Serendipity (21 page)

“Do you want one too?” Before she can answer, I’m up from the couch, on my way to grab her one.

When I return, Phoebe is in hysterics, laughing at the opening scene of the movie. I must have missed something really good because she just snorted. Now it’s my turn to laugh—never would I have thought that Phoebe was a snorter.

I hand her the beer and sit back down. When the movie is half over, Phoebe starts yawning and her eyes drift close. I catch her before she falls over, and her body rests against me, her head buried in my chest. Her warm steady breathing goes right through my thin, white shirt and makes me shiver. I wonder what it would be like to have her sleep on my chest all night long? Her sleeping peacefully while I stroke her long, blonde hair… it would be heaven.

I set my empty beer bottle down on the oak coffee table and wrap an arm around her waist and one under her legs. Lifting her to me, I cradle her against my chest and stand.

Does this girl not own
any
pajama pants? Not that I’m complaining, but she’s making it hard for me to maintain appropriate thoughts.

I grip her tighter against me and pause when she stirs, making sure she doesn’t wake up. I can’t push the limits tonight—for one, I’m too tired and two, I need to prove to her that I can be a gentleman.

I take my time carrying her up the stairs, savoring every second. I lay her on the bed, and the wavy blonde locks from her earlier braid splay across my pillow. I want nothing more than to crawl into bed with her and hold her all night. But—being a gentleman—I bite my bottom lip and resist temptation. Tucking her in, I lean down and kiss her forehead, tasting the sweet taste on my lips that only she can provide. I’ll never get sick of her taste or scent.

I awoke feeling refreshed and… happy. This is it—today is the day that I get these awful stitches out of my head. I walk into the kitchen expecting to find Keith in his usual spot, and Emily making breakfast but the kitchen is silent. The whole house is silent.

I pull back the curtain in the kitchen window and notice my car is the only one in the driveway. Shrugging, I make myself a pot of coffee. This is the first time since I’ve known them that their schedule is off. Sitting at the table, I enjoy my coffee and read Keith’s morning paper. When I glance at the clock, I notice it’s almost time for my appointment. I dress and wash my face, deciding to leave the showering and makeup for after I get the stitches out.

I grab my purse and keys and head downstairs. I pause by the den when I see the door open and Dean sitting on the couch deep in thought.

“Hi.” I say, twisting the key ring between my fingers.

His head snaps up. “Hey.”

“Are we cool?”

Things haven’t been okay with us since the moment we met. We go from despising each other, to practically having sex. We crossed over that thin line and neither of us wants to address it. I know I told him that nothing has changed since the day at the lake, but I’m kidding myself. Everything changed. I don’t think he’s talked to Devon yet but I like him and a part of me wants to explore this ‘thing’ between us but the other part wants to run away and not look back. I don’t do relationships and I don’t plan to start.

“Sure,” he nods.

I smile and nod in acceptance, and walk out to my truck with my head down. My mind drifting off into thought, I don’t even hear Keith’s truck pull up until I hear the slam of the door.

“Are you ready to go?” I look up to see Emily holding the truck door open for me.

“I can go by myself.” I wave her off.

“Nonsense. We were there with you after it happened and we’d like to be there for you now. You know, in case you need a hand to hold.” She winks.

I can’t help but to laugh. “Sure,” I slip my keys into my purse and hop in the back seat.

On the way to the doctors, Emily talks about how things won’t be the same without me. I want to say the same but my throat constricts. I try to swallow past the lump that forms but I can’t. I’m afraid that if I speak I’ll start crying and won’t be able to stop. I can’t let them see that this is hurting me as much as it’s hurting them, so I stay quiet.

When we pull into the parking lot, Keith drops Emily and me off at the door and pulls away to park the truck. When he returns, he takes the empty seat next to me, picks up a car magazine and begins skimming the pages.

Unconsciously, I bob my knee up and down. Emily places a calming hand on my knee to steady it. “Relax, dear, this will all be over before you know it.” She leans in and whispers.

“I know. I’m just anxious I guess.” I say and I bite the inside of my cheek.

“No need to be anxious, Phoebe. Dr. Baylor is a great doctor, I’m sure he’ll be gentle.” She offers me a reassuring smile.

I return the smile but I’m still nervous. My attention is drawn to two small kids who are playing with toys and books in the corner of the room. Their mom watches them with a proud smile on her face.

I wonder what it will be like to have kids of my own? The thought never really crossed my mind before, but after knowing the love a parent has for their child through my mom—and now Emily—I wonder if it really would be all that bad?

Baby steps. I remind myself.

But right now my career has to come first, than I can entertain the idea of allowing others into my life. Maybe I should give Austin a call and see if he’s free tonight. After all, I have reason to celebrate.

“Ms. Andrews?” A nurse calls from the open door.

I bite my bottom lip nervously and stand up. I look over my shoulder at Emily. “Will you come with me?” I ask.

Her expression softens and her eyes glaze over. “Of course I will.” She quickly sets down the magazine and tells Keith that we’ll be back shortly.

The nurse leads us into a small room with nothing but the patient table and a small sink.

“There’s no place for you to sit,” I turn to Emily and frown.

“I’ll just stand, it’s okay.”

I hop up on the table and lie down, biting the inside of my cheek nervously, I stare up at the ceiling and try to count all of the small dots in the tiles. Minutes later, there’s a soft knock on the door and Dr. Baylor enters.

“Good to see you again, Phoebe. You look a lot better than the last time I saw you,” he chuckles.

Great, lame doctor jokes.

“We’ve taken good care of her,” Emily adds.

“I knew you would.” He winks at her and snaps on a pair of latex gloves.

He checks the stitches and selects a pair of scissors off of the metal tray.

I close my eyes and wait for it all to be over. I cringe and wait for the pain, there isn’t much—just some slight pressure and tugging.

“All done,” I hear and open my eyes to see him peeling off the gloves and throwing them in the trash can.

“Now, let’s check out your wrist.” He sits himself on a small round stool and slowly removes the brace off of my wrist.

After x-rays, and a quick feel around to make sure there are no soft spots or pain, he tells me that it’s healing up just like he had expected. I’m not able to take the brace off completely but I am able to take it off to shower. I make another appointment for two weeks’ time and he assures me that he sees no problem with me being freed completely from the brace then.

When we leave the office, Emily and Keith offer to take me to lunch. Since I skipped breakfast, I go willingly—who am I to pass up free food?!

We stop for ice cream after lunch and swing by a dealership so Keith can check a truck he spotted yesterday while he and Dean were out looking. Apparently both vehicles from the crash were totaled so it’s almost a win-win for us all.

I’ve been avoiding my Angel at all costs. Correction, just angel. She’s not mine—never was, and never will be if this morning was anything to go by. I sit on a bale of hay and contemplate what I’m going to say to Devon. The stable doors open and Devon greets me with a smile. I’m sure she thinks I called her over here for a quick fuck, but that’s not the case.

“Hey, Dev,” I wrap my arms around her neck and pull her into me.

“Hi, Dean,” she mumbles into my chest and wraps her arms around my waist but, for the first time since I’ve known Devon, her touch doesn’t affect me.

I release her and take her hand and walk her over to a bale of hay. “Listen, I need to talk to you about something…”

“It’s Phoebe, isn’t it?” Her tone is laced with disappointment.

Well I’ll be damned—is it that obvious? Something in her eyes tells me she knows exactly why I called her over here. Her eyes glaze over and the last thing I want to do is hurt her, but I need to be honest.

I nod and she quickly looks away. “Listen, Dev. It’s not what you think.” I place a hand under her chin and lift it upwards, forcing her to look at me.

“You have no idea what I’m thinking so why don’t you just tell me.” She crosses her arms over her chest and stares me down, giving me the ‘you’re an asshole’ look.

“You don’t have to get mad, I just need some advice. I can’t talk to my parent’s or the guys—” She cuts me off before I can finish.

“So now you use me whenever you feel the need. I’m okay when you need to get laid because Lord knows I need it too but to ask my advice on how to get the girl you want when I’ve been trying for years to get you? How do you think that makes me feel?”

Shit, I fucked up again. She’s right. All this time she’s been asking for more and I wasn’t willing to give it—at least not to her.

“I’m sorry, Dev. I know we’ve had this thing for years but you want more than what I can give you and we both know you deserve better.”

She rolls her eyes but I ignore her and tell her everything—from the first touch, to the dreams, to the day at the lake. I’m not gonna lie, she looks hurt, but there’s no way I can spare her. Believe me I would if I could. I want her to know the truth and regardless of how things turn out with me and Phoebe, I know I need to sever ties with Devon.

After I tell Devon everything, she doesn’t say a word, she scoots closer to me and has a look of lust in her eyes. I’m about to back away when she brushes her hand against my cock.

I want to move away but I’m frozen in shock. I just finished telling her that we can’t hook up anymore and here she is, trying to seduce me. I’m pissed at myself for my lack of self-control.

I grab hold of her wrist to stop her. “Devon, don’t. We can’t.”

“Oh come on, Dean. Just one more time won’t hurt anyone. I know you like Phoebe but you said it yourself, you’re not together and you don’t know if you ever will be,” she whispers in my ear and begins to place soft kisses along my neck.

This is going to be harder than I thought. Her hands skate up and unbutton my jeans. I want to stop her but, damn—there’s only so much teasing a man can take.

I stand up, place my hands on my hips and blow out a sigh as I stare down at her. “Once more, Devon, and that’s it.”

She nods and a smile tugs at her lips.

If one last fuck is what it takes for her to be okay with our ‘relationship’ ending after all these years, then I know what I have to do.

I pause for a minute and think about what I’m about to do. This might be easier if I don’t have to look at her. I tell her to stand up and I bend her forward at the waist, placing her hands on the hay. Sliding her shorts and panties quickly down her legs, I toss them aside. I slide my jeans down to my knees, take a condom out of my wallet and slide it on. And even though it’s Devon in front of me, only thoughts of Phoebe run through my head.