Twisted Love

by R. C. Stephens

  “Wow,” Matt said leaning back on his chair. “I just don’t know,” he raked his fingers through his hair nervously.

  “Matt, you aren’t expected to know yet, maybe a little. I mean I know Lexi and I have a long history so it wouldn’t be the same for you and this girl, but you’ve been with enough girls you should know if this one stands out or if she feels like the rest of them,” I leaned forward placing my elbows on my knees.

  “She feels different, she’s not like the rest of them,” he admitted looking almost ashamed. I felt bad for him but I knew he would do the right thing, he always did.

  “How did you get here?” I asked looking at my phone. It was already six fifteen. I didn’t have much time.

  “I drove,” he said slurring his words.

  “Where are you staying?” I asked realizing that he probably drove downtown and didn’t have anywhere to stay.

  He shrugged his shoulders, he was barely keeping his head up.

  “Okay man, we need to go, I will go take care of the bill. I will give you a ride back to my place. You can’t drive in your state.” I paid the waitress.

  He tried to get up from the soft chair and fell backward so I lifted him in my arm holding him up, he was further gone than I thought. “Lexi’s staying with me now, but she will be out this evening I have a spare bedroom I will put you in there,” I explained but I think he was too drunk to care.

  I dragged him out front and the valet brought my car back. The valet guy opened the door for me as I got Matt into the car. He was mumbling and his head was swaying back and forth.

  Chapter 33

  And Fate Twists Love Again

  Lexi

  I heard a clunk, then I heard a bang, I looked over to the clock on the cable box, it was only six thirty and Dylan said he would be home late tonight. My adrenaline spiked in fear that maybe it was someone from Luc’s family finally here to finish me off. It sounded like the lock on the door began to jiggle and I instantly froze. Do I call the police? Would they get here in time? I heard laughter, it was Dylan, his voice echoing from the other side of the door, then I hear another male’s voice. He must be trying to open the lock. I let out a long breath.

  I opened the door and Dylan had a crooked grin as he held on to Matt who clearly looked intoxicated and partially passed out.

  “Sorry Lex, he’s having personal problems. He got drunk and he had nowhere to go,” he huffed, struggling to hold Matt upright while holding on to his key at the same time.

  I opened the door wider to make room for him to haul in Matt’s large body.

  “I’ll just put him into the spare bedroom and let him sleep it off.”

  I nodded and Dylan made his way to the spare bedroom. Had he brought home someone else drunk and inebriated it would have made me very nervous, but knowing Matt for almost the same amount of time I’d known Dylan made me comfortable with having his sleeping drunken ass in the next room. A moment later Dylan walked out of the room, his eyes searching for me. When his bright blue eyes landed on me standing in the hallway he came straight at me and wrapped me in his strong arms lifting me in the air. I pressed my lips to his and we kissed softly.

  “How was school? Was everything okay today?” he asked and I knew he was concerned if I felt safe, or if I was being followed.

  “Classes were usual, I didn’t feel like there was anything out of the ordinary. I looked over my shoulder all the time…” I shrugged feeling a little guilty over my honesty but I knew I should be open about how I felt.

  “I hope this will be over soon, I hate to leave you right now,” he kissed me again spreading soft kisses down my neck.

  “I know I have my appointment with Dr. Newman anyway…” and I really don’t want you to go either, in fact I would be very happy to spend some time in that very large bed of yours.

  “Okay, what time will you be done?”

  “Probably by eight,” I answered.

  “I don’t think the surgery will be over by eight,” he bit his lip.

  “That’s okay I will wait for you,” I smiled placing another kiss on his lips.

  “Mmm, I like the sound of that. What I wouldn’t do to be able to fuck you hard right now?” he said breathing into my lips. I couldn’t help the throaty moan at the back of my throat as the effect of his words caused my nipples to harden and my thighs to clench together. Dylan grinned enjoying the effect he had on me.

  “Dylan…” I rasped out all breathy.

  “I know babe, tonight you are all mine,” he said as he pulled away. Then he turned around to swat my behind and I laughed looking at him with heavy lidded eyes. “I need to go…I can’t be late for the hospital.”

  “I know, I will wait for you later. I love you,” I called out.

  He turned his head around and with a cocky smile and said, “I love you too, so much,” then he hesitated for a moment and turned to leave out the front door.

  I had some time to relax before my appointment with Dr. Newman. The front panel on the door chimed and I saw ‘front desk’ on the display.

  I pressed the button like I’d seen Dylan do numerous times, “Hello!”

  “Ms. White, there’s a floral delivery here for you,” Henry said with his dry voice. “I’m sending the delivery guy upstairs to your apartment.”

  “Thanks Henry,” I replied, filled with excitement, this was a first. A couple minutes later there was a knock at the door. A delivery man stood carrying what looks like a huge bouquet of white long stem roses.

  “Here Miss, sign here,” he said passing me a board to sign.

  I signed and he passed the arrangement to me. I smiled, a little flushed. I took the beautiful bouquet into the apartment and noticed a card set on top. I opened the card.

  Dear Lex,

  I’m so happy to have you back in my life. You’re the best person I know. Inside and out.

  See you later

  Xo

  Sitting on the couch I sipped tea while fixated on my beautiful bouquet of flowers. I love Dylan so much. I wanted everything with him, but there was this nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach that wouldn’t budge. My inner self appeared reminding me that I’d never gotten what I wanted in the past, why should it happen now? It reminded me not to let my guard down completely. If something can go wrong it would. As the torrent of negative thoughts erupted my inner strength, the one feeling that had always pushed me forward to fight for what I want emerged telling me that after everything I’d been through I deserved to be happy. Dylan and I had earned this happiness. I inwardly cringed feeling like Jekyll and Hyde had taken over my mind. I shook my head back and forth as I got up from the couch. Everything will be fine… I convinced myself.

  I put my school bag in the room I now shared with Dylan and I freshened up for my appointment with Dr. Newman.

  ***

  As I exited the condo elevator on my way out to the hospital I passed Henry sitting behind his desk with his usual smile and I waved hello and exited the doors into the cool night air straight into a cab. I usually didn’t call to order a cab in advance but because of everything that had been going on with Luc I was erring on the side of caution.

  I fell back on the seat of the cab and glared out the window as the cab made it’s way to the hospital. My cell phone beeped in my jacket pocket and I pulled it out to see a text message from Luc. A part of me felt like it wasn’t right to continue contact with him now that Dylan and I were together, but I also had to finalize our annulment for our brief marriage.

  Luc: Are you okay?

  Lexi: Yes, why is something going on?

  Luc: No, I just wanted to check on you.

  Lexi: You don’t need to anymore.

  I knew my last words were harsh I didn’t mean to hurt him. We had to set boundaries between us and he needed to realize that he had to move on. I knew that having Dylan in my life had made moving on so much easier for me, and I recognized that Luc was truly alone in this world and I felt his loneliness. I also knew t
hat I didn’t have anything to offer him, not even a friendship.

  The cab pulled up to the front door of The General. I went straight for the outpatient clinic with a heaviness sitting on my chest. Checking in with the secretary caused my nerves to build even more, and I recited all the things I wanted to speak to Dr. Newman about in my mind.

  Ten minutes later, Dr. Newman made his way to the waiting room to greet me, wearing a white crisp shirt tucked into black pants. He said hello in his usual manner, holding a tea mug in his hand. I followed him back to his office and took a seat in my now, usual chair. Dr. Newman sat across from me with a kind smile.

  “How have things been going?” he asked crossing his leg over the other.

  “Better. The pain has eased up,” I replied lacing my fingers together nervous about bringing up a discussion about Dylan and Luc.

  “That’s good to hear,” he said and then paused and I knew he was waiting to see what direction the conversation would go. “I feel helpless right now. Luc said his family still might try to come after me. Which is scaring me to death. On the other hand, things are going so good between Dylan and I. He’s really opened up about why he stayed away so many years. I always believed he stayed away because he didn’t love me and that’s what hurt the most. That he took away his love. Now I know that he was living with the burdens of his own mistakes and that he felt ashamed. It was shame that kept him from me,” I said weaving my fingers together and looking at Dr. Newman.

  “That’s very interesting Alexis. You and Dylan seem to be very much alike. It was your own shame that kept you away from him, the hooking up, the difficult childhood. With Dylan, you mentioned it was a terrible mistake that he felt ashamed about. I’m guessing you were able to relate to him and this helped you understand where he was coming from?”

  “Yes, I realized that we made similar mistakes. Although what happened to Dylan was really being at the wrong place at the wrong time. He had no control over what happened.”

  “Ah, that’s an interesting statement Alexis, do you not see the same thing about yourself being at the wrong place at the wrong time?” Dr. Newman asked raising his right brow. I could tell that he posed a challenge, but I didn’t understand what it was.

  “What do you mean?” I asked. My own brows furrowed together.

  “Well, with your mother and her alcoholism Alexis, you were just a child. There is a time in a child’s development where they can feel like consequences are a result of their own actions, meaning, did you ever feel responsible for your mother’s alcoholism?”

  “No,” I responded curtly. The direction Dr. Newman was headed made me feel queasy and I was not sure why. “I never blamed myself for her drinking but maybe I felt like Ashley and I weren’t enough for her, to make her happy. She was always so sad. She always called us names. She never behaved like she really liked us. Even today, she is so clipped and cold with us, nothing has changed,” I explained as a flood of emotions ran through me. It was painful to admit that I’d never felt loved. Anguish sat on my chest and got a choke hold on me. The feeling of returning to the dark place my childhood had been left me feeling alone and in tears.

  “What are you feeling Alexis?” Dr. Newman asked softly.

  “Alone. I’m remembering how I felt when I was younger, I always felt alone,” I admitted as my chest began to tighten.

  “Sometimes we take those childhood feelings and bring them into our adult relationships. It’s what we know, it’s what makes us feel comfortable. It’s a pattern that can be broken though. It sounds like your relationship with Dylan is on the path to healing. It sounds like you are both ready to invest in that relationship and in one another.”

  “Yes, I am. I realized I was pushing him away, even though I didn’t realize my reasons for doing it….what you’re saying does make sense. I can see how I’ve been reliving that pattern from my childhood. After everything that happened with Luc, all my pain and heartbreak I finally realized that I didn’t want to be alone. I also knew that Dylan would be the only one for me. He did break my trust by not returning for me and it hurt, but I think we may have both needed that time to grow up and experience life. It was our life experiences that brought us back together. I have to believe that there was purpose for our unborn baby dying….” I paused because mentioning the baby was heart breaking and pulled at a deep place in my heart. I sniffled a bit and brought my finger up to my nose. Dr. Newman nodded, understanding my pain, but he remained quiet. I could tell he was waiting for me to finish. “I need to believe that what happened with our baby, it was for a reason, and now we are back together and stronger than ever.” I exhaled a long deep breath at my last words because Dylan and I being together now, it is the center of my strength. It was what was making my heart feel whole and I didn’t feel alone in this world anymore.

  “I’m glad to hear that your life is improving Alexis and that you realize certain things,” he smiled.

  I looked down to my phone to see that our time was up. “Thank you,” I smiled back, reaching for my purse on the floor by my chair. I place it around my shoulder.

  “Bye.”

  “Bye, Alexis,” Dr. Newman nodded lifting his head from the file he was reading.

  I realized that it was now a quarter to nine. Happy feelings swirled through my stomach and I couldn’t wait to get home to Dylan. I sent him a quick text.

  Are you home yet? I’m on the way there now.

  I waited a moment for a reply. If he was still at the hospital I could catch a ride with him. I made my way down the elevator but there was still no reply and the message only showed delivered, not read. I figured he was still busy. I walked toward the lobby and out the main doors onto University Avenue. I stood along the side of the road hoping a cab would stop for me, but the road was clear and quiet.

  It was only a fifteen minute walk, I could do this, the best way to get over your fear is to face it right? The old me would have for sure walked home, no worries. Snow began to fall lightly onto the ground, the light fluff looked like a picturesque snow globe by the street lamps, I inhaled the fresh air allowing it to calm me. Snow in the spring was much more pleasant than winter snow, since it was only a light dusting and the air wasn’t as frigid.

  As I walked down the street I tried to keep my mind busy thinking of school work and making future plans, despite my efforts a nagging sense of being followed from behind stole my focus. I assured myself this was the fear trying to take over and I couldn’t let it win. I turned around to see a black shadow, but no one was there. My suspicions turned into overdrive and I realized that this was real, this was not my internal struggle.

  I continued to walk, picking up pace, hoping not to slip on the freshly fallen snow. I took my phone out of my jacket pocket. My heart was thumping so fast that it felt like it may fly out of my chest. Maybe it was someone from Luc’s family here to warn me, or worse. As I picked up my pace the shadow neared. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the black shadow along the brick wall of the building. I’d been through so much that I couldn’t die now. A million thoughts rushed through my mind, I should have gone to the police earlier, I should have taken a cab, or I should have called Dylan to pick me up. None of it really mattered though because I didn’t.

  With shaky fingers I dialed Dylan’s cell while looking over my shoulder. My fingers trembled and I couldn’t get the numbers right, I didn’t want to turn around either because whoever was following me would know that I was aware of their presence. Faint footsteps closed in behind me, the walls of my throat caved in, when I turned around I didn’t see a soul. Come on Dylan pick up, please pick up. I repeated in my mind. The phone started to ring…

  I was so close to the apartment, I just had to round the corner and I’d be close enough to the door that if I screamed Henry would hear me, the footsteps approached faster and my legs picked up speed in response, I was running… Dylan picked up the phone, “Hi Lex.”

  “Dylan, I’m walking down the street around the c
orner someone is…” Before I could let out another word large arms moved across my neck, the cool feel and scent of leather whiffed up my nose, black gloves covered my mouth and I found it hard to breathe. It must be a man because of his size. He dragged me from behind into a little niche with a concrete wall, pinning me up. I could hear Dylan’s frantic voice calling my name. I wanted to say something, to tell him where I was but the metal grip of this man had me locked in place. My breathing quickened as adrenaline spiked through my veins giving me the surge of energy I needed to flee. The arms that had me pinned were too strong, I couldn’t get loose. Looking from side to side in panic, I couldn’t see a soul on the street, no one to help me, save me, a few cars passed, but no one could see me in the shadows, it was too dark and the body hovering above me was large enough to hide me from sight.

  “I’m going to scream at the top of my lungs if you don’t let me go,” I gritted out figuring that after everything I’d been through, I couldn’t back down from life. Not now. That’s when I heard a voice similar to Luc, but it was not Luc. Blood drained from my face and I knew I was in big trouble. My heart thumped in my ears. This person was here to kill me, it was a hitman.

  Here I was, a measly one month later pinned to a wall with cruel fluorescent green eyes beating back at me. After Luc beat me and I saw the angel, I was sure I died and went to heaven. I thought it was my end, but something deep inside urged me to hold on. My time on earth couldn’t end. Not when my life was filled with regret. Not without a chance to fix things. Finding myself in a similar predicament one month later made me feel hopeless, that no matter how hard I tried to straighten out my life, destiny had another plan for me. After everything I’d experienced and lost I couldn’t help but feel weak and beaten down. My heart throbbed in my chest, my head was airy and my breathing was labored. I should pass out and succumb to whatever brutal end this bastard had planned for me. Those wild green eyes were so familiar yet, different. I willed myself to keep my head about me and not faint, the fighter in me persisted, maybe I persisted for Dylan because deep down I knew he needed me more than he needed his own breath and his life wouldn’t be the same without me.