Risky Business

"It's like another life,

Like I hadn't felt a thing until you."

-22-

February 13, 2015

You know those moments that you dream about, but you never really think will happen?

You know, those moments when the world halts. It stops spinning. Your heart misses one beat, then another, and another until you think it's stopped altogether.

I'd say that that's what happened to me when I found out Bath & Body Works no longer carried Winter Candy Apple after Christmas, but that's a little more dramatic.

In the here and now, facing Chad, whose face was unreadable, my world really did stop spinning. And if it hadn't already crashed down when Chad found out about my deal, I'd say that it would've now.

I opened my mouth, wheezed slightly (which was…just brilliant…for my serious predicament), and closed my mouth.

Chad could talk.

Chad, instead, just gaped at me.

As Colton, snug in his crib, let out a little yawn, Chad's and my eyes flickered down to the newborn, and then back to each other.

Chad shifted from foot to foot, and I did the same, my heart beating eight-billion miles per hour.

Jamie let out a really, really loud, and really long snore.

Chad's eyebrows knit together, and a frown formed on his list.

I lost my patience.

"Your nephew is beautiful." My words came out softly, carefully, and the corners of Chad's mouth tilted up, making my heart burst back to life.

"He's kind of cool." Chad shifted his feet again, and looked at my pointedly.

How had we gone from best friends, to being in love, to…shifting feet?

Chad's eyes wandered around the room.

Let's make that…best friends, being in love, shifting feet, and shifty eyes.

Lovely.

"Chad-" I started.

"You didn't go off with Efron?" His smirk caught me off guard. I let my eyes wander off of his face, to his broad shoulders, to the rather disturbingly sexy way he was leaning against the wall. I shook my head in response, and Chad took a step forward.

"You went home?" I couldn't tell if it was a question, or a statement, but my eyes were locked with his blue ones, and I nodded.

"Did Jill pop yet?" A slight laugh escaped my lips at that one, and a fluttery-feeling drifted through my stomach.

"No." I said quietly, not daring to break eye contact, or say something that would end Chad's desire to talk to me.

"Sonny," Chad's adam's apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed, "I really…I mean, would you mind talking to me?"

If possible, my heart pounded even more wildly, as I nodded my head.

"Maybe tomorrow, I could meet you at your apartment? Around 2?" Again, I nodded.

With that, Chad awkwardly patted me on my shoulder, and I tiptoed out of Jamie and Colton's room, not daring a glance back. As I headed out of the maternity ward, I released a breath that I hadn't realized I'd been holding, and shoved my sweaty hands in the pockets of my jeans. The whole time I was wondering what the heck just happened.

Ooo000ooO

February 14, 2015

It took me until about 1:59 pm today to realize that it was Valentine's Day.

Or, in my case, Singles' Awareness Day. Unfortunately. And I hope that that will change. In my dreams.

And how did I come to realize this right before Chad arrived?

Because I was on the phone with Jill.

I actually began by calling her, telling her all about Colton, and then my run in with Chad at the hospital. Jill was extremely serious the first part of the conversation, asking about the weight of the baby, if it had any hair, why Jamie failed to name the kid Carrot Top II, and Chad's facial expressions. Then, when I explained how he was supposedly coming over today, she started asking me if I had been to Victoria's Secret lately (no), if I had any really pretty hot pink stiletto heels (over my dead body…then again, I'd be dead if I wore them), if I had really sparkly lip gloss (I'm not five), and what my hair looked like. Then, she ended our conversation by telling me Happy Valentine's Day.

That was thirty seconds ago, and in the span of thirty seconds, I had a panic attack, wondering why Chad would want to come over on Valentine's Day.

Yes, we were best friends who sometimes spent Singles' Awareness Day together, and I'd still love to be best friends, but Chad pretty much flipped the switch on that one.

And yes, he dumped me after I lied to him and all, but prior to that we were a "couple" (a REAL one), and "in love".

Therefore, isn't Valentine's Day with your ex, like, illegal?

Or, maybe Chad didn't realize that it was Valentine's Day either.

With that thought, peace fluttered through me. And then there was a knock on my door, causing ever ounce of panic to flood back in.

I gulped for air, reached for the doorknob, and held my breath.

Chad did not have a bouquet of roses in his arms, or any kind of chocolate that I could see, praise God.

However, Chad was wearing tight jeans and a tight black shirt, which made it hard to let the breath that I was holding go.

Come up for air, Sonny. Just a little bit of air…

"Hey." Chad reached for me, and pulled me into an awkward hug. Tears stung my eyes and shivers raced through me at his touch. Heavens, I missed him.

"Hi." I bit back a sigh when he stepped back.

"So, what are you doing today?" Chad walked passed me, and plopped himself down on the couch, asking me the question like we had never fought. Like he never told me that he never wanted to see me again. Like he never left, or got rightfully angry at me when he found out that I had been keeping something from him.

What in the hell was his deal?

"Huh?" I squeaked.

Chad gave me a half smile, and patted the seat beside him. I blinked, and sat down in the chair besides the couch.

I couldn't sit by him yet. I was too confused, and didn't trust myself.

"I miss you, Sonny." Chad's voice cracked, and I closed my eyes.

He wasn't the only one.

I mean…I missed him, not myself.

You know what I mean.

Hell.

"I-I'm so sorry, Chad."

"I should've listened." Chad swallowed, and held his hand up to stop me from saying anything. "I didn't give you a chance to explain. You didn't even go, and weren't going. And you're my best friend. I just got so…angry, so quickly. And I am so sorry, Sonny."

Chad's eyes were watering, and I felt a tear slowly crawl down my cheek.

He was apologizing. When it was my entire fault, when I had messed up everything, Chad was apologizing.

And I was utterly relieved and grateful.

"Chad," I moved over to the couch, needed to be close to him, "please don't apologize. You had every right to be mad."

Chad shook his head. "Maybe," Chad smirked, "but you're my best friend. I had a right to be mad, but I didn't have a right to not give you a chance."

Chad scooted closer, his thumb brushing away the tear, and trailing down to my jaw.

"I need you, Sonny. And until I lost you, I didn't realize how much I need you." My heart swelled, and, if possible, I scooted even closer to him.

"Next time this happens, Chad, just listen." Chad smiled at me, reached for my hand, and placed a soft kiss on it.

"Sounds like a plan." And so the process of healing began.

Lyrics: Nothing Like This by Rascal Flatts

A/N: So, how are you? In my defense, it wasn't a month – just two weeks! Oh, and I mentioned Candy Apple lotion by Bath and Body Works in this chapter…That lotion, Starbuck's Caramel Brulees, and your reviews…all better than white chocolate. And white chocolate is the bomb (excluding the Rascal Flatts, because they're the best). …But you guys are up there with them!

Thank you for reading, and I'd love to hear what you think!

-Aly