A Hope and a Chance

by Jennifer Foor

  I rolled my eyes again and started backing up. “So you keep telling me.”

  “No, I really love them, Hope. I want to marry your breasts. Both of them. I need to be a tit bigamist.”

  I continued to hoot at his drunken comments the whole ride home. Luckily it was only about a ten minute drive. When we pulled up at the house, I noticed strange vehicles parked outside. My car was smaller, easier to hide alongside of the garage, giving us a straight walk to the pool house.

  “Stay here while I go check out back,” I suggested, as I stepped out and paced around to make sure we were in the clear.

  Once I’d searched out back to make certain we were alone, I headed in the direction of my car to grab Chance. I could hear commotion in the house, but it was coming from the well-lit dining room. I knew I needed to sneak Chance in on the side where he had his secret smoke breaks. There was lots of high greenery everywhere, and in the dark we would be undetected.

  When I reached the car Chance was all but passed out. I had to literally drag him. He tried to speak, but I placed my hand over his mouth as we passed the window where the dinner party was taking place. Once we managed to make it to the pool house, I searched inside of his pockets and located his keys. After unlocking the door, he immediately went tumbling inside. I closed it behind us keeping the lights off.

  Chance was rolling around the floor in hysterics. I didn’t know whether to be annoyed or feel sorry for him. “Get up. I need to get you into the shower, so you can sober up.”

  “Will you get in with me?” He asked. He stuck out his bottom lip like a small child would. As cute as I found it, I knew I had to be the mature person and get him straight.

  “I can’t. My father is right across the yard,” I clarified.

  “Please. Don’t you want to? Don’t you want to get naked and ride me all night, baby?”

  “Chance, don’t beg. You know it’s not going to happen.” He reached to grab me, but I pulled away enough to where I could point him in the direction the bathroom.

  He smelled like vodka and vomit with a hint of cologne. It was retched.

  When he finally made it inside the tiny bathroom, he whipped his dick out and began peeing in the toilet with no regard for me even being in the room. I started the shower and helped him out of his clothes. Though difficult, I managed to get him to participate. When I tried to get him under the water, he wouldn’t budge.

  “Chance, please. You’re covered in puke. Just get in and get cleaned up. You smell horrible.”

  “Please come with me,” he attempted to pull me in. He was much stronger than me. I tried to stay out, but ended up tumbling down on top of him. The shower curtain and rod fell on us. When we were finally able to get up, I fixed the curtain the best I could. He fought to pull me in again. “Please. I need you. I just want to feel your skin against mine. Please, Hope.”

  “I can’t. I want to, but I can’t.” Instead I leaned in and started to get him cleaned up. After having him spin around a few times, I decided he was clean enough to get dressed.

  I held out a towel and waited for him to step out of the tub before wrapping it around him. He decided to brush his teeth, for a taxing ten minutes, in which I told him they were clean several times, but he continued doing it. Finally, he followed me into the bedroom and pulled me down on the bed with him.

  His body hovered over mine as his fingertips played with my cheek. “You’re so perfect to me, Hope. You make me want to live. You’re all that I want, all that I need. You’re everything. God, I love you so much.”

  It was impossible not to feel overcome. Those words were such a big deal in any relationship. Ours, yet brewing for a long period of time, had been a struggle. For him to have deep feelings for me left me speechless.

  He wiped my cheeks. “Why are you crying?”

  “Nobody’s ever said something like that to me,” I embarrassingly admitted.

  “It’s the truth. I’m so in love with you. I know you think I’m just drunk, but I swear it’s true. You make me smile again.”

  “Chance,” I managed to whisper as his lips hit mine.

  He pulled away. “Yeah.”

  “I love you, too.” I didn’t wait for him to respond. Our next kiss was intense leaving us too caught up in each other to discuss anything more.

  28

  I woke up in bed with only a pair of boxers on. When I sat up I realized that my head was pounding. While still holding the back of it, I stood up and headed to find the Tylenol. To my disappointment I was all out. I pulled on a pair of shorts, and after relieving myself in the bathroom, I headed to the main house.

  When I got to the kitchen door I realized I had no idea what time it was. I didn’t want to wake up the whole house so I peeked in and saw it was after ten in the morning. I crept inside, but didn’t hear any movement.

  Thankfully, my sister had made coffee. I made myself a cup and counted four Tylenol, tossing them back with the hot brew. There still wasn’t any sound coming from around the house. I walked to the foyer and looked outside. Only Hope’s car was sitting out front.

  I climbed up the stairs heading to her side of the house. Her door was shut, but I opened it slowly. She was sound asleep, and I couldn’t help but take in her beauty. I strode in and leaned over to give her a kiss, but as I stood to walk away she snatched my arm. Still groggy from her sleep, she attempted to focus. “What are you doing in here?”

  “What happened to me last night?” I whispered. “Where’s my bike?”

  She sat up and I couldn’t help but notice the small tank top she had on. “Stop staring at my chest,” she accused as she adjusted it, hiding some of her cleavage. “You got drunk off your ass at the bar, so on my way back from my mother’s I picked you up and brought you home. I got you cleaned up and stayed with you until you fell asleep. Your motorcycle is still at the bar.”

  “You took care of me? Did my sister and Mark see us?” I asked.

  “No. Once you fell asleep I went inside through the front. They still had company and thought I’d just got home,” she explained.

  “I don’t remember anything,” I admitted.

  Hope looked upset. I couldn’t understand why. “I knew it was too good to be true.” While grabbing her, I tried to remember what would make her so upset. It was coming back to me in small pieces.

  “What are you talking about? What did I do?”

  “It wasn’t what you did. It was what you said.”

  “Did I say something wrong?”

  “No, it was perfect,” she said quietly.

  “Well whatever it was, I meant it,” I assumingly announce.

  Hope turned around and put her head in her pillow. “Forget it, Chance, it doesn’t matter.”

  “Please don’t be mad at me.” I tried to reach for her, but she pulled away.

  I was hurt, but had no right to be. I’d acted like an ass. What had I been thinking? I should’ve never gone out to a bar.

  I was such a loser.

  I left Hope in her room and went back downstairs. On the counter I found something that might make her smile. I got out a pen and a piece of painters tape and hiked back upstairs. I sat the object on her dresser and walked out without saying a word.

  I hid in her bathroom across the hall waiting. The anticipation was killing me, and for a moment I figured she didn’t hear me come back the second time.

  I couldn’t believe he didn’t remember last night. I was a fool to think someone sober would say that to me anyway. I heard Chance come in my room, but I didn’t want to talk to him. I wasn’t really mad, just disappointed. As I stood up to head into my bathroom something caught my eye.

  A red apple sat on my dresser. Taped to it was a note.

  I don’t remember what I said last night, but when I woke up this morning I knew I missed you.

  I love you so much. Please don’t be mad. I can’t be without your smile for long.

  I had to choke back the emotions. I quickly ran into the bath
room to brush my teeth, so that I could find him and kiss him right away. As I ambled in I saw him leaning against the sink. My arms wrapped around him.

  “Does this mean you forgive me?” He asked with his hands cupped around my face.

  I nodded my head yes, before he leaned down and kissed me.

  “So much, Hope.” He whispered in my ear, before leaving me alone to get myself cleaned up.

  When I looked in the mirror I couldn’t believe he hadn’t changed his mind. After washing my face, I managed to get a brush through my hair. I ran back into my room and put on some clothes I wore to run in then headed downstairs.

  Chance was outside, skimming leaves out of the pool. I jumped when Buffy marched into the room. “Hey, Hope, what are you doing?”

  I held my heart. “Buff, you scared me. I was just...”

  “Looking at my brother. Yeah I noticed.”

  “Please don’t say anything,” I said in a panic.

  She smiled and sat down. “Hope, I may be his sister, but I’m not blind. I know girls think he is attractive.”

  “Where is my dad?” I asked trying to change the subject.

  She was looking straight at me with her hands across her chest. “He had to meet with investors on the new building today. He won’t be home till late. So let’s get back to my brother. How long have you been seeing him?”

  I choked on the glass of milk I was drinking. “What? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Oh really. Then do me a favor. Walk out there and hug him.”

  “What? Buffy, you’re crazy. I couldn’t do that.”

  “Sure you can. If it’s nothing I’ll see it for myself, but I’m pretty sure I have things all figured out now. Come on, Hope, let’s go.” She grabbed my arm and pulled me out the door.

  She pushed me ahead of her and watched as I sauntered over to Chance. He looked up and saw the tears in my eyes, before I couldn’t say a word. She would hear me anyway. As ordered, I wrapped my arms around him. At first he didn’t react, but as I pulled away I felt his arms going around me. I knew that she was watching, but I still pulled myself out of his hold and looked into his eyes. His concern was all I could see. “I’m so sorry,” I whispered.

  “I think that both of you need to get your asses over here and explain some things to me right now,” she demanded.

  Immediately Chance knew. He looked so hurt as we walked over to the picnic table.

  She stood up and began pacing back and forth. “So how long has this been going on?” She asked.

  “What are you talking about, Buffy? What’s going on?” Chance acted like she way off base.

  “Don’t you dare do that, little brother. I’ve known for weeks that you were different. I sat up at night wondering what could have changed in your life. You never go out and you don’t have any friends anymore. Then when I got back from my vacation, I went into the pool house and found your dirty laundry. I discovered a bra under your bed that was white lace and a bag of sandy bathing suits, one of them belonging to me.”

  “So what. I took Hope to the beach. That doesn’t mean anything,” Chance argued.

  “Did you hear me say I found the bra?”

  I sat there shaking with my hands up to my face.

  “Yeah, so what? I brought some chick home from the bar. I told you that.”

  “That isn’t how I figured things out, Chance. The other night I pretended to be asleep when we were watching movies. I saw you two so close and I know you were holding hands under the covers. Then last night I was in the kitchen and saw Hope getting you inside the house. I checked and your bike was nowhere to be found. You obviously came home together.”

  “So what. We’re friends, Buffy. That is it.” I’d never heard Chance act so defensive.

  “Hope, look at me,” Buffy ordered. “Are you and Chance just friends?” I hated to be put on the spot, because I was a terrible liar.

  I looked from Buffy to Chance. He appeared to be furious. “I said leave her alone, Buffy.”

  “Just one more question. Hope, how many times have you slept with my brother?”

  Chance put his body in between mine and Buffy’s so that I couldn’t see her. “Leave her the fuck alone!”

  “Calm down. I just wanted you to admit it.” She sat back down across from me. When she looked in my direction she could see that I was crying. “Did you guys really think you could hide this forever? If Mark discovers this he’s going to flip.”

  “Are you going to tell my father? Please don’t, Buffy,” I begged.

  “Of course not. He would kick Chance’s ass and make him move out.”

  “Thank you,” I whispered quietly.

  “How serious is this thing between the two of you? Is this just something fun for you, Chance, because I can’t let this continue if you’re just using her?”

  Chance looked over at me. He sat down beside me and took my hand. “She’s never been a game to me, and for the record we fought this. We tried so hard to avoid each other when she first moved in, but we’d already been together and...”

  Buffy cut him off. “What do you mean? How did you know her?”

  I lay my head down on the table, while coming to grips that this was actually happening. “Remember when we first met, and you and Dad said I could look around? Well, I kind of walked into the pool house when Chance was getting dressed,” I explained but Chance cut me off.

  “Then when she left I went out for some smokes. She had pulled over to the side of the road and this guy was harassing her. He was trying to coax her into his truck. I got him to leave and stayed with her until she could calm down.” Chance said as he looked over to me. “Then, you and Mark took me out to that bar.”

  “Okay, you’re losing me. You told me you hooked up with some random chick.” Buffy stated.

  Chance looked toward me and winked. “That wasn’t exactly the truth. You see, Hope’s stupid friend scored them some fake I.D.s. I spotted her in the bar and let her know that you and Mark were there too. She’d been drinking and her friend wouldn’t leave, because she met some guy. I brought her back to the pool house so that she could sober up, but one thing led to another and the rest is history,” Chance explained.

  “Oh my God. You two hooked up before Mark introduced you? So this had nothing to do with you living here together?” She asked.

  “No, in fact up until last weekend we barely even talked, but finally we couldn’t stand it anymore. At least that’s how it was for me,” I could feel my cheeks burning as I confessed.

  “I love her, Buff. This whole time I’ve been trying to protect her from this.” It warmed my heart hearing him say that.

  “So, my brother is in love with my soon to be step-daughter. Should we call the Maury show now or wait until your father finds out?” Buffy asked.

  I was freaking out. “He can’t find out. He won’t understand. Please Buffy, if you care about me at all you won’t tell him,” I begged.

  She shook her head and ran her hands through her hair. “You guys are really putting me in a bad situation.” She got quiet for a second. Chance held my hand and rubbed his thumb against mine. “This is what’s going to happen. I don’t want to see it. Do not do anything that would make him think there is something between you. And that goes for you, Hope, I saw how you looked at him and that’s how I tied it all together. He can’t know. When you turn eighteen you two can decide what to do. I am not going to let this ruin my wedding. Do you both hear me?”

  Chance and I both nodded our heads.

  “For the record, I think you are made for each other, but if anyone else asks I will lie.” She then left us outside alone.

  Chance turned to face me. “Are you okay?”

  “Maybe, I’m just dreaming. Did that really happen?” I asked.

  He kissed the top of my head. “It happened, but she won’t tell. I considered telling her a while back, but then you moved in and it just wasn’t that easy.”

  “Do you want to
break up with me now?” I asked.

  “Are you kidding? I just told you I loved you and I’m sure I said it last night. When you’re drunk you say the truth, and that’s also how I knew you really wanted to be with me that first night.”

  “Actually, I think I wanted you ever since I first saw you. I couldn’t get that picture out of my head until that night we were together, and then I just had a better image to keep in my mind.”

  I leaned my head against his chest. “Loving you makes me happy. This mess with my parents and having to move in with my dad, who ignored me for so long, it wouldn’t have been nearly as easy if you weren’t here.”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” Chance said as he kissed me in broad daylight right on the lips.

  We both jumped when Buffy yelled out the door. “I can see you two!”

  We both laughed. Chance stood up and held out his hand. He looked back at his sister, laughing as she shook her head at us. “See you later, Buffy.”

  “Where are we going?” I asked.

  “Hopefully to get my motorcycle, if it’s still there,” he teased.

  29

  It was obvious Hope was worried about my sister, but one thing that I knew for sure was that she always had my back. The fact that I loved Hope made me more sure that she would keep our secret. It was honestly easier for me now that she knew. I think that it was harder for Hope though. She hadn’t said much since Buffy’s confrontation.

  She sat on my couch with her hands on her knees. “Hope, is everything okay, beautiful?” I asked.

  “I don’t know. I think I’m just a little freaked out right now. I mean, don’t get me wrong. In a way I’m glad she knows, but what are we going to do if she tells my dad? I can’t let you get kicked out of here. I would rather stop what we’re doing and have you here than have to lose you all together,” she explained.

  “Baby, there’s no way in hell that I’m going to let you walk away.”