by Izzy Cullen
“When he worked with me on my book he moved into the house with me. I was still married at the time. After the divorce, I found out he was sleeping with my ex-wife the whole time.” My hand went to my mouth. I was shocked. “Yeah, he’s a fucking douche bag.”
“Why would you want him around me then?” I didn’t understand.
“I didn’t want him around you, but I trust you enough to know you wouldn’t screw around with him.” I was still confused. “I’m a professional. I work with people I hate every day because they are good at what they do. Unfortunately, he is one of the best, and I knew he would get you what you deserved.” Alex was moving my hair away from my face.
I fell asleep looking at him. I had missed him and realized I needed to stop pushing him away because he wasn’t going to go anywhere. He made the girls and me happy, and I was seeing we did the same for him.
I woke the next morning to my phone. I looked at the Caller ID and saw it was Michael. “Hey.”
“I was checking to see how you felt. We have the meeting at one and I wanted to make sure you were well enough to make it.”
“I’m feeling better. I’ll meet you out front like we planned.” I sat up and looked at Alex next to me. He was watching me as I talked. “I didn’t get a chance to thank you for helping me last night, so thank you.”
“Part of my job. I’ll see you in a little bit.” I hung up and set the phone down.
“I took care of you too, so where is my thank you?” Alex was still looking at me. I didn’t answer, but slipped under the covers and pulled down his boxer briefs. I teased the tip with my tongue before I took all of him in my mouth. Alex let out a loud exhale. He pulled the covers off and I looked up, making eye contact with him as I moved my mouth up and down his shaft. Alex reached down, pulling at the neck of my shirt until he had it over my head. After a little while he grabbed me and pulled me up onto my knees so I was straddling his face. I used the headboard to support myself.
I tried to climb off when I was close to climaxing, but Alex pinned my knees in place and started adding more pressure as he licked faster. One of my hands left the headboard to grope my breasts, but returned when I hit my orgasm. I clutched the headboard so tightly my knuckles went white.
I wiggled back down to Alex and slid down, placing him inside me. My hips were rocking back and forth and my back was slightly arched. Alex was moving his hips with me and forcing mine into the same rhythm. When Alex’s hands started gripping me tighter and pulling me down harder, I knew he was close. I reached back, gently taking his balls in my hand. He let out a sound that sounded like a growl. It wasn’t until he started begging me to cum with him that I came.
My head fell onto his shoulder and I was breathing heavily. I felt spent. Whatever energy I had was now gone and all I wanted to do was go back to sleep. I looked at the clock and it wasn’t even nine yet. I figured I could close my eyes again for at least an hour.
Alex woke me up a little after ten. He had ordered room service. He handed me a coffee, but the thought of it turned my stomach. I decided on a cup of tea instead. As much as the food looked good, I didn’t feel like my stomach was ready to handle any of it. I decided to get into the shower and prepare for my day.
Alex was in the chair when I got out of the bathroom. “When are you headed back to your hotel?” I wasn’t even sure where he was staying.
“When you leave. I don’t need to go very far.” I looked up from my suitcase I had been digging through. He pointed to the wall by the bed.
“Seriously? You are worse than a fucking stalker.” Alex started to laugh and I rolled my eyes at him.
I finally got ready and changed three times. Alex assured me each time that I looked fine, but I had no idea what to wear. I didn’t own any business clothes, and everything I owned screamed teacher. I finally decided on my black A-line skirt with a pink blouse and black kitten heels.
Alex walked me down to the car when I had to leave and wished me good luck. I told him I would meet him so he could take me to Letterman with him. I was excited to see him on the show.
The meeting seemed to go on forever, and I felt like I was repeating myself over and over. It wasn’t until Michael passed out the first chapter that everyone was quiet. A few were perfectly still. I caught one pursing her lips and another nodding his head up and down. When they finished, a few smiled at me.
When I finally left, I was happy to be out of there. I realized I was not cut out to work in an office. I took off my shoes when I climbed into the car and sent Alex a text that I was on my way and that I’d be at the hotel soon. When I got to the hotel, I couldn’t get to the room fast enough to change. I threw on a pair of skinny jeans and put my tall brown boots over them. I followed with my chunky sweater. I wasn’t dressed up, but it beat my sweatpants I had packed.
I walked over to Alex’s room. He opened the door and wrapped me in a hug followed by a simple kiss. “Well?” He had me follow him into the room.
“Well, I don’t know. Michael is there working things out. I used last night as an excuse to leave.” I thought my eyes were going to gloss over if I sat there any longer.
“Did they like it?” He was waiting for more details.
“They offered me a contract. Michael said it would take a bit to hash things out, so he would call me when everything was done.” Alex walked over and scooped me up in a hug.
“I’m so proud of you.” He set me down and kissed me. “Now that you got that off your list, can we wrap it up and just be done with it already.” I started to laugh. I was ready to be done with the list too.
Before we went to Letterman, Alex took me to dinner. My appetite was now back, and I ate my meal and part of his. It was nice sitting with him and talking as we always had. By the time we had to leave, my face hurt from laughing so much.
When we got to Letterman it was busy. They showed us to a room and I sat in a couch as I watched Alex get his makeup on. It wasn’t until we entered the green room that I saw Paige. I didn’t hate her, but I wasn’t going to initiate conversation either. It wasn’t until they asked Alex to do a sound check that Paige approached me. I couldn’t lie, I was nervous and had butterflies. This could end up a lot of different ways.
“I feel like I need to apologize.” Paige was the first to speak.
“For what?” Technically she had never done anything to me.
“I wasn’t very nice at any of our meetings.” She took a seat next to me. “I have never done well with girls.” I gave her a puzzled look because I didn’t understand. “I’ve never had friends that were girls. I hang out a lot with the guys and I’m not sure how to be a girl’s girl.”
I smiled. “Well, you and Sam seemed to hit it off.” I thought back to the night in LA.
“I freaking hated that girl, but she gives you no choice but to like her.” I had to laugh, because it was true.
“To be honest, I never cared much for you, and it wasn’t your fault.” Paige gave me a puzzled look. “You were spending all this time with Alex and you aren’t exactly ugly either.” She smiled.
“So let me be clear that I don’t always enjoy being around him and I actually got sick of hearing your name.” I started to laugh, but it made me feel good that even when he was in the studio he was thinking about me.
“How about we start over? I’m Abby. It’s nice to meet you.” Paige smiled.
“I’m Paige.” We shook hands and we were laughing when Alex walked in. He had a smile on his face.
“Told you she didn’t hate you.” We both looked at him. “I was talking to both of you at the same time.” I shook my head and Paige flipped him off.
It was time for Alex and Paige to go on. They joked with David Letterman and then it was time for them to perform. Paige explained why she wrote the song and I was shocked. She said she saw how much Alex and I cared for each other and the words just kind of flowed. It was a duet, and when I heard them sing the words, tears filled my eyes.
When they wer
e done, Paige left the stage, and Alex was alone with just his guitar. I recognized the chords from the night I walked into his house when he was playing alone. He started singing and he sang about a new love that was found with unbreakable bonds. It was a beautiful song. I didn’t see Paige next to me until it was done. She didn’t say anything, but squeezed my hand.
When it went to commercial and Alex left the stage, he came over and I jumped into his arms and wrapped my arms around him. He gently set me down and placed both hand on the sides of my face. “That is what I was doing when I forgot the girls. I needed to have it cut and finished that day. I needed to make it perfect because it was for you.” A tear slipped out and Alex wiped it. “I love you.” He didn’t give me a chance to say it back because he had me locked into a full kiss.
~21~
It had been a few weeks since we got back from New York. Alex backed off the PR trips and sent Eric to help Paige. Her album hadn’t been released yet, but the two songs that had been were doing well and seemed to be on the radio a lot.
Alex and the girls were taking me out for my birthday. Technically it wasn’t for a few more days. They had some elaborate plan worked out and even made me go blindfolded. When we got to where we were going, Alex picked me up and carried me into the place. He gently set me down and on the count of three, removed the blindfold.
I was shocked to be standing in the pub with everyone for a party. I had spent so many birthdays here that he knew it was a special place for me. I leaned up and kissed him.
“Wait, you haven’t gotten to open any presents yet.” Johnny walked over with a large box.
I opened it and wasn’t sure what to think. I pulled out two large numbers – a five and a one. “Last I checked I was still in my thirties.” He smiled at me.
“Well, yes you are, but you own fifty one percent of the pub.” I looked at Alex.
“What?” He was nodding his head. “How?” I looked over at my dad who looked like he might start to cry. He walked over to me.
“I told you I would never sell to you.” That was true; he made that point very clear in the beginning.
“He didn’t have any trouble taking our money.” Johnny had a smile on his face.
“Our money, we own this place together.” I was confused. I jumped into his arms, hugging him. I was so happy. This was the best birthday present ever.
“That’s why I disappeared back to LA. I needed to get with my attorney and figure out the liquor license issues and all the other legal crap that comes with owning a bar.” My dad cleared his throat. “Sorry, a pub.”
I turned and looked at my dad. “That’s why you agreed to sell with all the pictures. To think I was so pissed at you for it too.” My dad started to laugh.
I looked over at the girls. “Did you know about this?” Jasmine shrugged her shoulders and smiled. Lily, on the other hand, had to let me know she knew.
“Just another one of Alex’s secrets with us.” I smiled and shook my head at them.
My party at the pub was nice. It was a small gathering with the people I loved and cared about. Johnny and I sat and talked. He had some amazing ideas for the place. I just needed to know he would be okay with the alcohol. He assured me he was fine and that he found an AA sponsor here in town and planned to attend meetings. I had to tell him how comical it looked having an owner of a pub as a recovering addict.
My parents took the girls for the night and I went with Alex back to his place. “So would you like me to let you in on another secret?” He was looking at me with a mischievous look in his eye.
“I’m slightly offended you have to ask.” He knew I hated secrets.
He took my hand and led me over to the bluff that overlooked the beach. I didn’t see anything at first until I looked down. Spelled out in luminaries were the words Marry Me. When I turned to look at Alex, he was on his knees and had a ring box open in his hand.
My hands flew up to my mouth. I hadn’t been expecting this at all. “Abrianna Sullivan O’Hare, I love you and everything about you. I love that you think too much and have crazy thoughts. I love the fact that you have friends you call family and most of all, I love your girls. Please allow me to be your husband so I can make you even crazier.” I started to laugh. It wasn’t the most romantic speech, but it was true. Alex made me crazy.
I wasn’t able to speak, so I just shook my head up and down to signal a yes. Alex stood up from the snow and slid the ring on my finger. I jumped into his arms and kissed him long and hard.
When he set me down, I was finally able to speak. “So would you like me to let you in on a little secret?” I didn’t wait for the answer. “I’m pregnant.”
Epilogue
I sat on the bed and watched the guests strolling around in the yard. I was shocked that Alex and I were able to pull off this huge event without anyone knowing what we had planned. Everyone thought they arrived for a back yard barbeque to celebrate the beginning of summer when we blindsided them with our wedding.
I glimpsed down at my ring and was still adjusting to being Mrs. Alex Morgan. Last summer when Alex said we would be married in ten months I thought he was crazy, but he was right. As I thought back over the months there were definitely trying times, but there were a lot more happy and loving times. Alex made me happy, and more importantly the girls. We were a family even before the wedding; the ceremony only made it official.
“Hey, are you hiding up here?” I turned and saw Alex walking over from the door.
“No, I was feeling hot and wanted to get off my feet for a minute.” I smiled at him as he knelt down in front of me and placed his hands on my belly. This had become a common thing since he found out I was pregnant. In the beginning I tried to discourage him. I was worried that I would miscarry due to the IUD. Once my doctor removed the IUD and the baby was safe I started to enjoy them. I looked down and played with the ring on his finger. “It looks good on you.”
“Do you know how long I’ve been wanting to put your ring on my finger?” He looked up at me and smiled. He didn’t give me a chance to respond or even think about it. “The minute I saw you in the hotel bar.” He leaned up and kissed me. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him in kissing him harder.
I heard a throat clear and stopped. We both looked at the doorway and saw Sam standing there. “We all know you two can’t keep your hands off each other, but do you think you could try for just today?” She looked amazing in her strapless black gown. Sam, Johnny and Steve stood up for Alex while Lexi and Derek stood up for me. The girls were not flower girls, but junior bridesmaids, but Josie made sure to stand on Alex’s side. It was far from traditional, but we were not traditional people.
“Fine.” Alex stood up and reached for me as he said it. “Shall we join our guests?”
I reluctantly stood. “If we must.” Alex kept my hand as we followed Sam down the steps and out the back doors to the reception.
I stood on the porch talking to a few of the guests while looking around. Lexi had sat at a table and talked to Logan most the night. She smiled and laughed while he spoke. I started to think to myself that something was happening and was going to make it a point to question her the next time we were alone. In the last few months Logan had made it a point to ask me about Lexi every time I ran into him in town.
Johnny was sitting at a table with my parents. As much as my dad hated him when he first arrived, he found a liking and fondness for Johnny. I think it’s because Johnny still kept him in the decision making of the pub. Johnny was a regular at our family dinners on Monday nights.
“You look amazing.” I looked over and saw Kate walking up the porch steps.
“Thank you, you look pretty fantastic yourself.” I gave her a hug when she reached me.
“I’m going to miss you next year. The school won’t be the same without you.” I had decided to give up teaching and concentrate on the girls, the new baby, Alex and the pub. I knew trying to juggle teaching as well was enough to make me fail at
something, and parenting or wife duties was something I didn’t want affected.
“Believe me, with you having the twins you will be seeing me a lot. I’d be surprised if I wasn’t being called daily.” We both chuckled, but there was truth behind the statement. The girls were good, but they fed off each other, and last year I seemed to been talked to a lot about small behaviors that weren’t bad, but as a teacher I knew they were annoying.
“I might just call you to talk.” She came in for one last hug.
“Please do. I’ll need adult interaction and a break from the madness that will be taking place here.” I watched Kate rejoin the reception when I saw Sam standing off to the side, staring at Johnny with my parents.
Sam had failed to fully break off the engagement and the relationship with Brian. Instead he talked her into a long engagement. I had been staying out of it, but I wanted to physically shake the shit out of her. Johnny was miserable, but he put on a good front. I was happy the pub was keeping him busy so he could stop mopping around. I walked down the steps and stood next to her.
“Maybe instead of staring you should go talk to him.” Sam looked over at me and shook her head.
“There isn’t anything to say. I’m still technically engaged and in a relationship.” Sam held up her left hand so I could see the huge ring on her finger.
“So you would rather marry someone safe and have boring sex than Johnny who gives you great sex and you love? I mean, it makes perfect sense to me.” Sam shot me a nasty look, but I didn’t care. She was always the one to throw the truth in my face when I deserved it.
“It’s not that simple and you know it.” Sam had a little heat attached to that statement.
“Because you’re scared.” I reached over and squeezed her hand. “I was too, and look how bad things turned out for me.” She flashed me a forced smile. “Honestly, if you need to talk I’m here. I hate how you are shutting me out lately.” Sam didn’t say anything, but I reached over and gave her a hug as I walked away.
