Unexpected

by Jenna Hartley

  He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “Typically, they produce less sweat and odor. And lead to fewer skin problems.”

  “Great. Let’s do it.”

  “Okay. Let me get the supplies, and I’ll be back.”

  As I stood, I swayed on my feet, and Dr. Carlisle reached out to steady me. “Are you okay?”

  I waved a hand through the air. “I’ll be fine.”

  He frowned. “Are you feeling dizzy? Light-headed?”

  “A little, I guess.”

  “When was the last time you ate something?” he asked, coming over and flashing a light in my eyes.

  “Um…I’m not sure. Maybe breakfast.” I hadn’t had much of an appetite lately. Nor had I had much time to eat.

  “Hmm,” he hummed, taking my pulse, listening to my heart with his stethoscope. “I could run some tests…”

  “I’m fine, really,” I said, not wanting Sophia to worry. And, really, I was fine. A little tired maybe, but I’d been running like crazy.

  Tired or not, it didn’t matter. Sophia needed me. And if today’s events had shown me anything—the only person I could rely on was myself.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “What were you thinking, man?” I asked Sam.

  My only answer was the beep of the vital signs monitor, the rhythmic hiss of the ventilator pumping oxygen through his lungs. His eyes were closed, hands lifeless at his sides.

  I’d just dropped Sophia off at STEM camp when Indy had called to tell me Sam was in the hospital. At first, I’d assumed he was suffering a complication—one of the latest of many from his treatments. But then she’d told me he’d tried to take his life.

  “Fuck.” I buried my face in my hands, wondering how I’d missed the signs. This was what I was training to do—counsel cancer patients. And I couldn’t even help my own friend.

  I’d been busy with my job, with Alexis. But that was no excuse. And when Sam had called the other night… I shook my head. I hadn’t been there for him when he’d needed me most. I’d failed him.

  I sat in the chair next to his bed, talking to him for a long time. I told him about Sophia. I told him about Alexis. I told him he would get through this—he had to. And that I would be there for him every step of the way.

  I must have fallen asleep at some point, because the next thing I knew, someone was gently shaking my shoulder.

  “Preston,” Indy said. I blinked up at her, feeling groggy. “Hey, it’s getting kind of late.”

  I rubbed my face with my hands and stood. “I should probably check in with Alexis.”

  She nodded, walking with me to the door. “Thanks so much for coming. I really appreciate it, and I’m sure Sam does too.”

  “You’ll call me when he wakes up?”

  “Of course.” She patted me on the shoulder.

  How could she be so strong? So brave? I considered telling her that Sam had called the other night, but I was afraid she’d blame me, hate me. And that would break me.

  “Can I get you anything?” I asked. “A change of clothes? Some dinner?”

  “I’m good. His parents should be here soon, and they’ll want to stay busy.”

  I nodded, hesitant to leave, despite her insistence. “Seriously—” I gripped her shoulders “—call me if you need anything. Okay?”

  She nodded. “I will. Thanks, Preston.”

  I shuffled out of the hospital toward my car. I didn’t know where to go or what to do with myself. I wanted to go home. I wanted to see Alexis and Sophia, but… I clenched my fists. Cal was there. Cal was there with his easy laughter and his stories. Rubbing my face in the fact that he and Alexis had a shared past that included good memories, vacations—a child.

  I slumped against the steering wheel. What the hell was I doing? Not just with Alexis, but with my life?

  With a resigned sigh, I switched on the sound for my phone and glanced at the screen. Why did I have six missed calls and several unread text messages? Half of them were from Alexis, and the others… Oh shit.

  I’d forgotten to pick up Sophia from camp. Alexis had to be pissed. I sped home without stopping to listen to them. And when I tried calling her, it went to voice mail. I needed to talk to her, to apologize. To explain.

  When I got back to the house, I threw my car in park, jogging over to the doors that led to the back of the main house. I held up my hand to knock when I saw them. Alexis was standing in the kitchen with her back to me, and Cal’s arms were wrapped around her. He rubbed a hand up and down her back, speaking into her ear.

  I stumbled backward, tripping over one of the lounge chairs and nearly falling to the ground in the process. Alexis whipped around to face me, and it was then I realized she’d been crying. She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue, and I frowned, trying to understand what was going on.

  Cal placed his hand on her shoulder, glaring at me through the glass doors. And I’d never felt more like an outsider looking in. I tried to remind myself that it was temporary, that my banishment to the pool house was only for a few days. But it was easier to ignore the fact that he was part of their lives—and always would be—when he wasn’t here.

  “Alexis,” I said, sliding the door open. “I’m so sorry I forgot to pick up Sophia. Are you okay?”

  She scoffed. “Am I okay? Shouldn’t you be asking if Sophia’s okay?”

  I tilted my head to the side, concern gnawing at my gut. “What are you talking about? What happened?”

  I wasn’t sure how much more I could handle in one day. I needed her to tell me.

  “Sophia fell on the playground and broke her wrist.”

  I rubbed the back of my neck, aching to gather Alexis in my arms and hold her. But—I glared at Cal—he was here. And he had his hand on her shoulder.

  I stilled. “Is she okay?”

  “She will be, thank god. But she was distraught. And when they couldn’t reach you, they…”

  “They called you,” I said, wondering if we were just going to ignore the fact that no one had attempted to call Cal. Maybe because he wouldn’t know what to do or how to comfort Sophia.

  “Yes.” She nodded. “I was in the middle of showing the Miller property, and I’m pretty sure I may have lost the deal because of it.”

  I swallowed back a lump of emotion. “I’m so, so sorry, Alexis. I was visiting a friend—”

  “You know what—” She sliced the air with her hand. “I really don’t care what you were doing or who you were with.” Her words, her tone, everything about her was hard. And it cut through me. “Sophia needed you, and you let her down.” The words she didn’t say, but I knew she felt were: “You let me down.”

  Her words fell with a thud, landing heavily on my heart. And the fight went out of me. It was no use trying to explain. We were both too upset. And I didn’t want to make a bad day worse by telling her about Sam.

  “Can I see her?” My voice cracked.

  Cal pulled Alexis into his side, speaking for her. “Sophia needs her rest. You can see her tomorrow, at the party.”

  And what did Alexis do? Nothing.

  I didn’t know why I was even surprised. But the fact that she was going to keep me away from Sophia—it was as if she took the tattered pieces of my heart and ripped them to shreds.

  “So, the party’s still on?” I asked, considering her injury.

  Alexis straightened. “Of course it is.”

  “Well, then…” I hesitated, wishing there were something more I could do or say. Yet again, I was at a loss. “I guess I’ll wish you goodnight.”

  “Goodnight.” Cal smirked, holding Alexis closer to him.

  I flattened my lips, wanting so badly to ask Alexis what the hell she was doing. But again, just the nanny. Except, I wasn’t. And the fact that I was being dismissed like I was nothing more than the hired help made me want to punch something, preferably Cal’s smug grin.

  I texted Indy, picking up some dinner for her and Sam’s parents before heading back to the hospital. I
spent the evening there, wishing I could go back in time to before Sam’s suicide attempt, before Sophia’s fall. Logically, I knew it wasn’t my fault Sam had attempted suicide. Just as I knew it wasn’t my fault Sophia had broken her wrist. But that didn’t change the fact that I hadn’t been there for the people I loved when they needed me most.

  After a restless night, I awoke to the beep, beep, beep of a truck backing up. I peeked through the window to see a flurry of activity on the lawn. Decorations were being hung, tables were being set up, and balloons tied down.

  I texted Indy to check in—no change. And then I showered and threw on some clothes before heading over to the house. I didn’t know what to expect today, but I knew I wanted Sophia to enjoy her birthday party. I knew how excited she’d been, and I hoped her injury wouldn’t put too much of a damper on her spirits.

  As for Alexis, I fully intended to explain what had happened. But not today. Today was about Sophia and celebrating her life.

  Sophia was sitting at the table with Cal and Alexis when I walked up to the sliding glass doors. They looked like the picture-perfect family, and I hesitated to interrupt their moment.

  “Preston!” Sophia called, spotting me first.

  She jumped out of her chair and ran over to the doors. Fuck if that didn’t make my heart burst. She wrapped her good arm around me, squeezing me tight.

  “Happy birthday, princess.” I smiled, hugging her back. “Let me see this new accessory,” I said, gesturing to her cast. It was hot pink—of course.

  I crouched down to her level, needing to look her in the eye. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be there yesterday. But you were very brave, and I’m glad you’re okay.”

  She nodded. “I’m okay. Plus—” she grinned “—everyone’s going to think my cast is so cool. Did you know it’s waterproof?”

  “Really?” I asked, feigning surprise. “That’s so awesome. And you know what will make it even cooler?”

  She scrunched up her face. “Sequins?”

  I laughed. Leave it to Sophia to want to add sequins to her cast. Though, she wasn’t too far off with her idea of embellishing it. “No. I was actually thinking you might like to have Kate decorate it with a mermaid or some scales or whatever you want, really.”

  “Really?” She hopped up and down.

  I nodded. “As long as it’s okay with your mom, that is.”

  Alexis smiled, but I didn’t miss the dark circles beneath her eyes. “I think it’s a great idea.”

  I hung around, hoping for a moment alone with Alexis, but it never came. Cal was always hovering nearby, or she was talking with her friend Juliana. When she disappeared upstairs to get ready, I briefly contemplated scaling the trellis just so I could talk to her. But the yard was crawling with people setting up for the party. And then guests started arriving, and I knew it was hopeless.

  Still, I kept watching, waiting for an opening. Not to explain where I’d been—the middle of Sophia’s birthday party wasn’t the time or the place for that. But more to see if she was okay. Her makeup may be immaculate, but it couldn’t disguise the fact that her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. I could feel the tension she carried between her shoulders as if it were my own. She put on a good performance, but she couldn’t hide the truth from me—it was all an act.

  Fortunately, Sophia was having a blast. And the cast didn’t seem to be slowing her down one bit. She jumped into the pool, laughing and splashing with her friends, some of whom I’d met this summer, a few I recognized from her school.

  “Hello, Preston,” Margaret said, sidling up to me.

  We’d met while I was nannying for Theo, and I always got the distinct impression that she was interested in me. Not that I’d ever done anything to encourage her. And the way she looked at me made my skin crawl.

  “Margaret.” I lifted my chin in greeting before taking a sip of my drink.

  She, like most of the other moms, was wearing a bikini with a sheer cover-up. Though I knew for a fact that none of them would so much as dip a toe in the water. God forbid they mess up their hair or makeup.

  “Listen, what are your plans for this fall?” she asked.

  I tried to keep a blank face. What was she driving at? “I’m not sure yet. Classes start soon, and I have a few semesters left until I finish my degree.”

  “I love that—love a man who is intelligent.” She dragged a finger down my arm.

  I tried not to visibly react to her touch, though I could feel sweat trickling down my back. What was she up to?

  “Well, if you ever want to pick up some extra cash…” She trailed off, scanning the yard. “I’m sure we could come to an arrangement.”

  Surely, she wasn’t implying what I thought she was…right?

  When someone called her name, she waved and headed that direction. But not before glancing over her shoulder with a seductive grin that made my stomach turn. “Just think about it.”

  I turned, only to discover Alexis watching me, her jaw tight. Of course, she’d seen the entire thing. I let out a deep sigh and tried to go over to her, but Cal intercepted me.

  “Alexis sure knows how to throw a party.” He sipped his beer.

  “Yep.” I tried to move past him, but he kept talking, his eyes on the pool where Sophia and her friends were sitting on the edge, watching the “mermaid” perform.

  “You know, Sophia breaking her wrist worked out even better than I could’ve planned.”

  “What?” I jerked my head back, feeling as if he’d slapped me.

  “Yeah, well, with Alexis under so much stress, of course she’d turn to me for support. And who better to console her, who better to understand the pain she feels as a parent, than the father of her child.” God, his tone and his entire expression made me sick. He was such a fraud.

  “Wow.” My mouth slackened as I tried to wrap my head around what he’d said. “Sophia deserves so much better. Alexis, too.”

  He crossed his arms over his chest. “And you think you’re it, huh?” He scoffed, leaning forward and lowering his voice. “You’ve been here—what? All of two months? And you suddenly think you’re an expert?”

  “I’m not an expert,” I said. “But at least I’m here. I’m present day in and day out, which is more than I can say for you.”

  “You’re paid to be here,” he sneered.

  I clenched my fists, my body tensing as if for a fight. “It’s not about the money.”

  He barked out a laugh, crossing his tattooed arms over his chest. “It’s not, huh?”

  I shook my head. “I love Sophia, and I would love her whether I was paid to or not.”

  “I love her,” he ground out.

  “Then show her,” I said. “You don’t realize how much she craves your attention, your affection. And you don’t see how disappointed she is when you don’t call. Or how hard it is on Alexis to make excuses for you.”

  “And who disappointed her yesterday, huh?” He jabbed my chest with his finger, and it took everything in me not to snap it off his hand. “Who let her down?”

  I gnashed my teeth. He had no idea how terrible I felt about that.

  “I was…”

  “Yeah. Yeah.” He rolled his eyes. “‘Visiting a friend.’ Here’s a little piece of advice.” He leaned in, close enough for me to smell his aftershave. “I was here long before you, and I will be here long after. I was—and always will be—Sophia’s father.”

  He didn’t deserve the title, and my blood boiled with rage. Why could a piece of shit like Cal be a father, and someone like Sam not have that opportunity? Sam would make an amazing dad, given the chance. Yet he was fighting for his life, and his fertility was shot. The more I thought about it—the unfairness of it all—the angrier I got.

  But Cal wasn’t done. He tapped a finger to his lips. “I think the question now is…how long will it take me to get back with Alexis? And should I sleep with your little friend Kate to tide me over in the meantime?”

  That’s it.

&
nbsp; I reared my arm back and punched him square in the nose. He didn’t see it coming and stumbled backward. As I shook out my hand, I felt everyone’s eyes on us, watching us. And a sick feeling pooled in my gut, only growing worse when I saw Sophia staring at the two of us, eyes wide.

  What had I done?

  Cal took a few steps back, covering his nose with his hand. But I saw what no one else did—the sparkle in his eyes, the smirk, that told me he’d played me. And I’d done exactly what he’d hoped I would.

  Fuck.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “Oh shit.” Lauren’s eyes—like those of most of the guests—were glued to Cal and Preston.

  I marched over there with Lauren on my heels. Her presence gave me the support I needed. What the hell was Preston thinking? Punching Sophia’s dad in the middle of her birthday party? I could kill him.

  “Preston,” I hissed, gripping his bicep. “Cal,” I ground out. “Could you both please stop acting like a pair of two-year-olds and come with me?”

  Cal continued to hold a hand over his nose, and I wondered what the extent of the damage was. I also wondered what had possessed Preston to punch him. The three of us were supposed to be responsible adults, role models. Yet only one of us was fulfilling that role. And now I was missing Sophia’s birthday party because of their stupidity.

  I led them into my office and shut the door. I thought I was going to be sick. “Sit.”

  “I want him gone.” Cal lifted his chin, speaking to me as if Preston weren’t in the room.

  I ignored him, at least for the moment. “What the hell was that?” I stood behind my desk, resting my knuckles on the surface as I stared them down.

  Preston glanced up at me from beneath his lashes. “I’m so sorry, Alexis.”

  “Shouldn’t you be apologizing to me?” Cal asked.

  Preston crossed his arms over his chest, and I could practically see the steam rising from his skin. He was pissed. “Why would I apologize when I’m not sorry for punching you?”