Replace Me (25 page)

I chuckled and took a sip of my soda. “I don’t know if you would call it that. I hooked up with one and tried with the other, not knowing they were sisters. The one was a bitch, but her sister seems like a good time. It happened that night Lacey said we were over. I was drunk and don’t remember shit about it.”

Ash shook her head and laughed at me. “Do you even know how many women you’ve slept with?”

I shrugged. “Yeah. I might not know all their names, but I think I remember all of them.”

She talked with a mouth full of food, showing me how comfortable we were together. “I guess I’m a big cock block. If you want a night to yourself, I can go stay at my parent’s house.”

I chuckled. “You’re fine, Ash. It ain’t like I hook up with someone different every night. Besides, I’m tryin’ to be better.”

“You don’t have to change your life because of all this. You deserve to be happy too.”

As much as I appreciated her giving me my space, the truth was that Ashley’s predicament kept me busy. It was finally feeling like it was going to be alright. I’d be a good uncle and no matter what, I’d always be there for them. “I’m where I need to be, right now, Ash.”

Our meals came and we started eating and getting back to small talk when Rachel walked up to our table. “Hey, Shayne.”

I looked up at her standing there. “Hey. You visitin’ your sister?”

She looked back at her sister putting on a coat. “Yeah. So how have you been? Is this your girlfriend?”

“No.” Ash began to laugh. She sat back and rubbed her stomach, displaying a small baby bump.

Rachel’s eyes got huge. “Oh my God. Are you two having a kid?”

Ashley said “no’, while I said “yes.” We both looked at each other.

I looked back at Rachel. “Yeah, it’s a long story. This is my roommate Ashley. Ashley this is Rachel.”

They smiled and greeted each other. I could tell Rachel was confused and honestly, so was I. I couldn’t believe that I’d just come out and said that I was the father, to someone that obviously wanted to hook up again. What was wrong with me?

“You should give me a call sometime. We’ll hang out again.”

Megan walked up to her sister and grabbed her arm. “How many times have I told you to stay away from this guy?”

“Hi, Megan,” I said as I motioned a wave.

She curled her upper lip. “Hello and goodbye, Shayne.”

It drove me nuts that she hated me so much. Without thinking, I stood up and grabbed her arm. “Can I talk to you alone for a second?”

Rachel looked as shocked as I felt. Megan pulled her arm away from me. “No! There’s nothing you can say to me that I would find amusing.”

I looked at Rachel and then back to her sister. “I need to tell you somethin’. Please.”

She rolled her eyes and we walked outside, while Rachel lingered somewhere behind us. Once she headed toward the car, Megan turned around to face me. “What do you want, Shayne?”

“Why do you hate me?”

“Really? You wanted to get me alone to ask me that? Dude, you slept with my sister. You sleep with everyone. It’s disgusting!”

“I’m not that bad.” It wasn’t like I really slept with everyone. I had limits.

“Look, I don’t know why you want to talk to me, and I don’t even care. Please leave me alone, Shayne. I don’t want to be your friend and I want you to stay away from my sister. She doesn’t need any diseases.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and stared right at her. “That’s cold. I don’t have diseases. I just thought maybe we could start over. I’m not the bad guy you think I am.”

She pointed back toward the restaurant. “You’re here with a pregnant chick, that you claim is carrying your child, yet you’re out here, trying to hit on me.”

“I’m not hittin’ on you.”

She crossed her arms like mine. “Whatever. Can I go now?”

“Ash is a friend. We live together. I’m not the father, but the real one doesn’t want to claim responsibility, so I promised to take care of her. In fact, we’re here shopping for the nursery.”

She seemed shocked. “What’s in it for you?”

I threw my hands in the air. “Nothin’. I’m tryin’ to be a good friend to her. She needs help. You still think I’m the devil?”

Megan looked down at the ground. “Are you telling me the truth? You’re really going to take responsibility for a baby that isn’t yours?”

“Twins. She’s havin’ twins.”

That shocked her even more.

“Megan, I’m not trying to sleep with you. If I just wanted to get laid, your sister is practically spreadin’ her legs waitin’. I don’t want that. I’m sorry I hooked up with her. Lacey had kicked me out of her life and I was all fucked up about it. Your sister found me at the bar and took me home. I woke up, not knowing what happened or where I was. I swear. I know you probably don’t believe me, but that night we stayed up talkin’ meant a lot to me. You’re a nice girl and I just want a chance to be your friend.”

She shook her head and looked away. “This is weird, Shayne. Don’t you have friends at home? Why me?”

“You’re different. I want a friend who is neutral. I’m related to most of mine and I live with Ashley.”

“So you two must have benefits living in that situation.”

“I’ve never touched her. You can go right inside and ask her that. She dated my cousin for years and I’d feel wrong about bein’ with her that way. She’s a real cool girl, who has gone through Hell. She lost her best friend and the love of her life, then ended up pregnant after a one-night-stand.”

“That sucks.”

“Yeah. We’re both pretty fucked up.”

Megan took a step toward me. “I don’t like you, Shayne, but I’m wondering if maybe you aren’t as bad as I assumed. I suppose that if you’re serious about needing a friend, you could call me from time to time. If you keep your distance, I will consider answering. I will never forget seeing you with my sister, nor will there ever be a chance of us getting together.”

I put my hands up like I was surrendering. “That’s cool. I’ll prove to you that I’m not the guy you think I am.” Sure, in the back of my mind I was picturing kissing her and getting her into bed. I was a man and I had needs. First I needed to convince her that I wasn’t the devil. She was a nice girl and I was willing to take my time to get to know her. “So, I guess you’ll be hearin’ from me.”

“Whatever. Look, I’m not telling my sister about this. She thinks you’re awesome and it sort of repulses me, since she knows nothing about you.”

This girl fought for her innocence. She was a challenge and it made me want to know her more. I wanted to know why she’d never given herself to someone. “I can’t change the past.”

“Have fun shopping, Shayne. If I don’t ever talk to you again, good luck with the twins.”

I watched her get into her car before heading back into the restaurant. Ashley was picking at my plate when I sat down. I lightly smacked her hand away. “Lay off my fries.”

She laughed. “They were gettin’ cold.”

“I’m starvin’.”

“How did that go? She seemed like she wanted to rip off your balls.”

“I think she still does.” I popped a couple fries in my mouth before continuing. “I met Megan a while back and we stayed up all night just talkin’. She’s a virgin and really serious about her values. She hates me for sleepin’ with her sister. I was tryin’ to make peace.”

“She thinks we’re together doesn’t she?”

I shrugged. “It don’t matter. I’m pretty sure she’ll never talk to me again.”

“You like her don’t you? The one you didn’t sleep with?”

“Yeah, she’s different.”

Ashley smiled, but kept her opinions to herself. I knew it was a slim chance I’d ever talk to the girl again, so it wasn’t worth talking about it. “Can I get dessert?”

I laughed and handed her the menu folder. “Since you’re eatin’ for three, I guess it’s fine,” I teased.

“I’m always hungry. It sucks. My ass is going to be huge and I’ll never find a man. I’ll have to marry some old geezer from town without teeth.”

“Shut up. You’re beautiful. It don’t even matter how fat your ass gets.”

I meant it as a compliment, but for some reason, Ashley’s face turned red. “Don’t talk like that. We have to live together. We need to be ugly to each other to keep the peace. I like livin’ with you and knowin’ you don’t expect me to sleep with you. It’s comfortin.”

“All I said was that you were good lookin’. It’s nothin’ I haven’t told you before. Woman, your hormones make you whack sometimes.” I laughed it off, but wondered why she’d gotten so scared. Was I making her feel uncomfortable at home too?

I watched her eat an entire brownie sundae before we headed out to shop. After visiting the baby store, she’d picked out the cribs and the bedding. By the time we’d left she had a whole list of things she wanted. It made me feel good to be able to be involved. The twins were going to be spoiled and contrary to what everyone said, I could see Ashley changing before my eyes.

She was going to be a good mother and I’d make sure of it, whether or not they were really my kids.

Lacey

I still couldn’t get over the fact that I was in Italy. Joey’s arms held me so tightly for hours. It was as if he thought if he let go, I was going to disappear. I too, was caught up in being with him again. The familiar scent of his skin reminded me of how much I’d missed it. His hands fit perfectly over each of my ass cheeks and his naked body was hot enough to have to open the windows in the winter.

We were consumed in each other, forgetting about anything else important that could have needed attention.

We’d finally confessed our feelings. Joey said he loved me, and no matter what anyone could have told me in the past, I believed him. His eyes didn’t lie and I knew that I had, in fact, been the main reason he had to leave town.

An ache filled my heart when I thought of the exact moment that I found out he had gone. So many things raced through my mind, but nothing was more clear than my urgency to find him and bring him back to me.

We finally woke up and according to the clock it was afternoon. Not only had I not told my parents that I’d left the country, but I also hadn’t called Shayne to tell him I’d arrived safely. None of it mattered, when I considered having to leave this bed, and Joey’s arms.

He kissed me tenderly on my cheek. “How long can you stay?”

I sat up on my elbow and looked over at him. He was relaxed and content.

“I didn’t think that far ahead.”

“Well, now that you’re here, how long can you stay with me?”

“Not long. My parents will flip when they find out that I ditched school to leave the country.” I feared the conversation when they did find out.

“Lace, what if you stayed here with me? We could travel on my off days and not worry about anyone tryin’ to come between us.”

I shook my head, shocked that he would ask me to move across the globe for him. “I came here to get you to come home.” Sudden confusion was written across his face. “Everyone misses you. We can be together now.”

He shook his head and scooted his body away from mine. “It’s not that simple. This job wasn’t just about me runnin’ away. Sure, if I would have known that you’d be with me, I wouldn’t have accepted the offer, but the truth is, I applied for this position last year. When a spot opened, I knew it was an opportunity of a lifetime. Walkin’ away from this could end my career. Do you know how many chefs get this kind of break?”

Tears filled my eyes again when I realized that he wasn’t coming home with me. Not even my love could change his mind. Joey’s future was important. He’d worked so hard to get where he was. “I don’t understand. You said you wanted to be with me.” I had to still try.

“I do.”

“I can’t live here, Joey. I can’t leave my whole life and drop out of school.”

He stood there, looking down at me on the bed. Since he was in his boxers, I concentrated on his face, instead of his fabulous body. As much as I wanted more sex with him, the most recent confession was about to give me a nervous breakdown.

I began to sob, thinking about walking away from this man that I felt like I didn’t want to be without. He’d entered my heart even when I didn’t want him anywhere near it. Now, I couldn’t bear to let him go.

“I can’t leave, Lacey. I’m sorry. I know you must hate me, but this is what I’ve wanted my whole life. I’m not askin’ you to live here forever. It’s just for six months to a year.” He reached for my hands and kneeled in front of me. “Just consider it. Things would be so much easier if you were here with me. I’m so fuckin’ lonely and the thought of you goin’ home will drive me nuts.”

I cried harder. “It’s not that simple. I have to finish school. My parents don’t even know I’m here. They won’t understand, because I never told them about you. I’m so sorry.”

Joey looked down at the sheets. “I understand. It sucks, but I understand.”

I pulled his hands toward me, getting his attention. “If I could, I’d stay here with you, in this bed for as long as possible. You and I both know we have obligations. We can’t drop our lives and not regret it at some point.”

“I know. What do we do now? Do we spend the next couple days fallin’ deeper for each other and then act like everythin’s okay when you have to go home?”

Joey was upset. The pain was written across his face. My heart ached for him and the thought of leaving. After all of the miscommunications between us, we were finally on the same page. Walking away from him would be horribly difficult. “We can have a long-distance relationship.”

He shook his head and paced around the room. “I don’t even know what that is, Lace. You’re askin’ me to pour my heart out to you every night, when I can’t be with you physically? What kind of relationship is that?”

“People do it all the time, “I argued.

He ran his hands through his dark hair, frustrated. “It’s stupid. It’s worse than not bein’ together at all. I don’t want to worry about you bein’ so far away. I don’t want to hear your voice on the phone and miss you like crazy.” He threw his arms up. “I don’t want to feel like this!”

I tried to regain composure over myself, instead of being a babbling baby, but he was breaking my heart. This wasn’t how I’d played things out in my head. I wanted to be with Joey, but it wasn’t going to happen unless we were living on the same continent. It seemed as if we were doomed before ever having a chance at a real relationship.