Chapter Sixteen – Max
I dressed in a suit for court as Lucy put on a conservative wrap dress in a shade of green that made her eyes pop. We were both doing our best to look like mature and loving adults in order to keep Riley in my life. Though we were doing a good job, nerves shuffled around in my stomach.
Liam assured me that this would be a victory for me. He didn’t see any improvement in Blake other than the fact that she had moved into a two-bedroom apartment and seemed to have steady job. If she was smart, she wouldn’t need one. She could survive on my money and do something that she loved. She only loved herself and her lifestyle.
I’d dropped Riley off that morning at my Mom’s and hugged her with a big smile on my face. I left feeling apprehensive and sipped coffee before I got ready with Lucy at my side. I knew that I’d call my parents afterward to tell them how I thought it went. Then, I would wait.
We headed to the courthouse in silence, Lucy playing with her hair. I knew that something was different with Lucy and I studied her. “Are you okay?”
“I’m nervous. I haven’t been in front of a judge before and this is critical. I don’t want to mess up,” she told me as she reached for my hand.
“You won’t,” I promised her as I pulled forward again. The judge would see that she was a good person and recognize the feelings between us. When would we confess our love?
Liam was waiting outside with a smile on his face. He shook my hand and hugged Lucy. He liked her a lot – and for a lot more than being my fake wife. He thought that we were perfect together.
I watched as Blake walked in with her lawyer. Her hair was a lighter blonde now and she was thinner than before, giving her a bit of a gaunt appearance. What did I ever see in her? I clutched Lucy’s hand as Blake pulled off her expensive sunglasses and looked at our joined hands with disdain in her eyes.
Bitch.
We made our way in. Blake was on the left side and we were on the right. Liam set up some folders on the table. Blake was wearing a classy pair of gray trousers and a white blouse, but that wasn’t her style. I knew that and I hoped that everyone in this room could see through her act.
I hoped that nobody could see through our own arrangement. I felt a hand on my shoulder, turning to see Lucy looking at me with a nervous smile. “You’ve got this,” she mouthed to me before we both leaned in for a slow kiss. Nothing about it felt fake to me. It all felt so real.
It started. I was impressed with what Blake presented, working at an optometrist’s office for six months now. That was impressive for her, but then Liam gave the judge my proof of employment and I noticed the look that he gave me before setting them aside.
He asked why Blake wanted sole custody and she explained that she only let me have Riley so she could get her life together. Her alimony wasn’t enough for her to support two, so she got the job to supplement that. I wanted to tell her what a lying bitch she was. I countered by saying that I offered her joint custody and she wouldn’t accept it.
I hated the part of Riley that reminded me of Blake, yet I pushed that thought away. They were two different people. We started to talk about our homes and I presented the proof that I’d lived in the same house for four years now in a safe and quiet part of New York state. Blake had only owned the two-bedroom for a month in a questionable part of the city after living in the smaller unit before that. The judge looked over her finances, asking her what else she spent her money on. There should have been plenty to move somewhere more secure.
I watched as Blake’s eyes flashed and she tried to save herself. It felt good to watch her backpedal. I looked over at Lucy as Blake continued. She sounded worse and worse as she spoke, and Liam grinned at me all the while.
The judge asked about any romantic relationships that we had. Liam went first, introducing Lucy as my fiancée. He explained how we ran into each other after not seeing one another for twelve years. He outlined how close we were in the past and the whirlwind relationship that we were enjoying now. The judge asked Blake about any relationships that she had, and she faltered when she stated that she was single. She was relying on the fact that custody often went to mothers.
The judge called Lucy and I forward to the stand, and we held hands as we walked. The air felt heavy as silence settled over the court room and he surveyed both of us, seeming to smile at her nervousness. He asked how long we’d been together and I told him, knowing that it wasn’t a mark against me. He asked how we met and Lucy laughed as she told him that she moved in next door to me. She attested that she knew Riley and how sweet of a little girl she was. She told him how happy and well-adjusted Riley was and how much I focused on her in my life with shining eyes.
The judge finally asked Lucy if she loved me. She looked at me as she licked her lips. “I have always loved Max, your honor. I am blessed to have this second chance with him as well as Riley. She’s the icing on the cake.”
The judge nodded and looked at me. “Very well. And you?”
“I have always loved Lucy as well, though I was too young and stupid to know that twelve years ago. Meeting her now was a shock, but I knew that she was it for me. Seeing how she is with Riley made me realize how much of a perfect fit she was in my life and I thank God every day for bringing me back to her.”
The proceedings were ending when Liam asked for permission to approach the judge. He carried a folder to him and handed it over. We all watched the man that was in control of my life for a few more minutes read it before he gave Liam a nod. He looked over the small court room for a moment before standing and looking right at me.
He left the room. Blake stood with her lawyer to leave as well, looking miserable. I watched as she left the building, hoping that I’d never see her again. She didn’t deserve her own daughter. I joined Liam and Lucy in the hallway and grinned at him as I pulled her into my arms for a tight hug, kissing her softly. I asked Liam what he gave the judge and he smirked as he told me he came across Blake’s criminal record, which included a DUI. I asked him why he didn’t bring that up right away, and he looked at both of us, telling me that he wanted to see us finally admit our feelings for each other.
We all left and I drove Lucy to my house, needing some quality time alone with her. I’d get Riley later and we’d do something together since I was certain that I’d won custody of her today. I unlocked the door and pulled Lucy through it, into my arms.
Lucy kissed me as she wrapped her legs around my body and I took us to my bed. It felt like a weight was lifted off my shoulders as I dropped her onto the bed and reached for the tie of her dress. Lucy helped me out of my suit and dropped to her knees to take me into her mouth. I reached for her wild curls. She was a beautiful woman, yet I could still see the girl that I knew all those years ago. I looked down, thankful for our second chance.
I moved her to her back, kissing her from her thighs to her mouth as she moaned my name. She was so hot and ready for me. I sucked on her nipples as I cupped her breasts. I could have sworn that her breasts were bigger as I drew her between my teeth and she let out a slow moan. “Max,” Lucy moaned as I moved to her lips and kissed her hungrily before sliding inside of her. We both cried out with feeling as I filled her perfect body. Lucy started moving with me and I realized that she’d been particularly eager with me as of late.
We rocked together as she wrapped herself around me, finding my lips as I continued to thrust into her. I was on the edge of coming when she tightened around me and screamed my name. I followed suit as she clawed my back and wept my name, coming hard right before I did.
We made love again before she dropped her face to my chest and laughed. “I have something to tell you, Max.”
“That you love me?” I asked as she looked at me with warm eyes before kissing my skin.
“That too, but I’m pregnant.” I pulled her closer as she laughed. “I’ve known for a week or so, but we had this court date and I wanted to focus on that. I was scared. I don’t know.”
I kissed her and slid my hand between us. “I’m so happy. We’re going to have a family. There’s no way the judge will give Blake custody of Riley. Still, though, I’ve been wanting to tell you that I love you for a while. Today was perfect.”
“It was,” she agreed as our lips met again.