Chapter Twenty-Six
ALLEY
THEN
The elevator doors slide open and a smile sweeps across my lips as Jensen’s hand grips mine.
I almost got stuck on call but Cindy saved my ass at the last minute and traded me for Christmas Day.
I’m excited to be here, to see Michael and Stella, and the kids.
Jensen’s been hoping I’ll be ready to see my dad.
I’m nervous about it, and I’m not sure I’m ready, but I haven’t stopped thinking about it.
Either way, here we are. New Year’s Eve, and back in Chicago.
The last time I was here was Michael’s birthday last year. Megan and I flew in a few days early to hang and have some girl time. Jensen came out later that weekend for the party.
I glance up at Jensen, watching him for a second. Damn. He’s all mine. My lips curve into a smile as my gaze sweeps across the floor, landing on Michael and Stella talking to Leo and his girlfriend, Vivian.
I tug at Jensen’s arm. “Come on, Michael’s over here.”
We weave through the crowd, and a grin spreads across my face when Leo’s eyes meet mine. He grins and winks, his hand resting lightly on Vivian’s back.
“Hey!” I call out a few feet away.
We all take turns hugging and saying hello.
I’ve only met Vivian twice before, but she’s stunning and easy to get along with.
She and Leo live together now and have a baby—little Isla.
They brought her to New York for the wedding, and she’s honestly the most beautiful baby I’ve ever seen.
But how could she not be with those two as parents?
I’m ecstatic for them. I’ve never seen Leo look happier. And holy hell, no one ever thought he’d settle down. But if he was going to, it makes sense that it’s with Vivian. She seems absolutely perfect for him.
Conversation flows easily. Michael and Jensen head to the bar together, and my heart could burst just watching them. They don’t know each other well. They’ve only met in person a handful of times, but it makes me so happy to see how easily they get along.
I ask Stella about the kids and her job, and Leo and Vivian fill me in on all things Isla—telling stories, showing pictures. Excitement bubbles in my chest at the thought of possibly being pregnant soon.
My last two periods were met with disappointment.
I know it can take time, especially after stopping birth control—my body’s still trying to regulate.
God, my last cycle lasted fifty days. I started to get hopeful, taking test after test, only to get nothing.
I guess that’s normal too, though, post-pill.
Jensen’s still at the bar with Michael, but now Adam’s there too. We lock eyes across the room, and he smiles, lifting a hand in a wave.
I smile back, and lift my hand too.
Jensen spots me and waves me over, and before I know it, I’m clinking my water glass with Jensen, Michael, and Adam.
I’m at the bar, refilling my water when Vivian and Stella make their way over.
Stella grins. “Vivian has a fun game to play,” she says.
“What is it?” I ask, curiosity piqued.
Stella looks to Vivian, who laughs, and says. “Oh my God, they’re going to think I’m crazy.”
“Trust me, this game’s right up her alley.” She shoots me a grin. “No pun intended.”
“Ooh, now I have to know,” I reply.
Vivian hesitates, then exhales. “Fine. But please don’t judge me. Alley, you have ten seconds to find someone to take home tonight, and obviously it can’t be Jensen.”
I laugh. She’s right. This is totally my kind of game, even more Jensen’s.
I already know the two of them would get along great.
But also, shit. Is she serious? Because if I can’t pick Jensen, my next choice would be Adam.
And I can’t pick Adam—that’s just a no. Leo’s hot as hell, but he’s Leo. He’s like a Kevin to me.
There are plenty of good-looking men in the room, though. No surprise, considering many of them are Leo’s friends. Which basically means: wealthy, well-dressed, confident-as-hell businessmen.
“Seven, six, five,” Vivian counts, and I scan the crowd like I’m on a mission. My gaze lands on a guy who looks mid-thirties. He’s got a decent build, dark hair, thick beard, tailored gray suit. Not my usual type, but he’s hot in a rugged, put-together kind of way.
“That guy over there, I guess. In the gray suit with the beard.”
Stella gives an approving nod, and Vivian grins. “Okay, yeah. I’m into it. Great beard.”
“Who has a great beard?” Jensen interjects, amusement dancing in his eyes.
“Great,” I blurt.
“Busted,” Stella laughs. “Alley wants to bang Beard Guy.”
My cheeks burn as I smack Stella’s arm. “I do not.” I turn to Jensen, laughing. “It’s a game. One you would’ve crushed, by the way. But I swear, you’re the only one I want.”
“Wow. Jesus, babe. I didn’t know you were into beards. Should I grow mine out?”
“No. Please don’t. I don’t think you have the genetics to pull off a thick beard like that anyway.”
He puts a hand over his chest, feigning offense. “Whoa. Questioning my beard-growing abilities? Harsh. I’m gonna have to prove you wrong.” He leans in, dropping his voice just for me. “Lola would like it against her soft skin.”
He chuckles against my neck, the heat of his breath and that voice sending shivers down my arm. I press my lips together, trying not to grin, then spin around and kiss him.
“Hey,” he murmurs against my lips, “you wanna get outta here?”
“Yes,” I whisper, biting back a smile. I know what ‘get outta here’ means. “But it’s not even midnight.”
“I know, but… I dunno.” He shrugs slightly. “I’d rather take you back to Michael and Stella’s and celebrate with you. You know, ravishing your body.”
“But you love New Year’s. You love parties.”
I pull back slightly, brows pinching. I’m genuinely confused. This is the third time he’s bailed early on a party since Halloween. And that’s not like him.
He shifts his weight, wincing, and concern flickers through me. “Is your knee hurting again?”
He hesitates for a beat, then exhales in frustration. “Yeah. It’s been giving me a hard time the past few days. But I can just sit the rest of the night. I’ll be fine.”
I reach for his hand. “No. It’s okay. If you’re hurting, we can go.”
“Nah, babe, I don’t want to ruin your night.”
“You’re not.” I give his hand a soft squeeze. “All I really need is to be with you. It’s fine.”
He studies me for a second, eyes scanning mine like he’s making sure I mean it. “You sure?”
“I’m sure. Let’s say our goodbyes and grab our coats.”
The relief on his face is immediate—subtle, but unmistakable. His shoulders ease, and his jaw unclenches as we turn to go.
We make our rounds, exchanging quick goodbyes and polite hugs, and grab our coats. As we head toward the elevators, I glance over at him, and I can’t help it. Something in my chest pulls tight. This isn’t just about a party.
As we head outside to wait for our Uber, my mind spins with worry. Jensen hasn’t said anything about his knee in weeks. After Halloween, he had an MRI, got an injection, started physical therapy. I guess it’s been a few months since then, maybe the injection is wearing off.
It makes me anxious. I know he’s a guy—wants to seem tough, doesn’t like to complain or let anything slow him down. But God, it’s concerning. For a while he was taking ibuprofen around the clock, and that’s not exactly healthy.
Now, it’s starting to affect his social life. That’s what worries me the most. Jensen is the life of the party. Who am I kidding—he is the party. He thrives around people, and people are drawn to him.
It’s New Year’s Eve, and he wants to go home. I can’t even wrap my head around that.
We slide into the backseat of the Uber, and his hand lands on my thigh, giving it a squeeze. He tips his head back against the headrest and closes his eyes.
I watch him, because God, he’s handsome. His brows pinch together like he’s in pain, and I want nothing more than to take it away. I reach for his hand, threading my fingers through his, giving it a squeeze. He squeezes back, a faint smile tugging at his lips, but he keeps his eyes closed.
The ride is mostly quiet, aside from the occasional question from the driver and soft music in the background. By the time we get to Michael’s, it’s eleven-thirty, and Jensen heads straight for the bedroom. I follow close behind.
The second we’re inside, he’s already digging through his backpack. He pulls out the bottle of ibuprofen and turns his back to me as he shakes some into his hand.
“Do you need some water?” I ask.
He glances over his shoulder. “No, I’m fine,” he says, popping the pills into his mouth and swallowing them dry.
“Do you think you need another injection?”
“I’ll be fine, Alley.” His voice is sharp. Irritated.
I let it roll off me, even though it stings. He must really be hurting, because Jensen never gets short with me.
“Babe,” I say softly, stepping toward him. “What can I do? How can I help?”
I come up behind him, placing my hands on his back and running them slowly over the broad, thick muscles, across his shoulders, and down his arms. I press a kiss between his shoulder blades, breathing him in, my heart cracking a little for him.
He draws in a deep breath and lets it out slowly. Then he turns, pulling me into his arms. He kisses the top of my head and rests his chin there. “Nothing… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be a dick. You being here is enough.” He swallows, hard. “I’m sorry I made you leave the party early.”
“It’s okay. I just want you to be okay. I’m worried about you.”
He exhales sharply, the breath warm against my hair. “You don’t need to worry about me. I’m fine. I’ll be fine. Everything’s good.”
“Okay.” I step back gently. “I think I’m going to take a bath, wind down a bit.”
“Alright. I’ll just be here.”
I grab a few things from my suitcase and head for the bathroom. The guest bath has one of those freestanding tubs—big, with the perfect slope. I use it every time I visit.