Twisted Paths

by L. L. Collins

  “Blake,” Mia says, forcing me to look away from Li. “Do you want Liane to go out?” I shake my head no. I don’t want to be apart from her. Not now, not ever. “Okay then. So tell me, Blake. When I opened the door and saw you pacing, what were you thinking?”

  I look back at Li. “I was panicking. She’s been in here for so long…”

  “Panicking about what,” Mia asks, prodding me. “We need to work through this so that panic isn’t your initial reaction.”

  I force myself to take a deep breath. Li squeezes my hand. “You have nothing to worry about, Blake,” she reassures me.

  “Every time she walks away from me, I’m afraid it’s going to be the last time. I know it’s irrational, but I can’t stop it. I was worried about her having second thoughts about being here with me, about her regretting what we’ve done, or that she won’t want to be with me anymore. I’ve asked her to give up her whole life for me, and I know that it’s a lot.”

  “May I?” Li asks Mia. She nods, and Li turns to me. “First off, I understand the feeling, because I feel the same. If I had to guess what Mia is going to tell both of us, it’s something we have to work through from our past, that when we left each other last, we thought it was only temporary and it ended up being a lifetime.” We both look at Mia, and she nods. “But I want you to know something, Blake. I’m not here because you asked me to be or because you forced me to be. If I’ve learned anything about myself in the last few weeks, it’s that it’s about time I do what I want to do. So let’s be clear. I’m here because I want to be. As far as regretting anything? No. I don’t. I went into this with my eyes open, Blake. Everything we’ve done and will continue to do is what I want. What we both want. Okay?”

  “You’ll tell me if something is too much, too soon?”

  She nods. “Nothing is too much too soon. If you ask me, it’s been long enough.”

  “I agree,” I say, lifting her hand and kissing it.

  “Good,” Mia breaks in. “That was great, and necessary from both of you. Now I’m going to broach a sensitive topic, so tell me if you don’t want to talk about it right now. But either way, it needs to be dealt with and soon.” She looks at Li. “Li told me that she hasn’t talked to Carter, and neither of you have told your parents what is going on. First of all, Carter deserves to know what’s happened with his father, and that you’re living here now, Liane. He may be grown, but that doesn’t change that he’s still your child. Right now, you’re both living in this protective bubble where no one knows what’s going on and you can pretend that this fairy tale can just go on forever. I’m not discounting that you deserve to be together and be happy, but you have to deal with the rest. Your families need to know. Even Ronan needs to know, Liane.”

  Her eyes widen and a noise comes from her throat. “I don’t want to talk to him. Why should he care? We’re a judge’s signature away from being divorced.”

  “Under normal circumstances, I would say that’s right. Except you have a child together, a child that needs to see both of his parents being responsible adults with this scenario. You need to plan a weekend when Carter can come home, and you both need to sit down and tell him.”

  “NO,” I say, louder than I mean to. Li jumps next to me, and I mouth sorry to her. “She can’t be in the same room as him.”

  Mia taps her pen on her pad. “And why is that, Blake? Because you’re afraid if she sees him, she’s going to leave?”

  I open and close my mouth. That’s exactly what I’m worried about. “Yes,” I admit.

  “You’re going to have to trust her, Blake,” Mia says. “The fact is, you’re going to have to deal with her talking to Ronan sometimes. They have a child together.”

  “I do trust her,” I argue. “I just…”

  “You’re scared,” Mia answers. “I get it, Blake. But this has to stop from both of you, or you’ll never move forward. Do you see that?” I nod. I do see it. My fears are unfounded and could destroy the fragile foundation we’re beginning to rebuild.

  “Okay,” she says. “I have another patient, so we have to wrap this up for today. I want to see both of you next week. And by then, you both have to talk to your families. Also, Liane, you need to figure out with Ronan when you can meet with Carter and fill him in. He deserves to know.”

  We walk out, our hands linked but not speaking. I know I’m lost in my own head, wondering how many more hurdles we have to cross in order to live our lives together. But I know that no matter what it takes, she’s worth them all.

  “Don’t worry about Carter,” she says as we reach my truck. “I’ll figure it out. I have no real desire to see Ronan anyway, because all I’d be able to see is red over all the lies he told. What do you think your parents will think?”

  I know my parents are going to be cautious, but ecstatic for me. I doubt Brooke and Bri have said anything to them about Li being at the beach, but I’ve talked to them several times. They don’t know that Li is here with me and she’d quit her job, but I’ll tell them soon. Mia’s right, we’ve been enjoying living in our little bubble, away from the prying eyes of everyone else.

  “Does your sister know?” I ask her. I know she’s close with Beth, but she lives in Kentucky.

  “No one but Kinsley knows,” she admits. “I wasn’t trying to hide you. I promise. I honestly just didn’t think of it. I was so consumed with making things right with you and figuring out all the ways we’d been deceived, I just didn’t think of it.”

  I nod, pulling out into traffic. “I get it. I’ve talked to Brooke and Bri, but other than that, no one else.”

  I look at her, and her eyes are wide. “You did? What did they say?” I know she’s worried that they’ll talk me out of being with her, but she has it all wrong. The only reason the girls stopped talking to her all those years ago was because of me, and they’d hated me for it.

  “They’re so happy for us,” I say. “You should know something, Li. They never hated you. They stopped talking to you because I asked them to. They hated me for it, but I couldn’t hear updates on you. I’m so sorry for ruining your friendship with them. It’s all my fault.”

  I pull into my neighborhood and she’s quiet so I reach over and caress her leg. “They didn’t hate me? They don’t hate me now?” Her voice is so small, so broken that it physically pains me.

  “No. They love you just as much as they did all those years ago. In fact, I think tonight we should call them and talk to them. What do you think?”

  “They would want to talk to me?”

  “They can’t wait to talk to you,” I say. “And we can talk to them before our parents. How do you think your parents will react?”

  “Well, my parents know Ronan left me,” she says. “My mom called me when I was on my way to Sanibel. But other than them calling me to ask how I was, I haven’t given them any more information. They know nothing. I know they always knew I loved you, but to be honest, I have no idea what they’ll think of all this.”

  “And if either of our families aren’t supportive? Does that change anything?” I hate to ask it, but I have to.

  I stop the truck in my driveway— our driveway—, and Li turns to me, shifting her body. “Blake. Nothing is going to change anything. Unless you tell me you don’t want me or don’t want to go further, I’m not going anywhere. Not today, not tomorrow. Okay?”

  “I’m sorry,” I say. “I don’t know why I’m so worried all the time.” She presses her lips against mine, running her tongue along the seam of my lips so I’ll open up, and I do without hesitation.

  “I don’t know either,” she whispers. “But let’s go inside and let me take care of that worry.” She doesn’t have to tell me twice. I haul her from the truck, flinging her over my shoulder like I did when we were teenagers. She giggles all the way, squeezing my butt as I beeline it for the house. I’m not even sure I can make it past the garage with her touching me like that.

  I DIAL BROOKE’S number, my hands shaking. Li paces next to
me, chewing her nails. I texted Brooke earlier when we got home and asked her to have Brianna at her house tonight so we can talk to her. Other than the hour I distracted Li when we got home, she’s been a wreck.

  “Li,” I whisper. “Stop. It’s all going to be okay.” Before she can respond, Brooke’s voice floods the speaker on my phone.

  “Hey! Brianna’s right next to me!”

  “Hey bro,” Bri says. Li stares at the phone like it’s going to jump off the counter and attack her. I reach for her hand and she takes it.

  “So what’s the excitement?” Brooke asks. “We got our hubbies to take the kids for ice cream and everything, so you have our full attention.”

  “Well,” I begin, pulling Li to me. “I have a surprise for both of you.”

  “Are you coming home for a visit?” Bri asks. “The kids miss you so much. Well, and us. Kind of.”

  “No, not right now. I have someone here with me that would like to say hi to you.”

  They’re both silent for a beat. “Is it Li?” Li sucks in a breath next to me, but I squeeze her hand in reassurance. I nod, indicating she should say hello.

  “Brooke, Bri,” she says, her voice breaking.

  “Li!” they both say in unison. We both hear them squealing and cheering, and Li smiles, her watery eyes shining. “We’ve missed you so much.”

  “I can’t believe you don’t hate me,” she admits, and my heart breaks. How she could think anyone could hate her is beyond me.

  “We could never hate you,” Bri says. “So, what does this mean? Are you guys back together?”

  Li looks over at me, and I can’t help it. I have to kiss her. Pressing my lips gently against hers, we stare at each other for a moment before we both say “Yes” at the same time.

  “Heck with speakerphone,” Brooke says. “I’m hanging up and we’re FaceTiming. I need to see the two of you with my own eyes. Okay?”

  Li looks down at the screen. “Okay,” she agrees. “I can’t believe I’m going to see you both in person. Blake has pictures all over his house of you, but…”

  Brooke squeals. “I never thought I’d hear that you were at his house, Li. I feel like I’m reading the world’s best romance novel, and the heroine just got her happily-ever-after. Well, and the hero too. Sorry, Blake. Okay I’m hanging up. Be right back.” The screen goes off, and then seconds later, Brooke’s face appears in the FaceTime screen.

  “Do you want to talk first?” I ask Li, holding the phone to her. She nods, taking the phone from my hand. Her face fills the small square in the corner, showing what Brooke is seeing, and Li accepts the call.

  “Liane! Oh, my god! You’re so beautiful!” Brooke shifts the screen so that Brianna’s face is also shown, and they both fawn all over my beautiful girl. Li opens and closes her mouth, but she can’t get a word in edgewise. That’s my sisters alright. I turn the screen so my sisters can see both of us, and that’s when the twenty questions start.

  “So tell us how you got back together. Li, Blake filled us in when you first got there, so we knew you guys were talking. He also said that you and Ronan split up. We’re really sorry about that, but not really, because you always should’ve been with Blake.”

  We sit together, talking to my sisters for over an hour, filling them in on everything. Li asks them about their families and they ask her about Carter. She shows them pictures she has in her wallet, and just like that, their friendship is restored. They don’t even need me, because I certainly don’t talk much.

  “Please come see us soon,” Bri says before we hang up. “I’m so happy for both of you.”

  We promise to try to make it up for a visit before the holidays and hang up, both of us with wide grins on our faces. “Well, that went way better than I thought it would,” Li laughs. “God, I missed them so much. Thank you, Blake.”

  “You have nothing to thank me for,” I say. “I’m the reason you didn’t keep in touch with them all this time.”

  “Looking forward,” she says, leaning over and kissing me. “Remember? I’m grateful to have them back in my life. I’m not looking at our lost years.”

  “You’re so right, Miss Kelly,” I say, using her maiden name on purpose. I always hated her name being Liane Collier, and I’m relieved it’s not going to be that name again. If I have anything to say about it, she’s going to take my name once and for all, and sooner rather than later.

  I STRETCH, MY body warm and comfortable from a great night’s sleep. I haven’t slept this good in years. It’s early because my alarm hasn’t even gone off yet, but I haven’t needed one in over a week. Every morning, I wake up with Blake snuggling behind me, or me nestled up to him, and I revel in it for as long as I can before reality sets in.

  School started a few days ago, and I love my new class of third graders. Learning a new school, grade, curriculum, and administration has been challenging, but I’ve had a lot of support. Melinda is making it almost seamless for me to transition, in more ways than one. Every day over lunch we talk about Blake, and she is becoming a valuable part of my relationship with him. He knows that we talk about him, and as weird as I thought it might be to work with his ex-wife, she’s just as amazing as he told me she was. I’ve even gotten to meet her adorable kids and her new husband. She really helps me fill in the blanks of the life Blake has led, even the parts he can’t remember because of what he had put himself through at that time.

  When she’d told me one afternoon over happy hour about when Blake had been in rehab, I’d cried so much I made myself sick. She’d apologized, but I’d needed to hear it. I told him every night what Melinda and I talked about, and that would often spur our conversation for the night. We’ve talked for hours and hours every night since I’ve been here, and it has helped us both a lot.

  After talking to Brooke and Bri that night, we decided that we would do the same with the rest of our families. Tonight, we’re calling his parents, my parents, and Beth. Tomorrow is our meeting with Mia, and we’re cutting our deadline close. It isn’t that we don’t want to tell them, it’s just that after being apart all day at work, we want nothing more than to lose ourselves in each other and spend every second wrapped up in one another.

  Making love with Blake is way more than a physical connection. It’s hot, combustible and toe curling, but it isn’t just about that. Reconnecting with him like that, as an adult, helps us feel closer to each other when words fail us both.

  Blake shifts next to me, shaking me out of my daydream. His arm naturally wraps around me, though I know he’s not even awake. The poor man works harder than anyone I’ve ever seen. I can’t imagine how exhausted he must’ve been when he worked 13-14 hours a day, because after working 9 or 10 he passes out within seconds of lying down. I’ve been to his shop every day after school, and I’m getting to know many of the guys there. I love being in his world and seeing his dream in action. Plus, his office has been a fun place a few times already.

  I turn gently to face him, careful not to wake him. I love this part of my day; lying here looking at his blonde eyelashes resting on his chiseled cheeks, his full lips parted in sleep. His blonde hair is messy and sticking everywhere and his rough stubble shadows his chin and upper lip. No matter how many times I do this, it never gets old. I cherish memorizing every part of him. My eyes roam downward to the bare chest that is only partially covered by the sheet. He sleeps in boxer briefs, and I sleep in a shirt of his most nights. I appreciate his cut muscle and smooth chest that leads to his slim waist and impeccable abs. He can give most twenty year olds a run for their money.

  Unable to stop myself, I run my fingers along his chest and down his stomach until my fingers reach the waistband of his briefs. He stirs, and I smile. I’ve never woken him up like this before, but hey, there’s a first time for everything, right? The new assertive Liane can wake her man up by pleasing him, right? Sliding my hand down further, I’m surprised to find that he’s at attention for me. Looking back up at him, I notice a smirk on his face,
though his eyes are still closed.

  “Brat,” I say, knowing he’s awake.

  “Baby, I’ve been awake since the second you touched me,” he growls. I continue to caress him as he comes alive the rest of the way at my touch. “My body knows what it’s doing when you’re around. Now bring that fine bottom up here and tell me good morning.”

  I crawl up his body, my shirt being tossed to the side by his powerful hands as he takes control. So much for me being assertive. His hands caress my bare breasts as our mouths meet, tongues expressing the desire we both feel. He shifts me so he can touch me. I groan, throwing my head back. He takes the opportunity to kiss down my body, laying me back on my side of the bed. When he reaches my panty line, he withdraws his fingers and takes my panties off, tossing them off the side of the bed.

  “I’m hungry,” he says against my stomach. “And I can’t think of a better breakfast than this.” I watch as he dips his head in between my legs, sending my back arching and making my eyes slam shut. When he works his fingers and his mouth together, I cry out, gripping the sheets as I try to process all the sensations coursing through my body. Within moments, I’m shuddering and moaning as he sends me to Heaven. I feel him shift, but I can’t even open my eyes. “I have to have you. Right now.” He pushes inside me, and I force my eyes open to see him. His stomach is taut from exertion as he takes what he wants; what he needs. There’s nothing soft or gentle about this, and I love it.

  I trail my fingers along his muscles, feeling the indentations as they flex under my touch. He grips my hips, keeping me in place as I start to slide towards the headboard because of the force of him. “Li,” he breathes, and I know he’s close. And when he moves one of his hands in between us and strokes me in rhythm with him, my body convulses and we both cry out. The wave of ecstasy lasts so long, I feel like my body is floating above the bed.

  Blake hovers over me, his lips pressing into mine as we both come down from the best wake up call I could’ve asked for. He’s still inside me, our bodies and souls connected in the most delicious way. He turns us both to our sides and he runs his fingers along my face. “God,” he breathes. “You’re incredible in so many ways. But that? That’s hard to top, right there.”