Keep Holding On

Opening my eyes as the sun beats upon my face, I forget where I am for just a moment. Then my mouth turns into a smile as I remember every mind-blowing detail. I reach over trying to find my bedmate to go at it again, feeling the urge through my body to feel every inch of his body on mine once again, I realize he isn’t there. I look around the room hoping he got out of bed to replenish himself, but he isn’t anywhere to be seen.

Suddenly I begin to think last night was irresponsible. I pull the white sheet tighter around my body running through how many times we had sex last night and I begin to lose count. It wasn’t just irresponsible, it was dangerous. I know the repercussions of my mistakes; not only is he a total stranger, but neither of us used protection.

“Good morning,” Brandon stated walking into the room with a cup in one hand and a small bag in another. He handed both items to her seconds after kissing her forehead.

“How did you know,” she asked digging into the Juniper’s sack where a large cheese Danish awaited her and the mocha latte was another she had craved.

“Lucky guess,” he smiled sitting down on the bed next to her. “Why the sour look on your face? I thought you would need some nutriment after last night’s marathon.”

Brandon looked up at her trying to read what she was thinking, he wanted to know everything about this woman, even though he knew more than most. He knew the spot on her body that made her squirm in ecstasy, he knew about her family, and he knew where she liked to eat in the mornings and her favorite drink. He knew more than most and he enjoyed every part of her.

“About last night,” Paige explained, “that isn’t like me. I don’t pick up guys in the night and have wild sex with them. That’s not me.”

“It was wild wasn’t it?”

“Brandon,” Paige sighed. “I’m serious, here. I had a scare a few months back that I’m still healing over and last night bought it all back.”

“I understand. We could go just be two strangers passing in the night and forget everything that happened.”

Paige’s head snapped up to him and shook her head. She didn’t want that, no matter how hard she tried she could never forget the intense feeling she felt for him or the way their bodies meshed so well together.

“That’s not what I want, far from it,” she replied. “I just want to tell you if it happens again, which I would like it to, we have to be more careful.”

“I’m one hundred percent positive it will happen again and I will be more careful next time,” he agreed making her believe that she was in total control of their relationship.

He wanted to be part of her life no matter what, but he was no fool. He wouldn’t let any woman get under his skin like the last one did. He would lead with his head this time and not make the same mistake again.

Charlotte sprinted out of the kitchen at Juniper’s carrying the hot dish for the angry customer at table twelve. Her day had started off horrible when her alarm clock didn’t go off on time, and then Ella had decided to have an accident through the night making Charlotte late opening the restaurant. It had seemed that every customer had something to complain about through the morning. This one’s toast was cold, this one wanted decaf instead of regular, and this customer wanted their eggs scrambled instead of over easy. Everything she had tried to do to make things better, it didn’t work.

“Is everything okay,” Charlotte asked the family at table twenty-two.

“Our son wanted chocolate milk,” the mother said handing the cup to Charlotte.

“Miss, can we get a refill, please,” another table requested.

“Miss, it’s been ten minutes, where’s our food,” another customer shouted.

Ten minutes later Charlotte had things slightly under control when she heard the bell above the entrance ding. As she walked towards the kitchen she saw the man ask Ashley a question, and seconds later Ashley turned around and pointed to her.

“Are you, Charlotte Parker,” the man asked her before she had time to enter the kitchen.

“Yes, can I help you,” she said.

He reached inside his blazer and handed her the documents.

“You’ve been served, have a nice day,” the young man told her.

Charlotte stood there baffled at what just happened. Tearing the document open, she read it over as quickly as she could.

“Son of a -,” Charlotte shouted. “I’m going to kill him.”

“What is it,” Ashley wondered letting her curiosity get the best of her.

“Tyler is suing me for full custody of Ella. This says I’m unfit to raise a child and he can prove it,” Charlotte explained running through the document again. “I have to go, Ashley, tell my dad I’ll be back.”

Seconds later she was out of the door trying to figure out what Tyler was thinking. What would make him do this to her? Why? From the moment she had been born, Tyler had always promised he would never do such a thing to Charlotte. She began to wonder if Tyler’s father had anything to do with the sudden turn of events. And what sort of evidence did they have that could show that she was an unfit mother.

Rory sat at the end of the tub trying to think of something to pass the time. The small test strip took three minutes and after looking at her watch for the third time, she wasn’t sure if she could wait until minute and half. She knew what she would do if the test came back positive, yet every inch of her knew it could ruin so many lives.

“Honey, are you okay in there,” Rick shouted knocking on the bathroom door.

“Fine,” she replied standing up when she caught a glimpse of the door handle being turned. “I’m not decent.”

“I’ve seen it all before,” he commented trying to open the door.

“No, don’t come in, please,” she begged trying to push the door closed. He outweighed her by a good seventy-five pounds and it was worthless hiding the truth from him. “Fine, come in.”

She opened the door welcoming him into the room letting him see what she was hiding. He noticed the empty box sitting next to the test on the counter instantly. He beamed with pride as he grabbed his wife and swung her around in his arms.

“Are you sure,” he asked seconds after putting her back down on the floor.

“That is sort of what the test is for,” she retorted. “I’m five days later and I’m the most regular person there is, you know that? So, I bought the test, hoping it’s a mistake.”

“This is what we have always wanted, I don’t want it to be a mistake,” Rick explained. “I’ve always wanted a child with you, but you kept telling me that the time was terrible. It’s not now. If you want me to quit the force, I will, if that is what it takes for you to be happy about this.”

The timer went off on her watch indicting it was time to see if her life would change forever. Rick stood behind her looking over her shoulders ready for his family to finally extend. Her head dropped when she noticed the positive sign on the small stick. She turned around letting Rick hold her with him in pure joy and her aching for someone else to hold her.

Ten minutes later she sat on the bed contemplating her next move. Rory knew there was a chance her husband wasn’t the father of the baby growing inside.

“Hi, I know we agreed to stay away from each other, but I really need to talk to you. Please, call me back,” Rory said to the voicemail of the young man she had grown so fond of in such a short time.

“The baby might not be mine,” Rick stated from the doorway not shocked over what he had overheard.

“I thought you left,” she wondered hanging up the phone as fast as she could.

“I forgot my wallet. But that doesn’t really matter; I might not be the father, right?”

“I’m sorry, Rick, I really am,” Rory apologized not being able to look him in the eyes.

“Let me guess, Luke Parker, somehow I already knew. He said something the other day that didn’t make much sense at first. Now it makes perfect sense. For all the stupid things for you to do, Rory, you get involved with one of your students. Do you realize how much trouble you could get into?”

“Yes, but it’s not what you think,” she cried standing up to comfort him. “It just happened. He has this animal magnetism that pulled me to him. I can’t explain.”

“No, you can’t, but I won’t loose my family over some stupid kid that couldn’t keep it in his pants,” Rick ordered grabbing his wallet and leaving Rory standing there alone once again.

She knew how her husband could get, and she knew he would do anything to keep her and to keep the baby even if it wasn’t his. Rory had a choice to make and it might just include losing someone she was madly in love with.

Ariel drove up to the apartment building she had rented only a couple of years ago she was worried about what she was going to hear. She had made sure he would be in the apartment they had shared for the past six months. She didn’t want to hear that her little evil sister broke up the one good thing in her life. No, Ariel didn’t want Cooper to admit that he did the unthinkable with the sister who came in from the cold.

Opening the door to their place, she sees the boxes lining up through the hallway. Ariel drops down to her knees when she notices the picture for New Year’s Eve on top of one of the boxes. She moves the picture to find his funky collection of CD’s and some of his action movies. She begins to dig through more of the boxes to find his football jersey from high school he could never get rid of and his tight ripped jeans she drooled over every time he put them on.

“Ariel,” Cooper said coming out of the bedroom with another box in his hands. “What are you doing here?”

“I live here and I thought you did too. Were you going to call and tell me? Or just let me come home and find this place empty,” Ariel questioned grabbing the picture of them.

“It’s really not what it looks like,” he replied putting the box down and going over to her. “Nick’s roommate disappeared in the night, and he can’t afford the place on his own.”

“So you thought to go help out your buddy, forget about me, is that it?”

“No,” he said running his hand through his hair. “I didn’t know when you were coming back or if you were at all.”

“So you disappear in the night like Nick’s roommate. Thanks, very appreciative of you,” she shouted throwing the picture down shattering it. “I guess I came home at the perfect time then.”

“This isn’t your home, it never was. All Chicago was a diversion from your crazy family.”

“Then you were just a diversion too then, right? This has nothing to do with you sleeping with April,” she commented slamming her hand on the wall.

“What did she tell you? I didn’t sleep with her,” he confessed. “I wouldn’t do that to you.”

“Then if you didn’t sleep with her why are you leaving.”

“I’ve never met anyone like your sister before. I may have grown up in the city, but she is as low as they come. She came on to me with everything she had and it took all of me to say no. I don’t know what came over me, but I didn’t like it. I would never hurt you like that, I wouldn’t, and I couldn’t. Yet I came so close to throwing it all away for your sister.”

“You’re not the first one she has done this to you and I doubt you will be the last, Coop. But you can’t just leave and throw away what we have.”

“I’m not, I just think being apart is best for right now,” he admitted, “and I can’t do that in this apartment.”

“Fine, just go then, but if you walk out that door right now don’t think of coming back,” she ordered opening the door to their place and tossing the closest box out into the empty hallway.

He picked up one of the boxes and brushed past her. He didn’t want to do it, but he wouldn’t make Ariel choose between him and her sister. Cooper went to get another box when she slammed the door on his face. He knew she wouldn’t take him leaving lightly, although he was hoping he wouldn’t have to move out with her around anyway. Now all he had to do was find out what April Carson was really up to and to make sure she didn’t hurt Ariel anymore.

Caroline dug through her trendy Louis Vuitton bag searching for her blackberry. She had promised her big brother that she would get her dear friend, Arianna here. Sure, Caroline had wanted Arianna to be part of her wedding, even help with some of the details. Now that they had set a date for November fifteenth everything had to be rushed since it was only four weeks away. Bringing Arianna to Saunders Bay would pay off for everyone not just her brothers.

She grabbed her blackberry and dialed her dear friend, who had lived most of her life in Italy with her mother.

“Ciao,” Arianna answered the phone

“Arianna, it’s Caroline,” she said.

“Buongiorno, Caroline,” Arianna asked. “How is that handsome brother of yours?”

“That is actually why I am calling, well one of the reason. The main reason is I need a maid of honor for my wedding,” Caroline explained not letting the details out about Tyler or Gregory.

“A wedding, it better be to that handsome Reed boy you kept gushing about last time we talked.”

“It is,” Caroline squealed remembering the moment Dalton had proposed to her. “Anyway my brother is paying for your trip as a little gift. He misses you, dearly, Ari.”

“I miss him too. I would be delighted to be your maid of honor. It would give your brother and I a chance to catch up.”

“Great, you should be getting a delivery in the next few hours with all the details,” Caroline commented with a huge grin across her face.

Setting up her brother with his lost love would be a piece of cake in her eyes and it would mean that both of her brothers would be happy on her wedding day. She wanted her brothers to be as happy as she was with Dalton. And she already knew how crazy Tyler was of Charlotte and how close both of her brothers came to getting married to the women that held their hearts.

Josh walked down the marina remembering every moment of his date with Paige that had occurred a few nights ago. So much had happened since then yet he remembered holding her hand as they walked past the piers watching the sunset. Now he walked the same trail they had that night trying to figure out a way to show her how much she meant to him. He looked out into the water watching the boats leave the marina for the morning when something caught his eye at Pier Six. The young woman got off the small yacht and began to walk towards him. Suddenly she stopped and turned back to the yacht as if someone called her name.

Josh stood there watching a dark-haired man come into his view. He watched the stranger hand the woman a piece of clothing and then watched as their lips met for what seemed like forever. At that moment Josh didn’t know whether or not to turn his head away from the agony he was feeling watching her kiss another man or keep watching them to see how far it would go. He turned his head away leaning against the light pole sighing in defeat. Josh remembered her telling him she wasn’t ready for a serious relationship and now she was very involved with this dark haired fella. Josh grabbed his cell phone out of his pocket hoping someone could shed light on what was happening.

“Hello,” Luke answered out of breath.

“Hey, buddy, I know it’s a bit early for you,” Josh explained, “but I was wondering if you have seen your sister lately.”

“Umm, she went out for a walk last night about eight-thirty and that’s the last I had seen her,” Luke replied walking into the kitchen finding Ali making breakfast for the two of them.

“Do you think that was very wise with Tony still out there,” Josh wondered looking around the corner hoping to find his true love gone, but to no avail she was still kissing and cuddling with the unknown stranger.

“It’s fine; she has officers tailing her at all times. I believe Officer Reynolds had the nightshift, so it’s Office Gomez this morning,” Luke explained before giving Ali a peck on the cheek while she stood at the stove making some bacon and eggs.

“So you’re not worried.”

“I’m not worried.”

“Okay, I guess I’ll see you in class later,” Josh said hanging up the cell phone.

If Paige’s brother wasn’t worried about her, then he would have to figure out who the stranger that was kissing his true love. He checked on the couple once again hoping that they were separated yet when he looked neither of them were there. Josh fell to the ground leaning over frustrated at everything he did for Paige, and threw it away. He wanted to know why; he wanted to know who this guy was, and what was so magnificent about him. Josh knew he may not be able to give her the world but he would give her his whole heart. He had everything planned out between them; he could even picture what she would like on their wedding day. Now all he felt was pain deep within his soul, aching for her to make everything right again.

“I want to apologize once again,” Luke said twenty minutes later to Ali as they got in his truck on their way to class at Saunders Bay University.

“I told you it’s fine,” Ali replied kissing him lightly on his oh so kissable lips seconds before he shut the door for her.

He walked around to the driver’s seat trying to remember what he was thinking when he stopped last night just moments before they could make love. After that she had gotten all of her clothes together and slept in the den on the fold out couch.

“It wasn’t you, it’s me,” Luke explained once again grabbing her hand as they sat in the cab for a moment. “I usually jump into these relationships, if you really want to call them that, and don’t think about anyone but myself. I would get my gratification from the latest bimbo and move on.”

“So I’m different?”

“Of course, you’re different. First, you’re far from a bimbo, you’re one of the smartest women I’ve ever met. You mean the world to me, Ali, and I don’t want to wreck that. I don’t want just a physical relationship with you, I want it all, and so that’s why I think we should take it slow.”

“Luke, I’ve known you for over half my life, that’s not taking it slow.”

“Yes, but this,” he said pointing to the two of them, “between us – is. And I don’t want to ruin that.”

“Okay,” she whispered looking up at him with those beautiful green eyes of hers.

“Are we good?”

“We’re good,” she replied shaking her head in agreement.

Before they could head out of the driveway, Luke’s cell phone rang for the second time that morning.

“Hello,” he answered shrugging his shoulders not recognizing the number on the caller id.

“Is this Mr. Parker,” the scratchy female voice wondered.

“Yes,” he replied.

“This is Dean Voorhees’ secretary; she would like to see you in her office as soon as possible. Is there anyway you could be here within thirty minutes,” the secretary asked.

“No problem,” he commented trying to figure out why the dean would want to see him.

“Good, I’ll pencil you in,” she said seconds before disconnecting the call.

“What is it,” Ali asked.

“The Dean wants to see me. The only times I’ve talked to her is at the end of our big games when she comes bye and congratulates us or when my grades are slipping.”

“Well then let’s go and figure out what’s going on,” Ali told him.

Twenty minutes later Luke had dropped Ali off at her first class of the morning and headed off to the dean’s office. When he entered through the large double doors to the office, he noticed the secretary look up at him immediately.

“Yeah, I’m Luke Parker, I’m here to see the dean,” he said.

“I’ll tell her you’re here,” she replied looking at the stunning young man that stood well over six foot. She pushed a couple of buttons on the phone seconds later, “Ma’am, he’s here.”

“Send him in,” Luke heard coming through the line.

“Go right in,” the secretary stated after hanging up the phone. He turned around to head to the office yet he felt eyes watching him, he turned for a second and watched the secretary lick her lips and raise her eyebrows at him making him shutter for a mere second.

He turned away and walked into the dark cherry filled office with shelves of books surrounding the room. He noticed the older woman sitting at the large desk with her hands folded on the table. Luke concentrated on the nameplate directly in front of him at the head of the desk not being able to look at her powerful demeanor.

“Ma’am,” he said standing up straight putting his hands behind his back.

“Mr. Parker, it has come to my attention that you have been having a sexual relationship with Professor Spencer,” the dean stated making Luke fully aware of the other person in the room.

Luke turned slightly and noticed Rory sitting in one of the chairs across from the desk. Of everything Luke had thought of on why he would be at the dean’s office, this wasn’t one of them. He looked down at Rory shaking his head.

“I don’t believe you,” Luke said staring at Rory with disgust at how low she would go to get him back.

“Mr. Spencer, our university has a no teacher/student relationship code. Yet the both of you went ahead and got involved with one another. Professor Spencer has told me her side of the story, now I want to hear yours. And, Mr. Spencer it better be a good one, because nothing can fix this not even your amazing talents on the football field.”

“I don’t know what to say, ma’am,” Luke stated still in disgust at Rory’s timing. “Yes, we had a sexual relationship, but it has ended, it’s been over for awhile. Yet Professor Spencer didn’t want to accept that. She showed up at my home several times and even came into my family’s restaurant trying to talk her way back in my bed.”

“I don’t deny it,” Rory calmly admitted crossing her legs and sitting up straighter. “I did want to continue the relationship, but he wouldn’t have it.”

“Well, it did happen, while he was a student in one of your courses. There is no way to I can accept his grade in the course, so he will receive a failing grade in the course,” Dean Patricia Voorhees announced, “while you Professor Spencer will be sent on immediate leave with no-pay until the dean of trustees can come to a more permanent solution.”

Minutes later both of them left the office with their lives changed forever.

“I don’t believe you did this to me,” Luke snarled grabbing her arm dragging her into an empty hallway.

“I didn’t, Luke. I didn’t do this to you. Do you think I’m happy about losing my job? Or the fact that you got kicked off the football team because of it, I’m not,” Rory declared pulling her arm out of his grasp. “I wouldn’t do it especially now.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I don’t know how to tell you this”, she sighed looking at the floor. “I’m pregnant and you might be the daddy.”

“What,” Luke asked his mouth dropping.

“It gets better, I think my husband is the one that told the dean,” Rory announced trying to grab Luke’s hand.

Luke pulled his hand as far away from her as he could. He couldn’t say anything, he couldn’t even think. In less than ten minutes his life had completely changed and he didn’t know what to do or who to talk to.

“I have to go,” he said leaving Rory standing there alone and pregnant. Luke couldn’t think of spending the rest of the day in his stuffy classes talking about nonsense – no, he had to do something. He got in his truck and drove as far away from the university as he could. Luke Parker just wanted to forget everything that had happened the past twenty-four hours to forget who he was, what he had done, and what the future held.