He shouldn’t know things about me and bring me those things because they’re what keeps me at peace.“The nurse said he opened his eyes and talked to you?” he asks.I just take a slurp of my milkshake. Yes, the asshole bought it, but it’s not its fault and it should be consumed.“Gwyneth.” There’s a warning in his tone because he’s a god, and gods don’t like being ignored.They don’t like being defied.Well, too bad for him because I’m in the mood for anarchy.“Look at me.”I don’t.“Gwyneth, I said look at me.”When I refuse again, he steps in front of me and grabs my chin with two fingers. They’re strong and powerful and so warm, it feels as if I’m being set on fire.His size eats up the horizon as he stares down at me with disapproval. As if he has the right to disapprove right now.I jerk my head away from him. “Don’t touch me.”A muscle tics in his jaw and his brown eyes rage in color, darkening. “What did you just say?”“I said, don’t touch me, Nate.”“You’re my fucking wife. I w
Gwyneth“Welcome home.”Dad smiles as he steps into the living room. He doesn’t even need me or the crutches anymore. He only needed some physical rehabilitation, but zero mental.In ten days, he was able to walk, talk, and when Daniel and Knox came to visit, he even scolded them for cases they almost lost a few days before his accident.He remembers everything.The doctor said it’s because he didn’t have severe damage to his brain, which is why he was able to make a fast recovery.And just like that, I have my dad back.I still can’t believe it as we walk together into our home. Even though he’s wearing his shirt and pants, he doesn’t fill them like before. He’s lost weight and often appears wary, as if there’s something heavy perching on his shoulders. So I massage those shoulders, hopping now and then because Dad is really tall.His critical gaze roams over the place, taking in every nook and every surface as if he’s searching for something.Or someone.I stop my hopping and step i
“It’s nothing, Dad. Really.”“When I was in a coma, I heard voices.”“Voices?” Holy shit. Does he remember everything I talked about while he was in a coma? While I didn’t mention Nate’s name for fear of agitating him, I did talk about us and about how much of a jerk he is and how much I love being in his company. Not to mention the conversation Nate and I had the night he woke up.“They’re still chaotic up here.” He taps the side of his head. “But I’m organizing them.”“You don’t need to. They were probably nothing.”“On the contrary, I believe they’re important. So if there’s anything you have to tell me, do it now before I find out on my own. And I will find out, Gwen. I always do.”Shit.Shit.My hand goes to my bracelet and it’s like I can feel Nate through it. As if there’s a presence there. He said he’d take care of it and I believe him. Even if I hate him right now.“There’s really nothing, Dad. Come on, let’s take a walk.”He doesn’t protest, but there’s tension in his shoulde
“You can’t afford to lose him. He’s your father and your only family.”That brings tears to my eyes because the meaning behind his words hits me straight in my barely-beating heart. He knows how much Dad means to me, so in order for me not to lose him, he’ll risk losing him.He’ll risk being tossed aside for me.He’d rather be abandoned again than have me go through it.And that hurts. Because he’s not supposed to take the fall for me when he doesn’t do feelings. When he stopped touching me instead of trying to fight forme.“I’m going to take responsibility for my actions, Nate. You don’t have to sacrifice yourself for a fuck buddy.”A muscle jumps in his cheek and he tightens his jaw. I can tell he’s pining for patience, because he breathes heavily before he speaks. “That’s not what you are, so stop using those fucking terms, Gwyneth.”“That’s what people my age call a sexual relationship. Fuck buddies. Isn’t that what we were?”“If you were my fuck buddy, I wouldn’t have honored yo
NathanielThe splash of water is loud, but it isn’t louder than Gwyneth’s shriek.It’s the first time I’ve heard that sound from her. The terror in it tears through my chest and clashes against my bones.Fuck.I don’t want her scared, terrified, or any of the negative emotions she’s written on her list.But now this has happened, and in hindsight, I shouldn’t have touched her when King was around. Even if he was napping, because he’s a fucking hyena and if he’s suspecting something, he won’t sleep. He’ll be roaming and digging around like a fucking lunatic until he gets what he wants.But I couldn’t stop it. And it’s not for lack of trying.I gave her the space she demanded, even though I hated it, because it was the right thing to do. I wasn’t going to drag her into my mess or give her hope that doesn’t exist.However, every day I spent without her was absolute fucking hell. Concentration? Zero. Sleep? Nonexistent.And it’s not about her body or how perfect she feels in my arms. It’s
The fucking idiot. If he kills me, he’ll go to jail and no one will be there for Gwyneth.That’s when I hear her hysterical cries for her father to stop, but he’s too far gone to listen to her.Or anyone—aside from the demons in his head.My lungs burn and I swallow the chlorinated water in my attempts to get some air. My grip loosens from around his arms and black dots fill my vision.Ah, fuck.I thought he’d try to kill me. But not that he’d actually succeed.Still, all I can think about is Gwyneth’s tear-streaked face and how she’ll probably lose both of us now.Me to death.King to jail.Then she’ll be all alone again.The pressure of King’s hand disappears from my head and I think I’m crossing over to the other side, but then soft palms grab me by the cheeks and lift me up from the water.I gulp in a sharp intake of air and splutter water as I cough up everything that I swallowed. The scratch and burn in my throat don’t disappear, but none of that matters.Not when Gwyneth is hol
But I nod again, because if she doesn’t, he’ll turn the crazy up a notch.She hesitantly places her hand in his and he pulls her out of the water in one sweep.I take a breath and start to climb out. When I’m halfway there, he jams his foot against my chest and shoves me back into the pool again.Motherfucker.“Dad!” I hear Gwyneth’s shriek when I resurface, coughing from the water again. At this rate, I’m not getting out of here. But hey, it’s better than being drowned.I swim to the edge and he’s waiting up top with a dark expression on his face, probably ready to push me again.But I climb out anyway.Before he can act on his plans, though, Gwyneth steps in front of him, holding her hands wide apart. “Stop it, Dad. Please, stop.”“You stay out of it. I’m going to deal with you later.” He starts to push her away, but she keeps her feet planted long after I’m out of the pool, dripping all over the ground.“I can’t stay out of it, because this is about me, too. I chose to be with him.
KingsleyPeople spend their entire lives avoiding crime—or try to.Not me.I knew that I’d do it one day. That at some point, the crazy genes, as my father and his bitch of wife called them, would catch up to me and I’d snap.That’s why I chose law. It definitely wasn’t out of a warped sense of justice. I just had to learn law to get around it and apply self-restraint so that I didn’t end up murdering someone accidentally.Or intentionally.It’s been easier with Gwen around, because I have someone to focus on, someone not to get caught for. I had to raise her, to be the parent my own parents weren’t. I had to be the person who protected her from the world.But I couldn’t protect her from my motherfucking friend.Ex-friendbecause I’m going to blow his brains out in about five minutes.I always knew I’d kill. I just didn’t know it’d be the man I considered a fucking brother.Nate and I didn’t start our friendship the conventional way. We were rivals for way too long, then we saw similar
EpilogueRachelSeven months later.I’m heavily pregnant, and I feel like the broad side of a barn. I can’t see my feet. I can’t feel my ass. I’m just fat everywhere, and I love it so damn much. I haven’t had the easiest pregnancy, but it’s been wonderful nonetheless because my dreams have finally come true.After we made-up, things went into hyperdrive. Max settled in New York, buying a huge apartment for us to share, and I moved in with him right away. We converted one of the spare bedrooms into a nursery, and my boyfriend has been going crazy furnishing it with a crib, dresser, and a plethora of stuffed animals that our baby won’t be able to play with until he’s at least a year old. But even if it’s over the top, I love it. Max is beyond excited to be a father, and I’m so happy that that’s the case.Not only that, but Max has cut back on his traveling because he wants to be here for me and the baby. Don’t get me wrong: my boyfriend is absolutely in demand, but he restricts his busi
“I know,” she says in a muffled voice. “And I’m so sorry for the mix-up.”I merely wipe her tears away with my thumb.“Rachel Champion, I can’t believe you think I’d take up with a brat like Katy when I am desperately in love with you.”At that, she looks up, her eyes wide and surprised.“What did you say?” she whispers.But my motivations are true, and I pull her against me once more.“I love you, Rachel. I think I fell into lust that first afternoon when I came upon you sunbathing by the pool. But it turned into something more during the time we spent at the cottage, and now, I want to be with you, sweet girl. Permanently.”She sobs even harder, and I stroke her hair and continue.“I’ve been trying to figure out how to get in touch with you over the last few days, and came up with nada, so honey, don’t be angry, but I went to your parents’ apartment and got your address.”She gasps then, staring at me.“You told Maurice about us?”“Your mom, too,” I say with a small smile. “Thankful
MaxI rush to the East Village like a madman. I wouldn’t be surprised if my hair is on fire, I’m that desperate. But when I come to Rachel’s apartment building, I pause for a moment. There’s no sense in looking like a crazy person, even if I am one.Fortunately, one of her neighbors exits right when I’m entering, so I don’t have to buzz up. Instead, I climb the rickety stairs to the third floor and stand before Rachel’s door with my hand poised. Then I knock in what I hope is a firm, assured manner.To my surprise, the curvy girl answers immediately. She must have been expecting take-out because she’s got her wallet in one hand, already open. But then she gasps, her eyes wide.“Max?”I look at her for the first time in far too long and notice all the little things. She’s gorgeous. Her hair is in a messy bun piled on top of her head, and she’s in baggy sweats, but they don’t do anything to conceal those sassy hills and valleys. If anything, she looks better natural like this, and very
MaxIt’s been seven days since Rachel left in the middle of the night to go back to New York to deliver a baby. It’s been six days since I last talked to her. Five days since I got called away for a last-minute job doing make-up for a young debutante. Evidently, Katy Mellon is graduating from high school and wanted her hair and make-up done professionally. She’s a brat, but the job paid well, and I decided to take it.But now, I need to talk to Rachel. I’ve called her a million times, but she never picks up. Not only that, but my emails and texts have gone unanswered. What the hell?As a result, it’s come to this. I’m standing in front of her parents’ apartment building, ready to ring the bell. I need to get in touch with his daughter, and now Maurice is my only hope. Surely he won’t kill me for dating his daughter. Or will he?I groan into my hands. Of course he’s going to kill me because a man never expects his oldest friend to bang the little girl he raised. And I did it on his pro
My best friend gazes at me from the video screen with a concerned look on her face, likely because I’m pale and trembling.“I’m pregnant,” I say without any preamble.Her jaw drops. “The test results came back!”“Yes, they did. I am absolutely, one hundred percent pregnant. They did a blood test and all that.”Laurelin’s eyes go wide as she bounces her baby on her knee.“Holy shit, Rach. Do you know if it’s Danny’s child? Or Max’s?”I let out a slow exhale.“It’s Max’s for sure because Danny and I didn’t have sex for months before we broke up.”She lets out a big breath. “Oh, thank God.”“Small favors, right?”She nods.“So have you told the father yet?”I take a deep breath.“No, not yet. I mean, it’s just so unexpected! This whole thing, I don’t even know how to describe it. We were only at the cottage together because of a scheduling mistake by my parents!”Laurelin nods.“Yes, but Max knows how babies are made. And you did say you guys were going at it like rabbits.” I nod, biting
RachelI wake up the next morning feeling groggy and out of sorts. My muscles are sore from falling asleep in a weird position, and I stand to stretch. Oof! I need a massage, but that probably won’t happen today. Instead, I get up and head into the bathroom for a much-needed hot shower. The water feels good pounding on my frame, and by the time I’m dressed and made-up, I’m feeling more alive.I walk into the kitchen and open the fridge. The date on the milk is only one day out, so I open it and lift it to my nose. But the smell makes me so nauseous that I literally gag and run to the sink before pouring it out with my nostrils pinched shut. Ugh, that was so gross and I flush the entire mess with a bolt of water from the faucet. How disgusting.I decide to cook some eggs and waffles, but those also make me horrifically sick, so I give up and just nibble on some dry crackers. I wonder if something’s going around?At that moment, Laurelin calls and asks if I want to meet her for sushi at
RachelAfter four blissful days and nights wrapped in Max’s arms, suddenly I’m leaving. One of my clients has gone into early labor, and I have to get back to the city asap.I wake Max in the darkness of the pre-dawn morning. At first, he’s sleepy and growly, but then he sits up when he sees I’m dressed and packed.“What’s going on, sweetheart? Is everything okay? Are your parents okay?”I smile in the darkness.“Everything’s fine. I just have a patient who’s in labor really early. I need to head back to the city.”He lets out a breath and says, “Okay, give me a few minutes, and I’ll drive you.”I shake my head.“No no, it’s okay. Go back to sleep. Rest. I do this all the time, so I’m used to getting dragged out of bed for false alarms. The baby probably just wants to make herself known, so she’s kicking up a storm right now. It’s fine.”“You sure?” he asks, frowning.“I’m positive. Go back to sleep. We’ll talk soon.”He nods.“Okay. Will you be back tonight?”I sling my pack over one
Suddenly, it strikes me. Rachel’s absolutely beautiful. Not just her face and her curves, but her soul is gorgeous. I find myself regretting the fact that soon enough, life will take us on our different paths. Rather abruptly, I interrupt.“How long do you think you can stay at the cottage?”Rachel’s face falls a bit at the change in subject. She laughs, but there’s a regretful undertone to it.“To be honest, I probably need to head back before the weekend.”My heart contracts. Fuck. It’s already Tuesday, which gives us only a few more days together. Suddenly, I want her to stay, and I want our idyllic vacation to continue forever. But she can’t because there are babies waiting to be born, and I can’t either, because I have a business to tend to. So instead, I school my expression into neutrality.“Of course. A job is a job, and these kids come when they feel like it.”She merely smiles faintly. “Yes, that’s true. But what about you, Max? What does the next chapter hold for you?”I lo
MaxOur food arrives, and we dig in, the conversation dying down a bit. In the middle of her lobster roll, Rachel looks up and blinks.“Do you ever miss being in one place? After a lifetime of travel, do you think you could settle down?”Wow, that’s a big question, but this woman already means a lot to me, and she deserves an honest answer. I sit back from the table for a moment and just look at her pretty features. “I don’t know. I never did, at least not until recently. The Max Wyndham brand has been around for a while now, and it’s pretty established. I don’t have to hustle the way I used to, that’s for sure.”Rachel nods, her eyes wide.“Of course, everyone knows you, even people not in the beauty industry. You’re huge, Uncle Max!”I nod.“Yeah, and it keeps me on my toes. I have a deal with Sephora where I need to do an appearance whenever they open a new store.”Rachel gasps, her brown eyes wide.“But there are so many Sephoras, and they’re always opening new locations all over