30

Let the Games Begin

Here is the chapter that I promised y'all for today. I may not get to post tomorrow because I have a busy day ahead of me. I will try to post again on Tuesday if I have the time. If not, it will probably be on Thursday. I hope that y'all enjoy it. This chapter has a little of Eric and Flynn's day in it. I want to thank all of you for the reviews, alerts, and favorites. Thank you so much for reading this story and giving me a chance to share my ideas with you.

The story idea is mine but the main characters belong to Charlaine Harris.

Enjoy, everyone and have a great week!

When Pam dropped me off at home, it was almost 7:00 and I was feeling a lot better than I was before we'd left. I say that because I felt as if I was an attraction at the local zoo.

Earlier as Pam and I walked through the lobby, I noticed how people were staring at me. I also noticed that all eyes were on me as we walked off of the elevator. I could only guess that word had spread that Alcide and I had broken up with each other in front of half of the tenants this morning while we were in the gym. Now, as I return home, the lobby was practically empty. That was a great thing. I wasn't going to have to deal with the stares and the whispers. At least that's what I'd hoped. Claudette and Claude were the only ones sitting at the front desk when I arrived … alone … staring … waiting.

I looked up at the ceiling and sighed. "Hi, guys," I said as I approached the desk. By the looks on their faces, I knew that they knew all about me and Alcide. "How's it going?"

"Hey, Sook," Claude said. "I heard about you and Alcide."

See? I told you.

He looked almost sad as he shook his head and said, "What a shame. Did you really dump him in front everyone in the yoga class?"

"No," I replied. "I didn't break up with him in front of the yoga class because there was no yoga class. And the break-up was not initiated by me and me alone. It was a mutual agreement."

Claude began to nod. "Is it because you slept with that big, blond guy?"

"Really?" I asked. "Did you really just ask me that?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "It's what I heard. I heard that you'd done the nasty with the big, blond guy. And since I was here when he left this morning, I have to assume that that part was true. Oh, and I also heard that he gave you a kiss that blew your shoes off as well as the shoes of the people that were watching you guys kiss … in front of Alcide. Is that true?"

Claudette punched him in the arm. "Get a filter, Claude. You don't have to say everything that pops into your head." She looked at me and gave me a pitiable smile. "Are you okay? I heard that it was pretty bad. They said that Alcide was crying and everything."

I'm thinking about moving.

Claudette continued on. "They said that you both were crying and hugging each other in the gym. It's even been said that Alcide threw his gym bag across the gym and accused you of sleeping with the big, blond guy. I also heard that you lit into him for calling you a liar. You should've punched him for saying that. I know I would've socked right in his fucking jaw." She then leaned in and whispered, "Did that really happen? You can tell me. I won't say anything."

Claude snorted. "And you talk about me not having a filter."

She glanced at him from the corner of her eye and huffed.

Claude looked at me and said, "I heard that you did gut punch Alcide for calling you a liar. One guy said that it looked like you kneed him in the nuts. He said that he really couldn't tell with all that was going on. Is that true?"

"I didn't believe any of that," she replied pointedly. "That part didn't sound true at all. You don't seem like the type to get physically violent with anyone. I also didn't believe it when everyone was saying that you dumped Alcide with your new boyfriend standing right there with you … which couldn't have been true since you've basically confirmed that you broke up in the gym while Mr. Northman was nowhere around. Oh, yeah. It's been said that you didn't just get the Mr. Northman in front of Alcide but you kissed Alcide in front of Mr. Northman." With her eyes wide, she waited for confirmation.

"My fucking hero," Claude said as he nodded his unsolicited support.

I sighed. I wanted to tell them what happened. I wanted to give them my side of the story but I thought better of it. What would be the point? They were going to believe what they wanted to believe anyway. So I did the next best thing.

"Goodnight, guys," I said as I walked away.

"Come on, Sook," Claude called out. "I tell you stuff. I told you about that guy that I was seeing on the thirteenth floor. I told you that he liked for me to call him mama. You can at least tell us what happened with old Muscle Head Alcide."

"I didn't ask you to tell me about that. I tried walking away but you wouldn't let me. And he's not a muscle head. His name is Alcide. And now that I've had my say, I'm going to go home. Goodnight, Claude," I said. "Goodnight, Claudette. And tell Claudine not to call me because I'm not telling her anything either."

"One more question," Claude yelled. "It was the big, blond, Viking leaving your apartment at 4:00 this morning, right? You don't have to answer. I was here when he left." I heard him chuckle. "Get it, Sookie! You must really have it going on! If I was straight, I'd take you out. You are hell on wheels, Sookie Stackhouse."

"Shut-up, Claude," Claudette said. She then paused and asked, "Is that true?"

"Goodnight, you guys." I waved at them over my head as I headed to the elevator.

When the doors opened, I thought that I was going to be the only one on it. That would've been nice but unfortunately, I was not. I see the girl from this morning. She was the one that was on the treadmill that was pretending to be listening to music. She looked at me and smiled. I returned her smile as I went to the back of the elevator and leaned against the railing. I leaned and I waited. I could tell that she wanted to say something to me. She kept glancing at me over her shoulder. She then selected the floor and waited some more. I guess she's my neighbor and I never even knew it.

Fuck it. I was going to get the ball rolling.

"Hi," I said. "I'm Sookie Stackhouse."

"Maria Starr," she answered. "I'm pleased to meet you," she said.

Bull crap, I thought but I kept that to myself.

Maria kept glancing at me over her shoulder during the entire ride and it was beginning to upset me. If she had something to say, she should go ahead and say it but it was quite clear that she wasn't going to say it. Maybe she was nervous. I'd decided to help her out.

"What is it, Maria?" I asked. I didn't bother to try to hide the irritation in my voice. "Why do you keep staring at me? Do you want to know what happened with Alcide too?"

She turned and looked me; eyes just as bright as they were this morning. "No," she said as she shook her head. Black curls were flying in every direction. "Remember, I was there this morning? You looked right at me. I am the one that was on the treadmill."

I sighed and just stared at her.

"Anyhow," she began. "I saw what happened. I was right in front of you. I heard everything that Alcide said and it just touched me to my heart; not when he called you a liar. I think that he should've believed you. I did. I saw how mortified you looked when that sexy guy kissed you like that in front of Alcide. There was no way that you slept him. The look on your face was pretty clear about what happened in your apartment last night."

I thanked her though I was quite irritated with the tenants and employees reliving one of my most embarrassing moments. "I appreciate that, Maria. Thank you."

"Not a problem," she said. "Look, please don't take this the wrong way and don't think that I'm some callous woman because I'm not. I wanted to know if it'll be okay if I ask him out ... not the sexy blond guy," she hurriedly added. "I mean Alcide. I'd like to ask Alcide out on a date. I've always been attracted to him. I think that he is the sexiest man I've ever met before in my life. He has the most beautiful brown eyes. They look just like pools of dark, milk chocolate." A faraway look appeared on her face. "I love milk chocolate."

I don't know her but she seems like a nice a girl. She seems to be a sweet girl really; a little ditzy from what I've seen so far but she seems sweet. She appears to have a great personality and she has her own career. That's what I'm guessing. The jacket that she's wearing reads Starr Construction. She might be good for Alcide.

I smiled at her and said, "Sure. It's okay. I wouldn't mind that at all. I think that you and Ally may be good for each other. He's a great guy."

Clapping her hands in front of her, she said, "Really? You wouldn't mind?"

"Not at all," I replied.

"Great," she said.

For a minute we just stood there and stared at each other. For no reason at all. We just stood there staring at each other.

"Great. Ummm, Sookie?"

Finally!

"Yeah," I said.

"Would you mind giving me his number?"

I paused for a moment and waited. I don't like to give out the phone numbers of my friends without their permission. "Let me call him and ask him if it's okay. I don't want to give out his number without his approval; particularly so soon and after what happened this morning." I quickly added, "What I mean is that I don't want him to think that I'm trying to pawn him off on someone else."

She nodded. "I get it. It makes sense."

"But I will let him know that you're interested in him."

"Great," she said again. She continued to just stand there … and stared at me. She pointed at my purse and said, "You can call him now if you want to. I don't have any plans tonight."

I took my phone from my purse and showed it to her. "I can't call him right now. My phone is as dead as a doornail but give me a few minutes and as soon as I get some charge in my phone, I'll call him and ask him if it's okay."

Bobbing her little head up and down, she said, "Great."

Just then the doors to the elevator opened and we stepped out together. As I headed to my apartment, she said, "I have an idea. I can give you my number and you can give it to him when you call him. That way you'll know that it's okay to give him my number since I gave it to you to give to him."

"Okay," I said.

Before I knew it, she'd pulled a pen out of her purse and grabbed my hand and wrote her number on the palm. I could've given her a piece of paper if she'd waited. She looked at me and said, "Great. Thanks so much, Sookie. I really like him and the things that he said today; so sweet and loving. He had me swooning over him. Do you think that he'll call me?"

"I do," I said as I nodded. "I'll tell him all about you. I promise."

"It's not going to be a problem with us, is it?" She seemed really concerned about that.

I shook my head and said no because there is no 'us'. We'd only just met officially in the elevator and I told her as much. "It's not like we're besties but there will be no problems with us, Maria. I've only just met you … like three minutes ago. So, we're good. And it's not about us. It's about Alcide and his happiness. I want him to be happy and if he can be happy with you, I want that for him. I mean it. I may not be in love with him but I do love him." Trying to hide my shame, I added, "Regardless of what happened this morning."

Maria reached out and touched my arm. "I can see that," she whispered. "I used to watch you two together in the gym. The way you'd laugh with each other, I could tell that you guys loved each other. I could see that there was a strong friendship there. So, I can see it that you're not a bad person. Love happens and it happened for you the blond guy, didn't it?"

Smiling as I nodded, I said, "It did."

"See ya, Sookie," she said. "And thanks."

"Any time, Maria."

She had turned to walk away but stopped herself. "I get why you did what you did. Alcide seems like a wonderful guy but if you don't love him, you shouldn't be with him. You should be happy. It's so underrated these days … happiness is." She gave me a quick peck on the cheek. "I hope that everything works out for you."

I smiled at her. I knew right then that she was the perfect girl for Alcide. "I'll be sure to have him call you," I said as I raised my graffiti 'ed hand.

"Thank you." She giggled and gave me a quick hug before running to her apartment.

I walked to my apartment with a smile on my face. The thought of Alcide being happy and loved made my heart melt and soothed my aching soul. That's what I want for him. That's all I've ever wanted for him.

Just as I was about to put my key in the door, it opened. There stood Eric and he didn't look happy at all. Before I could ask him what was wrong, my most favorite person in the world ran up to me and threw her arms around my neck.

"I had the best time, mom!" she exclaimed. When she released me, her bright eyes made me forget all about the troubles at the gym and Eric's angry face. "I have the best dad in the world. He is so cool, mom. And he's really funny … sometimes. Some of his jokes are pretty bad but I laughed at them anyway because he's my dad."

I chuckled as I remembered her cool dad's bad jokes.

"Guess what we did?" she asked.

"What?" I said as I was being pulled me by my wrist and into our home by my little munchkin.

Eric took my purse from me and began to help with removing my coat. He continued to watch me as he closed the door.

"Thank you," I said as I followed Flynn to the living room. I sat down on the couch and kicked off my shoes and said, "What did you do with your cool dad today?"

With her arms out by her side, she said, "We went rock climbing!"

"What?" I asked as I turned to face her cool dad. I wanted him to see her angry mom's face.

He finally smiled. "It wasn't real rock climbing. We were in a building."

"Oh," I said as I turned back to Flynn.

"Well, it wasn't really rock climbing but it sort of was," Flynn said. "It was the fake wall that they have the kids' gym. They strapped a belt on me and dad and we climbed the wall! And guess what? When my hand slipped, I went flying through the air. I flew, mom! I flew!"

I started to laugh as Flynn began running through the living room with her arms out at her side. Her hair was flying around her face and she looked so happy. I'd never seen my baby look so happy.

"I'm glad that you guys had a good day," I said. I got up from the couch and said, "I have to make a call. I'll be in my office. Have you ordered the pizza yet?"

"No," Flynn yelled. "Daddy said that he wanted to wait until you got home. He said that he'd order it as soon as you get here." She stopped flying for a minute and said, "Daddy, mom's home. You can order the pizza now." She was off and flying once again.

As I walked away, I could feel Eric's eyes on me.

When I went into my office, I flopped down in my chair as I plugged my cell phone into the charger. I stared at the phone for a few extra minutes as I tried to make up my mind. I wanted to call Ally from my cell but I was afraid that he wouldn't answer so I decided to call him from my landline; not that he doesn't have that number too. I was so nervous. I was afraid that he wouldn't answer but he did.

"Hey, Ally," I said.

"Hey," he said.

"How are you?"

"As good as expected," he replied.

"We're the talk of the gym," I said.

He snorted. "I figured that we would be."

That awkward pause is always the worse.

"What do you want, Sookie?" he asked.

"Maria Starr, the girl that lives down the hall from me, she was in the gym this morning during our little … thing and she wanted to know if you would give her a call. She wanted your number but I wasn't sure if I should give her your number so she gave me hers to give to you," I said. "I couldn't give her your number because I hadn't asked you yet so I didn't give it to her. I didn't want to do something like that, you know? I've already messed up where you are concerned. I didn't want to make matters any worse by giving some strange girl your phone number. That would be so rude. I know that I'm the last person that you'd expect to be fixing you up with strange women on an elevator but I figured that I may as well give it a shot. You deserve to be happy. And I think she's in the construction field too. And she seems to be so great for you, Alcide. She has a beautiful smile and great personality. She might even have a great sense of humor. I know how much you love to laugh. You could probably be happy with her. I mean if you get to know her. I wasn't too sure if …"

"You're rambling, Sookie," he said.

"Sorry," I apologized. "I'm sorry."

He chuckled. "There's no need to be," he replied. "I'm sorry too. I should've believed you. I never should've accused you of sleeping with him. I was jealous and I let it get the best of me. Do you forgive me?"

"For what?"

I could almost see him smiling.

"Thanks, Sookie."

"So, do you want to call her?"

The silence was so loud that it was hurting my ears.

"What's her number?" he said.

"917-485-6632," I said. "She seems to be a really great girl … kind of ditzy but she likes you so she can't be all bad. She said that she's always been attracted you. You should call her tonight. She said that she doesn't have any plans. Maybe she can give you what I can't. I hope that she can, Ally. Maybe she'll be your love story. And I really do want that for you." And I really want him to have his love story. I want him to have that more than anything in this world. He deserves it. He's a really good guy.

"You do?" he asked.

Nodding, I said, "I do. I truly do. You're a great guy. Who wouldn't love you?"

"You," he whispered.

"I tried," I said. "I really did. I wanted to love you. I wanted to build an entire life with you. But let me ask you something, Alcide. If we'd stayed together with both of us knowing how much I love Eric, do you believe that we could have really been happy? We would've ended up hating each other. Our life would've been filled with regret. And I love and respect you too much for that."

He was silent.

"I don't want to settle and you shouldn't want that either."

He sighed.

"You were right today, you know," I said.

"About what?" he asked.

"You deserve someone that's going to love only you. You deserve happiness and you couldn't have that with me. I'm not the one for you."

He sighed.

"I'm so sorry, Alcide," I replied. "I didn't want to hurt you."

"I know," he said. "I wish that I'd been enough."

"Me too. But you're a great guy," I said. "And you have a wicked sense of humor. Well, some of the time you're funny. Some of your jokes are awful. Like that joke about jelly and fish. That was the worst joke I've ever heard and I've heard some bad ones."

That got a laugh out of him. That's all that I needed to hear. "Thanks, Sookie. Think that we can still be friends?"

Happy tears fell from my eyes. "Yes, Ally, I do. I want that more than you'll ever know."

"Good," he said. "Goodnight, Sookie and thanks. Maybe I will give her a call tonight. I have nothing else to do."

Smiling, I said, "You should call her. I know for a fact that she's sitting by the phone waiting."

"Goodnight, my friend," he said. "I love you."

"Goodnight, Ally, and I love you too."

When I hung up the phone, my heart wasn't as heavy from sorrow and guilt anymore. I was feeling pretty good until. I was feeling a little bit of hope for me and Alcide after the phone call. I was almost giddy.

Almost.

I looked up to see Eric standing in the doorway of my office and he was pissed.

"You love him?" he asked. "Were you with him all of this time? Flynn and I got back at 4:00 and you weren't here. Where were you?" He looked me up and down. "You've even changed your clothes. Were you out on date with him? Is that why you weren't here?"

I wanted to scream at him and call him an arrogant and highhanded asshole. I wanted to go over there and smack him but good. I wanted to scream at him and tell him to get out of my office but I didn't do that. I stared at him and said, "I do love him. He's a really good man, Eric. When I needed someone, he was there. He was always there. He was there for me and Flynn. So, yes. I do love him but not the way that I love you. I'll never love anyone as I love you."

Eric's arrogance and highhandedness was soon gone. He looked dumbfounded and embarrassed.

Good.

I sat down in my desk chair and looked down at my feet. I was doing my best not to cry but I couldn't stop it. With my head down and my shoulders trembling, I let the dam break.

"Daddy, what's wrong with mommy?" I heard Flynn say. I could hear her little voice trembling. "Is she sad?"

"It's okay, baby," he said. "Give us a minute. Let me talk to mommy."

She ignored Eric as she pushed by him. "Mommy," she said as she walked into the office.

I looked up at her and said, "I'm okay, Flynn. Mommy's just had a hard day."

"I can hug you," she said as her little voice began to tremble.

I opened my arms and she walked into them. She began to stroke my head and said, "Please don't be sad. I hate it when you're sad. I like to see you smile because you are so beautiful when you smile." She looked up at Eric and asked, "Isn't that true, daddy?"

"Yes," he whispered. "She's beautiful."

I began to laugh as I held her closer to me. "Thank you, Flynn." I looked at Eric over her shoulder and sighed. "Thank you."

He placed his hand to chest.

She kissed my head and said, "It's okay, mom. I can sing for you at bedtime if you want me to."

I kissed her cheek and said, "I'd really like that. Your hugs and lullabies always make things better."

She kissed me and said, "I'll sing something by Pink if you want me to." She looked at Eric and said, "Mommy loves Pink's music. And Claude is in the living room. He brought the pizzas up. Do I get the money out of your purse, mom?" she asked as she looked at me.

Eric reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet and gave Flynn some money. "Give this to him," he said as he put his wallet back into his pocket. "Give him a tip and put the rest of the money on the kitchen counter."

"Okay, daddy." With that said, Flynn was gone. My eyes were once again trained on the floor.

Eric hurriedly shut the door to my office and came to me. He kneeled down in front of me. He lifted my face so that he could see me. He removed a Kleenex from the tissue box and began dabbing at my eyes. "What happened?" he asked as he put the used tissue in my lap.

"I'm yours," I whispered.

"Yes," he groaned.

"And because I'm yours, I hurt him today. I hurt Alcide," I said. "I told him that I'm yours. He knows that you are my love story and I broke his heart." Shaking my head, I said, "I never wanted to break his heart. I never meant to hurt him and I feel so guilty because I'm so happy when I shouldn't be."

"My lover," he said as he stood me up and pulled me into his arms. He caressed my head as he consoled me. "You shouldn't feel guilty for being happy. I don't feel guilty. This is home. You are home. Flynn is home. Don't ever feel guilty for being happy. You're supposed to be."

As I cried into his chest, I said, "I know that but this is difficult for us. I want to be your only woman. I want to be the only one that you come to for anything that you want or need. I want to be everything to you. I love you and I can't stop it. No matter how I try, I can't stop it. I'm not supposed to be in love with a married man. How do I stop loving you?" I asked as I stepped away from him and looked into his eyes.

"You don't," he said. "You let it happen because it's supposed to happen. We don't stop it. You are mine. I am yours. We are meant to be and that's how we'll stay. This is our love story."

"How can you be so sure?" I asked. "How are you going to get out of all of this without losing everything that you've worked to have? I can't ask you to give up your family name and your businesses. You've worked too hard to rebuild what was broken."

He kissed me once more and said, "Don't you worry about that because none of it matters to me."

"How can you say that? Why would I …?"

He stopped my talking with a deep and passionate kiss. I tasted all of him with that kiss and I wanted more. Once he'd broken it, he said, "It doesn't matter because I left her."

"What?" I whispered. "When?"

"I left her," he repeated. "She was the business that I had to handle when I left this morning. I told you that Niall was on it. She signed the papers and I'm not with her. I'm with you."

Stepping away from him, I said, "Do not play with me, Eric."

"Stay here," he said.

I did as I was told and waited with bated breath. "Please let him be mine," I prayed. "Please let this be real."

Eric came back into my office with a manila envelope in his hand. I swear it took him forever to get to me and hand me that envelope. It should've taken him no more than ten seconds to get to me but it took hours.

"Here," he said. "This is for you."

I slowly took it from his hand and stared at it. I looked up at him; terrified of what it was … loving what it could be. The tears had abruptly stopped.

"Go on," he said. "Open it."

I flopped back down in my seat. I closed my eyes as I opened the envelope and removed the papers. I inhaled before I opened my eyes and began to read. I think I read for maybe three or four days … at least that's what it felt like. After I was done, I looked up at him and asked, "Is this real?"

"It's real," he confirmed.

"You're not with her anymore," I said.

He shook his head no.

"You love me," I whispered.

"Yours," he said as he placed his hand to his chest.

With the papers still in my hand, I leapt up from my chair and jumped into his waiting arms. I kissed him with everything that I had in me. "You're with me now," I said as I brushed my lips across his.

"I am."

After placing a few sweet kisses here and there on his handsome face, I stared into his eyes and said, "You're a smart one, you are but we've got a fight on our hands."

He played that wide eyed innocent look because he thought that it was going to work. "I don't understand what you mean."

"This isn't over," I said. "It's too easy. There's more to this game. They are not going to let you go this easy. Neither am I. What do we have to do?"

His grip on me tightened. "Whatever we have to do."

I frowned. "Nothing illegal, I hope. I am an attorney."

"Nothing illegal," he promised. "Scout's honor."

"You were never a scout."

He raised his eyebrows and said, "I could've been but I was too cool for that."

As I laughed with him, I asked, "What do we do?"

"We stand together and we win this. Will you help me?"

"Oh, baby, yes," I said as I kissed him again. "Every step of the way. We will destroy them together … legally."

"Legally," he agreed.

"Well, let the games begin," I said.