Forever Spencer (B&S Series #3.5)

by Kimberly Knight

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  “Why are you here?” I asked Becca as she walked by my office.

  “I’m here every day,” she said, stopping in my doorway.

  “You know what I mean.”

  “If you must know, my feet are killing me, and I was getting a foot massage and pedicure.”

  “Well you should go home. You’re due any day.”

  “You’re not…” Becca paused, grabbing her belly, and groaning.

  “Bec…”

  “I’m fine. Just cramps.”

  “Cramps?”

  “Yeah, you know, Braxton Hicks.”

  “Bec, have J drive you home.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Goddamnit,” I said, getting out of my chair and walking to Jason’s office.

  “Brandon!” Becca shouted.

  I didn’t stop. Becca was my best friend. I loved her like a sister, and her son that she was carrying was going to be my nephew, even if we weren’t blood. I didn’t know how all the pregnancy stuff worked, but she was in pain and shouldn’t be on her feet.

  “Take your wife home or I will,” I said, barging into Jason’s office.

  “What? Why?” he asked, looking from me to Becca.

  “It’s nothing,” she said.

  “Bullshit. She having cramps. That’s not normal. It’s not normal… right?”

  “It’s Braxton Hicks,” Becca said again.

  “Honeybun, I’ll take you home,” Jason said.

  “I’m fine,” she said. “My water hasn’t broken, yet. It’s just Braxton Hicks.”

  “How far apart are your contractions?” Jason asked.

  “I don’t know. I haven’t really been timing them.”

  “I’ll drive you home,” Jason said, reaching into his pocket for his keys.

  “I’m just going to sit down. They’ll pass.”

  I narrowed my eyes at Jason. We both didn’t know what the hell we were doing, but we knew Becca shouldn’t be at the gym.

  “I’ll go get you some lemonade,” Jason said, turning to leave.

  Becca sat on his couch in his office, closing her eyes and propping up her feet.

  “If you have another one, I’m taking you home myself,” I warned.

  “B, I’m fine. I’m not due for a few weeks. This is normal.”

  “Did they just start today?” I asked.

  “Yeah,” she paused again, another cramp going through her body.

  Jason walked back in, handing Becca a bottle of lemonade after the cramp passed.

  “They’re frequent. She’s had two in the fifteen minutes I’ve been talking to her,” I said.

  “We aren’t going home. I’m taking you to the hospital.”

  “It’s just Braxton Hicks.”

  Usually Becca could talk Jason into anything she wanted, but I knew this was different. Jason was taking her to the hospital like he’d said, even if she whined the whole way.

  *~*~*

  It was a good thing Jason took Becca to the hospital. She wasn’t having Braxton Hicks; she was in labor. Crazy girl was in labor and didn’t even know!

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Watching Jason and Becca fall instantly in love with Jason Jr. flipped my baby itch button on. I didn’t know if men had such a thing like women did, but I wanted Spencer to have my baby. I couldn’t wait to be a father and share the miracle with Spencer.

  Spencer stopped taking her birth control pills, and we were just going to see what happened. Ben and Jason both had trouble getting their women pregnant, and while I wouldn’t mind trying every night, I didn’t want Spencer to stress about it.

  Jason missed a few weeks of poker once Becca had Jason Jr. Blake had made a few friends living in the city, and he’d bring a few with him for me to take their money each week. It was my understanding that Blake and Stacey had called it quits once again. Their relationship was like a roller coaster that made me sick just by watching it.

  “We’re celebrating tonight!” Blake shouted, coming into my office.

  “Celebrating what?”

  “Ben said that he and his guys can have everything done by next week.”

  “Really? A month ahead of schedule?”

  “Yep.”

  “I don’t say this enough, but I’m proud of you.”

  “You’re gonna make me cry, Bro,” Blake said, rubbing his eyes like he was crying.

  “I’m serious. When you came here, you were a little prick.”

  “Okay, I’m not going to cry anymore.” He laughed.

  “Seriously, you really stepped up with this nightclub.”

  “Thanks. That means a lot coming from you. Let’s go have some drinks to celebrate.”

  “We have poker tonight.”

  “Let’s cancel it. I’ll buy.”

  I chuckled, not believing my ears. “Well in that case…”

  “Tell the guys—but I’m only buying yours.” He smiled.

  “Alright, but I can’t stay long.”

  *~*~*

  I don’t remember how I got home, but as I opened my eyes, Niner’s tongue licked my face.

  “Well good morning to you, too.” I laughed, instantly causing me head to hurt.

  I groaned, looking at my surroundings. Somehow I’d fallen asleep on the couch.

  “Is your mommy up, yet?” I asked Niner. He wagged his tail, barking like I knew what he was saying. “Let’s go see.”

  I walked into the kitchen to get water, noticing that the coffeemaker hadn’t made coffee. Looking at the clock, it was after seven, and it should have already brewed.

  Maybe Spencer forgot to program it before she went to sleep?

  “Let’s go see how much trouble I’m in,” I said, petting Niner’s head.

  We walked up the stairs to my bedroom. As soon as I stepped into the empty room, the night before came back to me.

  “You’re drunk again?” Spencer asked, sitting on the couch when I slowly walked through the front door, trying not to fall.

  “No,” I said, slurring the first lie I’d ever told Spencer.

  “Really? That’s not what Blake told me.” Spencer’s arms were over her chest.

  “Fine, I’m drunk!” I shouted.

  “Do you think that I should raise a fucking baby with a drunk?”

  “Relax, Spencer. I don’t get drunk every night,” I said, falling down on the couch next to her.

  “No—you get drunk every week and I’m sick of it. I’m the one who always has to take care of you,” she said, standing from the couch as a tear started to roll down her cheek. “I’m going to Ryan’s for the night. I don’t want to look at you right now. I’ll see you when I get back on Sunday night. Maybe by then you’ll realize that there’s more to life than a bottle of vodka.”

  I winced at her words. I knew that I’d been drinking a lot since my brother arrived, but I only did it when I hung out with the guys. “Don’t go. I’ll sober up and then not drink ever again,” I said, trying to reach for her arm to stop her from walking away.

  “I’m not asking you to not drink ever again. I just want my Brandon back.”

  I remembered her face as she cried, slamming the door. I watched her pull out of the driveway until I couldn’t see the taillights of her Bimmer as she drove away. I called her, I texted her, but she never answered.

  Fuck, I was in so much shit. Spencer had never left me before.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  I struggled to make it to work. I wanted to march into BKJB and beg Spencer to forgive me—but I didn’t. Spencer was leaving for L.A., and I didn’t want to stress her out more. She wanted the expo to go smooth to prove to everyone that she could run BKJB. I knew she could, but she wanted her employees to know that, too.

  When I knew Spencer was in the air and her phone was off, I texted her once more.

  Me: I just wanted to say that I’m sorry.

  Forty-five minutes later, Spencer texted back. When I saw her name on my screen, I’d hoped that s
he would tell me that everything was okay—that we were okay. That’s not what she texted.

  Spencer: I’m in L.A.

  I sank back into my chair, wanting to go back to the day before and not drink. How could I be so stupid? I was thirty-one, and somehow my younger brother was influencing me to drink so much that the love of my life had one foot out the door, ready to leave me forever.

  I left work, going home to take care of Niner. I didn’t want to be around people, especially my brother.

  *~*~*

  As soon as I stepped foot into the door, my phone began to ring. It was Spencer.

  “I’m sorry,” I said, immediately.

  “I know,” she said.

  “No, really, I am. Spence, you’re my best friend, and I don’t know where I would be without you by my side.”

  “Me either. I’ve been thinking, and I know you aren’t a drunk.”

  “When I see you cry, it makes me want to die. It breaks me inside, and I never want to see you that way again… unless they’re happy tears. I know that I’ve been fucking up since Blake has been here, and I’m going to go back to the old Brandon. The one you fell in love with.”

  “The one I’m still in love with,” she whispered, but it was loud enough for me to hear.

  “I’m going to make this right, Baby. I know I can’t take back all the times I was drunk, but I’m not going to cross that line again.”

  “I told you that I’m not asking you to stop drinking.”

  “I know. I understand that it’s the level I got it to. I’m the one to blame in all this—not Blake. Don’t be mad at Blake.”

  “How could I not be mad at Blake? He’s the one who influenced you… the one who kept buying you more.”

  “But I’m the one who drank them. He didn’t force me to do it.”

  “I don’t get why you did. Is our life that bad that you need to mask some sort of pain by getting drunk when out with the guys?”

  “No, not at all.” I sighed. “Work has been crazy, Blake makes me crazy, and I just needed to blow off steam. I didn’t realize I was hurting you in the process. You never said anything.”

  “I know… I should have.”

  “Let’s not talk about the past. I’m going to stop. No more sleepless nights, no more tears. I’m going to make this right. You’re my world, my everything, and I don’t want to lose you. Fuck, I’ve been close to losing you twice before because of other people. I’m not about to lose you because of me–not when I can fix it.”

  “Okay,” she said.

  “I’m sorry and I’m going to fix this.”

  “Okay, I believe you.”

  “I love you with all my heart, Baby.”

  “I love you more.”

  *~*~*

  It felt good talking to Spencer. I hated that it was on the phone, but at least I didn’t have to worry all weekend whether she was going to leave me or not.

  In fact, Spencer and I were rarely apart, and when we were, we both missed each other. I needed to see her. I booked a flight that would leave SFO at noon the next day. By the time I arrived and made it to Spencer’s hotel, the expo would be over, and I could surprise her by waiting in her hotel room.

  *~*~*

  Blake drove me to the airport, and he assured me that he would stay at my house to take care of Niner for the night. It was good having my brother there—someone I could trust. I didn’t tell him about my fight with Spencer. I was just going to stop drinking and prove to Spencer that I was still the man she fell in love with.

  After I landed at LAX, I switched my phone off airplane mode and a few seconds later, a voicemail from Spencer’s employee, Donna, came through.

  Why was she calling me?

  I listened to the message as I waited for the doors to open on the plane so I could leave.

  “Hi…ah, Brandon, it’s Donna.” She sniffed. Was she crying? “I don’t know what to do. I don’t know who else to call. Spencer’s not answering her phone and… fuck. I can’t do this. This has never happened before.” She paused, taking a deep breath. What the hell was she talking about? “Okay, I’m just going to say it, and it really sucks that it’s on your voicemail. Maybe you’re on your way to pick up Spencer. I don’t know. Anyway, Acyn’s dead.” I heard her start to cry again and then say, “I gotta go. Please have Spencer call me and tell me what to do. Bye.”

  Acyn was dead?

  I replayed Donna’s voicemail message again to make sure that I’d heard her correctly.

  Acyn was dead, and Spencer wasn’t answering her phone.

  I called Spencer, and it rang a few times then went to voicemail.

  What was going on?

  The plane started to deboard, and once I was off, I called Donna back.

  “Hello?” she answered.

  “Donna, it’s Brandon Montgomery. I got your message.”

  “I don’t know what to do,” she said through tears.

  I didn’t, either.

  “I’m at LAX. I can be there soon. Where’s Spencer?”

  “I don’t know; she left to go back to San Francisco.”

  “What? Why?” I asked, stopping in the middle of the terminal.

  “She said she had to go home and take care of some stuff, and then she left me and… Oh God, just saying his name…” She paused then took a deep breath. “She left me and… Acyn to finish the expo and clean up.”

  Was she coming home to me?

  My head was spinning, and I didn’t know what to do. I was in L.A. Spencer was… Spencer was probably home.

  “Okay, Donna, calm down. Let me get a hold of Spencer, and then I’ll call you back.”

  I hung up with Donna and tried calling Spencer again. It rang a few times then went to voicemail again. If she were in the air still, her phone would just go to voicemail. Why wasn’t she answering?

  I tried her several more times to no avail. I didn’t like it one bit. She wasn’t still mad at me; we made up. Maybe she was going to surprise me like I was trying to surprise her. Maybe she didn’t want to answer because she didn’t want me to know that she was on the way to the gym to see me. But I wasn’t there.

  Fuck!

  I called Blake.

  “Hello?”

  “Have you seen Spencer?”

  “No, why? Isn’t she in L.A.?”

  “No, apparently she left to come home.”

  “So you two flew right by each other?” He laughed.

  I paused. “Yeah, I guess. Look… Acyn’s dead.”

  “The guy that realized Spencer was kidnapped?”

  I heard a woman laugh in the background.

  “Yeah. Where are you?”

  “I’m at the gym.”

  “Who’s with you?”

  “Oh Teresa. She… ah… she needed help stretching.”

  “So help me God…”

  “Calm down. I got this under control.”

  “Look, we’ll deal with this when I get home. You know what happened with Jay.”

  “I’m your brother.”

  “I can’t talk about this right now. I need to find Spencer. She’s not answering her phone. If she shows up, please have her call me.”

  I didn’t even have time to think. I had to get home, and luckily there was a flight almost every hour to SFO from LAX. I changed my flight home from Sunday, thankful I just had a carry-on bag as my luggage, and continued calling Spencer over and over, but she never answered.

  Every scenario occurred in my head. Was she kidnapped again? Did her plane crash and they hadn’t made a public announcement yet? Did she get in a car accident on her way home?

  I tried calling Ryan when I waited for my flight home, but she didn’t answer either. It felt like my life was spinning out of control. I was coming to L.A. to have make-up sex with my wife, and now I couldn’t find her and her employee was dead. And to top it all off, my brother was fucking Teresa Robinson at the gym. He knew I didn’t approve of that shit.

  I tried Ryan again. No answer.


  “Fuck!” I shouted. Every head turned towards me. “Sorry,” I said, raising my hands to apologize.

  Jason was at home with his family, so I knew he didn’t know where Spencer was. So I tried BKJB, but they hadn’t seen her and thought she was in L.A., too. I asked to be connected to her employee and friend, Belkis.

  “Hello?”

  “Bel, it’s Brandon. Do you know where Spencer is?”

  “She’s in L.A.”

  “No, she left to come home early. I can’t get a hold of her.”

  “I haven’t heard from her.”

  “Have you heard from Donna?”

  “No. I haven’t heard from her or Acyn. Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah…” I said, lying. “The expo’s almost over, but Spencer left early to come home to do some work she needed to do. She’s just not answering her phone.”

  “Do you want me to try calling her?”

  “Yes, please. If you hear from her, please have her call me. It’s really important.”

  “You got it, boss!”

  I closed my eyes. I was her boss technically, but not like Spencer was. I couldn’t tell her about Acyn—it was something Spencer needed to do.

  I hung up with Belkis and tried Spencer again—still no answer. My plane was going to board in a few minutes, and I had one more person left to call who I hoped could help me find Spencer.

  “Hello?” Max, Ryan’s husband, answered.

  “Hey, have you seen Spencer?”

  “No. Why? What’s up?”

  “You’re probably at work, but I need to find her.”

  “She’s missing again?”

  “No… I don’t know,” I said, rubbing my free hand down my face.

  “Well, I’m actually on my way home. I’ll talk to Ryan and see if she’s heard from her. Is everything okay?”

  “No,” I sighed. Everything wasn’t okay. “To sum it up, Acyn’s dead, and Spencer’s not answering her phone. I flew to L.A. to surprise her, but her employee told me that she flew home. I’ve tried calling her over and over, and she won’t answer.”

  “Acyn’s dead?”

  “Yeah. I don’t know how, but yeah… he’s dead. I don’t think Spencer knows.”

  “Alright, I’m almost home.”

  “I’m about to board my plane back to SF. If you get a hold of Spencer, please have her call me.”