Second Chance Romance (12 page)

“This is going to change things with the hearing though. I’m sure there are pictures of the two of you. Someone could have gotten a hold of them and they could be used against you as evidence.”

“I know. I’m really sorry Noah. My love life has always been a mess, I’m terrible at it.”

“You’re not terrible at it, you just haven’t been with the right person.” I knew he was right. When all was said and done he’s the only one and it scared me. He smiled and led me back to the bedroom to continue packing.

We curled up in bed and watched television. It seemed so domesticated. I turned to look at him and he smiled contently. With all of this behind me, and the fact that he was still here I decided it was safe enough to let him in a little. I let my wall down.

“Noah, please don’t make me fall for you if you don’t plan on catching me.”

“I’ll always catch you baby, always. I wish there was some way I could make you understand how I feel. I give you what you want in the bedroom because I know it’s what you think you need, but every time we’re together it’s with love. I’m going to earn your love again, you’ll see.” We kissed and actually made love for the first time, since our first time. It didn’t even do my memory justice…

CHAPTER ELEVEN
Now or Never

When I woke up the next morning the bed was empty. I freaked out thinking that maybe after my confession last night that he may have changed is mind. There was a note on my pillow telling me to have a good day and that he loved me. I smiled and headed to the kitchen, I regretted it almost immediately.

“Morning princess.” Jackson was sitting at the breakfast bar.
Does this place have a revolving door or something? Didn’t he just have the locks changed?

“Morning… I’ll be right back.” I scurried back to bedroom and put some more clothes on. I only had a pair of boy-shorts and a tank top on. I knew that he’d seen me in less at work, but here it just felt wrong. I put on a pair of pajama bottoms on and walked back to the kitchen.

“I should come here first thing in the morning more often.” He teased.

“I should wear clothes more often.” I joked back.

“So, Noah left already and I figured maybe we could go grab breakfast or something. I figured we should get to know each other since you’re dating my best friend.”

“Um, sure, let me go get changed. Again.” I looked at what he was wearing so I could dress similar. He had on a pair of jeans, a long sleeve white polo shirt and sneakers. I headed into the closet and picked out a black sweater, skinny jeans and knee high black boots. I grabbed my new jacket since it was starting to get really cold in the morning.

“I’m ready.” We went to the parking garage and he hit his key fab.
Holy shit!

“What kind of car is that?” I asked. It was literally the most beautiful car I’d ever seen.

“It’s the 2012 Aston Martin Vanquish V12 Black Carbon Edition.”

“Okay, whatever all that means. She’s sexy, I think I’m in love.”

“Hey, she’s taken.” He opened the door for me and the inside was just as nice as the outside. I wanted one, I knew if it got back to Noah he’d probably have one parked there when I got home.

“Do not tell Noah I said that.”

“Why? Are you afraid of what he’ll do if I do?”

“Yes. You know exactly what he’d do.”

“Unfortunately I do.” He laughed. We headed across town to a retro diner and ordered breakfast. We talked about our meeting with his dad sans the Chase part. Then he started asking the tough questions that I would expect from a protective best friend. I told him my reasons for holding back. He went on to tell me about all the things he found confusing about life, which was a lot. He told me about his on again off again thing with a girl named Lexi. He was enjoying sewing his oats and wasn’t sure he could commit to just her. I told him how I felt about Noah but that I was apprehensive because I didn’t want to us to cling to one another just because we had a past. He said he didn’t see that way, more like we were soul mates. I explained to him that I couldn’t have kids, which Noah had already told him. Jackson said the same thing that Noah had, that he didn’t care. I still found that hard to believe.

“You don’t know what tomorrow will bring. It’s now or never.” It was quite philosophical coming from him. When we were done with the heavy talk he changed to a lighter subject. 

“Why do porn sites have a ‘share to Facebook’ button? Who watches porn and thinks ‘You know who would really like this? My family and friends.’ I mean seriously” I nearly choked on my omelet.

“I guess you never know.” I laughed.

“Did Noah tell you about when we got our first apartment together we went to IKEA and we were looking for furniture?” I shook my head no. “Well, I hid in one of the closet unit thingy’s and walked out saying ‘I’m from Narnia.’ and another time I got really drunk at a party and harassed some kid because I thought he was Harry Potter.”

“Jackson, you should totally date with my best friend Ellie, I swear you guys would be like two peas in a pod.”

“Maybe I’ll ask her out sometime. So, tell me about this professor.” I cringed.
I swear boy’s gossip worse than girls!

“I’m sure you already know his name, Chase Mitchell. We met during my sophomore year at Columbia, he was a masters student at the time. He was really good looking and we just kind of clicked. We dated for almost two years, by then he had graduated and wanted to be closer to his family. His dad had gotten really sick so we decided to part ways, no hard feelings. We kept in touch and he visited a couple times but I had no idea he was planning on coming back. He said he got the job right before the semester started, we didn’t know he would be my professor but our relationship ended a long time ago.”

“So, I don’t need to worry about you hurting Noah?”

“Absolutely not.”

“But you kissed him.”
Ugh! Damn Noah…

“It was a goodbye kiss, nothing more!”

“No need to get all defensive princess, just stating the facts.”

“Sorry, I guess I’m just on edge lately. Things between Chase and I are in the past and that’s where they are staying.” I said firmly.

“Glad to hear it. Are you excited to go upstate later? It’s a nice place.”

“I’m looking forward to getting away for a bit. It will be nice to have some alone time with Noah.”

Jackson paid for breakfast and offered to let me drive home. I practically tackled him for the keys.

Carrie

“I have to take this.” I said to my dad, who had just came to straighten things out at the police station because that stupid whore pressed charges. I answered my phone.

“Well is it taken care of?” I asked.

“I’m working on it. She got the letter from the dean today. Are you sure this is what you want it could end up backfiring on both of us.”

“Oh, I’m sure. I want Noah Sinclair and I always get what I want.”

My plan was brilliant, luckily I had gotten a certain someone who wanted her just as much as I did to take the bait. Everyone had a price.

Noah

“Hey baby. I’m all done with court, I have to go back to the office and do some paperwork. I’ll be home in an hour or so. Do you want me to stop for anything before I get home?”

“I’m good, I’m actually out with Jackson right now. He let me drive his car! I guess we’ll head back now.”

“Wow, he must really like you, no one drives his car.” I laughed. “See you soon.” I hung up the phone. I quickly finished up at the office and headed home.

I parked in my spot and headed to the elevator. When I opened the door I was surprised to see Ellie there. Jules was clinging to Jackson for dear life.

I thought I heard laughing, but I quickly realized it Jules crying, hysterically.

I rushed to her, I wanted to scold Jackson for not calling me. She probably convinced him not to because she hated interfering with my work.

“Jules what happened?” She let go of Jackson and wrapped her arms around me. She shook her head letting me know that she couldn’t speak just yet. I looked at Jackson.

“She got a phone call right after we got back, who ever it was really upset her. She started crying. I told her I was going to call you and she freaked out, so I called Ellie.” I scooped her up in my arms and carried her to the bedroom leaving Jackson and Ellie behind. I placed her on the bed and took my jacket off sliding in next to her. She pressed her face into my neck.

“Shhh. Everything’s okay Jules. I’m here.” I whispered into her hair.

“No it’s not.” She choked and handed me her phone. She pulled up a voicemail and I pressed play to listen.

“Well, well you can’t even answer the phone for your own mother. How long has it been you little slut? I heard your whoring around has caused even more problems, as if it should come as a surprise. No one will ever want you for anything other than that Julia, ever.” The message ended. I had to refrain from calling that bitch back and giving her a piece of my mind. I knew that the façade that Jules kept of being tough as nails was faltering before me, she was breaking.

“I don’t know how she found me Noah. How does she know what’s going on?”

“I don’t know, we’ll figure it out. Get cleaned up and ready to leave. I’m going to go talk to Jackson and Ellie.” I walked into the living room and told them about the message. I thought Ellie might explode, she was so angry, she went on a tangent about how she couldn’t understand how a mother could act like that. Abigail Kline was an ice queen, for as long as I could remember the way she treated Jules was more of a nuisance than a child. I asked Jackson to have his uncle Ethan to call in some favors, hopefully he would be able to shine some light onto the situation. Ethan said he would do what he could and said he was going to look into Chase as well. Jackson was going to go lend a hand, Ellie said she’d help too. I thanked both of them. They yelled a good-bye to Jules and headed out the door. I checked to make sure that everything was ready for our getaway, I was hoping it would be a good distraction for her. I carried our bags down to the Jeep and opened her door. She was very quiet for most of the trip, I didn’t want to press her, and I knew that she would talk if she wanted to. When we were about three-quarters there she spoke.

“She’s right you know.”

“What do you mean? You are
not
a whore Jules. She’s a spiteful bitch, she has done nothing but use you as a pawn you’re entire life.”

“No, but no one is ever going to want me for me, they’re just going to want me for my body. Even look at us.”

“That’s not true, I like your body, but I love you. You have my heart in the palm of your hand, what you do with it is up to you, but it beats for you. You’re the one that wanted to keep it casual, if I had it my way we would be on a plane to Vegas right now.”

“And what about all my hold ups? I’m just like her, I’m selfish. I come with so much baggage, like a
U-Haul full. I can’t have kids, my life’s ambition is to write for the Rolling Stone. You have your shit together, you’re a lawyer. You come from a normal family, you’re everything I’m not.” She said sadly.
“You’re the most unselfish person I know, Jules. They say opposites attract, I think you forget how much we have in common. I don’t know how many times I have to tell you the baby thing isn’t a deal breaker. We’ll go see Melissa when we get back or maybe I could convince them to come up over the weekend, either way I want you. What can I do to make you see that?” She started crying and I wanted to punch myself for pushing her when she was already upset.

Then something occurred to me, a missing piece to the puzzle.

When I had gone to visit her after she moved, it was spring break. Her school closed for breaks and holidays and students had to go home. I wanted to surprise her since every time I tried calling her it was like my number was blocked, or I would get voicemail. Abigail had told me she was away with a new boyfriend. Really she was probably still in the hospital recovering from losing
our
baby. Needless to say, I was devastated beyond comprehension, especially since I was going to be moving to the city that summer to get ready for school. I had chosen Fordham just so I could be closer to her. I hated Abigail more than ever…

“Do you love me Jules? I mean really love me?”

“I think I do, but I don’t know if I’m confusing my feelings. I’m scared Noah.”

“Without over thinking what does your heart tell you?”

“That I love you.” She whispered.

“Then take the gloves off and quit fighting it. Just let it happen, let me in.” I pleaded before continuing. “I had no idea what really happened when I came to visit you, I do now. She told me you were away on spring break with a new boyfriend, I was devastated. Honestly, I didn’t date for a long time after I found out. You can ask Jackson, I was a recluse when I started school. Eventually when I started dating again I felt the same way you do right now, I was scared shitless. I had a couple girlfriends before Carrie but nothing serious. Even with Carrie it wasn’t what I wanted, it was what I thought I did, mostly because I needed to move on from you and it killed me. She pushed me for a long time to marry her and I agreed because I thought it was what I wanted. I never thought there was a possibility of
us
again, I figured that you would have moved on with your life. I thought you would probably be married or something because any man lucky enough to have you should know enough to cherish you.”