Unacquainted Read online

  Unacquainted

  Leigh Lennon

  Contents

  Copyright

  About This Book

  Rose’s Family Tree

  Brody’s Family Tree

  1. Rose

  2. Rose

  3. Justine

  4. Rose

  5. Brody

  6. Rose

  7. Brody

  8. Rose

  9. Brody

  10. Rose

  11. Justine

  12. Brody

  13. Rose

  14. Brody

  15. Justine

  16. Rose

  17. Brody

  18. Rose

  19. Brody

  20. Rose

  21. Brody

  22. Rose

  23. Brody

  24. Rose

  25. Rose

  26. Brody

  27. Rose

  28. Brody

  29. Rose

  30. Rose

  31. Justine

  32. Rose

  33. Rose

  34. Rose

  35. Brody

  36. Rose

  37. Rose

  38. Brody

  39. Justine

  40. Brody

  41. Justine

  42. Rose

  43. Brody

  44. Rose

  Epilogue

  Bonus Epilogue

  Unwanted

  Unfiltered

  Things I Have Learned

  Books by Leigh Lennon

  About the Author

  Unacquainted

  Copyright @2017 Leigh Lennon

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any written, electronic, recording, or photocopying without written permission of the publisher or author. The exception would be in the case of brief quotations embodied in the critical articles or reviews and pages where permission is specifically granted by the publisher or author.

  Although every precaution has been taken to verify the accuracy of the information contained herein, the author and publisher assume no responsibility for any errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for damages that may result from the use of information contained within.

  The eBook copy is licensed for your personal enjoyment and may not re-sold or given away.

  This book is a work of fiction and is the product of the author’s imagination.

  Editing by Ink It Out Editing

  Proofreading services by Editing For You and Jenny Dillion

  Formatting by Ink It Out Editing

  Cover design by Kasmit Designs

  Beta Readers: Ann Barajas, Tina Snider, Auden Dar, Rosemary Kalonaros, and Emma Aldridge

  About This Book

  Rose

  One night was all I could offer to a man I barely knew. I intended to return to my perfectly planned life, but now he is back and with him, the reminder of the irrefutable connection we shared.

  It’s still there.

  I crave him.

  One night may unravel my perfect plans as I find myself at a crossroad between security and desire.

  Brody

  One night, that was all she could give me. Yet here I am back in her life as fate has intervened. When I first saw her in that form-fitting red silky dress,

  I was captivated.

  She owns my heart.

  As I set out to make her mine, she has to choose between her past and future. I don’t think I will survive if her choice isn't me.

  Dedication

  To the little people that call me “Mom,” you give me a reason to wake up every day. I never knew my heart could live outside of my body until you brightened my world. Each one of you gives me inspiration in life and sometimes you are the inspiration in my writing. There is nothing this mom wouldn’t do for any of you! Go live your dreams and make your way because I believe that each life you touch will be changed for the better. I will always move heaven and earth for you all!

  To my friend who is linked to me by our love of writing: I won’t say your name since you’re shy and for that very reason, you know this is for you. So many times I have wanted to quit, but you encourage me when I become my worst critic. I look forward to your success in your own writing because as much as you believe in me, I believe in you, too!

  Lastly, as always, I will continue to thank my mom. I miss you every day but you are forever in my heart!

  1

  Rose

  The four walls of this small, sterile, cold room close in on me as my doctor delivers the news I had been preparing myself for. Her words are swift and they make the entire stable world I have created for myself start to spin. Looking around the office, it is starting to finally sink in, permeating my mind. I instinctively grab for something—anything.

  “One time. How’s this possible?” I instantly break out in a sweat all over my entire body and as if it isn't already tough enough, I’m dizzy. Still holding onto my doctor, I say, “No, I think we should run a blood test, Gladys. This can’t be right.”

  Gladys smiles at me, squeezing my hand, “Somehow you’re very PG-rated in your response, where your mom would have let every F-bomb drop.”

  “Gladys, seriously, I was careful,” I say emphatically.

  “I didn’t think Jones was back yet from Africa.” I look away from Gladys. That is all she needs to make an educated guess. With a long sigh, she continues, “I have been an OB/GYN long enough, I know the look.”

  “When he left for Africa, we decided to see other people since his commitment with Doctors Without Borders was eighteen months. He’ll be back in a couple weeks. We were able to Skype the other day, and we discussed taking the next step. Shit, Gladys, he's moving in with me!” The shock takes over and I can’t stop trembling. I’m carrying another man’s baby and right now, I can’t even remember his last name. Another thought hits me, when I blurt out, “Jones gave up medical school for me, to start a family.” Looking at the woman I know as part of my functionally dysfunctional family, I search her face for advice, when I say, “Gladys, for crying out loud, the dad lives in California and he wore a condom. What the hell?” I almost add he wore a condom each time to the end of my sentence, but I don’t. My thoughts are random and don’t make sense.

  “Well, Rose, it might have burst but sometimes they just don’t work. It happens, rarely, but enough to be a statistic, you should know that.” A small chuckle escapes my mouth as I hear a screaming baby right outside the door. Suddenly I have a vision of what my life will be in a year and start to tear up again, unsure of so much. I, Rose Hernandez, do not do uncertain. I live safe and comfortably.

  Now she’s using my job as a statistician against me. Gladys has always reminded me of Wanda Sykes both in her humor and appearance and in this moment, I’m happy to have something to mildly laugh at. “Yes, Gladys, I’m aware of the statistics. However, in the heat of the moment, I didn’t sit and try to calculate the probability of the condom failing.” Gladys takes my hand again to comfort me. She may very well be holding my fucking hand for the next nine months at this rate.

  “Rose, I have known you all your life, hell, I delivered you. You’re smart girl. I know this is not what you want, especially with Jones getting back soon, but honey, you’re in a good place in your life. You have a great job and by the looks of your clothes and car, it pays pretty well, even for entry-level. Your mom, even though she will be surprised, is going to love this baby, if you decide to keep it. You have that as a choice, too. But knowing your mom like I do, she will support you in any decision.”

  Both hands are massaging my temples to tame the badly-timed headache now plaguing me. “Wow, I really thought the stress of work was getting to me, I never entertained the idea of this happening. I mean, even when I made this appointment, it really was
n't in the forefront of my mind. Shit, shit, shit! Oh shit, that makes me six weeks pregnant.” It isn’t hard to figure out since it was the night of my brother’s wedding.

  “Well, I know when you conceived. That’s one fine looking fellow, by the way, Rose.” Wiggling her eyebrows at me, her lips form an amused smile at my benefit and she says, “You’re looking at October 14th.” I have to laugh for the first time since finding out the news. Gladys doesn’t have to ask when I conceived, hell, she was there; well, at the wedding—not during the conception. These thoughts make me stifle a laugh as she continues. “Now, if you decide not to keep the baby, I can put you in touch with a good clinic.”

  I inwardly gasp. That is not an option for me. I mean, I don’t judge but for myself, I can’t do that. More so, I find in this moment, I want this baby. “Abortion,” I say, almost appalled, “I don’t think I could do that, it's not me,” I repeat myself to Gladys as she nods toward me; she knows us all so well. “If I was going for a wow factor, I think I delivered on it, for sure.” I knew the second I suspected I may be pregnant, I would keep the baby. My emotions are many but happiness is one of them, along with scared, scared and scared.

  Gladys gives me a sympathetic look, pulling me into a hug. She’s more than my doctor, she’s my godmother. Continuing in a gentle tone, she says, “Honey, you will have support, regardless of the hottie you left the wedding with or Jones. You have your mom, Nick, Rafe, Hildy, and that’s just to name a few. And remember; honey, to make your next appointment. We will be seeing one another a lot in the next several months.”

  “Thanks, Gladys, you won’t tell…”

  “Horses couldn’t drag this out of me, girl.” I love this woman and even though this is a shock, I can’t imagine trusting my baby to anyone else but Gladys.

  Changing back into my Ann Taylor slacks and slipping into my Jimmy Choo’s Mom bought me for graduation, I look at my reflection in the mirror and realize all my new expensive clothes I bought won’t be fitting me much longer. Somehow, I’m okay with this.

  The second I enter the waiting room, I’m face to face with all these women and realize this will be me soon. One woman is rocking her tired toddler standing, which looks uncomfortable in itself, while waddling around as if she could deliver any day. I stop at the entrance of the office, holding a door for a mom with a newborn in a stroller and I understand in this second, my life is now forever altered.

  As I’m about to exit, I stop, turning around and taking them all in. Touching my stomach, I say, “You and me, kid. We will be all right.”

  One could say I’m experiencing all the tell-tale signs of surprise and shock. My skin is tingling; I have a heavy lump in my stomach, a racing heartbeat and a rush of adrenalin. Already a bit on the dramatic side, I’m left to my thoughts curling on the couch, attempting not to freak out. Yet, a part of me is happy, almost delirious with emotion, but that has got to be my hormones. Right? It can’t be the fact I’m carrying the baby of a man whose last name I don’t even remember. Plus, this will all implode my relationship with Jones. Though, I have a baby in my belly that I already love. How is this possible?

  Curling up on my couch for hours, deep in thought, I try to establish a timeline. The due date is easy since I obviously know when I conceived—at Kai and Jane’s wedding. Looking down at my stomach, I still can’t believe a baby is growing inside of me. This is the little fact I keep on tossing around in my mind, over and over again. Then it dawns on me, it has been that long since seeing Brody. How in the hell could I have forgotten his last name? Barry? Barber, Barnes, Brewer? What in the hell is wrong with me? I slept with a man and can’t remember his surname.

  Memories of the night and the next morning flood me. It was a great, fun night.

  We had laughed all evening, among other things; apparently creating this predicament. I was clear with him; I had an old boyfriend coming home and was still indecisive on what our next step would be.

  We rushed into the room with urgency as he unzipped my dress and it pooled to the floor. “Wait, Brody, I have something to tell you,” I said, hearing noise in the hallway, but my only focus right that second was the beautiful man standing in front of me.

  He was so attentive, caring and kind to me. Since I had only ever been with Jones, I wasn’t sure what to think about a one-night hook-up.

  He cupped my face tenderly, “What is it, sweetheart?”

  “Not to ruin the mood, but the boyfriend I told you about—well, I might be getting back with him. This may just be a one-time thing. Are you okay with that?”

  “I will take what I can get.” He smiled deviously.

  Our night was magical, filled with an unbridled passion I’d never felt with Jones.

  With Brody, we tipped the scale of all practicality as we only cared about a night of sensuality.

  When I woke up in his strong arms, he simply commented, “If it doesn’t work out with your boyfriend, please look me up one day.” Softly taking my hair, he brushed it away from my face, “See, that is much better.” Then he kissed me gently on the cheek.

  The remark enlightened me to the little fact that Brody wanted more than just a one-night stand. It wasn’t in the cards for me. I was scared to start anything with someone else. I had safety in Jones and I knew what to expect with him. I was too nervous to start over from scratch.

  As I was getting ready to leave my hotel room in the morning, Brody said, “You’re an amazing person. I just got a small glimpse of you. Maybe one day…you just never know.”

  My reality is plaguing me and I continue to sit on the couch, plotting my next course of action. I need a plan. I only function in a semi-rational way with order.

  My mind continues to float back to Brody and I can’t deny the immediate attraction. In another world, I would have loved to get to know him better. As I sit here, a thought pops in my head and I exclaim, “Hotdog! I got it! It's Buchannan! I finally fucking remember.” I laugh inside because I have homed in on the Justine Wallace skill of swearing in excitement. See, I didn’t inherit everything from my dad.

  Despite the fact that I’m filled with relief to remember his last name, I’m nervous to have to call my sister-in-law without sparking some sort of interest from her or Kai in regards to Brody. After our long night together, I’d no intention of seeing him again. Sacramento is not my home and I don’t intend for it to be. Plus, I love Jones. My night with Brody was just fun we agreed to, even though the sex was mind-blazingly amazing.

  I’m trying to muster up the courage to call Jane when a Sacramento area code starts ringing through to my phone. It isn’t Jane or Kai because they are the responsible ones and would never lose their phones, but Jane’s fraternal twin sister, Lila, on the other hand, is always losing her phone and get a new number along with a new phone. Lila is my best friend and has been since the day she entered my life. She’s wild and crazy and fun to be around and only thinks of one person most of the time—herself. What Lila says is unfiltered and I’m used to it because my mom, Justine Wallace, is this way, too. As I pick up the phone, I brace myself for what is no doubt Lila calling me to share her latest torrid affair.

  “Hello,” I answer only in a way people who know each other well would.

  “Rose?”

  “Yes, who is this?” I ask, annoyed. There is too much going on in my head for me to be civil to a stranger who is obviously not Lila.

  “Well, I know we left things with no strings attached but I’m in town and if you’re up for it, I would love to meet you for a drink. Oh, by the way, it’s Brody,” he adds.

  My mom would always say Murphy’s Law is a fucking bitch. How is this even humanly possible, he calls me on the very day I find out I’m pregnant, with his baby? I haven’t heard from him in six weeks, but why would I? I told him I was basically going to make it work with my old boyfriend.

  Not sure how he obtained my phone number, it probably has to do with a sneaky but sweet girl I now call my sister-in-law. After the wedding
, everyone noticed me sneaking off with Brody, except my dad, who I told the next day I had a migraine overtake me—though I have never had one in my life.

  Jane told me from the moment she met Brody, he was perfect for me. However, there was always Jones as a fixture in my life plus the fact we were a couple of states apart.

  Still reeling from this coincidence, I think of the practical side and how this is mighty convenient. This is a subject needing to be broached in person. How am I going to be able to control myself when I see him again? The chemistry was more evident than hydrogen bonding to oxygen. Yes, call me a science geek; I’m okay with that.

  “Hello, Rose? Are you still there? I mean if you aren’t interested, no biggie. And if so, it is just a drink.” He sounds nervous.

  My brain is not functioning but I need to respond to him quickly. “Brody, I’m so sorry, I've just had quite the unexpected day at work.” But I do need to talk to this guy before my logic gets in the way. “How about you just swing by my house?” Then I stop myself for a second because it sounds way too forward and he might just think I want to have sex with him again. But of course, why wouldn’t I? He’s extremely good looking; deep blue ocean-like eyes, dusty blond hair, and cut like a bodybuilder. Honestly, the sex was so good, it went on all night. Of course, I’d want to partake in it again. “I meant, I'm already in comfy clothes for the night and am winding down after a busy day.” The more I continue to talk, the more I fumble my words. Finally, I cut to the chase, “Shit, this is not coming out right, I really want to see you but I don’t want you to come over to have sex.”