Second Chance Romance (19 page)

“I’m sorry
, Chase.” I stood up and went to pack. My phone chimed and I realized I forgot to turn it back off. Of course it was from Noah.

A hundred days have made me older since the last time that I saw your pretty face. A thousand lies have made me colder and I don’t think I can look at this the same. But all the miles disappear now when I’m dreaming of your face. I’m here without baby. But you’re still with me in my dreams.

I know where you are now. I’m not going to chase you. I’ll see you in my dreams tonight.
I’ll love you forever. Noah.

Noah

Jackson and I were sitting in his kitchen and Ellie had just arrived. The two of them were so in love it was sickening. They were going to end up together whether they wanted to admit it or not. Jackson grudgingly allowed Carrie to come over for a little while but she quickly ducked out as soon as Ellie showed up. I knew she wasn’t Ellie’s number one fan and Ellie was most certainly not hers, but I couldn’t understand why Carrie refused to be in the same room as her. Ellie at least made an effort to be cordial towards her.

“Noah
, how many weeks is Carrie now?” Ellie asked.

“Eighteen almost nineteen. Why?” I could tell that this wasn’t an out of the blue question.

“Because that’s how far along Jules was when she lost the baby. She had a pretty good bump by then, Carrie doesn’t have one at all.”

“Carrie said some people carry differently than others.” I said quickly, almost defensive.

“Chill bro, it was just a statement.” Jackson snapped. I knew I was being a super asshole ever since my phone finder app alerted me to Jules’ whereabouts last week. I was not happy to find out that she was staying with Chase. I knew I was in denial. She left with him and they were supposedly engaged now, but I wanted to drive down there and bring her home. Jackson grudgingly reminded me of my place now, and it wasn’t with Jules. Ever since my trip back home I’d really been trying to work things out with Carrie. I even went as far as recently re-proposing to her, so we could get married before the baby’s arrival. She of course was over the moon, but made a snarky remark about the ring. The same ring I gave her the last time. I brushed it off. I was willing to do anything at this point for my, our, baby. I’d suffer the rest of my life with her if it meant that I could be with my son or daughter.

“Sorry.” I apologized.

“I just think the whole thing is weird. She refuses to see Melissa, one of the best OB’s in the city and every time she has an ‘appointment’ (she air quoted) she miraculously forgets to tell you. We have yet to see an ultrasound picture too. Jules had one at twelve weeks Noah.” Her name was like a taser to my system every time I heard it. I’ve never heard Ellie talk about the baby in detail before. I knew she was around during the whole pregnancy but she never talked about it until now.

“What do y
ou want me to tell you?” I snapped, again.

“Have you been sleeping together again?” Ellie snapped back.

“No. I can’t.” I stammered. I didn’t even see Carrie like that anymore. How was I supposed to marry someone I didn’t even want to kiss?

“So you haven’t seen her naked?
I’m just saying this doesn’t make much sense Noah. I’m just trying to protect you, so stop being an asshole to me!” She turned and went to the living room. She pulled out her phone and started texting. I wondered if she was texting Jules and I was jealous.

“Ellie has a point man.” Jackson started. “I mean she’s rushing to get you back to alter and some things are definitely off now that Ellie brought that stuff up. Just be careful.” Jackson reiterated and patted me on the shoulder.

“I’ll see you guys later.” I stood and headed to the parking garage.

I thought about how I
re-proposed last week. She already mailed the wedding invitations out for our wedding that was supposed to take place in two weeks. Two weeks! She said she didn’t want to be too big to fit in her dress, which made sense. Then the more I thought about it she wasn’t big at all. I pushed that thought aside and headed home. I ordered in and decided to call Melissa; she would know the answers. We had been talking a lot because of my first time dad questions.

“Hello
, Noah.” She answered on the third ring.

“Hey Melissa. Do you have a minute?” I asked.

“Sure, give me a minute to close the door.” She paused. “Alright, shoot.”

“I was with Jackson and Ellie before
, they brought up a couple things that I wanted to talk to you about.”

“I’m all ears.”

“Ellie said that when Jules was pregnant she had a ultrasound at twelve weeks. Is that normal?”

“Yes
, usually around then to check the baby’s development. In most cases we usually do one even earlier to pin point an accurate due date. They’re usually done at twelve weeks, twenty weeks and then at least another two before delivery to track development and to make sure there aren’t any issues. Carrie has had one, right?”

“Not that I know of. I haven’t seen any ultrasound pictures
and she hasn’t mentioned one.”

“Well, she should have her twenty week check up in a little over two weeks
. That’s when you can find out the gender, but she should have had one already.” I took a deep breath and processed the information. My hand was starting to tremble. Two weeks…

“She’s also not really showing at all.”

“That could be something to worry about but all women carry differently and some don’t really show until they are five or six months especially the first time around. Do you know who her attending is? I’ve asked her a couple times but she out right ignores me.”

“I think it’s
Luanne Garba, I’m not sure.” I ran my hands through my hair and for the first time in months I truly felt uncertain.

“Listen I’ll see what I can find out for you. She’s affiliated with the same hospital
as me so the next time I am there for a delivery I’ll see if I can’t pull her records. You cannot breathe a word to anyone about this. I could lose my license because of that Noah.” She said sternly.

“I’d really appreciate that Melissa. Thank you.” I said sincerely.

“Anytime. I’ll be in touch.” She disconnected the call and I walked to my end table. I picked up Jules’ note and held it between my fingers. I’d never forget her. As I was eating my dinner a text popped up. My heart went into overdrive when I saw the sender. Jules.

I miss you too. Just so you know, there's a space that only you can fill. Just so you know, I loved you then, I guess I always will. We both need to move on now. Be happy Noah.

My heart jumped into my throat.

I don’t know how to be happy without you. I’ve tried. It’s just so fucking hard! You ruined me. I love YOU
!
  
I replied.

Nobody said it would be easy, but you’ll figure it out. Take care Noah.

My life had been turned upside down yet again when Melissa called me two days before the wedding was supposed to take place and asked me to meet her for lunch. She apologized for not getting back to me sooner. She said she had been really busy and hadn’t had a chance to get into the system. I told her I could meet her in forty minutes and she said that worked for her. When I saw her at the restaurant she looked like she was a celebrity hiding from the paparazzi. She slid over so I could slip into the booth next to her. She ordered me a double Jack and I knew it wasn’t good news.

“Noah.” She said placing her hand on mine. “I looked up her records yesterday and there is nothing other than a normal check up three months ago. They even
ran blood and urine screens. Even if she were only a couple of weeks the blood work would have picked it up. She’s not pregnant Noah.” I felt betrayed, like I’d been the asshole, the brunt of some sick joke. I was going to pass out, or throw up, or throw something.

Melissa pushed the shot in front of me and I downed it quickly. I knew I needed to confront Carrie
. My mind went to Jules and how she was the only one that could probably save me from this darkness. I thanked Melissa and headed out on a mission. I made a couple phone calls and decided that revenge is a dish best served cold.

She wanted to make a joke out of me I’d do her one better.

Jules

I’d been in England a little over two weeks now
. I was enjoying getting to know my younger brother Harry. I pretty much avoided my dad because even though he allowed me to come here it turns out zebras don’t change their stripes. We tried talking a few times, but things were just too far-gone and there was too much hurt for us to have a real relationship. Harry on the other hand was a great kid. He helped me keep my mind off of things at home. It was weird at first because he’s eighteen and we had never met before, but we bonded quickly. His mom, Meredith, seemed nice enough but I hadn’t spent much time with her either. I had a small loft to myself that had a private entrance, which I was eternally grateful for. No one other than my dad knew where I had taken off to, not even Ellie.

“So tell me about the States.” Harry asked.

“What do you want to know?” I laughed. He was an inquisitive little bugger.

“What are your mates like? What did you do for fun? Stuff like that.” He said in his adorable British accent.

“Well, my best friend back home is Ellie and she’s awesome. We live together in a little house outside New York City and we worked together. She’s really funny. We met at boarding school when I was sixteen and have been best friends ever since.”

“What did you do for work?”
How was I supposed to answer that?

“Um, I, um… I danced.” I stuttered.

“Like ballet?”

“Something like that.” I smiled.

“What about your other friends? Dad said something about some guy and that’s the reason you were coming here.”

“That
would be Noah, he was my best friend growing up. My mom is not like your mom.  She’s not very nice. She’s vindictive and likes things to go her way. When I was sixteen she forced me to move with her and her new boyfriend to New York so Noah and I were separated. But, we found each other again not too long ago and had a whirlwind romance. Some things happened and here I am.” I tried to muster some enthusiasm.
“He didn’t hurt you did he? I’ll kill him if he did.” It was so adorable how he stuck up for me. Though, he could probably defend me if necessary, he was a big kid. He was into boxing and wrestling. He was also on a rugby team and I’d even gone to a couple of his games since my arrival.

“No. He didn’t hurt me
, not like you’re thinking. Just some grown up stuff that neither of us had any control of.” I patted his shoulder. I walked over to the end table and pulled out a picture of Noah and I and handed it to him.

“You both look really happy here.” He observed. “Whatever happened maybe you could get past it. You only get one life, no dress rehearsal so we should make the best out of every day because there is no guarantee that you are going to wake up tomorrow.”

“You’re awfully wise for being so young Harry. We’ve made our peace and we’re moving on. I’ll get there one day, I’m just not ready yet.” I held back my tears as he handed me back the photo. I ran my thumb over Noah’s beautiful face before placing it back in the drawer. We talked for a couple more hours and watched a movie before turning in for the night.

At three in the morning my phone started ringing off the hook. I reached over to see who it was. It was Chase, I declined but it
kept ringing again and again. I knew there had to be some reason for him calling me consecutively this early in the morning.

“What!” I barked.

“Jules there’s a problem. I need to talk to you. You’re going to hate me.” He was speaking a mile a minute. When he was finished my blood was boiling.

“You fucking did what!!!!!” I screamed. “
Please tell me you’re kidding, Chase.”

“I’m so, so, sorry Jules.” I hung up before he could say anything else. I called the airline and booked the first flight I could get. I went to say goodbye to Harry and told him he had better come visit me soon and that I would be back. I didn’t want to wake my dad so I left him a note and I waited for the taxi.

Noah

I didn’t even look at the speedometer
, but I knew I was going well above the posted speed limit following the GPS directions. Randall had flown me to the nearest heliport in his private helicopter and even had a rental waiting for me when we landed. When I called him I didn’t even get out more than two sentences before he told me to meet him. He said he’d take me himself.

H
e told me we had to fix this mess.

Randall was a man with connections galore
and this was one of the times that I was more than grateful. When I pulled up to the little cabin in a secluded part of North Carolina I saw a familiar car. It was Jules’ Infiniti. I barreled into the driveway and started pounding down the door like a madman. Jules didn’t answer, Chase did. I punched him right in the face because deep down I knew he had something to do with this too.