by Anna Brooks
“Want to go get some ice cream?” I know her weakness, and if it’ll make her feel better, I’m all for it.
“It’s only ten thirty in the morning. I’m not that fat.” Her head tilts up so she can see me. “Is Scoopy’s open this early?”
Trying not to laugh proves impossible.
“Shut up.” She slaps my arm.
“We’ll find somewhere else if they’re not. If it makes you happy, I’ll go churn my own milk or some shit to get you your ice cream.” I link our fingers together and lead us out of the store.
When she laughs, I feel it so deep that it makes my chest swell. Luckily, Scoopy’s is open, and to make her feel better, I get an ice cream, too. My phone vibrates on the table, and I glance at it to see a text from Erik.
Can you swing by in about a half hour?
“Did you have anything else you wanted to do?”
“No. Ultrasound, baby clothes shopping, and ice cream are about all I can handle.”
“You wanna come with me to Ace or want me to take you home?”
She yawns. “Home. I need a nap.”
“Okay.”
I shoot a reply to Erik, and after we finish our ice cream, we head back to the car. “Oh, Royce. Look. Brinley’s here.” She points at the homeless girl sitting in the parking lot. Looking at her, you’d never know. Aside from some grungy looking clothes, her hair is clean, her face is actually really pretty, and she doesn’t have any kind of track marks or anything on her arms.
She lives out of her car behind the hospital where we always park, and as far as I can tell, nobody’s asked her to leave since she’s been here every time we have. Sometimes the lot was full, so I’d drop Paisley off back here, and she’d talk to Brinley until I got back to walk her inside.
“She is.”
When we’re about to pass her, Paisley stops. “Hi. How are you today?”
“Today’s a five.”
She has this thing where she rates her days on a scale from one to ten. She’s never been higher than a five before.
“That’s good.”
“How’s the baby?”
Paisley rubs her belly, and the natural radiance brightens up the dirty parking lot. “Perfect.”
“Come on, Paisley. Your dad’s waiting for me.”
Brinley whimpers and puts a hand to her chest as I put my arm around Paisley.
“Oh, my God. Are you okay?”
“Yes.” She smiles. “I’m fine.”
“Okay. See you next time.”
“Yeah. Next time.”
We make our way to the car, and after I help lower her to her seat, she sighs. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, it’s just sad. She seems so young.”
“I know, it is sad. But we’ve given her information on shelters and offered her money before that she refuses to take, so there’s not much else we can do.”
She nods in defeat. “I suppose not.”
“Let’s get you home so you can get that nap in, okay?”
“Okay.” She yawns.
The drive is short, and once she’s settled in our bed and falling asleep, I head in the opposite direction.
Polly’s working at the front desk when I walk in, and she smiles at me. “Hi. How’s the mama?”
“I’m wounded, Polls.” I clutch my chest. “Nobody gives a shit how I’m doing anymore.”
She rolls her eyes. “How are you, Royce?”
“I’m great. Thank you for asking. And your daughter is beautiful and happy. Tired, though. Girl sleeps like the dead.”
“She is growing a human in her belly right now, ya know?”
I stop and put my hand on my hip. “Is that what she’s doing?”
She rolls her eyes at me. “Shut up.”
I give a wave and walk down to Erik’s office, knocking on the closed door.
“Come in.”
When I step inside, I feel a betrayal that makes me want to punch something. Or someone. Or two someones. “What the fuck is he doing here?”
My father and Erik both stand.
“This is the compromise I was talking to you about,” Erik slowly tells me.
I slam the door and cross my arms. “What the fuck?” Since I gave my ultimatum, Erik has found work for me to do here. I’ve been setting up schedules, training new guys, interviewing potential clients, and a bunch of other desk job shit along with local protection detail during the day.
“Your father and I have been talking for a year or so about the possibility of a merger.”
“You’ve gotta be kidding.” I look at my father. “Why can’t you just leave me alone?”
Pain flashes across his face. I haven’t seen him since that night at the bar. My own life has been too busy for me to think much more about what he told me. “This isn’t personal, Royce. It’s business.”
“Bullshit.”
“Stop being so fucking selfish,” he snaps. “I’ve walked on eggshells around you for years now. I explained myself, and I’m not doing it again. Either you accept it and move the fuck on or you don’t, but I’m done trying to kiss your ass.”
I grind my molars together and cross my arms.
Erik clears his throat. “Chris wants to sell his portion of Ace. He’s retiring and wants to wash his hands of the place. Your father wants to expand, and I want to get in on more local clients,” he emphasizes. “Without having to risk my current employee’s job security.”
“This is a win-win,” my dad says. “And as a measure of good faith, I’d purchase Chris’s forty-nine percent, leaving Erik the majority owner. And let me be clear, the only reason I’m willing to do that is to show you this isn’t some calculation on my part to fuck with your life.”
“Royal Ace Security would combine both of our strengths and offer our clients a wider array of services while also giving our employees more flexibility thus creating longevity.”
“Fine. It’s your business, do whatever the hell you want. But know this.” I point at my father. “The only reason I’m doing this, the only reason I’d ever agree to work for you, is because of Paisley and our baby.”
His jaw drops, and his eyes become saucers. “What baby?”
I look at Erik. “You didn’t tell him?”
He shakes his head. “Not my place.”
Well, damn.
“And wait… Paisley. Isn’t that your daughter’s name?” my father asks Erik.
Erik huffs. “Yup. Your boy done knocked her up.”
“Damn. I’m gonna be a grandpa.” The elation in his voice reminds me of when I was little. How when he’d get home from a long trip, he’d sound so excited to talk to me.
When he would take me to a baseball game and I’d hear him cheer on his team, or when I was playing basketball, he’d stand in the crowd cheering me on louder than anybody else. We did have some good times. But I’ve been so pissed, so hurt by losing my mother and what I felt was the ultimate betrayal from him that I forced myself to forget anything good.
Goddammit. “Yeah. You are.”
His eyes fill up with tears, and mine are saucers now. I’ve never seen my dad cry. Ever. Even with mom, he never cried. He said he needed to be the strong one for the family. Explained that as a man, I had to always be strong for the lady in my life.
He pulls me to him and pats me on the back. I look over at Erik who’s got a small smile on his face, but he isn’t looking at us.
“I’m proud of you, son.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I slap his back, and his breath hitches in his throat before he pulls away.
“Royce, we’d like for you to be the director of security.” Erik blows me away with that statement.
“What?”
“Chris is leaving, therefore stepping down from his position, and you know this business inside and out. Not only have I been testing you over the past several months, but you grew up at Royal and then worked for Ace, so you know both sides. You’re the youngest, but you’re the most qualified. Plus, with yo
u in charge, we’ll be able to take some fuckin’ time off.” He laughs.
I look over at my dad. “What about Grant?” I ask, referring to the second in charge at his company.
“Grant’s been stealing from me for years. He’s gone as of last week.”
“You’re shittin’ me.”
“Wish I was.”
I whistle. “Damn.”
“Your father and I would be co-owners, but you’d be in charge for the most part. Most of our work, as you know, is behind the scenes shit anyway. You’d be the go-to. And if you ever had to travel, it would be short.”
“I’ve always wanted my son working with me,” Dad says low and unsure. “I’ve heard from Erik how well you do, and I couldn’t be any more happy for that. But if you did this, just know that it’s a step in moving forward with our lives. You’ll be in mine and I’ll be in yours, and if you hate me as much as you say you do, then I won’t do it. I don’t want to cause you any more hurt than I already have.”
Erik is leaning on the wall, and his attention is on a photo directly across from him. It’s big. Almost poster size I’d say, and it’s of Erik and his father, “Ace” Anderson, who started this company. When I heard Erik’s story, my heart absolutely broke for him in a way I felt down to my bones. He’d give anything to be able to work with his father, and here I am, doing everything I can to push mine away.
When I focus on my dad again, the vulnerability I see in him kicks me in my nuts. “Fine, fuck it. I’m in.”
Paisley
Why? Why is someone at the door now? I just fell asleep for about ten minutes, and now they have to show up.
If it wasn’t for the fact that I have a bunch of stuff still being delivered for the house and the baby, I’d just leave it. I throw the blanket off and waddle to the front door. Looking through the peephole, I get excited and yank the door open. “Oh, my God.”
“Hi.” Chad waves at me, and I hold out my arms to hug him.
“Hi. What are you doing here?” I pull back from him and motion for him to come inside.
He holds his hands out. “Surprise.”
“It is a surprise. Come on, let me get you something to drink.” He follows me through the long hallway to the kitchen, where I point at a chair set by the island. “Have a seat.”
“You look really pretty pregnant.” He smiles and then drops his head before sitting.
I grab a pitcher of lemonade and set a couple of glasses next to it. “Thank you.” Taking a seat at the end, I pour him a glass. “I’m so shocked to see you.”
“Yeah.”
“What’s up?”
“Are you home alone?” He takes a drink and then wipes his hands on his khaki pants.
“Royce ran to work for a bit.” Which means he’ll be home soon, and he won’t be happy with Chad being here. He’s made his distaste for him known from the beginning.
Chad’s light brown hair is longer than I’ve ever seen it and not styled like it normally is. “Are you happy?” he blurts out.
“What?”
“With your life. With just… everything.”
“Yes. I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my life.”
His face falls at my immediate answer. “Oh. That’s good.”
I haven’t talked to Chad in a long time. After I came back here for the summer, I sent him a birthday card. He then sent a thank-you text, and we went back and forth a few times since then.
“How are you?” I ask cautiously.
“I just thought that maybe… that you’d…” He takes a breath like he’s pumping himself up. “I thought if you weren’t happy, maybe you’d want to come back to New York with me because I know I could make you happy.”
Oh God. “Chad…”
“I’m sorry. I know you’re with him,” he spits with disdain.
“I am. And I’m not coming back to New York. Probably ever. My life is here with Royce and our baby and my family.”
He bobs his head up and down.
I’m totally dumbfounded, and I feel horrible even though I shouldn’t. I don’t know what to do, what I should say to him, or if I should say anything more at all. I definitely don’t feel like I need to justify my relationship to Royce with him. Did he fly all the way across the country for this?
He doesn’t say anything else; he just fiddles with his glass. Am I supposed to switch the conversation and talk about the weather or what? “How have you been?”
“I’ve been fine.”
I hear the front door open and glance up at the clock. “Shit, it’s already three?” I was asleep a lot longer than I thought.
“Stay here. I’ll be right back.” Rushing to meet Royce at the door, I don’t even think when I say, “Don’t be mad. Please don’t be mad. Promise you won’t be mad.”
He’s really cute when he’s confused, but I know it’s not going to last long. “Why aren’t you still sleeping, and what would I be mad at?”
“Chad’s here.”
His entire body jolts so fast I don’t know how he didn’t break his damn spinal cord. “In the city here? Or in my house here? Because, Paisley, if you’re telling me that fuckin’ guy is here, in my house, alone with you, I won’t promise shit.”
I press my lips together, trying to think of a way to break it to him. I still can’t even wrap my head around the fact that Chad isn’t gay! “He’s in the kitchen,” I blurt, and Royce’s face transforms right before my eyes into a mask of stone. I put my hands on his chest to stop him from charging down the hall. “Stop. Wait, please. Let me explain.”
He grabs my wrists and pries my fingers off his shirt, then super gently moves me to the side. I chase after him. “It’s fine, Royce. I promise. We were just talking and—”
“What did you think?” he roars at Chad the moment he steps into the kitchen. “Did you seriously think you could come here, into my fucking house, and throw some shit at my pregnant woman, and I’d let you get away with it?”
“No, I—”
“No fucking nothing, asshole. Get the fuck out and I swear to God if I see you again, you won’t be able to—”
“Royce! Stop it.” I drop my hands and stand in front of him. “Stop.”
Chad speaks up from behind me. “I’m sorry. I just had to tell her. I wanted to give her the chance to pick.”
He tries to step forward, and I push him back. “You thought you’d come to my motherfuckin’ house and proposition her!” His chest rumbles beneath my fingertips, and I try to think of something… anything to defuse the situation. The way he says it makes it seem really bad… but essentially, that’s exactly what Chad did. “I warned you already, but apparently, you’re a bigger idiot than I thought.”
“I know, man. I’m sorry, okay. But if I didn’t tell her, I’d regret it the rest of my life. I know how great she is. You know there aren’t many girls like her out there and—”
“No.” He laughs and lowers his voice. “You don’t know how great she is, Chad. You have no fucking idea how phenomenal she is, and you never fuckin’ will. You’ll never, ever know. Do you understand what I’m saying to you?”
I turn to face Chad, the whole situation completely catching me off guard. I feel like they’re having a conversation right in front of me, but I have no clue what they’re saying.
Chad hangs his head and stands from the chair. “I hear you.”
“This is twice. I will not give you a third.”
“Wait, what?”
“Don’t worry about it, baby.” He placates me.
“No, I will worry. What are you talking about twice?”
“It’s fine, Paisley,” Chad states. “I shouldn’t have come.”
I shake my head. “No, it’s not. What is he talking about? Did he threaten you?”
His eyes nervously twitch from me to Royce and back again.
“Oh my God.” I shake my head. “When?”
“I should be going.”
I take a step toward him when I’m hauled back
against Royce. “Yeah, you should.”
“Wait. Let me go.” I turn around, and pregnant belly or not, I shove him away from me. “This isn’t cool, Royce. Chad, let me walk you to your car.” I follow a defeated and beaten Chad outside.
I don’t have to see him or hear him to know Royce is behind me. I walk down the steps and hold my hand up to Royce. “Don’t you dare follow me any farther.”
He crosses his arms but stays put. I hurry down the walkway and call Chad’s name before he closes the door to his rental car. “It’s fine, Paisley. He’s right. I never should have come.” All attitude and the outgoing personality just drained from the poor guy.
“Chad, I had no clue. I didn’t…”
“I need to go back. I wasn’t lying in there. I knew you’d pick him, but I just had to say the words out loud to your face because I knew if I didn’t, I’d regret it for the rest of my life. I needed to move on.”
“Chad, it’s not a matter of choice. I love Royce. I have since I was fourteen… We’re having a baby. You were my friend. You are my friend, and I had no idea you felt that way.”
He offers a tight smile. “Have a wonderful life, Paisley.”
I wait for him to drive away before I go back inside. As I pass Royce, he says, “Told you he wasn’t gay.”
Chapter 15
Paisley
“You can’t seriously still be mad at me.” Royce closes the shower door, takes my loofah from me, and turns me around so he can wash my back.
Yeah, I’m still pissed. Like seriously. “You had no right to threaten him.”
“Christ, Paisley, I’m not gonna hurt the guy. He’s being overdramatic about what I—”
“He’s being overdramatic?” I laugh. “You’re the one who came storming in here like you were ready to murder a friend of mine just because he was in our house.”
Instead of arguing with me, he just washes my body as I continue ranting.
“He’s a nice guy, and if anyone has a right to be mad, it’s him. As soon as you were in the picture, I totally ditched him.”
“First, I told you he puffed out his chest and wanted to see who had the bigger dick when we went to breakfast.”
