“Yeah?”
“Maybe don’t bring treats next time, Johnson can barely fit in his uniform as it is.” The erupting roars from the others fill the room…poor Johnson!
***
It’s shortly after nine when I hear a vehicle pull into the driveway. As I reach the door, Liam’s already there, hand in the air to about knock.
“Hey, right on time!” I startle him as I open the door.
He steps in, lowering his head to brush his lips against mine, “I have been counting down the minutes since you left earlier.” He takes a quick glance up and down, taking me in, “Cute Slippers, Gem!”
I look down to my feet, which are sporting a pair of fluffy Panda slippers.
“I know, right? Ati got them for me last Christmas. I always wanted a Panda Bear as a pet when I was little, but then my mom told me it might eat me up.”
Liam’s eyes pop with horror, “Well, that’s kind of, um, scary.”
“You have no idea…I was horrified, but it got the job done, I never asked for a Panda again, just admired them from afar.” Liam releases a soft giggle, as he leaves another kiss on my lips.
We make our way into the Livingroom, “So how was work?”
“Good! Things have been extremely chaotic since this new case came up. How was your Day?”
We take a seat on the couch and cuddle up. “Same, Ati’s car will be ready Thursday; I think she’s going to excited, I didn’t tell her I was getting her a car.”
“I’m sure she will love it, Gwen.” He shifts, so he is facing me, “Listen, I owe you an apology. It was wrong of me to storm off that way at lunch…”
“Liam, it’s fine.”
Lifting his hand to cup my face, a flood of warmth runs through me.
“No, it’s not. I shouldn’t push. I need to respect there are things you want to keep private, but Gwen, I want you to know it’s important to me for us to be able to share everything about our lives with one another; I want to know all of you…past, present, and future.”
The sincerity in his eyes is like an affirmation of what I have been longing for…someone who wants to be with me, know me…the good, the bad, and even the broken parts of my former life.
“I want that too, and I believe in time I will be able to share it all with you, but right now, I need you to understand the story of my past has to stay there…in the past. I don’t know when or if I will be able to tell you, but I promise to share the parts I can.”
He wraps his arms around my shoulders, bringing me in closer. I know there are questions, he still wants to be answered, and as time passes those questions act like the backside of a puzzle piece, you know it’s relevant, but until you turn it over you can never complete the full picture. The thing is I’m not the only one these secrets affect. Ati is a considerable part of all that; there is no way I can risk her safety. I have spent endless hours trying to piece everything together, but there are so many missing links that I can’t seem to make sense of it all, and until I am confident Ati won’t be harmed in any way, I have to keep it to myself.
He removes his arms from around me, “I smell food, Gem…you holding out on me?”
“You can’t seriously be hungry, I brought you in treats, and I know for a fact your mom packed you some food earlier.”
His face now showing the guilt of being caught, “Gem, I’m a growing boy…I require frequent sources of nourishment…” he leans back running his hand over his stomach, “look at me…I’m fading away.”
His boyish tone has me releasing a booming laugh I can’t hold in, “Well, then it’s a good thing I whipped up a little something. Lord knows I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if you diminished into a wafer-like stick figure.”
His face beaming with a massive grin, he lifts me off the couch and walks me to the kitchen, “You’re a keeper.”
“Babe, I said I made something. Never once did I claim it tasted, good…edible yes! Flavorful…Weeeeell, I will leave it for you to decide.”
***
Liam is a human Garbage Disposal…he ate the whole thing.
“Gem, you were being modest when you said it might not taste good; don’t tell my mom, but that was the best fettuccini I have ever had.”
“I guess so, I thought I made enough for you to be able to take for lunch tomorrow, but now you are getting PB&J in your lunch bag.”
He grabs me from behind as I stand at the counter rinsing off the plates to put in the dishwasher. “You know how beautiful you look right now?”
I dry my hands, turning around. “If that’s how you’re going to thank me every time I cook you a meal, please feel free to pencil into your schedule ‘dinner at Gwen’s,’ each day of the week.”
Effortlessly, he lifts me up, throwing me over his shoulder and heads to my bedroom. “Now, for dessert!”
There is no going back for me. Liam has taken my heart and filled it with so much happiness; I can only hope this will last forever.
Chapter Sixteen
-Liam-
Waking up next to Gwen; rolling over and feeling the warmth of her body next to mine every day this past week has been great! With our schedules so busy, and my late hours at the station, we’ve been trying to fit in as much time together as we can, so having the morning able too just look at her sleep for a few minutes helps keep me going through the day.
Slowly getting out of bed, I head to the ensuite to shower and shave. Once I’m done, I lay a soft kiss to Gwen’s forehead, trying not to wake her, and then head out. Ati is in the kitchen, coffee already brewing.
“Morning Ati, Is there enough for two?”
She looks up offering a smile, “Hey Li, I’m made a vat of it…help yourself.”
“A vat?”
“Uh huh! Mid-terms are killing me. I’m working on finding a way to mainline caffeine right into my system, but until then, I’ve resorted to excessive amounts of coffee to get my fix.”
I let out a chuckle. One thing I am sure of is Ati and Gwen both share the same sense of humor, “Should I be concerned about this new-found addiction?”
Fluffing me of with her hand, “Nah, I got it under control. However, Gwen is another story…with the amount of coffee she drinks; I’m pretty sure she is going to build up a resistance and start resorting to jet fuel for a pick me up.”
Yep, the same sense of humor!
“I’ll keep an eye on her!” Ati shoots me a ‘thumbs up’, and I finish making my coffee and head to work.
***
The day flies by, with no new information coming through on the Connors case. Gwen had texted me earlier. Apparently, she is catching the last day of the hair show up in Eugene, and won’t be back until seven tonight. At around four o’clock, I get a text from Bane.
‘You free for a sparring session? Thea is busy studying for mid-terms and can’t make it.’
It’s been a while since I’ve been to the gym…might do me some good to get a workout in.
‘Sounds good. I’m free now.’
‘See you there!’
I run home to grab my workout gear. When I arrive at the gym, Bane has warmed up. After changing, I meet him in the ring.
“Warm up; then we can start with some slow sparring, dropping into a full body workout.”
One thing is for sure; Bane knows his way around a ring, probably why Thea loves training with him.
I finish warm-ups, getting right into a slow box with Bane, “You’re rusty, Adair!”
“Yeah well, we all don’t have the privilege of being our own boss, Curtis!”
Bane picks up the pace. “You’ve become an old man, Li; your little sister could school you in the ring.”
“Thea could school a full-grown three-hundred-pound man in the ring…she’s scary!”
Bane let’s out a laugh, “No argument there, she’s laid me out a few times…she’s fearless!”
“I’m surprised she has a boyfriend, I would be terrified if I was the one dating her.”
Bane completely stills. He must notice my look of confusion, wondering why because he starts immediately back up.
“She has a boyfriend?”
I counter his movements with some jabs, “Yeah, Ezra. Some kid she’s been on again and off again with for the past year. Nice enough kid, but a little too silver spoon for me, if you know what I mean.”
Bane’s hits start to become a little harder; I thought we were slow boxing?
“So, is it serious?”
He keeps on with the increased force in his punches.
“Who knows, they could be off again for all I know…it’s always changing. What’s with the Spanish Inquisition, man? It’s like you’re interested in my little sister.” I question as a chuckle escapes my mouth.
Bane releases a full-out flurry of hits.
“What the hell, Bane?”
He drops his hands and begins removing his gloves. “I think we’re done for today.”
“No…we’re not. The second I mentioned Thea having a boyfriend, it’s like you lost it; do you have a thing for my sister?”
Still breathing heavy, he looks me dead in the eye for what seems an eternity before he answers.
“No, I just remembered, I have some running around I need to get done.”
“Good! You had me worried there for a minute.”
His stare becomes cold, “Why Li, the poor kid from town, not good enough for your sister?”
What?!?! “Have you lost it? What are you even talking about? You having grown up without money was never an issue; this is about you losing your shit because I said Thea had a boyfriend, so, I ask you again…are you interested in my little sister?”
“What would you say if I was?”
I feel as though I’m in an episode of the twilight zone; he has to be playing with me.
“I would say, not happening…she’s eighteen and your thirty-one, that’s a thirteen-year difference.”
Bane just walks off without another word.
Something is going on there, he can’t be interested in Thea…, and if he is…no he can’t be? Regardless, something is off and like it or not; he is going to have to tell me eventually.
***
I grabbed some dinner for Gwen, Ati and myself, figuring she would probably be too tired to cook after a long day. As I walk in the house, Ati is sitting at the table in front of her laptop.
“Hey, I brought dinner.”
“Oh my God, you are the best…I’m starving! Gwen’s in the shower if you want to join her.” She advises, adding a suggestive wink.
I shake my head. I swear she says things just to see me squirm, “I’m good, but thanks!”
“No worries, Li…I’ll always have your back, of course, unless…”
I cut her off before anything else comes out. “Yeah, no we’re not going there, kid!”
Raising her hands in a sign of surrender, she lets out an evil snicker.
We set the table, and take a seat waiting for Gwen, “So how was school?”
She lets out an over-inflated sigh, “This AP physics class is going to be the source of my untimely departure from this so-called life.”
“OK, sorry I asked.”
She props her elbows on the table resting her chin in her palms, “I swear, by the time this semester is over, I will only be remembered as a mere speck, on the Social Wall of Emerson High…Oh, comme c'est tragique!”
I’m not quite sure what the last part meant, but I am assuming it has something to do with her looming demise.
“Hey, it could be worse. You could be the girl without a date to the Winter Formal.”
A loud shriek rolls from within her.
Gwen lays a hand on my shoulder, as she takes a seat, “Ooooh babe, touchy subject; she has no one to go with.” She informs me in a whisper.
Before digging an even deeper hole, I change the subject. “So how was the hair show?”
“Amazing, they were promoting a bunch of new hair care lines. The women from the salon are going to be ecstatic with what I’ve picked up. How was your day? Did you end up meeting Bane at the gym?”
I quickly flash back to the argument with Bane at the gym earlier, “Yeah, but it didn’t last long. We ended up in somewhat of a heated argument.”
Gwen rests the serving spoon in her hand, back on in the tray, “That seems unusual, what happened.”
Running my hand down my face, I’m not sure I even know.
“It was weird, one minute we’re sparring, and the next his demeanor does a complete one-eighty after I mentioned Thea having a boyfriend.”
We both notice that on the other side of the table, Ati’s body goes rigid. Acknowledging it, Gwen turns to her.
“Ati…do you know something?”
Ati starts shaking her head vigorously, “Nope!”
She stands quickly, picking up her plate, “You know, I got a crap load of studying; I think I’m going to finish my dinner in my room, while I hit the books.”
She makes a move around the table, but before she gets too far Gwen stops her, “Ati…spill it!”
Frozen in position, she shakes her head, “Even I did know something, and I’m not saying I do, but even if I did, I don’t think it would be my place, to let said information out for the mass population to be made privy to.”
She doesn’t stay around, making a quick dash out of the room.
“I think maybe I need to have a little chat with my sister.”
Gwen places her hand on my arm, “Liam, you need to approach this carefully. You can’t go demanding answers, because I guarantee, all you will get is a door slammed in your face, and a very pissed off sister.”
“Then how, Gwen? Bane practically knocked me into oblivion when I asked if he had a thing for my sister, and you're telling me I shouldn’t ask Thea. Ati; and I am sure Grace, are not going to enlighten me on what’s going on, so explain how I am going to get to the bottom of it.”
Lips pursed and her brow raised, Gwen looks very unhappy, “What?” I ask.
“What, Liam?! I am not the one causing this issue. So, I would appreciate when you spoke to me, you did it with a little less animosity in your tone.”
She stands quickly from the table, walking to the kitchen to clear her plate.
“Gem, you haven’t even had anything to eat.”
She walks out of the kitchen, her little, pointed chin in the air, “I’ve suddenly lost my appetite.”
Before she can walk away again, I grab her arm pulling her into my lap, “I’m sorry! You’re right; you didn’t deserve that. Thea’s my little sister, Gwen. How am I supposed to protect her if I don’t even know what’s going on in her life?”
“Liam, I get it! It’s the same thing I’m dealing with Ati and Ben.”
“Yeah, but Ben isn’t thirteen years older than Ati.”
“True, but they are both two teenage girls, who caught the attention of two very grown men. If Bane and Thea were closer in age, would you have an issue with them being interested in one another?”
Grumbling, I think it over. Bane is a great person, and I guess if age weren’t a factor, then no, I wouldn’t, but it is, so I do.
“Thirteen years, Gwen. It’s not right!”
“Liam, I think the best thing for you to do is, with an open mind, have a conversation with Bane, and let him know how you feel. You never know, he might actually understand where you’re coming from…and before you say anything, I plan to do the same with Ben.”
I nuzzle my face into the crook of Gwen’s neck, “You need to eat, and then we sleep. I’m tired, and I missed you today.”
“Yes, Sir!”
We eat, clean up the dishes then head to bed. It’s been a long day, but it’s ending with me, next to the one woman who always seems to know how to turn something terrible, into something good. Now, more than ever, I know my place is here with her.
***
Tuesday morning, before heading into work, I make a quick stop at my mothers.
“Hey,
Dad! I didn’t think you would still be home.”
With Dad so busy working in Gary; unless you are here in the evening, you will usually miss him.
Pouring a second cup of coffee; he reaches handing it over. “Rained out! The diggers were to meet me early this morning, but I had to cancel.”
Taking the seat across from him, we sit in silence for a moment.
“Speak!” My father, the man of oh so many words, lets out.
I look up. “Excuse me?”
“Son, somethings on your mind. You came here looking for your mother, but got me instead; so speak! I have two ears.”
Dad never really was one for beating around the bush.
“Dad, it’s really more of a 'mom and me' conversation.”
My father has never really been one for the fluff and honey of emotional dialogue either; it’s always been my mom’s department.
He shakes his head, “You know Liam, being married for thirty-three years, to a woman; I believe I hold enough qualifications to offer you some insight.”
“How do you know it’s about a woman?”
He rests his elbow on the table, “You just finished saying it was a ‘mom and you,’ conversation. So, unless it’s about the interior design of your place…it’s about a woman…spill!”
As I am about to open up to my father about what is on my mind, my mother walks in…Thank God!
“Hey Sweetie, I wasn’t expecting you this morning.”
As I lean over to give her a hug, I see she is holding a freshly baked pie. “Stopped in at Jenny’s I see.”
“I did…would you like a piece?” She starts pulling out some plates from the cupboard.
“Sure, sounds good.”
“So, our son was about to tell me about his woman troubles.” My father explains as he scopes pie onto his plate.
My mother rests her cup of coffee on the table, “What’s going on? Is everything with Gwen OK?”
Taking a deep breath, I start to think that maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned anything.
“Um yeah, things with Gwen are great.” I look between my mother and father.
“Um, you know, really it was nothing.”
My mother takes my hand in hers, “Love, it’s something if it’s been playing your mind; Now what is it?”
Liam & Gwen - Entirely Yours: A Romance Novel (The Adair Series Book 1) Page 16