Chapter 44
Did I just lose him?
Our bodies were entwined—his leg over mine and my arm around his waist. I sobbed in his shirt, wetting the front as he rubbed my back. Grey placed tiny kisses on my forehead, reassuring me he was there. Every time I thought of Carter and Chelsea, a new stab of pain attacked me. How could he do this to me? Chelsea? I couldn’t wrap my mind around the fact that she’d been in his world all these years. Why didn’t he just marry her instead of me? I had resolved that I would be a single mother. I had made my choice, which was Grey, and when he left, I’d prepared to be on my own. Carter wanted to work things out, be there for me, and we married.Why? Why did he do all that if he really wanted Chelsea?I could've been with Grey, with some other man, or single, being co-parents with Grey and Carter. I would’ve been fine raising my twins on my own and not in this crazy, complicated mess.
“Try to rest. I’ll wake you up when the food gets here.” He swept my hair off my face. His warm and beautiful hazel eyes appeared green in this light. “I’m here as long as you need.”
I nodded as I pressed my lips against his slightly pouty lips. I wanted to feel sane and in control as I pulled slightly back to gauge his reaction. His eyes darkened before he cupped my neck and kissed me back, opening my mouth with his. Without using his tongue, he slowly kissed me, savoring my lips, chin, and neck. He’d been clean-shaven the last time we kissed. Now, I delighted in the feel of his mustache and beard brushing againstmy face. When I slipped my tongue in his mouth, he moaned and became aroused.
Grey flipped me over and moved between my legs, pushing my thighs open. I grabbed the ends of his shirt and pulled it over his head. My hands eagerly caressed the muscles in his back and over his stomach. When I reached for the button of his pants, he stopped me and broke the kiss before he lay on top of me, still panting. “We can’t. Not like this.”
“Yeah...sorry...sorry.” The throbbing between his and my legs demanded release, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. The feel of his dick teased my sex as I refocused. Grey was right. Temporary satisfaction would only lead to permanent confusion. I was too fragile and vulnerable to be intimate with him.
After a few more seconds, Grey shifted until he hugged me from behind. His insistent erection pressed against my lower back as he held me. “I’m trying to get my mind off being inside you. Ignore my body.”
I looked over my shoulder. Grey’s eyes were closed, and a slight smile graced his face. “You’re happy, aren't you?”
“Happy to hold you again. Happy that I know we’ll make love again one day. Even if it doesn’t happen until we’re old and gray, after our children are grown and we’ve divorced our spouses, or they don’t care about us quite so much. We’ll happen again under better circumstances.” His arms tightened around my waist.
“How can you know that?”
Grey opened his eyes. “We love each other too much for this to be the end of our story.”
I shook my head. “Can’t believe you became a romantic after all.”
He chuckled. “Naw...just believe in us.”
I faced forward at his simple truth. “You think whatever Carter has to tell me is forgivable? What if he tells me he has a child with Chelsea, and they love each other?”
“Or he may really be the Godfather and only helping her out. I think when you love deeply, you can forgive anything, even infidelity.” Grey kissed my nape. "Relationships require compromise and forgiveness. Carter forgave you for being with me those two weeks back in college, and I know I hurt you, but you forgave me.”
“You didn’t do anything that needed forgiving. You made the choice I already knew you would make.”
We grew quiet, deep in thought, as we remained hugged up. Grey only moved away from me to get the food he had delivered. Once the aroma of the fried chicken wafted under my nose, my stomach grumbled like a lion’s roar, and we both laughed.
“Nothing ever steals your appetite. Not even fear of losing St. Patrick.”
I picked up the greasy bag and pulled out a Styrofoam container of chicken wings and fries. “Nope. Depression and sickness only make me eat bad.”
He tugged me to sit up, and he sat down next to me. “Glad you’re eating. Today is still your birthday, and all this crying is bringing me down.”
“Bringing you down?” I wiped my eyes with one hand and held a wing in the other. “I found out you wanted to marry me while I was still single and that the man I did marry may have a whole family with my ex-best friend.”
Grey wiggled his thick brows. “When you put it that way, cry away as you stuff your face.” He took a bite of the chicken and moaned. “Good, right?”
“Mm... hmm. These are my type of fries, too. Fresh cut.” I grinned and nudged my shoulder to his. “This is what I miss. I haven’t had a friend outside of Carter since you left. I don’t reallyfit in with the players’ wives, and not working kept me from making new friends. If you weren’t here with me, I would’ve been alone and angry at my husband, who basically stood me up on my birthday.”
He pointed a fry at me. “But you wouldn’t have known about Chelsea.”
“I still really don’t know what the fuck is going on, and you won’t tell me what you know.” I stuffed a fry in my mouth and swallowed it. “As much pain as I feel, I’m relieved I’ll know what he’s been hiding from me. You’re right. You’re back for a reason. Time for truth.” I looked at him, wishing I could just tell him about Elle now and let the chips fall where they may. This weekend, Carter and I would hash it out, and next week, Grey would know we share a daughter. “Want to have brunch Tuesday morning? I want to tell you whatever happens between Carter and me.”
His jaw tightened as he replied, “Make it a late lunch. I do have a job and a life.” He stole some of my fries before I could pop his hand.
I clapped my hand over my mouth. “I never asked. What do you do now? I’m so used to you being this track star.”
“I work as a track coach at UCLA.” He beamed. “I started a month ago and love it. Gives me a chance to still do what I love and train talented men and women. Pay is decent, and I’ve invested money from sponsors and contracts I earned from being on the Olympic Team. I don’t make as much as Carter, but I’m good.”
Looping my arm around his neck, much like I used to do when we were only friends, I praised, “I am more than proud of you, and I never had a doubt you would be successful, whether you ever made the Olympic Team.”
