Wishing For A Happily Ever After (I Wish Book 2)

by Lisa Helen Gray

  “What happened?” Ada asks softly, concern in her voice.

  I laugh harshly, tears burning my eyes. “He was her ex. Her abusive ex. He used me to get to her, and it worked. He kidnapped her, nearly killing her and my unborn niece in the process.”

  Ada gasps, sitting back in her chair. Her eyes brim with tears and I watch as she struggles to hold them back.

  “So you see, it’s complicated. Not only do I not trust easily, but I always end up picking the wrong men. And I know deep down in my bones that Drake is nothing like them, but he could still hurt me nonetheless.”

  “Oh, girl, you’re a bloody walking TV show. My Drake looks at you like you hung the moon. I only asked because he’s been hurt before too by some little trollop. I didn’t want to see it happen again because… well, I kind of like you.”

  I wipe my eyes and laugh. “Thank you. But I don’t plan on hurting Drake, I promise. If anything, it would be the other way around.”

  “Trust me, girl, with the way you look and the kindness in that big heart of yours, it would be you doing the heart breaking. Those men were just a blip. Your sister-in-law is happy now. I’ve heard you talk about her. It’s time you started to let yourself be too. Plus, London is a great place to relocate.” She grins.

  My eyes bug out, making her laugh harder. “I think you’re getting ahead of yourself.”

  “Talk to him, make sure you both know where you stand. Now I need to go give the boys a heart attack, then get out of this dreadful thing before I die. It’s a torture device.”

  I laugh, clutching my belly. “You’re wearing that to scare the boys?”

  “Why else would I torture myself like this? It’ll be worth it.” She winks, then gets up and walks over to me. “You’re special, Pagan. It’s why I picked you. You just need to believe it yourself.”

  Picked me? What’s that supposed to mean?

  She’s already walking off and heading inside. I lean back, wondering what she meant, but with Ada, it could mean anything.

  With my mind on Lola, I pick up my phone and call her, needing to hear her voice.

  “Hey! We miss you,” she yells excitedly down the phone as soon as she answers. I immediately feel like shit for not calling them sooner.

  “Hey,” I reply softly.

  “What’s wrong?” she asks, serious now. “Dean, go away. No! I’m talking to her.”

  I laugh when I hear my brother grunt, a sign he’s given in to his wife like he always does, no matter how much he pretends otherwise.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Please don’t lie to me. Especially when I can’t poke you in the eye.”

  She would.

  I cringe at the memory of the black eye she once gave me. I got funny looks for weeks. Even had a few regulars at Lola’s ask if I needed someone to talk to.

  “I was just thinking about you, about everything. I wanted you to know how much I love you. You’re more than just Dean’s wife—you’re my sister and best friend.”

  I hear her choke on a sob and my brother’s voice comes on the line. “Why are you upsetting my wife? Are you okay? Do I need to come get you?”

  I sniffle. “No. I’m sorry, I just―”

  “It’s just my hormones,” I hear Lola tell Dean before the phone rustles. “You’re my family too,” Lola says, and she shoos Dean away, making me laugh. “But what brought this on?”

  “Long story, one I plan on telling you when I have more time. I just wanted you to know. And that I’m sorry for everything that happened.”

  She knows what I mean because she sighs, sounding sad. “You have nothing to apologise for. I keep telling you that. Nothing was your fault. I’ve never blamed you and I never will. I love you. But whatever has you thinking of all that stuff, you need to stop. We’re fine now. Or is this about something else?”

  I wonder if I should tell her, then decide to just go for it. “Am I on speaker?”

  “No.” The phone goes quiet and I hear her tell Dean she’s stepping outside. “I’m in private. Now what’s going on?”

  I tell her all about Drake, how he makes me feel. I tell her how handsome he is, how funny, and about Aaron being here―who she already knows about. I confided in her one night when we were drunk. It took a lot of tears and three bottles of wine to get through it, but at the end of it all, she was ready to find him and kick his arse. Not that she’d hurt a fly… well, not intentionally.

  “He took you to his special spot?” she asks dreamily. “This is so much better than Prince Harry. Brooke is going to throw a fit. She’ll want to come out and meet him. What are you going to do now? You sound like you already have feelings for him.”

  I groan because I think I do. “I don’t know. I’ll talk to him later tonight, see where we stand.”

  “Send me a picture. I want to know what he looks like.”

  I laugh. “I can’t send you a picture.”

  “Yes, you can.” Her tone holds no nonsense, and it makes me grin. “How else can Brooke and I check him out?”

  “You two are terrible. I can understand Brooke, but you have my brother.”

  “Yes, I do,” she says, and I can hear the smile in her voice. “But you’re my sister, and I want to know all about him.”

  “And check out his abs?”

  “Just don’t tell Dean.”

  We both giggle and the earlier memories have now gone, no longer plaguing me. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  I smile, loving her to pieces. “I have to go, but I promise to keep in touch. I didn’t realise how absent I’ve been.”

  “You’re working. It’s fine. But please keep in touch. We miss you.”

  “Give a kiss to Cece for me, and say hi to everyone.”

  “I will. Now go talk to your man. I’m going to calm mine down. I think he’s in the bedroom packing, ready to come get you.”

  I laugh because it sounds about right. “Go on. Tell him I’m fine and was just being sentimental.”

  “I will.”

  We hang up and I look down at the phone.

  “Pagan, hi.”

  I turn to Pam and smile, wiping under my eyes. “Hi, Pam. Everything okay?”

  “Dear, are you crying? Is this a bad time, because I could come back.”

  I wave her off. “No, no. I was on the phone to my sister-in-law. We always get like this.” It’s only a semi-lie, so I don’t feel ashamed saying it.

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure. Now, what did you want to discuss?”

  “My mother.” She sighs, which causes my lips to twitch. “She’s going to come to you. I don’t know when or how, but she will, and when she does, she’ll want access to the paint bowling tomorrow.”

  “Paintballing,” I giggle. I don’t have the heart to tell her Ada’s already sought me out. I also don’t share I want to know what she has up her sleeve.

  “Paintballing. Sorry.” She waves her hand, taking a deep breath. “Anyway, she was in the army back in the day and thinks she can still move like a soldier.”

  “She was in the army?” I ask, surprised.

  “Yes. My mother will outlive everyone, I’m sure. But I’d rather she go out with old age and not because she played a part in her demise.”

  Laughing, I nod. “Ada most certainly will outlive everyone. I’ve never known anyone with such energy before. If it weren’t for her looks, I’d think she was in her twenties.”

  She chuckles. “Don’t I know it. I’m glad we had this chat though. She can be a handful at times, but she means well. Which also brings me to this. She has something planned for that boy Aaron. Whether she comes to you or not, I don’t mind. He deserves it. I knew he was a bit of a… well, a skirt-chaser, but I never knew he cheated. It makes sense why we never met his ex-wife.”

  “Ex-wife?” I don’t want to ask, but come on—Aaron and marriage seems a little far-fetched.

  She looks around, making sure we’re alone before leaning in close
r.

  “Yeah. He was married to a girl named Lisa. They weren’t married long, just enough to have two kids. He doesn’t see them though.”

  If you’d asked me years ago if hearing he got married and had two kids hurt, I would’ve said yes. I would’ve felt like I was dying inside. But oddly enough, I feel nothing.

  I’m actually disgusted that he has two kids he doesn’t see.

  What a jerk!

  “He doesn’t see them?”

  “No.” She shakes her head, clearly disgusted herself. “I don’t know why my son would associate with someone like that, someone with no loyalty or love for family. But my Jesse, he had a few problems at law school with people thinking they were above everything. Aaron helped him out, and I think he feels he owes him somehow. Either way, Aaron’s always been good to him. We’ve never met his children, and no one brings them up.”

  I’m still mulling over everything, wrapping my head around it all. In the end, I can’t make sense of it, so I give up trying. “It seems a shame to bring two kids into the world and not want to see them. I’m actually angry on their behalf.”

  She nods, agreeing. “He doesn’t speak to his parents either. Something went down with them before the divorce. It’s why I’m not going to get involved with whatever my mother has planned. I think he needs a little mischief.”

  I laugh. “Well you can guarantee that with Ada.”

  “Mum! Mum!” I hear Drake yell, his voice booming across the garden.

  Our eyes meet, widening at the sound of pure and utter fear in his voice. We stand, turning towards the doors leading out onto the patio.

  “Oh Lord, what’s happening?” Pam asks with a shaky voice.

  “Mum! Mum!” Jesse shrieks, and he sounds just as horrified. “Grams, please! No!”

  We both rush towards the house, heading towards the garden room, where the screaming is coming from. We both stop short when we enter. I slap a hand over my mouth to smother my laughter. Drake hears and narrows his eyes in my direction.

  Sitting in the middle of the table, Ada is sipping her tea, perfectly fine and ignoring the chaos going on around her.

  She’s also still only wearing a bikini.

  “Mother!” Pam gasps.

  “Mum, sort her out. I mean it. I’m going to bleach my eyes out and see if I can find something to wipe the last ten minutes from my memory,” Jesse yells, still covering his eyes. He walks into the corner of the table, cursing. “Fuck!”

  “Language,” Pam scolds. “Mother, what are you wearing?”

  Ada gives Pam a dry look. “Are you really asking me?”

  “Yes!”

  “I can’t. I need to… I don’t know, go drown myself,” Drake hisses. “We were happily eating our lunch when she walked in wearing that. I feel sick.”

  Laughing, I dodge his glare and turn to Ada. “I think maybe we should get you dressed.”

  She winks at me. “I’m just going to go through to the gym, see if Aaron, Jon and Adam would like some refreshments.”

  “Mother, no!”

  “Just be anywhere but here,” Drake whines, still not looking at his grandmother.

  “You’ve seen this all before. I have what every woman has.”

  “No, Grams, you don’t. I’m scarred for life. I’ll never, not ever, get over this.”

  “Glad my body is that memorable.”

  “Mother! I think you’ve damaged my boys enough for one day. Why don’t we go choose a nice outfit for the pool party?” Pam speaks to her like she’s an unhinged child, and I giggle.

  “A snow coat will do,” Drake mutters.

  Pam and Ada leave, but before they get out of earshot, Pam’s panicked voice echoes into the room. “Mother, not the gym, please.”

  I burst out laughing, clutching my stomach as I try to catch my breath. “I love Grams.”

  “Makes one of us,” Drake mutters.

  “It could’ve been worse. She could’ve been wearing a thong.”

  His face turns green as he glares down at me, stepping forward. “That’s so not funny.”

  Taking a step backwards, I shrug, grinning. “True though.”

  “Run,” he mouths, and I squeal, running like my life depends on it.

  The minute I get to the staircase, we hear Aaron, Jon and their other friend Toby yelling for help.

  Ada steps into the long hallway, her grin wide.

  “Fuck. I’m going. Later, gorgeous,” Drake curses, slapping my arse before running up the stairs two at a time like he’s on fire.

  When he’s out of sight, I watch Ada saunter towards me, swaying her hips from side to side.

  When she reaches me, she holds her hand up for a high five. I palm her hand, still grinning and laughing lightly.

  “Ah, this is going to be the best three weeks of my life,” she says before heading up the stairs.

  Hopefully to get some clothes on. I never want to see that view ever again.

  But she has a point. This really is going to be the best three weeks. Not only for her, but for me too.

  My smile is wide as I make my way back outside, ready to find the most perfect cocktail maker London has to offer.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  After another long and successful party yesterday, I’m dying to take the day off. I’m used to my schedule being clear the day after an event to relax, but that’s not the case with the Donovans since their schedule is pretty much back to back.

  Today I have to go paintballing. The one and only time I’ve gone, I ended up with bruises the size of a tennis ball all over my body.

  Alison comes barging into my room wearing cargo shorts and a green tank top. I want to roll my eyes when I see her green-painted nails and bright green eyeshadow but I don’t. I should’ve known she’d find something to match the occasion—she always does.

  Her hair is in two French braids… well, what hair she could fit into a plait. In fact, I think all of us are wearing them in two French braids. But on Alison, it makes her look like a naughty school girl.

  “Come on, come on. Put this on. Look at the back!” She turns around, showing me the back of the tank top I had printed for everyone.

  The girls have ‘Clit, Clit, Splat’ written in pink camo and the boys have ‘Balls of Steel’ written in blue camo.

  As cute as our outfits are, it doesn’t make me feel any better about getting hit with huge paintballs. I don’t think Alison knows what she’s gotten herself into either.

  I grab the tank top and pull it over my head. “I’m so glad we don’t have any parties to attend for another week.”

  “Why?” she asks. Her eyes scrunch up, the excitement leaving her expression.

  “Because, we’re―”

  “Hey, the bus is here,” Drake says, also barging into my room.

  I roll my eyes, giving him a dry look. “Come on in.”

  He ignores me, a slow smirk spreading across his perfectly plumped lips. “Well look at you. Damn!”

  Alison grins. “She looks hot, right?”

  His eyes heat as he takes in my bare legs. Yes, Alison also bought me a pair of cargo shorts, only mine seem to be a little shorter than hers. I think she did that on purpose. “Oh she looks hot, all right.”

  “The bus is here,” I yell, deflecting their compliments. But the look Drake is giving me has my body heating in places that just aren’t appropriate right now.

  As we make our way downstairs, I feel his eyes on me. It’s the same look he gave me last night when he saw me wearing only a bikini and a sarong, his smouldering gaze burning into me. I was so lost in the intensity I nearly went head first into the pool. Luckily Aaron was standing directly in front of me, ogling some female wearing a barely there bikini, and saved my fall.

  He didn’t go out of his way to save me, of course. He was just there, and it gave me a pause to steady myself. The same can’t be said for Aaron, who ended up in the water.

  In all fairness, he did need cooling down based on the drool on hi
s chin.

  When we make our way outside, everyone is surrounding Aaron’s car. I start giggling to myself before we even see our artwork.

  Last night, after everyone had left and the Donovans had long gone to bed, Drake and I carried out our prank.

  Which included a lot of Post-it notes.

  “Who did this?” Aaron shouts, glaring at each of us accusingly.

  A look is shared between everyone before their eyes come to Drake and me. Alison steps aside so she’s standing with the group, making sure to give us the same sceptical eye.

  Little traitor.

  “What?” I gulp, hoping my face isn’t as red as it feels with everyone’s eyes on me.

  Aaron turns our way and glares. “You? Again?”

  “What?”

  Then he steps through the crowd and a burst of laughter falls past my lips when all the bright-coloured Post-it notes come into view. But what has my laughter bubbling free is the new addition. The front windshield and front bonnet have been completely redone. Covering the front is a giant willy made of pink Post-its with yellow ones surrounding it, helping the giant penis stand out.

  Who the hell did that?

  I want to slap myself for even asking the question. I know exactly who did it, and wisely, she isn’t here to wave us off.

  “You did this! I know you did. You’re the only one who hates me.” Someone scoffs, then covers it up with a cough. “If this is to get my attention, you’ve got it. I’ve already told you I want you back.”

  It’s my turn to scoff.

  “Aaron, you really are big-headed. I don’t want you back now or ever. And I didn’t do that to your car,” I tell him, pointing to the giant penis. That way I can’t be caught in a lie, because I really didn’t do it. Although I wish I did. It’s pretty genius.

  “I know you want me, Pagan. This just proves it.”

  How did he get that from his car being vandalised?

  “No, Aaron, I really don’t,” I snap, then turn to the group. “Does everyone have everything?” They all nod. “Okay, let’s get into the minibus.”

  *** *** ***