Chapter 16
Doug tried not to smile in the middle of the meeting, but he’d just gotten a text from Chanda, and smiling was an involuntary reaction to seeing her name on his phone.
I’m off today. Can you come over when you get off work?
He was already looking forward to it. He had something planned, and was even going to get her flowers. Not that flowers were any guarantee that this would be a success.
He’d gotten a bit of good news on the money front and was happy to spend some of it on her.
I have a surprise for you. Her next text came in, complete with a smiley with heart-shaped eyes. In addition to the large smile on his face, he was also hard as a rock.
“You okay?” Gray leaned over to whisper.
“I think I’m going to take half a day off.”
“Good for you. Chan’s off too?”
“Yeah.”
“I think I’m taking a long lunch.”
Doug noticed his friend’s gaze move across the table to the blonde he lived with.
“And you balked about going out on a Wednesday night.” It seemed their mid-week adventure to ladies’ night was paying off for Grayson.
They laughed and then nodded in unison to something Randy said.
The second the meeting was over, Doug was out of his chair and heading to his office. Using his tablet to hide his hard-on, he closed his office door and hurried through his emails.
I’m just wrapping up a few things and I’ll be leaving early. See you in a half hour?
See you then. I can’t wait, she answered.
Neither could he. But he had a stop to make, and things to tell her before he carried her off to bed.
“Don’t fuck it up,” he muttered to his crotch as well as to himself.
* * * *
Chanda opened the door before he even knocked. She’d been out on the balcony waiting for Doug to get there.
Her earlier excitement over her surprise had turned to throat-closing doubt. What if it was too much? What if she was reading too much into their relationship?
It was too late now. He was standing at her door. With flowers.
“Hi.” He held them out. “I could barely wait long enough to finish my work. I think I may have sent an email to the wrong person, but I don’t even care. I’ll deal with it tomorrow. I’m here now, and I have something to say.”
“Do you want to come in first?” He was still in the stairwell that led up to her loft.
“Yes. Okay.”
She took the flowers from him and stepped back so he could come inside.
“These are beautiful. Thank you.” She knew he didn’t have a lot of extra money. Thanks to his ex-wife. Doug was happy to support his daughter and pay for the house where she lived as well as his apartment.
Though he stepped inside, he didn’t move any closer. He looked nervous.
“What is it?” she asked, unable to move. Surely he wouldn’t have brought flowers if he wanted to break up with her. But he wasn’t smiling. In fact, she worried he might throw up.
“I’m in love with you, Chanda. And not just because I like the sex—which I like very much—but I love you.” He winced and shook his head. “I wasn’t going to blurt it out like that. Hold on. I have a list here.” He patted his pockets and pulled out a folded piece of paper. “Shit. This is my agenda for the Fletcher project. I hope I didn’t give the list to my assistant.” He rubbed his forehead. “I was in such a hurry to get over here and tell you. I was worried I might chicken out.”
“Doug. Take a breath.” She smiled at his bumbling. “Go back to the beginning.”
Doug took a breath. His wide shoulders moving up and down, stressing the dress shirt he wore. She wanted to take it off so he had more room to move.
“I love you. I know it’s a lot to deal with. And don’t worry if you don’t feel the same way. I don’t expect you to.” Of course he didn’t. His ex-wife hadn’t just depleted his funds and kept his daughter away from him. She’d also demolished this man’s confidence.
He didn’t realize he was a catch. There were not a lot of men in the world as sweet and kind as Doug. The sweet guys she did find were rarely as quick-witted and clever, or as responsible while also being a fun-loving. Doug was the whole package.
And while he might not have ripped abs, she found his solid body to be the sexiest she’d ever had against her. Especially when he used it to make her feel so spectacular.
“Doug. Stop after the first sentence.”
Again he let out a breath and fixed his gaze on hers.
“I love you, Chanda.” He pressed his lips together, as if he really wanted to say something else, but was holding it in. “So much,” he added quickly and covered his mouth with his palm.
She laughed and reached up to kiss him. He kissed back, making that low groan she loved. His arms were around her, pulling her against his hardness.
“You’re not freaking out,” he mentioned as his lips moved to her neck. “Can I take that to mean you’re okay with my feelings?”
“Very okay. I wasn’t expecting you to say it. Especially with your history.”
“I know. You’d think I’d be gun-shy of the whole thing, but in truth, my history made me realize this was real so much sooner than I might have if I hadn’t had a comparison.”
“It’s different than the last time you fell in love?”
“I didn’t fall in love the last time. I wanted to have someone the last time. There’s a difference. It’s not about me. It’s not about what I want or need, but about how I can give you what you want and need.” He let out a laugh and shook his head. “That is not what I wrote down at all. That was ridiculous.”
“I get it. And I feel the same way. In fact.” She pulled away from him, remembering she had a huge gesture to share with him.
Taking his hand, she led him up to her loft. He was already unbuttoning his shirt in anticipation, but his brows pulled together when she passed her bedroom to take him to the door to her spare room.
With everything to lose she opened the door and pushed it open.
“I did this for you.”
* * * *
Doug stepped into the room, expecting there to be a sculpture. Hoping fervently it wasn’t a nude in his likeness.
Instead, he found himself standing in a purple room. The word Lucy was painted above the small white bed with the purple leopard-print blanket.
On the one side was a matching dresser and a door with a full-length mirror. He’d been in this room before and knew that closet used to hold a shelf of paint. This room had been for storage. Plastic crates had lined the wall opposite the big window.
The floor had been bare wood, but now it was covered in a purple sparkly rug.
He gasped at the animals painted on the wall. They were some of Lucy’s favorites. A manatee, an otter, and a giraffe—its head cut off by the ceiling.
“I thought she might want to help me color in the animals. That’s why I left them as outlines. Hopefully, she won’t make every animal purple,” Chanda said next to him.
“You made Lucy a bedroom.” It was a stupid thing to say since he was standing in it, but he couldn’t help himself.
“I’m tired of getting screwed out of bunny pancakes every Sunday morning. Now she will be able to stay. After an inspection by child services, of course.”
His throat was so tight, he thought he might break down in happy tears. But the words child services shook him. He couldn’t have this dream. No matter how much he might want it.
He frowned and turned toward her shaking his head.
“It won’t help. I have to have a bedroom for her in my residence.”
She tilted her head adorably and raised her brows.
“Then we’ll have to make this your residence.”
“Oh.” He nodded in understanding. “Right. If I have my mail delivered here it would be considered my residence. Good thinking.” He gave her a thumbs-up while she laughed.
“Or…” she ran her hands up his chest and around his neck to pull him down. He rested his forehead on hers feeling like a giant compared to her. “You could actually move in here and make it your residence.”
Six seconds later, her words made sense.
“You’re asking me to move in with you?”
Her answer was to hold up a key.
“I know it won’t be as close, but you would be able to petition for equal custody. And Queens isn’t that far.”
She didn’t know. Because he hadn’t gotten the chance to tell her.
“My wife is getting married and moving to Manhattan. I was going to be moving here anyway.” Could this be happening? Could his life finally be taking a turn toward happiness?
He kissed the woman who was directly responsible.
“She is going to love this room,” he said taking in the squirrel hiding in the corner.
“She is going to love having more time with her dad.”
“Thank you. Thank you.”
“My dad wasn’t around a lot. He was always in the office. I’m glad Lucy has a dad who likes to be with her.”
“Lucy’s dad also likes to be with you.”
“Well then, how convenient as I’ll be living here too, and you’re going to have to sleep in my bed.”
“Hmm. Can I see that bed again? Just to make sure I fit and all.”
She laughed and walked backward out of Lucy’s bedroom toward hers. Scratch that—theirs.
* * * *
The next week, Gray walked in the apartment talking on his phone. He was laughing and shaking his head. It seemed he was having an enjoyable conversation.
“Okay. I’ll see you later then. Bye.” He disconnected the call and leaned over to kiss Alyssa on the neck. “I hope you don’t mind but I invited Trent and Tiff over tonight for dinner.”
“Why would I mind? It’s your house. I can go hang out with Mia or something so I’m out of the way.” Or hide in her room.
“No. I wanted you to be here for dinner too.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. What do you say?”
“You don’t think they’ll read too much into it?”
“Trent has never been one for reading anything,” he joked. “And all Tiffany can talk about right now is wedding shit, so she probably won’t even notice you’re there unless you’re wearing a wedding gown.”
“Okay. I’m in. What should we make for dinner?”
“We can just get pizza.”
“Come on. We’re having guests. We can do better than pizza. How about if we make lasagna and we could have a salad and garlic bread?”
“When you say ‘we can make lasagna’ do you mean you?”
“I mean me with your help.”
“Then yes, I’m in.”
“Awesome. I like to cook fancy meals and have people enjoy them.”
“Why didn’t you become a chef?” he questioned.
“Because I don’t like people.”
“Oh, right. I forgot.” He chuckled at her.
“I’m going to run to the store. Did you need anything?” she asked as she picked up her keys and phone from the counter.
“No.”
“Toothbrush?” she teased.
“No thanks. I seem to have taken over the one you vacated.” He grinned at her as she stuck out her tongue. The truth was she was keeping her new toothbrush in her room so he couldn’t use it.
Alyssa caught herself smiling as she put the box of pasta into her basket and moved toward the sauce.
What was she doing? Playing house? How pathetic it was for her to not only move in on Grayson’s free-spirited bachelor pad, but to also move in on his friends and soon, his family.
She thought about backing out of the dinner, as well as the reunion, but she was too selfish to do it. She wanted to know the people in his life. His friends would have to be normal like him. They would tell stories of antics in college and they would be harmless antics not crazy things like multiple rapes and a conviction.
Alyssa wanted normal. She wanted easy. She wanted everything Grayson had. A caring family and no worries.
She remembered she had her own tiny family and pulled out her phone to call the sole member.
“Hey, sweetie.”
“Hi, Mom. How are things going?”
“Good. Really good. How about you?”
“I’m really good too.”
“Have you worked out the bed thing with Sasha?” Her mother chuckled.
“Actually, no. I moved in with someone else. Now I have my own bed. I even have my own room.”
“That’s great! What’s her name?”
“Uh. Well.”
“Alyssa?”
“His name is Grayson, but before you jump to any conclusions you need to know that we’re just friends.” Friends who have slept together many, many times.
“Friends?” Her mother must have been able to pick up the tone.
“Yes.”
“Remember Liss, guys don’t buy the cow if they get the milk for free.”
“I never understood that metaphor. Guys don’t buy cows and cows don’t give their milk away. People take the cow’s milk and sell it to many different guys. This metaphor is more about being a pimp than being promiscuous.”
“You think you’re so smart, don’t you?” Her mother laughed.
“I do.”
“I think you’re smart enough to know what you’re doing, and I’m glad you have a nice place to sleep every night.”
“Thanks. He’s a great guy.”
“Good.”
“How’s work?” she asked to change the subject.
“Oh, you know. Nothing new. What about you?”
“I got a promotion. I have my own office. There’s no window, but it’s great.”
“Congratulations! I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks.”
“When are you coming to see me?” her mother asked.
“As soon as you have a weekend off.” Her mother never had weekends off. Or many evenings. Her scheduled paired with her intense dislike of electronic communication were the reason her mother was just now finding out about the new job and her roommate situation.
“Hmm. I’ll have to get back to you on that.”
“Sure. I’ve got to get going. I’m making lasagna tonight.”
“My recipe?” her mother asked expectantly.
“Kind of, but with real meat.”
“Ooh, who you having over, the Queen of England?” her mother teased.
“Not exactly. Just some of his friends.”
“Have a great time.”
“Thanks. I’ll talk to you later. Love you.”
“Love you, sweetie.”
She didn’t know exactly why she hadn’t told her mother more about Grayson. It wasn’t that her mother would disapprove. She’d loved Donnie. Before she found out he was a rapist, of course.
Despite the lecture about milk, her mother had always told her to live life and make mistakes, then pick yourself up and live some more. It was a freestyle approach to child-rearing, but Alyssa appreciated it. Especially in those times when she was trying desperately to pick herself up and live some more.
With all the ingredients, she let herself back into the apartment, nearly dropping the bags.
Grayson ran over just as she was losing her grip.
“Why didn’t you text me so I could have come down to help?”
“I’ve got it. No problem.”
“So what do you want me to do? Tell me how I can help.”
“A big pot full of water,” she instructed.
“I knew you were a witch.”
She smiled at him.
“Watch it, or I’ll turn you into a toad.”
They had the most fun as they cooked and arranged the noodles, meat, and cheese in the dish. She brushed the bread with butter and garlic and set it on top of the stove to go in the oven closer to their guest’s arrival.
“Shower?” he asked when everything was prepared and cleaned up.
“Yes. Do you want to go first?”
He walked closer and gave her that predatory look.
“I was thinking we could conserve water if we showered together.”
“It would save time too.”
“Yes. I’m all about saving time.” He leaned down to kiss her neck under her ear. With his arms around her waist he pulled her toward the bathroom.
“My mom told me I shouldn’t give my milk away for free,” she teased.
Grayson froze in the doorway.
“You told her you’ve been giving me your milk?”
“No, but she guessed.”
“What are you saying? You want me to pay for it?”
She laughed. “No.”
“You don’t want to give me your milk?” He looked shocked.
“It’s just funny that people still have sayings like that. As if not everyone is just handing out their milk to anyone who will take it.”
Grayson laughed loudly in the small room and tugged off his own shirt and pants.
* * * *
He had to admit, he had been a little tense about Alyssa meeting his friends. That was before the shower.
The shower with Alyssa had relieved any stress he had as well as any he would have in the near future. It was that great. They had barely finished in time to answer the door when Trent and Tiff showed up.
So far so good. Alyssa and Tiffany seemed to be hitting it off, and Trent hadn’t told any hideously embarrassing stories yet.
“So as my best man, I need to ask you a favor,” Trent said with a slight wince. This meant it wasn’t going to be good.
“What is it?”
“I need you to look after Suzanna at the wedding.”
“No! No way. I did not sign up for that.” Grayson waved his hands in the air in front of him.
“Come on, you know you’re the only one I’d trust with my baby sister.”
“I think you have it all wrong. You should be worried about who you force her on. That girl is a handful.”
“What’s wrong with her?” Alyssa asked curiously, leaning her elbow on the table and moving closer to hear the answer.
“First off she’s a nympho,” he told her.
“Is not,” Trent defended.
“Yes, she is,” Tiffany agreed quickly. “Sorry, but she is.”
Trent let out a sigh.
“She gives her heart away too easily.”
“She also gives away everything else too easily,” Gray added behind the back of his hand, making Alyssa giggle.
“Come on, man. You need to be her date so you can keep the assholes away from her.”
“Maybe he already has someone he wants to invite,” Tiffany said nodding in Alyssa’s direction.
“He told me they’re just roommates. Right?”
“Right,” Alyssa and Gray answered at the same time.
An awkward silence came over the table until Alyssa stood and began to clear the table.
“I’ll help,” Tiffany offered and Gray watched as they moved into the kitchen to talk about him.
“So what is with this girl?” Trent asked the second the girls were in the kitchen.
“She lives here and we sleep together sometimes. That’s it.”
Trent gave Gray a doubtful look.
“That’s it? Since when do you do casual? That was my game and I ended up coming over to team relationship.”
“Liss doesn’t do relationships. So we’re doing what she feels comfortable with,” he told his friend.
“And you’re okay with this?” Trent looked over his shoulder. “So what’s the problem?”
“It’s too much to go into right now.” No way would he betray Alyssa by telling Trent her secrets.
“Is there any hope?”
“Maybe. I hope so.” Gray was trying not to hope or think about Alyssa long term. Mainly because she had forbid it. But he had to admit, other than the trust issues due to the insane ex-boyfriend, she was perfect for him. “We’ll see.”