Oceans Collide

by M. A. de Olmos

  I shrugged off my hard on for her and made my way to the medium-sized suede couch in the office room of the suite. I lay out on the sofa and closed my eyes to wait for Zena, my warrior princess.

  Livie

  When I finally opened my eyes, I was back in my hotel room lying in my own bed. The room was dark and quiet. The only noise I could here was the tick and tock of the clock from the office. I looked at the side table clock and the time read twelve thirty-five p.m. Wow! I looked down at my body, and I was still in last night’s clothes… and then all the horrible memories came back to me. The hospital with Law, our fight in the parking lot, and him taking me home... Damn, I was falling apart on him already. The random panic attack from my tormenting dream just thickened the icing of crazy. I wonder if he still wanted to keep me as a studio employee.

  I exhaled deeply and forced myself to my feet. I walked into the office and sat down at the desk. There was a sticky note on my closed mac laptop.

  Sunshine,

  I had to make some errands before we leave. I gave Ocean all the details, and he’ll fill you in once you’re up. I hope you don’t get mad, but I called your dad and told him some of what happened last night. He was okay with things, for the most part. Call him when you can. He wants to hear it from you that you’re okay. I hope you accept my offer to come with us, and I’m hoping to see you soon.

  I frowned at the note. He really wasn’t telling me much. I got up deciding to call my dad after I freshened up and didn’t look like road kill. I made a quick walk through the suite just to make sure everything was in place. Everything looked normal and was where I’d left things. I made my way to the bathroom and started undressing. Instinctively, I started rubbing the area where I would cut myself with both hands. The urge to cut was still haunting me, and it wouldn’t subside until I gave in. I couldn’t risk another breakdown especially not in front of Ocean and Law.

  I picked up my clothes, placed them in my hamper, and started the water. Facing the full-length mirror of the bathroom behind the door, I took in the sight of my body. I wanted to cry, scream, and yell at myself for allowing myself to ruin my body the way that I was. I worked so hard to stay fit and prided myself in having a nice figure, but the scars I inflicted on myself were my reminder. They reminded me that I was unsalvageable, and no one would want me once they saw these scars. I had to keep Ocean away. Rejection from a man like that would end my existence as I know it. That kind of rejection would put me at risk of ending up like my mother.

  Having enough of the horrid view of myself in the mirror. I stepped into my steaming hot shower to wash away my sins.

  I cut off the shower and wrapped myself in my too-small-for-even-me towel before I stepped out. The overpowering aroma of vanilla conditioner floated heavily inside the steamy bathroom. I almost wanted to hop up on the counter and enjoy the steam, but I needed to get the rest of this day started on a good note. As I passed the mirror, I stopped in front of the medicine cabinet where my razors where. My fingertips started tingling, and my thighs started to ache for that beautiful pain I wanted to inflict on myself so badly. I reached up to open the cabinet when I heard a loud snore and froze. Who was that? Was it Law or Ocean? I don’t even remember who brought me upstairs, but I figured it was Law because he knew me better. At least I told myself he did. I carefully opened the door to the bathroom and crept out. Before I stepped fully out of the bathroom, I readjusted my towel to cover my upper thighs where my scars lived.

  Adjusting my towel allowed more of my tits to show, but as long as my nipples where covered I was okay with it. I moved my hands to hold the back of the towel to cover as much of my ass as possible. Whoever was asleep on the sofa, I’m pretty sure he saw more ass and tits than I cared to know about. I bravely followed the sound of the snores, and when I saw Ocean’s body laid out on the sofa my heart dropped to my knees. I squeezed my legs together to keep the moisture from pooling up and running down my thighs.

  He was laid out flat with his head propped up on the armrest of the sofa. I so wanted to be that damn sofa right now! Both of his arms were folded behind his head, and he had his left leg half on the edge of the sofa and the floor. I told my brain to walk quickly backwards to my room and hide, but my body didn’t want to buy what my brain was selling. Or was it my heart? Whichever, it didn’t listen and instead, I found myself standing only inches away from the sofa. At this proximity, I definitely felt the moisture pooling and searching for an escape route down my legs.

  “I heard it’s rude to stare at sleeping company.” Oceans eyes opened and he grinned at me. I wanted to slap that grin off his sexy half-awake face, but I didn’t want to use my hand to do it.

  “Sorry I wasn’t sure if it was you or Law.”

  “Why would it have mattered if it was me or Law?” His question wasn’t cocky. He really wanted to know.

  “I don’t know,” I said lying through my teeth. “I just wanted to know who was snoring like a wild boar on my sofa!”

  “Ouch. Point taken, Zena.”

  I took one-step back afraid of my body taking a step forward on its own. “Don’t call me Zena! I have a name and it’s not Zena!”

  “Can I call you Liv then? I like it better than Livie, Sunshine, or Zena, if that’s okay with you?” The bastard was ripping off my towel with his eyes, and the bulge in his pants was arousing me tremendously.

  I was having a hard time finding my voice and when I finally did, it was winded and shaky. “Liv’s fine with me.” I started taking quick steps backwards toward my room because I had a feeling if I turned around, by the time I left this room, my virginity would no longer belong to me, but to the handsome devil laying on my sofa.

  “Wait.” Oceans voice shook me as he quickly stood up from the sofa and made his way toward me. Yep, there goes the wetness racing its way down my legs to the floor. Please don’t look down at my legs.

  When he got to me, his brown eyes were almost black and his breathing was loud and rough. He stepped closer to me, never taking his eyes off mine. When our chests were touching, he leaned his head down to my hair and inhaled deeply. A whimper escaped my trembling lips as I let my body fall forward into him. He placed a warm hand on the small of my back where my towel was open. The feel of his flesh on mine drove me mad. I leaned my forehead on his chest, and I swear the man growled under his breath. He used his hand and pushed me closer into his body, and I felt his erection pushing back on my bellybutton.

  “Liv… tell me to stop. Please. Ask me to?” His words were strained, and I didn’t want to do as he asked, but we both knew it was the right decision.

  “Please, stop,” I moaned into his chest. He placed a kiss on the side of my head on top of my wet hair and backed away slowly.

  Once he reached a safe distance, he turned around. “You should get dressed. Law will be here soon, it’s almost time to go.” I didn’t say a word. I just retreated to my room continuing to walk backwards to get dressed.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Lawrence

  I felt guilty for leaving Ocean with Sunshine. I had a hunch something cosmic was happening between the two, but I hoped Ocean was in control of himself enough to do the right thing by her. I mean, the look he gave me when they were in the back seat would have killed me if looks could truly kill. After leaving Mack’s office to make sure the studio would be looked after while I was gone for the two days, I headed to the hospital to drop in on my Unk and mom.

  The simple fact that my Unk had picked up and relocated here for the time being meant my mom was in a rough spot. Not financially, because she made it a point to never need anything from my bastard father. She wasn’t herself lately, and when my mom was emotionally distressed, she hid it until she exploded. Unk knew that better than I did, so I believed him when he asked me to pay close attention to her. That was part of the reason I hadn’t moved out yet.

  Coming off the hospital elevator, I ran into mom. Boy, did she look rough. She had bags under her eyes, and I don’t even
think she made it home last night… this morning, or since I blew up in the parking lot.

  “Hey, Mom, you have a minute?”

  She looked away from me as she spoke. “Law, I have some really critical patients to follow up with. I’ll catch up with you later.” Before she could get away, I cut her off and blocked her path.

  “Mom, I wasn’t asking.” I spun my mom around by the shoulders and steered her into her office down the busy hall.

  Once the door was closed, she walked over to her leather chair and reclined back kicking her feet up onto her desk. Wow! Feet on desk. I was definitely worried now.

  “Law, you know you don’t have to do this, right? I know you love that house, but it’s just a house. I can buy another one, and I’ll be just fine. He’s not worth the aggravation, son.”

  “Sorry, Mom. As your first born and only son, I refuse to listen to you.”

  “That’s old news.” She huffed under her breath and I rolled my eyes. My mother could be extremely sarcastic when she didn’t want to deal with shit.

  “Mom, that house is yours, and you know it. If you don’t want it, then I’m going to fight for it for me. It’s my house, too, and I’m not going to let that asshole take that away, too. He’s already taken too much from us.”

  “That asshole is still your father, Lawrence. You need to respect that even if you don’t respect him!”

  “No! I don’t! I will never respect him ever again. Not as a man, father, dad you name it, I don’t give two…” My mom slammed her foot on the desk and I shut my mouth.

  “So what is it exactly that you plan on doing, Law? Walk into his house and beat the sick bastard to death, because that’s just going to land your ass in jail, and I’m not bailing you out!”

  “Kicking his ass in front of his bullshit new and improved family would be a start, but I’m not going over there for that. I have a legal team waiting for me in Boston, and they’re going to help me. They’re going to help us. Sunshine’s… I mean Livie’s father is helping me with this. It’s going to work out, just trust me. Please.”

  She finally looked at me, and I could see her shell cracking. “Livie… I really like that girl. She reminds me of…”

  “She reminds you of you, Mom. I know. That’s why I can’t seem to live without her now.”

  My mom looked at me with a pained look on her face. She pulled her feet of the desk and stood up. Making her way toward me, she laughed to herself. “What did I ever do to deserve such a son?” She wrapped her tiny arms around me and hugged me tight. This little lady could bring me to tears or to my knees, and I wouldn’t care.

  “You did all the work, Mom. You birthed me, raised me, taught me how to be a man, and you love me. Even though you threaten to kick me out every day, you don’t mean it,” I teased trying to lighten the mood.

  She wiped the tears clinging to her freckles. “Just be careful, son. Take Livie with you, and Ocean, too. I’d like to slap him upside the head for not coming to see me, but let him know when you three get back, he’s going to get it from me.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” I saluted her, and she punched me in the rib. It tickled more than anything, but I didn’t laugh because she would only punch me harder.

  “Okay, bruiser, if you’re going to catch a flight before they’re all booked, you need to get going. Be careful, be responsible, look out for each other, and all that jazz. DO NOT GET ARRESTED! DO YOU HEAR ME, LAWRENCE GRANT HAWTHORNE?”

  “Mom, you’re yelling at me, so how can I not hear you!” She backhanded me on the stomach and it stung.

  “Get out before I give you a tetanus shot just for the hell of it.” She didn’t need to threaten me twice. I kissed her on her cheeks and forehead and ran out the door. The laughter I heard from her office as I sprinted down the hall warmed me. Only my mother could insult the hell out of me and love me all at the same time.

  ***

  Pulling into a parking space in front of the Sheraton hotel, I parked the Range and pulled out my cell phone. I was nervous about seeing Sunshine again, after what she went through. No missed calls, or texts. Okay, so maybe I was worrying for nothing. I hopped out, hit the alarm, and jogged up to the revolving doors. As I passed the gift shop on the way to the elevator, I saw Ocean looking at the flowers. Man, this ass had it bad if he was looking at flowers! Not being able to help myself, I walked into the shop.

  “So you buy flowers now?” He didn’t even turn around.

  “I’m not buying anything just looking at the damn flowers. That a crime?”

  “Yeah, it is. Especially, since you don’t window shop, so what gives?”

  “Back off, Dad. Let’s go, man. If you want to get out of Dunlap, we need to hit the road.” I followed his lead and headed back to Sunshine’s room.

  Before we reached the door, I stopped him. “How is she? Did she say anything to you?”

  “Nope, I didn’t ask. She slept, showered, and was getting dressed when I left and went downstairs.” I raised my eyebrows at him.

  “Nothing happened, Oprah. Jesus... cut me some slack.”

  “I believe you, bro. You really need to lay off the caffeine. It really fucks with your PMS.” He slapped the room key on my chest.

  “Just open the fucking door.”

  I took the key, and as I pushed open the door, I called out. “Sunshine, can we come in?”

  “Yes! I’m ready, just finishing some stuff on the computer. Come in!” Why the hell was she talking so loud? I walked in to the office study of the suite, and there was my Sunshine. She had a cute pair of purple and pink Dr. Dre Beats headphones on. She peeked up at us as we walked in, and smiled. Whoa, I thought I had mood swings. Sunshine was looking like she just won the lotto.

  I could hear the music blaring from her headphones as she bobbed her head to the beat and finished typing up an email. I looked over my shoulder at Ocean whose eyebrows were furrowed and looked as confused as I was. He shrugged his shoulders at me, and I did the same. Turning back around, I looked at the back of Sunshine’s head jamming to her music, and then I remembered how calm she’d gotten in the truck listening to music. She switched her screen to her iTunes account. She was downloading like a million songs. I pulled out my phone and sent her a text.

  Me ~ download Count On Me/Bruno Mars. Make it my ringtone plz

  Her phone buzzed next to her laptop, and she grabbed it and read my text. She shook her head and laughed. She searched the song on iTunes and started the download before taking off her headphones, and spinning around in her chair to face Ocean and me. That is when I noticed two customized zebra striped Tapout duffle bags. “Planning on going somewhere, Sunshine?” She looked down at her bags and stood up. “Yep. I read your note and got ready. So, where we going, chief?”

  “Ocean didn’t tell you?” I didn’t bother to turn to look at him. He still had his G-string all knotted up.

  “No. I slept for a while and took a long shower. When I finished, I guess he stepped out, but it doesn’t matter. I’m going wherever you two go. I mean, that’s if you want me too?” I walked toward her and gave her a bear hug, and I felt her body relax in my arms.

  “You know I don’t mind, Sunshine, and you don’t have to ask.” I heard Ocean clear his throat behind us, and I laughed under my breath. Asshole!

  “So, what’s the plan, Law? Where are we going?”

  “Well, we’re going to Boston,” I said slowly giving her time to process. When she nodded, I continued. “I’m going to meet a team of lawyers your dad set me up with, and then I’m going to my dad’s.”

  She was becoming panicked so she interrupted me. “I’m going with you right, Law… you can’t see him by yourself. I’m going, right? Right, Law!”

  “Yes. Relax, Sunshine. Where I go, you go, and if you are not with me, you will be safe with Ocean. Our flight is in two hours, if you’re ready, let’s go eat and head to the airport.” She looked at Ocean for a minute and her eye twitched. There was definitely something going on between t
he two. I wasn’t stupid and I wasn’t mad. I just hoped Ocean knew what he was going to do with this girl. She wasn’t strong enough to deal with his shit.

  “I’m ready,” she finally responded. “Can you guys just give me a minute? I want to make sure I have everything.”

  I didn’t like her nervous tone, but I didn’t have a choice but to give her space. Before I could respond, Ocean walked past me, picked up her duffle bags, and headed out the room. “We’ll be waiting downstairs, Sunshine. Hurry up, though. We gotta move.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Livie

  The second I heard my room door close, I collapsed on my bed. My legs were shaking, and I felt like him leaving was sucking out my life force. I felt winded and lost. My hands found their way to my thighs and started squeezing my scars. I wanted, no I needed, to cut. It was the only way to get back in control. I got up, and then speed walked to the door, making sure it was locked. I turned on my heels and ran into the bathroom. I yanked open the medicine cabinet and grabbed my medical kit. Sloppily, I opened the bottle of alcohol and drenched the razor that I hadn’t even realized I had grabbed already. Not wasting any time, I leaned back against the far wall.

  Taking a deep breath, I brought the razor to my right thigh. I applied pressure and slid the razor effortlessly along my skin, and the pain took over instantly. The burn I’d been craving was engulfing my entire leg bringing with it the calm sea of nothingness. I didn’t think, see, hear, or feel anything, but burning and pain. I let my head fall forward and stood there slumped against the wall for a while. I would have kept cutting, but I knew either Law or Ocean would be back soon.