21. Aspen
Chapter 21
Aspen
Six months later…
“ I just can’t believe how adorable they are.”
My voice has reached that high-pitched, squealing tone that all women seem to get when staring at the face of not one but two chubby-cheeked little boys.
“Makes you just want to pinch them, doesn’t it?” Harper says as she runs the back of her fingers against Blaire and Jimmy’s baby boy Finn. “Also makes my ovaries do that thing where they scream at me for another one.”
“I heard that,” Luka says as he joins her. “And I’m right on board with you.”
“Who wants to hold him?” Juliette says, coming up behind us with her own new baby boy, Archer Rockwell, in her arms. “Now that he’s been fed, burped, and changed, he’s ready to knock out in someone else’s arms so mommy can take a little break.”
“Me!” Harper scoops him up, cooing and planting kisses on his soft, warm skin.
“What about your ovaries?” Harvey murmurs in my ear once I step away from the group. “Are they screaming at you?”
I can’t keep the grin off my face when he says things like that. It’s not the first time he’s mentioned babies with me or marriage or anything else that would have most men screaming and running for the hills.
“Maybe.” I say, glancing over my shoulder quickly.
“You still want to keep things on the down-low?” I can see a look of disappointment on his face.
“Hey, Harv!” Luka motions with his hand. “I need your expertise for the steaks, my man.”
Harvey flashes me a wink before making his way over toward the grill.
“Hey, Jules.” I walk over to where she’s standing. “How’s Chloe doing with being an older sister?”
“Oh, she loves it.” Juliette beams. “And she’s just been so amazing. She’s so cute, always trying to help us out any way she can. She’s with her dad today and she’s been texting us already, asking us how Finn’s doing.”
“That’s so amazing, I bet she’s having the time of her life doting on him. And things are finally back to how they should be with her dad?”
“For the most part, yeah. I think there are still some hurdles we’ll have to face but going to family therapy together has been life-changing. Including Chloe in that so she has a safe space to learn about addiction and how her dad will deal with that for the rest of his life has been great for her.”
“She’s always been wise beyond her years,” Alex says, taking a seat beside Juliette. “She actually scolded me the other night for how I was holding Archer. She showed me the proper technique to support his head while also allowing him to test his own neck strength.” He laughs. “She said, ‘Dad, just because you’re big and strong doesn’t mean you were born that way. He has to learn to build his strength just like you did,’ with that same serious look her mother gives me when I screw up.”
Watching Jules struggle for years after leaving Chloe’s dad, wondering if she made the right decision or not, was hard but knowing they’ve managed to build this beautiful family based on open communication and love and trust… it gives me hope.
“She calls you dad now?” My tone is almost weepy, Juliette looking over at me with tears in her eyes.
“Yeah, I’m usually dad two,” Alex says with a huge grin on his face. “And her bio dad is dad one of course. It’s been great.” He can’t stop smiling. “You need to get in on this.” He nods toward Harvey.
“On the conversation?” Harvey says, confused.
“No.” Alex laughs. “Marriage, love, kids. It’s wild, man. Never in a million years did I think I’d be discussing diaper brands and butt creams with strangers I meet but hell, I wouldn’t give this up for anything.” He plants a big kiss on Juliette, making her blush. I take the opportunity to glance over at Harvey who’s staring at me like see, we need to get on it. I feel my own face grow red so I shift my gaze away.
“What about you? How are you doing?” Jules asks, eyeing me with that same look everyone was staring at me with when everything finally came to a head. It was that sympathetic look, wondering if I’m about to break of how I can possibly handle this on my own.
“Good, I think. It’s just been crazy the last few months. And Harvey has been an amazing neighbor and friend and… I can’t thank him enough.” The look on my face isn’t lost on Jules. I see a knowing sparkle in her eye.
“Speaking of crazy,” Luka interrupts, a pair of tongs in his hands. “I still can’t get over that Connor Blake thing.” He looks around at the guys. “I think we all knew he was a sniveling motherfucker, but damn, to just disappear like that after the amount of charges the Feds brought him against him…”
Harper nods, holding her glass of wine. “Yeah, I heard they didn’t even get to go through with the divorce proceedings since the FBI showed up on his doorstep unexpectedly. Is that true?”
“Yeah.” I shrug.
“What happened at work when it came out? Was everyone surprised or did people on the inside know who he really was?” Blaire bounces Finn in her arms, attempting to calm down his restless stirring.
“Nobody knew the extent of things. I think they were most shocked about how he’d embezzled that much money and gotten away with it for so long. It certainly wasn’t a surprise to learn that he was a disgusting creep with women. More than a dozen former assistants of his came forward to file a class action lawsuit against him and the company for not protecting them.”
“Good for them,” Harper adds.
I’ve debated telling my friends all of the details, or at least more than they already know. Filling them in on the blackmail that was a result of my lack of judgment concerning getting involved with your boss wasn’t as embarrassing as I’d expected. Mostly because they helped me realize that I wasn’t the one to blame in that situation. I was manipulated and lied to. But as for the rest of it, I’m not sure I’m ready to dive back in and analyze everything that happened… and maybe I never will be.
Maybe the past should stay exactly where it is because spending years hiding from the memory of my father is one of my biggest regrets. He didn’t deserve my tears or my memories and neither does Connor Blake.
“He’s got better odds on the run than he does in prison, that’s for sure.” Jimmy laughs. “Based on some of the people who have been locked up because of ties with him, he wouldn’t make it through the night.”
“Does it scare you?” Blaire asks. “Him out there, not locked up?”
I exchange a knowing glance with Harvey. “Not really.” I shrug. “Like everyone’s saying, with the amount of charges hanging over his head, even if he ever dared to show his face again, he’d be locked up for the rest of his life.”
The reality is, though, if it wasn’t for Harvey, I would be terrified. It’s easy for people to look at a situation like this and assume that with charges stacked against him like this, there’s nowhere to run but until you’ve experienced the true fear and threats from someone as rich and powerful as he was, you’ll never understand. No one can understand the fear of just existing because someone else has made it their mission to destroy you.
“Such a relief,” Alex and Jules say almost in unison.
“The most important thing,” Harvey says from behind the grill, “is that you’re safe and happy.”
“Yes!” Harper shoots one hand out to clutch mine, Archer asleep in her other arm. “I wish we had known what you were going through but Harvey’s right.”
“And you do look like your old self,” Blaire adds. “I can’t tell you how much we love seeing you smiling again, with color in your cheeks.”
“Yeah, I think self-employment and happiness go well with me.” I smile.
Since leaving my job after the news broke about Connor Blake less than forty-eight hours after I sent in the evidence, I haven’t been happier. My consulting firm that I started, with the encouragement of Harvey, has blossomed into a full-time job that has me so booked I’m having to turn clients away.
“You are happy?” Juliette asks and I nod.
“Yeah, very.” My eyes can’t help but drift to Harvey.
“I’ll be right back,” he says to the group. “I need to grab a plate for the steaks.”
“I’ll do it!” I say, standing up. “You guys talk about something else besides me,” I tease, walking toward the house. Just before I cross over the threshold, I glance over my shoulder at Harvey who’s already making his way toward the back door at double my pace.
I skirt around the island, the sound of the kitchen door opening behind me, but I don’t turn around. I walk down the long hallway, slipping into the small bathroom on the first floor.
Before I can close the door, his hand is against it, his body pressing against mine as he pushes me into the bathroom and closes the door behind us.
“Behave,” I say to him when his eyes meet mine in the mirror. They’re dark and hungry, like a wolf that can’t be talked out of his next meal.
“You don’t really want me to behave,” he says, his voice low and teasing as he grabs the hem of my dress and pulls it up over my ass. My laugh is cut short when his thick fingers wrap around the front of my throat, pulling me back so that his tongue can slide between my lips.
The sound of his belt and zipper being undone still sends a rush of excitement through my body like I’m perched on the ledge of a giant roller-coaster drop. My heart flutters, my breath catches and just like that, I’m putty in his hands.
We don’t need words in this moment. His hand remains around my neck, his lips on mine, on my skin, my jaw, biting into my shoulder as he slides himself deep inside me. He takes me, my hands pressed against the glass in front of me as I try to remain bent over the sink.
When he pulls out, he grabs a handful of tissue and wipes between my legs.
“You know how much I love the thought of my cum dripping out of you.” He nips my earlobe before putting my panties and dress back into place. “I think that’s a pretty good way to let them know.”
“Hmm?” My brain is still jumbled, the post sex fog lingers with Harvey.
“There’s no way around it, baby. You look like you just got fucked.” This time, he throws the bathroom door open, letting me know loud and clear that he’s done being a secret and I don’t blame him.
“Hey, wait.” I grab his hand before we step back outside. “I wasn’t trying to hide you. I want everyone to know that you’re the reason I’m happy.” I lean up on my tiptoes and plant a sweet kiss against his lips.
“Careful, you keep talking like that and I’ll drag you right back in there,” he teases.
“I don’t think I can handle another nine inches up inside me right now.” I giggle but it’s interrupted by a loud and dramatic gasp.
“Oh my God,” Juliette says, shaking her head. “Why does this keep happening to me?” She stares at both of us and we burst into laughter, glancing at each other before turning back to her.
“Well, it’s not a secret,” Harvey says, pulling me into his arms for a dramatic kiss.
A second later Juliette tosses the back door open and walks outside. “It’s official, folks. We have a definitive answer finally.” The group looks back at her in confusion as Harvey and I walk out of the back door.
“Definitive answer to what?” Blaire scrunches her face.
“To what happened in the bathroom with those two when I caught them the first time at Blaire and Jimmy’s house.” Juliette shakes her head, then turns to Harvey. “By the way, congrats on the nine inches.”
I know my face is flaming, and I cover it with my hands, Harvey’s laugh reverberating through his chest as he pulls me toward him.
“Shit! Smack my ass and call me Judy,” Luka says, coming up to pat Harvey on the back with the others. “And seriously, man, congrats on those nine inches.”
“That’s only the portion she can handle.”
I push myself away from Harvey in embarrassment, our friends laughing and cheering us on as he picks me up and kisses me in front of everyone.
It feels like a movie or a fairy tale because it feels almost too good to be true. But that’s something I’m working on, not waiting around for the other shoe to drop. This, right here, surrounded by friends and love, that’s how life was meant to be lived. Not in fear, always worried that you’re going to do or say the wrong thing.
These kinds of connections and friendships don’t come around often and I’ve been so blessed to find several in one group… and the love of my life. I smile at everyone, my cheeks hurting, but it feels so good to finally feel like I’m right where I’m supposed to be.
Like I’m home.