Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
CHELSEA
“I have a date.”
“I’m going on a date.”
“It’s just dinner.”
“It’s going to be ok. Act normal. Just be normal.”
“I’m dating my baby daddy.”
“Who are you talking to?”
I shriek and jump a mile. “Jesus, Adley! Don’t sneak up on me!”
She smirks. “I’ve been standing here for the last five minutes listening to you convince yourself you have a date.” She raises a brow. “With your baby daddy.” She’s eyeing me, waiting for me to explain.
When Adam left yesterday, I hid myself in Dom’s room.
We played and I never let him out of my sight.
Adley had been at The Roasted Chestnut, where she likes to write.
She enjoys people watching, says it gives her good inspiration for her stories.
She’s a romance writer and loves love, despite all the bullshit we grew up with, everything she’s been through, and even watching me ruin the love I once had.
She still believes in the happily ever after.
When she came home, I avoided talking about the heavy shit. I told her how Adam’s parents were more than gracious with me and how they’ve already been texting me, wanting to babysit. If there is anyone I trust with my son, it’s Frank and Janet Casanova.
Why didn’t I come to that conclusion two years ago?
She’s watching me in the mirror. She has this look, like she’s looking right into my soul and can suck out every deep dark secret with one breath. She’s fucking scary.
Billy better be careful what he wishes for, I think to myself and smile. Of anyone, she’d be the one to break him.
“Yes, I have a date. With Adam. Seems his brothers thought it’d be a good idea for him to date his ‘baby momma’.”
Her eyes get a little rounder, a little more seeing. “Oh, those Casanova boys are something else. And he actually listened to them?”
“Well, he did but then bossed me around telling me we were going to go on a date. So, he’s the same old Adam. Still desperately clinging to control everything around him.”
“Sis, you took his control. You’ve always taken his control and I think that’s why you guys battle so much. He loses it with you. You walked out. He couldn’t find you. He couldn’t talk to you. Touch you. Then you show up with his mini-me in tow? Of course, the guy is spiraling.”
She pulls out her phone and begins texting.
“What are you doing?”
She smirks and has a gleam in her eyes. “Texting the girls. We’re going to make sure you’re ready for tonight!”
A little while later, Francesca, Farrah and Britt walk through the front door, bags in hand.
“What is all that stuff?” I cry.
“Essentials,” Britt replies. She walks to my counter, pulling out a bottle of vodka and cranberry juice and goes to work making drinks.
“I brought a bunch of dresses I thought you’d like. I didn’t know what you moved back with, and we’re about the same size, so here.” Farrah thrusts forward four different dresses on hangers. “Model them for us and we’ll help you choose.”
“Um, ok…”
“I’ve got your hair and makeup covered,” Chess says as she pulls out a hair straightener and a ton of products.
“And I’ve got the goods!” Adley announces coming down the hallway holding a Victoria’s Secret bag. My eyes get round.
“And what do you think I’m going to do with that?”
She shrugs. “You two never had a problem in this department. Drive him wild. Let him see what he’s been missing.”
I shake my head. “I stole what he’s been missing, I don’t think he wants to play that game.”
“You’re wrong. The guy is hot for you. Grace doesn’t do it for him, that I know for sure.”
“Britt! Why do you know so much about them?” I’m getting mad at the mere thought of them together.
“The guys talk. And Bobby tells me everything.” She narrows her eyes at Chess and points. “You are a dirty bitch.” Chess barks out a laugh and pushes her shoulder.
“What can I say? Coach Gage is hot,” she winks.
“Momma, juice?” Dom asks as he begins to climb onto the counter and reach for the cranberry Britt left out.
“No, no, baby! Let me put your juice in your cup.” His eyes study all the women in my house.
“Fessa!” he yells when he recognizes Francesca and runs to her.
“There’s my sweet nephew!” She covers him in kisses, and he giggles at her. “Where are your trucks? Can you show me?” He wiggles around, and she lets him out of her hold. He grabs her hand, and they walk down the hall to his room.
My heart bursts at the sight, then simultaneously breaks for keeping this loving family from him for so long.
Like a book, my sister reads me perfectly. “Stop beating yourself up. You’re here now. It’s all going to work out.”
* * *
I check the time on my phone. It’s a quarter to eight at night, and Adam should be here soon.
After almost two hours, I decided on a dress.
A deep maroon with lace overlay, short sleeves and falls just above my knees.
Chess did my hair and makeup, and I allowed Adley to talk me into a lacy bra and panty set.
Even if Adam doesn’t see it, it makes me feel good to have something sexy on.
Nude heels and the love knot ring Adam gave me at college graduation complete the look.
I’m on my second drink. I didn’t want to be tipsy when Adam showed up.
I want us to be able to go out and have a great night, good conversation, and try to get back to where we were.
After I got over his little ‘tell you what’ attitude, I realized he’s right.
We do owe it to Dominic to see this thing through.
I never stopped loving Adam. I just let my mind twist my reality instead of letting my heart allow it.
The girls are still here. Chess is going to watch Dominic tonight. Britt says she’s staying until Adam shows because she wants to see him eat his own tongue–her words not mine.
“Momma pwetty,” Dominic says and leans over to give me a kiss. He’s such a sweet boy.
“Yes, momma is beautiful,” my sister replies. “Adam isn’t going to know what hit him.”
“Adam is an idiot for not paying more attention to you in the first place,” Britt says as her phone rings with a text message. She pulls it out and reads it, her brows furrowing. “Oh, hell no.” She starts typing back furiously.
“What’s going on, B?” Chess asks, still playing with Dom, running his cars along the coffee table.
My stomach sinks, and I just know. I watch her eyes lift to mine, then quickly to Chess, before she goes back to her phone.
“He isn’t coming, is he?” I ask quietly.
“I… don’t know. Bobby just sent a text to say he saw Adam and Billy still working over at the house on Gum Drop. So, I politely told my husband to get his ass back to that house and drag Adam home so he can get ready for you.”
“Seriously? He’s never going to learn. What else did Bobby say?” Farrah asks.
I stand, walk to the kitchen and make myself a stronger drink, my nervous energy needing somewhere to go.
I gulp down half of it. The thought of him not coming was always in the back of my mind.
I considered he might do it to spite me, but I see it’s just the same old Adam, caught up in work and not allowing anything else to take priority.
I take a deep breath and walk back towards them. “It’s fine. I deserve it, I guess.”
“Fuck that! No one deserves to be treated like shit.” Britt yells.
“Britt!” Chess hisses out, covering Dom’s ears. He’s grinning and making zoom zoom car noises; I doubt he even knows we’re all upset.
She waves her off, mouthing sorry to me, as she answers her ringing phone. “Bobby? Where is he?”
She listens, her face turning to stone. She’s fuming for me, and I think I fall in love with her a tiny bit more. These girls are so fierce and protective over one another. I’ve missed this kind of friendship.
“You tell him he’s got some making up to do. Like, HUGE, Bobby. Fucking. Huge.”
She listens again, her face softening and her eyes taking on a weird glimmer. “Yes, baby, show me later,” she whispers into the phone. Chess snaps her fingers at her, and Britt jolts and stammers out. “Gotta go babe, I’ll be home soon.”
She clears her throat and sighs, placing her phone on the table. “Bobby said he went in and talked to Adam. The homeowner made some crazy demands on him at the last minute. Him and Billy have been there since two this afternoon and are still working now.”
“Why didn’t he just text me? This is so typical of him, he never communicates. I’m not a freaking mind reader!” I collapse onto the love seat, not caring anymore if I wrinkle my dress.
“I think he will now. Bobby said he looked honestly shocked at what time it was and then cursed himself for being so stupid.”
“Good. He is stupid.” My eyes widen at Francesca’s outburst. “What? Just because he’s my brother doesn’t mean I can’t say when he’s being a jerk.”
“Well, you heard me, that man better make this up to you in a big way.”
“So much for that. Now what do I do?” I pick at my dress and kick off my shoes. I’m being a brat but I’m disappointed.
“I say we go out. No sense wasting good hair and makeup.”
“I don’t want to leave Dom. And Chess, I’m not going out so you can babysit.”
“I’ll call Mom! She’s been chomping at the bit to get her hands on this little guy!” She grabs Dom and rolls around with him, tickling him. His little baby laughs fill the room.
“I can’t ask your parents to watch my son so I can go out to a bar. No, that’s just wrong.”
“Then don’t ask. I will.” She’s already pulling out her phone.
“Francesca!”
“Let her do it, she’s going to anyway. Come on, let’s get ready. Twenty minutes, ladies, and I want us out the door!” Britt says, grabbing Farrah’s hands, pulling her up and pushing Adley into her room to change.
“Hey, Mom!” Oh god, I cringe as Chess just winks at me. “I have a little favor. Adam screwed it up with CJ already and us girls want to take her out tonight.”
“Chessy!” I screech.
Chess waves me off and continues talking to her mom. “Yeah, I know, he’s still working, and he was supposed to be here thirty minutes ago.” She pauses. “Would you mind? I can pack up a bag for him quickly. Okay thanks, Mom. Yup, see you soon.” She ends the call and looks at me triumphantly.
“Grandma Janet to the rescue. Pack an overnight bag and pull out his car seat, Mom’s on her way over.”
My eyes bulge and my heart races. “Overnight?”
“It’s fine, momma bear. Take advantage of the quiet time. I bet you’ve never had a day alone since Dom was born.”
She’s not criticizing me. She genuinely wants me to have a break. To have fun. I was supposed to do just that until Adam forgot about me again.
I take a deep breath. “You’re right. I have to learn to let others help me now. We’re not alone anymore.”
“No, you’re not.” She hugs me tight, and it feels good. To have this family who still accepted me after the heinous thing I did to their son. To them.
“Chessy, you better get your ass in those tight jeans of yours and be in the truck in five minutes. I’m texting Bobby now to come pick us up and drive us to Moose’s.
” Britt walks by her and spanks her ass, then hands me the shoes I threw off in my tantrum earlier.
I drop them to the floor and step into them, feeling like I’ve found my squad once again.