Hope's Chance (20 page)

Buffy came back in the room with a giant bowl of popcorn. We turned off the lights and all three sat on the couch ready to watch.  About halfway into the movie
,
Hope grabbed a blanket and wr
apped it around herself. I slid
my hand down to my side and
slipped
it under the blanket without making it obvious to my sister. It was there that I found her fingers waiting to be held. 

Buffy had fallen asleep first as Hope and I continued to watch the movie. Her hand never left mine and I found comfort being able to do such mundane things with her. She was so special to me and I couldn’t help but love the fact that she loved horror movies.

When the movie was over I leaned over to Hope. “I better call it a night.” I whispered.

She brought her chin up and brush her lips over mine. “Okay.”

“Walk me into the kitchen?” I asked in a quiet tone.

She nodded and followed me in there with our cups in her hands. I leaned down and kissed her lips. My thumb came up and rubbed her bottom one. “
See you in the morning baby.” I said as I walked out toward my place.

It killed me to do that.

I made it in the door and grabbed my pack of smokes. If I couldn’t be with Hope tonight than I was going to have my first cigarette of the day. I stripped down in my living room to only my boxers and headed out to the picnic table
,
where I had watched Hope seduce me just days ago
,
and lit one up. The smoke filled my lungs and I realized how lonely I was. It was unbelievable how in just a few weeks I had come to love someone so much that I didn’t want to be away from them.

Finally after all this time thinking my life was over, she was here, making me want to live again. She had no idea how grateful I was to her. 

There was the giant issue of her father warning me to stay away from his daughter, and the fact that the local cops were breathing down my neck for an alibi that I couldn’t give them.

I know Hope said she wanted the truth to come out, but I couldn’t
let her do that. If
she told the cops we were together I would be out of trouble with them, but have to then deal with
Mark?
It was a lose-lose
situation. 

I finished my cigarette and put it out in one of my sisters new flower pots. I would have to remember to remove it in the morning so she never saw that I had done it.

I went in the pool house and tried to find something to watch on television, but my mind was elsewhere. I couldn’t stop thinking of Hope. I wondered what she was doing and if she was thinking about me too.

Finally I headed into my room and lay on my bed. I was getting ready to play around on the internet on my cell phone when I got a message.

It was from an unknown number, but there was only one person it could have been.

Hope

I
couldn’t
stand being in my room, so I snuck downstairs and got Chance
’
s number from my father’s office. I got so excited that I started texting before I had even made it back to my room.

I miss you already ~ Hope

I stared at my phone and when I didn’t get a reply I wondered if Chance was awake, or even if this was still his phone number. I grabbed my stuffed frog he had won me on the boardwalk and hugged it.

Finally my phone vibrated.

Me too! ~ C

I got a big smile on my face.

So what are you wearing? ~Hope

A pair of long plaid pants. A
Hawaiian
shirt that is button up. And some argyle socks. ~C

Lol I bet that looks so hot on you. ~ Hope

I can’t sleep.  There is something wrong with my bed. ~C

What? Did you break it? ~Hope

You’re not in it baby ~C

I held the phone to my chest and started laughing.

What would you do if I was? ~ Hope

I would hold you all night long. ~ C

: )
~Hope

<3  Goodnight baby ~C

<3 Goodnight ~Hope

I wished we could talk all night long, but I need
ed
some rest. It had been a long emotional day for me. I hugged my stuffed frog and finally fell asleep.

Chapter 24

Hope

When I woke up Buffy was sitting on the edge of my bed. I didn’t even have to open my eyes all the way to know it was her. Her bright pink tank top was burning my eyes.

“Oh hey Buff. What’s up?” I asked.

“Sorry to come in your room so early. I actually had something I wanted to talk to you about.” She explained.

I tried to focus and listen but I was not a morning person.
“Okay, is it about the wedding?”

“No, actually it is about my brother.”
She stated.

Her eyes were fixed on mine and I didn’t know what to do. If I changed my expression she would know I was hiding something. I remained as calm as I could. “What about him?”

“Well I was wondering if you have seen him with anyone, especially when we were away.” She asked.

“Oh, um…no, I didn’t see him with anyone.”

“Hope, I won’t be mad if he asked you not to tell me. I know he has been seeing someone. He is acting different, and a few weeks ago I found him naked in his bed, after he left a bar we were at earl
ier
. Now I know my brother and he doesn’t sleep without clothes.”
She sounded certain.

“I swear to you that I didn’t see anyone over the weekend
or ever
.”

She gave me a quick smile. “Damn. Did he ever leave and stay somewhere else over night?”

I shook my head. “No! I saw him everyday at least a couple times. If he went anywhere I didn’t notice.”

Buffy stood up and headed toward my door. “It was worth a try I guess. He won
’
t talk to me about it. Maybe it is my imagination.” She started walking out of the room. “Sorry I woke you up. I just didn’t want to ask in front of your father or Chance.”

“It’s fine. I will see you downstairs.” I announced.

Well that sucked. I grabbed my cell phone and texted Chance.

Buffy just asked me if I saw you with anyone while they were gone. She mentioned the morning she found you naked when I was hiding in the shower. I didn’t tell her anything. Just wanted you to know. ~Hope

Wow she won’t give up will she? Thanks! C-ya later baby. ~C

Definitely! ~ Hope

I climbed out of my bed and got dressed. Today I was going to visit my mother. I hadn’t seen her in weeks and I wanted her to be informed about my
father’s
plans. Maybe it
wasn’t
my place to tell her, but she would kill me if she found out from someone else. I threw on some sweat shorts and the
white t-shirt that smelled like Chance. I went into the bathroom and washed up, then finally made my way downstairs. Buffy was outside doing what looked like Yoga. My father was in his office talking on the phone.

Finally,
Chance came walking into the kitchen as I opened the refrigerator.

I felt a hand brush over my butt. “Good morning beautiful.”

“Hey yourself.”

He was eating a banana and I couldn’t help but watch his lips as he ate it. “What are you doing today?”

“I am going to see my mother. It has been a while and I need to get out of this house.”

Chance knew not to take it personal, well I hoped that he did.

“I guess you are going to spill the beans to her.” Chance assumed.

“That is the plan.”

I heard my dad coming into the room. “What is the plan?” He asked.

“I um,I’m going to have lunch with Mom today.” I confessed.

“Hope it’s okay. It’s fine. She needs to know.” He squeezed my shoulder. “Don’t worry about it sweetie. I know you were going to tell her sooner or later.”

“Thanks Dad. I just don’t want her hearing about it from anyone else.” I said as I walked past him and Chance and headed to my car.

I couldn’t stay inside with either of them. Being around Chance and not being able to touch him made me want him more. My father was keeping us apart, well he thought he was at least. The last thing I wanted was for Chance to have to move out. If I couldn’t see him I would go insane.

Once I started driving toward my
grandparent’s
house, I realized
I wasn’t as prepared to face my mother with the information I had on my dad and Buffy.

My mother was going to freak out. It
wasn’t
because she was still in love with him, in fact she hated him. I think she would be hurt and possibly feel jealous. She had lost everything, while he was living it up, becoming more wealthy than when they were together.

I pulled into the driveway behind my mother’s car and took a deep breath. It was going to be a long day. Suddenly, I wished I was back at the pool house, in Chances arms.

Chance

My sister was fishing around trying to figure out who I was involved with.  I couldn’t be pissed at her, because I knew she was just looking out for me. The problem was I wasn’t sure how deep she was going to be looking. I had to start being more careful about being around Hope. If Buffy suspected it was her, she would freak out.

As much as I cared about Hope, I had to keep thinking about the big picture. In just a few months she would be eighteen and could make her own decisions about who she wanted to be with. I was fully aware that she wanted to be with me, but I found myself wondering if we wouldn’t just be better waiting it out. If we
did then nobody would get in
any trouble.

I lit up a cigarette and watched my sister doing some ridiculous stretches. “You look so stupid. Is that supposed to make you lose weight?”

Buffy shot me a dirty look. “What is your problem today?”
She
asked.

“I was just kidding. Get a grip. What are you doing today?”

“I am going to finish
watching the movies I got and then return them. I think that
Mark had invited some people over to discuss business. Do you think you can find somewhere else to eat tonight? Maybe like a
t your
new love interest
s
or something?” Buffy asked.

“You are fishing for something that doesn’t exist Buff.” I tried to explain.

“Chance, you are my brother and I love you, but I know you are seeing someone. You have had this spark in your eye ever since that morning I found you sleeping naked.” Buffy announced.

I rolled my eyes. “You’re crazy Buff.”

She stopped her stretching and walked over to face me. Her hands were on her hips and she squinted her eyes like she was trying to read my mind. “No, I’m not, but you are if you think you can hid her from me for much longer. What is the big deal? Is she ugly or something?”

I turned and started walking away from her. “I don’t have time for this Buff.”

“Being that I am kind of your
boss, I would say you can have
all the time in the world. Now tell me the truth. When have you ever kept a relationship from me? Is she married or something?”
She just kept pushing.

“Jesus Christ Buffy, please stop it already.” I looked directly into her eyes.
“It was a one time thing
okay?”

I was an idiot.

“Why couldn’t you just tell me then?” She asked.

“Because there was nothing to tell. I picked someone up at a bar and took her home with me. We had a great time and then she left. That is it.” I explained.

“Was it the woman who went missing?” Buffy asked.

“Hell no! I never even saw that woman. From her picture in the paper she looked like she was over forty. Why would I take someone that old home with me Buffy? Please
say you
believe me.”

She grabbed my arm and pulled me to sit down next to her. “I always believe you Chance, but I also know that you have been acting different. All of the sudden you seem…I don’t know, like happier. I just don’t understand how a one night stand could result in that.”

I looked her directly in the eye. “I will
find someplace to eat tonight, and when I get home I will stay in the pool house. It really isn’t a big deal.”

I got up and walked away from Buffy, but my nerves were now shot. I went inside and changed my clothes. Then I jumped on my bike and headed to the nearest bar that was open at eleven am on a Tuesday.

The bar was empty and it was just how I wanted it to be. I pulled out my license and slid
i
t across the bar before ordering my first beer.