The Exception(53)

“I don’t know what you want me to do. I’m pretty positive Jillian won’t see you.”

“Then it’s up to you to make sure she does. Here’s my number. Please, Drew. I need your help.”

“You don’t even know me. How could you trust me?”

“I know enough. I know you’re in love with her. I saw it last night and I see it now. People deserve a second chance. Even when they’ve screwed up so badly, they deserve the chance to make it right. Please, Drew.”

I sighed. “I’ll talk to her, but I can’t guarantee anything.”

“I know. I just ask that you please try to convince her.”

“We’re going to my parents’ house for dinner later, so I’ll talk to her after. Maybe the two of you can meet up tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Drew.” He stood up and held out his hand. “You’re a good man with a good heart. I can tell that much and Jillian is lucky to have you in her life.”

After he walked out of my office, I grabbed the files I needed and headed back to the townhouse. Jillian was going to be upset when I told her that her father paid me a visit, but that conversation would have to wait until tonight.





Chapter Thirty-Three


Jillian



Drew took hold of my hand as we walked up the driveway of his parents’ house. As we stepped through the door, he called out to them.

“We’re in the kitchen, honey,” his mom spoke.

When we walked into the kitchen, his mom was at the island patting together hamburger meat. When I looked at her and she saw me, we stared at each other for a brief moment.

“Jillian?” She smiled.

“Andrea?”

Drew raised his brow as he looked at both of us.

“You two know each other?” he asked.

Andrea washed her hands, walked over to me, and gave me a hug.

“I can’t believe this. How are you, honey?”

“I’m good. Oh my God, I can’t believe this.”

“Wait a minute. You never answered my question. How the hell do you two know each other?”

“I met Jillian at the hospital when she was there with her sister. We had a nice little chat and a bagel and coffee together in the cafeteria.”

“Wow. This is unbelievable,” Drew spoke.

“Hi there, Jillian. I’m Lou, Drew’s dad.”

“Hi, Lou. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Likewise.” He grinned.

“Lou, take Drew outside and start the grill. Jillian and I have some catching up to do.” Andrea winked.

Drew let go of my hand and stared at me with a confused look on his face as he followed his dad outside.

“Was my son the man you were talking about that day in the hospital?” She smiled.

I looked down in embarrassment. “Yes.”

“You two met in Hawaii?” she asked as she continued making the hamburger patties.

“We actually met on the plane to Hawaii. His seat was next to mine and then we ended up at the same hotel.”

“I take it you met Jess, then?”

“Oh yeah. I met her and had dinner with them one night.”

“She’s a real peach. Isn’t she?” She smirked.

“She sure is. I ran into her while Kristen and I were having lunch the other day. She was shocked to see me here in New York.”

“Oh, I’m sure she was. You said that you didn’t know where the man you met lived. How did you and Drew reconnect?”

“We bumped into each other on the street. Like literally bumped into each other.”

She gave me a wide grin. “Does Jess know the two of you are seeing each other?”

Before I could answer, Drew and his dad walked in the kitchen and his dad took the plate of burgers out to the grill while Drew stayed behind.

“Oh my gosh. I’m so rude. I hope you like burgers, Jillian. If you don’t, I can fix you something else.”

“Trust me, Mom. She likes burgers.” He grinned.

I narrowed my eye at him and gave his shoulder a nudge. After we finished dinner, Andrea told me and Drew to go sit outside while she and Lou cleaned up. I insisted on helping, but she shoved us out the patio door. Drew handed me a glass of wine and we took a seat on the benches in the gazebo that sat in the center of the yard.

“I can’t believe you met my mom at the hospital.”

“I can’t believe she’s your mom. How weird is that?”

“Very weird. In fact, everything in relation to us is weird,” he spoke.

“How do you mean?”

“Well, my flight was cancelled and I was put on another flight in the seat next to you. Out of all the hotels in Hawaii, we ended up at the same one. We got to know each other better unexpectedly.” He winked. “Then you moved to New York, where I live, which you didn’t know, you rented the apartment that I own, which you didn’t know, and of all the nurses at the hospital, you happen to have coffee and a bagel with the one who happens to be my mother. And, lastly, of the millions of people in New York City, we run into each other on the street. If you ask me, we were supposed to meet. If we didn’t meet on that plane, we would have somewhere else.”

“You think?” I bit down on my bottom lip.