  “Of course she said yes, as she knocked over the champagne bottle and broke the glasses.”

  They both laughed.

  “You want to tell me about you and Izzy?” Derek asked in a low curious voice.

  “She’s pregnant.” Alex had meant to tell his friend more than that one basic fact, but those were the words that fell from his mouth in explanation.

  To Derek’s credit that man didn’t even flinch at the news. “Double wedding?” He asked a little cheeky.

  Alex sat forward on the couch; resting his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands. “No, I fucked up the proposal. She doesn’t want to get married. Hell, the only reason she’s even staying here is because the doctor told her she needed someone to take care of her and I didn’t give her a choice when she was released from the hospital on where she would go.”

  “So you asked her to marry you?” This time Derek did seem shocked. “Ok, man how did you manage to screw up a proposal when the girl is already having your kid?”

  Picking an imaginary piece of lint from his jeans, Alex looked at the floor, not wanting to meet the eyes of his best friend. “I kind of told her that we should just hop a flight to Vegas and get married since we were going to get married because of the baby anyway.” He waited a few beats for Derek to either laugh or tell him what a fucking moron he was.

  When the silence became too much he looked over at his friend. Derek simply nodded and picked up his cell, dialing a number. “Yes, I made a reservation a few minutes ago, the name is Porter. I need to change the number of guests from two to six. Yes, still at 7:00. Thank you.” He hung up, pocketing his phone. “I figured we better call in all the boys. You are going to need every last suggestion all of us idiots can come up with to get past a royal fuck up like that one. I thought I was an idiot when it came to women, but I think that proposal, if you want to use that word, clearly proves you are the stupidest fucker amongst us. Now go shower and get ready. I’ll call the guys.”

  “As much as I would love to hear all of the guys’ sage advice on women, I must decline. I can’t leave Izzy al
one.” Nor did he want to leave her, ever. He would be content to never leave his penthouse again as long as she was there with him.

  “I think she could use a break from you man.” Derek laughed. “Roni?” He called a second later.

  His cute little clumsy fiancée came into the living room, flipped Alex off, and smiled at Derek. “We’re not leaving yet are we?” She almost pouted.

  “No sweetie. I thought I would take Alex out for the night. I figured Izzy could use a break from him and you guys could use some girl time. Is that ok, if you stay and help her out while we go to dinner?”

  Roni clapped her hands together. “That sounds great. I will order us Chinese food and cupcakes from that bakery down the street. You boys go and have fun.” She kissed his cheek and turned to head back to the bedroom. “Oh and Derek, if you happen across a mob boss at dinner tonight, do me a favor and get an estimate on a hit man for me.” She looked directly at Alex before she continued. “I may need one soon.” She bounced off after her not so subtle threat.

  “I think Izzy is a bad influence on your fiancée dude. Roni is suddenly a little blood thirsty.”

  Shaking off the fear that now two women wanted him dead, Alex quickly grabbed fresh clothes from his room, and chose to shower in the guest bathroom since the women all went silent and gave him the evil eye when he entered the bedroom. Did he say two women wanted to kill him? He meant five. For his own safety he locked the bathroom door.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Empty Chinese food cartons littered the bed Izzy was temporarily imprisoned in. Jemma, Caroline and Gracey had taken off shortly after the boys went to dinner; Roni had stayed to ‘care’ for her, Izzy thought that was code for deep emotional discussion. “Are you going to stare at your Lo Mein all night or are you going to tell me what is on your mind?” Izzy jokingly asked Roni.