Chapter 19 - Stacy
“Rise and shine, sweetie.” Amy’s chipper voice comes through the speaker.
Blinking, I glance at my clock.
Really? Ten already?
This pregnancy is kicking my ass.
“Good morning to you too,” I groan. “What has you so happy?”
While I was having a threesome free for all over Christmas, Amy was catching her boyfriend, well, ex-boyfriend, cheating on her.
It’s taken her months to get over him. I still feel awful my phone didn’t work when it happened.
Okay. No I don’t. I was otherwise occupied.
By two magnificent men who I miss daily.
My belly twitches with a kick.
I know, little one. I’m hungry too.
“Remember that open submission I had you apply for?” She sounds practically giddy.
I rub my eyes, stumbling towards the kitchen. “Not really. Wasn’t that a few weeks ago?”
Everything I do gets sent through her. She’s the best agent an artist could ever have.
She helps keep me anonymous too.
It offers me a sense of privacy that not everyone in this field gets to enjoy.
“Yes, yes. The Christmas movie project.” She gets a touch of irritation in her words.
I must not be playing along the way she wants.
“Oh, that rom com thing?” Those aren’t usually my style, but I’ve been picking up a few extra projects to pad my bank account before the baby comes.
Has it really been almost six months since Christmas?
“Stacy!” she practically yells. “You got it. And get this? The director and the producer said they’re coming to meet you!”
I must still be sleeping. “What? Why? Usually this stuff is all taken care of online.”
Why would some big shot movie executive want to meet me?
“They called last week, all kinds of excited over your renditions. They practically forced me to tell them your first name.” Her rapid fire words are coming too fast for my sleepy brain.
I let out a groan. “Why did you tell them? I thought that’s what you’re supposed to save me from?”
“Girl, they sounded hot. I’m single and desperate, okay? I want to meet them too.” She sighs. “No, not really. I bet they’re ugly assholes in real life.”
I don’t want to meet anyone.
I met the men I’ll love forever, and won’t ever see them again. No one else could possibly compare.
“Fine. When?” I can feel my eyes roll.
The idea of having to play nice when my hips hurt and I have to pee every twenty minutes doesn’t sound like a fun day.
“Today. They’re in town.”
I nearly drop the phone. “What the fuck, Amy?” I blurt out.
“I know, I know. It’s super short notice. But they insisted. They’re staying at the Hilton on Third. I told them you’d be able to meet them at noon.” The amount of pride that radiates out of her is infuriating. “Don’t worry, it’s a public place in case they end up being total goons.”
Like that fixes everything?
“Sheesh. Fine.” I really didn’t have a lot planned today.
It is a big contract.
But the fact they came all the way here because of a stupid hot cocoa drawing?
Unbelievable.
I’m far from the only person in the world who wanted to have two candy canes draped in the cup.
“This is huge! You’ll be working on a movie!” Her giggle cuts off when I end the call.
I love her, but not today.
***
My leggings are on the edge of fitting over my belly.
And I gave up on heels two months ago.
These fancy guys might be used to working with actresses and models, but they’re gonna have to settle for frumpy ol’ me in sneakers and a baggy sweater.
There isn’t anyone in this world I want to impress today.
Well.
No. They’re another lifetime away.
But I’d give almost anything to be held by Reece by the fire again.
Or snuggle into the heat of Dean’s grip to fall asleep.
I miss how tightly he’d hold me. Like I was a lifeline.
Sitting in the parking lot of the most lavish hotel in Akron, I stare up at the tinted windows and sigh.
This is just a bunch of unnecessary pageantry. I really don’t understand why they need to meet me just to say “yes” or “no” on a set of sketches.
I’m glad I’m not quite waddling yet as I walk inside.
The restaurant is dimly lit for a lunch time crowd, but the attendant at the podium greets me with a bright smile.
“Can I help you?” Her perfect teeth flash beneath her expensively styled blonde locks.
“Yes, I’m here for a Mr.—” I glance down at my sticky note. “—Harpson?”
Her pretty pink lips purse as she looks me up and down, then raises an eyebrow. “Really? Okay, follow me.”
What the hell does that mean?
I know hormone swings are normal during this stage, but I’ve never had such an irrational feeling of wanting to slap someone for no reason.
She leads me past several full tables towards a secluded area in the back.
“Here you go.” Her arm waves towards a booth, then steps away.
And the ground falls out from underneath me.
“Dean?” I squeak when I see his dark eyes land on me.
The other man twirls in his seat, then leaps to his feet.
“Reece?” My world begins to spin.
Suddenly, two sets of hot hands are on me, one strong man on either side.
“Stacy,” Dean chokes out. “We’ve been searching for months.”
Reece doesn’t wait, but pulls me to him, tilting up my face to press his lips to mine.
Everything feels on fire as a surge of heat rushes through me.
“This can’t be real,” I pant, clinging to him as if he’s going to disappear.
As Reece steps to the side, Dean moves in, circling me with his arms and pressing me closely.
Then his obsidian eyes flare.
“Is it ours?” he whispers, searching my face.
I can’t talk past the knot that’s formed in my throat.
All I can do is nod and bite my lip, watching him.
Is he going to be mad?
His jaw tics, but he leans in and consumes my mouth in a ravenous kiss.
“What? What’s going on?” Reece’s arms wrap us both, drawing us into him.
“She’s pregnant,” Dean rasps.
But then he tilts his head. “Is there…someone else?”
“No. I don’t want anyone else but you.” I glance up at Reece, pressing my palm to his cheek. “And you.”
Reece snugs me against him, then pulls me onto his lap into the booth. “I’m sorry, baby girl. We’re never letting you go now that we’ve found you.”
Tears tumble down my cheeks. “I’ve missed you both so much, but I don’t understand? Amy said you were movie guys? Did you pretend so you could find me?”
Dean slides across the table, a soft smile lifting his mouth. “We’re really movie guys. We were working on a new screenplay at the cabin.” His hand waves between us. “But then Mother Nature decided she had other plans.”
Reece’s palms settle over my belly.
Then he jumps. “Was that the baby?”
“Yea. I’m sorry. I hope you’re not upset? I never intended to—”
“Will you come back with us?” Reece’s lips press to my neck, stirring the memories of Christmas.
“Or, we can stay down here,” Dean says firmly. “I just know we’re not walking away.” He swallows hard, reaching across the table to cover my hand. “We both love you.”
The blonde girl stops mid-stride with cups of water, her wide eyes looking between us. “I’ll be back,” she clips, setting the glasses down and turning quickly away.
“I think she’s jealous,” I laugh through the tears. “Any girl would be lucky to be sitting here with you.”
That makes me sniffle. “I’m not anything special.” My lower lip trembles. “I never planned on trying to tie you—”
“You can tie me,” Reece murmurs against my skin. “Do anything you want to me. Dean’s right. I do love you too.”
“We don’t want any girl.” Dean stares into me in his soul searching way. “We want to be a family with you.”
“We’ve been planning it for months, just in case we found you again.” Reece shifts his hips to press his stiffening cock against me. “We have several contingency plans. You can pick a city, the country, a beach, a penthouse.”
“I even talked to the owner of the cabin about buying those two we stayed in.” Dean smiles, rubbing his thumb over my knuckles.
“My mom lives here. She can’t wait to be a grandma.” I look down at where his hand covers mine. “How did you know it was me?”
Dean laughs, releasing his grip on me to pull out his wallet.
Inside is the silly cocoa cup drawing, with both of the candy canes. “I’ve memorized every stroke.” His voice sounds like it has rocks in it. “I even remember how you held your tongue when you made it.”
He folds it reverently and slides it back into his pocket. “That’s the girl I fell in love with. Your flair, your art—”
“Your humor. Your perfect body that’s round and beautiful with our baby in it,” Reece growls a heated wave against my skin.
“I’m—I’m boring,” I stutter. “I’m not a fancy movie star. I like sitting around and talking—”
“And snuggling,” Reece interjects. “That’s my favorite part.”
I let out a long breath. “Mine too,” I admit.
“It’s settled.” Dean leans into his seat, a triumphant smirk pulling at his lips. “We’re buying a house here to work out of. One of us will always be with you.”
“I missed you both,” I stammer, feeling my control slip. “So much. It’s hard to love someone and know I’ll never see them again.”
“I told you—” Dean lifts my hand to his mouth. “—you’re mine.”
“Yours,” I echo.
“Forever,” Reece whispers.