Darkness Released (Darkness Series Book 2)

by Candis Vargo

  She did have the biggest crush on him in college, and for a while she thought he may have liked her too. Even though he was nearly five years older than her, they used to hang out all the time. Yup, him being at the gay bar explained a lot.

  Chad glanced over at Hailey and waved while a man took a seat across from him at the table. She smiled and waved back. Pat walked back over to her with his head held up high. There were a few whistles and comments on his way over. Even though he didn’t acknowledge them, she knew he sucked it all up. He always liked to play hard-to-get.

  “He hasn’t aged a day, has he?” Hailey sighed as Pat leaned against the bar beside her.

  “No, he hasn’t.” He sighed as he grabbed his drink. “Too bad your good luck isn’t rubbing off on me.”

  “Looks like he’s taken.” Hailey inclined her head back toward Chad’s table.

  “No, he’s single all right. I’m just not his type. You, on the other hand, are.”

  Hailey nearly choked on the sip she was taking. “He’s straight?”

  “Mmhmm. Only here to support his neighbors-slash-friends, John, and his husband, Mitch, who is the ‘Great Michelle’. He is backstage getting ready for the show.”

  “Straight and single, you say.” She smiled widely as she stood up, adjusting her jeans. “Well, well well…my luck just keeps getting better. Wait, are you sure he isn’t bi?”

  “Ha. Trust me, sweetie, he’s all yours.”

  “Aw, so that means no threesome with another guy.”

  Pat nearly choked on his drink.

  “Kidding,” she said as she slapped him on the ass before she walked over toward Chad.

  With no idea where her newfound bravery had come from, she sat down beside Chad as the show was about to begin. Fire burned inside of her as his smile widened, enhancing his perfect lips and square jaw.

  When they started talking, it was like no time had passed at all. Everything came as naturally as it did in college. They laughed and cheered as the Queens all took their turns on the stage. They announced the Great Michelle and as she walked out. She truly did look like she could be a female model. If no one knew it was actually a man underneath the clothes and makeup, any man would try to take her home.

  Chad’s cheers grew louder as he watched Great Michelle, and Hailey glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. Most straight men wouldn’t be caught dead in a place like that. Her heart fluttered at the thought. For him to go out there and support his friends like that, it said a lot about his character.

  A fire grew inside of her. She knew that he was one crush that she never got over, but trying to figure out how a man felt about you was harder than cleaning up lath and plaster.

  Her phone vibrated on the table and distracted her form her thoughts. She picked it up. There was a text message from Pat.

  Pat: Totally going home with a hottie. See you at home in the a.m.

  She stretched her neck and looked for Pat. When she finally saw him, he blew her a kiss and waved before he left.

  “Ditching you on your birthday,” Chad said as he leaned in closer to her. She could feel his hot breath on her ear. “That’s not very nice of him.”

  Hailey held back a shiver as goosebumps danced across her skin.

  “No, it’s fine. Trust me, him getting some will make my life a lot easier.” She paused for a moment before she fully comprehended what he’d said. “Hey, how’d you know it’s my birthday?”

  Chad smiled as he leaned toward her again.

  “It’s hard to forget someone who’s born on Friday the Thirteenth.” He laughed.

  She slouched back in her chair. “At least I know I’m unforgettable…even if it is just because of my birthday.”

  He leaned in close to her again. God, how she loved the smell of his cologne.

  “Oh, no. You’re unforgettable because of so much more.”

  She narrowed her eyes flirtatiously. Just as she was about to ask what all was unforgettable about her, her phone vibrated again.

  She silently cursed Pat, figuring it was him asking her to rescue him from a horrible night already. She picked her phone up and glanced at the screen. The top of the screen showed she had two missed calls and a new text message from Alex. When she opened the message, her heart fell.

  Alex: Emily is in labor.

  Chapter 13

  Jumping up out of her chair, Hailey hit her elbow on the table and knocked over Chad’s beer.

  “Shit. I’m so sorry, Chad. I’m sorry. I have to go.”

  He stood in front of her and gently grasped her arm, steadying her shaking body.

  “What? What’s going on?”

  Feeling the heat of his body touching hers, she longed to stay with him. But she didn’t have the time, especially not right now. Emily was in labor, and it was a month before her due date. She prayed they would be able to stop the labor, but something inside of her told her they wouldn’t.

  “I just…I have to go. My sister-in-law is in labor. I need to get my nephews.”

  She started to walk away. Chad grabbed his coat off the back of the chair.

  “Wait,” he yelled as he tried to catch up to her.

  “I don’t have time for this right now. Chad. I’m sorry.”

  “No, wait. Damn it.” He grabbed her hand and swung her around. “You’re shaking uncontrollably. You’re in no condition to drive. Let me take you…and that’s not a debate.” He grabbed her keys out of her hand before entangling his fingers with hers and leading her to his car.

  He was right, and she knew it. She was worried about Emily and the baby, and she was shaking like crazy.

  She didn’t understand why he would do this for her, since it had been years since they’ve talked, but at the same time the man she knew back then would have done this for her too.

  “Which hospital? Chad asked as he held the open the door to his silver Mustang.

  “Right to Memorial.” She slid in the front seat, and before he closed the door, she said, “Thank you.”

  ***

  Chad pulled up in front of the Emergency entrance to let Hailey out.

  When she stepped out of the car, the red light from the Emergency sign illuminated her face. She leaned down to tell Chad “thank you” again, but realized that he was standing beside her.

  “What are you doing?” she asked as she closed the car door.

  “Going with you.”

  She could have argued that she didn’t need him to go with her, but she truly didn’t mind. Spinning around, she practically ran through the automatic doors and down to the elevators. She pushed the button on the outside of the elevator doors to go up and brought her hand to her mouth. As she gnawed on her fingernails, Chad reached up and stopped her.

  “It’s going to be okay.” He smiled at her. “Women have babies all the time.”

  “I know, but it’s not her due date yet, and I should have answered when Alex called the first time.”

  “Hey, it’s okay.” He clasped her hand in his. “It’s not like you knew she’d go this early. I’m sure they’re not upset.”

  The ding of the elevator sounded, and she ran inside. She pushed the button for the seventh floor and the one to close the doors, not bothering to wait for anyone else. As the elevator rose, she leaned back on the hand rail and her leg bounced up and down. To her relief, there weren’t any stops on their way up, and once the doors opened up she bolted out of them.

  Alex was waiting just outside of the doors to Labor and Delivery with his boys. Mason ran up to her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Mommy’s having a baby.” Mason’s small voice was filled with excitement.

  Hailey bent down to his level. “Yeah, buddy? That’s awesome! Hey, can you do me a favor?”

  Mason nodded vigorously.

  “Okay.” She turned and pointed at Chad. “Can you go over there and hang out with my friend for me? His name is Chad. Just wait for me with him while I talk to your daddy for a minute, okay?”

  M
ason smiled and ran at Chad, punching him in the stomach as he reached him.

  “Sorry,” Hailey mouthed to Chad, but he held up his hand to say it was okay.

  Alex reached down and patted James on the back. “Why don’t you go over there with your brother?”

  James didn’t protest, but he didn’t go to Chad with nearly as much enthusiasm as Mason. He walked over and leaned against the wall, his hands in his pockets.

  Hailey crossed her arms as she moved closer to Alex. “How is she?”

  Alex ran his hands through his hair. “She’s good…worried, but good. They say the baby is healthy enough that if it is born tonight, it’ll be okay, but we still can’t help but worry.”

  “Can I go see her?”

  “Yeah.” Alex turned toward the doors before turning back around to look at his boys.

  “Chad, do you mind?” Hailey nodded to the double doors.

  “No, go ahead.” Chad offered a reassuring smile.

  Alex pushed the button by the doors and waited for the nurses on the inside to let them in. When the doors opened he looked at Hailey, “Is that the same Chad from college?”

  “Yeah.” She smiled.

  “My God, he hasn’t aged a bit.”

  Hailey laughed, “No, he hasn’t. And, by the way, he’s a pediatrician.”

  A pain-filled scream echoed down the hall.

  “That’s us,” Alex said as he led her past two more doors. They finally got to Emily’s room.

  Emily lay on the hospital bed, rolling from side to side as she groaned.

  “Hey, Em,” Hailey said as she walked up beside her. “How you doing?”

  Emily groaned some more before she said, “I’m freaking hungry.”

  Hailey’s eyes widened. “Ooookay,” she said. “I think I’m just gonna—”

  Her words were cut off by another of Emily’s screams.

  “Yeah, that’s good, I’m good.”

  Hailey, with no children of her own, had no idea the amount of pain a woman in labor went through, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to find out. When it came to pain, she had a very low tolerance, and just seeing it on Emily’s face caused her to cringe like she was hearing someone running their nails down a chalk board.

  “Okay. I love you.” Hailey tip-toed over and gave Emily a quick kiss on her forehead as the scream subsided. “I’m just gonna take the boys and get them some ice cream or something.”

  “Ice cream in the middle of the night?” Emily snapped.

  “Right, right. Some tacos, then.”

  Alex tried to hide his laughter, but it wasn’t enough. Emily heard him and gave him a death stare that would scare most husbands.

  “Keep your cell on you,” Alex said, trying to keep his face serious.

  “Yup.” Hailey saluted him with two fingers and hurried out the door.

  As she made her way down the hall, Emily’s scream followed her. She quickened her pace.

  Once she got on the other side of the doors to Labor and Delivery, she went up to the boys and placed her hands on their backs, leading them to the elevator.

  “Let’s get going, boys. It’s going to be a long night for your mom and dad.” Hailey looked up at Chad and mouthed, “Oh my God.”

  Chad smiled as they entered the elevator and pushed the button for the lower level.

  Chapter 14

  Back at Hailey’s apartment, she had Chad wait outside with the boys so she could make sure Pat wasn’t running around naked with his boy toy. Ensuring it was all clear and Pat wasn’t home, she yelled for Chad to come in with the boys.

  “Here,” Hailey said as Chad and the boys followed her into her room. “You two can sleep in here tonight, without killing each other preferably, and I’ll sleep on the couch.”

  “Is he going to sleep with you?” Mason asked with a giggle.

  Hailey’s face turned red. “Um…no. Now get in bed.”

  The boys jumped in bed too tired to argue. Chad helped her tuck them in, and after they all said, “Goodnight,” Chad and Hailey shut the door to the room and made their way to the couch.

  “I'm sorry about all of this,” she said as she flopped down on the cushions.

  “Nah, no need to be sorry.” Chad sat down beside her.

  Leaning forward, Hailey grabbed the remote off the coffee table and turned on the television. The light from the TV brightened up the dimly lit room. For the first time that day, her thoughts drifted to the Dark Ladies. Her pulse raced as she tried to look in the shadows. She knew they couldn’t do anything, but the last thing she wanted was for Chad to see them. She was sure that conversation wouldn’t be an easy one.

  “Are you okay?” Chad asked.

  Looking up at him, Hailey smiled.

  “Yeah, fine,” she said. “I'm going to go grab us a drink real quick, though.”

  She handed him the remote, telling him to pick out a movie to watch. As she made her way to the kitchen, she turned on a few lights, just to ensure the Dark Ladies would stay away.

  After grabbing a Bud Light for Chad and a Straw-Ber-Rita for herself, she went back and sat down beside him.

  “Thanks,” he said.

  Replying with a smile, she pulled her legs up on the couch so she could get comfortable. Chad wrapped his arm around her, pulling her into him.

  “Hellraiser,” she said with a snicker when she saw what movie he had chosen.

  “Hey,” he protested. “I know how much you used to love these scary movies. What was it? The Jason movies…yeah, those were your favorites.”

  Hailey grimaced. “Yeah, let’s just stick to Hellraiser.”

  After taking a few sips of her drink, she set the can down on the coffee table. Chad scooted closer to her and nudged her with his shoulder. Taking the hint, Hailey leaned her head on his shoulder. Before the movie got to the good parts, she had passed out.

  “Aunt Hailey…Aunt Hailey.” The sound of two impatient little boys startled her awake.

  “What? What?” she said as she jerked up, wiping drool off of her mouth.

  She looked around and realized Chad was no longer there. Though it tugged at her heart, she was relieved he hadn’t seen see her drool…or, at least she hoped he hadn’t, anyway. She was never a morning person, and as Pat had put it before, she could never use the line “I woke up like this.”

  “Come on, wake up,” and “Can we eat now?” were spoken in unison.

  “Eat…huh?”

  Sniffing he air, the best scent any human could describe filled her nostrils.

  “Bacon?”

  Standing up, she followed the boys into the kitchen where three plates, each filled with bacon, eggs, and home fries, were laid out on the counter. Beside one of the plates was a cup of coffee and a note.

  I was making breakfast and got called in to work. I didn't want to wake you…you looked so peaceful. I’m taking a rain check on a breakfast with you, though. I will call you after my shift.

  -Chad

  Hailey smiled as she stared at the note.

  “Aunt Hailey, we’re hungry,” Mason complained.

  “All right, all right.”

  She grabbed the plates off of the counter and handed them to the boys. As they tried to run to the table with their plates, she had to yell for them to walk. Grabbing three forks out of the drawer, she set them all on her plate before picking it up. She walked to the table with the plate in one hand, and coffee in the other.

  The boys each grabbed a fork and began to dig in. As she went to sip on her coffee, she realized that not only was it made exactly how she liked it—with a lot of sugar and creamer—but it was also still warm. A sad smile played on her face as she thought how Chad probably left only a little while ago.

  “Think Mom had the baby yet?” James asked with a mouth full of food.

  “Um, gross. Don't talk with your mouth full. And they said they’d call after she did.” Hailey grabbed her cell phone that sat in the middle of the table. “No missed calls.”

&nbs
p; “So, we’re stuck with you for the day,” Mason said.

  “Gee, thanks, you shizznit.”

  The boys laughed.

  “No, I didn't mean it like that,” Mason said.

  “I know.” Hailey smiled. “But yes, yes you are. And since it’s ten and we’re almost done with breakfast…I vote for ice cream next. Your mom wouldn’t let me take you last night, so it can be for brunch.”

  “Yes,” the boys yelled as they shoveled eggs into their mouths.

  Hailey thought to herself for a moment before she yelled, “Shit.”

  Once again, the boys laughed at her. She jumped up from her seat and ran to the window to look out at the parking lot. She remembered that she had left her car at the bar. Maybe somehow Chad was still out there so he could take her to get it. But she saw that he was long gone, but somehow her car was back in the parking lot. She wondered how Chad had managed to pull that one off, knowing it had to have been him.

  After they finished breakfast, Hailey took them out for ice cream like she’d promised. While they sat down at the picnic table, Hailey kept checking her phone. She was paranoid she would miss her brother calling her, so she set the phone as loud as it would go. That way, it would ring and vibrate at the same time.

  As she set the phone down on the table in front of her and smiled at the boys, who both had their mouths covered in ice cream, the phone vibrated across the table as it started ringing.

  Her heart raced as she grabbed it, nearly dropping it, but when she looked at the caller ID it was a number she didn’t recognize. She figured it was better to be safe than sorry, so she answered it anyway.

  “Hello,” she said, unsure of herself.

  “Hailey…Hailey…” a whisper came through.

  “Um, who is this?”

  “Hailey…it’s me, Pat, damn it.”