The Hero and the Fat Girl (New Hampshire Bears #3) (3 page)

My bed dips down, and I pretend I’m asleep, praying
he
leaves me alone.

“Is my special girl awake?”

The covers are pulled from my body, and I can smell the vodka. He starts rubbing my knee, and I squeeze my eyes tighter, wishing
he’d
go away.

“Wake up, special girl. Daddy’s home.” He pushes my night gown up. “Look how pretty my special girl is.” His hand rubs my thigh…

I bolt up from my bed, screaming. I look around the room: I’m at Remington’s. In a second, he’s coming through the door.

“Maxima, are you okay?” He switches on my light.

I notice all the covers have been kicked onto the floor, and I’m sweating. He reaches for me, but I scurry to the other side of the bed.

“You can’t touch me.” I stick my hand out to stop him.

“I’m sorry. I want to make sure you’re okay.” He holds up his hands.

“It’s fine. I’m fine,” I repeat for my benefit more than his. “It was a bad dream. Just a dream. I didn’t mean to scream. I should have taken my sleeping pill.”

“You take sleeping pills?” Remington seems a little shocked at my statement.

“Oh…um…it’s nothing. I’m fine. I swear.” I try to reassure him.

It takes him a moment before he says, “All right. I’ll leave you alone, but if you need me, you know where to find me.”

I nod, and I watch him leave my bedroom, shutting the door behind him. I take several deep breaths and remember the breathing techniques Caryn taught me.

It takes about five minutes to get my heart back to normal and my breathing regulated. I will never miss another sleeping pill again.

Chapter Two

Remington

I put a couple pieces of French toast on Arabella’s plate.

“You want powdered sugar?” I ask as she climbs into her seat.

“Yes, please.” She smiles.

I love cooking for my daughter and Maxima. I can’t wait until the custody battle is over, and I won’t have to worry about Rickie’s ass coming back to bother us. I only married her because she was pregnant with Arabella. I tried to do the right thing, but it killed me being with her. Even more so when the family judge wouldn’t let me have full custody of my daughter when the marriage ended.

“Good morning.” Maxima smiles brightly, coming into the kitchen, kissing the top of Arabella’s head.

“French toast?” I ask and she nods.

Maxima Keck has to be the most beautiful being on this Earth. She’s a few inches shorter than I am with long, black shiny hair; I desperately want to run my hands through it. But her big, silvery-blue almond shaped eyes make my knees weak when she looks at me. Her body is thick and curvy and every man’s wet dream. I’ve masturbated more times than I can count thinking of her naked body under me or riding me.

“Remington?”

“Huh?” I shake my head, sending those thoughts away.

“You asked if I wanted French toast.”

“Right. Yes. Sorry. Here.” I add the golden brown bread to the plate and hand it to her.

“Thank you.”

I give her a small smile, and after a once over, I realize she looks refreshed even after last night’s episode. I wish I could open up to her so she’d open up to me. What was her dream about? Why does she take sleeping pills? There’s a lot I want to know about her.

As I plate my food, Arabella begins talking to Maxima about a new friend in her class and how she wants to have a sleep over.

“I’m sure we can work something out after Grandma and Grandpa leave.” She smiles genuinely at Arabella.

I can see the love Maxima has for Arabella, and it fills me with pride. Now I need to show Maxima this is how I really feel; it’s not just a fake engagement for me.

Arabella finishes her food and takes everything to the sink. “Max, are you taking me to school?”

“I can today. Do you mind, Remington?”

“Nope.” I kiss the top of my daughter’s head. “Wash your hands and face and then grab your bag,” I tell her, and she rushes off. “Thanks.”

“It’s no problem. My first meeting isn’t till nine.” She brushes past me lightly.

The small touch sends an electric shock through me. “What are you doing tonight?” I almost yell the question to her, making her jump. “Sorry. Sorry.” I rush out the apology. I try for a calmer tone. “I mean I would like to have dinner with you. Just the two of us.”

Maxima stares at me for a bit. “Like a date?”

“Yes. I want to go out on a date with you.” I stand in front of her, and my insides are shaking as her silvery-blue eyes search my face.

“I’m ready, Max.” Arabella comes skipping into the kitchen.

“Okay, let’s go.” She rushes away from me, grabbing Arabella’s hand and heading out the door.

“Fuck.” I sigh. Why do I always say things at the wrong time?

I push the three hundred pound bench press harder each time. Normally, I don’t have this much weight on them, but I’m trying to burn away my humiliation and anger. Of course, I’m angry with myself.

For the past several weeks, I’ve been able to be around Maxima without causing her, or myself, discomfort. I try to do everything I can think of to make things smooth and easy for her.

Now, I’ve screwed it up.

“Dude, are you taking steroids or something?” Keaton Jaco, my friend and teammate, jokes as he helps me put the bar back in the cradle.

“No, I’m just having a bad day.” I sit up, wiping the sweat from my brow with my t-shirt.

“Tell us all about it, buddy.” Kyson Wick, my other friend and teammate mocks me a bit.

“Fuck off.” I stalk across the room and yank the towel from the rack.

When I bought this house, I knew the downstairs basement would quickly become a state of art gym. Yes, I could go to the one at the arena or get a gym membership, but I like the availability for me.

“Hey, Rosin.” Keaton follows me. “You never snap, what’s going on?”

“For real.” Kyson is behind him with the same concerned tone.

“I’m a horrible person.” I rub my face hard with the towel.

“Oh no, what did you do to Maxima?” Kyson narrows his eyes.

“Let the man talk.” Keaton slaps his shoulder. “I’m sure it’s not as bad as he thinks.”

I take a deep breath, and instead of saying what I want to, I turn my back and head up to the kitchen, grabbing a few bottles of water for us. I sit at the table and they take the seats across from me. I try to search for the right words and finally just blurt it out.

“I lied to Maxima.”

“About what?” Kyson asks.

Taking a big swig of water soothes my dry throat. “About my feelings.”

“What about them?” Keaton questions.

“What I asked Maxima to do this for me, I made it seem like a temporary situation. But since she’s been here, it’s been the greatest time. I’m falling in love with her, and I want to show her, but she’s only doing this as a favor to me. She’s not going to think I’m being sincere. I’m not even sure she likes me the same way.”

“I don’t think you lied.” Kyson shrugs.

“Have you learned nothing from your situation with Meadow?” Keaton shakes his head, mentioning the time Meadow left Kyson after she found about him seeing his ex-girlfriend.

“I’m saying he didn’t express
all
his feelings. That’s not lying,” Kyson clarifies.

“Again, have you learned nothing?” Keaton now glares. “Omitting the truth is the same as a straight out lie.”

“I’m aware,” I huff. “But it’s not like I can walk up to her and say: Hey, I sort of lied about why I wanted to be engaged to you, but I hope you’ll still like me?”

“Wait, what did you lie about?” Keaton tilts his head a bit.

I have to tell them because if I don’t say it out loud, it may eat me alive. “I told her she had to be engaged to me and live here with us for me to get Arabella back.”

They are both quiet for a few seconds. And then Kyson asks, “And that’s a lie?”

“Technically, yes.”

“What?” they gasp in unison.

“My lawyer told me I had to show a stable home, but he never said anything about having anyone moving in or being engaged to them.” I leave my voice low and focus on my water bottle. When I finally glance up, both of my friends are staring at me with their mouths hanging open.

“Are you telling us, you told Maxima your lawyer said you
had
to be engaged and living with someone. Then you convinced her to do so, only to now tell us it’s a lie?” Kyson depicts the situation perfectly.

I nod.

“Why?” they both ask.

“Because I wanted to date her, and Arabella needed an amazing female role model.” I close my eyes and wait for their backlash.

“That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard in my life,” Keaton roars, slapping his hand on the table. “You’ve lied to all of us since the beginning. Let’s not forget Maxima turned her entire life upside down for you.”

“You call me immature.” Kyson lays into me next. “That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard someone do to date someone.” Kyson almost repeats the same words as Keaton.

“I agree.” Keaton jumps up from his chair. “She was already kind of dating you when you told her about your daughter.”

“But I wanted her to stay with me, and I just said it without thinking. This morning, I actually asked her out, but she ran out without answering me,” I explain.

“Gee, I wonder why,” Kyson smarts off. “She’s been playing housewife and mother because you created this role for her.”

“I’ve tried to tell her a thousand times.” I sigh.

“And why didn’t you?” Keaton sits back down.

“Because if she leaves, Arabella will be crushed.” She wouldn’t be the only one either.

“Dude, you’re so fucked.” Keaton shakes his head.

“I know, but I told Maxima a year, and I think I could get her to stay with me permanently by then.” It sounds like the worst plan ever when I say it out loud.

“Rosin, I’ll say it again, that’s the dumbest thing I think I’ve ever heard.” Kyson speaks up. “You’re toying with Maxima’s feelings, and she’s a really great person.”

For a few seconds, we’re all quiet. I know they’re right. I have no clue what to do or how to do it without hurting Maxima or Arabella in the process.

“Listen, dude.” Keaton stands again. “I need to go.” He storms off, and I hear my front door slam a moment later.

“Remington, Maxima’s a good person. Take it from me, tell her the truth,” Kyson says.

I hate to admit it, but he’s telling me exactly what I need to do; I just don’t know how.

“Dad.” Arabella comes running to me, and I easily catch her as she jumps into my arms.

“How’s my girl?” I squeeze her tight.

“Good. I had a great day.”

“You did? Well, awesome.” Arabella had trouble when she first arrived, but it had to do with her mother. She was afraid Rickie would come and take her away.

“I made another friend, and she loves the Bears, too.” She beams.

“I like fans.” I wink at her before putting her in the car and making sure she’s buckled in tight. “I’m taking you home, and we’re going to have a coloring party.”

“Yes!” My daughter cheers and claps.

“I picked up a couple new coloring books today when I ran out.”

She cheers again, and on the way home, she talks about her new friend and everything happening in her class. I hate she has to take additional classes, especially since it’s not her fault. However, she seems to like them.

When we pull into the driveway, we see Maxima’s BMW parked in the driveway.

“Max’s home.” She rushes out of the car, almost stumbling on her own feet, as she races to the house.

When I walk in, Arabella is talking very fast about her day. I study Maxima as she lovingly gazes at her, listening to her every word. Maxima loves her. I see it in her eyes. It’s the way a mother looks at her daughter.