Kitchen Affairs (19 page)

I could smell the rum on Bentley’s breath. I could tell he was drunk and was very wild. Travis’ friends were all a blast to be around but Bentley was becoming a little much. I turned back around to face Travis to tell him that Bentley was hovering but Bentley had bumped into me forcing me into Travis’ arms.

“Hey there light weight,” Travis teased me. He continued to hold me until I stabled myself. I caught a whiff of his scent and without thinking leaned in closer to his chest. He noticed and gripped me tighter looking straight into my eyes. He was waiting for approval but I knew it wasn’t right, so I smoothly backed up tripping over Bentley’s feet, and in one swift move, he caught me in his arms. He wrapped his arms around me tightly groping my chest trying to hold me up. I felt like a ping pong ball bouncing and tripping over everything.

Damn, I’m a fricken klutz.

Before I could register what just happened, Travis’ fist slammed into Bentley’s face knocking him to the ground. I bent down seeing his nose covered in blood. His face looked as confused as mine.
What the hell was that about?

“Travis, what the hell?” Leo asked trying to help Bentley to his feet.

“He was groping my date!” Travis squealed. I quickly turned my head to stare at him.
Did he just call me his date?
I could see the seriousness in his face.

“Travis, I tripped! He was trying to hold me up!” I squealed assisting Leo with Bentley.

“He’s been trying to find a reason all night to touch you, Molly! He would use any excuse to fondle you,” Travis retorted back.

“Travis, that is enough! Stop being an ass!” I yelled at him and walked away.

I couldn’t believe that Travis thought this was an actual date.
Did he really mean that or just like a friend date? Ugh, either way I’m getting out of here.

I went to the booth and grabbed my things. I figured Travis wouldn’t be too far behind me
, so I decided to leave without saying goodbye to anyone. I was tipsy and started to feel light headed. I paused for a moment and leaned up against a brick wall trying to catch my breath.

Selena and Ruby were running down the block and stopped when they caug
ht up to me. I noticed they were tipsier than me as they stumbled to catch up to me. When they finally managed to, they leaned up against the wall for support.

“Are you okay girl?”

“Yeah… I just need to go home.”

“
Well, let’s share a cab. The boys can get their own,” Selena proposed. She grabbed her phone to tell her boyfriend and then we bailed.

We flagged a cab and the three of us stumbled in. It was humorous watching them and seeing us all tipsy giggling like teenage girls. I haven’t had girlfriends in years,
well unless you count Michael, but I never had girl-girlfriends. Even in high school, it was just Michael and Liam. This was nice.
Really nice.

Suddenly my phone rang. It was Drake.

Shit.

“Hey baaaaaby,” I slurred as I answered my phone.

Way to not be obvious Molly!

“Are you alright? You sound weird,” he
asked, sounding a little irritated.

“Shyeah babe! I’m great. Getting in the cab and heading home now. Wanna come over and make me yours?” I teased.

Wow, I am drunk.

He chuckled a little at the last part, “Are you drunk Molly?”

“Jussta little. We went dancing!” I paused to catch my breath. “I want to have my way with you, Drake Matthew Staglianooooo,” I slurred dragging out his last name as the girls were giggling in the background.

“Molly, I’ll meet you at your apartment. You sound beyond wasted,” and with that he hung up.
Oh shit, was he mad?

The girls and I exchanged numbers before exiting the cab. I could see myself having a lot of fun with them. I stumbled to my apartment and opened the door. I suddenly felt the urge to throw up.
Oh shit…
I darted to the bathroom and aimed right for the toilet.

Ugh, man
this sucks.

“Molly!” Drake called as he entered my apartment. “Molly, where are you?”

I wasn’t able to answer as I continued hurling chucks into the toilet.
Oh god, this is so embarrassing.

Drake finally found me and rushed to my side. “A little too much huh babe?” he snickered just a little. “Are you okay?” he asked genuinely as I started to sit up slowly.

“Oh my god, my head.” I collapsed into his lap and closed my eyes.

I woke up to the heat of the sun beaming on my face. I moaned and rolled over. As soon as I moved, I felt the urge to throw up again. I quickly ran to the bathroom and aimed for the toilet again.
Today is going to suck. I’m going to kill Travis for letting me drink that much.

“Babe, here drink this.” Drake walked in with a glass of water. He handed it to me as I slowly sat up. “You look horrible honey,” he said through sad eyes.
Hell, if I looked horrible, I felt horrible.

“God, I can’t believe how awful I feel.” I rubbed my head trying to hold it up. “And this is why I never drink hard liquor,” I mumbled mostly to myself.

“Come on. Let’s get you back in bed. You should sleep this off.” He lifted me off the floor and let my head sink into his chest.
I could stay here all day in his arms.

I must have slept for hours because before I knew it, it was dark outside again.
Oh, shit. Stella!

I panicked as I looked around and didn’t see anyone. I slowly rolled out of bed and walked to the living room. I stopped in my footsteps as I immediately took in the view. Drake was snuggling with Stella on the loveseat sharing a bowl of popcorn with her. She was laughing and grabbing handfuls of popcorn shoving it into her mouth. They were watching her favorite movie, Tangled and it was the sweetest thing I have ever witnessed. The man I love and the daughter that means the world to me were together bonding.

I slowly walked over behind Stella and kissed the top of her head. Drake turned to me with a smile. I kissed his lips and wrapped my arms around his neck. This was the best sight I have ever seen. And they were mine.

“How long have you been here?” I asked hoping for an explanation of what’s been happening since I’ve been comatose.

“I haven’t left since last night babe. Michael picked up Stella this morning and we’ve been hanging out ever since,” he smiled. “Michael went to meet up with Troy and we’ve just been waiting for you, sweetheart.” He was the most amazing man I have ever met. First, he deals with his wasted girlfriend, and then he completely takes care of Stella as I sleep it off.

Could this get any better?

Drake got up and walked with me into the kitchen. He handed me another glass of water and told me to rehydrate. “Baby, you need to eat something. What can I make you?”

“Ugh, I can’t even think about food right now,” I moaned as I leaned against the counter.

“I know baby, but you need to get some food in your system. Just something light.” He reached in to kiss my lips. “How about some peanut butter toast?” he smiled and winked at me. I couldn’t resist that look. He was absolutely adorable.

“Why are you so great?” I asked as he started putting the bread into the toaster. “I mean seriously, Drake, are you even human?”

He laughed and leaned over to kiss me again. “You make me want to be great, Molly. You are an amazing person! Not a lot of women could do what you do. Raising a child without a father, going to school full time, making sure Stella has an amazing life… I should be asking you if you’re even human!” He took my arms and wrapped them around him.

I could stay like this forever and ever.

The following day Stella and I lounged around the apartment in our pajamas watching movies. She was so giddy about spending a day with just her mommy. Michael had crashed at Troy’s for the weekend and Drake went back home to allow us some mommy-daughter time. I was finally feeling better and was able to enjoy my time with Stella.

“Mommy, where’s Drake?” Stella asked as we were playing her Barbie dolls.

“He’s at home sweetie, why do you ask?”

“I want this to be his home, mommy. I like it when Drake is here,” she said so innocently
, but had absolutely no idea just how much she made my heart melt. I loved that she loved Drake.

The next morning I walked into my internship to see Travis sitting there impatiently. I haven’t spoken with him since Friday night
, and I wondered how awkward today was going to be.

“Molly! Are you okay?” he asked
, rushing up to me.

“Yes, why wouldn’t I be?” I asked
confused.

“I just haven’t heard from you and you left so angry at me. I wanted to apologize.” He lifted my chin up to be eye level with him. “Molly, I am so sorry! I shouldn’t have acted tha
t way around you.” His eyes looked so sincere. I wanted to wrap my arms around him tight and tell him not to worry about it. But I didn’t.

“It’s fine, Travis. I understand.” I didn’t want to give him the impression that his behavior didn’t go unnoticed but I wanted us to be back to our friendship level only.

“Okay, good Molly. I was so scared I’d lose you.”
Lose me?

“Nah, we’re friends Travis. We were drinking and it’s really not a big deal, okay?” I looked up to him to make sure he saw the seriousness in my face. “Let’s get to work,” I smiled trying to take the tension out of the air.

Fortunately, things with Travis and I went back to normal. He remained my partner all week and was still in big brother mode. Whenever he would lightly brush up against me or touch me softly, I would get goose bumps again. I tried to brush it off, but I still wondered why he was having that affect on me. Travis was extremely attractive and very genuine, but for me, he was no Drake. Drake had stolen my heart and there was no way I was giving it away to anyone else.
Right?

The weekend arrived again and I was excited to be spending some quality time with Drake again. Drake had a busy workweek and I was only able to see him twice. I missed him dearly and couldn’t wait to sink my teeth into him.

“Babe!” I screeched as I ran into his arms wrapping my legs around him.

“
Well, hello, sweetheart!” he said kissing me tenderly. “I missed you,” he whispered.

“I missed you too! I can’t wait to be with you this weekend.”

“What do you want to do honey? We can do anything you want.”

“I don’t care as long as I’m with you,” I smiled into his eyes. It was the truth. It didn’t matter what we did as long as I could be around him and feel him.

“I was thinking about taking Stella up to Willis Tower. Think she’d like that?” Drake asked still holding onto me.

“Oh my god, Drake. She would love that! That’s an amazing idea.”

“Good,” he smiled. “The view is the best at night when its pitch black and all the city lights are shining.”

“Sounds perfect!” I gleamed. There was a buzz on his business phone and his receptionist interrupted our perfect moment.

“Mr. Stagliano, there’s a reporter on line one for you sir.”

“Thank you.” He switched lines, “Mr. Stagliano,” he announced on speakerphone.

“Mr. Stagliano, this is Ashley from U.S. Time Magazine. I wanted to ask you about your reaction to your girlfriend, Molly Woods’ infidelity. Apparently, it has been leaked that she has been cheating on you and has threatened to steal your millions.”

Wait, what?

“Ashley, I beg your pardon? What right do you have to ask me that question? Whoever your resources are couldn’t be more wrong. Molly and I are not going to discuss our personal lives to the public.” He just about pressed the button to hang up on her when she quickly interrupted.

“My resources are only facts, Mr. Stagliano. She has been photographed with other men and has been quoted saying she is only with you for your money. If that is somehow fabricated, this would be the time to set the story straight.” And with that, Drake hung up on her immediately. His face was beat red and he looked pissed.

Holy shit, why was this happening?

“Drake…” I slowly began. “I swear that’s not true.”

“Molly, stop.” He walked back up to me. “Reporters will dig up and fabricate on anything to develop a story. You don’t need to defend yourself, I promise. You and I are solid, remember?”

“Anchor,” I mumbled into his chest.

“Anchor,” he repeated.

That night we took Stella out for dinner before heading to the Willis Tower. I was so excited to be spending time with both of the people I love madly. Seeing Stella look up to Drake with those pleading eyes was the sweetest thing in the world. I could see that he melted every time she reached to hold his hand.

“Mommy, where are we going?” she asked as we entered the elevator to reach the one hundred and third floor.