Then There Was You: A Single Parent Collection

by Gianna Gabriela

  “Are you going to be cool?” I asked him.

  “Cool? I come back to town to see my daughter and find the two of you out on a fucking date—”

  “It’s not a date,” I said wanting to diffuse the situation. “I’m only back in town for a couple of weeks.”

  “You expect me to believe that’s all this is?” Rob seemed completely unhinged, his eyes red and bloodshot. He was high, that much was obvious.

  “That’s all this is,” I repeated. “Why don’t you get some water, sit down, and we can talk this through?”

  People were starting to look, the servers gathering around to monitor the situation.

  “Rob, you’re scaring people,” I said, keeping my voice even. “Why don’t we take this outside?” My hand hovered by his shoulder, but he jerked back, spooked by the doorbell.

  “It was always him, wasn’t it?” His eyes were fixed on Maggie now. “I could never compete with perfect Vinnie. Do you know what? You two are welcome to each other.” He all but spat the words, venom and spittle flying everywhere. And then he was gone, slamming his body into the door and spilling out of the diner.

  Maggie sniffled behind me and I turned slowly to find her sobbing into her hands.

  “Come on,” I said. “Let’s get you home.”

  We rode back to Maggie’s in thick silence. Seeing Rob again had been like a sharp jab to the stomach. But it hadn’t affected me nearly as much as it had Maggie. She had completely withdrawn; arms wrapped around her waist, head pressed up against the glass watching the world roll by.

  “We’re here,” I said trying to break the silence. “Do you want me to—”

  “It’s fine, I can manage.” She pulled the handle, shouldering the door open.

  “Maggie, wait. What Rob said about me, is it true?”

  “Does it matter if it is? You’re leaving soon, that’s what you told Rob, isn’t it?”

  “I was trying to pacify him. That wasn’t really—”

  “What are you doing, Vinnie? What are we doing?” She let out a deep sigh, torment rolling off her in dark waves.

  “I thought we were having milkshakes, but I’m not sure anymore.”

  “This is too confusing,” she said.

  Before I could stop myself, I leaned over and palmed her cheek. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to make things worse. I just missed you so damn much.”

  “I missed you too.” Her eyes pinned me to the spot, rendering me completely paralyzed.

  “I’m going to kiss you now,” I said, giving her a second to refuse. To my surprise, and relief, she didn’t. Instead, she leaned in, her eyes closed and lips slightly parted. My body trembled as I closed the distance fixing my mouth over hers. Thirteen years I’d waited for this moment. Thirteen years of yearning and dreaming. It almost didn’t feel real. But it was.

  It was everything.

  And yet, it wasn’t enough. I needed more. I needed everything Maggie could give me.

  Our tongues tangled in slow lazy licks. Maggie’s hands slid up my chest, twisting into the soft material of my Henley. “Vin,” she moaned quietly, as I deepened the kiss. “Stop. We should—”

  I jerked away, touching my head to hers and trying to get a hold of my emotions.

  “I’m so sorry,” she whispered. “It’s just too much, too soon.”

  My heart shattered all over again. My body was coiled tight like a spring, desperate to feel her beneath me.

  “It’s okay,” I forced out. “We can take it slow; I’ll wait.” I’d waited long enough, what was another few days.

  “Oh, Vinnie.” She pressed her hands against my face and looked me right in the eye. “I’m not sure this is a good idea.”

  This time, when she said the words, my spine stiffened. She wasn’t telling me she needed time, she was telling me it was a mistake.

  That I was a mistake.

  I pulled away, sinking back into my seat. “Why?” I buried my face into my hands, the pain of her rejection almost too much to bear.

  “I’m confused,” she cried. “This is so confusing.”

  “Because he’s back? Or because it was never me?”

  Why didn’t she see me the way I wanted her to see me?

  It had only ever been Maggie for me, but even now, after everything, she didn’t feel the same.

  She felt something, I didn’t doubt that, but it wasn’t enough. I wanted it all. The good, the bad, and the downright ugly. I wanted to love her with everything I had, but I wanted the same in return.

  “I have so much to think about. Belle. My future. And you’ll be leaving soon.”

  I realized she hadn’t answered my question; she’d only skirted around it.

  “I got it.” I stared straight ahead, not trusting myself to look at her. I’d embarrassed myself enough for one night. My hands gripped the wheel tightly as silence settled over us.

  Her purse vibrated, and Maggie let out a shaky breath.

  “You should probably get that. It’s Portia, right?” Portia hadn’t been texting her all night, Rob had. And although I knew she wasn’t happy to see him, I couldn’t stand the thought she hadn’t trusted me enough to tell me it was him.

  I should have known better. I should have known we would never be able to escape him. Rob had been between us since we were just kids when Maggie started to gaze at him with a dreamy expression, and he was still here now.

  “Vinnie, please...” When I didn’t look at her, Maggie gave a resigned sigh. “I’ll text you later.” She climbed out of the car, taking my tattered heart with her.

  11

  Maggie

  “I’m home,” I called out.

  Portia appeared seconds later. “You’re early.” She took one look at me and frowned. “What happened?”

  Tears streamed down my cheeks as I fell into her arms. “He showed up. Rob showed up, and I panicked. I panicked so bad, Portia.”

  “Oh, sweetie.” She rubbed my back. “Let’s go sit down and I’ll make us some hot chocolate and you can tell me all about it.”

  With a little nod, I let her lead me down the hall. I could still feel the taste of Vinnie on my lips, remember how good it felt to finally kiss him. And then I’d ruined everything. Because that’s what I did.

  I ruined things.

  Portia made us some hot chocolate while I sat at the kitchen table. “Here you go.” She slid a mug toward me. “Now start from the beginning.”

  So I told her. I told her how everything had been going fine until Rob showed up red-eyed and volatile. “He was so angry,” I said. “He was high, I’m sure of it. Spouting all this crap about how he never stood a chance next to Vinnie. The whole diner was watching. I was so embarrassed.”

  She leaned over and rested her hand on mine. “You have nothing to feel embarrassed about. That’s all on dickbrain.” Portia smiled, but I was too upset to return it. “Then what happened?”

  “Vinnie was so calm. He didn’t take Rob’s bait. Then after he drove me home, he kissed me and I let him and now everything is one big mess.”

  “He kissed you?”

  I didn’t like the smug knowing look in my cousin’s eyes.

  “Portia, it’s not a good thing.”

  “Isn’t it? I think you must be the only person around here who doesn’t see how perfect you two are for each other. But in case you need a reminder: Vinnie came back to town for his dad’s funeral and within less than twenty-four hours, he saved your ass at the grocery store, bonded with Belle like a pro, and charmed the pants off your cousin.” She winked at that.

  “And took you on what sounds like the most perfect non-date ever, until dickbrain showed up. He loves you, Maggie, and if you still can’t see that after all this time, then yeah, maybe you don’t deserve him.”

  Her words hit me dead in the chest and I sucked in a sharp breath. She was right. Portia was right.

  But that was the problem.

  Vinnie did love me still. I saw it every time he looked at me, felt it
in every innocent touch.

  He loved me despite all the mistakes I’d made.

  And yet, I still couldn’t trust myself to admit I loved him too.

  Because I did. I loved him so much, it hurt. But I’d become so good at fooling myself, at pretending what I felt for him was nothing more than friendship-love. It had taken being with Rob to realize that what I shared with Vinnie wasn’t lustful infatuation. It wasn’t just childhood friendship. It was knowing someone inside and out. Knowing what they were thinking without them having to say it. Being comfortable in the quiet moments. And looking into the future knowing that no matter what, they would be there.

  By the time I’d fallen pregnant with Belle, I knew, in my heart of hearts that I didn’t love Rob. How could I when Vinnie already owned my heart?

  So when Rob turned up at the diner, shouting and scowling, I’d felt guilty. Because he was right. Because he never could compete with Vinnie. It didn’t excuse his behavior or give him a free pass for walking out on us, but it did mean he wasn’t the only one to blame. I had to take responsibility for my part too. For the sake of Belle, I’d clung to Rob, trying to make it work. When really we were never destined to be anything more than a few months of fun.

  “What am I going to do?” I asked Portia, my heart breaking.

  She gave me a sympathetic smile. “It’s not for me to tell you what you should do, Mags. But you deserve to be happy. And that little girl upstairs deserves a man in her life who will love her unconditionally. I know it’s complicated and scary but the things worth fighting for usually are.”

  “When did you get so smart?” I said through silent tears.

  “My own dating life might be a disaster, but I know a thing or two.” Portia winked, her expression growing serious. “So the question is, are you prepared to take the risk on him?”

  A loud bang on the door startled us both. “Oh no, he didn’t,” Portia leaped up running in the hall before I could scramble off the chair.

  “Call the police,” she yelled as the banging got louder.

  I grabbed my cell phone and followed her out into the hall.

  “Maggie, open up. We need to talk,” Rob yelled. “Maggie!”

  “Oh God,” my voice trembled as Portia hovered by the door, her brows furrowed with concentration.

  “Dial 9-1-1,” she said.

  “Maybe I should just talk to—”

  “Maggie, open this fucking door now.” The banging became maniacal.

  “Rob, you need to leave, the police are on their way.” Portia’s voice was calm. A damn sight calmer than my nerves which were shot.

  “Open. The. Goddamn. Door. I want to see my daughter. You can’t keep me from her. She’s mine. Mine.”

  “Rob, calm down, man.”

  “Vinnie?” I breathed, my legs going from under me. Portia rushed to my side, hooking her arm around me.

  “Maybe he’ll be able to talk him down.” She snatched the cell phone from my hand and dialed 9-1-1.

  “My friend’s ex is here and he’s threatening her and her daughter...” Portia reeled off my address, begging them to come quickly.

  Rob’s screams perforated the air, as the sound of grunts and groans filled the air.

  I clutched Portia tighter. “What if he hurts him? What if—”

  “Mags?” Vinnie shouted. “Maggie?”

  “Quick, open the door,” I urged.

  It all happened in a blur: Portia opening the door, Vinnie rushing over to me and pulling me into his arms, the police sirens growing louder.

  My eyes frantically swept over Vinnie’s face, my fingers tracing the purple bruise around his eye, the deep cut in his lip. “You’re hurt.” I gulped.

  “I’ll be fine. It’s you and Belle I’m worried about.” He hugged me tighter.

  “Belle,” I tore from his arms and ran down the hall and up the stairs, taking two steps at a time, only slowing when I finally reached her room. I breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of my little princess sleeping soundly in her crib.

  “She’s okay?” Vinnie lingered in the door.

  “She’s fine.” I smiled over at him, itching to lift her out and hug her close. To reassure myself that she was okay.

  “You should do it,” he said as if he could hear my thoughts. “You won’t rest until you do.” Vinnie gave me a weak smile.

  Gently, I lifted Belle out of her crib, cradling her close to my body. She murmured softly, her little button nose scrunching up as I held her.

  “She’s okay,” Vinnie said, moving closer until he was standing behind me to the side. “You’re both okay,” he said the words as if he needed reassurance.

  “What will happen... to Rob?”

  “Let the police deal with him. Right now, all I care about is you and Belle.”

  “You came back?” Even after I’d rejected him earlier, he came back.

  “I was coming back to apologize. I pushed you too soon.” His arm slipped around my waist and I sank into his embrace.

  “I can’t regret everything because I have Belle. She’s the one good thing to come out of all this. But it should have been us, Vinnie.” I glanced back at him, my eyes saying everything I wasn’t ready to say. “It should have been you.”

  “We have time.” His voice cracked as he gazed at me with nothing but love and understanding. “We have all the time in the world.”

  “But you have to go back to LA. Your life is—”

  “Wherever you are, Maggie. It’s always been you. It will always be you.”

  I was speechless. I didn’t deserve Vinnie or a second chance. Not after the way I’d hurt him. But here he was, offering me everything I ever wanted and didn’t know until it was too late.

  “Don’t cry.” Vinnie wiped the tears from my eyes, but I couldn’t stop them once they started. “Here, let me take her.” He moved in front of me and carefully extracted Belle from my arms, cradling her in his own. I grabbed a tissue from the box on her changing unit and dabbed my eyes.

  “Sorry to interrupt,” Portia called from out in the hall. “But the police want to ask you a few questions.”

  “Oh God...” I clutched my neck, panic churning through me.

  “Look at me, Mags.” Vinnie’s voice grounded me, and I slowly lifted my gaze to his. “I’m right here, okay?”

  Giving him a little nod, I steeled myself to face them.

  Vinnie returned Belle to her crib and came to my side, taking my hand in his. “Together?” he asked. To which I replied, “Together.”

  An hour later, the police had taken our statements and carted Rob away in their cruiser for questioning. Vinnie refused to press charges despite his physical injuries. But the police were concerned Rob was mentally unstable. The whole situation made me sad. We’d once been three best friends with not a care in the world, and now we were all entwined in a messy web of betrayal, disappointment, and hurt. True to his word, Vinnie stayed beside me the entire time. Even long after the police left and Portia said goodnight, he’d stayed.

  “How are you feeling?”

  I turned to Vinnie, smiling sadly. “Like it’s all been a bad dream. I knew he was losing it, but I never thought...” My voice trailed off, as flashes of Rob’s anger, his cruel words replayed in my mind.

  “You know this isn’t your fault, don’t you?”

  “Isn’t it?” I cried. “I pursued him. I told him I loved him. And all along he knew...”

  “Knew what?” Vinnie’s voice was so low I barely heard him.

  Dropping my eyes to the floor, I looked up at him through my lashes. “That it’s you, Vin. That it’s always been you.”

  His breath caught, his irises darkening. “Don’t say it if you don’t mean it.” It came out ragged.

  I inched along the couch until our knees were touching. “I mean it. I’ve just been too scared to admit it.” I averted my gaze again.

  “But why?” Vinnie slid his hand against my cheek, turning my face to his.

  “Bec
ause I didn’t want to lose you. I didn’t want a relationship to ruin what we had.” Tears pooled in my eyes. “But I lost you anyway.”

  He swiped away the tears rolling down my face. “There are a lot of things we both should have done differently, but we can’t change the past, we can only look forward. And the truth is I loved you when you were eleven. I loved you after you broke my heart into a thousand pieces when you chose Rob. And I still loved you the moment I spotted you across the cemetery, Mags.”

  “And now?” I asked, a little breathless from his confession.

  Vinnie tilted my face up to meet his. “I love you more than I did yesterday but not as much as I will tomorrow.”

  And then he kissed me.

  12

  Vinnie

  Maggie sank into the kiss without hesitation. My tongue gently nudged her lips, demanding more, and she willingly gave it to me. It was everything I wanted; I was just sorry it had taken these circumstances to get here. Our tongues tangled together, finding a slow erotic rhythm, stoking a fire in my stomach.

  “Mags,” I said, breaking away, but she curled her arms around my neck, tugging me back to her. “Wait,” I chuckled. “We should talk—”

  “No talking.” She kissed me hard this time, plunging her tongue into my mouth and taking what she wanted. And I let her. Because this woman could have it all. My lips, my body. Heart and soul. She owned every single inch of me, whether she wanted it or not.

  “Maggie.” I gently pushed her shoulders, forcing her backwards. “I don’t want you to do something you’re going to regret tomorrow.”

  For as much as I wanted her, I wanted her to want this because she couldn’t stand the thought of not touching me, of not being with me. I didn’t want our first time to be tainted by the events of the night.

  “I want you, Vincent Ford.” She smiled, lust and love glittering in her eyes. “So please stop talking and kiss me.”

  I didn’t need asking twice.