The Exception (6 page)

Drew

My head felt like someone had taken a hammer to it as I struggled to open my eyes. Where was I? This wasn’t my room. Shit. I placed my hand on my forehead. I was fully clothed except my shoes and socks were off. Slowly climbing out of bed, I walked into the living area of the suite and saw Jillian sitting at the table.

“Uh, hey,” I spoke as I rubbed the back of my neck.

“Good morning.” She smiled brightly. “How are you feeling?”

“Like shit. Um, how did I end up here?” I asked as I walked over to the table and took a seat.

“You don’t remember?”

“No. I don’t.”

“I saw you at the bar last night and I helped you to your room, but when we got there, you didn’t have your key, so I brought you back here. I was going to call the front desk to have them bring an extra key, but the minute you hit the bed, you were out. So, I just let you sleep.”

“And where did you sleep?”

“In the other bedroom.”

Suddenly, there was knock on the door.

“Are you expecting someone?” I asked.

“Room service. I ordered us breakfast. I figured you’d need some coffee the minute you woke up.”

“Thanks. I appreciate it.”

“I can take it from here,” Jillian spoke as she wheeled the rolling cart over to the table.

She picked up the pot of coffee and poured some into a cup.

“Here. Drink away.” She smiled.

“I’m sorry about last night. Thank you for taking care of me, but you should have just left my dumb ass down there.”

“Why? And don’t be sorry. It happens to all of us. I’m sorry about Jess. Do you want to talk about it?” she asked as she removed the silver lids from the plates.

“No. Not really.” I took a sip of coffee. “I’d had enough. It was something I should have done months ago.”

“If you were so unhappy, why didn’t you?” she asked innocently.

I cocked my head and raised my brow. “Really?”

She held up her finger and smirked. “Right.”

I gave her a small smile as I continued to drink my coffee and attempted to eat some eggs. When I finished eating and finished up my third cup of coffee, I got up from my seat.

“Thank you for letting me crash here last night and thank you for breakfast. I better head back to my room and shower. I still reek of alcohol.”

“Yeah, you do.” She wrinkled her nose.

I chuckled. “I guess I’m going to have to go down to the front desk and get another key.”

“Don’t forget your shoes and socks.” She smiled.

“Ah, yes. I mustn’t forget those.”

Walking into the bedroom, I put on my socks and shoes and then headed towards the door.

“Enjoy your day, Jillian,” I spoke before heading out.

“You too, Drew.”

After getting a new key to the suite, I stepped into the shower and let the hot water stream down my body. I couldn’t believe I got so drunk last night. That wasn’t my intention. All I could think about while I was at the bar was Jillian and how much I really liked her. The conversation from dinner the other night kept playing over and over in my mind and how she told us that she had rid men from her life. Now that I was single, there would be no way I could have a chance with her. She made it very clear that she was living in a man-free zone and that was something I would respect. I didn’t even know where her next destination was after Hawaii and the thought of her traveling alone bothered me.

Stepping out of the shower, I wrapped a towel around my waist, checked my phone, and noticed there were six text messages from Jess.

“How could you do this to us?”

“I love you. I’m sorry.”

“I promise I’ll change. Please give me another chance.”

“Please, Drew.”

“I forgive you for the things you said to me.”

“I love you. Please.”

Sighing, I pulled up her contact info and blocked her. I had a feeling she was going to be a problem when I got back to New York. Thank God I never let her keep any of her things at my place.

****

Jillian

There was a part of me that couldn’t stop thinking about Drew. I had gotten the impression he did everything Jess wanted to do and nothing he wanted to. He made a comment at dinner the other night about swimming with the dolphins and I could tell that he really wanted to do it, so I had a thought. Changing into my bikini and throwing my hair up in a ponytail, I slipped on my cover-up and went up to Drew’s suite.

“Hey.” He smiled as he opened the door. “Come on in.”

I got up close to him and took a whiff of his body.

“What are you doing?” He laughed.

“Making sure you smell clean and free of alcohol.”

“Did I pass?”

“Yep. With flying colors.” I smiled. “Anyway, go put on your swim trunks.”

“Why?” He narrowed his eye.

“Because we’re going to go swim with the dolphins.”

“Seriously?” His grin grew wide.

“Seriously. Now get a move on because Juno is waiting for us.”

“Who’s Juno?” I asked as I walked to the bedroom.

“Our captain.”

We hopped into my rental car and I drove us to where Juno was waiting for us with his boat.

“Why are you doing this?” Drew asked.

“Doing what?”

“Taking me to swim with the dolphins.”

“I kind of got the impression that since you’ve been here, you have done everything Jess wanted to do and nothing you wanted to. At dinner the other night, you seemed really interested in swimming with the dolphins and she just kind of dismissed you. So I thought you should get the chance to do it while you’re here.” I looked over at him.

“That’s really nice of you. Again, thank you.” He placed his hand on my arm, and suddenly, I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

“Just paying it forward and making your shitty time here a little less shitty.” I grinned.

“I appreciate it.” He laughed.

****

Drew

Swimming with the dolphins was the highlight of my entire trip. I had never experienced anything like it or the sense of peace that inhabited me. When we were finished, we headed back to the hotel.

“That was—”

“Magical?” Jillian smiled as she glanced over at me.

“Yes. Very magical. Listen, I was thinking. I want to thank you for such a great day, so I was hoping you’d agree to have dinner tonight.”

“You don’t have to take me to dinner, Drew.”

“I know I don’t. I want to.” I smiled. “I’m leaving tomorrow morning, so I thought one last dinner would be nice.”

The grin on her face widened. “Okay. Dinner it is. Just give me some time to shower and get ready.”

“How about I pick you up at six o’clock?”

“Six will be good.”

Walking into my suite, I headed to the bathroom and turned on the water for a shower. Spending the day with her was amazing and the things I’d felt for her before only intensified. Being with her and in her presence made me a happy man. I hadn’t felt this way in a very long time, if ever. Leaving tomorrow morning was going to be hard because I’d probably never see her again. It didn’t matter anyway; she was on a journey to find herself and I wasn’t going to stand in the way of that. For tonight, I would enjoy the next few hours spent with her and then tomorrow, it was back to reality with only the memory of a girl I met on a plane who enriched my life in such a short period of time.

Jillian

Stepping out of the shower and slipping into my robe, I facetimed Kellan.

“Hey, you. How’s it going in Hawaii?”

“It’s great. How are you?” I asked as I started to put on my makeup.

“I’m good. No complaints. Are you going somewhere?”

“Yeah.” I smiled as I looked at my phone. “I’m having dinner with Drew.”

“You’re having dinner with the guy from the plane and his girlfriend?”

“Nope. Just him. He broke up with her and kicked her out.”

“Jilly Bean, I thought you were in a man-free zone?”

“I am. It’s a goodbye dinner. He’s leaving tomorrow and so am I. No big deal.”

“He broke up with her in Hawaii? Wow.”

“I know, but he was very unhappy. She was kind of a bitch.”

“So let me get this straight. He broke up with his girlfriend, while on vacation, may I add, you broke it off with Grant, and now the two of you are single and having dinner together. Sounds like a rebound to me.”

“Ugh, Kellan. It’s dinner. It’s not like I’m sleeping with him. He’s my friend.”

“Where does he live?”

“I don’t know. I never asked.”

“Why? Don’t friends usually ask each other where they live?”

“Does it matter? It’s not like I’ll ever see him again.”

“True.”

“I’m hanging up now, Kel. I’ll call you when I get to New York.”

“Sounds good, Bean. Have a good night with Airplane Guy and have a safe flight.”

“Thanks. I’ll talk to you soon.”

After ending the call, I blow dried my hair, sprayed it, and slipped into a long black floral print maxi dress. The truth was that I felt something for Drew. He was an amazing man with a good heart. He was also a man that I could see myself falling madly in love with. Meeting him couldn’t have happened at a worse time.

As I slipped on my shoes, there was a knock at the door. When I opened it, I swallowed hard when I saw Drew, face of the gods, standing there in his khaki-colored casual pants and a white button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up.
Shit
. My lady parts were on fire.

“Hi there.” I smiled.

“You look gorgeous.” He winked.

“Thanks. You’re looking pretty hot yourself there, Mr. Westbrook.”

“Are you ready to go?” He held out his arm.

“I am.” I smiled as I hooked my arm around his.

We climbed into my rental car and Drew drove us to a place called Hau Tree Lanai where we were seated outside beneath an arching Hau tree by the ocean and he ordered us a bottle of wine.

“Tell me more about you,” he spoke.

“Well, I grew up very wealthy with parents who controlled everything I did, right down to the food I put in my mouth. They tried to mold me into the perfect daughter. I could have no flaws. After so many years of molding, I became exactly who they wanted me to be. I wasn’t allowed to make any decisions for myself and that is why I don’t know who I am.” I picked up my glass and took a sip of wine.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t imagine growing up like that.”

“So tell me about your parents.” I smiled as I set my glass down.

“My dad was a construction worker until he got injured on the job and had to go on disability, and my mom is a nurse. Things were tight growing up, but I had everything I needed. My parents are great people and we’re very close.”

I gave him a small smile. “That’s how a family should be. So how did you get the funds to start your own technology company?”

“I’d always been interested in technology since I could remember. You could say I was a bit of a geek.” He smirked. “You know the ‘Cloud’?”

“Yeah.” I narrowed my eye at him.

“I developed it when I studied at MIT.”

“SHUT UP!” I exclaimed as I slightly leaned across the table.

Drew chuckled. “It’s true. I developed it and sold it for a fuck ton of money. I paid off all of my parent’s debt, bought them a new house, made a nice deposit in their bank account, and opened my own company.”

“How old were you?”

“Twenty when I sold Cloud and twenty-one when I opened the doors to Westbrook Technology, Inc.”

“Did you graduate from MIT?” I asked.

“Yes. I graduated when I was twenty-one. I graduated high school earlier than most kids.”

“So you’re a genius?” I smiled.

“Nah, not really. I’m just smart, I guess.”

“Oh please. You’re a freaking genius and don’t be ashamed to admit it.” I held up my glass to him.

“Touché, Miss Bell. I would say the same about you graduating top in your class at Yale Law.” His glass touched mine.

I gave him a small smile as I took a sip. The one thing that I was dying to know about him was why he left his fiancée. It was so bizarre to me that I met someone who did the same thing I had done. Should I ask him? Would it be too personal? I told him about why I did it so I thought that it was only fair he told me.

“I have something I want to ask you, and to be honest, it’s been bothering me.”

“What is it?” He cocked his head.

“Just before you passed out last night, you told me that we had something in common. You said that you left your fiancée on your wedding day.”

He leaned back in his chair as his eyes burned into mine.

“I told you that, eh?”

“Yeah. You did.” I nodded. “I just wondered why. I mean, you can tell me that it’s none of my business, but remember, I spilled my guts to you.”

“True.” He took in a deep breath. “I did leave my fiancée on our wedding day. I had just sold Cloud and made millions, graduated from MIT, and I guess I figured why the hell not? I met Marley at MIT and we had been together for a little over a year. It just seemed to make sense for some reason. She did all the planning and I just agreed to everything, but I was having doubts during the process. When our wedding day came, I just couldn’t see myself or a future with her. Or anyone, for that matter. It just doesn’t seem natural to spend the rest of your life with someone.”

“But your parents.”

“I know. They have a great relationship, and as much as I admire them, I just couldn’t see myself like that. So, before the ceremony, I mustered up the courage to go into the room she was waiting in and I told her that I couldn’t do it.”

“She must have been heartbroken.”

“She was. She cried like I never saw her cry before, called me all kinds of names, and told me to get the hell out. So I did and I never looked back. It was probably the hardest thing I ever did, but it was for the best. She’s married now with two kids and she’s happy.”

“Weird how life works out sometimes. So you never see yourself getting married and having a family?”

“Nah. Not really. I guess it’s who I am.”

“Well, at least you know who you are.” I smiled.

After finishing dinner, we took a walk along the shoreline. Taking off my shoes and throwing them into the sand, I lifted up my dress so the bottom didn’t get all wet. Drew took off his shoes and socks and rolled up the bottom of his pants. Darkness had settled in and the moon shined above us, lighting our path as the gentle tide swept across our feet.

“Thank you for dinner,” I spoke as I nudged his shoulder with mine.

“You’re welcome. It was my pleasure.” He looked over at me.

Something stirred inside me. My belly flipped and my heart started to pick up its pace. I stopped and he stopped alongside me and placed his hand on my cheek.

“You are so beautiful, Jillian. Both inside and out,” he spoke as his head dipped closer to mine.

I gulped.

“Thank you, Drew.” I stared into his dark eyes.

He swallowed hard and removed his hand from my cheek.

“We better head back. It’s getting late.”