Thanks for reading. Special thanks to ghost303 and Shel Grissom for reviewing the last chapter. This is the end of "His Best Friend". I really appreciate the continuous support from ghost303. I've taken "Your Secret Is Safe With Me" down because I'm rewriting it. Look for my newest project, "Real Housewives of the Ring", by the end of the summer.
[10 years later]
Liz groaned when she woke up. "What time is it?" she asked the man next to her.
He chuckled at her crankiness. "Almost 9. Michael and Reby are downstairs making breakfast. Lucas is with them; probably annoying the hell out of them. Jules and Justin are playing video games in the lounge. I'm here waiting on my good morning kiss. And Oliver should be awake by now," he listed off everybody's current status.
Liz smiled and rolled over; she smiled into the bright blue eyes that stared back at her. Her smile grew bigger when her husband playfully puckered his lips and waited to feel her lips on his. The chaste kiss made them both giggle.
He sighed happily and pulled her close to him. "So," he started. "Randy's coming by today," he said.
"Don't remind me…" Liz said disgusted.
"Come on, Lizzy, don't be like that. At least he's trying; some guys don't even try to spend time with their kids just to avoid the kids' mom," he said. His tone of voice changed. "Good thing he's still in love with you," he muttered.
Liz sighed. "Dolph," she started.
"No, Lizzy. You know as well as I do that he still wants to be with you," Dolph said.
She rolled her eyes. "Yeah. He broke up with me on the day of our wedding, skipped town to find Eva, married her, had kids with her, but he's still in love with me. Perfect way for him to show it," she said; almost somberly.
Dolph kissed her forehead. "I know you miss him, Lizzy," he said.
Liz tried to suppress the tears that threatened to run down her face. "Of course I do. I just don't want to miss him. It's not fair to you," she said.
He shook his head. "Don't worry about me today. Spend some time with Randy and catch up with him and the kids. I'll man the fort," Dolph suggested.
"If I go with them, I want you to be there; I don't want to be alone with him," she said.
"It'll be fine, Lizzy. Just go have a good time. Curse him out or not; whichever makes you feel better," he said.
She nodded. "I just wish we could work out a plan where I didn't have to see him so much. I thought if we planned for him to come over for the kids' birthdays, I wouldn't have to see him as often," she said.
Dolph laughed. "Well maybe you shouldn't have had a team of kids with him," he said.
Liz playfully kicked his legs under the sheets. "4 kids is not a team. Now if we had 5, then you could call them a team," she said.
He snickered. "You had so many kids with him that you can't even remember how many of them there are," he said.
She frowned. "We only have 4: Michael, Reby, Lucas, Jules… oh and Justin. And Taylor, too, I guess," she counted on her fingers. "I guess there are 6. Damn," she said.
Juliet Nicole Orton and Justin Alexander Orton were only one year apart; Juliet was 9 and Justin was 8. In the midst of their breakup, Liz and Randy had tried to work things out, but the only progress they ever made was Justin.
Dolph laughed out loud.
"Since you want to be a comedian," Liz said getting out of bed. "How about you get yourself off today," she suggested as she walked away towards the nursery.
Alone in the nursery, Liz smiled at the gibberish she heard coming from the crib. "Good morning, Oliver," she sang with a smile as she picked up the 2 year old. "It's time to get you in a big boy bed, huh?" she asked rhetorically.
"Yeah!" the child said excitedly. Liz shook her head; the poor child didn't know what he was agreeing to; his way of communication consisted of repeating family words whenever he felt like they could fit the conversation.
"How about a bath?" she asked.
Knowing what a bath was, the small boy screamed in protest. "Fine. Let's go see Daddy instead," she said. With that the boy was calm again.
She walked with the toddler on her hip into the master bedroom where Dolph was still laid out in bed.
"Hey, Ozzy!" Dolph said when he saw Liz and the toddler return. Liz handed him over to Dolph to go get a shower of her own.
While she was in the bathroom, the doorbell rang. "Michael!" Dolph shouted hoping Michael could hear him. "Open the door! It's your sister. And help her with her bags, too," he yelled.
Moments later, Taylor came up the stairs. "Hey, Dolph," the 21 year old said with a smile as she entered the master bedroom.
"Hey, Taylor. Mom's in the shower," he said.
She nodded. "I know. Michael said he heard the shower running. I'm here for this one here," she said taking the baby from him. "Hey, Ollie-Pop! You've gotten so big since the last time I was home!" she said as she gently bounced the baby.
"What time did Dad say he would be here?" Taylor asked Dolph as she played with Oliver.
"Um," Dolph pulled out his phone to check. "Noon," he answered simply.
She nodded. "How's Mom?" she asked, knowing her mom and dad's relationship history.
"I don't know. You know how she feels about him," he said.
Taylor nodded. "Yeah. At least Eva and the kids won't be here. It's not that I don't like you or anything, but I really wish they could have gotten through all that crap way back when," she said.
"I know, Tay. Me, too. I think she still misses him," he said.
Suddenly the bathroom door opened. "I'm right here, you know. It's not like I'm miles away," Liz said when she came out of the bathroom in her bathrobe.
Taylor smiled. "Lookin' good Ma! Keeping it tight for DaddyDolph, I see," she joked. In reality, Liz had maintained a really good figure for a 37-year-old woman who had given birth to 7 kids over the span of 21 years.
Liz rolled her eyes and disappeared into the massive closet to get dressed.
"Any boys giving you trouble?" Dolph asked his step-daughter.
She shrugged. "I'm not getting any unwanted attention if that's what you're asking," she said with a smirk.
Dolph chuckled and shook his head. "Seriously, though. I thought you would have brought some punk home for holiday by now," he said.
"College is a place for learning, Dolph, not boys," she said innocently.
Dolph narrowed his eyes at her. "I just hope you keep a steady supply of condoms," he said bluntly.
"Dolph!" Taylor shrieked. "I'm done. I'm going to go give Ollie-Pop his bath," she said as she left the room with Oliver on her hip.
[hours later]
Dolph, Liz, Taylor, Reby, Lucas, Juliet, Justin, and a slew of other teenagers were gathered in the backyard to celebrate Michael's 16th birthday.
Liz looked at her phone to check the time; it was already half past 1 and Randy hadn't showed up. He was supposed to be there before the party even got started so that he and Michael could spend some quality time together. Liz knew that Michael was looking forward to seeing Randy on his birthday.
While the other teens were dancing around on the deck, balcony, and patio, Michael was sitting alone at one of the patio tables. Liz sighed and got up to talk to him, but Dolph stopped her.
"Don't," he said simply.
She shook her head. "He was supposed to be here by now, Dolph. I can't sit here and watch my son be unhappy on his birthday," she said.
"Well, have you called him?" Dolph asked.
Liz glared at him. "No, Dolph. I hadn't thought to call Randy an hour and a half after he was supposed to be here," she said sarcastically.
Dolph sighed. "Can I talk to Michael first?" he asked.
Liz shrugged. "Go for it," she said.
The brown haired man stood nervously and went to the party of one at the patio table. He didn't know what he would say to Michael. They had a pretty decent relationship. Dolph and Liz had only been married for 7 years; but during those 7 years, Dolph had developed quite the bonds between all of Liz's children. They accepted him into their home and he did all he could to maintain those bonds.
When he sat down next to Michael, the birthday boy sighed. "Go away," he said.
Dolph took a deep breath. "I know you're upset that your dad isn't here," Dolph started. "but all your friends are here. Don't you want to enjoy your party until Randy comes?" he asked.
Michael scoffed. "It's your fault he isn't here in the first place! My dad would have never left if it wasn't for you!" he yelled.
Dolph frowned knowing that he had nothing to do with Randy and Liz's breakup. "What do you mean, Michael? I have nothing to do with why your parents aren't together," he said.
"Whatever! My dad told me all about how you broke them up because you were jealous. Are you happy now? My dad doesn't even want to come here because of you!" Michael said angrily.
Before Dolph could even consider explaining what really happened between Liz and Randy, the doorbell rang. Dolph took the opportunity to avoid an awkward conversation by leaving the table to answer the door; he already knew it was Randy.
Dolph sighed seeing Eva and their 3 sons with him. "Randy..."
Randy cut him off. "I know I said Eva and the boys wouldn't come but we had a change of plans," he said.
Liz's husband shook his head. "Liz won't be happy; you know that right?" Dolph asked.
Randy sighed. "I know. Can we come in?"
Dolph didn't want to cause a fuss at Michael's party, but he knew how badly Michael had wanted to see Randy. "Fine. You can go out back, but Eva and the boys need to stay inside. I'll go let Liz know you're late… I mean I'll go let her know you're here," he said.
Randy nodded and ushered the uninvited guests inside. The closer Dolph and Randy got to the patio doors, the more nervous Dolph got. He knew Liz would be less than happy to know that Eva and her spawn were in her house.
"Baby," he said when he found Liz. "Randy's here," he said nodding over to the patio table where Randy had finally greeted Michael.
She sighed contently. "Finally," she said.
"But uh, Eva and the boys are here, too. They're in the house. I figured I'd tell you before they came out here," he said.
Liz groaned. "I specifically told him that I did not want that bitch in my house!" she said as she stormed towards Randy.
"…I'm so sorry I was late, kid. Eva and the boys wanted to come so we had to book some extra fights," Randy was explaining his lateness to Michael when Liz walked up.
Randy could tell that Liz was pissed, so he told Michael to go party with his friends.
"I'm glad you finally decided to show up, Randy, but I vividly remember telling you that I do not want that bitch in my house," she said quietly enough so the guests couldn't hear how angry she was.
He sighed. "Look, Liz. I know I said I wouldn't bring her, but—"
"But nothing, you son of a bitch. Get that bitch and her fucking kids out of my goddamn house!"
Randy stood angrily and towered over Liz. "They're my kids, too, Liz!" he said.
She rolled her eyes. "Yeah and mine are yours too, but I don't see you making extra efforts to get here on time," she said.
He sighed. "I only get to see them on their birthdays, Liz. Just let me have this once. I'm sorry Eva and the boys are here, but school is out and they would have been alone. I couldn't just leave my family behind like that," he said.
Liz pressed her lips in a straight line; her eyes filled with tears. "Kinda like you left us?" she asked rhetorically.
Randy took a breath to explain, but Liz stopped him. "Don't," she sniffled. "10 years Randy. 10 years we've been broken up and you still manage to get to me like this. I did everything right by you, Randy and you did this to me. But I'm not mad; I'm not mad at all. I am finally happy; I'm married; I have an amazing husband with even better children. You and your bullshit have no effect on my life until you fuck with my kids. So, Eva and the boys can stay; but keep her the hell away from me and my family," she said before storming inside the house.
She was on her way up the stairs when she saw Eva and three young boys in the lounge. Liz wanted so badly to go to Eva and cause a big fuss. Instead, she swallowed her pride and calmly approached them.
Eva rolled her eyes when she saw Liz. "Hello, Eva," Liz said with a forced smile.
"Liz," Eva said grossly.
"Can we talk away from the boys?" Liz asked referring to Eva and Randy's sons 4 year old Parker, 7 year old Joseph, and 10 year old Andrew.
Eva narrowed her eyes at Liz, but eventually stood and followed Liz into the kitchen.
Liz took a deep breath. "I specifically asked Randy that you not be here. I'm glad the boys are here since they are my kids' brothers, but Randy and I already have an exact schedule of when and where the kids see each other just so I don't have to deal with you being around my family. I'm not going to pretend that I'm excited to see you or them here, but I won't make a scene about it, either. Go on out back and enjoy the party; Parker, Joseph, and Andrew can hang out with my kids, but you need to stay away from my kids and my husband. We all know how you like sloppy seconds," she said.
Eva rolled her eyes. "Whatever, Liz. You're just mad that I was able to do the one thing you couldn't," she said.
Liz scoffed. "Are you done?" she asked. The red haired woman folded her arms. "Good. I'll be upstairs."
With that, Liz was gone; she went upstairs to relax a bit before going back to the party. She closed the bedroom door and sighed. Nothing could have prepared Liz for Eva and the boys showing up. When she realized that Randy was late, Liz knew that his tardiness wasn't the only thing she would have to deal with.
Liz went to the bathroom and got a small, wet towel; in the bedroom, she laid on her back in the bed and placed the cool towel over her eyes. That had always relaxed her at her most stressful moments.
She had only been there for about half an hour when she heard the bedroom door open; she smiled assuming it was Dolph.
"I was just thinking about you. How are Randy and Eva doing down there?" she asked.
"Liz,"
Liz snatched the towel off her face and sat up. "What the fuck are you doing up here, Randy? You lost all privilege to even step foot in here!" she yelled.
Randy closed the door behind him. "Calm down, Liz. I just came up here to apologize," he said.
"We already had this conversation; you didn't want to leave your family behind. I get it," she said in an attempt to get Randy to leave.
He shook his head. "I'm not talking about that. I'm apologizing for walking out on you 10 years ago," he said.
Liz stood from the bed and made a beeline for the door; Randy stepped in her way. "Can you just hear me out, Elizabeth?" he asked.
Liz cringed at hearing her full name; she knew that whatever Randy was going to say was important just by the way he said her name. "Fine," she said as she walked back to the bed where she sat. Randy sat as well.
He took a deep breath. "I know what I did was wrong and for that I'm sorry. I think about that day all the time. I wonder how things would have been different for us. I'm sorry that I couldn't be your husband, but I'm only as good a father as you allow me to be," he said.
"Wouldn't," Liz said. "You said you couldn't be my husband like there was something preventing you from marrying me. You chose not to marry me, Randy. Don't say "couldn't" like there was some omniscient power that didn't allow us to get married," she said.
Randy nodded. "You're right.
"I don't need your apology, Randy. I just need to know one thing: What's the real reason why you didn't marry me?" she asked.
Randy sighed. "I was scared," he said.
Liz scoffed. "Bullshit, Randy!" she said. "You don't get to pop up here only on birthdays and then tell me that you didn't want to marry me because you were scared!"
"You only allow me to be here on birthdays, Liz! I can't just come over whenever I'm in town because you won't let me!" he said.
Liz shook her head. "You can easily pick up the phone in Florida to call and say that you'll be in town and that you want to see the kids, Randy. I have no problem with that. What I have a problem with is you bringing that whore into my house when I specifically told you not to," she said.
"Don't talk about her like that. She's my wife and you need to respect her," Randy said.
Liz was baffled. "I need to respect her? I, the mother of 5 out of 8 of your kids, need to respect the bitch you fucked behind my back while we were engaged?!" she asked angrily.
Randy frowned. "How did—"
"Andrew is almost 11 years old, Randy. We've been apart for 10 years. Babies take nine months to make. Do the math," she said.
Randy was quiet.
"You put me through hell, Randy. I admit, the last few months of our relationship were great. But everything before that was a little shitty. But most relationships are, so I'm not holding that against you.
She stood from the bed and walked away from him. He grabbed her wrist and pull her back to him. She fell into his lap.
With Liz's back to his chest, Randy wrapped his tattooed arms around her waist; he breathed heavily, yet evenly, onto her neck. Liz could tell that his breathing was coming from a state of arousal.
"Randy," she warned.
Without warning, Randy licked a stripe on the side of Liz neck before biting down on the familiar skin.
Liz gasped and moaned at the sudden contact. Every bone in her body was telling her that she shouldn't engage in what Randy had already started, but her body knew what she would miss out on if she stopped him. Sure, she loved Dolph; he was the man who jumped at the chance to marry her when Randy walked away from her all those years ago. Sure, she knew she would risk breaking his heart, but she was still in love with Randy. Nothing would ever change that.
She struggled and tore herself from his arms; she walked to the door and Randy sighed. He frowned when he heard the door lock. He looked up to see Liz pulling her shirt over her head.
He smirked and stood to kiss the lips he hadn't tasted in 10 long years.
Liz felt like she was literally melting in the kiss; her body longed for Randy's touched. She nudged him backwards as the kiss deepened. When Randy felt his legs tough the edge of the bed, he lifted Liz from her feet to allow her to wrap her legs around him like old times. She did just that; Randy smirked into the kiss and turned around to lay Liz on her back.
Settled between Liz's legs, Randy broke the kiss to remove his own shirt. He quickly unbuttoned the shirt and tossed it aside. While he was taking off his shirt, Liz reached into his pocket for his wallet. As she looked through it, she sighed.
"No condom?" she asked still trying to catch her breath from the deep kiss.
He took a deep breath. "No," he said in defeat. He climbed from body and sat next to her; his back leaning against the headboard. Liz mimicked his seated position.
"Maybe it wasn't meant to happen," she said to break the awkward silence.
He chuckled. "Yeah. Since we're married," he said.
Liz laughed. "Just not to each other," she pointed out.
Randy smiled and nodded. "Can we go back to being friends, though? I don't like fighting with you. You're like my kid sister. You're definitely one of the only people I've known for ever besides my own parents and brother,"
Liz frowned in disgust. "Could you not say I'm like a sister to you after what just happened? It's weird," she said.
He laughed. "True. How about we say… friends with benefits?" he asked.
Liz raised an eyebrow at him. "Excuse me? I am not going to cheat on my husband with my ex," she said half-jokingly. "I'm cool with being just friends… who may or may not hook up occasionally. But definitely not friends with benefits," she said.
Randy thought for a moment. "I can live with that," he said. Randy knew that he would much rather have his best friend in his life under certain conditions than not have His Best Friend in his life at all.
A/N: That's all for His Best Friend. I really hope y'all liked it. I had a lot of fun writing this; I just wish I could have gotten more reviews, but I am so grateful and appreciative of the feedback I got from those who took time to review. Please review this story; I would greatly appreciate it.
xoxo