Forsaking All Others (From This Day Forward Book 2) Read online

  “I’m sorry. No, it’s not like before.” When I thought she had alcohol poisoning. Was she even drinking that night?

  “Make sure she keeps hydrating and if it worsens, it might not hurt to take her in to be evaluated. If that happens, page me again and I’ll see what I can do from here.”

  I thank her and hang up. I rest my head on the steering wheel and laugh as tears fall.

  I’m going to be a daddy.

  Louisa and I sit and enjoy our tea on the patio when David comes back. He looks upset and I immediately go to him.

  “What happened? Are you okay?”

  He starts laughing and it takes him a minute to catch his breath.

  He’s scaring me

  David swings me around in his arms. “Beth, I’m better than fine. Just got the best news on a job that I’ve wanted for longer than I can remember.”

  I laugh, getting swept up in his euphoria, as Louisa eyes us both over a cup of coffee. “Tell us about this job, David.”

  He gives both of us a smug grin, “Well, there was one other guy bidding, but I got in there first and my bid was accepted. It’s mine now and I’ll be damned if I let it slip through my fingers.”

  Louisa and I congratulate him before I jump in, “This is the most excited I’ve ever seen you over a job. It must be good.”

  He wraps his arms around my waist again and his eyes look misty, “It was definitely a job worth waiting for and I’m going to prove that I’m the only man that can handle it—no matter what it takes.”

  Without waiting for a response, he leans down and kisses me soundly on the lips, effectively stopping my train of thought.

  How odd

  “I wanna take you to the beach today. Sounds good, yeah?”

  I nod stupidly, still trying to wrap my head around his excitement over another construction job.

  “Go get packed and we’ll head to Galveston.”

  I doze as we make the ninety minute drive to the ferry, the sky spitting rain onto the truck. Louisa backed out of going, saying she had to meet a friend for lunch. I think she wanted us to have this time alone though.

  When I open my eyes, we’re waiting in line for the ferry. We sit in lane five while country music plays softly on the radio. I turn from the window to find David staring at me.

  “What? Did I drool on myself?”

  He laughs and shakes his head, “You’re beautiful—you know that?”

  I smile, “I’m glad you think so, Mr. Greene.”

  He reaches for my hand, “I know so, Mrs. Greene.”

  We drive onto the ferry and park before heading to the front. The majority of the other passengers head to the upper viewing decks, but I’ve always liked being close to the water. I smile at the memory.

  The air tastes of salt, something you can only experience on the ocean and I’m reminded of a Modest Mouse song. The ocean breathes salty indeed. I expected to see more people on the deck, but it’s relatively quiet for a Saturday.

  “Looks like we missed the summer crowd.”

  David agrees, “Yeah, it usually settles down after August—everyone’s back in school by now.”

  I stand at the railing, letting the wind off the ocean whip my hair around. It’s invigorating and I close my eyes, taking it all in.

  David comes up behind me, threading his arms around my waist and resting his chin on my head. His hands make lazy circles across my stomach and my body stills.

  It’s the second time today that he’s done it. The touch isn’t unwanted—I find I can pretend that we’re just a normal married couple, expecting our first child. That’s all it is though—just pretend.

  Does he know?

  That thought leaves me with the urge to bring up the past and push him away, but I shove the thought back down and allow myself to enjoy him. I place my hands over his, holding him against me and he kisses the top of my head in response.

  “Look at that!” My eyes open and David takes a hand off of me to point out into the ocean. “Dolphins.”

  I lean into the railing, searching the choppy water. Just when I think that I’ve missed them, two surface and gracefully dive back under. The sky brightens and the clouds begin to move away.

  We may get a nice day at the beach after all.

  I’ll hold onto this memory forever and when things seem bad, I’ll remember the feel of the ocean air, the dolphins, and my husband’s arms cradling me and our baby.

  I’m mesmerized by my wife. Now that I know she’s carrying my baby, I feel like I notice every detail. When she doesn’t think I’m looking, she pats her abdomen as if she’s reassuring our little one that everything’s okay.

  It’s fucking adorable and I have to fight back tears of happiness.

  She’s mine forever now.

  I packed some chicken salad sandwiches and chips for both of us—my mom actually gave me the idea—and we have a little picnic down on the beach. I checked online to make sure chicken salad was okay for her to eat while pregnant too.

  Beth takes a ponytail holder from her wrist and pulls her hair back off of her face, all while laughing at some story I’m telling. She gives me her full attention as if every word I say is important. I wonder if she’s always that focused on me.

  After we eat, she kicks off her flip flops and wades out into the surf in her shorts.

  “You sure that’s safe?” I call out the warning before realizing my mistake.

  She wrinkles her nose, “Why wouldn’t it be safe?”

  I laugh in an attempt to cover, “What are you going to wear to dinner if you get your clothes all wet?”

  Smooth.

  I mentally high-five myself.

  She walks back over, the sand turning her feet golden brown. “Is there a place to change into my suit?”

  I gesture over to a port-a-potty, “Not really. Aren’t you wearing your suit under your clothes?”

  She nods, “Yeah, but I brought a cover up.”

  Ah. She’s afraid I’ll see her stomach.

  “What if I hold up the blanket and you can just change behind it?”

  She bites her lower lip, “Yeah—that would work.”

  I clear our lunch stuff away and hold the blanket up. She doesn’t have to know that I peeked once or twice.

  I take her purse and our picnic leftovers and lock them in the truck before following her out into the water. I love this time of year. Mike and I spent nearly every weekend here as teens. The beaches aren’t crowded and the water is still warm. The only drawback is that it’s the start of hurricane season.

  Out of habit, I scan the sky, checking for developing storms. The clouds have burned off and it’s nothing but blue skies all around.

  Beth hits a drop off and disappears under the water. I wade over and quickly pull her back up. She sputters and coughs as I bring her back to shallow water.

  “I didn’t see that coming!”

  Her cover up is now plastered to her body like a second skin and I can fully appreciate her form. Her breasts are about to spill out of the black bikini top she’s in and I silently give thanks. Her belly is small, but has a definite roundness to it. I would’ve missed it if I hadn’t connected the dots early this morning.

  I try to adjust myself discreetly in my suddenly tight swim trunks, but Beth catches my eye and smiles.

  Without a word, I take her hand and we wade out until the water is chest deep. I pull her body into mine, her legs wrapping around my waist.

  She looks up at me and for the first time in what feels like an eternity, I see it in her eyes.

  Trust.

  I place my lips on her forehead, anchoring myself to her, before the current of emotions drags me out to sea.

  I lift her up as the waves come rolling in and her hands grip my shoulders tightly.

  “You wanna go back to shore?”

  Her eyes glisten, “I just want you. Only you.”

  My heart plays out a steady beat before she pulls me down to her mouth, one hand looped arou
nd my shoulder while the other is tangled in my hair.

  I press her body closer to mine, the water lapping around us. Beth lowers her hand and places it on the waistband of my shorts, and I bite back a groan.

  The ocean is teeming with bacteria

  Where the hell did that thought come from?

  I grab her hand, “We can’t—it’s not safe.”

  She gives me a panicked look, “Is there a shark?”

  I laugh and bring us closer to the shoreline, “No sharks. When I take you, it won’t be in an ocean full of God knows what.”

  She lowers herself until her feet touch the sand, the water now only waist deep, “Does this mean you’re finally giving in?”

  I laugh, “Yeah, you’ve worn me down.” I look at where the sun is in the sky, “but first—dinner.”

  She stands on her tiptoes and nips at my bottom lip with her teeth, “You sure about that?”

  Lust has clouded my thoughts and if it weren’t for the baby, I’d probably be giving in right now.

  I adjust my shorts before wading to shore, “Yeah…dinner.”

  “That was really good,” Beth sleepily whispers against my chest. We’re sitting on the ferry and all I can think about is how fast I can drive to get us back to my mom’s house.

  Once I pulled Beth from the ocean and back onto solid ground, we walked along the shoreline until we came to the spot where she took my last name.

  I thought I’d have to remind her, but she immediately stopped and looked around. It’s nothing more than a simple wooden arbor that has somehow been able to withstand years of hurricanes. The symbolism isn’t lost on me.

  “Here—we got married here, didn’t we?”

  “We did.” I cleared my throat as my voice began to waver.

  She took a piece of old beach wood and carved our initials in the sand. Once she finished, I took the wood from her and carved “Always” underneath it. She teared up at the Harry Potter reference.

  I never thought anything would top our wedding day, but this—this day spent with her may just surpass it.

  We had dinner at Gaido’s and I’m sure the food was delicious, but I was a little too preoccupied to enjoy it.

  I pull her in closer to me and answer, “It was the best, babe.”

  I hope she knows I’m not talking about the food.

  We pull up outside my mom’s house a little after ten. Beth fell asleep once we left the ferry and hasn’t moved once. I shut the truck off and carry her inside.

  She stirs a little when I place her on the bed, but then settles right back into a deep sleep.

  She’s not waking up again tonight.

  The thought makes me inwardly groan. I’ve been uncomfortable since we stepped out of the ocean, what’s another eight hours or so?

  I walk into the en suite bathroom and start the water.

  Looks like it’s another cold shower for me.

  I’ve just stepped under the freezing showerhead when I feel the curtain move. I open my eyes and there she is.

  I blink several times, not entirely convinced I didn’t fall asleep and dream her.

  “Can I join you?” Her words are weighted and she grins wickedly at me.

  I nod dumbly, all the blood has left my brain at this point.

  The cold spray of water hits her body and she sucks in a breath, “C-c-could we warm it up a bit there, David? That’s awful.”

  I need a minute to fully take in her body. “I don’t know. I kinda like the effect it has on you, baby.”

  Beth crosses her arms over her chest and gives me a stern look. I laugh and turn the handle over to hot, the water instantly warming us both. “Do you make a habit of spying on people in the shower?”

  She blushes before dropping her arms away from her body, “I thought we could finish what we started earlier. You look like you’re up for it.”

  I follow her gaze down and bite my lip. I want nothing more than to launch myself at her right now, but I need to take it slow.

  “C’mere.” I hold out my hand and she obliges. Pregnancy has only enhanced her beauty, making me crave her even more. “Jesus, Beth. Your—” I gesture at her chest, suddenly unable to form a complete sentence.

  “Tits?” she supplies helpfully.

  I nod slowly, “Fucking amazing, babe.” I lower my mouth to one and she rewards me with a moan that echoes off the shower tiles.

  “You taste like the ocean,” I whisper against her skin.

  She doesn’t speak, just reaches down and grips me in her hands. When she uses her tongue along the tattoo of her name, all rational thought ceases.

  “Mmm…your skin is salty.” She murmurs the words and I damn near come undone.

  I twist her hair around my hand and gently pull her mouth back up to mine. My other hand is gripping her hip and my thumb is perfectly aligned with her belly. I lightly skim it up and down and love that she doesn’t try to stop me.

  When she sucks my bottom lip into her mouth, I free my hand from her hair and bring it between her legs.

  “You’re soaked, babe.”

  Her eyes flutter open briefly, “Just for you.”

  I growl and use my fingers to bring her right to the edge. Her breathing quickens and I know she’s close. I stop at the last second and pull my fingers from her warm body.

  Her eyes fly open, “W-w-why did you s-stop?”

  “Say it. Say you’ll call off the divorce…please.” My words surprise me, I don’t beg—but I need to hear it. I want to know this isn’t goodbye for her.

  I expect her to argue, but she doesn’t, “I don’t want a divorce. I can’t imagine my life without you in it. Please…” Her eyes plead with me to finish what I started.

  I kiss her soundly on the mouth, my tongue joining with hers. “I love you, Beth Greene.”

  I lower my hand back down and give in to her pleas. Her moans turn to quiet screams and then she goes limp. Before she’s fully recovered, I shut off the shower and lift her into my arms.

  The cool air makes the hair on her arms stand up so I lay her gently on the bed and cover her body with mine. I want to take it slow and enjoy every moment, but I’ve waited too long for this.

  I push myself into her body and groan at how tight she is. It’s like coming home and my thrusts increase as her nails run down my back.

  “David…don’t stop. Don’t stop. I’m close…” Her voice trails off with a cry and she comes undone.

  I watch the look on her face thanks to the bathroom light streaming in and follow her over the edge, her name on my lips.

  It’s only after I’ve gotten her a towel so that she can dry herself off that I realize I wasn’t gentle with her.

  “Are you okay? You feel okay?”

  She lays back against the pillows, her eyes closed and a smile on her face, “I’m fantastic, David. How about you?”

  I worriedly scan her body, “I’m fine—you don’t hurt anywhere? I didn’t hurt you?”

  She laughs, “David, I’m good. Why are you worrying? You know I’m not made of glass.”

  I climb into bed next to her, “I got a little carried away.”

  She nestles in closer to me, her back to my chest, “I like it when you get carried away. You should do it more often.”

  I place my hand on her abdomen and fall asleep almost immediately.

  I wake with a stretch in an empty bed. Thoughts from the night before flood in and I grin to myself. I missed him…so much. Tears flood my eyes and now I’m crying. These hormones have me all mixed up and turned upside down.

  As we walked along the beach yesterday, my mind screamed, Tell him! Tell him you’re pregnant!

  I wanted to do just that, but the timing was all wrong. Once he drew Always in the sand, I actually opened my mouth to shout it out, but he interrupted me and insisted that I eat. After stuffing myself on flounder, crab cakes, and crème brûlée—I was worthless. My eyes grew heavy and I dozed on the ferry ride. Once we got into the truck, I rested my head agai
nst the window and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

  I woke in his bed and heard the shower running not long after we got home. Now or never. I meant what I told him. I should’ve called off the divorce long before now. It wasn’t fair to him. I just had myself convinced that he was the father of Jess’s baby and I talked myself out of a life with him. I have to think like Louisa in this situation or I’ll end up slowly driving myself insane.

  There’s a light knock at the door and David walks into the bedroom, carrying a cup of hot tea. He hands it to me and sits down on the edge of the bed.

  “You sleep okay?” He gives me a sly smile that I can’t help but return.

  “I did. How about you?”

  He cracks his neck, “I slept like a rock. Is there uh any way you’d be up for round two?”

  My pulse picks up while my inner romantic is stripping off clothes and racing toward the bedroom.

  My voice sounds husky, “I’m game if you are.”

  He exhales slowly, “Damn. Will the wanting you ever go away?”

  I smile up at him, “I sure hope not.”

  He stands up quickly and strips down to nothing and I have to set my hot tea down before I scald myself. He pulls back the comforter, I think he’s expecting me to be dressed. I never bothered putting anything back on last night and by the look on his face, he’s enjoying the view.

  He doesn’t waste any time before he’s pushing himself inside me and all I seem to be capable of doing is holding onto him and making unintelligible sounds.

  His thrusts push me over the edge and I press a hand to my mouth to quiet my screams.

  David speaks through clenched teeth, “Be as loud as you want. My mom isn’t home.”

  I drop my hand and cry out his name.

  He wraps my hair in his hand and bruises my lips with his mouth. It’s not long before the second orgasm overtakes me and it’s even more intense than the first. Thank you, pregnancy hormones.

  David tugs my hair back until it borders on painful, leaving my throat bared to him. He runs kisses up and down my neck and then with a growl, fills me.

  I come down from my high.