My Chance (Chance #2) (24 page)

I think my chin hit the table. I looked at Alex. His eyes were glazed with tears, and his dad’s were too.

Alex cleared his throat. “I don’t know what to say. I’m shocked.” He looked at me. “We have a home for our family.”

I beamed and looked at Jack. “Thank you really doesn’t suffice. This is an extremely generous gift, and I hope you know that our home is yours as well.”

Jack stood and blotted his nose with a hanky. “I hope you fill that home with many children. Don’t let days pass without appreciating each other. I know I don’t have to tell either of you that, but I remind myself every day.”

Alex hugged his dad, which brought tears to my eyes.

“Well, what do you say you kids get back to your party? I think I might head home.”

I took his hand. “Not until you dance with your favorite future daughter-in-law.”

“I’d be a fool to pass up that invitation.”

Jack and I walked to the dance floor, and the DJ put on a slow song.

“I’m so happy that you’re here,” I said. “I know Alex appreciates it as well.”

“Young lady, we have you to thank for that. I don’t know if another woman would have wanted me here after all I said to you.”

I assumed he was talking about Leah and the prenup. “Well, we don’t have to worry about that because I want you here and I want you in our lives. Alex is my world and he’s a part of you. That means you’re stuck with me.”

“I wouldn’t want it any other way.” Jack kissed my cheek as the song ended. “Thank you for this dance. Please save me one at the wedding.”

“I will. Thank you, Jack, for everything.” We walked over to Alex, Mark, Val, and Julie. “Jack, I’d like to introduce you to our friends. This is Mark, his girlfriend, Val, and my best friend, Julie.”

“It’s nice to meet you all. I remember seeing you at the benefit. Son, I’m going to head out. Thank you for inviting me to your wonderful party. Congratulations.” He hugged Alex.

I sat with my friends and couldn’t wait to tell them the news about Jack’s gift.

“That seemed to go well. I’m glad everyone is getting along,” Julie said.

“You don’t know the half of it. Can I tell them, Alex?”

Alex gave me the go ahead. I told them that Jack had given us Alex’s childhood home on Shelter Island as a wedding gift. Everyone just looked at me as if I was speaking a foreign language. They must have been stunned because no one said anything. Alex chuckled.

“Holy shit, Aubrey, he gave you guys a house? How awesome is that? I can picture you as a little homemaker!” Julie was as excited as I was, but the thought of just staying at home and not working wasn’t what I had planned. I hoped Alex didn’t want me to do that.

“It’s pretty incredible, right?”

Alex sidled up to me. “We can all drive out and see it on Thanksgiving if you’d like. We could have a big dinner for our wedding party.”

“I think I’m spending Thanksgiving in the city at my parents’ place, but thanks.” Julie sipped her drink and gave a half smile.

“Sorry, Julie, I wasn’t thinking,” Alex said.

“Don’t worry about it. Have your friends over and have a great time.” Julie walked away.

“Wow, I blew that one,” Alex said. “I hate that she isn’t with Brett. I know he loves her. He needs to wake the hell up. I’ll go check on the caterers. Some of these trays look empty.” Alex walked away.

I looked around the club at our guests. From the looks of it, everyone was having a good time. I saw Alex talking to the caterer, and farther down the bar was Brett. He looked horrible. He wore a deep navy suit, but his tie was gone and the top button was undone. He stared at the clear golden liquor in his glass, and he looked deep in thought. I approached him and sat on the stool next to him.

He glanced at me. “Hi, Aubrey, nice party.”

“Thank you. Are you okay? No offense, but you don’t look great.”

He sat up straighter. “I’m sorry, I just have a lot on my mind. Don’t be offended, but I can’t talk to you about it.” He took a sip of his drink and scrunched his brows together.

“It’s about Julie, right? Look, Brett, I know she’s my—”

“It’s not Julie. Well, in a way it is, but not entirely.” He took another sip.

It dawned on me. “This is about Nikki, right? You broke it off with her and she’s upset?”

Brett shot me a look. “I really don’t want to talk about it.”

I was mad. He wasn’t that upset when he broke it off with Julie, but he seemed to care about Nikki more. “That’s fine, you don’t have to tell me. Can I say just one thing?”

Brett looked at me. “Am I going to be able to stop you?”

I shook my head. “No, probably not. I’m a little surprised you’re this upset. When you stopped seeing Julie, who you claim to love, you moved on. Are you telling me you’re more broken up over Nikki than Julie? Because if that’s the case then—”

“She thinks she’s pregnant.”

My thoughts stopped. I stared at him and then looked at Julie. She was dancing with Mark, and they were laughing. My heart shattered. “Nikki’s pregnant?”

“So she thinks.” He dropped his head and looked at me out of the corner of his eye. “Ironic, isn’t it? Julie left me because I didn’t want to get married, and now I may have a kid on the way and I’ll probably end up married to someone I don’t even love.” He looked at Julie. “And the love of my life will hate me forever because of it. I’m stupid. That’s all there is to it.”

“You said she thinks she’s pregnant. She doesn’t know for sure? And if she is, how do you know it’s yours? She’s not really a one-guy type of girl.”

“Yeah, I know. That’s what I said to her, and she got pissed and said that she’s only been with me. We always used protection, but things happen sometimes. She’s going to find out in a few weeks if she is, and then we have to wait to find out if I’m going to be a dad.” He looked at Julie again. “She’s going to hate me, but I need to tell her.” He shook his head and tossed his crumpled napkin across the bar. “I’m an asshole. I let her go. What the hell was I thinking?”

Alex came up to us. “Trying to steal the bride-to-be?” He slid his arms around my waist.

Brett threw back his drink. “No, but never let her go. Don’t do what I did and totally screw up your life because you got scared. I lost the one person I truly loved, and I’ll never get her back.”

“You were scared?”

We all turned and saw Julie standing behind Brett. She looked hopeful, and I felt like throwing up.

“Jules, I need to go to the ladies’ room. Want to come?” I just wanted to get her out of there. I didn’t know what Brett would say.

“No, I want to hear this.”

No, you don’t. Shit.
I looked at Alex, who looked bewildered.

“You look beautiful, Julie.” Brett stared at her and had a loving tone.

Julie tilted her head, trying to understand what he had just said. “Thank you. What did you mean when you said you were scared?”

“Babe, let’s leave them to talk.” Alex started pulling me away.

“No, I think we should hang with our friends.”

Alex looked at me and chuckled. “I think they’ll be fine. Let’s dance.” Alex pulled me to the dance floor, but I continually turned around to look at Brett and Julie. Alex held me close. “Want to tell me what that was about?”

I was about to tell him when we both saw Julie slap Brett so hard that his head jolted. He didn’t bring his hand up to his cheek. He just looked at her with pleading eyes.

“What the hell was that?” Alex stopped moving.

“That most likely was Brett telling Julie that Nikki might be pregnant with his baby.”

Alex looked at me in shock.

I looked into his eyes. “I told you I didn’t want to leave them.”

We hurried to the bar as Julie rushed toward the ladies’ room. I beelined for her, and Alex continued to Brett. I glanced at the other guests. They were oblivious. The new DJ was keeping them on the dance floor and the wine and food kept them preoccupied. I burst into the bathroom to find Julie getting sick in one of the stalls.

“Jules, are you okay?”

The toilet flushed, and she came out wiping her mouth with a piece of toilet paper. “No, I’m not.” She burst into tears, and I held her. “Oh my God, Aubrey, she’s pregnant? He’s going to be a father?”

“Shhh, I know. She might not be, and it might not be his.”

“He just told me I’m the one he loves, and he wants to have a family with me. Me! That’s what I wanted too, and now… now… it won’t ever happen.” She fell into my chest and sobbed.

There was a knock on the door. Alex called, “You two alone in here?”

“Yeah, we are,” I said.

Alex walked in and put his hand on her back. “Julie, are you okay?”

She raised her head from my shoulder and wiped her eyes with her fingers. “No, I’m really not. I’m so sorry that I’m a mess at your party. Great friend I am, huh?”

“Everyone is starting to leave. That’s what I wanted to tell Aubrey.”

Julie waved me off. “Go, go, I’ll be okay.”

I didn’t move. The weight on my chest was horrible. I leaned on the vanity and pressed my hand to my chest. I closed my eyes and took deep breaths.

“Are you okay?”

I looked up and saw Alex’s reflection in the mirror. “Yes, thanks. I just needed to catch my breath.” I turned to Julie. “Are you going to be okay if I leave?”

“Yeah, I’ll be out in a minute. Let me just fix my face.” Julie tried to sound upbeat, but between the sniffles, it really wasn’t working.

Alex and I walked out, and I stopped when I saw Brett at the bar.

He was facing us and got up to approach us. “Is she okay?”

Alex grabbed my hand. “No, she isn’t. You need to give her time. Hang out, and we’ll talk after Aubrey and I say some good-byes.”

Brett headed back to the bar while Alex and I put on happy faces and said good-bye to our guests. After the last one left, we walked back to the bar. Julie wasn’t to be found, but Brett hadn’t moved. I wondered where she was until I heard her talking… and laughing. I looked around and saw her laughing with the new DJ.

“See that?” Brett used his chin to point at Julie. “I deserve that. I deserve seeing her with someone else because that’s what I did to her. I need to get out of here. I’ll be back after Thanksgiving, boss.”

“Yeah, sure, man. Whatever you need to do. Take as much time as you want.”

Brett looked at me. “I’m sorry. I hate that I hurt her, ya know. I love her, and I destroyed us.”

I hugged Brett. “It doesn’t have to be over. Give her some time. Even if it is yours, that doesn’t mean you need to be with Nikki.”

Brett kissed my check and left the bar with his head down.

“What a mess. I can’t believe this.” As soon as those words left my mouth, Julie was next to me.

“I’m going to take off. Thanks, guys.” She kissed my cheek and then Alex’s.

“Are you going home or would you like to come over?” I asked.

“I think I need to be alone. I need to process all of this.”

“I’m so sorry, Jules. I can’t believe this is happening.”

“Yeah, well, neither can I. But shit happens and there isn’t anything I can do about it. He made his choice.”

Alex and I watched Julie leave. It was just us and the staff left in the club.

“Please tell me things will get better,” I asked Alex. “I want things back the way they were. Brett and Julie were so great together. She’s devastated, and I can’t help her.”

Alex grabbed my hand. “I wish I could tell you what you want to hear, but I can’t. I can tell you that I can’t wait to get you home. Our place or yours?”

I smacked his arm. “Mine, if that’s okay.”

“You got it. But we need to start moving your stuff to my apartment. I don’t want to be without you.”

“I know. I don’t want to be without you either.”

Back at my apartment, Alex decided to hop in the shower. I opted to wait for him to get out. I had put on a black lace ensemble under my dress, and I knew he’d appreciate it. I took off my dress, but I left on my high heels. I looked around my room and thought about packing up everything. I ran my hand along my dresser and the picture frames that were on top.

Alex was singing in the shower, and I couldn’t help but smile. There was something special about being with Alex. It wasn’t just his looks or his charm; it was a combination of who he was. I sat on my bed and looked at my nightstand. I opened the drawer and pulled out a pen and a blank piece of paper. I stared at the white page and twirled the pen in my mouth. I pretty much zoned out until I heard his voice.

“That’s a lucky pen.”

I looked toward the bathroom. Alex stood against the door frame with a towel wrapped around his waist. He was beautiful. “My pen isn’t lucky. I am.”

He strode toward me and took my hands. He pulled me to my feet and backed up to look at me from head to toe. “You, my love, are stunning.”

I felt myself blush, and I closed my eyes. When I was blind, I had used my other senses. With my eyes closed, I ran my hands up his chest to his shoulders and back down. I felt every ripple, every breath, and every beat of his heart. I opened my eyes and looked at him. My hands went to his towel, and it fell to the floor. I took his hands and pulled him to the bed. He sat on the bed while I stood in front of him. I reached around my back and unhooked my bra. I slowly slid it off. Alex’s hands went to my thighs, and he pulled me closer. He kissed my stomach, and my skin prickled. I put my hand under his chin and tilted his head up.

I placed a chaste kiss on his lips. “I’m not done yet.”

Alex leaned back with his arms supporting him. I slid off my thong and kicked it aside. Still in my heels, I climbed on his legs. I felt him between my legs, and I didn’t need any other foreplay. The look in his eyes as I stripped for him was enough for me. I bent at my waist and kissed him as I slid down on him. His hands went to my hips, which were making slow circles. He flipped me over and stared into my eyes. His hands went into my hair as he kissed me. He moved and my legs wrapped around his. I just stared at him as he moved. He closed his eyes and went faster. I raised my hips, and he slowed and opened his eyes.

“I want you to keep your eyes open for me. I want to look into them,” he said.

I felt my eyes fill as I nodded. I always felt so sensitive when we made love. To be connected to him physically and emotionally made my heart swell. I had never been so happy. He increased his pace, and so did the beat of my heart. He reached my g-spot as he thrust. I tried to hang on so we could come together, but I knew I was close and so did he.