Road Chosen: Sequel Book 2

Chapter 17

Mike

I drop my phone on the bar top with a light thud. Ron needs to hide himself better; I witnessed the whole thing. There wasn’t anything I could do about it because I’m down at the other end of the bar, giving her space.

Not that there’s much I can do about it anyway - I have a kid on the way. I take another gulp of the bourbon, relish in the burn sliding down my throat, then slam my glass on the bar top. It’s a good thing I invested in tough glass.

A kid. A baby on the way? How in the sucky universe did that happen… and with Kara of all people? I groan and tuck my head in my hands.

I don’t love Kara, I don’t think I’ll be able to ever love her, but if that’s my kid growing inside her… I’m going to be there for it. No matter what.

I may be an asshole, sometimes a cocky, selfish bastard – but I’m no deadbeat.

What about Elena? Could I still be with her?

Maybe if she ever forgives me…

How do I tell her about the baby? I haven’t called her in a few days; I feel awful about it, but I don’t know what to say. The bomb that Kara dropped on me has exploded and I’m at a loss of what I should do.

How to handle it?

If it’s really mine - I’m a little doubtful… time will have to tell.

“Want another one, boss?” I look up through my hands to behind the bar at that Brent kid.

Our newest prospect and my new employee at Charlie’s, who decided to stick with me instead of staying behind with Jace.

Bold move even if Jace really is on my side.

I glare at him.

He swipes the rag off his shoulder and wipes his hands. “Don’t worry, Red. I gave her some good advice.” He smiles when he hears my phone ding.

Rolling my eyes, I reach for the phone and swipe it open. It’s a picture of Elena, showing me the perfect angle of her creamy chest, a pouty red mouth, and big, bright doe-y, blue-grey eyes. Below it is a message: We need to talk. Meet me at Charlie’s.

That dress. It’s low cut, but not skanky low. It’s short and hugs her in all the right places – I saw her walk in the bar about two, maybe three hours ago. Black has always been her color of choice when things were on the rocks between us.

She has finally reached out to me. Finally. And it took however many drinks and a bartender/prospect to get her to do it.

Damn Brent. If he wasn’t Dave’s son, I would have introduced him to my right hook for flirting with my girl.

Dave… he’s been a loyal employee ever since my grandpa bought this place years ago. Dave has come to my rescue a small handful of times. I owe it to him not to give his only son a black eye.

My jaw tightens as I look back at the bartender that isn’t Dave. “Don’t crush a molar there, boss. I didn’t touch her, just gave her advice. Hopefully you’ll take mine and go after the girl.” He pauses, gives me a knowing look. “Elena would not be here at this bar drinking away her pain in exchange for trying to gain confidence with fruity drinks and a revealing dress if she didn’t still feel something for you. The poor girl was googling how to talk to her ex while drunk for Pete's sake.”

That makes my scowl soften a bit. This girl and Google - she wouldn’t last two days without it. I shake my head then spin around on the stool. I don’t need to scan the room to look for her, I already know she’s sitting with Ron in the corner. I take in the crowd anyway – I can’t ever be too careful with this new job. So far, it’s a bit more dangerous than I thought and anyone could be out to get me.

Taking my time, I force my feet to draw closer to her. I snake my way through some people dancing on the old wooden stained floor and place my hand on the back of her booth. She doesn’t know I’m right behind her. My fingers are so close to her shoulder that I can feel the heat off her skin. Her soft, wavy hair is nearly begging me to twirl it, to feel it again between my fingers.

Ron saw me as I was making my way across the floor, but he didn’t stop the conversation.

“Just remember, honey, there’s a fine, thin line between love and hate,” Ron tells her in his old wise man voice.

The dude is wise. He’s been through a few tours as a Navy Seal along with Scott. He knows a thing or two about a thing or two.

“But Ronald.” I hold back my snicker of her name calling Ron, Ronald. Only she would be able to get away with something like that.

“Just Ron,” he politely corrects her, but she doesn’t hear it.

“There is a part of me that desperately needs to confront him and even wants him back. But there’s this other part of me that just doesn’t want anything to do with him.” She drops her head in her hands and Ron gives me a look before she props her head back up. “I asked him to meet me here. Do you think he’ll show?” She’s slurring her words.

Poor thing is drunker than a skunk on spiked eggnog.

Ron clears his throat. “Do you want him to show?”

“A little yes and a little no. I’m kind of scared,” she confesses, and my chest tightens.

Is she scared of me? Or scared that she still has feelings for me?

“Well. That certainly makes this a little awkward.” Ron leans back in the booth and nudges his chin towards me. Elena turns her head to follow Ron’s gaze.

Wide blue eyes lock on mine and I swear I hear her suck in a breath just to hold it in.

She is beautiful. However, I prefer her with a little less makeup. There’s dark eyeliner surrounding those blue eyes, heavy eyeshadow that gives her a smokey appearance.

Her small voice barely makes it to my ears as she says, “You’re here.”

“I am.”

Ron clears his throat once more and starts to climb out of the booth, but I stop him. “No need, Ron.” I cut my sights back to Elena then hold out my hand. “How about a dance?”

Her throat constricts as she swallows hard while staring at my open palm. She’s debating with herself, I’m sure of it.

“You can’t let that dress go to waste. One dance.” Even I can hear the slight strain in my voice.

I need to touch her. Hold her.

Hesitantly, she lifts her arm to rest her small soft hand in mine; with a firm yet gentle tug, I help her out of her seat before she changes her mind. Her equilibrium is off from the amount of alcohol she’s consumed, so she misses the step from the booth to the floor and falls into my chest, but I catch her and hold her tight.

She gasps and pinches her eyes shut while I let myself indulge in the warmth of her body against mine - her soft curves pressing into my steady stance.

Finally. I may be taking a whiff of her hair right now, store it to memory.

“I got you, girl,” I whisper in her ear. I swear I feel her shiver.

Elena peels herself away to look me in the eyes. Neither of us say anything, I just take the lead, place my hand at her lower back then guide her to the dancefloor.

I wrap her in my arms as her hands clasp behind my neck. This feels too good to be true. Hopefully, it takes her a while to come to her senses about leaving me for good.

“I wasn’t sure if you’d show.” Her eyes look up into mine with a certain fear. Why is she afraid?

My brows furrow. “Why wouldn’t I show?”

She looks down at my chest and leans on me while I lead her through a slow dance. “I- I don’t know. You stopped calling.”

Dammit. “I know. I’m sorry.”

“Why did you stop calling?”

Tell her, tell her, tell her.

I clear my throat. “I’ve just been going through some things of my own.” Coward!

“Like what?” she asks, a little apprehensively.

“My uncle.”

She buys it and nods her head, telling me she understands. She’s letting me off too easily.

Why is she acting like this?

“You’re not mad?” I ask her while I raise my brow with surprise.

Elena kicks her head back and her eyes widen. Her features exaggerate from the liquor. “Oh, I’m pissed off. I’m just trying to be civil,” she slurs.

“Well, you’re doing a phenomenal job, sweetheart.”

She stops swaying and slaps me on my chest. “Don’t you dare call me that,” she seethes. “I’m not your sweetheart.”

There it is. Now we’re getting somewhere. She needs to yell at me, get it all out.

I tighten my hold on her and pull her even closer. Her pupils dilate and she lets out a whispered gasp.

“What part of mine don’t you understand?” I remind her of what I told her weeks ago in my mother’s driveway. “You’re my heart, Elena. For so long, I didn’t believe I had one. Now that I’ve found it, I don’t plan on letting it go that easily,” I tell her as a matter of fact. A serious fact.

She sucks in a breath and steps away from me, taking a few steps towards the door. “Don’t say things like that to me,” my heart warns.

“Why not?” I step towards her, letting her know that I have every intention of following her.

“B-because. Just… don’t.” Her hand starts to push the door open and I take another large step towards her.

“Get used to hearing things like that, Elena, because it’s real.”

“I can’t do this.” She runs out the door so I do what any other sane man in love would do. I chase her. I chase her all the way to her car.

She fumbles with the keys because she’s unable to unlock her door. “Give me the keys, darlin’.” I hold out my hand.

“N-no, I got it.” She pulls the key that doesn’t fit away from the slot, then her face scrunches as she examines a little too hard on the key ring for the right one.

I hold back a sigh at her struggling determination and stubbornness, then cover her hand with mine as I move my body right up against hers. “You’re not driving tonight,” I tell her in a deep voice to let her know that the decision is final. “You’re drunk, I’m not letting you drive. You’re coming with me.” I take the keys from her easy, pliable hands and let myself linger on her fingers.

Her chest starts to rise and fall quickly as she suddenly decides to agree. “Okay.”

**Thank you for reading! I'm so sorry that I wasn't able to get three chapters up, the holiday weekend kind of threw things out of whack. I'll try to get back on schedule this week!

Let me know what you think of the story so far - Elena and Mike are finally talking :) yay!**