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Authors: Torrie Robles

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BOOK: Accidentally Perfect
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“Aw, you see Vivian that
is where you are very wrong.  Laney is
my
wife; she is
my
family and those two girls in there are now
my
daughters; my family.  Your influence and manipulation of your daughter
are
no more.  I will not allow you to bully or terrorize my wife or Amanda for that matter.  They are no longer your concern.  Laney will no longer need your help or approval on anything in regards to those girls.  You should see yourself as lucky for having the relationship that you have with them.  It is not a
right; it is a privilege, and you best remember that for the next time you belittle my wife.”

“If I never-”

“Go home mother.”  Laney comes up from behind me.  It’s then that I notice most of the medical staff has been standing around watching the little exchange. 
      
“Laney-”

“I mean it mother. I don’t need you here right now.  The girls are fine; they have us here.  Just go home and rest.”  Vivian looks at me, then to her daughter, turns around and leaves.  As she passes the waiting
area, her husband gets up from the same chair he has occupied this entire time and followed
her to the elevator. 

“Laney, I’m sorry, baby.”  I turn toward her.

“Don’t.”

“I didn’t mean for it to get that heated.  I just couldn’t stand the way she continued to speak to you, and in front of the girls.”

“Nathan, I love you.”  Those were the last words I expected to come from her mouth, but
damn
, if they didn’t sound perfect.  “I’m sure I’m crazy for saying them, for feeling what I feel, but when you brought the girls the flowers and how you spoke so highly of Brad.  Then
again when you came to my defense..
.  Love is the only feeling that felt right to describe what I felt, what I’m feeling.”  She went up on her toes and brushed her lips
against
mine.  My hand instantly wrapped around her
waist,
and I smashed her body into mine. 

“I love you, Laney Bear.”  The words were hushed so that only she could hear.  “The moment I saw you, my heart was yours.  I don’t care about time frames or what others may think.  I love you, so damn much.”  Then I crush my lips to hers. 

 

 

I am not sorry that I just told Nate I loved him.  That may have been the most honest thing I have ever said in my life.  I’m not worried what people may think.  Okay, that’s not completely true, I worry about my mother.  I think I may always worry about her and what she thinks. How can I not; she is my mother.  I hope that as the girls grow into young women they care about what I may
think, and I hope to God I’m not as judging,
and my mother is to me.  I haven’t felt this protected since my father was alive.  With Nathan by my
side,
I feel the strength I thought I would never feel again.  He is quickly becoming my
rock,
and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  With his fingers threaded through mine, we walk back into the girls’ room.  Amanda is currently cuddling with Stella while Addie is snuggled up into Brad’s
side, both currently
sleeping  I am so thankful that nothing too traumatic happened to them.  I couldn’t even imagine my life without those scarlet waves and cocoa colored eyes.   “How are they doing?”  I ask quietly.

“They’re good
Street. They are going to be just fine.”  Brad reassures me.

“Street?”  Nathan questions.

“My nickname Brad tortures me with.”  I look up to
Nathan,
who is standing behind me, so close I can feel the results of our passionate kiss still lingering in his pants. 

“When she introduced herself she told me her name and I said, ‘Laney like a street lane,’ the name has stuck ever since. 

“I like my nickname better.”  Nathan responds. 

“I agree.”  I give him a small smile.  “Why don’t you boys head down
the cafeteria and get us something to drink and eat.”

“I think that’s our cue to give the ladies some time alone, don’t you think Brad?”  Nathan presses a kiss to the side of my head.

“I think you’re right.”  Brad
scoots from Addie’s side without waking her and follows Nathan out the door.

“How are you holdin’ up chicken butt?”

“Really S?”

“What?”

“To be honest, I have no idea how I’m still upright.  My entire life has been tossed in a blender over the past forty-eight hours.”

“As long as it’s with tequila and lime then everything should be fine.”

“Focus Stella.”

“Alright, alright girl.
  What can I help you with?”

“Well, for starters, can you tell me how on earth I got this” I flash my left hand, “on my finger.”

“Oh that’s easy, Lanes, he asked and you said yes.”

“How can you let this happen S?  I’m
freakin’ married to none other than Nathan Whitmore;
the
Nathan Whitmore. Did you know that Stella
because I sure as hell didn’t, and believe me you are lucky my daughters are sleeping right now because I so want to tear you a new asshole right now!”  I am trying to hold it together. 

“Hell, yes I knew who he was the moment he started walking our way.  Why do you think I nailed you so hard with my
elbow?”

“That is probably the only thing I remember that whole night.  Jesus, when he told my mother his last name I damn near fainted. I had no clue that was him.  Whatever pictures I have seen of him over the years do not do him justice.”

“Laney, how long have I known you?”

“Too long.”
  I’m short with my answer.

“Whatever girl.
  In the entire
time,
I have known you I have never seen a look on your face like I did the moment you spotted him.  And it wasn’t because he caught you screeching whatever song was
flowing
either.  You had this look of contentment on your face.  Before words were ever spoken between you
two,
there was a connection.  It was magical. I just happened to add a few alcoholic potions in that little brew of passion you two were both mixing and poof!
Fat. Rock. On. Your. Finger. Plus, I’m sure
the
best sex you have ever had in your life. 
You, my
dear, are welcome. 
Baby, you should start calling me your fairy godmother, because girl, I gave you your princess charming.”

“My prince, huh?”

“Come on Laney, you can’t deny that, can you?”

“I just wish I remembered Stell, I can’t remember a damn thing.”

“If I didn’t think he was good for you Laney, there would be no way that I would have ever pushed the issue.  The not remembering is probably my fault, but I knew if you weren’t more than tipsy you would have thought too much.  You are always thinking too much.  You deserve to be
happy,
girl. You never had that spark with Brad, kids or not, he never was the man for you.  He just happened to come into your life when losing your daddy was still so fresh.  And Michael, Lord, do not get me going on him.  He was a child.  The girls are more mature than he is.  He was a disaster waiting to happen.”

“You’re preaching to the choir on that one.”

“So was I wrong?  Is there no spark between you two?”

“No, you were right.  There is something there.  I love
him, Stella.”

“I knew it. I knew I saw it.”

  “He’s my husband S, and I know he will always put me first.  He is going to love my girls and be the best step-father they could ever dream of.  Brad will always be their father, but Nathan will be more, I think.  He will put forth the effort so naturally.  My girls are lucky to have one father in their lives, but now they are going to have two daddies.  I just have to figure out a way to tell them.”

 

I wasn’t the happiest person when Laney suggested that Brad and I get some food for them, but I know she hasn’t had a moment alone with Stella and I’m sure there were some things she wanted to speak to her about.  “Laney was a little subtle when it came to needing girl time, huh?”  Brad pulled open the cafeteria door allowing me to enter first, what a gentleman.

“Yeah, I don’t think subtlety is Laney’s strong suit.”

“You’re right, it’s not. But her boldness and bluntness are two of the reasons why I fell for her in the first place.”  I looked over at him.  I can feel the heat rise in my face at the mention of him having any type of feelings towards my wife.

“Were those the same feelings you had when you were banging a fellow teacher while she was caring for your girls?”  I know that is an asshole thing to say, but I’m not going to allow him to try to prove the feelings he may or may not still have for my wife.  He clearly didn’t care about them when they were married.  That is the only point I’m trying to make.  We ordered a few sandwiches and drinks then moved down the line to pay.  Brad doesn’t even attempt to pay, which is fine, she’s my wife,
mine.

“You don’t need to be a dick, man.  I know I screwed up.  I know I ruined my
marriage,
and I destroyed the family my kids had the right to have.  It was tough; that time in our lives was tough.  Not only was it difficult to have two young children running around but I was trying to be the best father I could be on top of becoming a new teacher while my wife was spending more time with her nose in the books than making sure that her family was taken care of.”

“Listen,
Brad, I’m not an idiot.  I know you two have a past. I know that you two have had sex and everything that goes along with it.  Those two girls laid up in the hospital room are proof of those activities.  But there will never be an explanation good enough to justify why you would cheat on a woman as compassionate and special as Laney.  I figured that out the first two seconds I laid eyes on her.”  We grab the food once my name is called and head back to the room. 

“I know. I have spent the last few years kicking myself in the ass for doing it.  I don’t think there will ever big a bigger regret in my life.  It’s no
one's fault but my own.”

“Damn straight about that one.”

“But what I did to my marriage has no bearing on what I feel for my daughters.  I will always want what best for them.”

“I’m glad we agree on that because I believe I’m what’s best for them.”

“Wait a minute.
I don’t think I heard you right.  You’re
what’s best for the girls,
my girls?

“Yes, it’s
simple isn’t it?  I can give them everything they could ever want or need.  Can you do that on your teacher’s salary?  I’m sure wherever you live
has
got to cost you a pretty penny. Can you afford to call in sick when the girls get sick?  How hard is it for you to accommodate to Laney’s schedule?  Should she have to suffer to have her career just so you can have yours?”

“It’s not always about financials Nathan, but being who you are, I’m sure you don’t understand where I’m coming from.  What I make on a monthly basis has nothing to do with my ability to be the best father that I can be.”

BOOK: Accidentally Perfect
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