by Shade, S. M.
The robber shakes his head.
Sighing, the older man speaks up again. “Either give them your demands or let us go. That’s how this works.”
“Demands?” the robber runs a hand through his hair before murmuring, “Demands, right.”
He grabs the phone from Denton. “I want insulin.”
The expression on my face is mirrored in most of the other people around me. This guy isn’t a hardened criminal or a junkie trying to make a few bucks to support his habit.
“Yes, I’m not coming out until I know my daughter has her insulin. At least three months worth!”
The man must make him some kind of promise because he gives his name—James—his daughters name, and names a drug store. “I’ll let everyone go when my girlfriend shows me she has Summer’s insulin.”
He slams down the phone, then checks his cell phone.
If the guy can listen through his panic and be reasonable, I think I can end this situation and help him, though nothing is going to keep him out of jail.
Denton speaks up before I get a chance. “Look, man, I get it. I grew up poor, no insurance and shit. Taking those fish antibiotics you can buy at the pet store when I was sick because my mom couldn’t afford the doctor. I know how it is, but this isn’t going to help.”
James shakes his head. “I don’t have a choice. I can’t afford five hundred dollars a month and she needs it.” His head whips toward me as I get to my feet. “Sit the fuck down.”
His eyes grow larger when I don’t comply, and he points the gun at me as I approach him. I drop my voice where the others can’t hear. “I know a toy gun when I see one. We both know the cops aren’t going to give you anything but eardrum and lung damage along with the rest of us when they come busting in here. If you’ll let me make a call, I’ll pay for your daughter’s insulin for a year.” I pause for a moment, not sure if that’s even possible. “Can you buy a year’s worth at a time?”
He regards me with suspicion. “Yes, you can buy as much as they have, I guess.” His gaze washes over me. “You don’t have that much money. You’re trying to trick me.”
“I’m not.” I pull out my cell phone. “Give me the pharmacy number.”
He glances around at the people sitting on the floor, who can’t hear our conversation, before giving me the number. It only takes me a few minutes to get them on the line and use my credit card to order a year’s worth of his daughter’s medicine.
“Why would you do that?” he asks, still suspicious, after texting his girlfriend to pick up the insulin.
“I have a son on the way. I’d do anything for him. I can’t blame you for doing the same.” He still doesn’t trust me but promises to let everyone go if she texts a picture showing she has it.
Before I can explain what just took place to Denton, he gets to his feet. “I seriously have to pee.”
James jerks his head around to see Denton walking up on us and raises the gun, putting his finger on the trigger. “Sit the fuck down.”
“I’m not pissing myself in this store!” Denton grabs the barrel of the gun and pushes it down. Screams erupt from the other hostages since they aren’t aware real bullets aren’t going to come flying at them.
James tries to shove Denton away, and their feet get tangled up. Both fall to the floor still grappling over the gun when a soft pop sound rings out and Denton lets out a yelp. I manage to snatch the pellet gun from James, and Denton leaps to his feet, grabbing his ass cheek.
“You said it wouldn’t break the skin!”
“I never shot myself point blank, idiot!”
Confusion is stamped on all the hostages faces as they watch the exchange. James sits on the floor, hanging his head.
Cupping his wounded cheek, Denton darts off toward the restroom.
A chime sounds from James’s phone and he checks it, then gazes up at me in amazement. He holds up a picture of a young woman with a large box balanced under arm. The edge of the picture captures a little blonde girl, no more than three, staring up at her.
“You actually paid for it,” he says, stunned.
A few moments later, he walks out the front door, his hands in the air, and the whole ordeal is over. Cops and paramedics fill the store, though no one was hurt. Well, almost no one.
Denton glares as he approaches me. “I got the damn pellet out but it’s going to leave a scar. On the opposite cheek of the dog bite. Why does everything happen to my ass?”
It’s another hour before the cops let us leave after taking everyone’s statement. By then, our friends are waiting for us in the parking lot. Sasha, Becca, Kelly, Jani, and Noble all rush us as soon as we walk out, asking a million questions, but my mind is distracted.
I had planned to pick some kind of cause to support and contribute to now that I have the resources. Helping poor people get their insulin seems like a clear choice.
With Sasha’s arm around me, and my friends gathered around, I realize how incredibly lucky I am.
Chapter Fifteen
Sasha
I can’t ever remember being as scared as I was when I found out where Trey was and why he missed his graduation. It was all over by the time he texted to let me know, but the sight of the cops surrounding the place when we all rushed down there made me want to throw up. I could’ve lost him.
It’s a fear I’ve never experienced. I’ve avoided relationships because I was afraid of getting my heart stomped on again, of being cheated on, then left like I was nothing. There’s not an ounce of me that fears that with Trey now. The way he treats me, his love and excitement for the baby has helped dissolve all that doubt. I trust him.
After everything that happened, I thought he’d want to postpone our weekend getaway, but he doesn’t. During the ride to our hotel, he fills me in on everything that happened.
“Thank goodness it wasn’t a real gun,” I exclaim.
Trey grins at me as he parks in the hotel lot. “Denton would’ve had a much larger hole in his ass cheek.”
The hotel is right on the riverfront and fancier than any I’ve ever stayed in. He must be spending a fortune for this weekend. I know he said Cluck Chuckers was making decent money, but that was months ago. I hope he’s not wasting too much when we have a baby coming.
“Wow,” I breathe, once we’re shown to our suite. It’s gorgeous, with a balcony that overlooks the river.
A stone path runs alongside the bank, dotted with benches. A few of them are occupied with people relaxing as they watch the sun set. “Do you want to take a walk?” I ask, gesturing down to the path.
Trey grins and wraps his arms around me from behind. “Actually, I’ve made some plans for us.”
“Yeah?” I peek back at him. “What are we doing?”
He motions to a horse and carriage as it passes by.
“Really?” I squeak. “I’ve always wanted to do that!”
“We have a reservation in thirty minutes.”
“Let’s go!” I plant a kiss on him, and he laughs at my enthusiasm. I wasn’t horse crazy growing up like a lot of girls, but a carriage ride just seems so damn romantic. Something you only see on cheesy chick flicks, but apparently, I’m a sucker for that now. I’m still going to blame the pregnancy hormones.
Trey catches my hand as we walk to the carriage house and stable, a few blocks from the hotel. The last of the light fades from the sky as we settle into the carriage. There’s a folded blanket on the seat, but it’s a hot night so I tuck it in the corner as Trey slings his arm around me. His big body gives off enough heat even if it was chilly.
The light breeze that blows across us as we get near the river is a welcome relief. We’re quiet for a bit, just taking in the sights and sounds around us. The lights reflecting off the water, the smell of cinnamon rolling out from a tiny bakery, the chatter of other couples walking along the river bank. Closing my eyes, I feel how we’re gently jostled back and forth. The steady clopping of hooves is calming and pleasant. Amazing.
Ther
e’s a pensive expression on Trey’s face, and I cuddle closer to him. “Are you okay?”
A slow smile takes over as he looks down at me. He lays a hand on my belly. “I’m happy. Are you?”
“Yes. I know we didn’t plan for…any of this, but I wouldn’t change a thing.”
He lays a finger under my chin. “Do you mean that? I know it was an accident. If you had it to do over, would you want to be pregnant?”
Is that what’s on his mind? That I’m having some kind of regret?
My hand slips over the back of his neck, and I pull his head forward to kiss him. With my lips and tongue, I try to convince him how I feel. I never want him to doubt it. “I’d do it all again. I can’t wait to meet our son.”
Joy shines in his eyes, and I feel like the luckiest bitch on earth. Part of me was convinced that I was better off alone, now look at me. Happy doesn’t begin to describe it.
Our little moment is interrupted when a foul smell washes over us. Trey’s eyebrows shoot up, and I whisper, “What the hell is that?”
Grinning, he shakes his head. “I don’t know. Maybe the horse cut one.”
Giggles spill out of me. The air clears but only for a second before it happens again. “Oh my god,” I laugh, covering my nose.
“Smells like open ass,” Trey murmurs.
The coachman acts like nothing out of the ordinary is happening, but if that smell is coming from where I think it is, he has to be getting smacked right in the face with it.
We spend a couple of minutes breathing through our mouths and fighting back laughter. How much gas can have one horse have? Apparently, the bag on its ass does nothing to filter that smell because it just keeps getting worse. The humid air doesn’t help. It grabs the stink and lets it just hang there, being pulled along with us.
We only have a couple of blocks left before the ride is over when the silence of the night is torn by the loudest, wettest, most disgusting sound I’ve ever heard. Even the coachman can’t pretend nothing is wrong as he stops the carriage.
My body shakes with laughter as Trey jumps to the sidewalk, grabs my hand and helps me out of the carriage. The smell is so bad I swear I can taste it. It’s making my stomach turn but I can’t stop laughing.
“Sorry, looks like Nipper ain’t feeling too good tonight,” the coachman says, patting the horse’s back. “Must’ve ate something she shouldn’t have.”
A few steps puts me upwind and I catch my breath while Trey holds out a folded bill to the guy. “That’s okay. We’ll walk from here. Thanks.”
We waste no time exiting the area that smells more like a sewer. “That was romantic,” Trey snorts, as we start down the path that runs along the river.
“A night we’ll never forget,” I giggle. “I hope the horse is okay.”
Trey stops when we pass a bench and pulls me over to sit down beside him. “I have something to tell you.”
Have more foreboding words ever been spoken? He grins at me when I pull my bottom lip between my teeth. “It’s nothing bad. I don’t want to rent a house, like we were discussing.”
We may have different ideas of not bad. “You don’t want to live together? Is it too soon for you?” Damn, does this feel like a reversal.
“I want to live together, but I want to buy a house. In Morganville, or close, so you aren’t too far from work.”
“That’s…” Something married people do, is my first thought. But he said I want to buy a house, not I want us to buy a house. He just wants more stability. “Okay, we can split your mortgage the same as we can the rent. I’m cool with that.”
“There won’t be a mortgage.” He shifts so we’re facing each other and waits until a couple walk by, pushing a toddler in a stroller before he continues. “I sold Cluck Chuckers to Vangra Games.”
Pride fills me, and I grab his hand. I don’t know much about gaming of any kind, but I know they’re the leader. “Vangra? That’s amazing. And it was enough to buy a house?”
He rubs his jaw with his palm and looks a little sheepish. “Ah…I sold it for thirty million dollars, Sasha.”
It feels like all the blood in my body cools and my skin tingles. “What?” I whisper.
“Yeah, no one else knows, and for now, I want to keep it that way. Money makes people weird. But I couldn’t keep it from you.”
My mind can’t seem to wrap around the whole thing. “You’re a millionaire?”
“Um, yes.” He’s watching me like I might explode.
“Like a genuine, Scrooge McDuck millionaire.”
Laughter booms out as he throws his head back. “I don’t have a vault of gold to swim in, but I don’t have to worry about money anymore.” He lays his hand on my stomach. “And neither will he.”
“Holy shit.” I sit back and let the news sink in. He’s rich. And I doubt this will be the last success he has if his first game was that lucrative.
“Baby.” He cups my face, making me look him in the eye. “It’s just money. It doesn’t change anything. I’ve never given two shits for money. I had an upper class upbringing, but it wasn’t until I got away from them that I was actually happy. Money doesn’t mean anything other than I can take care of my family.”
He’s right. He’s the most laid back, humble guy I’ve ever met. If anyone could go from rags to riches and not bat an eye, it’s Trey.
I pull him into a hug. “I am so fucking proud of you.”
We hold each other, and he murmurs in my ear. “It seems too good to be true sometimes, the way things have worked out. I don’t usually stress over stuff, but…” He sits back and rubs his hand on my belly. “It feels like something is bound to go wrong. No one can be this lucky.”
“Trey, your success wasn’t luck. You took a huge risk, left your family when they didn’t have your back, and went out on your own to figure out what you wanted. Most people would have been terrified at a change like that. You went in debt, worked hard, went with what you loved and were good at. I know how hard that is. Your talent and perseverance paid off. That’s not luck.”
He presses a kiss to my lips. “And ending up with you?”
Leaning back, I toss my hair over my shoulder. “Well, yeah, you clearly hit the lottery there.”
Chuckling, he takes out his phone. “Hey, I want you to try something. I’m working on a new game. I only have one level finished, but tell me what you think, okay? You just have to collect all these pieces without getting captured and arrange them in the puzzle at the end.”
I take the phone and watch as the game loads. It’s obviously very new, without that polished look of Cluck Chuckers. It’s also extremely easy, but it still pulls me in, and I race the little dot around, collecting the red pieces. When I have them all, I click on a door and it opens, letting me into a new room with a blank wall where I’m meant to put the pieces together.
All my attention is focused on the game as I place the last piece into the puzzle which turns out to be a simple heart. The piece vibrates, blows up into a shower of hearts and streamers, then words appear on the screen.
You found all the pieces of my heart. Sasha, will you marry me?
“Wha?” I don’t get the entire word out before all the breath is yanked out of me at the sight of Trey on one knee in front of the bench, grinning up at me. An open ring box in his hand displays a diamond engagement ring.
“You said I go after what I want, Sasha, and you’re right. I want you. I want you every single day and night for the rest of my life. Will you be my wife?”
Blood pounds in my ears. I want to say yes. We’re going to be parents, a family whether we sign a document, have a ceremony or not. Old fears leak in and mix with a completely new one. He’s rich. What if he someday worries I only married him for money? All these thoughts war in my head.
“Trey,” I choke out. “I…”
Looking into his face, there’s only one answer I could ever give, no matter my fears. “Yes.”
A bright smile splits his face. “Yes?�
�
“Yes,” I repeat, nodding.
Tears make their way down my cheeks when he kisses my stomach before pulling me to my feet and into his arms.
He’s not the only one who feels like he’s hit the lottery.
* * *
A hand strokes down my leg, and I roll over. “Ugh, no more, you sex fiend.”
Trey chuckles and wraps an arm around me “Aw, did I wear you out last night?”
He smells so good as I cuddle up with him. “I seem to get tired faster since I caught an extreme case of fetus.”
We lie quietly for a while, just enjoying a day where we don’t need to rush to get up and go to work or school. I guess Trey won’t have to worry about work.
“What do you plan to do now? Do you still want to get hired at a gaming company?” I can’t imagine he’d have much difficulty.
“No, I want to design games on my own, work for myself. I have the connections to make it happen now. And I don’t have to worry about how to pay bills if a game isn’t successful.” He runs his fingers through my hair, and I close my eyes, soaking in the feeling.
“You know, you could stay home with the baby, quit your job if you want.”
Alarms start clanging in my head. “I’ll take off time when he’s born, maybe as much as a year, but I don’t want to be a stay at home mom and housewife. That’s not who I am. I love my job.” I could be choosier about my clients though, and work by appointment only. That would be nice, as long as it doesn’t screw things up for Becca. With Elijah working there, I think they could do without me taking walk-ins. I’d love to know I don’t have to ink another butthole for a few hundred dollars, that’s for sure.
“I just want you to know you have the option. You do amazing work. I’d never ask you to give it up. I would like a freebie though.”
Rolling over, I regard him. “You want a tattoo?”
“Yes, I haven’t decided exactly what yet, but something with our son’s name after he’s born.”
