Between Friends (Between the Raindrops #3)

by Susan Schussler

  “We cooperated with the police the best we could for the first week, until some nationally-known, celebrity journalist started making accusations and inferring my dad was somehow involved in her disappearance. My dad was a successful businessman, ethical and well-liked, a pillar in the community, but he had enemies. He’d doubled the size of the marina the year before by out-bidding a developer who just happened to be on the city council. Then a guy Dad fired, a disgruntled employee, said he saw Mom out with another guy the day before her disappearance and my dad became the police’s number one suspect. It was a lie. The guy just wanted revenge and may have been paid by the city council member. The media became vultures. They didn’t want the truth. They spread speculation after speculation as if they were facts. The police stopped looking for my mom and started looking for evidence to support the lies in the media. That’s when my dad lawyered up and stopped helping the police build their case against him.”

  Liam wipes his thumb under my eyes again and kisses the top of my head. I didn’t realize I was still crying.

  “By that point, it seemed everyone was convinced of my dad’s guilt. But I knew he could never hurt her. He worshiped her. The police knew my mom had depression, but conveniently it never made it into the news. The whole investigation focused on the sensationalized story. Divers were sent in to search the icy waters of the river and within hours, they found her purse. It had her phone and keys still in it. I was the one who identified it—confirmed it was hers. When I saw the black leather with white piping bag being handed out of the open water, I started vomiting. I had stood on the shore watching from the beginning, hoping and praying they wouldn’t find anything. Luckily, Sarah, Jessica, and Alli were with me and they helped me to keep going. Mom had always been the one I confided in. She was more like a sister than a mom.”

  “Did they find her body right away?”

  “They didn’t find her for another two weeks, miles downstream. Her body bloated and battered, so I was told. I never saw her body. It was a closed-casket funeral.”

  His fingers comb through my hair again as his thumb strokes my ear. “You wouldn’t want that picture in your head. It’s probably for the best.”

  “I know.” I swallow hard, trying to gain control of my emotions. “The coroner determined she drowned, but couldn’t determine for sure whether it was foul play or not. The body was too beaten up. There was no sign of sexual assault, so they decided it was most likely suicide. They didn’t have any evidence against my dad. And the drugs were in her blood, meaning she took them long enough for her body to digest them before she entered the water. Which brings us back to her death being my fault.”

  “No one can say the drugs are what made her go into the river.” His dark eyes penetrate my gaze. He looks as if he’s serious, but I know he is just trying to make me feel better.

  “Don’t you see? She was sick. She didn’t know what she was doing. It’s as if she was a child who took the gun out of my purse and shot herself. If she hadn’t found the pills, she wouldn’t have died.”

  His arms wrap tightly around me and he holds me for several minutes in silence. He knows I’m right. My sobbing stops by the time he kisses the side of my head again, and says, “You carry a gun in your purse?”

  His tone of surprise makes me laugh. “No, it’s a metaphor. I don’t have a gun in my purse. That’s crazy.”

  “I’m glad you’re not crazy,” he says, and I realize he’s playing me.

  “Me too,” I say, trying not to reveal how true the statement is.

  “Thanks for trusting me with your story, Meg.” His hand cradles my chin and he turns my head to meet his lips. He kisses me so tenderly that more tears form in my eyes. I feel closer to him than I have felt with anyone before him. How does he know exactly what I need?

  He stands and extends his hand. “We’re going in the water. I’ll show you how to body surf.” An absolutely dirty grin appears on his face as I give him my hand. He pulls me to my feet, waits for me to slip my cover-up off, and then we run straight into the ocean. He doesn’t stop until the water is up to my chest. I’m having a hard time staying upright as waves crash into me. He smiles, watching me struggle through several hits, and then moves behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist to steady me. His body is like a fortress. He blocks wave after wave as he just holds me. I feel so strong in his arms as if a heavy load has finally been lifted from my shoulders and with him, I could withstand anything. As the waves bump his body into mine, I start to feel something more than invincible. His hands begin to smooth softly over my body, and I decide I’m not moving from this position to learn how to body surf. I’m good here.

  “In a couple of minutes, we’re going to move over to that ridge line.” He points to a spot not more than twenty feet from us where the waves seem to be breaking a little more harshly. “Close your eyes,” he says, splaying one hand across my bare stomach and pulling me tightly against him. I do what he says and then he asks, “Do you feel the pull and push of the water?”

  I definitely feel it. I let the wave hit and retract before I answer, “Yes.”

  “When we go over there, I want you to recognize the pull of the ocean wanting to drag you out farther. Feel it.” Just then, the current pulls us both back and slightly apart. “Four. Three. Two. One. Now the push.” His lips press against my neck, sucking in a way that almost makes my ovaries burst. The wave pushes his body against mine. “It’s all about anticipation. The pull is always followed by the push. It’s much like sex, only the pull leads.” His lips attach to my neck again.

  “I am so horny right now.” The words spill from my mouth and I wonder what happened to my filter. I’ve completely lost it. Liam opened the spigot of truth and now I can’t shut it off.

  “I know,” he says, as his fingers dip below the waistband of my swimsuit.

  Does that mean he’s horny too or that he knows I am? I shouldn’t have said that out loud. It’s such a rollercoaster with him. I never know where the “just friends” line is drawn. The bond of truth I feel with him right now feels like so much more than friends.

  Oh. His hand dips lower and I no longer care about the friends tag. With just the touch of his hand, my body is clinching, and I’m already panting. I know from experience that it is not instinct to do what he is doing with his hand to pleasure me. It has to be taught. My mind fogs as I no longer care.

  “Do you feel the pushhhh…and the…pulllllll?”His words correspond with the wave motion and his body pushes against me and pulls away. “Push,” he says as he pushes a long finger into me.

  It’s too much. I go off unexpectedly like a chain of firecrackers—hard and fast. He ratchets the intensity with his finger until my vision starts to blur. Liam stills without removing his hand, practically holding me up. His breathing is as loud as mine. He embraces me for several minutes, letting us sway in the waves. I could stay in this position all day.

  “That explosion almost took me out, too.” He laughs as his hand slides up to my stomach. “Should we get back to the lesson?” he says as if nothing had passed between us. He reaches down and adjusts the front of his swim trunks. “Where were we? That’s right—the push and pull of the waves. After you’ve felt the pull, you can anticipate the push. At the last second of the pull, you need to jump up, flattening your body on top of the push wave, and then let it ride you in.”

  “Seriously? You’re teaching me how to ride a wave. I thought it was going to be some complicated actual surfing move. I used to do this as a little kid.”

  “So you’re experienced. I bet it’s never been this fun. Or satisfying.”

  The smile in his voice makes me turn around to see his gorgeous face. His hands naturally move to my rear end. “No. You’re definitely good at satisfying. It makes me wonder, how many girls you’ve taught to ride a wave.”

  “Not many. And you are by far my favorite. Should we go try it?”

  I nod. His “by far my favorite” comment makes me smile as
I follow him to the break ridge. The water is deeper, the waves hit harder, and it is tougher to stand without Liam behind me.

  “Ready?” he asks. “Feel the pull.”

  The pull almost pulls me under.

  “Wait for it. Three, two, now.”

  We both jump and I do my best to flatten on top of the wave. Liam grabs my hand and we ride the wave together for about thirty feet, like two hulls of a catamaran. It’s remarkable. I didn’t know you could ride a wave so long without a board.

  I clamor to my feet, not at all gracefully, and Liam hooks an arm around my waist, pulling me to him. He clasps my chin with his long fingers and tilts my head up to meet his lips. He presses into me with his tongue and bubbles fizzle from my stomach to the tips of my toes. My whole body relaxes to the point where if he weren’t there holding me up, I’d flop like a rag doll to the sand. He pulls back and says, “We should grab some lunch before we miss it.”

  He stuffs his hands in the pockets of his swim trunks and tips his head toward the resort house. I’m not sure what to think. We walk down the beach in silence, not touching. Is he still acting? Do I dare let my brain think it’s more?

  We sit at a table with all the other groomsmen in the outdoor restaurant. Now that we’re seated, Nordstrom’s hand is on the back of my chair and his fingers are tickling my shoulder. I’m wide awake, nervous, not knowing what to expect from him.

  Some of the stories being shared by the guys are completely BS or maybe I am a naïve little girl from the Midwest. I just don’t think it’s likely a guy could run into a complete stranger on his way to get ice in a hotel, have sex with the girl against the ice machine, and then go back to have sex with two girls he left in his suite. Hayden is telling the story, but it’s about his bandmate Nick, and it kind of epitomizes what Liam had said about Hayden sharing other people’s stories. I look over at Nick and he’s nodding with a smile, pushing my skepticism away. I lean over to Nordstrom and ask, “Do you think that really happened?”

  He shrugs and whispers, “Obviously Hayden is obsessed with Nick’s sex life.” He raises his eyebrow as if he told me so, then caresses my cheek with a swipe of his thumb. “Do you have plans the rest of the night?”

  His question wipes all thoughts from my head. It takes a good thirty seconds for me to respond. “I was thinking about asking Hayden up to my room just to check out your theory.”

  He pulls back, his face menacing, and he looks from Hayden to me. “Go for it. But he won’t give you what I gave you an hour ago.”

  “Yeah, what was that all about? One minute you’re despising me and the next you’re giving me an orgasm. I can’t keep track of your moods.” I must have said the O-word too loud because a couple of people at the table turn and smile at me.

  “I didn’t want you to be sad anymore.”

  “So you just dole those out to girls to cheer them up?”

  “When I like them.”

  “Good to know.” At least he admits he likes me. I glance up and Hayden is scowling at Nordstrom, and then he makes eye contact with me. His eyes say be careful. I smile back. Liam and I are just friends. I know sex means nothing to him. I’m not one to let a man hurt me—not since high school.

  I look back to Nordstrom. He’s so damn hot. I am probably going to hate myself, but I don’t see what choice I have. The chemistry with him is off the charts. And, if I’m being truthful with myself, the chemistry with Chase has completely dwindled since I met Liam. I need to take advantage of whatever he offers. I do feel as if we are friends. He’s the only person I have ever told about the drugs in my purse. He didn’t judge me. He didn’t turn me away. Instead, he just wanted to make me feel better.

  We chat with the groomsmen for another hour, finishing our meal, and make plans to meet as a group on the beach for the scheduled clam bake at eight. As we’re leaving, Nordstrom says, “I’m supposed to meet up with Jim and Nat before they head off the island. Can I hook up with you after I get done with my parents?”

  “What time?”

  “An hour and a half tops? I’ll stop by your room.”

  “Yeah, that’s fine. Say hi to your parents for me.” I smile snidely, knowing he won’t mention me to them.

  He laughs and says, “I will,” before walking into the building.

  I need to get a grip on what I’m doing. Maybe some time away from him will help me clear my head. I climb the big staircase to the second floor and start for my room. About halfway down the hall, Hayden stops me. He looks as though he’s been waiting for me.

  “Are you feeling all right?” he asks in the most casual tone.

  “I’m great. I was just going to grab a shower.”

  He purses his lips, hesitating and then says, “If you’re looking for a relationship with him, it will never happen. He doesn’t do them. Never has.”

  “I’m not,” I say. “We’re just friends.”

  He nods. “You mean fuck buddies?”

  I shrug. “We haven’t slept together,” I say as I wrap my arms tightly across my front, having no idea why I’m explaining myself to him.

  “I just assumed when you were talking about orgasms you had.”

  “Nope. Haven’t.” Damn. I wonder what else he heard.

  “Don’t sleep with him. For years, I’ve watched him use women. He gives them just enough for them to believe they have a chance of being more than a plaything, and then cuts them off when someone better comes along or the weather changes. I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

  “What’s going on between the two of you? I didn’t think guys stabbed each other in the back like girls do, but you two seem to have a venomous hate for each other. Or, is it just a cock-blocking thing? He told me you were gay.”

  To my surprise, he laughs.

  “I’m not gay and he knows it. Just because I treat women with respect? He’s such an ass.” His expression turns serious. “Did he tell you he slept with my baby sister? Eighteen years old and he used her like a whore.”

  The real grit comes out.

  “I’ll be careful,” I say because there’s not much else I can say to that. I guess it explains the issues they have with each other.

  “See you tonight,” he says, touching my arm before heading off toward his room.

  I know if it had been Nordstrom touching my arm, I would have opened the door and dragged him inside. Part of me wonders why I’m always choosing the wrong guy. Too focused on finding chemistry, I miss the ones who would treat me right. How did I get to this point? Hayden is good-looking and in a band. He’s got to have a dark side. All artists do. Yet, he’s not an ass, so I’m not attracted to him. Is this all because of my mom’s mistakes? If she waited for the right guy instead of settling with my dad because she was pregnant, would she have ended up killing herself? If I settled for anything less than who excites me the most, will I end up doing the same? I’m never going to get Nordstrom. Not for keeps, anyway. I tap the keycard against the sensor and open the door.

  Chapter 22

  Liam

  I STOP IN my room to string together a couple of strands of brain cells before meeting with Jim and Natalie. The door opens a minute after I arrive and I look up from my facedown position on the bed. Nak and I are sharing a room to keep up appearances while Leslie’s parents are on the island. It’s a hassle to keep his clothes here and her parents know they’re sharing a bed, but it helps keep it on the up and up with Jonathan’s relatives. Jon doesn’t only think of Leslie as a sister, she’s his cousin.

  “You doing all right?” Nak asks

  I massage the back of my neck with my hand before flipping over onto my back to talk. “Um…I don’t know. I’ll be better after my parents leave.”

  “Are you worried about Seth?”

  “I’m scared as hell he’s not going to make it through treatment. He’s barely an adult.”

  “Have you talked to anyone about what happened last week?”

  I shake my head. I brushed over it with my parent
s, but it’s too soon. I can’t even process it.”

  “No poop pool stories at the clam bake tonight?”

  “No.”

  “I saw you with Megan. You get everything worked out?”

  “I am supposed to meet with Nat and Jim before they leave. Dad is going to tell me what an idiot I am. He saw us together at the pool.” I slip into the mocking voice of my father. “You never make the right choices, Liam. When are you going to grow up?”

  Nak smiles. “If he was there with us at the drug den, he’d never talk to you like that again. Just tell him what happened.”

  “He’d probably blame me for not getting Seth into treatment sooner.”

  “Seth is an adult. You’re not his nanny.”

  “I know. It’s probably because he and Mom are worried about Seth and then they see Meg here. Dad thinks she sold the story outright to the press, but that’s not true.” I sit up and push my back against the headboard, pulling a pillow onto my lap. “Did you know Meg’s mom killed herself? When Meg was in high school. And, with everything she told me about what happened, there is no way she would have talked to the press.” I look up from the pillow on my lap, meeting Nak’s eyes.

  “When Meg wasn’t here when I arrived on the island, part of me was relieved and the other part was frustrated. I wanted to see her. I wanted her to clear her name. Then Jon asks me to fetch her and beg her to come to the wedding and I was relieved again. But what she did triggered Seth to run away and you saw what that led to. All day yesterday I ignored her. I’d done my part. I’d got her here.” My fingers fidget with the corner of the pillow.