“Hmm…and what was that?”
She slapped his chest.
“I’m kidding!” he hollered. “I know what you said.”
“Then what’d I say?” Amelia teased.
“You said, and I quote, ‘I can tell you one thing, she better not try to take what’s mine.’” Zach stated word for word what she had told him the night before.
“Good, you were listening to me.”
“I always listen to you,” Zach stated.
“That’s good,” she said. “I say a lot of important stuff.”
Zach sat up on the couch and reached for his clothes.
“What’re you doing?”
He tossed his clothes on the floor and lifted her off the couch. She giggled and held onto him as he carried her to the stairs. He stumbled up a few of the stairs as he carried her.
“What’re we doing?”
“I’m thinking about round number two,” he said as he placed her on the bed.
She threw her head back and arched her back as his mouth found her nipple and he gently nibbled and sucked on it. A silent moan escaped her lips.
She accepted him as he slid deep into her and he slowly started round number two.
Chapter Fourteen
Amelia hurried to the phone as it rang its fourth ring. She knew it was her mother, who called every Sunday to chat with her.
“Hi, Mom,” Amelia answered when she put the phone to her ear.
“Tell Zach I’m waiting for him,” a woman’s voice said through the speaker.
“I…” Amelia was cut off by dial tone. Amelia slammed the phone in its cradle. “She’s so immature. I can’t believe this.”
“Who’s immature?” Zach asked as he walked into the kitchen. “Who called?”
Amelia’s face heated. “Your ex-girlfriend.”
Zach’s jaw dropped. He reached into the fridge and grabbed the half gallon of milk. He poured it into a glass and said, “What’d she say this time?”
Amelia furrowed her eyebrows. “She told me to tell you she’s waiting for you.”
Zach chuckled. “She’ll be waiting a long time then, because I’m not going anywhere.” Amelia rolled her eyes. Zach watched her and caught her in the act. “What? You don’t believe me?”
Amelia sighed. “I never said I don’t believe you.”
Zach pulled a chair away from the table and sat down. “Okay, but you have doubts.”
Amelia walked to the table and grabbed a chair. She plopped onto it and said, “Wouldn’t you?”
Zach narrowed his eyes as he watched her pout. “Do you really want to go there again?”
The answer to his question was no, but she didn’t care either way. She was tired of this never ending drama. She couldn’t wait for the damn baby to be born so they could prove he wasn’t the father. She shrugged.
He tossed his arms up and said, “What do you want me to do?”
She had no idea how to answer his question. She wasn’t sure there was anything he could do. They were along for the ride and Courtney was in control.
“Nothing,” she said as she stood up. She watched his expression turn sour.
“I wish you’d understand I’m doing everything I can to avoid her until I have no choice,” he stated. “You act like I’m enjoying this. Well, I’m not. It’s getting old. And I’m not enjoying any of it, especially the arguments with you.”
Amelia shrugged. Welcome to my world. “Well, you’re not the one she’s harassing.”
Zach sat back in his chair and pointed to the phone. “What do you call that?”
Amelia felt the urge to be sarcastic, but she held off. He was angry. She didn’t want to anger him more. She decided not to answer his question, because she was unsure if he really wanted an answer.
“She’s bothering both of us, not just you,” he confirmed.
Amelia put up her hands and said, “Okay, I’m not arguing with you.”
Zach grunted. “Are you sure about that? Because it seems you want to.”
“Whoa, since when did this become my fault?” Amelia asked. She grabbed her book from the table and said, “Just remember, none of this would be happening if you hadn’t slept with her that one last time.”
She turned to walk out of the kitchen and he hollered at her, “Really? Let’s talk about Ryan.”
The sound of his name stung deep inside of her. She turned and narrowed her eyes on Zach. Tears burned the edges of her eyes. Her bottom lip trembled as she tried to speak. She bit her lip to stop it. She pointed a finger at him and shook it. She could not believe he had thrown this at her. She wondered what on earth he was thinking. She tilted her head and glared at him. He sat unnerved at the table as he watched her. He never moved a muscle.
She pulled herself together and said, “What does he have to do with this?”
Zach shrugged unfazed and said, “You want to throw my mistakes at me, I say it’s fair game to do the same.”
What an asshole. Amelia turned and stomped out of the house. She needed air before she made a bigger mess out of this situation.
* * *
“Why’s he being so mean?” Amelia asked Bailey.
Bailey had opened her door after Amelia had banged on it a few times. Bailey had looked shocked as Amelia stepped into her house. Amelia had no doubt she looked like a raging lunatic.
“What happened?” Bailey searched for an explanation.
Amelia tossed her arms up and said, “I have no idea where to even begin.”
Defeat and heartache overwhelmed her at the moment. She felt as though everything was too much to handle.
Bailey wrapped an arm around her and guided her to the couch. “Here, have a seat. I’ll get you some tea.”
Bailey walked into her kitchen while Amelia sat and sulked. Amelia rested her head in her hands as she bent forward onto her knees. She couldn’t believe this was turning into a complete nightmare. She had fought with the man of her dreams, and for what? She had no clue how to handle this situation. It was out of control.
“Here you go, I warmed it for you,” Bailey said as she handed her the cup of tea.
Amelia took a sip and set it down on the coffee table in front of her.
“Tell me what happened from the beginning,” Bailey encouraged.
“Well, you know about her coming into the store,” Amelia said. “She had told me she was going to Zach’s furniture store, but she never did. At least that’s what Zach says.”
Bailey sat back into the chair and listened.
“So we’ve been arguing about it since then,” Amelia concluded. “She called the house a while ago and told me to tell Zach she’s waiting for him.”
Bailey put a hand over her mouth to refrain from using the words that tried to fall out.
Amelia wrinkled her nose. “Exactly. And now Zach and I are arguing over the fact there’s nothing we can do about it.”
Bailey shook her head. “You can’t let that psycho bitch come between you guys.”
“That’s easier said than done,” Amelia said. She took another drink of tea and continued on, “To top things off, Zach threw Ryan in my face.”
Bailey’s eyes grew wide. “Why on earth would he do such a thing? That’s not the Zach I know.”
Amelia shrugged. She did feel a bit guilty for what she had said to Zach, which had caused him to say what he had said to her. “I have to take some blame for causing him to say it,” Amelia admitted.
“What did you say to him?” Bailey questioned.
“I told him none of this would be happening if he hadn’t slept with her that one last time.”
Bailey’s eyes grew wider than they were before. “Amelia, that wasn’t very nice of you to say.”
Amelia shrugged. “If he wants to be an ass, then he gets what he has coming.”
Bailey shook her head. “Amelia, I don’t think he’s trying to be an ass. I honestly think he’s trying to cope with the stress in a different way than you.”
&
nbsp; Amelia sat back into the couch and crossed her arms. She wanted Bailey’s input on the situation, but now she wasn’t so sure. She wondered why Bailey was on his side. “Okay, but he doesn’t need to act suspicious.”
A look of confusion crossed Bailey’s face. “How’s he acting suspicious?”
Amelia shook her head. “Great, now I’m the crazy one.”
“I didn’t say that,” Bailey stated. “I want to know how he’s acting suspicious.”
“Maybe it’s just my insecurities getting the best of me,” Amelia admitted.
“No, there’s more of a reason than that.”
Amelia shrugged. “Honestly, I don’t know. I’ve never been in this kind of situation before and it’s making me lose my mind,” Amelia said as she tossed her hand in the air. “We have no control in this situation. We’re along for the ride and the crazy bitch has the control.”
“Do you think the baby is Zach’s?”
Amelia looked at Bailey. She wondered if Bailey could read her mind. Amelia shrugged.
“You think he’s going to go back to her if the baby’s his?”
Tears stung the edges of Amelia’s eyes. She dabbed them with her sleeve. Her bottom lip trembled as she tried to talk. She covered her mouth with her hands as Bailey moved next to her on the couch. Bailey pulled her close to her and hugged her. “It’s just…”
She tried to talk, but the words were choked with emotion.
“I understand how you feel. You don’t have to explain anything to me,” Bailey assured her. She embraced Amelia in a hug and rocked her. “It’s a stressful situation for both of you. I’m sure Zach’s out of his mind, too.”
Amelia wiped the tears from her cheeks. “It’s just I don’t know what to think anymore.” Amelia shook her head. “I’m scared.”
Bailey patted her back. “I’m sure you are, but I don’t think Zach’s going anywhere.”
Amelia shrugged. “What if he does?”
Bailey smiled. “What if he doesn’t?”
Amelia shook her head. “I can’t stand the thought of losing him.”
“Then don’t think about it,” Bailey said as she rubbed a hand on Amelia’s back. “There are a million other things you could be thinking about.”
“This trumps all other thoughts, though.”
“Don’t let it. It’ll all turn out for the best. You shouldn’t worry about it. Zach isn’t going anywhere, even if the baby’s his,” Bailey reassured her.
The thought of the baby being Zach’s made Amelia’s stomach turn. She couldn’t imagine their life with Crazy Courtney involved in it.
“I pray it isn’t his baby,” Amelia admitted. “Is that wrong of me?”
Bailey shook her head. “I pray it isn’t either.”
Amelia smiled. “I love our talks.”
“Me, too,” Bailey said as she relaxed her arm and scooted away from Amelia. She turned sideways and bent her leg in front of her. “Did you take my advice from the other night?”
Amelia blushed. “Yes, I did.”
Bailey threw her hands in the air and shouted, “Praise the Lord!”
Amelia playfully slapped at her arm and said, “Stop it.”
Bailey laughed. “I’m happy for you. You two need to indulge in each other more often it sounds like. The tension is severe.”
Amelia shook her head. “I’m glad it’s a joke to you.”
Bailey chuckled. “Sometimes it helps to make light of the situation. And sex certainly does that.”
Bailey winked at Amelia and laughed. Amelia laughed and said, “You’re right. I’m not going to argue with Zach anymore about this nonsense. From now on, I’m going to bang the hell out of him.”
Bailey lost it. She doubled over and laughed so hard tears fell from her eyes. “You’re killing me, Amelia!” she hollered between laughs. “You’re too innocent to talk that way.”
Amelia shook her head. “Not anymore. You’re rubbing off on me,” she said. “Besides, I don’t mind using that language. It makes it sound dirty. Sometimes, I like dirty.”
Bailey shook her head while she laughed. “Oh, Amelia, what am I going to do with you?”
“I have an idea,” Amelia said. Her face was serious as she looked at Bailey.
Bailey looked at Amelia. Her face mimicked Amelia’s. “What’s that?”
Amelia smirked. “You can help me with Courtney.”
Bailey rubbed her hands together. “I like me an old Bonnie and Clyde story.”
Amelia chuckled. “I don’t mean kill her, Bailey,” Amelia stated. “I’m still the innocent woman you once knew.”
Bailey grinned. “So what’s your plan?”
“We give her hell right back,” Amelia explained.
She wasn’t sure how to do that exactly, but within time, she was sure they would come up with a plan. Crazy Courtney wasn’t going to be the only one with the control in this situation.
Chapter Fifteen
“I know you’re probably tired of hearing it, but I’m sorry,” Amelia said as she crawled in bed next to Zach.
He reached over and wrapped an arm around her. “There’s no need to keep apologizing.”
Amelia looked into his eyes. He looked tired and worn out. “I don’t want to keep arguing with you. There’s no point in it.”
He kissed the top of her head. “There’s no reason to argue. I understand why you’re angry.”
Amelia leaned back. “You do?”
“Well, of course. Just because I’m a man doesn’t mean I don’t understand your feelings.”
Amelia was relieved to hear him say this. There were so many times in the last couple of weeks she had needed to hear him say this. She had felt he hadn’t understood a word she had said.
“Why couldn’t you have told me that?”
“You never gave me time to,” Zach stated. “You always leave before I have a chance to tell you.”
Amelia smiled. She ran a hand through his hair. “Will you promise me something?”
“Anything,” he said as he kissed her nose.
She leaned back and giggled. She looked at him and asked, “Will you promise me that you’ll stay with me no matter what?”
She hated how desperate she had sounded. She had never felt the need to ask for promises. No man had been worth it before Zach. He made her weak and desperate. He had made her depend on him. When the thought of her being dependent on him should have scared her, it hadn’t. She was comfortable with who she was with him.
“Amelia, you know how I feel,” Zach said.
“I want you to say it. Tell me how you feel about me,” Amelia begged. She missed their sincere conversations. Their late night conversations had turned into sour arguments ever since Courtney made her appearance in their lives. She missed hearing him tell her how much she meant to him. She wondered if he missed it as much as she did.
“I’ll love you until my dying day,” he reassured her. “Even then, I’ll take my love to my grave.”
“What if the baby is yours, Zach?” she asked. Desperation filled her voice. Her insecurities filled her with doubts.
“Well, if the baby is mine,” he started to answer, “…if the baby is mine, it won’t change a thing.”
Amelia’s heart raced. The thought of raising a baby who wasn’t hers with Zach made her nervous. The thought overwhelmed her.
“Do you know it’s a boy?” she asked.
He leaned back and raised an eyebrow. “No, I don’t know. Is that what she told you?”
Amelia nodded. “In a roundabout way. She referred to the baby as a boy.”
Zach’s face twisted with emotion.
“What’s wrong?” Amelia grabbed his arm.
Zach shook his head and tried to dismiss her question. He looked her in the eye and said, “Is it wrong for me to pray the baby isn’t mine?”
Amelia tried to hold in a laugh, but it escaped. He looked at her like she had lost her mind. She shook her head and explained, “Not as wrong a
s it is that Bailey and I are praying it isn’t.”
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her on top of him. She straddled him across his midsection and looked down at him. “There’s only one person I want to have babies with,” he confirmed.
Amelia leaned down and pressed her lips on his. “I have no idea who that could be.”
He flipped her underneath him and held her down as he left a trail of kisses from her neck to her stomach. “You want to find out?”
She stopped moving and looked at him. He was serious. She wondered if he had thought it through. She dismissed the thoughts as he undressed her. She was sure there was no way he wanted a baby this soon in their relationship. He had just said it to lighten the mood.
He watched her intently as she fumbled for the right words to say. She struggled to explain they should wait and they weren’t ready. They had enough on their plate. There was too much stress going on to plan for a baby. It wouldn’t work out.
He pulled back and sat on his knees. “What’re you thinking?”
Amelia tried to hide her thoughts. They were clearly written all over her face. “Nothing.”
“Amelia, I know when you’re thinking about something,” Zach said. “The look on your face doesn’t say nothing.”
Amelia swallowed hard. She had no idea how to tell him what she had thought. She didn’t want to hurt his pride or take away his excitement. She was happy he wanted to have a baby with her, but wasn’t marriage supposed to come before all of that? And she certainly didn’t want to have a baby just because of Courtney. The thought of what people would think disgusted her.
“You can tell me it’s too soon and you’re not ready,” Zach spoke for her. The hurt and anger in his voice told her she had struck a nerve.
“Zach, it’s not that I’m not ready. I just think we’re not ready,” she admitted. He pulled away from her as she reached for him. “We’ve got so much going on right now…”
He put his hands up. “You’re right, it’s too much, too soon.” He grabbed his clothes off the floor and threw his shirt over his head.
“Zach, stop, please?” Amelia pleaded as she pulled his arm. “You know what I’m trying to say.”
Unexpected Chances (Fairshore Series Book 2) Page 6
