Forever True (The Story of Us) (9 page)

****

My eyes opened to the chiming of the alarm I set for my phone. I hadn't expected to fall asleep. While I wasn't feeling any more relaxed than when I first laid down, the memory of that night did give me a little more perspective on what Court must be feeling. I know that nothing was happening between Erica and me, but she doesn't know that. How is what I did any worse than the situation with her and fuckwad? It was still betrayal.

A large part of me worried about her reaching out to Will or someone for comfort but I also knew that we were better than that. I had to trust her not to do anything rash. Just as I needed time to work things out in my head, I would give her the same space.

It definitely would not be a year but at least until the end of the week.

I meant what I said. I'm never letting her go. Ever.

Courtney

I have to admit that it was harder than I thought it would be to not 'Hulk out'. When I woke up this morning I had expected my head to be clearer and my thoughts more rational, but instead I was still pissed. In fact, the more I thought about the deception and how long it had been going on the more I wanted to act out. To call him and scream at him. To throw all if his clothes onto the front lawn. To toss out that old ratty Yankees t-shirt he loved so much. So instead, I finished the rest of the Game of Thrones episodes we’d been saving on the DVR to watch together. I also deleted each one after I was done.

Yes, I am actually that petty.

Of course, I felt like shit about it later. I also didn't tell Dee about the incident either because I didn't want to involve everyone in our drama. If I was honest with myself, I knew this was not a relationship ending situation. Yes, it hurt but it doesn't change anything. I believed his explanation. If this would have come to light prior to our divorce, I am not so sure I would have reacted the same way. I feel like we are stronger now and that we have truly chosen to be together. I don't like the situation he is involved in with Erica. Not one bit. But I get it.

It was Thursday, two days after our argument. He has called and sent texts to check on me, but I've ignored him. I let him talk to the girls every day, but I didn't speak to him. For now, I'm not sure what I would say. I wasn't ready to forgive him, but I didn't want to risk saying anything that would make things worse.

I also found out today that I’m pregnant.

I had stopped taking the pill two months ago on the day we remarried. I had expected to get pregnant immediately because it was quite easy with Liv and Jordyn. Except I didn't conceive the first month even with as much sex as we were having. I was slightly worried that maybe my age was starting to become a factor. So I timed my ovulation this past month just to make sure.

Last night I dreamt that I was sitting with my three children on the large porch swing at Alex's parents’ house in Virginia. Liv and Jordyn were on either side of me kicking their feet while a baby with dark curly hair and chunky thighs was sitting on my lap. When I woke this morning, I used the second pregnancy test from the two-pack I brought last month. I was overjoyed to see that it was positive, and I wanted to call Alex immediately but then I remembered everything from the past couple of days and stopped myself. I wanted to get past this. I needed to get past this, but I was being stubborn. When I was leaving the bathroom, my phone chimed from the bedside table. It was a text from Alex.

Alex: Morning baby. I love you. Please forgive me.

I loved him with my whole heart and knew I would always forgive him. That's when I made a decision to stop being so damned passive and to go after my man. I dialed my sister.

“Hello?” Macy answered the phone.

“Hi, Mace. I need to ask you a favor.” I replied.

“Sure, bring them over.” She said sarcastically and cut straight to the chase. “You are so lucky that I’m at stay home mom otherwise you wouldn't be able to do shit.”

“Thanks. You are a life saver. Love you.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

****

Alex

I was counting down the hours to the last meeting of the day. It was Friday afternoon, and I had just endured the longest week of my life. The charity event was tonight, and I only planned to show my face long enough for Deal to see me. Then I would ghost out of there and book the next flight home.

“Alex,” Mitch called from behind me as I was leaving the conference room. I winced and gritted my teeth before turning around. I expected to see his usually arrogant business demeanor but instead I saw something much more human. “I just wanted to say that you've done an excellent job this week. I know you weren't supposed to come to Houston, and I appreciate the way you stepped up. You saved my ass.”

It made me angry the way he made it seem like I had a choice. If I let myself think about it, Court would have never found out about Erica the way she did if I hadn't been here. Instead of voicing all of that I simply shrugged and nodded at the compliment. I expected that to be the end of the conversation but Mitch kept talking.

“I suspect that your reason for wanting to leave earlier in the week had to do with your wife and Erica.” I furrowed my brow at him and wondered how he would know that. “Oh, well that's according to office gossip. I hear all that stuff, too. I know what's being said about Pamela and me. It's all false. I maybe a lot of things that I've overheard people call me. A prick. Clueless and lazy. But I love my wife.” Mitch laughed awkwardly and looked down at his feet. “I don't know why I’m telling you this. I guess I just wanted to tell someone.”

“Look Mitch, I--” I started to speak, but Mitch continued.

“I've made a lot of sacrifices to get here but time with my family is the one that has cost me the most. Alex, you are smart, driven, and you will go far. You remind me of myself fifteen years ago. I only wish someone would have told me to slow down because time goes by in a blink. My oldest son is getting married in the spring, and my youngest just started college this year. It's just my wife and I alone in that big house, and it's like we don't know each other anymore. I spent too much time away from her, and I’ve forgotten the reasons I married her. Pamela was temptation, but that's all.” Mitch lowered himself into a chair at the end of the boardroom table.  “I asked you to come to this conference because I knew you weren't going to say no and that you wouldn't disappoint me. I also know that you look out for Erica. It was a good call bringing her on board. She's done wonders in her department.” Mitch looked around and lowered his voice. “I hope she is not your temptation to resist because it would be wise to do something about it now. Can you keep your interactions professional or will this become a problem?”

“There is nothing between Erica and me. I was just trying to help out an old friend. I can handle her. Like you, I love my wife. ” I replied instantly.

“Good.” Mitch answered after studying me for a moment. “I guess you’re planning an early exit from the event tonight. My suggestion is to seek out Deal first before you leave.”

“I'm way ahead of you.” I smirked at him before I turned and left the room.

Courtney

I ran my hand down the smooth fabric of my dress. I knew I wasn't showing however I felt like everyone could tell that I was pregnant. I was grateful for the wide band that cinched the waist of my champagne-colored strapless sequined gown. It was the reason I chose it. The color also looked good against my skin, and I let my hair fall around my shoulders in loose curls just the way I knew Alex liked it. I had spent all morning in little boutiques downtown trying to put together the perfect look all the way down to my strappy Jimmy Choos.

Yeah, I wasn't done with the pettiness.

I caught a 5:30am flight into Houston this morning and immediately went on an expensive shopping spree and treated myself to a beautification day at the hotel spa, on Alex's credit card. Only this time I deactivated the text alerts.  I got dressed at the salon since the employees were all too happy to help me once I told them I was here to surprise my husband. It caused a major uproar, and they treated me like their own personal Barbie doll. The hotel clerk even bent the rules and arranged to have my bags sent to Alex's room later that night. When they were done with me, I was blown away at what they were able to accomplish. Erica's words had bothered me all week but looking in the mirror I smiled.

Who's lame now, bitch?

There was a crowd at the check-in desk, and I wasn't sure how to get into the event. Was there a list? What if they wouldn't let me inside? I stood there for a few minutes surveying the area, and I observed how guests were walking around unnoticed. I decided to fall in step with a group of people who passed me. They skipped the check-in table and were let through the velvet rope without question. I couldn't believe how easy it was. For good measure, I smiled at the attendant and nodded my head in thanks. Once on the other side, I searched the crowded room for my husband.

****

Alex

I was standing next to Mitch and Deal trying to fake interest in some story Deal was telling about his trip to...shit...I forget. Some place he went recently. I don't know. That's how much I cared about the conversation. The whole time my eyes were focused on the crumbs on the corner of his gray mustache as I debated whether to tell him about it. Even Mitch didn't have the balls to say anything. When Deal took another bite of a cracker with seafood dip on it, he added crumbs to the other side as well but he kept right on talking. I tried not to laugh, but it was proving hard, so I lifted my glass to take a sip. That's when I felt her. It was like my ears blocked the noises around me as I turned just in time to see my wife walking gracefully down the large staircase. The shimmer of the gown made her glow as she focused on her feet as she descended to the bottom. The way she floated the entire way down made me think that maybe she was only part of my imagination. I looked around to see other eyes on her too; each of them clearly appreciating the view. I didn't even have time to be jealous because once her gaze lifted and found mine, my mouth went dry. She was gorgeous. Her perfect pouty mouth lifted into a smile, and I felt like one of those goofy cartoon characters whose eyes bugged out into giant heart shapes and shit. As she maneuvered through the crowd, I took in the sway of her hips, the way the strapless dress stretched across her round breast leaving a delectable amount of cleavage. I touched the tip of my tongue to my bottom lip as I recalled the deliciousness of her tight nipples. With one hand in my pocket and the other holding a glass of Jameson on the rocks, I watched my dream girl walk towards me as she turned heads along the way.

Yeah, go ahead and get a good look. She's all mine.

****

Courtney

Once I reached the bottom of the staircase; I spotted him immediately, and his eyes were already on me. It was like our bodies were two magnets drawing us together. I could literally feel the pull. He looked so handsome in his dark suit and black tie. He put one hand in his pocket and gave me his sexy dimpled grin as he waited for me to reach him. When I was within arm distance, he reached for my waist and pulled me to him.

“Hi.” I said as I stared into his smiling face.

“Hi.” He answered back and placed a soft kiss on my lips. “I had no idea...” He seemed to be at a loss for words, so he placed another peck on my lips. “What are you doing here?” He pecked me on the jaw line. 

“Fighting for us.”  I answered, my eyes meeting his and I hoped he could see the sincerity I felt. “Is it okay that I'm here?” I asked because I was feeling hesitant about my decision as I looked around the room.

“Baby,” He murmured against my neck as he inhaled me. “It's perfect. Absolutely perfect.” I let myself relax into his hold. “Look, I'm sorry about--”

“Alex, I get it. I don’t like it, but I get it. We’ll talk more about it later, okay?” I smiled up at him, and he studied me for a second before nodding back. Just then I heard a throat clearing from behind us, and I peered over Alex's shoulder to see two men standing beside each other a couple of feet away. Alex stiffened slightly.

“Shit. I forgot they were here.” He whispered from the side of his mouth so only I can hear. Alex placed a hand on my lower back and ushered me forward. “This is Paul Deal, Chief Executive of Pure Valley Aqua, and you've met Mitch Gallo, our Senior Vice President. Gentlemen, this is my wife, Courtney.” Each man smiled and reached out to shake my hand politely.

“Courtney, nice to see you again.” Mitch replied. My eyes instantly picked up on the fact that his gray roots were starting to show through his dyed jet black hair. When my gaze landed on Paul Deal, I noticed several crumbs trapped in his mustache as he reached for my hand.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Deal. You have a little something here.” I pointed to my own mouth to mirror the mess resting on the top of his lip.

“Oh, pardon me.” Deal replied and lifted a napkin to his mouth. I felt Alex tug a lock of hair at my back. It was discreet, but I knew he was trying to get my attention, so I looked up at him in time to see him wink at me.

“If you'll excuse us. I'm going to refresh my drink.” Alex spoke to both Deal and Mitch then guided us away. “That was pretty funny. Mitch and I have been staring at the same crumbs for ten minutes, and you're the one to say something.”

“Well, why wouldn't you have told him that?”