Saving Teddy

by Kaci Rose

  “You must be Teddy.” Ellie smiles at me and makes no point in hiding that she’s studying me, making sure I’m good enough for her best friend.

  “Well, we’re staying with Noah and Lexi, so we’re going to head over there, but please, tell me you’re both coming to dinner tonight, so we can talk more,” Ellie says.

  “Yes, we are, and ask her to put you in the bedroom next to mine. It’s like my own two-bedroom apartment down there, and it will give us time to catch up. How long are you here for?” Mia asks.

  “We leave at noon the day after tomorrow’s event. Super short visit, but we had to fly out and see you,” Ellie says.

  “Plus, you haven’t stopped talking about the barn, so we thought we should be here to raise money for it,” Owen says.

  Mia steps over to hug him saying, “Thank you.”

  I don’t much like him touching Mia, but I know they’re just friends, and he’s been in her life longer than me, so I let it be.

  “Okay, dinner,” Ellie says again.

  Mia looks at me.

  “We’ll be there.”

  Ellie lets out a squeal this time. “Okay, see you, then. Now, we’re going to go check on what’s happening with the barn.”

  We sit a bit longer, but I can tell she’s distracted. So, I ask her about Ellie and Owen. She tells me stories about their life in Tennessee, how they met, and how she got to watch them fall in love.

  “Ellie and Owen give me hope that there’s still a happily ever after for me. They’re so in love, and it’s the kind I want to find someday for myself.”

  “You will,” I tell her and pull her in for a kiss, as we finish off the last of the chips.

  “Why don’t you and Ellie go have some girl time, before dinner, and I’ll meet you there,” I suggest, knowing she hasn’t seen her best friend, since she’s been here at Oakside.

  “It’s too long of a walk. I’ll come to pick you up,” she says.

  “No, I’ll have Noah come get me. Enjoy your time with your best friend, and I’ll see you at dinner.” I don’t want her to give up any time with Ellie. I could tell how much they missed each other.

  She stares at me for a moment, her brows pinched together in worry.

  “What is it?” I take her hand, wanting to soothe away any worry I can.

  “This is a big step in meeting my best friend. To me, it’s more important than meeting my parents. Are you ready for this?”

  “More than ready,” I say without hesitation.

  The blinding smile I get in return, and the way that simple smile makes my heart beat faster, proves that I made the right choice.

  We pack up the basket, and she walks me back to the front porch. With an all too quick kiss, she’s taking off, almost running, to Lexi and Noah, as I make my way back inside and back to my room.

  I sit on the couch and put my feet up. I wish I had someone in my life for her to meet, because I’d introduce her just to show her how much I’m in this.

  Brian would have loved her. He’d have flirted with her just to get a rise out of me, and then insist she set him up with any single friends or sisters, so we could double date.

  That makes a smile fill my face. Yes, Brian would have loved her, too.

  Chapter 14

  Mia

  I only slow down, when the door to the basement apartment comes into view. Taking a minute to catch my breath, before walking in, I find Ellie and Owen, getting settled and most of their stuff already in their room.

  “Hey, we didn’t expect to see you, until dinner,” Ellie says.

  “Sorry to crash your sexy time, but Teddy told me to come have some girl time,” I say, not really sorry. These two are always going at it like rabbits every chance they get. Having a room next to mine won’t stop them either. I make a note to myself to sleep with my earbuds in tonight.

  “Well, you girls have fun. I’m going over to Oakside for a bit,” Owen says, giving Ellie a kiss and grabbing her butt, before heading out the door.

  “Take Noah and his car over and bring Teddy back. Don’t let him walk, because he overdid it yesterday, and he’s supposed to be taking today and tomorrow easy,” I tell him.

  He gives me a knowing smirk and nods, before leaving. Ellie pulls me over to the couch, where we both snuggle in with our feet under us, facing each other.

  “Okay, dish, before we go upstairs to steal some of the delicious food Lexi is cooking. I can smell it all the way down here.”

  I fill her in on what has happened, since we talked last night, including working on the barn, Teddy’s little jealous stint, and the surprise date.

  “So, he’s a potential billionaire who doesn’t want the money or the company,” Lexi says.

  Of course, she cuts right to the chase.

  “Yeah, whatever he decides I’m hoping Owen will help him. I don’t want someone taking advantage of him,” I say what has been going over and over in my head for a few days now.

  “Of course. If I’m being honest, Owen is probably over there talking to him now. Not about the letter, but just guy things, making it clear we have your back, and he’ll kill him if he hurts you. The same threats you made to Owen,” Ellie says.

  “Funny, the only death threats I remember, were you threatening to kill me, when you got home the night you met Owen,” I say, and we burst into giggles about the mix-up that landed her at a sugar daddy mixer, where she met Owen.

  “Oh, yeah, and Owen promised to help me hide the body. He even texted me that night to see if I needed clean up help, remember?” She says, before we both burst into giggles again.

  “The best love stories have unconventional beginnings,” Ellie says, smiling. “I heard that at an event recently, and I full heartily agree with it.”

  “Okay, let’s go be taste testers and get some wine,” Ellie jumps up.

  We head upstairs, and Lexi greets us with a smile and a pitcher of sangrias.

  “Mia, you’re coming to the fundraiser tomorrow, right? You have been working on the barn, and I think it would be great having you there to talk about having firsthand experience,” Lexi says.

  “Oh, I hadn’t planned on it, and I don’t have anything to wear,” I say.

  It’s going to be a formal black-tie event, and I hadn’t planned for any of that, while being here. Not that I even have a dress for that kind of thing back home.

  “Well, I guess that means a shopping trip to Savannah tomorrow. We can get our nails done, too,” Ellie says.

  “Oh, I know the cutest shop that we’ll find something for you at!” Lexi says.

  Just like that, I know there’s no talking them out of this. They start planning our day, including where we’ll eat lunch, and I let them have fun with it. Ellie knows by now how to twist my arm because there isn’t anything I won’t do for that woman.

  “Ellie, I was hoping to see those adorable girls of yours again,” Lexi pouts.

  “Yeah, normally we would bring them, but we’re on the California leg of our trip, and our moms wanted to come out and have some beach time with them, so they are having a girl’s weekend. Plus, both moms needed a bit of a vacation, so I think this was Owen’s way of forcing them into one. We fly back the day after tomorrow, and Owen got us a hotel room for one night to be alone, and then back to the RV,” Ellie says.

  “That man of yours is a good one,” I tell her.

  Ellie had a hard time accepting that at first, but anyone who saw the way he looked at her knew. He still looks at her like she’s his whole world. The kind of look I hope a guy will give me one day.

  “I know, and I think Teddy might be that for you.” She looks at me, and I know I blush a little at this because I can feel the heat on my face.

  My feelings for Teddy are strong, but I don’t know if they are there just yet. Part of me wants to hope he’s the one, and part of me is scared to at the same time.

  “He’s opening up to you more than anyone else. Just be careful, because recovery is a bumpy road.” Lexi say
s.

  She doesn’t have to tell me. Ellie knows this and squeezes my hand, letting me know she’s here for me. Lexi may not know about Julie, but Ellie does. One night on the anniversary of the crash, we had a few bottles of wine, and I told her the whole story.

  Ellie was the first person I could admit my full feelings to; all the guilt and the sadness, all of it. She didn’t judge me just let me talk, and then she wanted to know about Julie. She’s been there for me ever since. We go together every year on Julie’s birthday to the cemetery.

  Julie’s parents even met Ellie, and we have all had lunch together a few times. I don’t think I’d have been able to do that without Ellie being there for me.

  We get to talking about the event tomorrow, and what the other two are wearing and lose track of time. Before we know it, the guys are walking in the door, and we’ve finished a pitcher of sangrias.

  Teddy gravitates right to me, just like Noah and Owen do to their girls, and he gives me a kiss on my temple.

  “Don’t drink too much, my love. I’d like to go for a walk with you after dinner,” Teddy says.

  A nighttime stroll sounds amazing, so when Noah starts making another pitcher of sangria, I switch to a bottle of water.

  The guys start taking the food to the table for us, and Teddy is a perfect gentleman, pulling out my chair for me, sitting next to me, and making sure I have what I need. He loads my plate up with food and holds my hand, while we eat.

  The first few minutes are quiet after everyone praises Lexi for the delicious food. Teddy’s hand moves to my thigh and just rests there. It’s an intimate, but comforting move as well.

  “So, Teddy,” Owen levels him with a glare.

  “Hit me with your best shot,” Teddy says, already knowing where Owen is going with this.

  That makes us all chuckle.

  “Tell me about your family,” Owen says.

  I squeeze Teddy’s hand, knowing he can handle himself, but letting him know I’m here for him, too.

  “I don’t really have one. My parents were addicts. I was in foster care growing up. I joined the military out of school, and they were my family until now. And it’s just me now.” He says matter-of-factly.

  He doesn’t want pity, and he doesn’t feel sorry for himself. It’s just his truth. That seems to throw Owen off his game a bit, which I secretly admit that I like. Very little shakes that man.

  “Have you started to think about what you’re going to do, when you get out of Oakside?” Owen asks next.

  “I’ve been thinking about it. Mia mentioned I could do something helping other foster kids, and that appeals to me. I have some other decisions to make, as I’m sure you know, but otherwise, I don’t have a hard game plan in place.”

  “What do you do for fun?” Owen asks next.

  “When we were home and allowed off base, I liked to play laser tag with the guys. On deployment, we played cards, and if we were lucky, we’d get some video games. I learned to like whatever we were able to do, because entertainment was few and far between.”

  “I was the same way,” Noah says. “One of the guys would get care packages with books he’d read, and then the book would get passed around the whole unit, and we’d talk about it, until the next care package would arrive.”

  “Kind of like a book club,” I say.

  Noah nods.

  After that, the questions ease up, and after dinner, I walk Teddy back to his room. A night walk was exactly what we needed.

  Chapter 15

  Mia

  Thank God Ellie is here at this ball with me. How she does several of these a month with Owen and his company I’ll never know.

  I’m thankful to all the people for giving money to Oakside, but these people are just so boring. They don’t want to talk about Oakside or the barn. They just want to talk about their new fancy cars, or the house they just bought, or renovations on their mansions.

  I had a great day with Lexi and Ellie in Savannah, getting our nails done and dress shopping. Ellie insisted on paying for my dress, and she had this grand explanation of how she made Lexi invite me, so she has to buy the dress. After she went on for five solid minutes about it, I wasn’t sure what else to say, so I gave in, just so she would stop.

  I’m finally able to break away from the group that’s comparing their cars, and if they should upgrade from last year’s model to this year’s when I head straight to the bar for a glass of wine. Owen got us a limo for the night, so we don’t have to worry about driving. At this moment, I understand why.

  Moving towards an out of the way wall, I grab a meatball on a stick that they’re passing around and just watch everyone. Ellie and Owen are talking to another couple, laughing and smiling. He never moves from her and is always touching her. His hand is either on her back, or her hand is on his arm, or they’re holding hands. It’s wonderful to see, and I love she has found someone like that.

  My eyes track Lexi and Noah on the other side of the room. Couple after couple comes up to talk to them, and Noah looks uncomfortable around all these people with his scars out for everyone to see, but Lexi is right there beside him. Every few minutes, she looks up at him and smiles, or leans up to kiss him. She can’t seem to keep her hands off of him, which seems to calm him.

  “I thought the whole point of this was to be out there mingling?” A voice says beside me. A voice I know very well.

  “Before I went back out there, I needed a breather. I turn and smile at Teddy. “What are you doing here?”

  “Noah and Owen thought it would be good for me to get out of Oakside, surprise you, and help talk Oakside up. This is the closest thing to a date I can give you right now, so I said yes.”

  Now, I’m the one smiling at my guy, and it feels perfect. I lean up and kiss him, causing him to smile against my lips.

  “I guess I should be getting used to these types of affairs, anyway. Any tips?” He asks.

  It’s the first hint at the company and his role there. I decide not to harp on it and just let the comment pass.

  “Talk about whatever fancy car you have or are going to buy, or your fancy house, and you’ll fit right in. Not a single one of these people have wanted to talk about Oakside. Though, according to Lexi, they’ve all given a huge donation on their way in.”

  “So, it’s an event to socialize for them,” he says.

  “Basically,” I agree.

  “Well, let’s get at it. We have about twenty minutes, before dinner, and I can’t wait for some good food.”

  The next couple we talk to is Kade Markson. He’s a really famous movie star, who recently settled down in a small North Carolina beach town. He introduces us to his wife, Lin.

  “We heard about this charity and wanted to help any way we could.” Lin smiles up at Kade, who keeps her tight against his side.

  They go on to talk about the luxury villas they’re building, and how they would be happy to offer a weekend stay at one of them, as a raffle giveaway.

  It would be a hot item, too. Since Kade stepped out of Hollywood, so many people have been trying to get even a glimpse of him. I’ve heard The Inns Lin and her best friend run are constantly packed with people, hoping to simply see him in passing.

  We manage to talk to three more couples, and when they find out that Teddy is a current patient, they become more interested in Oakside, and what they do here. They ask him a lot of questions about his injury and his care, and some pried more than he was comfortable with, but I was right there to help change the subject.

  He was always touching me the entire time. Mostly, he had his arm around my waist, but sometimes, he was just holding my hand. It was like he knew I needed the comfort, as much as he did.

  Finally, it’s time to sit down and eat. Lexi told Ellie and me that we would each be at different tables, so we have more of a chance to talk Oakside up. As we’re sitting down, I notice Lexi’s brother, Johnny, and his wife, Becky, are at the table next to us.

  “Hey, you guys. Who is
watching the little one?” I ask them.

  “My mom,” Johnny smiles.

  “Guys, this is Teddy. Teddy, this is Johnny, Lexi’s brother, and his wife, Becky,” I say.

  “Nice to meet you, Teddy. Johnny is speaking later, and you’ll get to hear his story,” Becky says.

  We make our way to our seats at the table, and thankfully, the couple seems more interested in talking about Oakside and learning more about what they do.

  “This was worth it for the food,” Teddy whispers in my ear when the steak is set in front of us.

  “It’s how Lexi convinced me to come,” I joke.

  The entire time we eat, Teddy is holding my hand, or has his hand on my thigh. As we finish, and our plates are taken away, Teddy looks at me with desire and something else that I can’t place in his eyes.

  “Did I tell you how beautiful you are in that dress? Green is my favorite color,” he says.

  I smile. Lexi picked the dress, saying it complimented my skin tone and hair. It’s a dark hunter green, but it’s flowy and comfortable with enough bling to make it formal.

  “Thanks. You look really good in a suit yourself,” I tell him, leaning forward to whisper in his ear. “I can’t wait to peel it off you later.”

  “Now I’m hard. How damn inconvenient.” He whispers back, making me laugh.

  That’s when Johnny gets up to tell his story about the IED that cost him part of his leg, and how it was Noah, who saved his life. Then, he goes on to explain how, because of his injury, his sister, Lexi, met Noah, which became the impetus to throw the whole Oakside story into motion.

  Next, a beautiful girl with dark hair walks up on stage with a dog at her side. I recognize her from my first day here. It’s Paisley.

  “Hey, everyone. I’m Paisley. My fiancé was a patient at Oakside, and I’m up here to speak for him, because he still isn’t a fan of crowds. You see he was a Prisoner of War and held for over a year. What he experienced is the stuff of nightmares.”