The Risk: Scott's Story (Runaway Love Series Book 2) (12 page)

It’s been two days since I received the text from Grace and now I’m on a plane sitting next to Drew and Maxine is across from us. Drew hasn’t mentioned what happened at his house, and I haven’t bothered to bring it up. I know that Drew will tell me what’s going on when he’s ready to share that part of his life with me.

Mr. Rivers was eager to approve my trip to the States when he learned Maxine was coming with me. I think that Maxine, for once, lied to her father and told him it was her idea to come. She has been on her best behavior since I invited her to come with me. I really like this new Maxine – positivity truly goes a long way in a person’s demeanor. Maxine’s surprisingly happy to make this trip, but Drew and I are still on guard for her to start drama. Drew promised me that he won’t let her cause a scene.

We land in New York and we head to the bed and breakfast that we stayed at before. This time, though, Maxine and I are sharing a room. Drew looks at me and shakes his head when we check in. All I can do is shrug my shoulders.

I don’t bother to unpack because I know I’m not going to stay long, but I do hang my suit up so it won’t get wrinkled. I want to make the best impression I can at the wedding. I walk into the bathroom to splash some water on my face; I need to pull myself together. A shot of whiskey would calm me down, but I’m going to be a father so I need to keep my head on straight.

I look at my reflection and see my mom in my eyes. I wonder what my mom would think about me right now and my current situation. Would she be heartbroken that I haven’t moved on from Grace? Would she be proud of the man I’ve become? A sinking feeling unfolds itself in my stomach as I realize that my mom would probably be disappointed by my actions and behavior. If I’m honest with myself, I’ve been a complete asshole who only cares about himself and what makes him feel good. I’ve used and emotionally hurt women without a second thought. I’ve used alcohol as a crutch to avoid dealing with stress and worries. I ruined Grace’s life, and now I want to ruin the life of an innocent six year old child.

I haven’t exactly been motherly-proud material. But, I’m changing all that. Ever since Grace came back into my life, I’ve been trying to be a better person. When I fully understood how my selfish and immature decisions almost ruined and broke Grace, I realized I needed to change. My soul drops as I realize that I did to Grace what my dad did to my mom, only my mom wasn’t strong enough to fight the anguish that took over her life. Grace found her way out of that darkness because of one person – Tony. Fuck, without Tony, Grace would’ve met the same end my mom did. I truly owe Tony my life – he saved my Grace. I look in the mirror and see tears running down my cheeks. Why couldn’t my mom have had a Tony to protect her?

I splash water on my face again before I walk back out into the bedroom to face Maxine. I’m happy when I find her sound asleep across the bed. I grab a blanket and lay it across her. I decide to walk down to Drew’s room to see if he wants to go out for a bit.

I knock on the door and Drew opens it to let me in.

“Did your princess let you escape?”

“Hardy har har. She’s snoring in the room. You’ve been silent the whole way here. What’s up?”

I watch him run his fingers through his hair like he usually does when he’s a little tense.

“I just have a few things on my mind, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”

“Okay, I hear you, but you look otherwise. Do you want to go to the bar that we passed on the way here?”

His eyes widen as he exclaims, “What? You want to drink now?”

“I didn’t say anything about me drinking, but what the hell? Fuck my pep talk and let’s drink! I’ll probably fuck shit up with Grace again tomorrow either way.”

Drew pats me on the back. “That’s the spirit! But I know you’ll do the right thing when it comes to Grace and the baby. Now, let’s go and drink.”

We drive over to the bar. It’s a biker bar, but that’s fine with us. We find a spot in the corner, and a pretty brunette with a body full of tattoos comes to take our order. She’s very pretty, and Drew doesn’t fail to acknowledge her. We start ordering round after round, and I wait for the perfect time to ask Drew the big question.

“Drew…What’s up with the chick who was at your house?”

He fills the shot glass of whiskey up and tosses it back.

“You know just how to bring a man down when he’s in a happy place.”

“I know, but I think she’s in love with you, bro.”

“Of course she’s in love with me! We’re in love with each other, but I’m not ready for that type of commitment just yet. I want to be free, not tied down with a family.”

“For a chick like that, you shouldn’t leave her waiting long. She might leave and never come back. Wait. Did you say family?”

He slams his fist on the table and everyone looks at us.

“You don’t think I know that! She’s left me before, and I had to hunt everywhere to find her. When I finally found her again, I discovered I have a daughter named Aubrey. Danielle wasn’t even going to tell me! Who does that? Who keeps a daddy from his daughter? Know what? I don’t want to talk about this anymore! Let’s fucking go.” I watch him down the whiskey and drop a few hundred on the table and walk outside.

I’m speechless. I’ve known Drew as long as I’ve been on the team. I didn’t know he has a daughter. I thought Aubrey was just his niece, and I never asked any questions. He’s always been private about his personal life, but he’s always let me in. He’s been my brother, but now I feel like I don’t even know him.

I get up and on my way out the door, I bump into Tony, or more like Tony bumps into me. Isn’t this the cherry on top of a fan-fuck-tastic night?

“What are the odds I would’ve seen my new best bud the night before my renewal ceremony at my usual hangout?” Tony asks mirthlessly.

“My friend and I just came out for some whiskey. I didn’t take you as the type to frequent a biker bar.”

“Well, looks can be deceiving, as I’m sure you’re well aware. I’m going to go back and enjoy my second bachelor party. See you at the wedding tomorrow; I’m really excited to see you’re able to make it. Don’t forget it’s at my house - I believe you know where it is.” The venom in his voice is quite obvious, but I won’t give in to his taunts. I know he wants me to react, and the old Scott would have laid him out on the floor and pissed on him, but the new Scott decides to be the bigger man. Besides, I can’t really blame Tony for despising me. Hell, I’d feel the same way.

He steps to the side and walks back to the bar with his friends. I brush our encounter off and walk to the truck and see Drew pacing outside on the phone, probably with Danielle.

“Drew, let’s go, man.” He nods and must have told her he’d call her back because he hangs up and opens the passenger side door. I don’t mention that I saw Tony, but I wonder if he saw the exchange between us. I pull up to our bed and breakfast and turn the engine off. Before Drew steps out, he turns to me and I see the worry in his eyes.

“I know I probably said more about my family than I should’ve, but I don’t ever want people to judge me for my faults.”

“I would never judge you, man. I just want you to know that I’m here for you! Don’t ever feel like you can’t talk to me. We’re brothers forever.”

“I know and sometimes I forget that, but tomorrow we’ll put our game faces on and enjoy this wedding.”

I don’t say much after and we go upstairs to our rooms. I’m relieved that Maxine’s still asleep, and I go and lie down beside her. Tomorrow’s going to be a hard day on both of us.

I wake up around noon. I don’t want to go to the wedding, but I’m going because I need to see Grace again. I sit on the edge of the bed and watch Maxine come out of the shower. As she’s drying off in the mirror, I feel my cock stir for her. It’s been a few days since we’ve been intimate, and I know what she’s trying to do. I adjust myself and give her a kiss before I go into the shower.

I come out the shower and dry off, spray some cologne on, pull out my Tom Ford suit, and get dressed. It’s one o’clock and the wedding starts at two. I need to leave now and head to the florist to pick up my roses for Grace. I send Drew a quick text to ask him to let Maxine ride with him because I have a few things to do before the wedding.

I drive to the florist to pick up the dozen roses I had previously ordered, and I write a note in the card:

It will always be me and you against the world, remember who said that… YOU. xoxo SF

I pull up to Grace and Tony’s house thirty minutes before the ceremony is scheduled to start and see a lot of people moving around in and out the house. I peek out into the backyard and everything looks so perfect. I know Grace will love it. I bet this setup is all her design. I ask someone where Grace is and they point upstairs. I walk upstairs to her room. I fix my suit before I knock on the door. Here goes nothing…

I wasn’t waiting long before a blonde opens the door and gives me the most disgusted look. I know right away that Grace confides in this woman and that she knows everything, or almost everything, about us. I don’t blame her; I know I’ve treated Grace horribly and been a terrible person. But, I’m not that man anymore, and I’m only here to try and make things right.

I wish I could capture, or even explain, the look on Grace’s beautiful face when she realizes I’m in her room. Once Grace gives her friend the okay for us to be alone, I can’t take my eyes off her and her round belly bump. I walk toward her, and I want so badly to take her in my arms, kiss her, and never let her go. Instead, I give her the roses, then I keep a little bit of distance between us and tell her I’m sorry as I get down on one knee.

Before I can say anything else, Grace jumps up and starts pacing back and forth. She’s trying her damnedest not to cry, probably so she doesn’t mess up her perfectly done make-up. She seems so lost and confused, yet hopeful and determined at the same time. She stops pacing when I pull out the necklace box and open it up. She looks at me then at the necklace.

“What is this, Scott?”

I stand up and gently turn her toward the mirror. I slowly place the necklace around her neck and clasp it while never breaking contact with her beautiful grey eyes.

“This necklace is a gift for you. I’m sorry for everything that’s happened between us.”

I kiss her neck and step away. She looks into the mirror as she gingerly moves her fingers over the gold key as if in wonderment.

“But why a key with a diamond in the middle?” She turns around and looks straight at me.

I smile tenderly and sadly. “Because you will always have the key to my heart. No matter what I’m doing or what you’re doing, we’ll always be connected forever. I would’ve loved to have put a diamond on your finger, but we’ll have to settle for it being close to your heart instead. I hope you know you’ll always be in my heart. Hell, Grace, you are my heart and always have been.”

She comes closer and hugs me as tightly as she can.

“Thank you, Scott. I think our daughter will appreciate this when I tell her our story.”

Did I just hear her correctly? She’s having a little girl?
We’re
having a daughter?

“So, it’s a girl, huh? Do you have any name ideas?” I stupidly ask because I don’t know what else to say.

She steps away and wipes her face. “I don’t, but Tony does. He wants to name her after his mother.”

I feel a little ping in my heart, but what can I do? I’ll have to be her father from afar until it’s time for her to get to know me. I nod my head and then there’s a knock on the door. I straighten up and smooth my suit. This is my last chance to say what’s in my heart, but I can’t do that to her now. Grace has made the decision to keep her family intact and stay with the man who saved her instead of choosing the man who broke her. I realize in that moment that I’m truly not worth the risk. Grace can’t risk her heart, her children, her life, on me. I can never ask her to try.

“Whatever you do, don’t take that off. Can you promise me that?”

Fresh tears come rolling down Grace’s face. I can’t just stay there and watch her cry. Her friend opens the door as I’m walking toward it. She looks at me and then at Grace. I just keep going out the door. When I grab the handle to close the door, I hear Grace say, “I Promise.” That’s all I needed to hear after I close the door and return to my truck.

I decide not to stay for the wedding. I did what I was supposed to do when I saw Grace. I forget all about Drew and Maxine until I hear a knock at my window.

“Hey, man, are you okay?”

Drew looks really sharp in his suit, and I see Maxine coming up behind him looking beautiful in her way too revealing dress.

“Yeah, I’m okay, but get in, we’ll have your car sent back to the bed and breakfast. I want to show you two something. There’s no need for us to be here anymore. I talked to Grace and we have an understanding. Plus, if I stay, my heart will hurt more than it is already.”

“Did I hear that right? Scott is growing up? Okay, let’s see what you want to show us. Maxine, get in the back.” Drew’s pride and faith in me warms my hurting heart a little bit. I feel a little better knowing he thinks I made the right decision.