The Phantom

Chapter 3

72 Connor Street, 6 a.m.

I wake up abruptly to a phone call on my work phone. God dammit. Even on my day off I don't get a day off. I roll over and read the caller ID. Just my luck.

"What do you want Green?"

"Where you at partner? I haven't seen your pretty ass walk into this office yet."

"It's my day off Chase. You know that."

"Day off? The great Tracy Montgomery has the day off? Why it must be opposite day!"

I roll my eyes and get out of bed. It's too early to deal with this prick. I haven't even had my morning coffee yet.

"What do you want Green?" I repeat, this time annoyance is clear in my voice.

"I wanted to make your dreams come true and ask you on a date. I know you've been dying to get with me."

I can't help but laugh. He can't be serious!

"Goodbye Green." I hang up and go wake up Quinn and Chloe.

"Morning Mommy!"

Quinn is already up and dressed, I smile at him and give him a good morning hug.

"Look at you, all dressed and ready! Do you want some breakfast?"

"No it's okay! Tiffany and her mom are coming to pick me and Chloe up for school, we usually go and get breakfast on the way."

There's a loud honk outside the house, I get up and look out the window, only to see Bridgette and Tiffany waiting patiently in the car.

"See you at soccer practice mommy!'

I watch Quinn and Chloe run out the door and into Bridgette's car, and as they drive off another car pulls into the driveway. Harry gets out of the car and sheepishly walks towards me.

"Harry? What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to talk to you about something, may I come in?"

"Of course."

I open the door wider for him and watch him as he comes in. This is the very first time he's actually been inside my new home.

"So... what brings you the neck of these woods?" I ask nervously. Harry never comes to see me when I have the kids, he only calls me. Even when it's an emergency.

"God Trace... I just miss you so damn much."

He comes closer to me and puts his hands on my waist. He brings his lips to my neck and kisses it gently. Just the way I've always liked it.

"Harry..."

He takes his lips off of my neck and looks deep into my eyes. His eyes are glazed with sadness; it was as if his eyes just survived the biggest tsunami in the world.

"Just listen to me. I know I said nothing could save us and I know I said I moved on but the truth is that it's not and I haven't. I could never give you up and I could never leave you like that. I've been in love with you since the first day we met when we were fifteen."

Self-control Tracy. Self-control.

"You're not thinking straight."

"I am Tracy! I fucking love you with all my heart!"

I look into his eyes for what feels like years.

"Ah screw it."

I bring my lips to his and kiss him as if he were my life support. I slowly lead him to my room as I fiddle with the bottom of his shirt, and as soon as we hit the door his shirt comes off. I pull away from him and look at his beautiful body. It was just as I remembered it. Nicely sculpted with his beautiful defined abs.

Harry pulls me in again and starts kissing me, we head into the room and he throws me on my bed. God, how much I needed this.

72 Connor Street, 9 a.m.

I turn onto my side and look at my beautiful soon to be ex-husband. I still don't believe that we just did that after everything that's happened. What does this mean for us? Are we going to call off the divorce?

Harry grabs my hand and rubs his thumb against mine.

"I'm sorry, I just couldn't control myself. I just needed to get that out of my system one last time."

"So that's not going to happen again?"

"It can't happen again Trace," he pauses and shame starts to overtake his beautiful features that hasn't aged a single day, "I have a girlfriend."

My world stops spinning. My hopes and dreams are absolutely crushed. I should've known it was too good to be true. I get up out of my bed and put my clothes back on.

"I think you should leave."

"Tracy..."

"Get out!"

I chuck his clothes and shoes at him and storm out of my room. I go into the kitchen and find the most alcoholic thing I could find.

How could he just play me like that? The Harry I used to know would've never done that to me.

I look for my cell phone and pick it up. I dial the first number that comes to my mind.

"This is Green."

"I'll go out with you. Saturday night. Pick me up at 8."

"Sure thing sugar. I knew you'd come around, they always do."

Johnston Soccer Field 6:30 p.m.

"He has a girlfriend!?"

Lindsey Robs, my best friend and my only friend, is just as shocked as I was when I heard the news. Lindsey and I have been best friends since freshman year of college. She was always the fan favorite when it came to boys. She wasn't busty or curvy, not at all. But she had the face of a goddess, her face was perfectly sculptured and her beautiful blonde locks complemented her deep sea blue eyes and framed her face perfectly. And don't even get me started with those cheekbones. I've always been jealous of her looks, even though I know I'm not unattractive.

"He has a girlfriend. I can't believe he's moved on that fast! Has the past ten years meant nothing to him?"

"Tracy don't even think like that. I saw the way that boy looked at you in college. You were his world. He didn't even dare to look at another girl, even when you weren't around."

I sigh and watch Quinn play soccer.

"It's hard to get over him the way he's over me. Whenever I look at Quinn I see Harry, he's the spitting image of him. I pretty much gave birth to Harry 2.0" I chuckle a little.

Lindsey looks at me with slight pity in her eyes. I wonder what's going on in her head right now, what she really thinks of my situation.

"Look Montgomery, you are a sexy, sophisticated woman and Harry should recognize how dumb he's being right now. You need to make him jealous by getting back on that saddle."

"Well... I kind of have a date on Saturday night."

Lindsey gasps and goes wide eyed, "No. Fucking. Way."

"Watch your mouth, there's kids around us!"

"Who cares! I'm more interested to hear who this lucky bastard is!"

"You're not going to approve..."

"Why? Who is it?"

I pause, knowing she'll judge me as hard as she can. She hates Green with a passion.

"It's Chase Green."

"God save us all."