A Hope and a Chance

by Jennifer Foor

  I located my laptop and opened it. A video chat was coming through from Chance so I accepted it. “I’m sending you a file, but it’s too big to text. Don’t you dare hang up.”

  I waited as it loaded and came through. As the video played I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. The giggling I recognized right away, I just couldn’t understand how I’d been so mistaken.

  When I was silent he took it upon himself to address me. “I think you owe me a fucking apology, Hope. How the hell does someone cheat on their girlfriend, with their girlfriend?”

  I kept watching the video of me in the pool, swimming around and laughing at something Buffy was saying. I hadn’t known he’d recorded me, but there it was plain as day. There was no mistaking the voice I heard. Chance had been telling the truth, and I felt like shit.

  “Oh, God. Chance I’m so-.”

  “Forgive me for being blunt, but I’m going back to bed. The next time you want to accuse me of some kind of bullshit, make sure you ask first.”

  “Chance, wait!”

  He hung up the phone before I could get another word in edgewise. I felt so horrible that I didn’t sleep for the rest of the night. By morning I was so exhausted that it was impossible to move from my bed. My depression only escalated when Buffy came in the room to get her phone and I had to explain what happened. I could see the disapproving stare she gave me before walking out.

  Crying wasn’t going to solve anything, though. I knew better than to think that sobbing all alone in my room was going to make me feel better. Since I wanted to be alone, I decided to spend the day in the pool house, in Chance’s bed. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been sleeping, but woke to my phone ringing. I picked it up without even checking to see who the caller was, on account of my ears being oversensitive. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah? Is that how you apologize?”

  I sat up in his bed, realizing Chance was waiting for me to answer. “Sorry. I didn’t expect it to be you.”

  “Who else would it be?”

  “I said I was sorry.”

  “I can’t believe that you thought I had some random chick in my room, Hope. It’s hard enough being here without you, but now I’ve got to worry about my girlfriend losing her shit.”

  “Why didn’t you just tell me that you had a video of me?”

  “I tried to last night, before you went all ballistic.”

  I felt so ashamed of my actions. “I’m so stupid.”

  “Hope, I love you. Before all that shit happened last night I was going to tell you that I got a weekend off. I’m coming home to see you.”

  My mouth dropped. “Seriously? You’re coming home?”

  “Not for good. The job’s still not done. I’ve got a weekend, and I plan on spending every moment with you.”

  “So you’re not mad at me for being an idiot?”

  “Yeah, I’m mad. You didn’t trust me. It sucks.” I could hear how much it affected him. Trust was a serious issue for Chance, and I’d overlooked that when I accused him of being with someone else.

  “I’ll make it up to you.”

  “You better. I expect lots of kissing, and having my way the whole time I’m there.”

  I giggled, reminding me of the one I’d heard over the phone. “That can be arranged.” Immediately I felt warm all over my body.

  “Good. I’ll call with the details of my flight.”

  I was giddy. Chance was coming home to visit, and I couldn’t wait to wrap my arms around him. “I love you.”

  “I know you do. I’ll call you later, baby.” When he hung up everything had changed. I had something to smile about, and I don’t think I could have frowned even if I tried my hardest.

  After two long months of agony Chance got three days off to come and visit. Buffy never mentioned it to my father, but he was rarely home anyway. The new strip mall was taking up all of his time. Buffy said she would tell my dad I was staying at a friend’s house, so that Chance and I could have the night together.

  I drove to the airport myself to pick him up. I was so excited that I missed my exit twice, and when I finally pulled up to get him, I locked my keys in the car with it running. While a nice officer got my car opened, I spotted Chance walking towards me. I ran as fast as I could and jumped into his arms. He swung me around as I squeezed him tight.

  This was the moment that I’d waited so long for. I felt complete, like nothing else in the world mattered.

  Hope had no idea how much I missed her. I couldn’t believe she was finally here in my arms. I tried to get home to see her every week, but my boss was a real prick. Apparently the hotel we were building had a deadline, and if we finished it ahead of schedule they got a bonus. The crew had to work on weekends and one guy got one weekend off at a time. Since I was the newest on the crew, I was the last person to get that benefit.

  Being away from Hope had been so hard on me, but I tried to keep myself busy. I impressed the bosses by working overtime almost every night. Little did they know it was because I didn’t want to sit in my motel room and miss Hope anymore than I already did. I would work late enough to where I could go back to my room and call her, and then crash for the night. I felt like a robot, falling into the same daily routine for two months.

  Having her back in my arms felt like heaven. “God, Hope, I missed you so much.”

  She pulled away only to press her lips against mine. “I missed you too.”

  I looked around and noticed she was alone. “Where’s Buffy?”

  “She said she wanted to give us the night together. We have a room about a mile from here,” Hope explained.

  I couldn’t help but smile. “Really? A whole night alone? No interruptions?”

  Hope nodded and bit down on her lip. It was a little reaction, yet so sexy to me.

  “What are we waiting for then?” I said as I picked her up and carried her to the car.

  I was surprised when an officer gave Hope her keys. “Have a good day, ma’am.”

  “I locked them in the car.” She explained while getting into the passenger side.

  I climbed in the driver’s side, snatched the keys out of her hand and started up the vehicle. We made it to the hotel in less than five minutes. Apparently, Buffy had paid cash for a room and reserved it under my name. Hope waited patiently as I checked in and got the room keys. When we reached the inside of the elevator I couldn’t control myself. I pulled Hope into my arms and kissed her bottom lip. My tongue slid over it and then made its way into her mouth. When hers brushed against mine for the first time, I became instantly aroused. It had been too long.

  The sound of the elevator opening made us break out of our lip-lock. An old woman with a walker waited for us to exit. She was shaking her head and giving us dirty looks. We laughed as we passed her.

  Hope and I made it into the hallway and finally located our room. Once the card slid into the key slot the green light lit, and I flung the door open. Our bags dropped at our feet and we made it to the bed without even noticing what the room looked like. I didn’t want to waste a single second with her, because we’d both been deprived for months.

  Hope’s hands gripped my shirt and guided it over my head. Her lips were pressed against mine again, until I pulled away. “Don’t you want to slow down?” I asked between kisses.

  “No!” She stated while starting to kiss me on my chest. I’d been standing, but she tugged me down on the bed next to her, immediately beginning to unbutton my jeans. “Please don’t slow down, Chance. I want you inside me. I need to feel what it’s like again.”

  Her shirt had buttons, but it didn’t once I was finished tearing it open, revealing her see-through white bra. It hooked in the front, and I didn’t waste time freeing her beautiful breasts. While she finished removing it off of her arms, I cupped both of her mounds and pinched them with my fingers. “I missed these.”

  Hope bit down on her lip while slipping off her pants. They were made from some stretch kind of fabric that took no time to disappe
ar from her legs. Fortunate for me, her panties came down with them.

  Hope lay naked on the bed beneath me and I couldn’t help but take in her beauty. She was still as beautiful as I remembered. I stood up to finish removing my pants, but I never took my eyes off of hers. When I climbed back down on top of her, I immediately found her lips. If I could kiss her all night I would have been happy. Her soft skin played against mine as her tongue slid into my mouth. Our kisses deepened and our teeth kept clanking as they intensified. My hand cupped one of her breasts and I used my fingers to pull her little nipple toward my lips. Hope’s body flexed and she let out a moan as I sucked it in hard, making a sound myself when I finally let go.

  Her legs intertwined with mine. She used her strength to flip herself on top of me, sitting straight up. I couldn’t help but admire her body, while she took her fingers and ran them over my face, slowly moving it across my lips, so that I could kiss them as they continued moving down. They made their way down my neck and then to my abdomen. When she reached my navel she slid her hands back up against my chest. “I think your muscles are bigger.” She said as she leaned down and kissed my bare skin. Her hips were moving back and forth against me and I knew she could feel how ready I was.

  “Did you miss me, Chance?” She asked, while trying to catch her breath.

  “Obviously,” I said, as I seized her by the waist and started rocking her harder against me.

  Her hands reached up and cupped both of her own breasts. “I can’t believe you’re here with me. I want you. Make love to me.”

  “Oh, you want me, do ya? Show me how much. Give me a reason to savor every single inch of this body until we’re both satiated. Please,” I requested.

  Hope smiled as she sat up enough for me to slide right inside of her. We both shuttered with the first thrust, but then I slowed our pace down as our hips worked together. I held Hope’s ass and used my arms to push myself inside of her deeper. She moaned, but it wasn’t because she was in any pain. Her fingernails dug into my chest as she cried out, seemingly being carried away with ecstasy. It stung, but also felt good. “Oh yes!” I called, as she began moving faster. I tried to follow with her rhythm, but lost myself in the moment of my own release. I pulled Hope down onto my chest and clung to her until I finally lost all control of myself. My body began to spasm while I closed my eyes and felt that ecstasy I’d been deprived of. Hope stayed close and tickled my stomach as she lay on one side of me. I kissed her forehead. “I love you.”

  “I know.” She said. I could tell she smiled from the way her voice sounded.

  35

  Waking up with Chance next to me was the happiest I’d been in two months. His strong arms were wrapped around me and even though I was wide awake, I refused to move. Last night had been amazing and after three separate encounters we finally fell asleep. I wasn’t sure what time it was, but it didn’t even matter. As long as I was here with him, nothing could be better.

  When he finally stirred, gently kissing my forehead, I slid my mouth up to his. I missed his lips, more than I wanted to admit. It made me seem pathetic.

  “Good morning, baby,” Chance whispered.

  “It is good,” I replied.

  “What time do we need to check out?” Chance asked.

  I shrugged. “Ten.”

  “Want to get a shower before we go?”

  “I really don’t want to go. I don’t want to have to pretend that you mean nothing to me. I waited too long for you to come home.” I was sick of all of it. Once and for all my dad needed to be told the truth. He couldn’t keep us apart.

  Chance sat up and cupped my face into his hands. “You think I want that? Hope, I have counted down every single day until I could see your beautiful face in person. All the pictures and video chatting was great, but this is what kept me going; knowing that one day I could come home to you. I promise you that if I have to climb into your bedroom window tonight, I will. Nothing is going to keep me away from you today, baby. Do you understand?”

  I nodded my head and let the tears fall on Chance’s hands that were still holding my face. He pressed his lips into mine again. “How about that shower?”

  The hot water felt so nice and being this close to my fabulously handsome boyfriend was even more satisfying. Chance took his time washing my hair while feeding my neck and back with soft kisses. He grasped the bar of soap and began washing my neck, then slowly made his way across my entire back. His slippery hands wrapped around me, gently massaging the soap onto each of my breasts. He wasn’t being sexual, per se. He just wanted to be with me.

  When he finished washing me, I did the same for him, concentrating on his sculpted chest first. His arms seemed bigger since he left for the new job, and I admired how strong they felt when they wrapped around me. I couldn’t help but smile when my soap-covered hands made their way to his backside and maneuvered around. Chance was perfect and he was everything that I could want. I must have cried a million times when he had to leave, but now that he was here, I felt the need to celebrate.

  Just like old times, Chance climbed out of the shower and wrapped a towel around me before getting one for himself. He kissed the top of my forehead as we both began brushing our teeth. It was normal everyday things like this that made me enjoy being around him.

  When we checked out of the hotel room Chance took me to breakfast. We both got pancakes and coffee. We sat there for a while after finishing up, talking. It was funny that we still had things to discuss. Our late night phone calls lasted so long that we knew everything about one another. My father may have distanced Chance and I, but he’d only helped us get to know each other better. If I thought that I loved him before he left, albeit it had only intensified now.

  I tried to pay for breakfast, but Chance insisted. When we got back into the car he had a big smile on his face.

  “What?” I asked.

  “I have something for you,” he said.

  “Is it a kiss?” I asked, as I leaned in for one.

  He moved forward and brushed his lips over mine. “Nope, it is something else.”

  I was getting more excited by the second. “Tell me what it is.”

  Chance reached in his bag and pulled out a small pouch. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it did have a pretty blue ribbon. “I stole the ribbon from your bedroom one day. You were wearing it the day we first met. I kept it with me the whole time I was gone, in my wallet.”

  I pulled the ribbon that I now recognized, feeling a hint of redness rush through my cheeks knowing he had something with him that was mine. When I removed the ribbon he took it and put it in his pocket. “This is special to me, so don’t mind me taking it back.” He winked.

  Chance’s face got bigger as I dug inside of the velvet sack. I pulled out the chain and gasped at what I saw hanging from it. There were two hearts that were separate pieces, one said Hope and the other said Chance. They were small hearts made of plain white gold that hung over top of one another to appear like it was just one charm. When I didn’t understand it, Chance explained.

  “I wanted you to have something special so I had these made. You can wear them every day and your father will never see my name, because it will be hiding under yours.” He took the necklace and showed me.

  “I love it. Thank you so much. I’ll never take it off,” I exclaimed. I’d personally gotten jewelry as a gift before, but nothing so sentimental.

  “That’s what I was going for when I got it.” He laughed.

  Putting that necklace around Hope’s neck made me feel content. I’d bought that for her with my first paycheck, and couldn’t wait to give it to her. I pulled it out every night as we talked on the phone and traced her name with my thumb. It was probably so ridiculous, but I clung to whatever I could; being alone sucked so badly. While my co-workers were hitting the town going to strip clubs, I resorted to staying a hermit in my motel room, knowing my girl was at home waiting for me to return. I wasn’t taking this second chance at life for granted.
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  While she drove she played with the necklace. I could tell it meant so much to her, which in turn meant a lot to me. As soon as I spotted that charm that hid a secret one behind it, I knew it was perfect. Unless she shook it, nobody would ever see my name.

  Hope drove the slowest I’d ever seen her drive on our way back to the house. I wondered if she was going to hang a left and drive us out of state, so that we didn’t have to pretend anymore. I missed my sister, but being without Hope was unbearable. After the night we’d just shared, I couldn’t imagine looking in the opposite direction when she entered the room. I was in awe of her, and desperately needed to make up for lost time.

  When we pulled into the long driveway I heard Hope sigh. She dreaded this part of my visit and I could feel her pain. I squeezed her hand. “Baby, I promise we’ll be together tonight.”

  “I know. I just don’t want to wait, and I don’t like sharing you,” she pouted.

  “Trust me, Hope, I plan on going to bed early tonight. Don’t you?” I winked so she’d catch on.

  “Hell yeah. I feel tired already,” She said sarcastically.

  I brought her hand to my lips. “I fucking love you, and I’m home now. Nothing is going to keep me from holding you in my arms tonight.”

  “Then let’s get this show on the road.”

  Hope left her bag in the car and walked with me toward the house. Buffy came running out and hugged me immediately. “If he asks, I called Hope this morning to grab you from the airport,” she whispered.

  “I missed you too, sis.” I said as I watched Mark approaching us.

  “Hey, Chance. I didn’t even know you were visiting this weekend. How’ve you been doing?” Mark asked.

  I tried to remain calm, but I was still pissed about what he had done to his daughter. There was no way I would ever treat her that way. “I wanted to surprise everyone, and I pretty much hate the job. The money is good, but when it’s over, I plan on coming home and going back to school. This isn’t what I see doing forever.”