Chapter fourteen Scottie
Chapter fourteen
Scottie
“Holy crap. I forgot how incredible the coast is here.” As my eyes scan the expanse of ocean stretching out in front of me, I try to think back to the last time I actually stepped foot on the sand in Carrington Cove.
It was so cold when I came back here in December that the idea of going near the water didn’t even enter my mind.
And since I moved back, well, I’ve been a little preoccupied.
Grady’s hand rests gently on the small of my back as he leads me toward the front of the house. “It is. Willow inherited this house last year. That’s what initially brought her here from D.C.”
“What an amazing gift.”
He chuckles softly. “Dallas didn’t think so. He’s always wanted this house, so he and Willow had it out a bit at first. But as they sorted things out, they fell for each other, and now it’s their home together.”
I glance up at him. “Sounds like it all worked out for them.”
His eyes find mine as we come to the steps that lead to the wraparound front porch.
“Sometimes the unexpected can work out, Scottie.” Before I can say anything in response, he presses a soft kiss to my lips—something he keeps doing, even though I told him not to—and then leads me up the steps and to the front door where people are walking in and out of the house, moving between the tables and chairs set up on the sand under a white tent and the living room of the magnificent beach-front property Willow now owns.
“You’re here!” Astrid shrieks as she emerges from the kitchen, glass of wine in hand, and quickly closes the distance to where Grady and I stand.
“You act like you didn’t just see us last night,” Grady tells his sister as she pulls me in for a hug.
She swats at his chest. “Don’t be an ass, Grady.”
“How many glasses have you had already?”
She glares at her brother. “This is my first one, thank you very much.” She sticks her tongue out at him, drawing a burst of laughter from me. Turning her attention back to me, she says, “I’d offer you a glass, but…”
I rub my belly just as Grady does the same. God, he’s so eager to touch our growing child and to show me affection that it’s messing with my head.
I wish he would just fucking listen like I asked him to. No touching. Just friends.
But I can’t seem to find the words to tell him to stop either.
Because you don’t want him to, Scottie. Duh!
“It’s okay. I mean, I certainly miss alcohol, especially in social situations like this, but it’s just one of those sacrifices I know is temporary.”
She nods. “Right. Once you hold that little baby, every ache, pain, and missed glass of wine is all worth it.”
I reach down to stroke my bump again, feeling those bubbles grow stronger with each passing day.
Last night, I had a dream about the baby.
We were in the hospital and I was holding our child, who had light brown hair and blue eyes just like Grady.
I couldn’t tell if we had a daughter or a son, but the way this man looked at me—like I had given him everything he’d ever wanted in this life—made me cry in my sleep.
I glanced down at our child for one second to admire the human we created, but when I looked back up, he was gone—vanished into thin air. And then he never returned.
It woke me up from a dead sleep, the torture of my worst fears slashing through one of the most incredible moments of my life.
It’s part of the reason I wish I could have that glass of wine to take the edge off the anxiety I feel racing through my body—because the closer Grady and I get, the more I feel like he’s going to change his mind.
It’s what Andrew eventually did, and I didn’t want to accept it.
I kept blaming myself, believing that I must be the problem.
I know now that he was a selfish narcissist, and I didn’t do anything wrong. But I swore to myself I’d never trust another man again.
I just didn’t think Grady would be the one I’d want to let in. Add on my mother and grandmother meddling last night, and well? My entire body is antsy for more than one reason right now.
“Come on,” Astrid urges, pulling me by the hand over to the kitchen where a group of women are standing.
The house has a mostly open concept except for one wall that separates the kitchen from the living area.
There’s a wide cutout in the wall that allows you to peer between rooms. The cabinets are dark navy with white marble countertops, the hardwood floors are classic and stained in a light oak shade, and all of the décor is in shades of blue and white, with pops of teal scattered throughout.
The nautical vibes make me wish I had a home this close to the ocean to enjoy serenity like this.
“You’re just going to steal my date from me?” Grady calls after her, but the title he gave me is catching me off guard more than Astrid is right now.
“I’ve got her. Go grab a beer. The boys are outside playing cornhole.” She waves him off as we reach the kitchen and she places her wine glass on the island. “Do you want something to drink?”
I admire the display of food spread across the counter and island, including a tiered stand of cupcakes that I know Astrid had to have made. “Um, water would be great, thanks.”
“We have water with cucumber and lemon in it if you want that?”
I scrunch up my nose. “No thanks.”
Giggling, she grabs a bottle of water from the fridge and hands it to me. “That didn’t sound good, I take it?”
Twisting the cap off, I take a sip of water. “No, unfortunately. I’m usually all about stuff like that, but this baby wants nothing to do with fruits and vegetables, which is really frustrating when you’re supposed to be eating healthy foods, you know?”
A woman standing beside me inserts herself into our conversation. “God, when I was pregnant with my son, all I wanted was chocolate ice cream, so I definitely understand that struggle.”
“Apple fritters have been my obsession lately, especially the ones from Astrid’s bakery.”
Astrid beams proudly as the woman to my left extends her hand. “I’m Shauna, by the way.”
“Scottie.”
“It’s nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.”
“How do you know Astrid and Willow?”
My hand finds my bump. No time like the present to let the truth fly, right? “Well, I’m having a baby with Astrid’s brother.”
Astrid squeals. “I’m going to be an aunt!”
Willow comes around the corner now. “Astrid, that squeal is going to attract the geese outside.”
Shauna and I laugh as Astrid shrugs. “Not sorry.”
“Scottie! You’re here!” Willow closes the distance between us and pulls me in for a hug.
“Happy birthday!” I tell her.
“Thank you.” She inhales deeply with a smile on her lips. “Thirty-five and finally feeling like I’m right where I’m supposed to be.”
Shauna clears her throat. “And who do you have to thank for that?”
Willow rolls her eyes. “You, I guess.” Willow glances back at me. “Scottie, Shauna is my best friend from college. She lives in Texas now with her real-life bonified cowboy husband, and she’s the one who convinced me to come down here when I inherited this house.”
“Grady was telling me a little bit about it as we were walking in. What an adventure.”
“It was, murderous geese aside.” I glance at Astrid, who chuckles behind her wine glass. “But it led me to the love of my life.” She stares out the window at Dallas and the other guys where they stand together, nursing their beers. “Carrington Cove became my home and I’m so grateful for that.”
“I, for one, am happy to no longer be the only girl in the family,” declares a shorter woman with long black hair as she joins our conversation. She reaches her hand out to me. “I’m Hazel, the youngest Sheppard sibling and only girl, until Willow balanced things out, that is.”
Astrid chimes in. “Hey. I’m part of the family now too, you know?”
Hazel grins. “Yeah, but Willow was first, and she broke down Dallas. You’ve got to give her credit for that.”
“Aw, I love you too, Hazel.” Willow pulls Hazel in for a hug.
Shauna tsks. “Now, don’t you start crying, birthday girl. We still have hours of this party left.”
Willow laughs as she grows emotional. “I can’t help it,” she says as she fans her face, making all of us chuckle as well.
I can feel my own emotions starting to build, forming a lump in my throat because I know how it feels to not belong.
I felt out of place for the past fifteen years, living a life I chose because I felt like I had to, not because that’s what I wanted.
And having genuine friendships is a lot more difficult than you’d think.
I had female friends back in Georgia, but most of them were from my association with Andrew.
As soon as we split up, it was clear where their loyalties lay.
But now, being back in Carrington Cove, there is a peace that’s come over me—a sense of purpose and belonging, despite my pregnancy and the issues with Chase.
Maybe it’s having my mom and Gigi in my life every day. Maybe it’s working at a job with a boss I love.
Or maybe it’s the man standing out in the sand, the one who’s giving me another child and another chance to get this right, and these women who have welcomed me into their circle without a second thought.
God, I want him. I want to trust him. I’m just so fucking terrified.
“Hey, honey?” A deep voice behind us catches everyone’s attention, and we collectively spin around to take in the giant man holding a baby striding toward Shauna.
Jesus Christ, this man looks like a tree—thick, hearty, and definitely rugged.
“I’m pretty sure Hudson is hungry,” he says, stopping right next to Shauna. So this must be her husband.
Shauna intercepts their son. “Sounds about right. My boobs were burning so he must have sensed it.” She plants kisses all over the baby’s cheeks before moving toward the couch to nurse him.
“Oh God. Nursing. How did I forget about that?” I face-palm my forehead.
“Are you planning on nursing?” Astrid asks me as Willow fills a glass of wine for herself.