"Everything's fine. Just do me a favor, and stop reminding me that you fucked my wife."
Whoa. Shit. Something's definitely up. But I'm not going to overstep my bounds. I'm trying to make things right, not send him off the deep end.
"So, I have a son."
"Great, just what the world needs, another womanizer."
"Those days are over, man. Long forgotten. From here on out it's Selene, me and Jaxson. No more bullshit."
"Wow, Cooper Sutton is actually settling down. Never thought I'd see the day."
"Yeah, I am. And I just wanted to say thanks for always being around when I need you."
"A boy, huh?" Finally, he's lightening up. "You just keep little fancy pants away from my little princess. No doubt he's going to be a looker, and if he has an ounce of Selene's charm . . ."
"No problem, man."
"Coop. Thanks."
"I didn't do anything."
"Yes you did, and I appreciate it. If I can get my mother to watch Mia we'll come give the little guy a proper welcome. If not I'll drop by on my own."
"You don't have to. I understand. These kids, they come along and all of a sudden your whole life changes. Just take care of your girls. And don't forget, if you need anything, I'm here."
It didn't start off too well, but it ended on a high note. Now for the next call. Never in a million years would I ever believe I'd be calling on him for a personal favor. But I know he's the right man for the job. I listen as the phone rings.
"Hey, Stephan. I have a huge favor to ask."
*
Selene opens her eyes, and I'm at her side in a heartbeat. "Hey beautiful," I say stroking her hair.
"Cooper?" she asks rubbing sleep from her eyes. "You're really here?"
"I'm really here," I take her hand in mine and squeeze it tight. "And this is where I'll be every time you wake up. You're going to see so much of me it's going to make you sick."
"I thought the drugs got to me."
I laugh, then worry she didn't mean it as a joke. "Are you in pain? Do you need something for it?"
She looks at the clock hanging over the door and shakes her head. "No. I still have half an hour."
"So what exactly happened at the pharmacy? The nurse mentioned you had a rough time."
"Oh, you mean the jerk off that held the place up? Yeah, I was in the bathroom the whole time. My water broke in there and I tried to clean myself up before I went back out, but it wasn't working."
"So he didn't hurt you?"
"No. But it all worked out because the cops were walking in when I came out. One look at me and it was pretty obvious I needed to get to the hospital ASAP, so the next thing I know I'm in the back of a police cruiser with lights and sirens blaring.
"This is the room," I hear my sister's voice. But I don't look back.
"Wait. So you weren't around at all when the guy was robbing the pharmacy? He didn't hurt you?"
"No." Selene is looking at me like I'm crazy,
Adrenaline shoots through my tensing body. I don't fucking believe it. My hands ball up into fists.
"So you weren't in any danger? Your life was never on the line?" I hear the anger tinging my tone.
"No," she says sounding confused. "Cooper, are you okay?"
"Um, I'll be right back, I have to go to the bathroom," I hear Lexi.
I kiss Selene's forehead. "I'll be back in a few."
I turn and Lexi's already gone. I dart to the door, and Noah reaches for my shoulder. We spend a moment staring each other down. My heart's racing. I need to get my hands on her!
"Go easy on her. For me."
"You're not going to stop me?"
He shakes his head. "She crossed a line. Just please, don't hurt her."
"You got it." I slap his shoulder and run out of the room and down the hall where my sister is pounding her finger into the elevator call buttons. I get there before the doors open. Just in time to wrap my fingers around her arms, drag her a few feet away, and back Lexi against the wall. I narrow my eyes at her, and I swear if it were anyone but her, I'd kill them.
"She was never in any danger. Imagine that. All that time on the plane, I was losing my mind, I even thought I was having a heart attack at one point, and she was never in any danger."
"Childbirth can be risky, and she did have a c-section."
"Lexi," I growl furious. "You knew she was fine, and still you had me think she might die. You had me worried for hours for no reason."
Lexi's eyes water. "You needed to realize that you love her before it was too late. She was going to leave you for good, and I knew you'd never forgive yourself. I just want to see you happy, Cooper. Is that so bad? For once in your life you were happy. I couldn't let you throw it away. I'm sorry."
"Oh yeah?" I yell making her jump.
Lexi nods her head.
"Thank you." I lean in and kiss her cheek before pulling her into my arms. "Thank you so much."
*
We've been entertaining visitors all day. I don't know how Selene's eyes are open, because all I want to do is crawl up in bed next to her and sleep. Once I help her adjust a very hungry Jaxson, I pick up the bag Stephan brought. He promised everything I asked for is inside.
"Hey, do you mind if I go get cleaned up a little in the bathroom? I've been in these clothes for over forty eight hours."
"About that. You look amazing in a tux."
I cross my arms over my chest. "Is that so Ms. Davis?"
"It is."
"Good. Enjoy the view. I don't know the next time you'll see me in one of these." I lean over and brush my lips against hers. When I get to the bathroom, I take one last look at the two people I love most in the world.
Ten minutes later, I come out feeling a little fresher, and smelling much better after washing up and putting on the new clothes Stephan picked up for me. He did a great job getting everything I asked for. And he did it all without making me feel like an undeserving shit. Selene is standing over the portable crib, settling our son down. I step up behind her and wrap my arms around her shoulders.
"Sick of me yet?"
"Never."
"You sure?"
"Never been more sure of anything in my life." She turns to face me. "I don't need all those traditional things to be happy. As long as we have each other, that works for me."
"You mean the house and the white picket fence?"
She doesn't let her eyes meet mine. Instead, keeping her eyes downcast she nods.
"Are you saying you don't want to marry me and live happily ever after?"
"Not if it's going to make you unhappy. I'll settle for what we have right now."
"It's all about me then?"
"Isn't it always?" She jokes.
"No. Not anymore." I slip my hand into my pocket. I hoped I'd come up with some amazing way to do this, something that would blow her mind. But sometimes, like right now, less is more.
"If it's all about me," I take her left hand and pull the ring out of my pocket. "Nothing would make me happier than if you'll agree to be my wife."
She doesn't answer. Instead she cries. She smiles and cries harder than I've ever seen. I kiss away the salty tears as they stream down her face, knowing I achieved my goal. I did it. I wowed her.
Chapter 28
Two months later
"I have everything written down here," I hand Noah the list as Selene places Jaxson in Lexi's arms. "He doesn't get the antibiotic again until the morning. And when you feed him, don't bounce him around, I learned the hard way, he gets really gassy."
"Got it." Noah gives me a funny look.
"And you have to sing to him when you put him to bed for the night. And don't let him cry. He gets pissed when you do that."
"We got it, Coop," Lexi says.
"And the pediatrician's number is on the refrigerator."
"Oh my God, man, would you get out of here already!" Noah raises his voice.
“Bye, buddy. I’m going to miss you so much, Jax.” I say as I ki
ss his head.
"I really wish you guys could be there," Selene says giving my sister a hug.
"I know, but someone has to stay with Jaxson, and there's no way Cooper would let Mom take care of him."
We planned this since Selene and Jaxson came home from the hospital. I wanted to marry her right then and there, but Selene wanted the white dress and everything that goes along with it. As part of my resolution to make her the happiest woman in the world, I couldn't deny her, so we waited until we could get it all together.
We were leery about flying with a baby to begin with, but two days ago when he came down with an ear infection, we decided to cancel our Las Vegas ceremony. Unfortunately because it was so close to the date, and we paid to have our families flown out there to be with us, we would've lost all the money we put down in deposits. That and my family wanted this for me almost as much as I did, so Noah and Lexi agreed to stay behind and take care of Jaxson. There's no one else in the world I'd trust him with overnight.
"If anything's wrong, call us immediately and we'll come right home."
"Not until you get this done. Understand?" Noah gives me a stern look. He doesn't have to. Whether it's in Vegas or in the little chapel in my building, I'm going to marry Selene.
We spend another five minutes saying goodbye to our little man who doesn't seem to have a care in the world.
"Okay,” I look at Selene. Ready?"
She's giddy, and her blue eyes are twinkling like stars in the sky. Did I really just think that? When the fuck did I become such a sap?
"Ready!"
"Let's do this!" I say picking up our suitcases and heading to the door.
"You look good holding him. So what do you think? You want one?" I stop dead in my tracks and hold up my hand signaling for Selene to wait.
"What a baby?" Lexie answers.
"Baby? Husband? Happily ever after?"
He's doing it. He's finally doing it. Son of a bitch has been carrying that ring around with him for months waiting for the right moment.
"What? Like ever?" Lexi asks with a nervous giggle.
Noah's not saying anything. I wonder if he's chickening out. I give him a look. If I could do it so could he.
"Like as soon as you agree to be my wife." He drops down on one knee and holds the little black velvet box open for her.
"Yes!" Lexi squeals. "Yes, yes, yes!"
I wink at Noah before yelling out behind me. "Hey, no engagement sex in my bed!"
"That's okay, baby," I hear Noah say loud enough for me to hear. "There's always the couch."
Thank you for reading Man Up Playboy If you enjoyed it, please leave a review on the site where you purchased it, and recommend it to a friend!
Continue reading for an excerpt of Man Up Party Boy
Other books by Danielle Sibarium
For Always (Eternity 1)
And Forever (Eternity 2)
The Heart Waves Series
Heart Waves (1) (Free)
Breaking Waves (2)
Waves of Love (3)
Stand Alones
To My Hero: A Blog of Our Journey Together
Into You
Regret Me Not
Man Up Party Boy
Man Up Playboy
Man Up Husband (winter 2015/2016)
Chapter 1
Noah
"You're kidding." He has to be joking. "Please tell me this is your lame attempt at humor." Cooper may be my best friend, but right now, if he was standing in front of me I'd put his head through a glass window.
"No, dude. I'm serious."
"Italy?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't pass this shit up. It's a free trip. As in, I'm not paying for airfare or the hotel."
"That doesn't sound like 'Sorry, Noah, I'm just fucking with you.' Doesn't sound like it at all." I crumple a piece of paper on my desk and toss it at the trash can. I miss. Great. Another sign that this is going to be a fucking awesome day. Not.
Three months of planning-- talking to realtors and giving them our parameters to find the perfect rental-- down the drain. We had to act fast and jump on the deal when we found the house on the boardwalk. It's right off the beach. Not too close to any sort of activity so it affords us privacy, and not too far from it either so we could drink all we want and not have to worry about getting in a car to drive anywhere. And now what? My best friend is dicking me over for a last minute trip to Italy with his flavor of the month.
"It was a non-refundable deposit, and unlike you, I'm not fucking flight attendants that can whisk me off to Europe or some exotic country. I can't afford to flush a grand down the toilet."
I didn't like the idea of pre-paying and giving extra money up front for security, but we wanted to close the deal. It's a house, not a cheap piece of crap bungalow, or a shitty hotel room. This is a house complete with dishes, linens and nothing but a strip of boardwalk separating us from the sandy, New Jersey beach.
Now because my best friend is thinking with the wrong head, I'm looking at no vacation, and a substantial monetary loss. Bastard.
"You broke the code man, bro's before ho's."
"I didn't break the code. I'm just making the most of an opportunity. Besides if I don't go, I'll never hear from Selene again."
"And that's a problem? You barely even see this girl."
"That's exactly my point. She's thirty thousand feet in the air most of the time. She's gorgeous, with the hottest body I've ever seen, and I don't have to see her every day, or even every fucking week. That means no clinginess. No answering to her when I spend a night out with guys getting drunk."
"And getting laid."
"And getting laid," he parrots.
"And when we're out and you're doing your thing, you ever wonder what or who she's doing?"
"It doesn't matter, Noah. We have an open relationship which is a beautiful thing. We don't see each other enough to get on each other's nerves. There's no commitment. And it's the best sex of my life."
"Whatever. I'm letting you know you're putting a serious crimp in our friendship."
"I'm not leaving you totally high and dry. I found someone to share the house with you."
"Who? Marlena won't let Troy out of her sight, especially since the baby is due in two weeks. Mickey's so strapped for money he's selling his swimmers."
Cooper snickers on his end. "Whatever, dude. I think he just likes jerking off into a cup. But you're right, it's not the guys."
"A girl? Are you shitting me?" I lean forward against my desk. Now I'm interested. For the right girl I'd consider forgiving him. "A flight attendant? Is it one Selene's friends? She better be hot. Is she hot? 'Cause if she isn't you can forget . . ."
"Hey, hold on there. Yes, it's a girl. And no she's not hot."
Great. Way to let the air out of my sails.
"And even if she is, you wouldn't be seeing any action from her."
"Then what the fuck is the point?"
"The point is you still get your beach vacation. You have your distraction to help you forget the fact that Dina's getting married, and I get my money back."
Why does he have to keep bringing her up? I know she's getting married in two weeks. Why can't he let it go? "I keep telling you I don't give a shit about Dina getting married."
He snickers on the other end. "And I'm with Selene because she's got a big heart. Dude you've been hung up on that one since high school and she never so much as gave you the time of day."
"I'm not hung up on her. We're just friends. That's all we ever were. That's all we'll ever be."
"Friends. Great. You've been locked safely away in the friend zone for ten years. How's that working for you?"
I bounce the tip of my pen on a pile on a pile of papers on my desk. Sometimes I can't stand Cooper's jackass side, like right now. But I often find there's a hint of truth to what he says, like right now.
"I'm not hung up on her, and it's not like I haven't been with anyone in ten years. You've witnessed enough to know be
tter. Dina and I are friends, and as her friend, I'm happy she found someone to share her life with. I think when you find the right person it could be a beautiful thing."
"Are you sure you're a guy?"
"Fuck you."
"Your problem is, you're looking for someone to share your life with, not someone that makes you want to live. Great for her, but what about you? I'm telling you, bring a hot piece of ass to the wedding, leave, get laid, and leave Dina where she belongs, in the rear view mirror. Go find a future, dude."
For a brief second, he sounds like he cares; like I mean more to him than someone to keep him company while he looks for his next conquest. Time to change the direction of this conversation before we end up on Dr. Phil.
"What do you need money for anyway Mr. free European vacation?"
"She's providing the hotel and ticket to get there, it's only right I pick up everything else."
"Whatever. Why don't you stop yanking me around and just tell me who the hell I'm stuck with?"
"Alexis."
I let my head fall and hit my desk. "Your sister? You're saddling me down with your little sister. What the fuck man? What am I supposed to do? Play nurse maid? Drive her to her fucking playdates?"
"Don't be like that Noah. You know she's not a kid anymore."
"Yeah, I know."
"And she promised to stay out of your way."
"Still, I'll feel funny if I want to bring a chick back with me."
"Just go and have a good time. Pretend it's me there with you."
"Yeah, you with tits and braces."
"Okay man, don't hate on the braces. They've been off for years and she's got a beautiful smile. And as far as the tits go, that's my fucking sister you're talking about. No staring at her tits. Got it?"
"Yeah, I fucking got it."
*
I look out my office window at the dull grey clouds. It's not just going to rain, it's going to pour. I wish the sky would open up already and get it over with. Can't get to the clear blue skies without releasing a little bit of pent up, heavy duty rain.
My computer dings, signaling a new email. I don't recognize the address it came from.
Hey Party-boy,
Man Up Playboy Page 18
