Accidentally In Love - Chapter 10
Both Alexis and Jason stood in the hallway staring at PH4's door. Max emerged from the shadows where he'd been standing. They'd all heard the loud crashing noise and Alexis suspected Sonny was the origin. Running into him had ruined their jovial mood. On the way up, Jason had insisted that when they arrived at their home he was going to carry Alexis over the threshold, just to ensure no one questioned their legitimacy.
Everyone's mood was dampened. "Max, why don't you go inside," Jason motioned to Penthouse 2. She felt Jason's hand touch her shoulder. "Alexis, if you want to check on him, it's okay."
The offer surprised her. "Are you sure? I mean, you don't mind? I know you and Sonny have been having a difficult time lately."
Jason smiled sadly causing him to look like a boy whose best friend had just moved away. "Alexis, Sonny and I were friends. I don't want anything to happen to him." He thought for a moment. "I'll wait here for you if you want."
"I'll be fine. Sonny's not going to hurt me." At least not physically, she thought to herself. She and Sonny had done a life time's worth of damage to each other with their words and their actions. "This is some way to start a honeymoon, huh?" she joked.
"We've got another 365 days to hang out." Jason turned to go inside. "But FYI, if you're not back in 30 minutes, I'm coming over. Sonny may have been my friend, but he doesn't get to keep my wife to himself on our wedding night." He surprised her with a wink.
Actually, he'd surprised her when he showed up to her office that morning. Just before breakfast, she mentioned she planned to give notice before the day was done. So, he made her and the girls chocolate chip pancakes. He always did this thing where he made the chips into a smiley face. The girls loved them. Honestly, she did, too.
She went into work at the usual time. She walked directly to the mayor's office and gave notice. A few minutes after the mayor informed her that he would be appointing Baldwin to replace her, Jason showed up. He offered to take her on a long bike ride to ease the pain. Although she was tempted, she suggested they get married instead. She wasn't quite sure what had gotten into her, after all marriage was not her favorite pastime. But, in her mind, it made sense: end one era and start another.
Besides it was a marriage of convenience; the third of three. Convenience she could do. It was just when feelings got in the way that the marriage got botched up. Whatever she had with Jason, this quasi-convenient, semi-emotional thing seemed to be working out. He was extremely helpful with the girls and she generally enjoyed his company. She tried to ignore the fact that he was a great kisser and she enjoyed waking up in his arms. Yet, she was comforted with the knowledge that he would never try to seduce her or ask her for more. As long as they could avoid compromising situations, they would be fine.
They'd spent a half day making the arrangements; Jason insisted on marrying in a church. She purchased a white linen suit while he spoke with a local pastor. He wore a black suit and a light blue shirt with a collar that seemed to enhance the color of his eyes. He picked up the girls; she picked up the flowers. They each called a witness: she called Nicholas; he called Robin. And although both Nicholas and Robin thought they were crazy; they each agreed to be there for them out of a sense of loyalty. With Max and Diane, they had a total of six wedding guests. After their vows were done, Nicholas volunteered to keep the girls, which Jason assured him wasn't necessary. He kept them anyway. She should have known things had gone too smoothly; learning Sonny moved next door was proof positive.
Penthouse 4. Just seeing the number and knowing Sonny lived there again took her mind places she didn't want it to go. After a soft knock on the door, she almost lost her nerve. There was no answer. So, she simply opened the door and walked in. Sonny was kneeling in front of the overturned bar picking up chards of glass.
"Sonny?"
"Hey." he seemed unexpectedly calm. "What are you doing here?"
She twisted her lip beneath her teeth. "I thought we should talk."
"What's there to talk about? I moved back in here and you married Jason." He continued to pick up the bits of glass.
She began to help him. "I guess I just don't understand your reaction to me being with Jason. It seems a little extreme." As she thought about it, Sonny had been behaving like a jealous ex, which all things being considered was a little nonsensical given the amount of time that had passed since they had been together.
"Jason is a dangerous man, Alexis. I don't want you or the girls hurt." He stood and raised the bar to its feet.
Rising to meet him face to face, she stared into the deep brown pools he called eyes. "Ric and Jerry were dangerous and you didn't behave this way."
"People will be gunning for Jason and Kristina likes him. I don't want her or Molly to be in the line of fire." He turned to face her. "That's why I need you to tell me what you and Jason are hiding." His hand rose to touch her cheek. "I can take care of you and the girls. All you have to do is let me."
The thumping of her pulse rang in her ears. Fuzziness clouded her mind. "Sonny, I can't. I promised Jason."
"You don't seem to understand. I let Jason take over the business. I'm not giving him my family, too."
"Since when are Kristina and I your family?" Alexis felt the heat rise to her cheeks. Sonny's concern hadn't arisen out of concern for her and Kristina. He was simply marking them as territory. His former friend had become his enemy. She had been both at one time or another and she knew the lengths to which he would go to keep his enemy from having something he believed was his. Rage began to rise up inside her. Sonny's games would end now. "Kristina was the child you barely acknowledged until you lost Michael and Morgan. Jason didn't steal your family. You stole his."
Sonny wrinkled his forehead. "What are you talking about?"
"Did you forget I was there, Sonny? I saw how much Jason loved Michael and Carly. They were getting closer to being a really family, to Jason raising Michael. Because you wanted to see what Carly was like in bed you planted doubts in her empty little head. I swear the two of you are the most selfish people on the planet. You want what you want everyone else be damned. You broke Jason's heart. You destroyed Jax's family and now you dare stand here and talk about Jason stealing your family. Unbelievable."
Bingo. She'd hit her target. He kept his eyes lowered. "That was the past and I'm sorry I hurt Jason. But I still want to help you and that starts with you away from Jason."
"You want to help me? Back off." Seconds later, she was out of the door.
As she entered PH2, tears began to skate down her cheeks. Jason entered the living room and immediately folded her into his arms.
Through her sobs, she choked out, "Sonny's not going to bother us anymore."
"Then what's wrong?"
"I hate I know how to push his buttons."
"You're amazing, you know that?" Jason kissed her forehead before hugging her again.
"Hey, why don't I make you some dinner while you change?"
In the shower, she let the water roll mingle with her tears. How could she have believed Sonny's concern was about she and Krissy? Nothing had changed; he was still willing to manipulate her to get what he wanted. This time he wanted her away from Jason. Once she was out of the shower, she slid into one of Jason's t-shirts and a pair of jeans. Something about the smell of Jason's cologne comforted her.
She made her way to the kitchen just as Jason placed the plates on the table. When she saw what was on the plates, she burst into laughter.
"It's the only thing I can make that tastes good." Jason smiled, almost as broadly as the pancakes on their plates.
When their bellies were full, they settled on the sofa to watch a movie. Unfortunately, she didn't last very long. She drifted off to sleep within a few minutes. A few hours later, she awoke to find Jason was gone. She removed the cashmere throw that he'd placed over her and made her way to the bedroom.
The bedroom was empty. Maybe Jason had gone to Harry's. After all, she'd conked out on him almost immediately. If he'd been hurt or arrested, the police would have called. She wondered if she was doomed to worry about the safety of whatever man she was with for the rest of her life. Sliding her jeans off, she decided to spend the night in Jason's shirt. It would have to do in his absence. She smiled to herself and snuggled into her pillow. Without realizing that she was speaking out loud, she mused, "This may be the most boring wedding night I've had."
Jason's voice startled her. "You're bored?"
When she looked up, her heart nearly stopped. There stood Jason wearing nothing but a towel. The water still glistened on his pecks and biceps and abs and at least twenty other muscles. She gasped and she hoped her mouth hadn't remained open too long.
"I decided to shower while you were sleeping." His head dropped slightly as a slight blush colored his cheeks. "I thought you were still downstairs."
"I, I, I just woke up." Her mind screamed for her to breathe. It's not like you've never seen a half-naked man with an amazing body standing two feet in front of you before. Her logical side kicked in. "Get some clothes on him," her mind demanded. She reached to his side of the bed and grabbed the pajama bottoms Graciella laid out. Up and out of bed she hopped and extended the pajamas in front of her. Immediately, she noticed his eyes drifted to her legs.
With his left hand, he pulled her hand and the pajamas toward him until they rested against his chest. He laced his right hand through her hair. Gently, he pulled her head toward his own. His lips graced hers gently, then not so gently and then once more. When he stepped back, she realized she was shaking. She had no idea whether it was from fear, anticipation or plain old desire. Noticing the pajamas were still in her hands, she smiled. Her eyes darted from Jason to the bed to Jason and finally back to the pajamas. In one simple move, she tossed the pajamas over her head.
A chuckle escaped his lips. Once again he dropped his head. "I think I needed those."
With a sly smile, she shook her head, "no."
He mimicked her movement also shaking his head, "no."
Feeling bolder than she'd felt in a long time, she reached for the towel and pulled it slowly from his body until he stood before her completely exposed. His eyes danced as he looked at her. "Looks like tonight just got a little less boring."