How Many Chances (19 page)

“What the hell are you talking about?” Steph demanded but the look of panic on her face told Ally she knew exactly what secret Ally was talking about.
She suddenly looked as white as a sheet.

“I know Cole isn’t Ben’s father.” Ally said looking Steph straight in the eyes.

“
I have no idea what you are talking about?” Steph replied, the panic now clear in her voice. She began to fidget nervously. “I want you to get out of my home.”

“I will go when I have said what I have come here to say.” Ally replied her voice completely calm.
“I was in the ladies the other day. I heard everything. I know you never slept with Cole. I know some guy called Damian is Ben father. I know everything. I it ends today.”

Steph stared at her and Ally could see her mind was racing looking for some kind of comeback but she had none.

“How can you be so heartless as to do that to him?” Ally continued. “He adores Ben. How can you lie to him? How can you lie to your son? Do you really think you can get away with this?”

“I have gotten away with it,” Steph laugh suddenly finding her inner bitch.

“No you haven’t!” Ally snapped back amazed at the bare faced cheek of this girl. “You really think I am going to stand by and let some money grabbing, jumped up little nobody take the man I love for a fool. You will tell him the truth or so help me god…”

“Or what?” Steph spat back stepping closer to Ally.
She smiled sweetly at Ally “I am the mother of his child. Like you said before, he adores Ben, he will never believe a word you say. I will just tell him you are just a jealous, lying little cow and you told me you were going to lie to him about Ben.”

“Oh my God,” Ally laughed. “Are you really that stupid that you think he would believe you over me? To him you are just some stupid tart he
thought he made a mistake of fucking one night while he was drunk. The only reason you are even on his radar is because of that little boy. You mean nothing to him. He only loves Ben because he is a decent, good man. You are using him. But I will not stand by and let you hurt him.”

“You don’t scare me,” Steph lied. Fear was very clearly written across her face and All
y knew she had her on the ropes but she wasn’t going down without a fight.

“You should be scared,” Ally said stepping closer to Steph. “One word from me and you will lose everything. This house, the money Cole is no doubt giving you to take care
of Ben. Unlike the scumbag Damian, to use your own words.”

“What is it you want?” Steph asked know
ing she was backed into a corner.

“I want you to tell Cole the truth about Ben,” Ally replied. “
But I don’t want him hurt. So you will tell him you really believed he was Ben’s father but you had made a mistake. Tell him how sorry you are and that you never meant to hurt him. Do this and I will make sure you and Ben are taken care of.”

“And if I don’t?
” Steph asked.

“If you don’t,” Ally replied. “I will tell Cole everything and make sure you don’t get a single penny.”

Steph stared at Ally for a moment then suddenly laughed.

“Nice try,” she snarled at Ally. “I know what Ben means to Cole. He won’t walk a
way that easily. I think I will take my chances. Tell Cole the truth, he will never believe a jealous little cow like you anyways.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Co
le voice came from the doorway of the living room and both girls turned in shock to find him standing there. He looked a little sick but angry as hell.

Ally paced up and down outside Steph house. She froze every time she heard Cole’s voice raised. She felt sick to the pit of her stomach.

When she closed her eyes she could just see the look of complete devastation that was on
Coles face as he stood at the door of Steph’s living room.

The minute she had
seen him standing there she thought she was going to vomit. He looked so angry.

“Cole,” Steph laughed nervously when she got over her initial shock of seeing Cole standing in the door way. “You should hear the crazy things this lying bitch has threatening to do to me.”

“DON’T!” he snapped angrily
pointing at Steph and she stopped talking immediately.

He
then turned to Ally and her heart almost stopped and she could feel her stomach heave. “Why didn’t you just tell me? You should have told me.”

“I tried,” she barely managed to get the words out
as her heart began to thump hard in her chest. “I really tried. But I… I couldn’t hurt you. I know what Ben means to you. And I just couldn’t be the one to break your heart. I love you too much.”

“Ally, we promised, no more secrets,” he said stepping closer to her. Ally could feel the tears pool in her eyes and instantly trickle down her face. The pain etched on his face
was too much for Ally to bear. She dropped her eyes to his chest unable to look at him any longer. He stepped in front of Ally and she could feel his breath wash across her face.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered afraid to look up at him. “I couldn’t break your heart. I could
n’t be the one to pull your world apart. It’s my job to fix it.”

“This is not your fault,” Cole reassured Ally
as he took her by the chin and tilted her face up to look at his. “I love you for what you just did. I wish you had told me, but I understand.”

“I’m sorry Cole,” Ally repeated but he suddenly kissed her and she knew what her answer was.

“Can you leave Steph and me alone please?” Cole asked turning and staring at Steph as the colour drained from her face. “Wait outside for me.”

Ally wanted to protest. She didn’t want to be sent away but the expression on Coles face told her not to argue. So, without saying another word she headed for the door, glancing over her shoulder one last time before she
left.

“Ally, are you okay,” Nick said when he saw her walking out the front door. “I am so sorry, I had no idea he was even coming here today. He just pulled up behind me. He looked
as mad as hell when I told him you were in there. Are you sure you are okay?”

“I’
m okay,” Ally reassured him but she wasn’t so sure she was. “But I don’t think Cole is. He looks so devastated. This is all my fault. I should have just told him the truth. I didn’t want him to find out like this. This is not what I wanted.”

Suddenly tears trickled down her face
again as the realisation of what just happened hit her. She heard Cole shouting once again and her stomach heaved. She turned to go back in but Nick stopped her.

“Ally, don’t,” he begged her.
“Leave him, don’t get in his way.”

“Oh God!” she exclaimed as her hands flew to her mouth. “What have I done?”

“Ally, you did what you thought was the right thing to do” Nick replied as he nervously rubbed her arm trying to comfort her. He watched the door the whole time. “You didn’t do this. She did. This is all her. She is the one who lied to him. He was always going to find out. These things always come out in the end.”

Ally paced up and down, trying her hardest to keep her breathing even and calm. But every time she heard Cole’s voice shouting her heart stopped.

Suddenly the door of Steph’s house slammed shut making Ally jumped with fright. She turned around in time to see Cole storming towards his car with a face like thunder.

“Cole!” she called out but he turned and held up his hand, stopping her in her tracks

“I am okay,” he said not making eye contact with her and her heart sank. “I just need
some space. Please, just go home with Nick.”

“Let me come with you.” she pleaded.

“I need some time,” Cole replied but he still didn’t look at her. Instead he looked angrily at Nick. “Nick, take Ms Brody home, now!”

“Yes sir,” Nick replied and took hold of
Ally by the arm.

Without saying another word
Cole turned and climbed into his car and sped away so fast Ally held her breath. All she could do was stand and watch his car as it disappeared out of view. She couldn’t believe what had just happened. He hadn’t blamed her when she was in the house but then he suddenly wouldn’t look at her. What had Steph said to him?

She turned and marched straight toward the door of Steph’s house but Nick grabbed her arm tighter.

“Don’t Ally,” he pleaded as if he knew just what she was thinking. “Leave it.”

“I need to know what happened,” Ally begged looking up at Nick.

“And you will,” he reassured her. “Mr Thomas will tell you, he just needs some time.”

Ally just stood and stared at him, feeling completely helpless and broken.

“Please,” he pushed her. “Let me take you home.”

Ally knew she had no choice
. It was with a heavy heart that she headed back to the Rover and climbed inside before Nick closed the door behind her.

Ally sank into the back seat and couldn’t hold the tears back
and she buried her face in her hands and sobbed.

Nick never said a word the entire drive back to Cole’s apartment.
When they reach the car park of the building Ally climbed out and followed Nick to the lift without saying a word or even looking up at him.

T
hey rode up to the penthouse in the lift in complete silence. Ally had managed to stop crying but her heart felt heavy and the nauseous feeling in her stomach had returned. She was completely stressed out.

“I will make you some tea,” Nick said surprising Ally as they walked into the penthouse together. “You need something warm and sweet. You have had a shock.”

Ally just nodded and followed him to the kitchen without saying a word. She sat on the highs stool at the breakfast counter and stared into space.

She wanted Cole. She needed to know he was okay. She closed her eyes and all she could see was the look of anger on his face as he told Nick to take her home.

“There you go,” Nick’s voice snapped her out of her daydreams. Then to Ally surprise he sat down next to her with a cup of tea for himself.

“
Thank you,” she said as she lifted up the cup and brought it to her lips. They both sat in silence.

“He will be back,” Nick said, finally breaking the silence. “
He just needs to calm down.”

“You didn’t see his face,” Ally said sadly as the memory of Coles face as he stood in the door way of
Steph’s living room crashed into her mind and her heart ached.

“Cole is a very proud man,” Nick said and Ally was surprised to hear Nick refer to him as Cole. “But he loves you Ally, of that
I have no doubt. He just needs some space. And a chance to calm down. Process what has just happened.”

Ally didn’t reply. She just quietly finished her tea
then stood up and picked up her handbag off the counter.

“Think I will just go lay down,” Ally said as she placed her cup into the dish washer. “Thanks for the tea
Nick. And for today.”

“Ally,” Nick called as she was almost out the door. “Things will work out.
I promise.”

“I hope so,” she replied with a sad smile before she turned and walked out. She made her way to the bedroom
. She walked to the edge of the bed and sat down. She stared out at the city. Ally knew Cole was somewhere out there but she had no idea where. Or if he was okay.

She reached for her bag, she had thrown on the end of the bed and pulled out her phone. There
were some missed calls. She went through them quickly. There was two from her grandmother, and one each from Hannah and Caitlin, but nothing from Cole. She called up her contacts and scrolled down to Cole’s number. She pressed the call button. She willed him to answer but it just went straight to his voice mail. Ally took a deep breath and waited for the beep.

“Hey, it’s me. Please call me a
nd let me know you are okay. I’m worried. I understand you need space. Please just let me know you are okay. Cole I’m sorry. I love you.”

She pressed end on the call and held the phone. She waited and waited for a call to come but none came.

She kicked off her boots and reached for the pillow on Cole’s side of the bed and brought it to her face. She could smell Cole on the pillow and her heart ached. She wanted him. She wanted to know he was okay. She needed to know they were okay. She curled into a ball on the bed and held his pillow close to her and sobbed into it. She finally closed her eyes and gave over to the exhaustion that had suddenly took hold.

            *********************************

“I’m sorry,” Cole’s whispered voice broke into her dreams. “Can you forgive me, my gorgeous girl?”

Ally eyes flicked open to find Cole lying next to her on the bed almost nose to nose with her
.

“Cole!
” she exclaimed as relief washed through her. She threw her arms around him. “Don’t you ever scare me like that again. I was so worried.”

“I love you,” he breathed against her mouth.
Suddenly he moved above her and pinned her to the bed, his mouth claiming hers. She could feel the need in his kiss. She knew he was hurting and he was trying to deal with it the only way he knew how.

She wanted to talk but she knew he wasn’t ready. So she returned his kiss. She wanted him to know they were still okay.

“I need you,” he said hungrily against her mouth. “Please.”

“I’m yours” she whispered breathlessly back to him.

She kissed him harder, pouring every bit of hurt and pain that she had felt that day into showing him what he meant to her.

He broke his lips from her
s and stared down into her face and all Ally could see was love staring back at her.

He reached down and, taking hold of the end of her dress he slowly slid it up her body and pulled it over her head. Never taking his eye from hers, he pulled back the straps from her bra, each one falling down on to her arms. Then he reach behind her and undid the clasp of her bra, slipping it down her arms and dropping it to the floor.

He leaned down and gently kissed her breast, making her nipple pucker and harden beneath his gentle touch.

Slowly he ran his tongue across her
chest till he reach her other breast and he gently sucked her erect nipple into his mouth and bit it softly.

Ally cried out as her body arched up from the bed in pure and complete pleasure.
Every inch of her body giving him the answer he needed. She loved him.

He released her nipple from his mouth and softly pressed his
lips against the soft skin of her stomach. He trace light delicate kisses against her body as he worked his way further and further down until he finally reached the rim of her panties.

He broke his mouth from her body just long enough to glance up a
t Ally as her heart raced faster and faster. Her body was crying out to be touched by him. She knew where this was going and she longed to feel his mouth on her once again.

He hooked either side of her panties and eased them down her
legs, then dropped them to the floor to join her bra and dress.

He looked up at Ally once again before he pressed his mouth against her inner
thigh, then he ran his tongue up the inside of her leg until he reached her soft, throbbing core. Taking her swollen and sensitive clit in his mouth he sucked and teased her with his tongue as she panted and gasped for breath.

Ally could feel him slid his fingers deep inside her and she cried out in ecstasy.

“Cole please,” she cried, but wasn’t sure what she was asking for. Her head was spinning as she pinched her eyes shut and allowed him to take her body on a journey. He push her on higher and higher. “Yes, baby yes.”

She could feel her orgasm build in the pit of her stomach and slowly but surely spread out to every part of her body.

“YES! COLE! OH GOD, YES!” she cried out as her body shook as her orgasm took hold of her. She reached down and grabbed hold of his hair as she pressed herself against his mouth harder, riding out wave after wave of her orgasm.

When her body began to c
alm down she flopped back onto the bed like a wet rag, she couldn’t move a single muscle.

She could feel the bed dip as Cole stood up
, so she turned her head towards him, as her eyes flickered open.

Her eyes finally focus on Cole as he stood there watching her.

She watched as Cole stripped his clothes, his eyes never leaving hers. As he dropped his trouser and boxers, his rock hard length sprang free and Ally immediately felt her body respond to his. She bit down on her lips as she longed to taste him. She suddenly sat up on the bed unable to resist him any longer. Sliding from the bed to her knees on the floor in front of Cole. She took hold of his firm cock in her hands and lick across the head slowly and then down the entire length of his shaft.