The realtor walked back into the apartment with all the necessary paperwork and my dad signed it and wrote a check. She handed over the keys to me and smiled all the way out the door.
“It’s not weird,” my dad said.
“What?” I asked in confusion.
“I don’t think what you said or think is weird because I would have done the same thing for your mom. I’ve dedicated my entire life to making her happy, whatever the cost may be. I know that feeling and I get it, son. I’m proud of you. You bought your first property.” He smiled as he put his arm around me. “Now we can work on the payment plan for this place.”
“What? I thought you were buying this for me, like you did for Julia.”
“But the difference is Julia didn’t already buy a house.” He smiled.
“Dad, come on.”
He chuckled as he hooked his arm around my neck and we took the elevator up to the penthouse.
Chapter 26
“Ellery, where are you?” my dad yelled through the penthouse.
“I’m right here, Connor,” she said as she came down the stairs.
“Ask your son what he did.”
“You mean besides closing a huge deal for Black Enterprises?” She smiled as she walked over and kissed my cheek. “Congratulations, sweetheart.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Yes, Ellery, besides that.”
“What did you do, Collin?”
I took in a deep breath before I answered her. “I bought Amelia’s parents’ beach house in the Hamptons.”
“Oh. Is that what you wanted me to know so badly, Connor?”
“Dad was mad,” I said.
“That house meant a lot to Amelia. We talked about it not too long ago when I asked her how things were going. She told me that she was really sad that she had to sell it because she wanted it to be a place where she could go and feel close to her family every summer. You are so much like your father, Collin. I see more and more of him in you every day.” She smiled as she brought her hand up to my face. “Good for you! Are you going to tell her?”
“No, not yet. I want to wait until I see how things go with us. Plus, I don’t want her to be mad at me for doing it.”
“She’ll think you are the most incredible and giving person on the face of this earth.” She smiled.
“Thanks again, Mom. Excuse me. I need to get something to drink,” I said as I walked to the kitchen. I heard my mom raise her voice at my dad and I stood out of sight and listened to their conversation.
“As for you, Mister. How the hell could you be mad at your son for doing exactly what you would have done? You should be very proud of him, Connor. You are an amazing father and you taught your son well.”
“I am proud of him, Elle. He’s an incredible man. I just wish—”
“You wish he would have asked your opinion first, right? You weren’t mad at him for buying that house. You were hurt because your son made a responsible adult purchase on his own. Connor, you’re scared that Collin doesn’t need you any more, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, something like that,” he said.
I hadn’t stopped to think about my dad’s feelings. He was afraid of letting me go like he was with Julia. Damn, I wished I would have talked to him about it first. I didn’t realize he would feel not needed. As soon as they were finished talking, I walked out to the foyer.
“Hey, Dad. I’m sorry about not talking to you before buying the house. I know that I probably should have consulted you first, but I really wanted to do something on my own. I’m sorry.”
“Come here, son,” he said as he hugged me. “Don’t be sorry. You’re an adult and you can do whatever you want. Just know that I’m always here for you, no matter what, and I always will be.”
“Thanks, Dad.” I smiled.
“Now go on and get out of here. Your mom and I have some things to do.” He winked.
I shook my head and rolled my eyes. “Have fun.”
“Oh, I fully intend to,” he said as he walked up the stairs.
****
I made Amelia close her eyes as I put the key in the lock. I opened the door and took her hand and led her inside.
“Okay, you can open your eyes.”
“Oh my God! This is amazing,” she said as she looked around the apartment.
“I’m happy you like it.” I smiled.
She walked through the living room and into the kitchen. I thought she was going to have a heart attack when she saw the dining area and the five large windows that made up one wall.
“Oh, the romantic dinners we can have here.” She smiled.
I walked over to her and wrapped my arms around her waist. “You’re going to be spending a lot of time here.”
“I hope so,” she said as she leaned her head back and I kissed her lips.
“Look around. What do you see?” I asked.
She escaped from my arms and walked through the apartment, looking up and down and all around. “Hmm...I see nothing but a lot of wall space.”
I smiled. “That’s right. Do you know what that means?” I asked as I unbuttoned my pants.
She turned around and looked at me as she bit down on her bottom lip with a wide smile across her face. “Lots and lots of wall sex!” she said as she lifted off her shirt.
“That’s right. Lots of wall sex, and I think we should start now.” I smiled as I threw my shirt on the floor and took down my pants.
She stood in the middle of the empty room, stepping out of her jeans while unhooking her bra and slowing inching backwards until she was up against the wall.
“Fuck,” I said as I walked towards her.
I was already as hard as a rock and I hadn’t even touched her yet. I took down my underwear as soon as I reached her. I stepped out of them and kicked them to the side as I firmly planted my hands against the wall on each side of her head. I teased her with my lips, kissing her slowly and softly. She wasted no time stroking me up and down slowly, driving me insane. My hand traveled down to her wet pussy and I cupped it before slipping my fingers inside.
“Ah, baby, you’re so wet already.”
“Mhmm. Only for you,” she whispered.
“I need to taste you first,” I moaned as I knelt down and planted my mouth against her, tasting her pleasure.
She grabbed my hair and began thrusting her hips back and forth. “Oh God, I’m going to come already!” she yelled.
“Do it, baby. I want to hear you and I want to feel you,” I said as my tongue flicked in and out of her rapidly.
Her body tightened and swelled against my mouth, releasing the orgasm that I brought her to. “Oh God. Oh God,” she kept yelling.
“Are you ready, baby?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said with bated breath.
I placed my cock inside her and pushed into her with force. She wrapped her legs around me, which caused me to go deeper inside her.
“AH!” I moaned from the pleasure I felt.
I held her up by her perfect ass and pounded in and out of her. Her tits were shaking all over the place as she begged me to suck them. I slowed down and took her in my mouth, biting and licking her hard nipples like she commanded.
“Faster, Collin. Faster. I’m going to come again!” she yelled.
I held her up with one hand this time as I pressed my other hand against the wall. I thrust in and out of her as fast as I could, building up for my release. Her moans grew with each thrust and, just as her legs tightened around me, I could feel her come pouring onto me as I released myself deep inside her. Our hearts were racing and we were both out of breath. Once I pushed every last milky drop inside of her, I buried my face into her neck. She brought up her hand to my head and softly stroked my hair.
“I love you, Collin.”
“I love you too, Amelia. More than you’ll ever know.” I lifted my head and softly kissed her on the lips. “Let’s go furniture shopping, shall we?” I smiled.
“I would love to.”
She smiled back.
****
We were at the furniture store when my phone rang. I pulled it out of my pocket. It was Hailey calling. I sighed as Amelia looked at me.
“Why is she calling you?”
“Probably because I blew her off today.”
“What? What the hell are you talking about?”
“She sent me a text this morning and asked me if we could talk because she told her parents about the baby and they were really upset.”
“So she has to talk to you about it?” Amelia asked with a little bit of an attitude.
“Baby, listen. Don’t you worry about Hailey. You know I love you. I’m just trying to be nice, I guess. Which I’m not sure if I should be.
“She’s going to get the wrong impression, Collin.”
“Well, if she does, I’ll set her straight. No big deal. Now come on; help me pick out a bed.” I winked.
I bought all the furniture I needed. It was fun shopping with Amelia. She and I had the same taste in furniture. We picked up Thai food on the way back to my apartment and we set a blanket on the floor as we ate with chopsticks out of the carton, talking and laughing about life.
“Go ahead and call Hailey back. Meet with her tomorrow and let her talk. I’m okay with it,” Amelia said.
“Are you sure? Because I don’t have to if it’s going to upset you.”
“It won’t upset me. Just do it.”
I grabbed my phone and dialed Hailey’s number. She answered on the second ring and we arranged to meet at Starbucks tomorrow morning around ten. I looked at Amelia and smiled. “Can you stay here for a second? I have to run across the hall.”
“Sure.” She giggled.
I got up and stepped across the hall to Julia’s apartment. I softly knocked and Jake answered the door.
“Hey, neighbor. What’s up?”
“Do you have a couple extra blankets I can borrow for a couple nights? I don’t want to go upstairs and be interrogated by the parents.”
“HAHA!” Jake laughed. “Sure, we have extra blankets. Come on in.”
Julia came walking from the bedroom and smiled when she saw me. Oh my God, did she look huge in her nightgown. But I didn’t dare say anything.
“What are you doing here, handsome?” she asked as she kissed my cheek.
“Your little brother is spending the night at his new pad and he asked to borrow a couple of blankets. I’m thinking he may be having a sleepover.” Jake smiled.
“Oh, really? Is that true?” Julia asked.
“Yes. Amelia is spending the night,” I said as I took the blankets from Jake.
“Have fun!” Julia said as I opened the door.
I turned around and smiled at her. “To quote Dad, I fully intend to.”
Julia covered her ears. “Stop that! And you better wash those blankets before you give them back!”
I laughed as I shut the door, walked over to my place, laid down the blankets in the bedroom, and made sweet love to my girl again.
Chapter 27
I looked at my watch. It was ten fifteen. I sat there with my cup of coffee and looked out the window to see if I could see Hailey walking down the street. I pulled out my phone and sent her a text message.
“Hey, where are you? I have to get back to work.”
I sat and waited for another ten minutes and there was no Hailey and no reply text message. I sighed as I got up from the table and my phone began to ring. I thought it was strange that Amelia was calling me during her clinicals.
“Hey, baby. Is something wrong?”
“Collin, I’m doing clinicals in the Labor and Delivery unit and Hailey is here. I saw her, and her mom asked me to call you.”
“Is she okay?”
“She lost the baby. I really think you should come to the hospital.”
“Thanks, baby. I’m on my way. I love you.”
“I love you too. See you soon.”
Oh, man. I couldn’t believe she lost the baby. I drove to the hospital and went up to the Labor and Delivery unit. The nurse at the desk told me which room Hailey was in and, when I went there, Peyton and Henry were in the room with her.
“Hi, Collin. You’re so sweet for coming,” Peyton said as she hugged me.
“Hi, Collin. Thanks, man,” Henry said as he walked over and shook my hand.
They both left the room and I walked over to the side of Hailey’s bed and sat down in the chair. She wouldn’t look at me. She just stared at the blank wall.
“Hey, Hailey.”
“Hey,” she whispered as she wiped a tear that fell from her eye.
“I’m sorry about the baby.”
“I’m not. Why are you here?” she asked as she turned and looked at me.
“Your mom asked me to come.”
“That’s just fucking great. I’m asking you to leave.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t want you here. You’re the last person I want to see.”
“Really, Hailey? Because yesterday, you wanted to talk,” I said.
“That was then, this is now, and now I don’t want to see you. I needed you when I came back and you turned your back on me.”
I was getting angrier by the minute. I couldn’t yell at her because she had just lost the baby and she was emotional. I got up from the chair and placed my hand on hers.
“I hope you feel better, Hailey.” I walked out of the room and saw Amelia down the hall. I walked over to her and grabbed her hand.
“I know you’re busy, so I’ll see you later. Okay?”
“Okay. Are you all right?” she asked.
“I’m perfectly fine, baby,” I said as I kissed her forehead and went to the office.
****
A couple of weeks had passed and Amelia and I spent them going out with friends and organizing all the things my mom bought me for my apartment. I sent Ralph to pick up Amelia from the hospital because I was making dinner for her. I heard the door open and, instantly, I smiled. I wiped my hands on the kitchen towel and walked to the foyer.
“Hi, baby,” I said as I kissed her. “Did you have a nice ride home with Ralphie?”
She smiled and then let out a giggle. “Be nice. It smells wonderful in here.”
“Thank you. How was your day?” I asked.
“It was good. How was yours?”
“It’s better now that you’re here.” I smiled as I gripped her hips and kissed her.
There was a knock at the door and Amelia looked at me. “Are you expecting someone?”
“No,” I said as I walked over to the door and opened it. To my surprise, Hailey was standing on the other side.
“Hey, do you have a minute to talk?”
“Actually, I don’t. I’m in the middle of—”
“It’s okay, sweetheart. You two talk. I’ll go over and see Julia. Hi, Hailey,” Amelia said as she walked across the hall.
I shut the door and sighed. “What do you want, Hailey?”
“I want to apologize for what I said at the hospital. It was rude and I was out of line.”
I stood there, nodding my head. “Okay. Apology accepted. Now if you’ll excuse me,” I said as I walked towards the kitchen.
“I still love you, Collin, and I want you to give us another chance!” she shouted.
I stopped dead in my tracks. “What? I have a girlfriend.”
“So what. Break up with her. I know you still love me.”
I couldn’t believe I was standing there, listening to what she was saying. She didn’t have a clue what she did to me. I turned around and glared at her.
“I hate to break the news to you, Hailey, but I don’t love you. To be honest, I never really did.”
“How the fuck can you say that after six years of being in a relationship?”
“I was young. Neither one of us knew what love really was, and I’m pretty sure you still don’t.”
“Oh, and you do?” she asked.
“Yeah, I do know because the gir
l I’m madly in love with is across the hall right now. Hailey, if you truly loved me, you wouldn’t have done what you did. You couldn’t have so easily walked away. But you did and you broke my heart. You told me numerous times that we weren’t meant to be and that I needed to move on. So I did. Now you come back to New York and you think we can pick up where we left off? Did you honestly think that I would be waiting for you after what you did?”
“I’m sorry. I made a mistake. Please forgive me,” she cried.
By this time, the tears were flowing from her uncontrollably and I felt bad. But there was nothing I could do for her.
“The only mistake you made was thinking that you could have me back. You’ll find someone, Hailey.”
“I already have found someone, Collin. You. I want you back in my life. I want to hold you and kiss you and make love to you,” she cried.
“I’m sorry.”
She walked up to me and smashed her mouth against mine. I pushed her away and looked at her tear-filled eyes.
“Now tell me that you didn’t feel something,” she said.
I stood there as I was about to break her heart one last time. “No, Hailey. I felt nothing. It’s been over between us for a long time. Now, please leave so I can finish cooking dinner.”
She ran to the door of my apartment and flung it open before running down the hallway, crying her eyes out. I stood there with my head down, feeling bad for hurting her, even though I shouldn’t have felt that way. Amelia walked into the apartment and wrapped her arms around me.