She got pregnant? I lose my breath as much as if the wind got knocked out of me. I don’t know what to say. There is nothing to say. My heart is in my throat and I feel helpless. “What? . . . How? . . . When?”
“I kind of went wild after you left,” she says. “I know I still had Julian and all, but it wasn’t the same. I guess I went looking for the attention I was no longer getting from you.” She covers her eyes with her hands, her head shaking as she reveals her secret. “I slept with several guys in a short period of time, and . . . and I ended up pregnant. I was sixteen.”
“Oh, Mal.” I scoot up the bed and situate myself next to her, leaning back on the headboard like she is. I don’t touch her. I’m not sure she wants to be touched right now, when she’s telling me the ugly truths of her past. “Will you tell me about it? Please?”
“There isn’t much to tell really. I was reckless and stupid and then one day at school I threw up for no reason so I peed on a stick and it turned blue. I was sure my parents would disown me. They went to church every Sunday. The dragged me to youth group and instilled their values into me. I was terrified of what they would do if they found out. But I also couldn’t dream of having an abortion, so I didn’t know what to do.”
She had a fucking baby? Oh, my God.
“So I did my research and found a place where I could go to have the baby if my parents made me leave.”
“But you didn’t have to go there, right? I knew your parents, Mal. There is no way they would kick their only daughter to the curb. I don’t care if they were the right hand of God, there is no way they would abandon you.” I think of Mallory, sixteen, helpless and alone living at a shelter because she’d already been abandoned by one person in her life. “Please tell me they didn’t.”
She shakes her head. “No, they didn’t kick me out. Quite the opposite, in fact. They were very supportive. They even said they would help me raise the baby.”
I’m confused. Surely she would have told me by now if she were a mom. There was no evidence of a child at her house. No mention by her friends or Richard. “What happened?” I ask. “Do you have a child, Mal?”
“No,” she says. “I had a miscarriage at seventeen weeks.” She looks down at her stomach, bereft. “I know it was for the best.”
“I’m so sorry.” I put my arm around her and pull her close as she sinks into my side. “It’s all my fault. I should never have left you.”
Her eyes snap to mine. “It was not your fault, Chad. And I won’t have you thinking it was. Your parents moved you away and there was nothing you could do about it. It was on me. I missed my best friend and I handled it poorly. I guess we both did stupid things in our past. You turned to drugs to fill whatever void you felt and I turned to boys.”
There’s so much truth in her words. More than I ever realized. She’s right. There was a void. She was missing from my life as much as if I’d lost a piece of myself. “I wish I could have been there for you,” I say. “But I’m glad Julian was at least.”
She shakes her head. “Julian didn’t know.”
“About the guys or about the baby?” I ask.
“The baby,” she says. “I suspected he knew about the guys, but we never talked about it. I think he was in denial. I’m actually kind of surprised he didn’t tell you about them since the two of you talked long after you and I stopped.”
“He never said a word,” I tell her. “So nobody knew about the pregnancy except you and your parents? What about the father?”
She shakes her head. “I wasn’t even sure who it was. And before you ask, you didn’t know him . . . or them. It wasn’t anyone from our school. Nobody else knew about any of it. It wasn’t until Julian and I broke up that I decided to tell him.”
“Why tell him then?”
“Because he called me a tease; said it was why he had to sleep with someone else. He never understood why I went and hooked up with those guys after you left but wouldn’t sleep with him. Then when he cheated on me, I finally told him why I hadn’t been able to be with him. I didn’t want to risk another pregnancy. I wasn’t ready for that kind of responsibility yet.”
“God, Mal, I’ll bet he felt about as low as a guy can feel after that.”
She nods. “He did. But feeling that way didn’t exonerate him. He should have ended things with me first.”
“Guys are dicks,” I say. “We can be stupid bastards, can’t we?”
She turns to me, begging me with her eyes. “Don’t be a stupid bastard with me, Chad. I’m not sure I could take it after tonight.”
“Never,” I promise her. “Never again.” We sink down into the bed and I spoon her from behind as she falls into sleep. I rub my hand across her flat stomach. I don’t tell her that no way in hell would I ever get a girl pregnant. Not ever. Not unless that girl was her.
Chapter Eighteen
Mallory
Forty-eight hours we’ve been holed up in Chad’s hotel suite. Forty-eight incredible, romantic, blissfully happy hours. We’ve christened every room and every surface. My body is so deliciously sore, I may never recover. I didn’t know it could be like this. I never even had an orgasm at the hands of a man until this weekend. And now I’ve had ten. He’s so proud of them that he’s keeping count.
Tonight, however, we’re having company. Julian is going out to dinner with us. It was Chad’s idea. He’s determined to get his support for our relationship. Quite frankly, I’m not sure why Julian is being so negative about it. I get that he doesn’t want to see me hurt, but it’s kind of hypocritical coming from him seeing as he hurt me. But deep down, even if Julian had never cheated on me, I know it wouldn’t have worked out. It never felt right. Being with any guy never felt right until now.
Julian arrives right on schedule, his head shaking in disapproval as he enters the Presidential Suite. “Seriously?” he asks Chad. “Show off much?”
“Let’s get something straight right fucking now,” Chad says, closing the door behind Julian. “I’ve got money, Julian. Lots of it. I inherited ten million from my dead grandparents; and as of late, I’m making half of that for every film I do.” He motions his hand around at our surroundings. “This is nothing to me, a drop in the bucket. I’m sorry if you think I should be staying at a goddamn Motel Six, but that’s not going to happen. This isn’t to show off. I’m not playing any games here. So get over yourself and deal with it.”
I try to pick my chin up off the floor. Oh, my God. I knew he was rich, but hearing him spell it out like that, it’s more than I can even fathom. I make fifty-eight thousand dollars a year. He probably makes that in interest alone every month. My head is spinning.
“So if you are going to belittle me for something,” Chad says to Julian, “there are a whole lot of other things you can choose besides my portfolio.” He walks over to the minibar. “Now do you want some ridiculously overpriced champagne or don’t you?”
“Sure.” Julian shakes his head, laughing as he walks over to greet me. “Hey,” he says, pulling me in for a hug.
I peek at Chad to see his jaw twitching at our embrace. Boys. That man has nothing to worry about. He branded me as his from our first kiss a few weeks ago. He’s ruined me for anyone else.
Cole knocks on the connecting door and sticks his head through as Julian and I get handed glasses of champagne. “A word, Thad?”
“Make yourself comfortable,” Chad says, motioning to the couch. “I’ll only be a minute.” He walks through the door to Cole’s room, closing it behind him.
“Are you staying here with him?” Julian asks, cutting right to the chase.
“I am, yes.”
“So you’re sleeping with him.” He sucks in air between his teeth, producing a hissing noise. “Boy, that didn’t take long. Not even close to a year, huh?”
“That’s not fair, Julian. Things were different then and you know it. I’m twenty-four now and perfectly capable of making responsible decisions.”
“Have you told him why we bro
ke up?” he asks.
“I’ve told him everything. I don’t have any secrets from him.”
He snorts. “Has he told you everything?”
“We’re getting there,” I say. “He has a lot more to tell than I do.”
“So that’s a no,” he says, punctuating his words with a swig of his drink. “What are you going to do when everyone finds out about this? There’s already buzz about some mystery woman in his life, but the press still keeps printing stories about him and Courtney Benson. Is he with you or not?”
“Yes. Of course, he’s with me. I . . . I love him, Julian.”
He runs a hand through his dark hair. “You love him? It’s only been a few weeks, Mallory. You’re setting yourself up to get hurt.”
“A few weeks and ten years,” I remind him. “It’s not like I met him yesterday, Julian. And he loves me, too. This thing is for real.”
“Then why doesn’t he have the balls to admit it in public?” he asks. “Why is he keeping you a secret? If it were me, I’d be shouting it from the damn rooftops. What does that even tell you?”
“He’s trying to protect me,” I say. “Once we go public, our relationship will be scrutinized. People will want my picture or an interview. He doesn’t want me to have to deal with that.”
“Hmmm,” he gruffs.
“You need to give him a chance, Julian. He hurt me back then. He hurt you, too. But his parents moved him across the country. He had no control over that. Can we really blame him for losing touch? Is that really worth holding a grudge? Haven’t worse indiscretions been forgiven?” I raise my brows at him, giving him an accusing stare.
He looks guiltily at the ground. “You’re right. I know you’re right. It’s just hard for me, Mallory. You have to know that. It’s hard for me to see you with any man, let alone Chad.”
What? “What are you saying, Julian?”
“I’m saying that I was a royal douche and I should have never cheated on you. I didn’t know a good thing when I had it.”
I cock my head to the side, absorbing his words. “Oh, Julian.” I had no idea he still felt that way about me. He’s dated a lot of women these past few years, but none have stuck. Is that why? Now I’m the one who feels guilty, parading Chad around under his nose. Talking about him endlessly whenever he and Mel and I have dinner.
“It’s fine,” he says, downing another long drink. “Well, it’s not fine, but I’ll get over it. Eventually. I know you don’t see me that way anymore. It’s my issue, not yours. But he’s still got to prove himself before I can trust him with you.”
I nod my head. “He will. He is.” I put my hand on his arm. “Please give him a chance. Get to know him again.”
The connecting door opens and Chad walks through, his disapproving stare honing in on my hand that is touching Julian. He looks at me and I try to reassure him with my eyes that he has nothing to worry about.
“Change of plans,” he says, walking over to join us. “Someone at the restaurant blabbed and word got out that we were coming. There’s a mob of people there now.” He turns his attention to me. “I know you’re probably feeling claustrophobic by now, but I didn’t know what else to do. I arranged for the hotel to cater our dinner up here in the suite. That’s what took me so long.”
“That’s fine, Chad. Of course, we should stay in. Shouldn’t we, Julian?” I shoot him a pleading look. “We don’t need a crowd watching us eat dinner and spreading rumors. Didn’t we have enough of those when we were teenagers?”
The two of them laugh as we start reminiscing about how everyone accused us of being a threesome. By the time dinner arrives, I feel Julian may actually be coming around. It still makes me sad that all this time, he’s felt that way about me and I didn’t know. Not that it would have changed anything. Even when I was with Julian, I had a hard time seeing myself with him.
We get through dinner, enjoying a delicious spread of surf and turf, without any more fighting or animosity. And after, Chad asks me if I would mind if he takes Julian out for a drink. All I can do is smile. He’s making a real effort with him.
I say goodbye to Julian and Chad at the door, but as I turn to walk away, Chad catches me by the arm, spinning me up against his chest. “I’ll be back in one hour,” he says to me privately. “I want you naked in my bed when I return.”
Heat spreads between my legs at his words. I look up at him and whisper a tease. “A bit bossy, aren’t we?”
He grabs me behind my neck, pulling me to him as he whispers back, “You’re the boss tonight. Anything you want—you get.” He kisses the tip of my nose before closing the door, leaving me a mushy pile of hormones. The next sixty minutes will seem like an eternity.
~ ~ ~
Sunday evening has come all too quickly. The thought of him leaving me after what we’ve shared this weekend has me straining to hold back tears as Cole drives us back to my house.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Chad says, squeezing my hand.
Of course I am. This is the moment I’ve dreaded since he picked me up Thursday night. What happens next? We didn’t talk about it at all this weekend. What if he doesn’t have any time for me? What if this is all I get for now? Can I live with that?
“Sorry,” I say. “I had such a great time this weekend. I guess I just don’t want it to end. Thank you for everything.”
He chuckles. “Mallory, you didn’t set foot outside the hotel room for three straight days, you call that fun?”
“The best,” I say, remembering all the different ways we showed our love for each other.
His face breaks into a triumphant smile. “Thank you,” he says. “It was the best weekend I’ve ever had, Mal.”
I nod, looking up at him as a tear trickles down my cheek. He wipes it with his thumb. “Hey, none of this. Don’t you know this is not the end? It’s only the beginning, Mallory. The first of so many more great times to come.”
I sniff back more tears as Cole pulls up to my house after a drive that didn’t last nearly long enough to say goodbye. Cole exits the car but doesn’t open my door. I look at Chad and he smiles, pulling a small package out of his carry-on bag.
“You got me a present?” I ask. “When did you have time to do that?”
He shrugs, nodding at the package. “Open it.”
I tear off the ribbon and open the package. Inside is a piece of paper. It’s an airline itinerary. Dated three weeks from now. From JFK to LAX. And it has my name on it. He’s bought me a ticket to L.A. for my spring break? I want to be happy, but I can’t. I’ve already got plans with three other teachers from school. We’re driving down to Myrtle Beach to stay in a rental house.
“Oh, Chad.” I look out the window trying not to cry.
“Don’t you want to know how I knew when your spring break was?” he asks.
“How?”
“I called Melissa last night when I was with Julian. I cleared it with her. She said she even knows another teacher who would be willing to take your place on the trip. It’ll be great, Mal. You can come see where I live. Hang out with my parents. Meet some of my friends.” Then his smile turns into a frown. “Oh, shit,” he says. “That is unless you’d rather go to the beach with your friends.” He takes the itinerary from me, folding it up and placing it back into the box. “I overstepped my bounds, didn’t I? I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed you’d drop everything to be with me. I’m being selfish. And right after I promised you I wouldn’t be a stupid bastard.”
I snatch the box out of his hands. “I would love to come visit you, Chad. And you aren’t selfish. You were actually very considerate to clear it with Melissa first.” I can’t help the smile that overtakes my face. “A whole week together?”
“Not just a week. Nine days,” he says. “You’re flying out right after school on Friday and I’m keeping you until the next Sunday night. It won’t be exactly like this weekend. I’ll have to work a little; we have pre-production meetings for the Defcon sequel. But the rest of the tim
e, I promise I’m all yours.”
“All mine?” I say, biting my lower lip. “I like the sound of that.”
He runs a finger across the lip I was biting. “Quit that or I’ll be riding to JFK with a painful hard-on.” He leans over to kiss me, but instead, I climb onto his lap, pressing my mouth to his as I grind against his growing erection.
“Good luck with that,” I say, giggling between kisses. Spring break is three weeks away. Three weeks of not being able to see him. Kiss him. Touch him. I need to remember what he tastes like. I need to remember everything about him. Two weeks without him was torture. Three will feel like forever.
“I am, you know,” he murmurs into my mouth.
“You are what?” I ask breathlessly.
“I’m yours, Mallory Kate,” he says, pulling back but keeping our lips only inches apart. He frames my face with his hands. “In a way, I always have been, I just didn’t know it. But now, after this weekend, I can’t imagine myself with anyone else. I’m yours—for as long as you’ll have me.”
Tears stream down my face as he holds my eyes with his. I’ve never seen more truth in them than I do right this second. “What if I say I want you forever?” I ask with a thick voice.
“I’d tell you I’m the luckiest son-of-a-bitch to ever walk the earth.” He pulls me to him, crashing our lips together one last time.
~ ~ ~
“How are you holding up?” Kyle asks after hugging me as we walk into Mitchell’s restaurant for dinner.
“I’m good,” I say. “You don’t have to babysit me, you know.”
He flashes me a look of annoyance. “I’m not babysitting you,” he says. “I’m catching up with an old friend.”
“Did he ask you to check up on me?”
“No,” he says, looking over to catch my questioning eyes. “Okay, yes, but I was going to call you anyway. I feel bad that we’ve lived so close and haven’t been in contact.”
Stone Promises (A Stone Brothers Novel) Page 17
