by Lea Coll
“Fuck Wyatt.” Fuck. Fuck. It was so good. Too good. He was ruining me for life. How could I walk away from him? From us? I couldn’t. I needed this. I needed him.
Then I blocked everything out as I cried out, burying my head in his neck as I spasmed around his still-hard cock. I sagged in his arms as he thrust deeply one more time.
Wyatt
The worry that Lucy would leave lingered in the back of my mind. The only thing that overrode those thoughts was Sutton’s calls. Each time she’d reached out, I was with Lucy and I didn’t want to have an uncomfortable argument she’d overhear. Sitting in my truck on my lunch break, it was time to ease Sutton’s mind. I dialed Sutton’s number, wondering how I was going to handle her—tell her to back off or let her have her say and first? Knowing my sister, she’d want me to hear her side of things first.
“Hey, this is a nice surprise,” Sutton said.
“Is it?”
“Well, I was hoping you’d call me back.” There was a hint of a smile in her voice.
“Get on with it. Tell me your concerns.”
“I can’t believe you’re back with her. Don’t you remember how devastated you were when she left? For months, you waited for her to come back.”
“To be fair, I told her we were done and not to come back.”
“Wyatt, I was there. You were a mess. You didn’t date anyone seriously for years. You wouldn’t even give anyone a real shot. As soon as she’s back, you fall again for her bullshit.”
I flinched at her use of profanity. “Watch yourself. You’re talking about the mother of my child.”
She hesitated. “It’s like that? She’s back and I’m the one you push away.”
“I’m not pushing you away, but I’m telling you how it’s going to be. You don’t have to like her but you have to respect her.”
“It’s too late then.” Her voice trailed off.
“I’m in love with her and in any relationship there’s a risk it won’t work out. All you need to know is that I’m happy.”
“Wyatt—I’m not going to pick up the pieces when she screws you over.”
“I’m not asking you to.”
She was quiet for so long I checked the phone to see if she’d hung up. “I confronted her.”
“What are you talking about?”
“At Mom and Dad’s. I waited for her when she left the bathroom. I told her she’d be a bad mother—that she’d abandon the baby.”
I sucked in a sharp breath. “What the hell is—” I stopped, trying to rein in my anger.
“I’m sorry, Wyatt. She makes me so angry and I worry about you.”
“She was upset after she came back from the bathroom but wouldn’t tell me why.” Why hadn’t Lucy told me? Unless she thought I’d take Sutton’s side.
“I won’t do it again.”
“Will you apologize to her?”
“Wyatt—you’re asking a lot.”
“This is the mother of my child. She’s going to be around for the next eighteen years and hopefully longer. I love her. I intend to marry her if she’ll have me. I want the most important woman in my life and my twin to get along.”
“I’m not the most important woman in your life?”
“Sutton, you know what I mean.”
“Okay, okay, I’ll talk to her.”
“Thank you.” It worried me Lucy hadn’t told me. Lucy was in a vulnerable place right now. She’d had so many changes in a short amount of time and I knew she was struggling with her identity as a mother. She wanted to have it all but wasn’t sure how. I hoped Sutton hadn’t scared her away.
Lucy
I’d won the cake battle. Samantha ceded the wedding cake to the bakery in Centreville, Elegant Creations, in exchange for making the desserts at the shower we were throwing at her bakery, Sweet Treats. Samantha, her mother, and Emma were here early to make sure everything was set up.
“You’re happy.” Samantha studied my face carefully.
“Yeah.” I cleared my throat trying to stop the goofy smile I knew was on my face. “I am.” I was still wrapped in a comforting haze from this morning and Wyatt. He’d made breakfast for me. It was like we were a thing. A permanent thing. I could see us together. A baby in my arms. A sweet smile on Wyatt’s face as he watched me with our baby.
“You’re in love. Like really in love.” A satisfied smile spread over Samantha’s face.
I looked around to make sure no one overheard us. “You just want everyone to be happy because you are.”
“No. You’re different.”
I bustled around the room placing centerpieces and fussing with the silverware on the tables. “You’re projecting your pre-wedding happiness on everyone around you.”
“I’m happy for you, Lucy. You’re like a sister to me.”
Tears sprang to my eyes. If I stayed here with the baby, he or she would be near family. “You are too. Now stop. I don’t want to cry and ruin my makeup.”
“You’re going to be an amazing mom.”
The silverware blurred as I kept my eyes on the place setting. Remembering Sutton’s hateful words, I wondered what kind of mom would I be if I took Wyatt away from his child? A selfish one. My heart squeezed at the thought.
Samantha touched my shoulder. “My mom’s here. I better go say hi.”
I took a few deep breaths. I could get through this. Once I had my emotions under control, I turned, giving Ms. Miller a large smile. “Are you excited?”
“Yes. I’ve waited for this day since Samantha was born. Everything looks lovely.” Ms. Miller took in the bakery, which had been transformed for the shower. Tables with light pink tablecloths and white cushioned chairs formed a seating area in the back for when she’d open her presents, and pink Calla Lilies filled vases on each table. The room smelled of sweets and flowers.
“If your wedding is half as beautiful as this, it will be amazing.” Emma came to stand next to us, taking in the transformation.
“Thank you,” Samantha said softly as they hugged.
“I’m so happy for you. All of this wedding stuff makes me want to plan my own wedding. Lucy, will you help me?” Emma asked.
“You want me to plan your wedding?”
“Yeah, you’re doing an amazing job with Samantha’s and I’d love the help.” She shivered. “Every time I think of what needs to be done, I panic.”
“I’m not officially a wedding planner,” I said.
“Well, when you start your own business, I’d love to hire you,” Emma said.
More people opened the door and Samantha turned to greet them. I went into hostess mode. I accepted the presents and arranged them on a table, and fussed over the food and the cake. Once everyone had eaten, I led the games, trying to keep the party moving and helped Samantha open gifts and make a list for thank you cards. Everything was seamless and I collapsed on the new white loveseat as soon as the last person left.
“I’m so exhausted.” My arm covered my eyes and I wanted to take a nap more than my next breath.
“I bet. You’re pregnant. It must be tough to be on your feet in those heels,” Samantha said.
My feet were sore. Hearing the bell chime indicating someone entering the bakery, I lowered my arm to see Jack. “Is it over?” he asked tentatively, looking around.
“Yes. It’s safe.” Samantha stood and went to greet him.
“How was it?” Jack asked, looking to me over Samantha’s shoulder as he hugged her.
“Oh, everything was perfect. My mom was supposed to be organizing it, but Lucy is the one who did most of the planning, organizing, and hosting. She was amazing.”
“Is that right?” Jack asked, his eyes on me.
“Your mom mainly likes to make her wishes known and have someone else carry them out.” I pulled my heels off my feet, wiggling my toes.
“You should seriously consider event planning. It’s so much easier running your own business. You choose your clients, set your own hours—” Samantha continued
.
I raised my brows at that.
“For the most part. You limit the number of clients and events. You’re in control. Plus, the sky’s the limit on salary. It could take off and you could have more money than you made as a graphic designer. You have help here too. You have Wyatt, your parents, Jack’s parents, us.” Samantha moved to throw out the cups and plates.
“It will be good practice for us. We’d like to have a baby soon,” Jack said.
My heart clenched. If I stayed, our babies would grow up together. “That’s great.”
“Let’s clean up and move the presents to my truck, so I can take this one home.” Jack pointed at Samantha who still rested on the couch.
I pulled flip-flops from my bag and slipped them on, and then helped them carry out the mountain of presents. We cleared the tables, carefully folded the tablecloths, separated the tables, and threw out all of the garbage.
“Go home and rest.” Jack wrapped an arm around me.
My heart rate picked up as I watched Jack drive away. I was alone and I needed to know what Carl’s message was about. My hands shook as I raced back into the bakery pulling my phone from my bag.
I wanted to get this phone call with Carl out of the way so I could focus on Wyatt and our family. I took a deep breath. This conversation could change everything, but I had to know what Carl wanted—whether it was an apology for mistakenly firing me or to beg me to come back. I pulled Carl’s contact up and dialed.
When he answered, he barked, “Lucy. Where’ve you been? I emailed you days ago.”
“I’m sorry. You fired me, remember? I wasn’t sure I needed to respond to urgent emails anymore.”
“I told you we made a mistake.”
“I’m going to need more than that, Carl. You fired me. I lost my home and I’m living with my parents now.” I was a mix of hopeful and scared he’d offer me my job back.
His voice lowered. “Elizabeth submitted your work as her own. It took us a while to figure it out. Like when she couldn’t replicate it again in another assignment. We confronted her and she admitted it. Went to her uncle and apologized.”
“Did you fire her?”
“What? No. She’s the president’s niece. We gave her her old job back.”
The one where she had access to everyone’s work, emails, everything? Anger shot through me knowing I was fired but Elizabeth still had a job. “What do you want from me?”
“We need you back.”
“I don’t know, Carl.” Everything had changed. I looked out the bakery’s bay window at the people walking by, the other shop fronts. I was so conflicted. Was Planit even a good place to work anymore? My family and friends were here. Wyatt was here.
“What could I offer you that would make you come back?”
I laughed, thinking what could change my mind at this point. My dream was to eventually be an art director so that I could earn more money and have more control. But if I was offered that would it be enough to leave Chestertown now? I knew without a doubt if I wasn’t pregnant, I would take it without much thought.
A director position would mean prestige, bargaining power if I wanted to change jobs, more pay, and more control at work. Also it was a means to support my child. As much as Wyatt offered to support us, I had this need to support myself too. “I want the art director position.”
“Done.”
I was speechless for a minute. “Um, what?” I was a junior graphic artist, so the next logical promotion was senior graphic artist, not art director. I hadn’t expected him to say yes.
“Done. Whatever it takes. We need you.”
When I threw the idea out there, I hadn’t expected him to go along with it. “I’d need to see salary information and I don’t know about Elizabeth still working there. She stole my work.”
“I’ll talk to the president and see if we can keep her out of your department and team.”
I dropped my forehead into my hand wondering if that would be enough. “Honestly, I don’t know if that will be enough. Elizabeth stole my work, getting me fired.”
“She’s the president’s niece. There’s not much I can do but keep her away from you and your department. I’ll send you an email with the job offer.”
He knew he was offering me my dream position and very little would deter me from taking it. But he didn’t know about the pregnancy.
We got off the phone and I sat stunned for a minute, dropping my head into my hands. What was I going to do? I never thought he’d offer me more than I already had. My old salary wouldn’t have covered daycare or a nanny. I’d have to wait to see what the salary was, but it was an offer I’d need to consider. Being a director was my dream. It meant job security, higher salary, and the ability to exert control over projects and interact with the clients. I wouldn’t be in a cubicle churning out design after design never knowing if my work would be shown one day or end up in the garbage.
Wanting to be home with Wyatt, I made sure nothing was left behind in the bakery and sent a message to Samantha telling her I locked up.
It was ironic that I was offered a coveted position when I had a reason to stay in Chestertown. Wyatt didn’t feel like a tie anymore—he was starting to feel like my dream.
Just when I was starting to settle in and believe I could have a life here, this happened. Samantha’s idea to start my own event planning business was an option, but there was no guarantee that I’d find clients, earn money. I’d need to work extra hard to start a business from scratch, and a baby would make that difficult. Starting my own business was so uncertain.
But the director position would be steady pay, benefits, a career. I owed it to myself to explore this option. With shaky hands, I finally started the car to drive home. How could I walk away from Wyatt?
I intended to talk to Wyatt about the job offer but when I walked in the door I smelled food cooking in the oven, I heard the crackle of the fire, and Wyatt smiled at me.
“Welcome home.” He walked around the island opening his arms for me.
I stepped into his arms and laid my head on his chest. I listened to the steady drum of his heart against my ear. Home. Is that what this was? His house, the circle of his arms, the hardness of his chest, the softness of his flannel shirt, the warmth of his body, and the heady feeling that everything would be okay as long as I had him?
I didn’t want to let go of him. I wanted to live in the dream one more night. So, I didn’t say a word about the phone call with Carl.
Lucy
I listened to Wyatt shower the next morning wondering what I was going to do about Carl’s job offer. Wyatt’s promotion complicated things. I wished things were simpler—that I was different—that I wanted to live here and be a stay-at-home mom. But I didn’t—and so I was destined not to get everything I wanted. Wyatt once said he’d follow me to Baltimore if I left with our baby if that’s what I really wanted, but I couldn’t ask him to do that—not when he was on track to get the promotion he wanted. I couldn’t ask him to give up his dream to pursue mine.
But what would happen if I took Carl’s offer? I’d stay in town for Samantha and Jack’s wedding and then I’d move. I’d need to find a place to live in the city. If I stayed here, I’d never know how my career would have turned out.
I needed to talk to Wyatt, but I wanted to talk to someone outside of family about the job offer first for perspective, so I texted Kristen to see if she was available for lunch. Just as I put my phone back on the nightstand, Wyatt came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist, the steam escaping from the door behind him. The way the water droplets clung to his skin made me want to touch his chest and follow the trail of water with my tongue.
“Like what you see?” he asked, leaning over to kiss me softly.
“Definitely,” I said as he pulled away.
“Too bad I have to get to work.” He walked into his walk-in closet, drying off, and getting dressed in his work uniform.
“You’re so sexy in that o
utfit.”
He raised his eyebrows as he crawled on the bed toward me, his hands braced on either side of me, and kissed me until I was restless for more. I wanted him to push down the blanket and take my nipple in his mouth.
With one last kiss, he said, “I have to go to work. I’m going to be late.” He slipped off the bed to access the small gun safe which was attached to the side of the bed. He holstered his gun. “We’ll continue this tonight.”
I smiled trying not to think how he might think differently of me if he knew I had a job offer I was considering. “Have a good day at work.”
“You have a good day too.”
Then I listened to his footsteps as he walked out of the house and closed the door behind him. What was happening? When had I become this domestic woman—telling him to have a good day, promising to be home when he got back? Next thing, I’d have dinner ready for him when he walked in the door. Was this what I wanted? It did sound comforting until I remembered Carl’s offer. Sighing, I glanced at the clock. I needed to get up and face this day.
Later that morning, I pulled open the glass door and scanned the small café to find Kristen seated at one of the small tables. “Hey! Thanks for meeting with me.”
“Of course.” Kristen said, standing to greet me with a hug. “I already ordered for me. I wasn’t sure what you wanted.”
“No problem. Let me order and then we can talk.” After our subs were ready, we sat and unwrapped them at one of the small tables by the window.
“You seem distracted.”
I looked around to make sure no one else was nearby I knew. I hadn’t told everyone that I was pregnant and I didn’t want the news of my job offer to get back to Wyatt before I talked to him. “I need to talk to you about something and I don’t want to ask my family for advice.”
