by Ash, Nikki
Reaching across the bed, I snag my phone and see it’s only eight in the morning. Did Tristan leave me here? It’s then I hear a little girl’s voice asking if breakfast is almost ready. Oh jeez! I fell asleep and ended up spending the night, and Tristan’s five-year-old very impressionable daughter is right outside making breakfast with her father. I wonder if I can sneak out the bedroom window. We’re on the first floor.
Getting up quietly, I grab my clothes, which are scattered across the room. I go to the bathroom and go pee, and after washing my hands, I attempt to run my fingers through my hair, then use my finger to brush my teeth—I’m not sure one night of the most amazing sex of my life means I’m permitted to use Tristan’s toothbrush. After I’m dressed, I push my phone into my back pocket, go to the bedroom window, and after unlocking it, push it open. I look down and realize my shoes are still by the front door. Oh well…I push the screen out and set it on the ground then climb out, close the window, and place the screen back on.
Looking around, I see the front of the building is just around the corner, so I head in that direction. Tristan doesn’t live far from me, so instead of calling for a car, I make the decision to walk home. It’s a cloudy day and looks like it will rain soon, but I think I can make it back before it does. As I walk down the sidewalk, I think about how much my life has changed. I would give anything for Georgia to be alive and with me. I would trade every ounce of happiness I feel right now to have her back in my arms, but I know no amount of wishing or begging will bring her back. I wonder, had she still been alive and we would’ve run like I planned, if we would’ve ended up here. Would we have met Tristan and Lexi in the coffee shop? Would Lexi have still approached me? Us?
I would like to think so. I would like to think had Georgia still been alive, we would’ve still met Tristan and his little girl, and they would’ve become friends. I would also like to think my daughter is looking down on me and forgives me for not saving her, forgives me for whatever happened on that foggy day. That she knows I love her with all my heart and I live every day wishing she were still alive. I get choked up as I pray she’s looking down on me and in her own, now four-year-old, way approves of me finally moving forward and finding a tiny piece of happiness. I hope she knows this isn’t me forgetting her. I could never do that. She will forever be in every thought and memory. This is me finally admitting what happened to my precious baby girl was a horrible, tragic accident, and living my life alone won’t bring her back. I let the tears fall, but instead of feeling like I’m broken, the tears feel almost therapeutic, like I’m finally being put back together again.
I look up and the sky above me opens, rain falling in buckets, drops pelting my face. My tears mix with the raindrops as I stand frozen in place on the sidewalk feeling like every raindrop is cleansing me of my past.
“Charlie!” I look through the pouring rain at the huge dark blue truck stopped in the road, the window rolled down.
“Tristan?”
“Charlie! Get your butt in this truck now!” he shouts over the rain, which is coming down harder now. It takes me a second, but I shake myself out of my thoughts and run toward his truck. I’m about to jump in when I realize I’m soaking wet. I look down at my clothes then up at him.
“Just get in!” he yells, so I do, closing the door behind me. Once I’m situated, I notice Lexi is in the backseat looking at me confused.
“Charlie! It’s raining so bad. Why were you in the rain, silly?” I glance from her to Tristan and back to her again.
“It wasn’t raining when I started walking,” I say to Lexi but also to Tristan who is side-eyeing me as he drives.
“Then you should have run so fast!” Lexi points out, and I have to stifle a laugh because she’s being serious. “Daddy and I were making special pancakes for us.” I turn to Tristan silently asking if Lexi knows I spent the night, but he doesn’t give anything away one way or another.
We pull up to his condo and Lexi jumps out of the truck before Tristan can get out to help her down. I drop to the ground at the same time—I’m getting good at getting in and out of this monster-sized vehicle—and Lexi comes up to me. The raining has stopped and the blue skies are back in full force.
“Charlie,” Lexi says softly. I bend so I’m at her level. “My daddy told me you had a little girl like me.” My throat clogs at her words so I simply nod. “He said she was in an accident and now she’s in heaven.”
“Yes,” I say, my voice rough.
“I painted this picture for you.” She hands me a beautifully colored picture. “It’s of her in heaven.” She points to the angel above the clouds sitting on top of a rainbow. “My grandpa had a baby and he went to heaven. He told me every time he sees a rainbow it’s the baby. So, I put your baby on a rainbow.”
Needing to hold this little girl, who has come to mean so much to me in such a short amount of time, I drop to my knees and wrap her up in a tight hug. “Thank you, sweet girl. This means so much to me.”
“Charlie, look!” Lexi shrieks, and I back up slightly to see what she’s looking at. “It’s a rainbow, Charlie! She’s there! You see!” Her tiny finger is pointing up toward the sky and sure enough, there’s a picturesque rainbow shooting up from one end of the building to another. “It’s like she’s sitting over us! Like in my picture!”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Tristan
Earlier
For the first time in over six years I wake up next to a woman, and fuck if it doesn’t feel right. And not just because it’s next to a woman but because it’s next to Charlie. I watch her for a few minutes sleeping soundly as I remember the night before and how she saved my daughter from being hit by a car. I was already falling for her, but that act of selflessness has me falling even harder to the point of no return. I take in the sight of her in my bed, her messy hair covering half her face, and it has me wanting things it’s too early in this relationship to want. My thoughts go back to my conversation with Mason. I want it all. I want the kids and the dog and the love and the marriage and the white picket fence. But more importantly I want it all with the woman who is currently snoring softly in my bed, in nothing but the sheets that are wrapped around her soft and curvy body that was so fucking responsive last night. My dick twitches at the memory of her screaming out her orgasms, of my mouth covering hers to muffle those same screams. And I know I want to spend the rest of my life making her scream like last night.
There’s a knock on my door, alerting me to the present. Lexi. Getting up quickly but quietly—so as not to wake Charlie—I throw on a pair of sweat pants and a shirt to start breakfast. It’s Monday morning so Lexi has no school. She greets me happily and we set out to make pancakes. As we gather all the ingredients and Lexi starts to mix them all together, I think about how I’m going to approach the subject of Charlie being in my room. I don’t want her to think it’s okay for a man and a woman to be sleeping together without being married, but at the same time I want Charlie in my bed in the future.
After giving it some thought, I decide I’m going to be honest with her. She’s only five, but I was only a year or so older when Kaden came into my life. My mom didn’t have guys in and out of our home. She had Kaden. And I have Charlie. And if I have any say, she will be the only woman coming in and out of my room.
“Hey Lex, can I talk to you for a minute?”
“I’ll erase the turkey, I promise!” Lexi’s eyes go wide and I stifle a laugh as my adorably bad daughter throws herself under the bus. “It was for thanksgiving! Today is November! I just wanted to make a turkey to show Charlie when she wakes up.”
Wait…what? How the heck does she know Charlie is here? My door was closed. “How did you know Charlie is here?”
“Her boots.” She points toward the front door where Charlie left her boots last night. “She’s here, right?” Her eyes light up.
“Yes, she is, but she’s sleeping. That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about. Sometimes Daddy might have Ch
arlie over for sleepovers. Is that okay with you?”
Lexi smiles. “Yes, but do you think maybe I can have Charlie over for a sleepover too?”
Jesus, my daughter is too damn cute and innocent. “I’m sure she would love that.”
“Yay!”
“There’s something else I need to tell you.” I want Lexi to know about Charlie’s daughter. She’s too young to fully comprehend it all, but I’m hoping it will help her to understand why Charlie gets upset sometimes.
“You know Grandpa Kaden’s picture of the baby on the fridge you always ask about?”
“Yes, it’s his baby who went to heaven.”
“That’s right. Well Charlie had a baby too. Her baby was a little girl, and she went to heaven when she was three years old.”
“She’s with Grandpa’s baby?” Lexi asks.
“Yes, I think she is.”
“She must be so sad! I’m going to draw her a picture and you make her the special pancakes.” She runs out of the kitchen to grab her art stuff then sits at the table, drawing a picture while I make breakfast.
“Daddy, is breakfast ready yet?” Lexi yells from the table.
“Almost.”
A few minutes later, I finish the pancakes, eggs, and bacon.
“Breakfast is ready, Lex. Put your stuff away.”
“I’ll go get Charlie!” Lexi yells, and before I can stop her, she runs down the hall toward my bedroom. Shit! Charlie is naked!
“Lexi! Wait!” But I’m too late. She’s already opened the door and is in my room. “Lex, let’s give Charlie a minute to wake up.”
“She’s not here, Daddy.” Lexi pouts, and after I assess the situation in front of me, I see she’s right. Charlie is gone. The only way she could have left is out the window.
“Let’s go see where she is,” I say to my daughter as I grab my keys. It’s sunny with a few clouds outside, but it’s pouring down rain—typical California weather—so we run to the truck and jump in. Not even a mile down the road, we spot Charlie and she’s standing in the rain. Not moving. Her face tilted up to the sky.
“Daddy! She’s getting all wet!”
After we pull over and Charlie gets in, we make our way back to the house. I am beyond frustrated that she would choose to crawl out of my window and walk home in the pouring rain instead of talking to me. When we get out, the rain has stopped and I hear Lexi say to Charlie, “My daddy told me this morning you had a little girl like me.”
I wanted to warn Charlie I told Lexi about her daughter, but it’s too late now. Just as I’m about to intervene, I see them talking, and instead of cutting in, I decide it’s best to let them develop their own relationship. Wanting to give them privacy, I walk toward my front door. My phone goes off, indicating I have a text, and when I check it, I see it’s from Mason letting me know his photo shoot and interview went well in Las Vegas.
A few minutes later, Lexi and Charlie come walking up, both smiling. “Are you okay?” I whisper into Charlie’s ear before we walk inside.
“Yeah, I am. I’m sorry about leaving. I didn’t want to put you in a bad position with Lexi.”
“I was going to warn you I told Lexi about your daughter, but you had jumped out the window before I could. In the future, talk to me, don’t run. Got it?”
“Got it.”
“Good. Now let’s eat. I made pancakes.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Tristan
The last couple weeks with Charlie and Lexi have been nothing short of amazing. Mason had decided to spend some time in Las Vegas to train with the guys over at Cooper’s Fight Club—a UFC gym owned by Bella’s dad, Cooper, but is now run by Bella and Marco—after his UFC business wrapped up. This isn’t the first time he’s done this. He loves the change of pace and environment. He wasn’t sure exactly when, but he said he would be back before we leave for Breckenridge for Thanksgiving. We’ll be meeting my family over there along with both Bella and Marco’s families.
Every night Charlie has slept over. On the nights she works, she takes a cab here. On the nights she’s off, she hangs out here more than at her place. Sometimes she sleeps in my bed—those nights are filled with me inside her and then her falling asleep in my arms. Other nights Lexi claims her for herself—those nights are filled with Disney movies and cushion forts. I’ve been neglecting the gym big time, but luckily Brent has it all under control. One of the important parts of running a successful business is being able to delegate, right?
It’s Monday and Charlie’s off work tonight. She texted me earlier she’ll be over after her therapy session. She also said the website is done and she’s dying to show it to me. I have a surprise for her as well. I just hope she’ll be as excited about it as I am. The door opens and when I look to see who it is, it’s not Charlie.
“Honey, I’m home!” Mason yells out, throwing his duffle bag onto the ground.
“Shh! Lexi’s napping.” Mason plops onto the couch just as the door opens again. This time it’s Charlie.
“Hey baby.” She closes the door behind her and throws her arms around my neck for a hug. I glance at Mason over her shoulder to see he’s grinning. His brow is quirked up and all I can do is smile. I’ve texted with him several times about me and Charlie getting more serious, but I don’t think he fully grasped it until now. He nods in understanding and I know I have my best friend’s support.
“I can’t wait to show you the website! I finished it this morning—” Charlie stops talking and glances around. “Where’s Lexi?”
“Napping,” Mason says, and Charlie jumps.
“Oh! I didn’t realize you were here,” Charlie says, turning around to face Mason, her hands flying up to her chest. Wrapping my arms around her waist from behind, I rest my chin on her shoulder, breathing in her scent. She’s wearing that pink perfume that’s currently sitting on my bathroom counter. Coco something or some shit. All I know is it smells sweet and sexy, and almost as good as the scent between my woman’s legs. Fuck! Now I’m hard.
Charlie feels my cock poke her back and she lets out a soft moan before turning to face me—pink tinting her cheeks. “What are you doing?” she whispers, and Mason cackles.
“Sorry.” I laugh. “I can’t help it. I want you all the time.” I give her a kiss on her lips, and I’m about to pull her into my room for some afternoon sex—not giving a shit that Mason is home—when Lexi comes walking out.
“Uncle Mason!” Lexi squeals, running over to Mason to give him a hug. “I missed you so, so much! Did you see my grandma and grandpa?”
“I did! They said to give you this…” Mason grabs Lexi and throws her on to the couch, tickling her.
“Uncle… Mason!” Lexi shouts, out of breath. “I’m going to pee my pants!” Of course he stops immediately, laughing as he gets up.
“I need to head to the gym to get a workout in. I’ll catch you guys later.” He smirks at Charlie. “And I’m assuming that means I’ll see you later as well.”
“Charlie’s living here!” Lexi gushes.
“Lex,” I say, “you know she isn’t living here. She’s just spends the night sometimes.”
“But she’s here like every day! She should live here!”
Mason laughs as he grabs his keys from the table. “See ya!”
“Daddy, can I watch TV?” Lexi asks.
“Sure.” She runs over to the couch, plops her little butt down, and starts switching through the channels on the remote.
Grabbing her laptop, Charlie sets it down on the dining room table. “Come check out your website!” I sit in a chair and pull her onto my lap, craving her body. It’s insane how drawn I am to her. If she’s in the same room as me, I need to be touching her in some way. I can’t get enough of her and I don’t think I ever will. No, I know I never will. “If there’s anything you don’t like, we can change it. Don’t say you like it to be nice.” She turns her body slightly to face me. “Okay?”
“Okay,” I agree, then I give her a quick kiss. S
he turns back around and starts typing on the keyboard. Once she pulls up the site, she starts going over the details, telling me about the easy navigation and some other details I should be paying attention to, instead of focusing on the feel of her silky-smooth skin under my fingertips. As I run my hands up and down her thighs I wonder if she used the matching pink lotion that’s sitting next to the perfume. If I were to splay her out on my bed and run my nose along the insides of her thighs, would it smell as sexy and sweet as her neck does? I bet it would smell even better—
“Tristan?” Charlie glares back at me and I can’t help but wrap my arms tighter around her waist, my nose nestling into the bend of her neck. “Are you sniffing me?”
I chuckle into her hair remembering not too long ago when I asked her the same question. “Sorry, babe. I can’t help it. I’ll focus, I promise.” Charlie shakes her head and then returns to showing me the site. Now that I’m paying attention, I’m in awe at the work she has done. “Damn, Charlie. This site looks good.”
She turns her face, granting me a thousand mega-watt smile. “Thank you. I think so too. I love being creative.”
“Speaking of being creative, I have a little surprise for you. And before you go shooting it down, remember the other night when we were talking about your dreams?”
Charlie’s brows come together. “My idea about the painting studio with wine?”
Just then my phone rings and I see it’s an unknown number. “Yeah, hold that thought.” I hit answer on the call. “Hello?”
“Hey, Tristan. It’s Adam.” Unsure why my sister’s boyfriend would call me, I’m immediately on alert.
“Everything okay?”
