Taking Chances (Taking Chances #1)(58)
Author: Molly McAdams

“That just seems…” I trailed off not knowing what word to use.

“So unlike Sir?”

“Yeah.”

“Shocked me too when it happened. So maybe you can understand why I was so miserable, and I guess I wanted you to know how miserable I was. I know how stupid that was, but I just couldn’t stop. And Ashley, well, that was a mistake.”

I shook my head slightly, “I still can’t believe you did that, what were you thinking? Did you not learn how bad of an idea that was from any of the other guys in the unit? Like Ramos? You were there when he found out about his girl! You could have your pick of girls that would love you and would be faithful to you while you’re deployed, instead you went for one of those skanks? They sit around waiting in the parking lots on base for a guy to come hit on them, when their guys go off on a deployment, you know they’re waiting on base the very next weekend for another guy.”

“I know Blaze,” He snapped, “you think I don’t f**king know that?!”

“I would strongly suggest you don’t talk to my wife that way.” Brandon said through clenched teeth.

Carter took a deep breath in to try to calm himself, “Sorry,” he said to both of us, “Harper I know it was stupid, I knew what would most likely happen when I left, but she looked like you and I couldn’t help myself.”

Oh that’s creepy.

Brandon’s face hardened even more and he quickly turned his attention to our son. Thank God he was holding him. From the way the muscles in his arms were flexing, I knew Brandon was itching to hit something and Liam was the perfect thing to calm him down. I flashed a small smile at them before looking back at Carter.

“And now? After all that, what have you been doing this last year since you got back from Afghanistan? You still drinking all the time?”

“No, other than a beer or two with the guys every now and then, I don’t do much of anything. I knew if I wanted any chance of getting you, I had to stop what I was doing. And then of course, I find you again, and you’re married and have a baby.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and dropping his head in his hands, “I can’t believe you have a freakin’ baby.” He whispered.

“I am sorry that you spent all this time, and moved to California, thinking that we would be together. I don’t want to hurt you, but Carter I never saw you as anything more than my friend, and I’m sorry I didn’t make that clear enough back in North Carolina. But I’m not going to be sorry for being with Brandon and having Liam, I can honestly tell you I’ve never been happier than I am now.”

“Yeah, I’m starting to understand that. Congratulations, by the way.” He said grimly, “How old is he anyway?”

“He’ll be a year in two weeks.” Brandon smiled down at him and bounced him up and down on his knee.

“Wow.” Carter looked at him for a long time before looking back at me, “Really cute kid.”

“We think so.” I beamed. It got silent for a few awkward moments so I looked back at my old friend and sighed, “Well Carter, I don’t know what you think about anything now that we’ve talked, but if you think we could go back to being friends, or I guess…what I thought was friends anyway, then I want that. But if that’s not enough for you, then this is the last time I’m going to see you.”

He furrowed his brow and leaned away slightly, “Blaze, I can’t – I hate not having you there. I get that we’re never going to happen. I know it took me probably too long for your liking to understand that, but I know now. I still want you around, or for me to be around I guess. Brandon, I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t want that though. I know I acted pretty shitty before, but I would never try anything now that you’re married. I’m not that much of a douche.”

Bree and Konrad walked in with wide eyes when they saw Carter with us. “Uh, we have the food?” Bree said it like a question and mouthed What the hell? from behind Carter’s back

I shook my head at her and looked back at Brandon as he spoke again, “If you want, we’re having some friends over for a barbecue next Saturday, you and your friends are more than welcome. Harper can text you our address.”

My eyes widened.

Um, what?

Carter took that as his cue to leave and stood from the chair, “That’d be great, thanks man.” He shook Brandon’s hand and brushed his knuckles against Liam’s arm. “Thanks for this Blaze.” He hugged me tightly for a second and backed away, probably trying not to push his luck further. “Guess I’ll see you next weekend?”

“Yeah, see you then.”

With another awkward glance at everyone in the room, and a nod in the direction of Konrad, he walked out the door, shutting it behind him.

“Um, what just happened?” Bree asked as she handed out the sandwiches.

“We talked it out.” I put my sandwich on the desk and grabbed Liam so Brandon could eat, “Brandon, why’d you invite them over? You really didn’t have to do that.”

He shrugged and took a big bite, speaking around his food, “People mess up and make mistakes all the time. Everyone deserves a second chance, right?”

It felt like someone punched me in the stomach. How was I any better than Carter? I’d slept with my boyfriend’s friend and gotten pregnant. I’m practically the queen of getting second chances, especially from Brandon.

“Hey,” he leaned over to whisper in my ear, “I didn’t mean anything by that. I love you.”

I nodded, “Love you too.” I smiled when he pressed his full lips to my neck.

“So you guys are just back to being okay again?” Bree started searching for an explanation.

“Not at all, we’re going to try though. He said he’d stop pursuing me or whatever now that he knows Brandon and I are married. So maybe eventually we will. I guess we’ll see how everything goes next weekend.”

“That’s weird, do you not re–”

“So what wedding stuff are you girls doing today?” Konrad cut her off with a wink in my direction.

Bree’s face lit up and she went into a detailed checklist of all we were going to get done. Or rather, what we’d already gotten done.

“Harper, if you don’t want him to come over, he doesn’t have to. I was just trying to help.” Brandon said softly so we wouldn’t interrupt Bree.

“No, I think it’ll be good. Like I said, we’ll see how it goes. If it doesn’t seem like he’s changed at all, then we don’t have to see him again.”

“Right. And if he pisses me off again, I now have his address from the membership card.” He smiled wickedly, “What time will you be home today?”

I caught Bree smiling at me from the corner of my eye, “I’m not sure, late this afternoon, you’ll probably make it home before I do, do you need me to pick something up or do something for you?”

“My mom offered to watch Liam for the night, she said she has enough things at her place that you wouldn’t need to get a bag for him. You can drop him off on your way home.”

“Hmm…date night? We haven’t had one of those in a few weeks.”

He leaned in close enough that his lips brushed against my ear, causing goose bumps to cover my body, “And it’s long overdue.”

Oh I definitely agree. “Well then, I’ll get home as soon as I can.”

“That’s my girl.” He picked Liam up and handed me my sandwich.

Bree and I winked at each other, oh if Brandon only knew. Carrie, Bree and I had already planned out this day, including the date night. Only Bree knew what was really going on, but Carrie had been the one to suggest acting like it was her idea. The only reason Carrie had enough things at her house was because we had Liam’s bag already packed and ready for the night. We finished our food, and hung out with the guys for another few minutes before finally taking off. I’m not sure who was more anxious to leave, me or Breanna. But thankfully the guys picked up on our bouncing legs and shifting eyes towards the clock and practically pushed us out of the gym after hugs, kisses and a couple quick introductions to some of the regulars.

***

“Harper, are you already home?”

My stomach erupted into a million butterflies when I heard his husky voice down the hall. I couldn’t believe I was so nervous right now. Well not nervous, just really giddy. Okay, maybe a little nervous. I checked my outfit, or lack thereof, to make sure I looked okay. I was wearing black lace underwear and a blue silk spaghetti strap that I knew he loved. Fluffing my long hair that I’d loosely curled the bottoms of, I stood up straight at the end of the bed and waited. My palms started sweating and I was biting the crap out of my bottom lip when he walked in the bedroom door.

“God you’re gorgeous.” He took two large steps toward me and picked me up in his arms, since me standing on my tiptoes wasn’t enough for him. “I didn’t think you’d be here yet.” He nuzzled against my neck.

“I could always leave and come back later…?”

“Hell. No. I’ve been thinking about tonight all day, I’m not putting it off any longer than it takes for me to shower.”

I smiled, this was exactly what I’d been planning on. “Well then hurry up,” I pressed my body closer to his, “like you said earlier, this is long overdue.”

He trailed his fingers lightly over my chest and down my waist before setting me down, “Three minutes.” Capturing my bottom lip with his teeth, he tugged softly, then ran his tongue over it as he pushed me down onto the bed and headed for the bathroom.

I scooted up the bed until I was sitting against the headboard, legs crossed Indian style, and tried not to bounce up and down while I waited. Every second that passed felt like an hour and I held my breath, trying to listen to what he was doing. The water turned on and my heart sunk. Had he not noticed? I put it right next to the basket of towels, and he always grabbed a towel to bring it closer to the shower before he got in. I wrung my hands together and forced my bottom lip out from my teeth, which in turn made me start biting on the inside of my cheek. A few minutes passed, and then he was there, a towel wrapped around his hips, water still falling down his toned body, with wide eyes, a dropped jaw and clutching something in his hand.

“Harper, what is this?”

I shakily forced a smile onto my face. I didn’t know how he would react, and unfortunately, I couldn’t tell exactly what he was thinking right now.

“Is this – Is this?” He ran a hand over his buzzed head and huffed a short laugh, “Is this what I think it is? Are you – sweetheart are we having a baby?”

I nodded and he practically flew at me with the biggest smile on his face. Capturing my face in his hands, he kissed me over and over, laughing in between each one.

“When did you find out?” He asked breathlessly and kissed me again.

I scrunched my nose and looked at him warily, “Two weeks ago?”