By the end of the evening I’d talked so much, I was annoyed with the sound of my own voice, but I’d never felt so energized. The feedback to my work had been more than I’d ever hoped, and was so elated I felt like I could float.
“We’d like to take you out for a drink to celebrate,” Brock’s voice broke into my thoughts as the studio began to empty out.
“I’d love that,” I said, then I flew against him to hug him tightly. “I can’t believe you came. Thank you so much.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it,” Brock replied as I looked up into his beautifully bearded face. “Victoria wanted to come, but she’s been having Braxton hicks, and it’s getting closer to her due date, so I bribed her into staying home. Brady’s staying with her at the house, just in case.”
“Tell her she was missed.”
Brock ran his hand through his beard, then squinted down a bit as he added, “I saw you in Craig’s arms earlier … He being good to you?”
My heart thudded, knowing Brock was asking because he wanted the best for me, which meant everything.
“Better than I ever imagined,” I replied honestly.
“He’s no dummy.” Brock tapped his finger to the tip of my nose, then backed away to join the others.
“You ready?” Craig asked from behind me.
I leaned back and allowed myself the comfort of his warmth and nodded.
We weren’t far from a local pub, so we decided to take the short walk. As we made our way down the street, my mother took my hand in hers and squeezed it.
“I’m so proud of you, Gwennie. Your work was just breathtaking!”
“Thanks, Mom,” I responded to the woman who had given me nothing but love and support since the day I was born.
“Your dad wanted to come, but he couldn’t get out of work,” she told me, her eyes sad, like they always were when my dad didn’t come through for me.
They’d been divorced since I was young, but remained friendly, and she often talked to him more than I did. So although he’d told me that he’d be coming to my exhibit, I didn’t really believe him. Still, it hurt that he wasn’t there.
“That’s okay,” I assured my mom. “I’m grateful that you all showed up.”
“There are tons of people who love you, Gwennie-girl. Never doubt that.”
The pub was too crowded to find a table inside, but luckily, it was nice enough to sit outside; plus, we had a little more privacy, and could actually hear ourselves talk.
“How’s Emma?” I asked Gaby. We were off to the side a little, away from the rest of our crew.
I took out my phone and saw I had a text from Aliyah. She’d been at the showcase for a little while, but had left to go meet Liam, who was getting off work, then they’d planned to meet up with us.
I shot her a text back to let her know where we were, as Gaby answered, “She’s so sweet. She’s started saying mama and dada, and no … Her favorite word is no.”
“Aww, I’m so sad that I’m missing everything.”
“I know, but you’ll be home for Thanksgiving, then Christmas … What you’re doing here is important, Gwen. For you, and your future,” my sister said wisely. Then she turned to me and added slyly, “Speaking of you and your future, it looks like you and Craig have finally gotten it right.”
I tried to suppress a grin and failed.
“It’s about time,” Gaby said, her voice becoming more serious. “I don’t know what happened between the two of you when you were eighteen, but it crushed everyone when you guys stopped being there for each other.”
“You knew?” I asked, my eyes going to where Craig was laughing at something TJ was saying to Sasha. “We didn’t want to ruin anything with the group.”
“Of course we knew, we have eyes, Gwen,” Gaby said with a chuckle. “You stopped going everywhere together, and when you called back or talked about school, you never mentioned Craig, unless it was to talk about one of his games. It was sweet that you guys drove home together, but you weren’t fooling anyone. We’ve all been waiting, and hoping, that you’d eventually come to your senses, and it looks like you finally have. Are you happy?”
“Beyond,” I replied, feeling suddenly foolish for my behavior over the past few years. I didn’t know why I thought we’d fool anyone; these were the people that knew us the best.
“That’s all anyone wants for you,” Gaby said, giving me one last embrace before we joined the others.
Chapter Twenty-Eight ~ Gwen
(18 years old)
I was sitting down on the couch at Cal and Shelly’s baby shower, talking to Brock, and trying to ignore the face that Gaby and Craig were in the room, both of whom I wasn’t talking to.
Brock had fallen in love with Victoria, and was really happy. Gaby and Scott were a serious couple, and everyone could tell that they were in love, but I still hadn’t forgiven my sister for everything that had happened between them, and I said as much to Brock.
It all started a few weeks ago, after I’d driven Aliyah and Craig back from the USC Orientation. Craig was in the backseat snoring, as I sat in the front unable to do anything but think. Luckily, Aliyah seemed pretty hungover too, so she didn’t seem to notice that I wasn’t talking much. I kept going over everything that happened in my head.
First, how wonderful I’d felt the night before, and then, how unbelievable hurt I’d been this morning.
After hours in the car I was still stuck on the same conclusion. I had to start protecting myself.
I’d gotten home at around two o’clock this afternoon, put my stuff away, changed into comfy clothes, and had been outside ever since.
I think I was grieving. Grieving for the friendship that Craig didn’t even know yet was over. Grieving for the happiness that I’d tasted, and knew I’d never have again. Grieving for the young boy and girl who’d met on the playground.
Was I being overly dramatic? Probably.
Did that mean I didn’t feel every emotion coursing through me like a million tiny pin pricks jabbing me constantly? Nope.
It was almost ten o’clock at night. I’d seen Sasha and Shelly pull up a little while ago. They were all dressed up and presumably here to pick up Gaby, but I hadn’t said anything to give away the fact that I was sitting on the porch. I could hear their laughter from behind me, and figured they were about to make another appearance.
I’d looked up as Gaby asked, “Hey, Gwennie, everything okay?”
I’d wanted to pour my heart out. Tell her everything that happened, and how betrayed I felt by Craig’s apparent memory loss, but I saw she was wearing her favorite Rolling Stones T-shirt, and her hair and makeup were done.
Then I looked to the girls waiting behind her and lied, “Yeah, I’m alright. Aren’t you going out?”
“If you need me, I can stay home,” she offered, ever the loving sister, but I didn’t want to be a burden and ruin her night.
“No, go out and see Brock,” I said, or something to that effect, then I plastered a smile on my face and faked being okay until she got in the car and drove off.
She said something about making breakfast and talking the next morning, before she left, but that never happened.
Over the next few weeks I withdrew more and more, hanging out with only Aliyah, but not telling her what happened between me and Craig.
Craig was hurt and confused, and tried to get me to tell him what was wrong, but I ignored his attempts to get in touch with me. I was trying to shield myself from people who could hurt me, and when I walked in that morning when Gaby told Mom about Brock catching her kissing Scott, I decided to freeze her out too.
If she could be so careless with Brock’s emotions, I figured she was no better than Craig, and would eventually hurt me too. Heck, she already had; she’d disappointed me by cheating on Brock … At least that’s how I saw it, and I gave her the silent treatment for months.
“Don’t freeze your sister out for me,” Brock said as I sat on the couch with him and Victoria, p
ulling me out of my reflective thoughts. Then he said something that rocked my world. “She’s your sister and she loves you. You know that. Plus, you’re about to be an auntie.”
Boom. My sister was pregnant and I didn’t even know. That’s how much of a selfish jerk I’d been.
I’d catapulted off the couch, crossed the room, and threw myself into my sister’s arms.
Of course, being Gaby, she’d forgiven me instantly, and I’d spent the next few years trying to make up for the brat I’d been.
Gaby was the only sister I’d ever have, and she’d always been there for me, especially after our dad left. But I had to realize that she was grown and out of the house, starting her own family, and busy with her life, so I couldn’t expect our relationship to be the way it had been when we were children. Even so, she’d never intentionally hurt me, not even after I’d done so to her.
I still didn’t tell her what happened with Craig, or further back, with Brad and Dave, but instead decided to focus on moving forward, and building a better relationship with her.
Chapter Twenty-Nine ~ Craig
Present Day (20 years old)
I watched Gwen embrace Gaby, then weave through our friends until she was by my side. I leaned down and kissed the top of her head. I’d been so proud of her tonight. Her showcase had been spectacular, and, as always, her talent astounded me. I was happy that she was finally getting the chance to share her vision with the world.
“Want a drink?” I asked, careful not to think of what happened last time we went out drinking. I didn’t want to have dirty thoughts when her mom was standing next to me.
“I’ll just have a coke,” Gwen responded, looking pointedly at her mom. I read her signal loud and clear, no drinking in front of the parent.
“I’ve got this round!” TJ shouted out from the tall bar stool he was perched on.
Everyone was shouting out what they wanted when the door opened and Sasha walked out with a waitress.
“It’ll be much easier if you just let her take the orders, babe,” she told TJ with a smile.
“What would I do without you, Red?” he asked with a grin as she walked into his waiting arms and planted a kiss on his waiting lips.
“You’ll never have to find out,” Sasha responded, causing everyone on the patio to emit a cry of “awws.”
I stood there, watching Gwen make her rounds, smiling and laughing freely with each person. I knew we were lucky, to have people such as these in our lives. Not everyone was as fortunate, and I never wanted to take what we had for granted.
I was thinking that I needed to stop having such deep thoughts and enjoy the company of the people that we didn’t get to see nearly as much as we’d like, when I felt a small hand tuck into mine, and looked down to see Gaby leaning into me.
“She’s so happy,” she stated, watching her sister, as I was.
“Yeah,” I agreed, thrilled that Gwen was happier than I’d seen her in years.
“You give that to her,” Gaby said, drawing my eyes down to hers. “That happiness. The freedom to be who she is … It’s like that with me and Scott. I’m glad you’ve filled whatever hole was keeping the two of you apart.”
I wasn’t sure how much Gwen had told Gaby, but knowing Gwen, I doubted it was more than was necessary, so I simply said, “Thanks. She gives me those things too.”
Gaby gave me one last squeeze, then wandered away.
Two seconds later, Brock stood in front of me.
I was tall, but he had me by a couple inches, so I had to tilt my chin to look him in the eye. I knew him to be a fiercely protective, loyal man. I’d worked for him during summers since I was eighteen, working odd jobs until I was eventually trusted to be on one of his crews. I’d also played poker with him and the guys, and had seen his band play a few times, but I didn’t know him personally like Gwen did. She said he was a teddy bear, but I’d never seen that side of him.
And now, as he stared down at me, his bearded face grim, with his arms crossed, I was man enough to admit that he had the ability to scare the piss out of me.
“Brock,” I said, straightening my shoulders to show no fear. I knew what this was, and it wasn’t a friendly, how-ya-doin’ conversation.
“Craig,” he responded, arching an eyebrow and lowering his voice to a deep timber.
Yup. Fuckin’ scary.
“I don’t know you as well as I know your brother, but everything I’ve seen has been good, except when it comes to dealing with that precious girl over there,” he began.
I opened my mouth to respond, then snapped it shut when he gave me a pointed look.
“I don’t know what your relationship used to be like, but I hear you’ve been friends since you were ten years old.” He paused, so I nodded. “I’ve watched you with her over the years … Never by her side, but always watching closely from a far. Now, I don’t know what happened to muddy your relationship with Gwen, but now that you’ve gotten her back, I know that you won’t make the same mistake that you’ve been making the past few years.”
He had my full attention, so I stood before him, beer forgotten in my grasp as I waited to hear what he had to say next.
“She doesn’t need space. She doesn’t need your distance, or to give her room … even if she says she does. If she pushes, you pull her back.” Brock bent his head, his eyes searing into mine, even as his words registered in my mind. “The girl loves you, that’s as plain as her love for her camera, but she fears rejection. Abandonment. You need to prove to her that you’re going to stick.”
Brock watched me for a moment, as if making sure that what he said had penetrated, then he turned to leave me.
He stopped, looked over his shoulder, and grinned wickedly.
“Oh yeah, and if you break her heart, I’ll bury you.”
I stood there, still as a statue, wondering if he was right, and, if so, how he knew so much.
“You okay?” I heard Gwen ask. I shook my head to clear it, then realized it probably looked like I was saying, no, I wasn’t okay, so I responded, “Yes.”
“What was that?” Gwen asked. I looked down and saw she was looking toward Brock, who was now talking to TJ.
I tried to get a handle on my emotions and put a smile on my face to reassure her. This was her night, and I wasn’t going to ruin it for her by trying to get her to talk to me.
“Oh you know, just your basic older brother-type protectiveness.” I forced a soft laugh to hide the panic that I felt rising in me. “He’ll kick my ass if I hurt you.”
Rather than shrug it off, or laugh, Gwen’s face got soft and she said, “Really?” I couldn’t believe that she’d be surprised by Brock’s protectiveness of her, but she was, and I knew Brock was on to something.
Chapter Thirty ~ Gwen
Present Day (20 years old)
“It was a great night,” Craig said as he pulled his shirt over his head, folded it, and placed it on my dresser.
Maybe it was time for me to clear out a drawer for him or something. I wasn’t really sure how this stuff worked. I’d never been in a serious relationship before.
“It was perfect,” I gushed, and it had been. I’d thought about seeing my pictures hanging in a studio for as long as I’ve lived, and if it never happened again, I’d be okay with that. “I wish everyone didn’t have to leave again. Sometimes I wish that school was already over so I could move back home. I miss being a part of everyone’s lives.”
“Yeah, me too,” Craig replied as he unbuttoned his pants and took them off slowly, unaware that I was watching him undress and getting more turned on with each passing second. “But we’ll never get this opportunity again, so we should enjoy it. Once we move back, we’ll be getting jobs, then, eventually, getting married and having kids.” The last he said with his eyes on me, causing my heart to palpitate.
God, I wanted that. A future with Craig.
I didn’t realize that I was still standing there watching him, unmoving and not saying anything, un
til he crooked his finger and said, “Come here.”
I walked to him slowly, my long skirt swishing at my ankles, and stopped a few inches in front of him. Clad only in his boxer briefs, he brought his hands to the hem of my shirt and lifted, urging me to lift my arms so he could pull the silky fabric over my head. My tank top followed, then my bra. Craig brought his hands to my breasts and cupped them lightly, running the pads of his thumbs of my now hardened nipples. The pleasure had me tipping my head back and closing my eyes, which was why I didn’t know his head had descended until I felt the wet heat of his mouth on my breast.
I whimpered when he pulled my sensitive nipple into his mouth, suckling, then nipping me gently. I ran my hands up his arms, over his shoulders, and into his soft hair, fisting it as I held him tightly to me, hoping he’d never stop.
Although, when he kissed his way up my chest and collarbone, then brought his eyes to me and said, “I was so proud of you tonight,” I was alright with him stopping. I felt myself glowing at his words, then heating for another reason when his hands glided down my sides, into the waistband of my skirt and panties, and slid them down my legs.
He followed the progression of his hands, stopping when his knees hit the floor, and my clothes pooled at my feet.
Craig moved his head forward to nuzzle my belly, placing a soft kiss there before moving his lips lower. And lower. Until finally, his tongue flicked out of his mouth and hit my clit, causing me to widen my stance. Not just to brace myself and gain better balance, but to give him better access to where I wanted that mouth the most.
He took my hint, and extended his tongue to lick me thoroughly. I put my hands on his shoulders and inched a little wider, moaning loudly when he entered me with a finger and began moving it in and out, as he simultaneously stimulated me with his tongue.
My body began to catch fire, and my knees started to buckle, as I felt that crazy need for release begin to build inside of me.
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