A Hope and a Chance

by Jennifer Foor

  “You seemed to have put a great deal of thought into this. Do you have names already?” I asked curiously, knowing darn well that getting pregnant at eighteen was not on my to-do list.

  “Of course I do.” I watched dimples forming on his cheeks, and knew this was going to be good. “The girl will be named Faith, and our son will be Lucky.”

  I burst out in laughter.

  “What? Don’t you think that’s good? We can have one of those country signs made over our door. Instead of it saying Faith-Hope-Love, it will say Faith-Hope-Chance-Lucky.”

  I continued laughing until I was sure I was going to pee myself. I got up and ran for the bathroom. It was becoming a habit for me to just go with the bathroom door wide open, so I decided to continue the conversation. “What would the dog’s name be?”

  “Oh that’s easy, Rumplestiltskin,” he yelled.

  As I was trying to get up to finally brush my teeth, I cocked my head into the bedroom door. “What the hell? Why?” I asked while still in hysterics.

  “Have you ever known a dog with that name? I mean, if I take him to the park I want him to know I’m talking to him. I think it is quite genius actually.” Chance was still in bed with both his arms folded behind his head.

  I rolled my eyes and let out another chuckle. “You know that is ridiculous right?”

  “Probably.”

  Looking at the mess on the top of my head, and brushing my teeth with the brush stuck in my mouth, I continued to speak. “So when do you want to head out to the stores?” I asked.

  “Well since the mall is about an hour from here, I would say soon,” he replied.

  I ran back into the bedroom and jumped on top of him. I had fresh breath, and had managed to get my hair looking halfway decent. “Get up then. I’ll meet you in the house in a half hour. I’m going to go run around the block, and then hop in the shower.” I leaned in to kiss him.

  He pulled me back down on top of him. “I just need one more hug from the future mother of my children and caretaker of Rumplestilskin.” He continued with his early morning bantering. As much as I wanted to stick around I knew I had to get myself motivated. I got up and headed out of the pool house, just like I did almost every morning, leaving my cute, half-naked man in bed.

  After finally managing to get myself out from under my warm blankets I jumped in the shower, and then dressed. I had to call two different places before I managed to get someone that could repair Hope’s window while we shopped.

  When I headed into the main house I found the three of them glued to the television in the kitchen. They barely took their eyes off of the screen. “Good morning, people. What’s so interesting?” I asked.

  Buffy didn’t say anything; instead, she grabbed the remote and turned up the volume.

  Investigators found the woman living in Ohio. It appeared that the incident had been staged so that the woman could run away from her life here in Virginia. Since there were never any formal charges in her disappearance, the case has been closed.

  After adjusting the volume back down on the television, they all turned to look at me.

  I took a sip of my coffee. “What? I told you all I had nothing to do with it.”

  “We’re just glad everyone else knows that now, Chance,” Buffy admitted.

  “Buffy’s right, you have to feel some kind of relief knowing you don’t have that lingering over your head,” Mark added.

  “I do, but I knew all along that I’d never met the woman.” I took another sip of my coffee. “So I managed to find a shop near the mall that can fix Hope’s window today. She and I have some wedding and Christmas shopping to do, so we’re going to drop it off,” I explained. It was great that we were actually allowed to hang out together. It sure made being together easier.

  “Thanks for taking care of that so quickly, Chance. I was going to make some calls about that this afternoon,” Mark replied.

  I finished my cup of coffee and rinsed it in the sink. “It wasn’t a problem. Besides, I’m the one that had to break it.”

  “Yeah, but you did it so that Hope wouldn’t freeze to death,” Buffy got her two-cents in.

  When I finally looked up to meet Hope’s eyes, I noticed that her hair was down and the natural waves were showing off her highlights. She was wearing tight jeans that tucked into a pair of black riding boots, and a sweater that showed off a lot more cleavage than it probably should in the shape of a V. I tried not to stare, but I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. She caught my gaze. “Are you ready to go, Chance?”

  I was wearing one of my Penn State hoodies and a pair of jeans that were meant to have small rips around the pockets. In comparison, we really didn’t match up well. “I’m just going to change my shirt. I think this might be too hot once we get into the crowded mall. I’ll be right back.”

  I ran straight toward my closet and found a short sleeve V-neck that I usually wore when I went out. I kept the jeans on, but grabbed my leather jacket, which happened to match Hope’s boots. With one last spray of cologne, I headed to the front yard where I found my beauty waiting for me.

  Hope bit down on her lip when she took a look at what I’d changed in to. “My boyfriend is yummy,” she confessed in a low enough voice that no one else could hear.

  “He doesn’t compare to my girlfriend,” I joked. “Seriously, Hope, you look fucking amazing.”

  She smiled and started her car. “Thank you.”

  I couldn’t take my eyes off of her for the entire car ride. At one point she held her hand up to shade herself from me, because I kept taking pictures on my phone. When we finally got to the glass shop I jumped out and opened her door for her. I wanted everyone there to know she was taken.

  The mall was right across the main highway from the shop, so it was easy for us to walk over there and get our shopping done while we waited.

  I held Hope’s hand as we crossed the busy road, and even as we strolled from store to store. I noticed people looking at us, and I couldn’t help but smile. We were both dressed pretty nice; compared to a few people that were actually shopping in raggedy old pajama pants.

  When we got into a major department store I headed directly toward the household section. “Where are we going?” Hope asked.

  “We are getting your dad and Buff one of those new coffee machines that makes one cup at a time.”

  Hope giggled as we approached the said machine. “You’re getting them something we can use too? How awesome is that?”

  “My ideas are always kick-ass, baby.” I threw her a smile before turning my attention to the selection.

  We ended up picking out the biggest machine, and after buying a specific coffee and the accessories I wasn’t worried about them thinking we bought it for ourselves too.

  Hope decided she wanted to get her mother a charm bracelet. I thought it was a great idea, because they could always add to it. We found a jewelry kiosk in the center of the mall and started working with an associate to gather the charms Hope was looking for. Before Hope caught on, I saw the chick checking me out. I tried to be polite and smile, but she immediately got all googly eyed.

  Just as I saw Hope had noticed, I grabbed her hand and kissed it. I looked directly up at the girl. “Do you have any large diamond rings here?” I asked.

  Her eyes got really big. “No, we only sell accessory jewelry. There is a fancier store right down there though if that is what you are looking for,” she explained in a shitty manner. I wanted to laugh in her face. Why did chicks do that when the guys were obviously taken already?

  Hope was looking up at me as I gave her a wink. “We’re going there next, baby. I can’t wait to get that thing on your finger.” I announced loud enough that the girl would hear playing off how she’d reacted.

  We paid for our things and headed on our way. Hope stopped me after we were out of the girls view. “I can’t believe you did that.”

  “Did what? I told her that I wanted to get you a ring? It was the truth,” I confessed.<
br />
  She didn’t know how much I wanted her to have it. I know we were young, but it was a promise that when we were ready, we would do it.

  “You know I can’t wear something like that around the house, Chance. At least not for the next few weeks.” She corrected.

  “Fine, I’ll wait!” I gave in. “So who’re we shopping for next?”

  “Actually, I need to get you something. Do you want to pick it out yourself?” She asked.

  “Hell no! I like surprises. In fact, you being in a giant box would be awesome. Do you think you could put yourself under the tree?” I joked.

  Hope looped her arm into mine as we walked. “I don’t think that would be a feasible option.”

  We both laughed. What she didn’t realize was that I was truly picturing her coming out of that box, naked of course. “Well how about you go shopping for me and I go shopping for you, then we can meet back here in thirty minutes,” I suggested.

  “Okay, it’s a deal. No peeking at the bags though.”

  “You too!” I threatened and pointed my finger at her. “And no talking to hot dudes.” I added.

  Hope started stepping away from me backwards. “The only hot dude in this mall is already mine. See you later, baby.”

  Hearing her call me baby was hot! She needed to do it more.

  51

  After finishing shopping with Chance, I couldn’t wait for Christmas to get here. I’d made plans to spend time with my mother, and was eager to give her the bracelet that Chance had helped me purchase for her. I was also contemplating introducing them. It was exciting for me to finally be able to show him off as my boyfriend.

  Buffy and my dad had gone out for a Christmas Eve party and left he and I alone for the night. I’m sure Buffy knew what was going to happen, but my dad sure didn’t. They’d been so caught up with wedding plans, that Chance and I were able to spend all of our time together.

  Since the temperature outside had dropped, he was working on projects inside the house, so I usually just hung out or helped him.

  Chance and I had made plans for an all night marathon of A Christmas Story and National Lampoon’s Christmas. There was no other two favorite movies of mine that I could watch over and over during the holidays.

  Chance made us hot chocolate and we cuddled on the couch together.

  “Do you want to open your present?” I asked anxiously.

  “What about tomorrow?”

  “I have something normal to give you then. This present is just for us,” I confessed.

  Chance got a huge grin on his face, and I could see those shallow dimples showing. “Sure. Can I give you one of yours then?”

  “Okay.”

  I ran up to my room to get Chance’s present ready, while he ran out to his place to get mine. I was so nervous and wondered if this was some mistake. It certainly wasn’t something I was comfortable with.

  When I had put the finishing touches on it, I heard Chance coming in the kitchen door. I ran downstairs and hid until he was parked comfortably on the couch. I snuck up behind him, tied the bandana around his eyes, and then turned on the song ‘Santa Baby’.

  I was so nervous that my body was shaking profusely. I started rubbing Chance’s legs and made sure he didn’t try to touch me. By the time I’d sat back on his lap, he knew what was happening. His hands slid from my neck to my very tiny Santa’s helper bra and panties. They were both red velvet with fur trim, but the fabric was non-existent at that.

  When Chance felt the fabric, he quickly pulled off the blindfold. “Holy shit!” Was all he could say.

  I stood up right in front of him and swayed my hips slowly from side to side. I squatted down and came back up running my fingers over my exposed abdomen. The black heels I had borrowed from Buffy’s closet were actually easier than I thought to dance in, and I felt extremely sexy with them on.

  I picked up my foot and drug my heel between his legs, making sure it brushed against his hardness. His eyes never left my body. He kept biting his lip and contorting his face, like I was torturing him. I ran my hands through my hair, letting my hands linger behind my head. I turned and readily shook my ass right in front of his face. Then I kneeled on the floor, crawling my way up to his lap, so I could lick him across his lips.

  Chance’s hands were on my chest as he cupped my breasts in his hands. He tugged at the tiny bra and allowed them to fall out of the top. His tongue brushed against one of my nipples and I felt it trigger a reaction instantly between my legs.

  All of my nervousness had subsided as Chance ran his hand down my abdomen, and reached into my decorative panties. When his finger found out how hot and ready I was, he began sliding it in and out of me. My legs straddled his body on the couch as he continued to move his finger deeper into my folds.

  I thrust my head back and felt the sensation growing between my legs. Finally, I erupted and felt it running through my entire body. “Oh, yeah,” I cried out!

  I didn’t waste any time unbuttoning his jeans and pulling it out with my hand. Chance ripped off my Santa panties right before I jumped back on top of him. His mouth found my nipple again, the exact moment his hard cock entered me. I moved up and down in a steady groove. The room had once been chilly, but it was now scorching hot. I gripped Chance’s shirt and pulled it up over his head. I just wanted to see that chest, the one that I thought about so often. I used his shoulders to push my weight up and down, while he tugged at my waist to assist. My breasts were bouncing in his face, so he stuck out his tongue to catch my nipple. He pushed them together licking them both at the same time.

  “Please don’t stop, Hope. Fuck me, baby,” he murmured as he licked both nipples again.

  This time we both screamed out in a simultaneous bout of extreme bliss. I collapsed on top of him, allowing his strong arms to keep me close. “That was awesome,” he whispered in my hair while still out of breath. “Can you wear that every year for me?”

  “Mmm, of course.”

  Hope’s present to me was AMAZING! I was glad she finally let me touch her, because I was about to explode in my pants just having to watch. She had no idea what her body did to me, and with only a week until her eighteenth birthday, I was becoming anxious. We decided we were going to wait until after the New Year to tell the whole world about our relationship. We were both concerned that her parents wouldn’t approve, at least at first. We’d been sneaking around for so long now that it was going to hurt more than help.

  “Would you be mad if I gave you both of your presents tomorrow?” I asked.

  “No. Did I do something wrong?”

  I shook my head “Baby, you did everything right.”

  “I guess I can wait,” she replied.

  Since I knew that Buffy and Mark were going to be home really late, it was just another reason for Hope to sleep in my bed tonight. I wanted to wake up and be the first person to wish her a Merry Christmas.

  “How about we head over and climb into bed? We can continue watching the movies from my room.”

  We both stood up and gathered our clothes. Hope ran upstairs and grabbed something to wear in the morning when she went for her run. We then headed to the pool house. My mind was all over the place as we climbed in next to one another. It wasn’t just Christmas that excited me. It was Hope turning eighteen.

  When I woke up it was brighter than normal. I climbed out of bed to go to the bathroom, and stopped to look out the window. It had begun to snow and the grass was already covered. Realizing it was Christmas morning I hurried to go to the bathroom, brush my teeth and grab Hope’s secret present.

  When I got back into the room she was already sitting up leaning on her elbows. “Come back to bed,” she purred.

  I climbed onto the mattress and handed her a shoebox that I had tried to wrap myself. The ribbon was in disarray, but it served its purpose enough.

  She looked at me having no idea what the gift was, and began to unwrap it. To her surprise, the box was empty, so it seemed. She shook it an
d heard something small hitting the sides. She grabbed the ball of tissue paper and started ripping it apart.

  Hope froze when the tiny ring fell onto her lap. She held it in her hand and looked up to me.

  “Chance?”

  “Hope, I know we’re young. I don’t want you to feel like this is something we have to set in stone. Our love story has been complicated from the very beginning. It seems like we always have some hurdle standing in our way. I bought you this ring as a promise. I promise to always love you and want to share my life and my future with you. You don’t have to wear it, but just keep it until you’re ready.”

  Hope looked at the ring. It wasn’t gigantic, but it wasn’t too small either. The heart diamond in the center was only a half carat, but the band was covered in tiny diamonds all the way around. “If you don’t like it we can return it. I picked out white gold because it goes so well with your skin.” When I realized I was starting to ramble, I shut up, desperately waiting for a response.

  When she remained silent I felt as if this purchase had been a huge mistake. How could I have thrown myself out there without considering it could backfire?

  Hope looked up at me, and I noticed her eyes were filled with tears. In that instant I felt like she was going to tell me she couldn’t accept it.

  I was panicking.

  “Chance, this is so beautiful. I don’t know what to say. I certainly didn’t expect anything like this from you. It must have cost a lot of money.”

  “Well, I paid off my motorcycle that I’d bought on my credit card, and it was just begging me to buy something else with it. It doesn’t even matter what it cost, Hope. You mean everything to me.”

  Hope put the ring on her finger, and I got butterflies watching her admire it. “What if I don’t want to ever take it off?” She asked.

  “Well as happy as that makes me, I think you might want to at least wait one more week,” I suggested. “So does this mean you like it?”