Cry For You_A Second Chance Romance

by Shaniel Watson

  “I’m up at this hour on my day to sleep in. That’s what’s up.”

  “Whose fault is that?”

  “The new-age, free-range chick I brought home last night. She has me drinking freshly squeezed orange juice. I had to watch her squeeze. Not a fucking drop of alcohol. I hate sober fucking orange juice.”

  “Why did you bring her back to your place? Not like you.”

  “Somehow I lost my fucking mind, but it’s almost worth the aggravation. The sex was up there. In the top ten, from what I can remember. This morning confirmed it. I’ll know more after another go at it. Then I’ll make my excuses and usher her out.”

  “I feel sorry for the women who let you slip through their fingers. You’re a gem.” I smile shaking my head closing the bar door.

  “I know.” he says, tone as unbelieving as mine. “How was your date with Lacey?”

  “Everything and more I’ve had built up in my mind all these years—until I walked smack into her mother and Jacob this morning with my pants hanging open and my shirt unbuttoned. He asked if I was his dad. I had to explain in front of an audience that I wasn’t. Then I went to the house to get some clean clothes and ran into Bree, who found out I had been on a date with Lace. We got in an argument, and she threatened to keep Jackson away from me if I keep seeing Lacey. How does that sound?” I collapse into my office chair, exhausted from retelling the last twenty-four hours.

  “Dude, you’re in the thick of it. This is why I keep it simple. We hook up; we get off. I get up and go home. Done. I learned my lesson years ago with a McQueen woman—but I know things are different for you with Lacey.”

  “Trigg? Trigg!” A distinctive high female voice calls in the background. I nearly make out a muffled curse from him.

  “Man, I gotta go handle this sticky situation. I’m here if you need to reach me.”

  “Trigg, you said you were going to drop me by my house so I could change, and we could go for a run,” the voice whines.

  “Not gonna happen,“ he whispers. “I’m going to deal with this.”

  “How old is she?”

  He snickers. “New age and free-range age. Remind me to just say no to another twenty-year-old. No matter how hot they are.”

  I laugh and put my phone down.

  He’s right. Things are different for me and Lacey. This is our second chance. I’m going to do everything to make it work, no matter what it takes and who it pisses off.

  Order up!”

  “Got it. Thanks, Sam.” I whirl around, looking at the clock on the wall, picking up the plates. I brush the strand of hair back into my loose ponytail.

  “No prob, hun. Gotta keep ‘em coming fast and hot. My best girl needs her tips.”

  “You’re the best, Sam.” I smile. “I know it’s kind of busy, but can I take my lunch break in fifteen, please?”

  “Go ahead. The lunch rush should start dying down. You’ve been on your feet since you got in here for breakfast rush. Sharon and Tandy got it.”

  “You’re too good to me, Sam.”

  “Not good enough. Get those orders to my starving customers. By the way, tell your mom I’m still waiting for the invite to sit next to her at church.”

  “I’ll remind her.” I place the drinks on my tray for my last table.

  “Good.” He waves me off.

  Thank God I have a boss as old-school cool as Sam. Helps he has a thing for my mother, too, though she won’t give him the time of day. Even though my dad’s been gone for years, she’s never dated. I guess when my dad died she couldn’t get over it, and she focused all her attention on us and threw herself into her job at the church. It’s a shame; Sam’s a really nice guy.

  Speaking of nice guys...Landon should be here by 1:40 p.m.

  “Here you go. Seasoned fries, triple heart attack cheeseburger with everything, a Coke and a slice of German chocolate cake.” My God, Mrs. Bentley has to be pushing eighty but once every week she comes in and orders the same thing. She never finishes. She eats a quarter of it and wraps the rest to take home.

  “Thank you, Lacey.”

  I think she’s lonely. Her husband passed six months ago. They didn’t have kids. They used to come in together, order a meal, and split it. She’s still following the routine. They were cute.

  “Such a sweet girl.” She smiles, her eyes crinkle at the side. “How’s that handsome son of yours doing?”

  “Actually, he’s doing great. Thank you for asking.”

  “How are you doing?” I place my hand on one hunched, frail shoulder.

  “Oh, a young, pretty thing like you wouldn’t know, but old age is a bitch and a half.” She laughs. “Other than minor aches and pain from wear and tear, I’m good.”

  “I have a little time to sit with you, if you want? I’m waiting for someone, but once he’s here, if you need anything, I’ll be sitting right over there.” I point to the corner booth. “Tell them you want me and I’ll come right over.”

  “No need for that. You go on and take your break in peace. I’m not that addled yet.” She smiles.

  I hug her gently and head to the booth. Sitting down, I pull the postcard out of my pocket that the mail carrier gave me earlier. “Wow. He’s traveling the world like he said he would. On his own terms. Good for him.”

  “For who, beautiful?”

  I look up with the biggest smile.

  He’s staring at me, smiling, and kisses me. “Whose ass am I going to have to kick for putting this smile on your face?” He doesn’t even look at the other side of the booth. He scoots in next to me, pressing his leg against mine, peering at the postcard in my hand.

  “Is it possible to kick your own ass?”

  “In that case, I deserve an award. Don’t you think?” He pushes his lips out.

  I laugh, intending to give him a chaste kiss, which he changes to a welcome home, mouth open, delicious, tingling one, giving me all the wonderful feels from our night together.

  “If it’s not possible for us to get out of here, one of us better pull back,” he says against my lips. “We’re going to get in trouble for indecent behavior.”

  Hesitantly I pull back, cheeks warm. “It feels like I haven’t seen you in way too long, but it was only two days ago.”

  “I know.” He takes my hand in his. “We’re going to find a way to fix that. First, should I be jealous? Tristan?” He tips his chin at the card in my hand.

  “Why should you be jealous of a good-looking guy traveling the world as an exotic animal vet who happens to be into dudes, not dudettes?”

  “Dudes, ah? Doesn’t mean he’s not into dudettes, too.”

  “We went to high school with him. Maybe you don’t remember him? You were too cool for school. We mere lower classmen were invisible to you.”

  “Pshhhhh. I noticed you, didn’t I?”

  “Oh, sure. When you were forced to look at me by my sister.” I chide, still cringing a little at the memory.

  “But I looked. Counts for something.” He grins.

  “Maybe you should be jealous. He was hot,” I tease.

  “Nah. I got you. I’m here, and the unlucky guy isn’t.” He pecks my cheek. “I’m at the best place in the world right now.”

  My cheeks are going to be sore by the time he leaves if he keeps saying things like that.

  “You sure are in the best place!” Sam booms from next to the booth, making me jump. “I’m Sam. I’m guessing you’re the lucky guy who has finally snagged one of my bests,” he says.

  “I hope so.” Landon winks at me.

  “I like my employees happy, as much as my customers. Mrs. Bentley sent me over with this.” He places two burgers on the table, one side of fries, and a coke with two straws. “She said to tell you that you remind her of a couple who use to come in here once a week. They only had eyes for each other.”

  “Oh, Sam.” How sweet. I look around, but her table’s empty.

  “She left with the other half of her meal. She left you this twenty.
”

  “I told her to stop doing this. Her tip is as much as her order.” Oh God, she’s too sweet.

  “She likes you. You’ll offend her if you stop accepting. She’s an old lady with few joys left in life since her husband died. Let her do what makes her happy.”

  I nod, and he pats Landon on the back. “Nice to meet you, Landon, come around more.”

  “I will. Nice to meet you, Sam.” He pops a fry in his mouth and holds one to my lips. I snag a bite and he eats the other half. “I like Sam and Mrs. Bentley.”

  “Me, too. Did you see Jacob and my mother this morning?”

  “I saw her. I said hello. She gave me the royal nod. That’s all I got.”

  “I think she really likes you.” I bite a fry and give him the rest.

  “You should tell her that. I could get a wave, then.”

  “You’re growing on her,” I assure him. A smirk is all I get.

  “Saw Jacob‘s hair; it’s cool.”

  “That’s Shay’s doing. Blue hair and faux Mohawk.” I shake my head.

  “Jackson’ll probably tell me he wants it. Can’t believe your mother went for it.”

  “All of us spent the weekend with him after what happened, to show him a little extra love. Mom was livid about the hair, but he loved it. I told him he could keep it for a few days. He had fun, but all he kept talking about was spending time with you and Jackson at the ballpark next weekend.”

  “Glad he’s excited.”

  “You have no idea. What do you think about a sleepover? They’ve been talking about it. I think now would be good with us...you know?”

  “I’m not sure, Lace.”

  Not the reaction or answer I was expecting. “Why? You don’t trust me to handle two boys by myself? I’m up to the challenge, if that’s what you’re worried about. Unless it’s something else, isn’t it?”

  “I trust you completely.” He sighs, pulling my hand closer to him.

  “Then what is it?”

  “The morning I went home, Bree and I had an argument.”

  “About me?”

  “Yeah, and Jackson. She threatened to make things difficult if I keep seeing you.”

  “Oh.” The last thing I want is to make things worse between them and Jackson. It wouldn’t be right. I try to slip my hand out of his. He holds firm, pulling our hands on his lap.

  “Don’t do that. She doesn’t dictate who I want to spend time with. Jackson is my son, too. I’m not going to allow her to keep him away from me.”

  “You don’t need me making things between you and Jackson difficult. Maybe we should—”

  “Hell, no.” His voice gets gruff, his hand holding my chin up. “We should do nothing but keep on doing what we’re doing. What makes us happy. Happier than we’ve been in years.”

  “But if everyone else is not happy—”

  “They’ll get the hell over it. We deserve to be as happy as everyone else. If Mrs. Bentley can see that from across the room, Bree will get over it. They’re having a sleepover. She might be pissed at me, but she wants to make Jackson happy, especially now.”

  “Landon...”

  Holding my head steady, he looks into my face. “No buts. Two Saturdays from this weekend, I’ll take them to a ball game, and we are having a sleepover.”

  “We? or them?”

  “What kind of man would I be if I dumped my kid off on you and left?” He smiles. “It’ll be a play slash date. Play for them, date for us.”

  “Sounds like more fun for you than them.”

  “Exactly. See, I got it all worked out.”

  “Yes, you do.” He kisses me, and we eat our burgers and share that Coke before he leaves, and I go back to work.

  I really do want to spend more time with him and the boys together. We’ll see how it all works out. But I won’t be the cause of trouble between him and his son. Never.

  Landon and I speak on the phone day and night. I have a permanent smile on my face. It’s because of him. Jacob is just as happy. He loves it when Landon stops by. He and Landon play ball; he says he’s catching him up for when he takes him and Jackson to the next baseball game. He wants his boys to be the best, or at least give it their best try. He melts my heart each time he says his boys. Like Jacob is his, and there’s no difference between him and Jackson. Every time, I fall deeper and deeper in love. Then I have to catch myself before I blurt it out.

  I think this is what our lives could have been. And I’m going to soak up all of this newfound happiness for as long as it lasts. Then I think the only thing that could make this better was if he wasn’t married. That’s not the reality, though. I’m reminded of this every time Shay comes over and sees him with us. My mom...she hasn’t said much in the way of dissuading our new, budding relationship, but I know what the look says.

  He’s still not yours. He’s someone else’s. No amount of pretending everything is as you want it will make it so. At the end of the day, there is still a house, with a wife in it, that he returns to.

  The words reverberate around my head at the end of each night after he kisses me goodnight, and it’s not enough.

  “Hey, Mom?”

  “Yeah, baby?” I throw the carrots into the steamer, wipe my hand on my apron and lean on the counter next to him.

  “I don’t want to go to the father-son game with Aunt Shay. She’s a girl. All the other kids are going to have their dads.”

  I should have told him sooner. I really did forget to tell him about Landon’s offer to take him. It’s been on his mind since it was announced. He was worried the other kids would make fun of him. Pitfalls of single parenting, learning how to navigate these minefields.

  I kiss his forehead and put my arms around him. “You don’t have to go if you don’t want to. But if you do, Landon said he’d be happy to take you and Jackson.”

  Instantly his little face changes from you-kicked-my-dog to the-best-thing-just-happened. “Really, Mom, he wants to take me? Yes! Yes! Yes! I want to go! I want to go!” He turns in the chair, almost knocking me off balance, he’s so happy. Which of course makes me equally as happy.

  “Of course ! I already said yes.”

  “You’re the best mommy ever. I love you.”

  “I love you.” My baby. Nothing like making your kid happy with the help of someone special. “Remember this when it’s time to eat your vegetables.”

  “I’ll eat anything. Even shrunken alien heads you said you weren’t going to make any more. So I’m not worried.”

  “Oh, really?” I laugh. This kid.

  The next day that Landon comes over, he teaches him how to pop a wheelie on his bike. A shock to me. Not a good one, either.

  “Mom, look at what Landon taught me!” He rides past me and the front wheel of his bike lifts up. My mouth hangs open with my heart as I yell for him to stop, and he’s laughing with glee.

  “Let him ride, baby. He’s having fun. He’s over-padded as is. He could be a marshmallow.”

  “Landon, why would you teach him that? It’s dangerous. Even with all the padding.” I scowl.

  Seeing I’m about to take flight after my son, he grabs me about the waist, my back pressed against him. “I know it’s hard for mothers, but you have to let up some. Let him be a boy. This is what they do—blow off steam, have fun. Look at him. He’s having a blast. Jackson’s been doing this since he was four. Let him be; he’ll be fine.”

  “It’s hard.” Considering his words, I lean against him. “He’s my baby. I don’t want him to get hurt.”

  He kisses me on the temple, and I hold his hand against my stomach. “I know, but he’ll get hurt, and he’ll get back up. Life lessons in perseverance.”

  “You’re smart.”

  “I know. Was there ever a doubt?” My lips move, and he quickly says, “Don’t answer that.” He lands a kiss on my lips, holding my face to deepen it.

  “Landon, we‘re outside,” I hiss. “Jacob might see us.”

  “I’m sure he knows I�
�m into his mom, a lot.”

  “Yeah, but he’s never seen us kiss like this.”

  He spins me in his arms. “I want the boys to know we’re together. We are not doing anything wrong. Let’s not make it seem like we are by hiding our feelings when they’re around. Let your neighbors or whoever look at what happiness is for us— report back to Bree, your mother, and whoever else.”

  I nod in agreement, happy to be with him and to feel him around me. I know he’s right. We shouldn’t make it seem like a secret to the boys, if we’re going to be together and make this work. Might as well continue on now. “Kiss me.”

  “Absolutely.” He kisses me deep and slow, and I melt further into his arms. “Lacey baby, I need to be with you. It’s been so long. All this sneaking around stealing kisses and touching is driving me crazy.”

  “Me, too. But the sleepover′’s this weekend. We’ll get to spend more time together. We won’t need to sneak around so much. The boys will be busy.”

  “I can’t wait. The only downside is I can’t spend the entire night in bed with you.”

  “Don’t worry; we’ll make time for each other. We have all the time in the world to be together.”

  “Mmm,” he moans against my lips, giving me another searing kiss. With perfect timing, my son pulls up in front of us.

  “What are you doing?” He scrunches his face up. “You look like Starfire and Robin when we put them in the cage together.”

  Resting our foreheads together, embarrassed even though I agreed to the PDA, Landon smirks, and I say, “See what you’ve done? I’m going to have to explain this.”

  “I got it covered.” He faces Jacob’s inquisitive eyes. “I’m making your mom very happy. Showing her, like an adult, how much I care about her. She can’t get enough of me.” He looks down at me smugly.

  “Oh, you!” I push out of his arms, smacking him playfully.

  He fake grunts. “Come on, Jacob. Let me show you another trick before your mother turns my arm black and blue.” They laugh, Jacob riding off, Landon loping behind him. When did my life become this...joyous? With hope, it’ll last forever.

  The next day, after dinner with Shay and my mother, I’m tucking Jacob into bed while he tells me about his day at school. I zone out for a second, thinking about how much I missed having Landon with us tonight. But I do understand he has to work and spend time with Jackson, trying to make this a seamless transition for his son.