by Rye Hart
“Yeah. He wasn’t even getting paid to do it. His role was to reach out to these women, send a message or two and move on. He never met up with any of them.”
“Never?”
“Apparently, no. I talked to Samantha after I left his place and she confirmed that other than a few harmless messages, nothing else happened. She had also found out that another friend of hers had talked to him too, and said the same thing. His responses were pretty generic actually.”
“And you believe him?” I asked her.
“I do,” she said. “Plus his sister was there, and she vouched for him. I mean, I get that she’d probably have his back either way, but she doesn’t strike me as the type who would lie for him.”
“No, she’s pretty straight with him,” I said.
“See? Listen, Kam, I don’t agree with what he was doing. I think it’s pretty sleazy and demeaning, but as far as you are concerned, he loves you and he’s not been unfaithful to you.”
I sat and absorbed everything she’d just told me. So Tate had been faithful to me. If Rain believed him, I knew that I could too.
But what about the baby? That was a huge game changer. He might be ready to give up his playboy lifestyle for me, but would he be ready to be a father?
“So what are you going to do about the baby?” Rain asked softly.
I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t know. It hasn’t fully sunk in yet I don’t think. I mean, of course I’m going to keep it, but that’s about as far as I’ve gotten.”
“You have to tell Tate,” she said.
“I know.”
Rain leaned over and gave me a big hug. “No matter what, you’re going to be OK.” She bent her head down and patted my belly. “Auntie Rain is gonna spoil you rotten, little one,” she said with a huge smile.
I rolled my eyes and groaned. “Just promise me that he or she won’t come home with purple hair one day.”
“I make no such promises,” she declared as she rose to go.
I sat for a few minutes after she left just thinking about everything she’d told me. Though what Tate had done had been gross in its own right, he had never cheated on me. He really did love me. The realization flooded me with relief. Now I just had to tell him about the baby.
I got up and walked over to the counter where the mail was sitting from the past couple of days. I picked up an envelope with a familiar address and turned it over in my hands. I knew exactly how I was going to tell him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR – TATE
The Gala was packed when I walked in with my sister on my arm. Steven Pratt welcomed me as the others gathered clapped for me. I gave a polite nod and introduced Megan to the crowd.
“Where’s that lovely girl you were seeing?” asked one of the women from before.
“She might be here later.” I didn’t know what else to say and felt too strange to explain that we’d broken up. The wound was too fresh to pick at, and I wanted to just get the night over with, so I could go home and crawl back in bed.
The woman walked away satisfied, and Megan gave me a reassuring pat on the back. “Show me your work.”
I led her around the gallery, nodding and saying hello to the crowd who all seemed to like my photography and wanted to chat about it. After a while, I made small talk with some of the other members of the committee, I flagged down a waiter and took a drink from his tray for my sister and then two for myself. I downed the first and placed the glass back on the tray and gave him a pat on the back as he walked away.
“Easy, there. They won’t ask the lush back next year.” Megan chuckled, but it was half-hearted.
“I don’t know why I’m nervous. She’s not going to come. I really fucked up with her.”
“Well at least dad seemed interested when I left the invitation with him.”
I gave her a withering glare. That didn’t sound accurate.
“OK, fine. His new girlfriend is the one who seemed interested. He just rolled his eyes and played it off. I think he was a little jealous that she liked your picture.”
“Great.” I hated most of my dad’s girlfriends, and it sounded like I wouldn’t like the new one any better. I don’t know why they had to put my face on the invitation. My photographs would have been sufficient.
As I stared off into the other room, where the murals were covered for their unveiling, my sister nudged me.
My mouth fell open as I turned to see Kami walking into the room.
“I’ll just leave you a minute. Go to her.” Megan gave me a pointed look and scurried away.
I walked over, and Kami took a deep breath as I stopped in front of her. “Thank you for coming.”
She rocked back and forth on her pumps and looked around, smiling and waving to the ones who’d been looking for her. “I know how much this means to you,” she said in response.
“Nothing means as much to me as you do,” I said to her.
She regarded me with a look I couldn’t quite read before responding. “Rain told me everything,” she finally said.
I inhaled a breath. “And?”
“And we have a lot to talk about,” she said. “But not right now. Enjoy your show.” She turned to walk off into the crowd.
“Kami.” She stopped and looked over her shoulder before turning to face me. “I’ve missed you.”.
Before she could say anything in reply, Steven tapped his glass and called the room to his attention. “Ladies and gentlemen, it’s a great honor to be here tonight to share the love, passion, and science of astronomy with our friends and beloved guests. As you know, we’re always on the lookout for ways to improve our observatory, and this year, in honor of our fiftieth anniversary of the Galaxy Gala, we commissioned a talented artist and photographer, Tate Evans, whose astral photography will now grace the walls of the observatory’s event room.” He swept a hand, and the veils came off the pictures I’d sold and made into wall-size prints. The crowd cheered, oohing and ahhing at the unveiling, and Steven asked me to step up.
I hadn’t prepared for a speech or anything, but I plastered on a smile, even though I wanted to throw up, and headed up to stand beside him.
“All the lovely photographs on display here tonight were taken by this man right here, and we’re so proud to make him an honorary member of the Galaxies, which hosts events like these to beautify the observatory and, of course, give back to the community.” Steven patted me on the back, and I gave a nod and said many thank-yous before he handed me the microphone.
I took a deep breath and felt my face turning red. “Thank you so much, Steven, it’s an honor to be a part of such an amazing group of people, and I’m proud that my photography is now a permanent fixture here. More than that, I’m really glad I have friends here tonight, including two special ladies: my sisters, Megan and Kami Kendrick, both of whom I love dearly. Enjoy the night. You both inspire me more than you’ll ever know.” I raised my glass high and the others toasted with me. I gave the microphone to Steven and had to get away.
I hurried out to the observation deck and tried to catch my breath. The glass window that showed the best view of the night sky I could ever image spanned the room around me. I put my hand to it and leaned forward.
“That’s an amazing view.” Her voice sent chills down my spine, and I turned to see Kami standing in the door behind me.
She was so incredibly beautiful, even more so than the last time I’d seen her only a few days ago. She was positively radiant tonight. “Not as amazing as mine,” I said, cringing at how much of a cheesy pickup line it sounded like.
To my immense relief, she laughed.
“You said Rain told you everything?” I asked her.
The smile disappeared from her lips and my heart sank. “Yes. Listen, I don’t agree with what you did, buttering those women up so that your buddy could make more money off them and keeping details about your inheritance a secret from me. You should have told me, even if you were afraid of my reaction. That’s what people who love one an
other do, Tate. They tell each other the truth, and work through the hard stuff together.”
I hung my head. “I know. If it makes any difference to you, I actually felt pretty awful about baiting those women. And I can’t apologize enough for not trusting you with the truth earlier.”
She nodded. “I appreciate that. Bottom line, I know you didn’t cheat on me.”
“Never,” I said, shaking my head vehemently. “I never would.”
I held out my hand, and she took it. My heart pounded in my chest as she stepped close and I kissed her knuckles.
“I’m terrified, Tate.” She met my eyes, and I put my arms around her waist.
“Of?”
“You. Giving you my heart wasn’t easy.”
“I’m so sorry. I’m sorry I broke that trust, and I’m sorry that I’ve made you leery of me. I love you, Kami. You’re my girl. Tell me you’re going to stay?” I pulled her closer and captured her mouth, and she pushed me back up against the glass, deepening it until she pulled away breathless.
“I’m going to stay.” I let out a long breath, and a terrible weight had been lifted as I gathered her up even closer and kissed her hard, trailing my mouth down her neck and to her breasts and back up.
“Good, because I didn’t intend on letting you go.” I kissed her again, and we made out against the window until my sister cleared her throat behind us.
“Really? Can’t you see we’re busy?” I didn’t want to let Kami go for a minute. I had my girl back.
“Sorry, but you have guests, so you better get your pretty little butts out here and greet them.” She gave me a pointed look and disappeared behind the door.
We walked out arm in arm to greet my guests, and my heart stopped as I caught a glimpse of my father through the crowd. He was studying my murals pretty hard and talking to Steven Pratt. The older man stepped out of the way, and I caught Dad’s expression. He was smiling.
“Well I’ll be damned.” I pulled her across the room to where my dad was now laughing with Steven.
“Ah, here he is, the man of the hour. I was just talking to your old man, here.”
“Hello, Dad. Thanks for coming.” I shook my father’s hand
“Tate, I have to admit, you’ve done a damn good job here. I can see why you feel like this is more than just a hobby.”
His words shocked me more than if he’d told me he was born on another planet. It wasn’t exactly a glowing endorsement, but it was the best that I could expect from him.
“I’m glad you came to check it out. And you remember my girlfriend, Kami.” Dad’s eyes lit up when he saw my girl.
“Yes, I do. She’s a real beauty, son. The old apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” He gave a snicker and pulled his own new girl closer. “This is Robin.” Robin didn’t look much older than me or my sister, but we smiled and welcomed her anyway. We may as well be nice; dad would replace her soon enough anyway.
My father and his flavor of the month left us to walk the exhibit, my sister opting to go find another drink.
“I think this might be the best night of my life,” I said as Kami settled against me.
“You did a beautiful job,” she said and I shook my head.
“I wasn’t even talking about this. I’m just so damn happy you’re giving me a second chance. By the way, did I tell you that you’re positively glowing tonight?”
She looked at me shyly and bit her lip. “Yeah, about that…”
***
“I can’t believe you’re having my baby,” I said as I spun Kami around. Once she’d whispered the news in my ear, I couldn’t wait to get her home.
Now we were snuggled in my bed and I was the happiest man in the entire world. I had the woman of my dreams in my arms, and she was carrying my child. Money, or no, nothing could have topped this night, and it was all thanks to Kami.
EPILOGUE
Kami
I sat at my computer, looking over photo submissions that I was considering for my first gallery showing. I looked over at our daughter, Eliza, sleeping peacefully in her bassinet next to me. The surge of love that shot through me every time I looked at her still took my breath away. It had been a crazy year, but I wouldn’t have changed any of it for the world. I had Tate, our daughter, and the studio and gallery I’d always dreamed about.
I heard the back door open and looked down at Eliza once more before going to greet Tate as he came in.
“Hey, babe, I’ve got great news,” he said by way of greeting.
“Me too! I almost have all the prints I want to use for the gallery showing. And I saved you a spot as promised.”
“That’s amazing, babe. I’m so proud of you,” he said with a kiss.
“So what’s your good news?” I asked.
He waved me out to the garage, and I followed. Once out in the garage, I spotted something large in the driveway through the little windows. “You’re going to love it!” He hit the button on the doors and hurried to go out while the thing lifted.
“I hope you’re right.” I ducked under the rising doors and saw his surprise.
“It’s a classic Airstream, baby! Isn’t it amazing?” His smile was so wide that I couldn’t help but smile too.
“I want a tour.”
“I’m so excited to show you. I was about to drop forty-grand on one of the bigger models, but this one was only thirty, and it’s been fully restored. The old couple selling it had health issues and needed a fast buyer. I had it all checked out. It’s perfect.” He walked up and opened the door, and I held my breath hoping the two of us, plus the baby, could sleep comfortably in the small trailer.
He opened the door, and the classic style of the little camper took my breath away as I stepped inside. “It’s so nice.” I fell into his side, and he kissed my hair.
“I knew you’d love it. It’s so much better than one of those new ones with no personality, and this one is small enough to pull with the Jeep. We’re going to be camping in style, baby.” I couldn’t help but laugh at how excited he was. With the money he had coming in a couple of years, he could have easily bought any camper he wanted, but he wanted one that was suited to our needs, one he knew we’d love and enjoy together—all three of us. He was the sexiest man ever.
“I can’t wait, baby.” I kissed him, pulling him close.
He reached up and opened an overhead compartment. “Look, I can put all my camera equipment in here. Look at the kitchen area. And it’s got a nice fridge too. We’re going to eat well.”
“How about you show me the bedroom. Let’s make sure there’s enough room in the bed for two.” I walked forward, seeing the door that led into the small sleeping area and opened it.
On the bed was a beautiful white wedding ring quilt and it was sprinkled with red rose petals. On the small side table, there was a bucket of chilled wine and two glasses.
“I was hoping you’d want to see the bedroom.” He pushed my hair aside and kissed the back of my neck. His hand trailed up my front and cupped my breast as he thrust his hips forward pressing his erection into my back.
“You’re the sweetest man.” I stroked his face and kissed his mouth, slipping my tongue in to meet his.
He walked me to the bed and lay me back against the quilt. “Do I get to keep this too?” I rubbed my hand along the quilt, and he nodded.
“It’s part of my surprise.”
“I love it, thank you.” He gave me another quick kiss on the lips before moving his way down. He slipped off my shirt and kissed me over the swells of my breasts and to my tummy. He didn’t stop until he was hovering over my mound and pressed his mouth to my thin cotton shorts. He watched me closely as he tugged at the waistband and then slipped them down. I kicked them off my feet, and he laughed at my urgency.
“Eager beaver.” He leaned up and closed his mouth over my mound, kissing and teasing my clit.
“It’s very eager, so you better not make it wait too long.” I tugged at the waistband of his jeans, and he watch
ed as I undid his pants and slipped them off taking his undies down with them. His cock was hard and weeping for attention, so I pulled it into my mouth and gave it a long suck. “Mm.”
“Fuck, baby. I want inside you.” He brushed his fingers through my hair and undid the clasp that held it up, letting it fall to my shoulders.
I lay back and spread my legs wide, slipping my hand down to cup my mound and trail my fingers along my slit.
He dove back down and kissed me, then came up to meet my mouth, his knees resting on the bed as he hovered over me. He put one arm down beside me and centered his cock at my entrance, wasting no time with pushing deep inside of me.
I moaned out and hissed through my teeth as he stretched me so far, I thought I might come apart.
He pumped his hips, working me at a slow, steady pace while kissing me deeply. Then he brought me over the edge of my climax and held me, staying still inside me as I trembled around him. “You’re so beautiful when you come, baby.”
And just to prove how much he liked it, he worked me through two more orgasms until the trailer was seriously rocking.
He rolled us over, and I flattened my hands on his chest as I rode him steady. “I love you, Tate.”
I love you, baby. I’ll always love you.” He stroked my breasts and rose up to capture a nipple between his teeth. I moaned and rolled my head to the side as he quickened the pace, cupping my ass to lift me off and on his throbbing cock.
“Fuck, baby. I’m coming.” He twitched inside me as he came and I gripped his cock with my slick walls and milked every last drop.
We collapsed on the bed, and he tucked me to his side as I traced the pretty fabric of the quilt. “May I have some wine?” I trailed my toes along his calf, and he sat up to pour us a glass.
He handed me mine and then took his holding it up high. “To our new camper, to many nights under the stars, to us.”
“Cheers.” I took a sip, and he brushed the hair away from my face and smiled at me. “What’s that look for?”
“I’m thinking about how pretty you are. You’ll be a beautiful bride one day. I can’t wait to see you all in white, walking down that aisle toward me.”
