Hook Up (Taking Chances Book 2)

by TC Matson

  In absolutely no rush—because why the hell does anyone want to wake up earlier than they need to—I pull myself out of the bed and drag my feet as I make my way down the hallway.

  “Look,” she pushes past me. “It’s evident.”

  I glance down to my black and white pajamas then back to her. “Okay. So I wasn’t exactly up. It’s not that big of a deal.”

  “No,” she shakes her head and exhales. “You and Cody are evident.”

  “You only think that because you know about us. We’re the same ol’ same ol’.”

  “Nope. You’re not. You may think so, but that flirty banter has more behind it now. Did you catch Nathan’s expression? Even he is suspecting something.”

  I grab the orange juice from the fridge and tip the carton her way, seeing if she wants any. When she shakes her head, I pour a glass. “I think you’re reading too much into it. You’re seeing shit.”

  “You have the look, Ams.”

  I suck in a breath. We all know that look, the one of love, fondness, desire, and need. “Nonsense.”

  “You have feelings for him. Don’t deny it or yourself.”

  “Sure. I like him.”

  “You are going to get caught in the lies and it’s going to break Brooklyn’s heart. I’m sure Nathan will not be happy with Cody either. You have to come clean. Cody can’t keep his eyes off you, which by the way is all the time. Brady says keeping it a secret will ruin the friendship.”

  “Brady knows too?”

  She throws her hands up as she falls to the couch. “I had to talk to someone!”

  Worrying my bottom lip, I stare at the juice in my cup. I know she’s right and I can’t stand lying to B. She’s been my best friend for years through thick and thin. There when we needed each other the most without any judgement.

  “I’ll talk to Cody today,” I say.

  Her lips curve up. “If it’s any consolation, you two look really good together. You’ve got a smile that NASA can see from space and he’s beaming too. Whatever worries you’re having about him, pack them up and toss them. I personally don’t think he’s going to hurt you.”

  That’s the issue—the war between my heart and brain. My heart says to follow it. My brain says to run.

  “I think you’re taming the beast. He’s had eyes for you since you met him and for him not to beat down your door when you were most vulnerable speaks volumes. He’s taking his time to prove something.”

  “He’s really sweet, Shy. There’s a side of Cody I didn’t know existed and I like it.”

  She beams. “Give me all the details.”

  Dropping to the opposite end of the couch and tucking my feet under me, I spend the next hour filling her in on everything, from the dates, just hanging out, everything we’ve talked about, down to the nitty gritty of how I am feeling things for him and how my heart and mind are fighting.

  One thing is for sure, Shyla is right. I need to come clean with Brooklyn and Cody.

  TWENTY-ONE

  Mundane meetings are never my jam. Monotone puts me to sleep or has me lost in thought not paying attention to the “important” words I should be catching. Numbers, dollars, metrics, figures—those excite me. Growth, surpluses, and balances give me a high. Any drops or losses ignite my determination. Accounting is my porn. And while being in this sales meeting should have my brain kicked into high gear, I’m thinking about nothing else but Aimee. Which is awful because thinking about her either has my dick hard or my chest booming—two things I shouldn’t necessarily be dealing with right now.

  My phone vibrates inside the pocket of my jacket, shoving me back into the meeting. Discreetly, I pull it out and see a message from Aimee. I bite the inside of my lip to keep from full-blown grinning at my lap. I mean, I’m proud of my dick, but he and I don’t have a joking relationship.

  Aimee: Is it okay if I stop by?

  Me: Can you give me twenty? Napping through a meeting.

  Aimee: Sure. See in you thirty.

  I shove my phone back into my pocket and look up, directly into the curious gaze of Nathan. I lift a brow and turn my focus back to George, who is unexcitedly droning on about how the Willows Tower is doing impeccably, like I didn’t already know. I keep a close eye on those reports.

  The second he ends the meeting, I thank him for sharing the information he provided and head back to my office, but not before stopping at Mary’s desk.

  “I’m expecting Miss Valis soon. Send her through.”

  Her face lights up and she bats her eyes. “Twice in two weeks?”

  Ignoring that, I continue. “Also, if the boss is spotted, give me a heads up.” I rap my knuckles on the counter and leave before she can ask me anything else.

  I’m looking over the Willows financials when Aimee steps in. My grin explodes. Her cut-off shorts brag on her tanned legs, her hair up in a high messy ponytail brags on her personality. She doesn’t give a damn what people think of her in a corporate office. Her smile makes my heart pound.

  “Couldn’t wait to see me tonight?”

  She purses her lips and instead of rounding the desk, she sits in the chair across from my desk. “No fooling around. You’ll get me off topic.”

  I rest back in my chair and hum a chuckle. “You come in business?”

  She giggles. “Like I would have anything in your paygrade.” There’s a nervousness in her tone and an anxiousness in her eyes. “I think we need to come clean and tell our friends.”

  “It was never my idea to keep us a secret.”

  She chews on the edge of her lip. “Shyla thinks Nathan already suspects.”

  More than suspects… “Husbands and wives talk,” I inform.

  She nods. “I hate lying to Brooklyn. I don’t want to do it anymore.”

  “I’m following your lead. Tell me how you want to do this.”

  Her knee begins to bounce and she wrings her thumb. “Can you even settle down?” The moment the statement slips past her lips, she slaps a hand over her mouth. “I didn’t mean it like—”

  “Yes, you did.” I stand, rounding the desk and dropping my ass to the edge. “And my answer is yes. With you, it’s a definitive yes. And if I haven’t made it clear yet, I need to do more to prove it to you.” I clutch her hand and pull her up and against me. “I’m pretty infatuated with you. Everything about you.”

  Her smile beams and it reaches those beautiful blue eyes I’m in love with. But it’s short-lived as hesitation storms back in. “What are we then?”

  “I’m hoping you’re my girlfriend.”

  The grin she bestows on me explodes in my chest and threatens to knock my knees out from under me.

  “I’d like that.” She stretches and kisses me softly. “Saturday, when everyone is together, I’ll come clean and explain. I think Brooklyn will understand if I clarify.”

  “I think you’re worried about nothing.”

  She shrugs. “Probably.”

  I lower my mouth to hers when suddenly two beeps come from the intercom on my phone. Aimee peels herself out of my grasp and drops her ass in the seat just as my door opens and Nathan steps in. He eyes us both warily.

  “Aimee.”

  Wide eyes hit me before she steels her composure and spins around to look at him. “Nathan… You know, seeing you both in your natural habitat is unnerving. I know how you are outside of work and then seeing you inside your cages being all uptight and dare I say professional… It’s weird.”

  I hide my chuckle. That was the first thing that popped in her rambling mind?

  Nathan barks a laugh. “Weird? Right. What brings you by?”

  Truth time…. “Actually, we—”

  “I needed some financial advice,” Aimee blurts out, cutting me off as she jumps to her feet. “Who better to come to. Am I right?”

  She drops her gaze to the floor before straying back to me, her expression full of apologies. What the hell? Did we not just establish we were done with the secrets?

  She wip
es her palms on her shorts. “Anyway, I need to get going. I’ve got an appointment in an hour.” She turns back to me. “Thanks.” The word is heavily laced with guilt.

  I’m dumbfounded as she passes by Nathan and steps out. What the hell just happened?

  “If you’re still trying to sweep her off her feet, it doesn’t look like your succeeding,” Nathan states.

  No shit.

  Aimee: If we had told Nathan, B wouldn’t have found out from me and I really want to talk to her.

  The text comes an hour later.

  Aimee: I’m sorry. I hope you understand.

  I decide to hit her with my ugly truth.

  Cody: This entire situation is starting to fuck with my head.

  Within seconds, she calls my phone. “I know I didn’t handle that well. To be honest, I don’t think I’ve handled any of this well,” she starts. “It may seem petty to you, but Brooklyn means a lot to me in so many different ways. She has seen me at my worst, at my best, and everything in between. We started off as a lie and now I hate myself for it. If we had told Nathan, there’s no doubt he would’ve told her. I want to be the one to tell her because I’m the one who has deceived our friendship.”

  “Do you really think they’d be against us?” It’s a major question.

  She’s quiet for a moment before she answers. “No.”

  “Then what the hell, Aimee? There’s got to be more to this shit than you worrying about Brooklyn. Even I know she won’t lose her ass.”

  “Everything feels different with you.” Her whisper is full of emotions and suddenly, I get it.

  She’s feeling it too. The same thing I do.

  “You know I’ll catch you. Right?”

  “I’ve got to go. I left Mrs. Chambers in the dryer.”

  If I needed any proof at all that she was on the same page as me, I just was slapped in the face with it. Aimee is in just as deeply as I am.

  TWENTY-TWO

  By some stroke of luck, the universe has tilted, the stars have aligned with the moon and blessed all three of us with a day off together. This hasn’t happened for years outside of it being planned. And we have decided to make the best of it doing what we do best—shopping! There’s nothing I love more than to spend a few hundred dollars pampering myself with clothes, a gorgeous new purse, heels to match, and lunch. It feels like old times before we all started settling down.

  I’ve also made up my mind. I’m telling them about me and Cody. Today. Just us girls, where I can bear my soul and fill them in on everything I’m feeling. Maybe they’ll help me not be so scared to face the scars of my past with a man I’m crazy about in my future.

  “Our diner?” Shyla asks as we step out of the clothing store and onto the sidewalk.

  “Yes!” Brooklyn chirps. “I’m dying for a glass of wine and our old talks.”

  “Good. I’ve got a few things I want to talk about,” I admit… heart hammering in my chest.

  “Ohh. This sounds juicy. Are we coming clean about Finn?”

  “Actually, yeah. But I need wine first.”

  Appeased and excited, Brooklyn nods and Shyla grins.

  A block away from the diner, a familiar body rounds the corner heading toward us and our eyes lock. He looks the same—put together with the sweet brown eyes I fell in love with all those years ago. What the fuck is he doing here?

  “Aimee?” William’s lips quirk up. “Hey.”

  “What the fuck are you doing here?” So much for being filtered.

  Shyla and Brooklyn flank my side, creating a wall of power.

  He scratches the back of his neck. “Stephanie had her baby.” My traitorous eyes soften, and he smiles. “Healthy baby boy with a head full of hair like John.”

  “Wow. I had no idea your sister was pregnant. Congratulations.”

  “Yeah. Got into town this morning and just in the nick of time because thirty minutes later, he was born.” He looks between my scowling friends. “I’ve heard congratulations are in order for you both.”

  “Yep.” Brooklyn says curtly.

  Shyla doesn’t respond.

  Sorrow drowns his expression and my stupid chest constricts at the sight. “Can I speak with you for a second? Alone?”

  “You have a creek to paddle, William.” Shyla spits. “You had your time for six years, you know before you stuck your dick in places it shouldn’t have been.”

  His eyes never leave mine. “Please?”

  I blame it on morbid curiosity, interested in what he has to say only for the closure I never got when he left without answering a single question I shouted at him.

  Exhaling a heavy breath, I point to a spot no less than two feet away, just out of the path of the people walking the sidewalk. “You have two minutes.”

  Stepping away from my power wall and in front of the brick building, I give him my attention. He reaches out, touching my arm and I recoil from him. “Talking and touching are two different things, and one of them I never agreed to.”

  He shoves his hands into his pockets. “Hear me out.”

  Impatiently, I rock back on my heels knowing I really shouldn’t torture myself and listen to whatever he has to say. But I have one question ringing in my ears. Why wasn’t I good enough?

  “I made a colossal mistake,” he starts. It surprises the shit out of me so much that my brows jump so high and so quickly up my forehead, it’s a wonder they didn’t fly off. “We got into a rut. A complacent routine. I was under a lot of pressure from work and from you, from us. Instead of telling you how I felt, I kept it in. I didn’t mean for things to happen and go as far as they did with Helen, but before I knew it, the newness and the thrill swallowed me up. If I could take it all back, I would. I knew I made a mistake the moment I moved. I love you, Aimee, and I wish I could prove to you how sorry I am, how much I realize I screwed up.”

  The sidewalk falls out from under my feet. All the hurt I felt from the night he confessed his affair comes rushing back and slams me in the chest. The mess of my heart he left that I’ve been putting back into place comes crashing down around me. Hot tears burn my eyes. My lungs seize, the air feeling like fire.

  “I’m moving back home. I called things off with Helen. And I was hoping I could prove to you that I’m willing to do everything to right my wrong.”

  Swallowing the burn in my throat, I blink, allowing those tears to fall down my cheek. “You left me for a Helen?”

  He doesn’t respond to my ridiculous question.

  “Did she know about me?”

  His head drops. “No. I told her I was single. I only admitted it when I broke up with her.”

  “Not only are you a cheater, but a liar too.” The laugh that drops from my lips is menacing. “Wow, William.”

  “I did everything wrong. I know that now.”

  “Why wasn’t I good enough?” The question burns my throat. “What made being with me so bad that you had to run into the arms of another woman?”

  I watch his Adam’s apple bob. “It had nothing to do with you. Looking back, I didn’t realize what we had, and by the time I did, it was too late.”

  Although my heart hurts, there’s one thing keeping my head up—knowing how I feel about Cody. The pieces of my heart I put back together, Cody owns them. And without a doubt, he’d never shatter me. I’m in love with Cody…

  “Aimee, I’m willing to do anything, wait as long as I need to just to prove it’ll never happen again.”

  I take a step back. “You’ll be waiting an awfully long time because you’ll never have a second chance with me.” I blink and another tear spills out from the corner. “If you didn’t realize it then, you’ll never realize it now. You hurt me, but I owe you a lot of thanks for it because it was the clearest wakeup call I could’ve asked for. I wasn’t in love with you anymore and had you asked me to marry you, I would’ve never seen you at the end of the aisle.” I smile, thinking of Cody. “Goodbye, William.”

  Turning my back to him with my head held
high, I go back to where Shyla and Brooklyn are hawking me. The ground feels shaky after the bombshell, but I’m not falling apart. Not for him.

  “Are you okay?” Brooklyn asks.

  “Yeah.” I tell her.

  She nods, understanding.

  “I’ve been lying to you, B.” I flick my view to her, and my tears fall over my bottom lashes. “And honestly to myself for months because of that asshole.”

  Confused, she narrows her eyes trying to read me.

  “I’m in love with Cody. Absurdly. And I’ve kept him hidden away and at arm’s length because I haven’t felt like I was good enough.” My voice wavers as the emotions drown me. “I’ve been petrified to move on because I’ve always wondered if I was the one who pushed William to cheat. And what’s worse? If Cody doesn’t feel the same way, I’ll be more devastated than I can even fathom. I’ve lied over and over to your face, which makes me no better than that piece of shit who broke me.”

  “Aimee…” she starts softly, shaking her head.

  “I’m sorry.” I hope she feels the power behind those two measly words. “I need to go home and process my day. Alone.” I swallow, biting a smile. “And I’d appreciate it if you two let me.”

  I leave Shyla and Brooklyn with tears in their eyes, just the same as mine.

  TWENTY-THREE

  “Um, sir?” Mary’s voice is panicked just before my door flings open revealing a wild-eyed Brooklyn stomping in with Shyla in tow.

  “Whatever you’re working on, put it the hell down,” she snaps. “I’m assuming you have twenty seconds before my husband gets here.”

  “What the hell is happening?”

  “My question exactly,” Nathan’s voice booms from behind everyone.

  “Shut the door, Nathan.” My brows jump high at her demand, as do his. She crosses her arms over her chest, anger radiating from her. “Spill it, Cody.”

  Oh… I glance between Shyla and her but keep my mouth shut.

  “Does Nathan know?”

  I shake my head. “Only suspects.”

  “I’m so pissed off that you didn’t tell me,” she barks to Shyla before spinning back to me. “Did you know Aimee didn’t feel adequate enough for you? Did you know she lied to me, her best friend, because she didn’t feel she deserved you?” Her voice quakes.