Trusting Fate (7 page)

“
Jace, I appreciate the candor, I do, but you lied to me today. You made me feel the one thing I haven
’
t felt in a really long time
…
and that
’
s dread. I was terrified and I have worked hard, I mean
really
hard, to not be vulnerable to any man ever again. I just need to know what this is between us. I mean, we have gone on one date, which if I have to be honest was all I needed. I knew that I was a goner that night, but I told you that my life is complicated. Did you freak out because I told you that I do not know who Theo
’
s father is?
”
I asked. He blushed.
Caught ya. I knew that was it.

“
No, it
’
s not that. Believe me when I say it
’
s so not that. It
’
s how I think about you every single day of my existence
…”
he said, stepping closer to the door and closer to me.
“
It
’
s how I dream about you at night, or how I think about your body and your smile with every breath I take,
”
he said, almost panting.

Shit I
’
m a goner, I am so gone and I need him so much it
’
s like needing the air I breathe.
Without even thinking, I leaned forward and our lips met. It was like a wick meeting a flame. It blew me away, I had never felt so much passion and I had my share of men.

He pushed us through the doorway, picking me up so that I was straddling his body, and the kissing just kept going. Before I knew it, he had me on top of my dining room table and he was kissing the insides of my thighs. I was writhing with pleasure, my body was on fire and this man was doing it. Things just kept going further and further until I heard what I thought was vomiting in the other room.

“
Wait, stop. I am so sorry. Jace, I think Theo is awake.
”
I said almost embarrassed. He pulled himself off of me and looked almost as flushed as I felt.

I ran down the hall and found Theo standing over the toilet throwing up.
“
Oh baby boy, what
’
s wrong? Does your belly hurt?
”
I asked, stroking his back.

“
It hurts bad, Mommy. I don
’
t know why. I was rolling around in bed for a real long time because it hurts so bad. And Mommy, I am so cold. Why am I so cold?
”
he whimpered. It broke my heart. This was Theo
’
s first stomach bug.

I quickly changed his sheets and pajamas, and then before I could even turn out his light he was already asleep again. I laid a trashcan down in front of his bed and left his door open. I realized as I was walking out of his room that Jace was still here.
Oh crap.
I raced down the hall into the living room.

“
Jace, I am so sorry, he got sick to his stomach. I shouldn
’
t have been so irresponsible. Maybe we should call it a night, because I know I smell like vomit,
”
I said putting my head down to look at my feet. I heard him laugh softly and he grabbed my chin and tilted my head up to meet his eyes.

“
Gabby, it
’
s not like I have never smelled vomit before; really do not worry about it at all. If you don
’
t mind, I can help you clean up. Do you have a washer and dryer?
”
he asked so calmly like this wouldn
’
t be the grossest date ever. I nodded my head and motioned for him to come with me, smiling the whole way.

I watched him trying to figure out which one was the washer and which was the dryer.

“
Jace, see the one with the lid on top?
”
I said giggling.
“
That is the washer.
”

“
Of course. I knew that,
”
he said looking embarrassed. We laughed and talked for a few hours in my laundry room. Every once in a while, I crept back into Theo
’
s room to check on him. He did not seem to be running a fever, so I guess it was just something that he ate.

Spending time with Jace so domestically was really a turn on for me. Watching him fold sheets and the way his muscles moved up and down was enough to make a girl combust.
Geez, Gabby, calm down.

I had to keep myself in check, refusing to try to jump this man while my sick child slept in the other room. But I had to admit that I really wanted see more of Jace on a personal level. Being with him just felt natural, like the fact that he almost ran me over with his car was supposed to happen. I never used to believe in fate but when I got pregnant with Theo and he changed my entire life, I became a believer. I truly think that fate stepped in and gave me this gift of Theo to save my life. So far he has done just that.

“
So Gabby, it
’
s getting late and as much fun as I am having with you and all this laundry, I think I should get going. Mostly because if I stay, I will want to do more than laundry, and I cannot control myself like I should,
”
he smiled.

“
I have to admit it to myself Jace
…
I cannot control myself either,
”
I said grinning from ear to ear at him. I walked him to my front door and he kissed me on the cheek.
What the heck, a peck on the cheek? What are we, twelve? Calm down Gabby, he is being polite and you know that you cannot control yourself. Yes I know, Okay. Dammit.

I watched him as he walked down my driveway and got into his car, wishing so much that he could stay. I knew it wasn
’
t time yet. The thoughts were swirling in my head and I knew that I would not get any sleep tonight. Especially knowing that I had to see him tomorrow. I tried to lie down anyways and get some rest, but the next thing I knew, I heard Theo throwing up again, screaming my name.
Crap it
’
s gonna be a long night.

Jace

The drive home was torturous. I mean, what kind of chump am I to just bid her farewell for the night, knowing good and well that she wanted me just as much as I wanted her. The gentleman-like kind I guess. I could not believe that kid totally cock blocked me.
No, don
’
t be an ass. That kid could be yours and he cannot help being sick.
Still, I could not control my thoughts about this remarkable woman. She will probably not get an ounce of sleep tonight, but not from thinking about me
…
it
’
s because she is an incredible mother. I hope the poor little guy gets better soon. I didn
’
t like that he was sick and yet I don
’
t even know him. But one thing is for sure
…
I will soon.

Chapter 11

Jace

Gabby text me this morning to let me know that Theo was up all night sick with a fever and vomiting, so she hadn
’
t slept at all. I told her to take as much time as she needed. Most companies frowned upon mothers taking time off to be with their sick children, but I was not one of those bosses to guilt a mother into coming into work and making her find some back-up babysitter to take her sick child, knowing that all she wanted to do was be home with her child. Just didn
’
t make sense to me. But once I got her message, I was worried, for her and for Theo. I needed to get an answer soon, but I was afraid to lose her. I talked to a few more of my friends, but none of them could help me do a legal paternity test without notifying the mother because Theo is a minor. That really put a damper on things. I quickly got to work and started to go through my usual pile of daily crap to sign off on.

***

So Gabby text me on Tuesday that she would not be in because Theo was sick. It is now Friday and she has not been in. Don
’
t get me wrong, at first I thought she was avoiding me like maybe she thought she was making a mistake, but then I checked in on them on Wednesday and I was shocked to see Gabby crying when she answered the door. She reassured me that she was just tired, but it still bothered me. I just stopped in long enough to give her some soup for Theo and some movies and magazines for her. She looked overwhelmed, but would not let me stay and help.

I find myself worrying about them both constantly, this cannot be healthy or normal, but I surely cannot help it. I spent all weekend literally doing nothing but waiting for texts or calls from Gabby-it is actually pathetic, but I do not care. I just want to be in her life and know what is happening.

Gabby

It took about a week and a half for Theo to get over the nasty bug that he had, and I followed him around with a Lysol can because taking a week and a half off of work sucks for me big time, so I did not want to get what he had; so far so good. It is Friday and I am finally able to send Theo back to preschool and I can go back to work. I feel blessed to be working for someone like Jace. Normally I would be so freaked out and mad even that Jace would let me off because he likes me, but I am not going to complain because Theo comes before any silly job would. I have never missed work because of him either, so that was a first.

I walked in and sat down at my desk, quickly glancing at Jace
’
s door that was propped open; he was on the phone.
Good. Give me a minute to catch my breath and log into my computer.
I feel flustered when he is waiting for me as I walk in. Flattered, but flustered.

The rest of the week flew by in the blink of an eye. I had a lot to catch up on since I was gone, and I did not mind the distraction from Jace and his smile. He emailed me during the day and sent me sweet text messages even though he was five feet away from me, but I liked it; it made me feel young and it was something that I missed out on.

I had reluctantly said yes to a weekend with Jace; he wanted to spend time with both Theo and me. It would be a huge step for me to introduce Theo to a man I was dating, but an exciting one.

Chapter 12

Jace

The past few weeks that I spent with Gabby and Theo were incredible, we got to know each other in so many ways. Although I fear that there are still secrets between us, but we are still getting to know each other and I am ok with her having secrets if she is not comfortable telling me yet. I wished I could tell her mine but I cannot lose her, so I refuse to let myself be so honest. Everything else about myself has been the truth.

I told her about my brother passing away, which was hard for me. He died from leukemia, which was not even in my family. We were all shocked when we found out he had known for a while and did not tell anyone. The bastard waited until he was almost dead to make the announcement. He was supposed to take over this damn company for the family, not me. But before he died, he asked me to get over my hatred for our father and step up to run the company. It was hard to swallow my pride, but I did it for my brother.

Gabby understood all of it, she told me about her younger years and how she did not see eye to eye with her parents because of how religious they were.

She grew up with structure and God in her life, and I grew up with no mother, and a father who drank his dinner most nights and had a new woman in the bedroom he had shared with my mother almost every night. I hated him with every fiber of my being, but I had to grow up and move on, so that is what I was trying to do.

I had just dozed off into a deep sleep when my phone started ringing. I almost ignored it because I assumed it was an annoying client, and it was 11 at night. They could wait. But I glanced at my screen and saw Gabby
’
s number. I grabbed it as fast as I could and answered.

“
Gabby, what
’
s wrong? It
’
s so late,
”
I asked, curious.

“
Jace, I am so sorry to call this late. Please forgive me, but I
…
I need help. I would normally call my parents, but they would worry themselves to death,
”
she said, sounding like she had been crying.

“
Gabby, I would do anything for you. Whatever it is. What can I do?
”
I said in a panic.

“
I just need you here with me,
”
she said almost in tears.