Unchosen (Chosen #2) (17 page)

Nick smiled at me from the driver’s seat and shook his head. “My parents have known about you for almost a year,
baby. They wondered what took us so long to get together in the first place.” They were awesome people. Nick’s father was the epitome of Nick in thirty years and his mother, with her deep southern accent, fawned all over Niall like he was already her grandson.

My mother remained quiet through the dinner and occasionally excused herself to the restroom. I think it had taken a lot of convincing to get her to leave the house. One day, though, she would be halfway whole. That was all we could ask for. My dad seemed to think our engagement would help her to see the good in life and in that moment, I prayed Nick’s proposal would somehow fill the sadness with a little bit of hope for her.

“Ireland. I needed to go to Ireland,” I replied. I had told Nick all about my trip there the first week we moved in together. We hardly slept that week. We would say goodnight to one another and then something would pop into one of our heads and we were talking all over again. I had never gotten to know someone that intimately in all my life. He was thrilled to know I had finally realized he was the one I wanted to be with.

“Yes, Ireland means a lot to me now,” he said. I smiled over at him.

“Ass. You don’t hold any regard for Ireland.” I smirked.

“No? See that sleeping boy in the back? One day his name will be Sawyer, Lizzie. He may not be my blood but I thank Ireland for giving him to me,” he replied softly, kissing my fingers one by one. “Shit, you are going to melt me into a pile of goo if you don’t stop being so romantic,” I said.

When we got Niall to sleep and headed into our room, I dimmed the lights and got into bed. Nick was still brushing his teeth and humming Butterfly Girl. I smiled at the night and decided it could not end with us just cuddling. He was mine and I was his. It was time. I took off all my clothes underneath the covers and slid them under the bed on my side. Minutes later, Nick crawled into bed and started to cuddle. His hands froze when he immediately grabbed my breast. “Lizzie?” he asked. “Why are you naked?”

“Nick?” I asked. “Why
aren’t
you naked? You are my fiancé after all.” He chuckled as he began his smooth methodic strokes from my breasts down to my belly. “You know that is the worst part of my body to grope,” I laughed.

“Are you kidding? This is my favorite part of your body. You had Niall in there. You grew a person and you have marks to show for it,” he whispered in my ear.

We didn’t say much else for the rest of the night. But we showed each other everything. He and I made love like I had never made love before in my life. Our bodies fell into sync with one another and the penetrating gazes Nick gave me were enough to understand the strong emotions he had for me. This man loved me and I loved him and there wasn’t anything that we couldn’t get through together.

As we became one that night, I felt complete for the first time in my whole life. I had found the other part of my soul and as I listened to his breathing and his gasps, I knew he felt it, too. Even though we were slow and delicate with each other, we were also playful, tickling and loving one another. Our lips, our hands, our bodies were warm and satisfied by daybreak and we both fell asleep tucked into each other.
Butterfly Girl repeated in my mind on endless loop. I smiled as I remembered both Conner and Nick singing it on separate occasions.  Both men loved me, both men were forever a part of that song.

TWENTY SEVEN

I woke up to Niall whimpering and methodically got out of bed. Getting to know the steps from Nick and my bed to Niall’s room in the dark took some time but I eventually could do it with my eyes closed. Why the streets of Boston had to leave every lamppost on through the night was a question I brought up to Nick every morning. He would just kiss my crazy bed head and remind me that I did have one of the best views in the city. I always agreed when I watched his ass move to the kitchen for breakfast. He was the best view in the entire world.

When I approached Niall’s room, I overheard Nick murmuring to him and I sat on the floor outside him room to listen.

“Mommy loves you, Nick loves you, Grammy loves you, Grandpa loves you, Lily loves you,” he sang in that deep, rich voice. The guy could definitely sing but writing songs was a whole different story. I heard him get up from the rocking chair and place Niall back into his crib.

He stopped short when he saw me sitting on the floor. “Baby, did I wake you?” He sat down next me and put his hand on my knee.

“Nah, I heard Niall whimpering. Then I had the pleasure of listening to your latest greatest hit.” I laughed and knocked my shoulder with his.

“Yeah, I guess I need some new material, huh?” He laughed and raked his hands through his hair, looking embarrassed.

“You know we can write songs together. They can be full of hearts and tulips and kittens and sunsets…”

“Stop,” he said. “You are such a brat even in the middle of the night. I can’t get a break.”

I kissed him lightly on the cheek and he turned his face so my lips touched his. He reached underneath my shirt and moaned as he felt my warm skin. I tore my shirt off and jumped on him. I loved making love to him on the floor. I straddled him and smiled down into his piercing stare. I could feel that he was ready for me and I rocked against him.

“Are we making music right now?” he asked. I hummed with pleasure and bent down to let him kiss my bare shoulders. He bit me and I yelped. Niall whimpered and we both froze and looked at his door. After a few minutes without another peep out of Niall, Nick rolled out from under me and picked me up. He growled into my hair as he brought me to our bed. I had quickly learned that 1500 thread count sheets were amazing to make love on, too. He placed me in the middle of the bed and looked down at my bare chest. The love in his eyes was palpable.

“Baby, come here and kiss me,” I whispered. He dipped his head down and kissed all over my belly. I gasped and giggled and threw my head back as he teased me. His feather light kisses became passionate love bites.

“Baby, I am always going to kiss you, everywhere, anytime, all the time,” he whispered as he continued up to my
mouth. Nick lost control that night. I remembered the way he pushed me up against the kitchen counter and the passion he had to consume me. I felt consumed by him. I was a part of him and he showed me just how much.

The next morning, I woke up with marks all over my stomach and I reached over to pinch his ass. “Hey?” he said sleepily.

“I have hickey marks all over my body. I think someone was in a fiery mood last night.” I smiled. He leaned over and gently kissed me. “I’m sorry, O’Malley. I thought you could take the pain.” He grinned wickedly at me as I shoved a pillow in his face.

“What are we doing today?” I asked, looking over his tattooed muscular bicep. “You know Niall will be up soon.”

“Well, I have a meeting with a realtor in Wellesley. I was thinking about us looking at homes near your parents,” he said. I could see caution in his face. He had not told me about this either. I decided to let it go. He was telling me now.

“Okay, that sounds good but Nick, I like the city and Lily is here. It is so much easier to get to work. God, I hated taking the train every morning and night,” I groaned.

“No, we will keep this place. I just thought it would be something for down the road. We aren’t buying anything today. I just want to look,” he replied. “Then tomorrow, I think I need to head to San Antonio.” He quickly looked away and then back at me with a blank expression.

“Why?” I whispered.

“Do you really want to know?” he asked. His look was sad. 

“Your mom?
Is her hip okay?” I asked, concerned.

“Yes, she is fine. I have to... I just have a meeting there that I should probably attend,” he said not so convincingly.

“Okay,” I said. “I will miss you, baby. You won’t be gone long, will you?”

He shook his head. “Two days tops.”

That afternoon, we went to see my parents who were doing things around the house. Conner’s door was still closed. My room was a mess from when I had stayed there so I picked up a few things and boxed other items to take to Nick’s. I felt a sudden urge to play Conner’s guitar. I wondered if it was still in his room. I had to just be brave and go look.

I crept across the hall to make sure my parents didn’t see me go in there. His guitar was lying on his bed in a heap of clothes. My brother was probably the messiest person I had ever met. I went to grab the guitar and noticed a photo of him with a beautiful looking blonde. Her hair was styled so perfectly and her brown eyes, full lips and perfect complexion were model worthy. I studied the photo. Conner looked the same as the last time I saw him and he was wearing one of the newer band shirts. Was this his girlfriend? I looked on the back of the photo and it read “Love, S.” Yes, this picture was Samantha. Wow, she was stunning.

I suddenly felt very sad for her. I hoped that she was doing okay. Maybe they hadn’t been together long. Maybe I had missed her at the funeral. I took the photo and tucked it in my back pocket and grabbed the guitar. As I left his room, I quietly closed the door. The next person who opened it would have to be my mother because I had the only thing I wanted from him.

Nick talked with my parents and my mother held Niall. She smiled at him every so often and I watched how her hands looked frail and her hair was gray. She looked older to me. I wonder how many years a child’s death takes off a parent. Nick noticed I had gotten some things and led me out to the Audi to put them in the trunk.

“Let’s go meet the realtor and then you and I can have a Scrabble date night after we put Niall to sleep,” he said, hugging my waist.

“Oh you mean, you go play monopoly and I will kick your ass in Scrabble?” I laughed.

He squeezed my ass and took my hand. Our life together was easy. We were playful and blissful. I just wished that for the other people in my life. I touched my back pocket and wished that Sam and Conner had days like today.

TWENTY EIGHT

TWO MONTHS LATER

“Hey, Mac, good morning,” I said cheerily as I walked past him in the break room. Niall was teething badly and Nick and I were up administering Tylenol every three hours. Coffee was my number one priority that morning. Then, I needed to call Mrs. Crayton. It had been so long since we had chatted. I really missed her. She hadn’t called so I assumed her neighborhood drama was minimal enough not to warrant a call.

“Elizabeth, just the person I wanted to see,” he said excitedly.

“Yes, sir,” I said. I took the cup of coffee he handed me and started to pour cream and sugar in.

“Do you happen to know a man named Nicholas Sawyer?” he asked. I stopped pouring the sugar and looked down at my engagement ring. I hadn’t yet told anyone who I was engaged to, only that I was engaged. If people in the financial world knew who he was, they would hound me for his investments. I was so not looking forward to that day. People already gave me odd looks because I didn’t have pictures of a man anywhere in my office. Maybe they thought I lost my mind and bought it for myself.
Whatever.
“Umm. Yes,” I said cautiously.

“How do you know him?” he asked. He crossed his arms over his chest and casually looked at me.

“Mac, I don’t mean to be rude but why do you want to know? I mean, I will tell you how I know him but…” I started.

“No, no there is nothing wrong, Lizzie. He just happened to call the office yesterday and was trying to set up an appointment to transfer all his investments to us. He specifically said he wanted me and you to work on the accounts together.”

Oh, okay, so Nick was going to throw his millions into my management hands now, too. When was this guy ever going to tell me anything? Now, I had to explain to my boss those investments would probably soon become mine and good lord, that was so uncomfortable.

“He is my fiancé,” I whispered.

“He is your what?
That
is the guy that proposed? Wow, why didn’t you tell…” He started. Then a knowing look came over his face. “Oh, I get it. No special treatment, right?”

I nodded, sipped my coffee and darted my eyes from him to the coffee cup. “When does he want to come in?” I asked. “He never said he wanted me to handle the financials.”

“I asked him if we could take him to lunch. Somewhere fancy, you know, to wine and dine him,” he said.

I literally spit my coffee out all over Mac’s tie. “Oh God, I am so sorry,” I said and started giggling. Wine and dine Nick? Take him to a freaking Phish concert and the deal would be done. Or I could do that thing with my fingers tonight… Oh
God. I am envisioning sex with Nick in front of my boss. I flushed.

“So where should we take him?” he asked.

“Your Soupy Salad,” I deadpanned. Mac looked at me like I was crazy. I shrugged my shoulders and headed back to my office to dial Nick’s number.

“Hello, beautiful,” he answered. I smiled.

“Hey,” I drew out the word into three syllables. “So, Mac tells me we have a potential millionaire that wants to invest with us. Care to tell me when you were going to let me know about this?”

He chuckled into my ear and I warmed at his smooth voice. “I told your dad about investing a few months back but I figured you would tell me to fuck off. I am assuming this call is to do just that?” I thought back to the conversation he was having with my dad in the kitchen and how Nick had said he would never hear the end of it. He was right. Months ago I would have thought him to be crazy. Now, I knew it had to be done. I did work for an outstanding financial firm.

“Nick!” I whined.

“Lizzie!” he whined back.

“Well, Mac wants to wine and dine you. I suggested Your Soupy Salad.” I smiled into the phone.

“Works for me,” he said. There was no trace of amusement. He would seriously talk about his investments at Your Soupy Salad. God, I loved this man.

“Well, I will have him set up a reservation,” I said. “Hey, I have to go. There is a lot of commotion going on in the office now that they all know I am going to be Mrs. Nick Sawyer. You are such an ass. Thanks for the drama today.” He chuckled.

“Pick you up at five, smaht mouth?” he asked. His version of a New England accent was hysterical. I hummed my agreement and hung up. Mac stood in my doorway. “Set up the reservation at Your Soupy Salad for Friday,” I said, smiling.

“Really?” he asked incredulously. I shrugged. “The place has sentimental value. Believe me, the man will sign all his investments over by Monday. Oh and Mac, I don’t want my name on the account as a broker. It’s all yours and don’t let Nick talk you into it. I want no compensation. Believe me; he already takes good care of me.”

“I am sure he does.” Mac smiled as he left my office.

I looked down at my desk calendar and realized Niall had a checkup the next morning. I would ask Lily to come late and then stay later so I could… Shit, when was
my
last appointment. I grabbed my purse and flipped through my daily planner. Three weeks ago? How could I have missed that? My head was all about Nick and our new life together. I picked up the phone to dial my doctor when I realized.
Holy shit, not again. Not so soon.

I picked up my purse and made a mad dash down the stairs. I flew across Boston Common to the CVS pharmacy on the corner and pushed the doors open. The familiar candy and prescription scented store almost made me gag. I ran to the
tampon aisle and threw five different tests in the basket and made my way up to the counter. I threw in a Hershey’s candy bar for good measure.

Thirty minutes later, in the bathroom of my office building, I stared at five positive pregnancy tests. I put my head into my hands and ate the fully opened candy bar without hands. Chocolate really does help out in times of desperation. But was this really a terrible state of affairs? Everything is different this time. I am engaged and I love the father of my baby and he loves me and we will live in a happily ever after lala land of ponies and chocolate.
Calm the fuck down, Lizzie. Breathe and figure out your plan.

I went back to my office and cleared up the mess I left. I sat down and then stood up. I started ringing my hands. How could I possibly work today? Nick Sawyer and I were going to have a baby and from the time frame, I was far along, hence my recent pot belly that Nick attributed to all our eating out.
Fuck. I was so totally screwed.

After several painful hours, I called it a day. I called Nick and left him a voicemail that I wasn’t feeling well and I would just see him at home. Lily was playing with Niall on the floor of his bedroom and I quietly asked her for a few more hours so I could wallow in my upcoming admission to Nick. Would he be upset if I questioned him about my little doubts? Wasn’t everything moving so fast? I thought about our friendship and how it had taken us so long to get to a place where we were fully committed to each other. We were perfect together and our life together would be so electrifying. I couldn’t wait to love on him and tell him he was going to be a father.

I went to the office to try to find a timeline website to give me some indication about when I was due. The internet seemed to get it close to accurate, if only I could remember my last period date. Before Ireland? Yes, it had to be. I stopped taking the pill because well, it never crossed my mind to take care of myself. I was in such a daze that days went by without me even brushing my teeth. Besides, sex was the furthest thing from my mind until Freddie and even then I was so fucked up the little detail of taking a pill never even crossed my mind.

I opened up the browser to see that Nick’s email account was open. A name and subject message jumped out at me like a big fucking neon sign. Samantha Hughes with a Subject: CALL ME!

I hesitated initially and then opened it.

To: Nick Sawyer

From: Samantha Hughes

Subject: CALL ME!

My number is 210-555-9987. This is a burner phone because I don’t want Daddy or anyone to know that I am freaking out. I want to know if Conner’s family has found out anything about that night. I am freaking out. Please call me. I am thinking of you. Love, Sam

All of the contents that were in my stomach plunged up into my throat instantaneously and I vomited everything into the wastebasket. Chocolate coming up through your nose is dreadful. Love Sam? Sam who? Why did she care about my family? Why is someone thinking about my fiancé?

A million thoughts ran through my brain and then I envisioned Teagan nuzzling his head into Moira’s hair. I threw up again.  I heard the elevator doors release and I rapidly printed the email and stuffed it into my pocket. I ran into our room and threw myself under the covers.

Nick came in, undoing his tie. “Hey, baby, I came home when I got your message. I am sorry you aren’t feeling well,” he said.

I sat up immediately. With malevolence, and probably puke, on my face, I stared at Nick like he wasn’t a man I really knew after all. I despised him for looking so damn sexy but I didn’t back down. I wasn’t going to fuck around this time. This time, with this man who had promised me a life of love and trust, the only way to react was to be straight up honest. I was livid.

I felt the rage boil up in my heart, turning it to ice. “You know what? I am not a stupid naïve woman. I am stronger than I have ever been so you better be straight with me. Who the fuck is Samantha Hughes and why is she emailing you to call her?” I yelled and threw the crumpled up paper at him.

I have never seen a man more shocked than Nick was right then. Even Teagan showed some emotion that day I told him I was pregnant. Nick just stood there flabbergasted for minutes which felt more like days to me. For a guy that talked nonstop
about a wonderful life with me, he sure as shit had nothing to say now. When nothing came out of his mouth, I threw off the covers, ran into my original bedroom and locked it. A long while passed and I thought about going to get Niall and going home to my parents. Then, the knocking started. At first, I didn’t want it. After ten minutes, I put a pillow over my head. I didn’t want to respond to the insistent knocking and pleading from Nick. 

“Baby, please. Please open the door,” Nick’s voice cracked. I could tell he was choking back tears and I couldn’t take the drama.
No more Lizzie drama.

Nick and I had come so far for me not to trust him. Maybe I was being too emotional. Maybe I was still scarred from the past and automatically assumed the worst. I couldn’t prolong this fight. I didn’t even want to fight. I just wanted to understand. This email shit needed to get straightened out in a mature way. Clearly, I still knew how to throw a hissy fit. But, Samantha? Samantha Hughes. Was she the one to take him away from me? Was she his forever girl? If this didn’t get set straight, I would lose the man of my dreams.