I rush to the East Village like a madman. I wouldn’t be surprised if my hair is on fire, I’m that desperate. But when I come to Rachel’s apartment building, I pause for a moment. There’s no sense in looking like a crazy person, even if I am one.
Fortunately, one of her neighbors exits right when I’m entering, so I don’t have to buzz up. Instead, I climb the rickety stairs to the third floor and stand before Rachel’s door with my hand poised. Then I knock in what I hope is a firm, assured manner.
To my surprise, the curvy girl answers immediately. She must have been expecting take-out because she’s got her wallet in one hand, already open. But then she gasps, her eyes wide.
“Max?”
I look at her for the first time in far too long and notice all the little things. She’s gorgeous. Her hair is in a messy bun piled on top of her head, and she’s in baggy sweats, but they don’t do anything to conceal those sassy hills and valleys. If anything, she looks better natural like this, and very much herself.
“What are you doing here?” she demands.
I growl, my expression furious.
“Why am I here?” I ask. “Why are you here? Why the fuck didn’t you come back to the cottage like you said?”
She turns to slam the door in my face, but I wedge my foot in just in time, so it merely bounces. Then, I push it open and make my way inside without an invitation. It’s shabby and small, but I don’t care. All I want is my woman, in my arms.
Meanwhile, Rachel follows me inside and crosses her arms over her chest.
“Oh my God, Max. Seriously. What are you doing here? So we had a fun fling at the cottage, but it’s over now. What’s the big deal?”
I spin and stare at the curvy girl. This is not my Rachel. This is not the woman I fell in love with, who would cry over a smashed bug or a little bird with a broken wing.
“Rachel, what’s going on with you?” She pales at my question, and something twangs in my gut. “Do you not want to be with me?”
But then she speaks with an air of forced bravado.
“Please, Max. We had a fling, that’s all, and then I ghosted you. It’s a Millennial thing I know, but sometimes, people don’t want to go through the motions of a breakup. Why bother and waste all that time and energy? So I used the opportunity to make a clean break, and I thought you understood.”
I shake my head.
“No, Rachel. When you left the cottage, you said you were coming back. We shared kisses, and I put my faith in your words.”
She grows pale and doesn’t speak for a moment.
“Well, things change,” she mutters, staring at the ground.
I fix her with a look.
“What changed? What could possibly have happened in the span of a few days?”
Her lip trembles and she looks away for a few moments. But then her gaze swings back at me, and there’s determination in that chocolate stare.
“I called your phone a few days ago and a girl answered.”
“Okay. But I lost my phone a few days ago, and only recently got it back. It was probably my client, Katy Mellon, who picked up, even though she shouldn’t have. I went to her father’s house for a job.”
“Katy Mellon?” Rachel asks, her brow scrunching. “Why does that name sound familiar?”
“It’s because her dad’s Senator Mellon, and Katy graduated from high school last weekend. She’s a spoiled brat who wanted her make-up professionally done for the event, so I went. She’s a pain in the ass, but they sent a helicopter for me, and I was back by that evening.”
Katy looks confused now.
“Is Katy Mellon blonde, curvy, and gorgeous?”
I cock my head at her.
“Where is this going?”
Suddenly, tears spring to Rachel’s eyes, and she wipes at them furiously with one hand.
“Max, I called you that day, and a blonde girl answered. She was young and beautiful, and when I asked for you, she said, ‘Wait just one second.’ But then, you’ll never guess what happened.”
I step closer, longing to touch this woman who holds my heart in her hand.
“What happened?”
Rachel lets out a choked laugh.
“The blonde girl, who I now know is Katy Mellon, was in the middle of riding a man! She was bouncing up and down his dick like a cowgirl, and I automatically assumed it was you beneath her! I never saw his face, see? So I thought you’d taken the opportunity to end our relationship.”
I stare at her.
“But why would I call you after that happened? I’ve been trying to reach you, and you’ve been ignoring me.”
Tears are falling freely down Rachel’s face now.
“Because I thought you wanted to apologize for the way things ended, and I didn’t want to hear it. I figured there was no point, and my heart was breaking anyways. So I screened all your calls.”
With that, I gather her into my arms, and her soft form melts against me.
“No sweetheart,” I rasp. “Katy Mellon is an eighteen year old brat who has her dad wound around her little finger. I lost my phone, and she never should have picked up, much less picked up in the middle of sex. But she was with another man. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s slept with their family’s butler and chauffeur, in addition to the entire high school football team.”
Rachel cries, her tears making a wet spot on my chest.
“I know,” she says in a muffled voice. “And I’m so sorry for the mix-up.”
I merely wipe her tears away with my thumb.
“Rachel Champion, I can’t believe you think I’d take up with a brat like Katy when I am desperately in love with you.”
At that, she looks up, her eyes wide and surprised.
“What did you say?” she whispers.
But my motivations are true, and I pull her against me once more.
“I love you, Rachel. I think I fell into lust that first afternoon when I came upon you sunbathing by the pool. But it turned into something more during the time we spent at the cottage, and now, I want to be with you, sweet girl. Permanently.”
She sobs even harder, and I stroke her hair and continue.
“I’ve been trying to figure out how to get in touch with you over the last few days, and came up with nada, so honey, don’t be angry, but I went to your parents’ apartment and got your address.”
She gasps then, staring at me.
“You told Maurice about us?”
“Your mom, too,” I say with a small smile. “Thankfully, Mina was there and she was my saving grace. Your mom got your dad to calm his ass down before he had a heart attack.”
Rachel gasps again.
“OMG, is he okay?”
I sigh.
“He is, but it’s going to take some explaining, definitely. Your mom gave me your address and I basically beat feet out of there, I was so desperate to see you.”
But Rachel’s still in a state of disbelief.
“But you could have destroyed your friendship with Maurice by telling him about us! Thirty years, down the tubes! You risked that for me?”
I merely kiss her and murmur, “I’ll risk it all for you, baby. I love you honey, and I’ll go to the ends of the Earth for you. For us.”
With that, everything comes pouring out into the open. Rachel sobs again as I kiss her through the tears, but now, I know everything’s going to be alright.
“I love you, Max,” she manages through her hiccups. “I know it happened fast -- for both of us -- but I do love you, and I was so devastated when I thought you’d moved on. I just automatically assumed that the man with Katy was you, and I couldn’t stand it.”
“You won’t ever have to worry about that, Rach. I’m here, and I’d never touch another woman.”
She smiles up at me blearily and says, “I know, because you’re perfect for me. You balance me out and help me work through the things that get under my skin. You’re loving, caring, and wise, and that’s why you’ll be a fantastic father.”
Suddenly, I pause, my heart thrumming.
“What was that again?”
Now, it’s Rachel’s turn to look mischievous.
“Oh, did I forget to mention? There’s one more thing: I’m pregnant with your baby.”
“Pregnant?” I manage in a choked tone.
“Mm-hmm. Pregnant.”
My knees feel weak, so I drop down on them in front of her and press my face against her belly as tears spring to my eyes. “OMG, thank you honey,” I say in a choked voice. “I’ve wanted to be a father for so long, and now, it’s finally happening. Hi, baby. Hello in there. It’s Dad.”
I look up at Rachel, and she’s crying. Big, fat tears stream down her beautiful features as she smiles at me. “So you’re excited then?”
I nod, my throat closing a bit.
“Excited? Honey, I’m thrilled. Ecstatic. Overjoyed. There aren’t enough words to describe how over the moon I am for this baby, and for you too, sweetheart.” I wrap my arms around her middle while I’m still on my knees, and then deliver another kiss to her midsection. “We’re going to be a family, Rachel Champion, and I love you so much.”
She strokes my hair before speaking the sweetest words I’ve ever heard.
“Yes, we’re going to be a family, Max. And I love you too.”
With that, the Heavens part and the angels begin to sing because I’ve known this woman her whole life, but something changed along the way. Rachel went from being a little girl to a gorgeous, sassy, giving woman, and I consider myself lucky to be the man in her life.