Seven
Present Day …
Luckily for me, Roman is an amazing father. Not-so-lucky for me, Reece has never woken up from his coma. He’s remained in a coma, for the last few years, his brain fully functioning, and the doctor’s saying he could wake up at any point, even though they don’t have much hope. His parent’s refuse to pull the plug while there’s a chance. Reece is one of the reasons I left Columbia. I couldn’t stand to go to the hospital and see him, knowing, in the back of my mind, that Roman’s fatherhood is a lie. He never had any reason to second guess me, so we never had a paternity test, but I can feel it. When I look at Deacon, I see Reece.
It doesn’t help that once Roman came around to the idea of being a father, he insisted we name our son after his brother. Deacon is Reece’s middle name. It’s fitting, of course, but in the beginning, guilt like I’d never known filled me every single day of my life, every time I looked at my gorgeous son. Now, though, I just see Reece and my heart fills with joy at the knowledge that for the rest of my life, I’ll have a piece of Reece with me.
College is a learning experience. So far this year, I’ve been lied to, talked about, and pretty much had my name drug through the mud. The amazing part is, none of it matters when I get to visit Deacon on the weekends. It’s every other weekend, since Rome and I alternate, but I love getting home to him.
My parents take care of him while I’m in Myrtle Beach, though I would much rather be in Columbia. I went to a local school for the first two years of college and I was happy, but, eventually, the weight of all my secrets was too much and I had a serious discussion with Roman about switching schools and getting away from all the people we knew, at least for a little while.
When he agreed, wholeheartedly, I thought my luck was finally starting to change, but then he insisted on coming with me.
I can’t lie; over the past three years, we’ve actually been dating on and off. I didn’t sleep with him again after Reece; I just couldn’t do that to either of them, so I kept our relationship extremely casual through the years. When we decided to go to Coastal together, I told him flat out we were over. That first day, he actually believed we would get back together, but I wouldn’t let him.
So this semester has been quite an experience. Between a boatload of classes and homework, I’ve dealt with so much more drama than I did, even as a teen mom. It’s fine, mostly, although I haven’t yet figured out why Hazel hates me. I try not to let it bother me, but sometimes it’s near impossible.
Today is the start of our second semester, which is probably the best thing that’s ever happened. I’ve been asked out to lunch with Audric. He and I are good friends, although I thought for sure he would ask me out last semester; I was nearly devastated when he didn’t. A week ago, I got a text from him, though, asking me out for lunch today.
I’ve managed to keep myself from thinking about it too much, but since I dropped my stuff in my room, I’m sitting here, on edge, just waiting impatiently for lunchtime to come. When Hazel walks in with Nolan in tow, I roll my eyes from my spot on my bed.
“I figured you dropped out,” Hazel remarks.
Why is she always so mean to me? I haven’t done anything to her since we moved in together, but she’s acted like she hates me since day one.
“Whatever,” I mutter, not in the mood to deal with her shit today.
“Hazel, I thought you were going to try to be nice this semester,” Nolan chastises her.
“What, are you two dating now?” I ask, a little wary of their presence together.
“So what if we are? You got a problem with that?” Hazel snaps.
“What is your problem?” I ask, standing up off my bed.
“You are my problem! You walk around like your shit don’t stink, like every guy should want to worship at your feet, but you fucking use them,” she accuses, stepping closer to me. “You fucked up Rome’s life forever because you got pregnant, and now you treat him like shit, too, when you and I both know that he actually stepped up to raise that boy. It’s like you don’t even want him to be Deacon’s father.”
Her words hit too close to home. “Fuck you, Hazel. If you want to change rooms, you better go now because I swear to God, I’m about to deck you.”
It’s a warning she takes to heart. She picks up her bag and turns to Nolan. “I need a new place to live,” she tells him.
He nods to her and she leaves the room. Nolan turns to me. “Are you okay?” I’ve known Nolan for years; he’s a close friend of all the Callahan brothers. Reece’s death took a toll on him.
I shake my head, thinking about the day of the accident, when Nolan showed up in tears from college. He and I spent the day next to each other in the waiting room. He wasn’t well liked by Mr. and Mrs. Callahan, so he kept his distance as much as he could, but Reece’s accident was not something he could back off from.
Since then, Nolan and I have maintained a friendship, although his closeness with Roman bothers me a bit. I definitely don’t spill secrets with him, but I believe I can trust him.
“Are you really going to get her a new room assignment?” I ask him, ignoring his question.
“You two are so hostile toward each other, and fuck if I’ll ever understand girls. So, yeah, it’s probably easier to get you both a new roomie. That cool?”
“Yep,” I say, my voice clipped.
Nolan shakes his head. “Your new roommate will be here in an hour,” he promises and then steps out to follow Hazel.
I’m steaming mad, but when I pick up my phone, I see I have a message from Audric and he’s ready for our date. Right now, I can’t think of anything better.
Eight
“Is it weird?” Audric asks me once we’re sitting in a booth at a local restaurant. He’s referring to the fact that we’re friends, and have been since the beginning of the year, but now we are approaching actually dating.
“I’m not sure,” I answer honestly. “I think we just have to let it run its course and see what happens. No matter what happens, though, I want us to remain friends.”
“Me too. Friendship is more important to me than anything else.”
“It’s odd for me to be dating anyone, really. I’ve been a single mom for so long,” I explain, hoping he doesn’t think poorly of me.
“Because of everything that happened with Roman?” he asks.
“Sort of … The whole situation is filled with drama and I’m not really in the mood to talk about it. Some secrets are better left unsaid.” I think about my sweet baby boy and wonder who his father is.
“Tell me about it. I do have a few secrets I want to share with you, though,” he tells me after our waiter brings us our drinks and we order lunch.
“Oh? Well I’m a great secret-keeper,” I say with a smile.
“I know. And that’s exactly why I want to tell you, because I know I won’t have to worry about you telling anyone.” He takes a deep breath. “I’m not actually bi-sexual.”
My mind is blown. He told me last semester he was bi, although I wasn’t completely sure I believed it then. Guess my gut feeling was correct.
“Wow,” I say, unable to wrap my head around it.
“I know it’s crazy. I told a few people I was because I wasn’t all that interested in being in a relationship in college. At least, not right away. I’m going to say this, and I hope you don’t think I’m conceited, because I’m not, but I know how I look. I know I’m not ugly and that girls pay attention. I just don’t have the kind of arrogance that a Roman or a Nolan has because I’m not into being with as many girls as possible.”
“I don’t think you’re arrogant at all, but why aren’t you a player? You totally have the looks to be and you can get just about any girl on campus, Audric.”
“Well, thanks, but that’s my other secret … I’m a virgin.”
“Whoa,” I whisper in utter shock. I know very few girls who are virgins, but I doubt I know a single guy in college who is a virgin. And Audric isn’t
one of those guys who’s geeky and only looks at his Xbox with desire.
“Yeah. I just want to lose it to the right girl,” he says with a pointed look.
“Me?” I gasp as the waiter approaches with our food. He doesn’t answer me until the waiter walks away.
“Yep.”
I’m speechless. Audric is such a kind soul, I can’t imagine being the person he wants to lose it to. I feel so unworthy.
“I don’t want to take advantage, Audric. And I definitely don’t want you to regret it. You’ve gone this long without meeting someone you want to share that with. What makes me the right one?”
“I can’t even believe you have to ask me that. You’re amazing, Cheyanne. You have your life together and you take care of your son like he’s the only person in your world who matters. And he is. I can tell, just by the way you talk about him. Deacon is your number one, but I would happily settle for number two in your life if you agree to be my number one.”
His words stir tears in my eyes, but I try to keep them in. I’m so emotional, having spent these past few weeks with Deacon, missing him like crazy now.
“Audric …” I start. I’m compelled to come clean to him. “I’m not as saintly as you paint me. I need to tell you something.”
“Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter. But I welcome you to tell me anything.” He grins at me.
“You might change your mind,” I say. Then I tell him everything. I explain about Reece and how in love I was with him for so many years, and when the opportunity presented itself, I let my emotions take over. I tell him how we didn’t use protection, which is what makes me think Deacon isn’t Roman’s. I go into details about Reece’s accident and how I lied to Roman by never telling him the truth about Deacon’s conception and that he might not be the father.
When I finish, Audric doesn’t even blink. “You’ve had a hard couple of years.”
“That’s it? Most people would call me a slut or tell me I’m a horrible person, which is how I feel most days. Every time I look at Deacon’s face, I see Reece.”
He takes my hand across the table. “Cheyanne, you got dealt a shitty hand. And with Reece so completely out of the picture, you had to make a choice that directly affects your son’s well-being. And with Roman’s family helping to support your son, whether he’s Roman’s or Reece’s kid, that family has a tie to him. Don’t ever care what other people think, especially if they don’t have all the details. You never know about a person until you walk a mile in their shoes.”
Tears fall down my cheeks at his words. I’ve held my demons in for so long, it’s like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
“You’re an amazing mom, Cheyanne. Don’t ever forget it,” he says. “And knowing this about you only makes me like you that much more. I definitely haven’t changed my mind about wanting to lose my virginity to you, either. Will you go out to dinner with me tomorrow night?”
“Yes.”
Nine
I ask Audric to drop me off near the library instead of our dorm house because I need to check out a book. Once I finish there, I take a shortcut between several buildings, weaving in and out of alleyways so I can think.
Audric is amazing. He’s sweet and gentle, and for the first time since Reece’s accident, I can picture myself being with someone else and actually feeling love. I feel like having Audric in my life has allowed me to truly move on from Reece, to be able to just walk away, as much as I can, from the Callahan clan. The family is so overwhelming, so worrisome, I normally think ahead about everything I do in order to gauge what their judgments will be of my actions.
Talking to Audric at lunch has convinced me that I just need to live my life as best I know how and continue to be a good mom for Deacon. I’m content for possibly the first time is years.
As I round a corner into another alley, I realize there are people at the other end. Specifically, a couple in the throes of passion. I’m not voyeuristic, but I’m curious who it is, at least. I edge closer, focusing my eyes in the darkened path. The sun hides behind the clouds, casting shadows down on us.
When I see the pin-straight, nearly waist length black hair, I freeze. Hazel is with someone, fooling around in an alley. It’s not Hazel who makes me stop, though, it’s who she’s with. Nolan is hard to miss with his broad shoulders and short-cropped hair. My eyes bulge at the sight of him, knowing, as I do, that he is in a somewhat serious relationship with Destiny. Or so I thought. Her comment this morning runs through my head. What if we are? Is it possible Destiny and Nolan broke up and I didn’t even know?
As they kiss, Nolan backs her up to the brick wall and lifts her. His hand disappears between her legs and I know I can’t watch any more. They will probably have sex right here in the open and I refuse to see any of it.
I turn around, trying to forget what I’ve seen, but the images are too vivid. Instead, I do my best to ignore them and book it to my room. I walk up to the door of my dorm a few minutes later and it’s wide open.
My first thought is Hazel, but when I peek inside, it’s a different dark-haired girl.
“Oh, hey. You must be Cheyanne,” she says, walking over and shaking my hand.
Already, this girl is a million times better than Hazel. “That’s me. And you’re my new roomie?”
“True story. I’m Lexi, Hazel’s soon-to-be stepsister,” she replies.
Her words shock me, and Lexi immediately notices my dropped jaw.
“I take it she hasn’t talked about me,” Lexi laughs as I shake my head. “She wouldn’t. Our parents are supposed to get married in eighteen months, and she likes to act like we don’t exist. She’s still hoping her dad leaves my mom.”
“That’s a complete surprise, although considering Hazel and I aren’t friends, and haven’t been since day one, it makes sense that she never told me. So why the hell did you decide to come to school here with her?” I ask before I can stop myself.
Lexi chuckles. “It was our parents’ idea. We’re both in college, and they thought it would be a great idea if we went to the same school in order to get to know one another better. Hazel thought it was the worst idea ever and wouldn’t switch schools, so it fell to me. I’m pretty mellow, so I just transferred. She has no intentions of getting to know me, of course, but I’m willing to make the sacrifice of coming to a beach school with lots of rock-hard bodies.”
She’s so friendly, so different from Hazel, I know without doubt that she and I will be good friends.
“There are plenty of those,” I comment.
“That’s what I hear.”
Roman is at the still-open door, giving Lexi the onceover. “Hi there.” He steps into the room to greet my new roomie. “I’m Roman.”
“Ah, yes! Star football player, Cheyanne’s baby-daddy, Hazel’s ex, and pretty much man-whore central,” she says, gripping his outstretched hand. She gives him a look I swear pierces that confident arrogance of his.
“Uhh …”
For the first time in his life, he’s speechless, and I’m actually impressed by some girl for the first time in mine. Lexi has wavy dark brown hair that reaches to the middle of her back, but she wears it in a ponytail. With minimal makeup and eyes that shine bright green, she’s almost the polar opposite of her would be stepsister. Her clothes are trendy but not emo like Hazel. With a red cami tank top underneath a see-through white long-sleeve shirt and a pair of low-rise jeans, she’s not dressed nearly as provocative as Hazel usually dresses.
“Do us all a favor and run back to Miranda, Roman,” she says to him, waving him out of our room.
With a confused look, Rome just turns and leaves, shaking his head a little at the idea of being so thoroughly dismissed. She walks over and flicks the door closed behind him.
“Hell, if only I discovered how to do that three years ago,” I mutter.
Lexi laughs and throws me a wink. “Stick with me, Red, and I’ll teach you all I know. This is going to be a great semester.”
&n
bsp; “I don’t know about that,” I mumble, thinking of Hazel and her antics.
“Trust me,” she says. “I can handle Hazel.”
I believe her, especially after the way she just dismissed Rome. However, I still have my doubts.
“I’m tired of unpacking already,” she groans, dropping a duffel on the floor.
“You’ve only unpacked your backpack,” I notice.
“Yeah, but this is Myrtle Beach! I want to do something exciting on my first day here! Plus, there’s a hell of a lot of hot guys here, so I need to do a meet and greet with all of them this week. Might as well get started right away. Are you all settled in?”
“Yeah, I’m all unpacked. We can do whatever you want,” I offer. This chick is a little outgoing for me, but at least she’s nicer than Hazel. I would take that in an instant.
“Let’s go,” she says with a wave of her hand, grabbing a set of keys from her dresser and a tiny purse and then bolting through the door.
Ten
“I’ll drive,” she announces when we get outside.
It’s sunny today, but there’s a definite chill in the air. I pull my sweater tighter around me and follow Lexi to a sleek, mid-size SUV. It’s white and very expensive.
“This is yours?”
She chuckles. “Yeah, Dad went a little overboard when I turned eighteen. I’m not complaining, though. The divorce made him feel extra guilty toward me, so I’ll take whatever I can get.”
We climb inside and it’s all black leather interior. It’s so comfortable, I snuggle against the material while Lexi starts it and then flips on the seat warmers. In seconds, my back and ass are cozy warm.
“Where to?” she asks.
“I have no idea,” I answer honestly. I’m too distracted by her car to pay much attention to anything else.
“How about we go to the aquarium?”
“Won’t it be packed with kids?” I don’t actually care about the children being there, but I figure she will.
Best Friends Forever Page 23
