Giving You Forever (19 page)

She’s my priority.

After meeting Mike and Steve for a business lunch, I shoot over to the old gym for my appointment.

“Hi, Nolan,” Brenda, my client, greets me, entering the gym. Brenda and I have been working together for over a year now. Having had gastric bypass surgery, and a strict workout regimen, I’ve assisted her in losing over one hundred pounds.

“Brenda.” I smile. “How are you?”

“Great, as usual,” she replies, full of energy as we walk together towards the treadmills.

Once we get the speed, incline, and time set, Brenda starts with her motherly questions.

“So, how are the wedding plans coming?” she grins.

“Great,” I beam, realizing how well it’s going and how soon I’ll finally marry the woman of my dreams. “I’m going to surprise her today at the florist. I haven’t been able to make it to many appointments, so I’m going to pop in on this one. She has no clue.”

Brenda gives me an adoring smile.

“Aw, how sweet, Nolan. She’s going to be so happy to have you there.”

Nodding and smiling, I agree. I actually can’t wait to see her beautiful smile when she sees me walk in. Sure to melt my heart and remind me for the umpteenth time why I love that girl so damn much.

We chit chat some more. She asks questions that I wouldn’t normally share with any other client, and I ask how her husband and kids are doing. Brenda reminds me so much of my mom that sometimes my stomach knots with the realization of how much I miss her. It’s been so long since I’ve had the comfort of my parents that I forget what it feels like to have them. Sure, Alexa’s parents have been more than great to me, accepting me right in as one of their own, but it’s not the same, they’re not mine. Mine are gone, and it’s my fault.

“You okay?” Brenda breaks me from my internal thought.

Looking at her with a forced grin, I answer confidently, “Yeah, of course. Ready to move over to do some strength building?”

Providing me with a comforting smile, she agrees, “Sure, ready when you are.”

– ALEXA –

“What’s this? Your third?” Jamie asks, coming up beside me at the coffee shop on campus as I wait for my latte to be made.

“Ugh, I can’t stinkin’ wake up today.” I shake my head from side to side, trying to wake myself up.

“Ah!” He looks at me like a light bulb went off in his head. “Last night was date night,” he adds with his eyes wide open, grinning from ear to ear.

My cheeks warm, thinking about last night.

“Damn girl, I’m so flippin’ jealous. I need a Nolan!”

I laugh at his declaration.
Don’t we all?

“Does he have a brother? Long lost clone? Anything?”

Tilting my head to the side and giving him an apologetic smirk, I tell him, “Sorry, just a sister, and not that you’d be interested, but she’s married.”

“Ugh!”

“What happened to the kickboxing instructor?” I ask, remembering him mentioning something about a hot one at his gym.

“Too gay.”

I look at him, confused.

“There’s such a thing as
too
gay?”

Like I just offended him, he responds overly dramatic, “Uh,
yeah
! From afar he was, oh my god, do me now! But up close, and after he talked, it was like a squeaker was transplanted in his throat! Can you imagine having sex with that? Squeaky moans?” He shakes his head in distaste. “No effin way!”

Practically spitting out the coffee that I just sipped, I burst out laughing at his statement. He joins in, laughing with me.

God, I stinkin’ love him!

“You kill me!” I respond, catching my breath.

“Eh.” He shrugs his shoulders.

“You going to student teaching today?” I ask, opening the door to exit.

“Ugh… yeah. Can we please switch teachers, though?” he pleads.

When we were placed for our student teaching, Jamie was given an older woman–okay,
very
older woman–like, probably should have retired a decade ago but loves teaching so much that she probably never will. She’s really nice and great with the kids, just
very
boring, and let’s just say that she doesn’t really get Jamie’s humor or energy. I, on the other hand, was given a fabulous teacher to assist. She’s young, not that much older than myself, probably Nolan’s age, and I absolutely love her.

“Sorry, friend,” I smile, giving him an apologetic look.

“Whatever. Maybe I’ll bring coffee breath an apple or something. Isn’t that what kids used to do? To brown-nose?”

Chuckling again, I agree. “Yeah.”

We walk down to the parking lot together and say our goodbyes, only to see each other again in fifteen minutes at the elementary school.

As I get in my car to leave and head over to meet Meg at the florist, I text Nolan to tell him I love him, then turn the ignition on and head towards Williams. Stopped at a red light, I check my phone, surprised that I haven’t heard back from Nolan since he almost always responds right back. Shrugging my shoulders, I don’t let it bother me.

He must be busy.

When I pull in front of the cute old building, I notice Meg’s Audi parked in front. Taking the spot next to hers, I smile when I see her holding the entrance door open, waiting for me.

“Hi, Alexa,” she says in a friendly tone once I get closer.

“Hi, Meg. How are you?” I ask.

“Great! Are you ready for one of the fun parts of wedding planning?”

A huge smile spreads across my face.

“Yes! I’m so excited.”

Once we get inside, we’re greeted by an old little man that Meg introduces as the owner, William.

“Oh my god, it’s so nice to meet you. What a lovely store you have,” I tell him, overly humbled that he is taking the time out to meet with me. This florist is very well known. Only the best of the best use him for their events and weddings.

“It’s my pleasure,” he smiles. “Shall we go sit down?” he asks, gesturing to the room to the side of us which is dressed up with dozens of arrangements, a sofa, and a chair.

We all take a seat as the front door chimes, alerting that someone has walked in. The woman behind the register greets the customer, but the man’s voice that responds catches my attention.

Nolan!

Meg looks at me frantically as I stand to go greet him.

“
Nolan, my fiancé is here,” I tell her. “I can’t wait for you to meet him!”

She half smiles and stands as I see Nolan turn the corner.

“Babe—” I start, but I’m cut off when Nolan’s eyes meet Meg.

“What the fuck?” he shouts, eyes burning a hole through Meg.

“Nolan...hi. How are you?” Meg answers, sounding overly nervous.

“Who the hell do you think you are? What the fuck do you think you’re doing with my fiancé, Margo?”

My head is going back and forth between the both of them, confused as all heck.

“Nolan, no. This is Meg, not Margo.”

Who’s Margo?

“No, doll. Her name is fucking Margo, and I’d like to know what the fuck she is doing with you?” He says it to me, but he is looking square at her.

“Let me explain,” Meg, or Margo, or whoever she is, responds, looking like she’s on the verge of tears.

What is going on?

“You know what? Don’t! I don’t want to hear your bullshit answer. Get the fuck out of here and stay away from me and my fiancé like you were supposed to!” he yells, pointing to the door.

“I was just trying to help, Nolan. To make it up to you,” she cries, tears now streaming down her face.

Nolan takes a few steps closer to her, rage pouring out of his eyes. Even though I know he’d never harm a woman, the pure hatred in his eyes scares the crap out of me, making me reach for his hand, holding him back.

He looks back at me, giving me a sigh before returning his focus back to her.

“There’s nothing you could do to fix what you have done. Stay out of my life. Stay away from my fiancé, and don’t
ever
breathe my name again,” he tells her in a low fiery voice, looking her square in the eyes and leaving no room for discussion.

Meg visibly swallows hard before reaching for her clutch, sitting on the sofa. She looks at me first, softness in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, Alexa. I should have told you who I was. I’ll assign another planner to your wedding.”

“No! Did you not fucking understand me, Margo? I don’t want shit from you,
or
your company. Stay the fuck away like you were supposed to!”

“But, Nolan…” I interrupt, tugging on his arm. I don’t know what the issue is or what Meg has done to him in the past, but I already tried this by myself before, and Meg has helped so much…

He looks down at me, eyes turning tender.

“Don’t worry, baby doll. You’ll have the wedding of your dreams,” he says in a sincere voice, looking softly in my eyes. “I promise.”

Nodding my head slightly, I agree, trusting his judgment.

He looks over at William with regret in his eyes.

“I’m very sorry, sir, but can we reschedule this appointment for later in the week? I’ll pay you for your time today, but there has been…” Nolan turns to Meg, rage filling his sight again, “a huge misunderstanding.”

The owner looks at Nolan, obviously skeptical. I’m sure he has a good business relationship with Meg and is loyal. He then looks at Meg. She nods her head, lips crinkling up, threatening to burst out again in tears.

“As long as we won’t have any other problems like today,” he questions, looking Nolan in the eyes, seriousness pouring out of them.

“No, sir, you have my word. Just like Margo has hers.” Nolan glares at her again.

“Well then, call my secretary and schedule an appointment for this time next week. This is the only day I can do.”

“Thank you so much,” I jump in, grateful that he didn’t kick us to the curb.

“Yes, thank you, sir. I appreciate it,” Nolan adds, reaching to shake his hand. “We’ll be in touch.” He grabs my hand again after dropping William’s. Turning and facing Meg again, he practically growls, “I mean it,” before barreling for the exit, pulling me close behind him.

– NOLAN –

Sprinting out the exit, I drag Alexa as fast as possible behind me. I need to get the hell away from Margo. Seeing her face brought back a swarm of memories, and if I stood there any longer looking at her pitiful face, I was going to burst; say things that should never be said to a woman, even if it’s to the one I hate the most. I’m so fucking pissed off right now that I could spit bullets. How dare she come back into my life and use Alexa while she’s at it! I don’t give a fuck how well her intentions were, or what motive she had behind it. She’s dead to me and has been for a very long time.

“You wanna tell me what that was all about?” Alexa questions, her breath winded as she hurries behind me.

“I’ll tell you when we get home,” I respond, short and just a tad snippy.

“Don’t be a jerk to me, Nolan. I deserve to know what the hell that was all about…now.” She yanks her hand from mine and folds them across her chest, standing and waiting for me to answer her.

“Not now,” I huff, looking her in the eye. “We need to get outta here. Just trust me...please.”

She looks at me a moment longer, before agreeing.