Hope for Us (Hope Series Book #3) (17 page)

As bizarre and life altering as the last few weeks had been, boarding a private jet to New York felt normal.

I put the article out of mind and concentrated on preparing my mind and my nerves for Jack’s hunting trip with Grandpa Griffin.

When I told him about it, he called Grandpa Griffin to get the details. He worked himself up so much, he needed a steam to clear his lungs so he could fall asleep that night.

The night before the trip, I called Mr. Griffin.

“Carrington, you all set for this weekend?”

“Oh, yeah. I am looking forward to it,” I said in my most sarcastic tone.

“I promise I will return your child to you the same way I get him.”

I laughed. “I’m going to hold you to that.”

“Consider it done.”

“You got my instructions about his medicine and treatments?”

“Yes. I’ve even took some precautions of my own, so no need to worry.”

“Did you hire a doctor to spend the weekend with you guys?”

“A nurse, but she’s on standby, just in case. It’s not like I’ll have her out in the blind with us monitoring his breathing every ten minutes. Hunting, the way we do it, is calm and relaxing.”

“Well, make sure he has an inhaler with him and you have a spare and follow his lead. He’ll tell you if he needs help.”

“Okay.”

I sighed.

“Carrington, he will be fine.”

“No, I know. I was thinking about something else.”

“What going on?”

“Well since I’ve been outed as Jackson’s girlfriend, the media has been looking for a story. Jackson was scheduled to do this interview about growing up in a football family and becoming a football player, but now it’s turned into our life story. They want to know about me and Josh and Jack, too.”

A heavy silence feel over the phone, and I waited it out.

“What gives them the right?” Mr. Griffin asked, his mood soured.

“They are reporters. I guess they figure finding the truth gives them the right.”

“They are not entitled to the truth. My family history is not entertainment.”

His breath grew heavy and ragged.

“Mr. Griffin, if they dig, you know … about Josh. What else are they going to find? What don’t I know?”

“Carrington—”

He sounded so defeated.

“Listen, I’m not asking for your deep dark secrets, I’m curious. You knew Josh for twenty-two years. Is there not one good story? One little antidote? One redeeming characteristic that is close to the truth?”

“When he was young, he used to make up stories. He was good at it, too. It gave him lots of practice for his future talent as a liar.”

“Mr. Griffin?”

“Why is this coming out now? It’s been eight years. Did you do this on purpose to ruin our trip?”

“Of course not. I just want you to be prepared. I planned to tell Jack about his father someday, but with this article coming up, someday is going to be sooner than any of us are ready for and I think you need to start preparing what you’re going to say to him.”

“Who’s doing this article?”

“The Tallahassee Democrat.”

Mr. Griffin guffed and the line fell silent for a moment.

“So, I will see you tomorrow in New Jersey?” Mr. Griffin said.

I shook my head. “Goodnight, Mr. Griffin.”

“Goodnight, Carrington.”

When I arrived at the team hotel on Friday, I checked in and collapsed on my bed. I handed my child over to a man who used to hate me. My stomach turned when I thought about it in those terms.

I called Jackson and left a message. I knew he would call me after practice. I set my phone down and it rang the next second.

“You’re in New York, and you’re not even going to call me?” Kayla said. I almost squealed like a teenager. 

“Well, technically, I’m in New Jersey, and the reason I’m here is for you, so shut up.”

“I missed you.”

“You hung up on me.”

“I know, but it worked. You and Jackson ended up together.”

“I love how everyone else is taking credit for Jackson and I ending up together. Jack is convinced it was his doing as well.”

“Well, the two of you are stubborn. You needed a nudge.”

“I know, but it would have been nice to still have my best friend’s ear while I was figuring this all out.”

“I know. I am sorry.”

“Well, you can make it up to me by taking me to lunch.”

“Okay, where you want to go?”

“Someplace expensive with plenty of alcohol.”

“Nice. What’s the occasion?”

“He took my child away from me-”

“For a weekend.”

“So, I’d still like to stay drunk so I don’t have to think about it.”

“I’ll find a place and text you the address.”

I showed the concierge the name of the place Kayla picked and asked him for directions to the train. As the girlfriend of the star quarterback, I wasn’t allowed to do things like a normal person. He arranged a car to take me into the city.

I didn’t have the energy to argue. Two minutes later, I sat in the back of a black SUV headed toward the city. Thirty minutes later, it pulled up to the front of a modern trendy restaurant in midtown. 

I spotted Kayla as soon as I walked through the door. Her red hair, a little darker and longer than normal, cascaded over her shoulders and framed her face. She wore a cute fifties inspired floral dress with a sweater and beige heels. She talked a mile a minute and loud into her cell phone. As I approached, she kind of twirled as she turned toward me and hung up the phone without saying good-bye. Even in beige heels, and me in flat boots, she came up to my chin. She wrapped her arms around my neck and jumped up and down squealing like a pig. It was embarrassing, but I got over it. 

“Oh shit,” she said as she grabbed a napkin from the nearest table and dabbed her eyes. I grabbed it from her and did the same.

“I missed you, too.”

She led me to a nook on the side of the bar, a booth by the window with a view of the street. A bottle of champagne chilled on the table. We slid into opposite sides.

“Wow, look at you.”

“What?”

“You look so good. I knew it.”

“Knew what?”

“That you were one of those people who looked their best when they were in love.”

“Kayla.”

“What? I’m just saying. So, how is it? Finally, being with Jackson.”

My face grew warm thinking about Jackson, and our passionate goodbye the night before. The way he studied every inch of my body to tide him over until we saw each other again. The team didn’t arrive until tomorrow.

“Oh, my God. It’s that good?”

“What?”

“You have that look on your face.”

“What look?”

“The
I get fucked properly on a regular basis and I like it
look.”

“Kayla Griffin, you are insane.”

“I know, but you love me.”

“I do love you, and I’m sorry I didn’t call and tell you about Jackson.”

“Things are really good?”

“They are good …”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong. Jackson and I are really good and we talk about our past all the time. We have both healed and have grown so much. We have that connection that we thought we lost, and it only grows stronger the more time we spend together.”

“Well, that’s great.”

“It is great, but.”

“No, no but. Why does there have to be a but?”

“It a tiny but, I promise.”

“No one ever accused Carrington Butler of having a tiny butt.” I threw my napkin at her. She laughed and snorted and covered her mouth.

“But,” I yelled. “I can’t help but think something is going to happen, again.”

“Well, of course, something is going to happen. Something always happens, but at least now, you know how to handle it better. Besides, what could happen that would be a deal breaker?”

“I don’t know. Nothing, I think.”

“See.” Kayla raised her glass, and I followed. “Here’s to great love and great sex and everything else that makes life worth living.”

“Cheers.”

Jackson called as we finished up the first bottle and ordered the second bottle.

I stepped outside to take the call.

“Hi, baby.”

“Hey, beautiful. You okay?”

“I am fabulous.”

“You’re drunk.”

“Almost.”

“What a waste. I am not even there yet to take advantage of you.”

“Oh, I am childless for two days; I plan to stay drunk for all of them. You’ll have your chance.”

“Should I be worried?”

“No, I’m okay.”

“You and Kayla make up?”

“Yeah, we love each other again.”

“Good. I miss you.”

“I miss you, too.”

“Call me when you get back to the hotel.”

“Okay. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

I slid back in across from Kayla as she finished another phone call.

“How’s Jackson?”

“He is good.”

The waiter dropped off a plate of food.

“I thought we could use some sustenance.”

“Wow, this looks good.”

“Well, I hope you enjoy.” A short baldheaded man stood next to our table.

“Oh shit, you’re that chef on TV.” I covered my mouth with my hand.

“I am. And you are?”

“Carrington Butler.”

“Nice to meet you Carrington. Kayla, how are you?”

“I am amazing. I have my best friend here to get in trouble with.”

“I’ll warn the city.” He laughed. “You ladies enjoy the food.”

“Thanks, Chef Tom.”

“You’re welcome.”

As he walked away, I squealed. “OMG, I love him.”

“Well, we are in his restaurant. It’s not farfetched.”

“He has restaurants all over the world. What are the odds that he would show up at this one, today?”

“Well, since he is cooking for a benefit I’m hosting next week, I knew he’d be in the city today. I asked him which one he would be at so we could get some good food. Plus, I knew you would shit.”

“Aww. I love you.”

“Love you, too.”

As we dug into the food, I realized Kayla hadn’t mentioned Jamie. Not once. Of course, I had to ask.

“So, what’s going on with you?”

“I’m good.”

“How’s Jamie?”

“He’s … good.” She smeared a piece of bread with some sort of cream cheese type stuff and handed it to me. She fixed one for herself.

“Kayla.”

“What? He’s fine. We are fine.”

“What’s going on?”

“Okay, you know I love you, and I am so sorry about the stuff that happened to you, but it’s hard for me to talk to you about my relationship problems.”

“Why?”

“Because they seem so insignificant compared to what you went through.”

“Come on, Kayla, it’s all relative. Besides if it's important to you, it’s important to me, so spill.”

“Jamie wants to have a baby.”

“Holy shit.”

“My reaction exactly, but I sounded more like holy shit,” she said in an scratchy evil voice.

I cringed. “You don’t want to have a baby?”

“I don’t. Isn’t that horrible?”

“No, it’s not horrible. It’s how you feel.”

“I run a foundation that advocates for children, and I don’t want to have kids. That’s weird, right?”

“Kayla, you don’t have to explain your choices to anyone. You can’t help how you feel.” I looked up and found her staring at me with a strange look on her face. “What?”

“Why aren’t you more upset about this?”

“What? Why?”

“You have a child. You should be like all those other mothers who say being a mother makes you feel like a real woman.”

“Okay, I have always wanted children. But you shouldn’t bring a kid into a situation unless both parents are sure they want him. I love my son and couldn’t imagine not having him in my life, but he came way too early among the shittiest of circumstances. I wish I would have been more careful, more responsible.”

“Yeah.” She reached out and squeezed my arm.

“So, if it’s not right for you, you can’t make it right.”

“Do you want to have more kids?”

“I do. I want a little Mitchell baby.” I grabbed my glass and downed the rest of the champagne. “But after the trauma my body suffered brining Jack into the world, I am so scared to get pregnant. I don’t even know if I’ll be able to have another kid.”