Pieces of Me

by Laura Farr

  It’s a short drive to my parents’ house, and Lexi bounces her knee the whole way. I reach my hand across the cab, resting it on the bare skin of her thigh. I squeeze her leg encouragingly and she looks across, giving me a small smile. Pulling into the driveway, she takes a deep breath before climbing out of the truck. Once Bella is out of her seat, I take Lexi’s hand and follow Bella as she runs to the door. Pushing it open, she rushes inside.

  “Grams! Pops!” she calls out as she kicks her shoes off. The kitchen door flies open and my mom appears in the entryway.

  “Hello, beautiful,” she gushes, pulling Bella into her arms and hugging her tightly. “I’ve missed you so much!” She holds her for a few more seconds before releasing her, a frown appearing on her face. “What’s this? What have you done?” she asks, reaching for her cast.

  “Oh, I broke my arm,” Bella says flippantly.

  “What! When?” She looks at me, but before I can reply, Bella does.

  “Today. I fell off my bike. Look, my plaster is pink.”

  My dad walks into the entryway from the den just as Bella is waving her pink cast in the air.

  “Bella Boo, what have you done?” he asks, scooping her up into his arms.

  “I fell off my bike,” she repeats. “I’m okay though, Pops.”

  “So brave,” he tells her, kissing her hair. He looks up, seeing Lexi and I standing by the door. He smiles at us before whispering into her ear, “And who is this?” He turns Bella around in his arms so that she’s facing us.

  “Well, that’s Daddy, silly, and that’s Lexi. She looks after me at home. Daddy says she might be my mommy one day.” I feel Lexi stiffen next to me, and I squeeze her hand.

  “Is that right?” my mom says, and I can hear the amusement in her voice.

  “Mom, Dad, this is Lexi. Lexi, this is my mom and dad.” My mom makes her way toward us, pulling Lexi into a hug.

  “It’s lovely to meet you, Lexi. I’m Clara, and this is Mark.”

  “You’ve actually met before,” I tell her before Lexi can reply.

  “I have?” She frowns in confusion as she pulls back and looks at Lexi. “Hang on. You do look familiar. You’re not Maddie’s friend Lexi, are you?”

  “Yep, that’s me.” Lexi replies with a nervous laugh. “Nice to see you again.”

  “Oh, my goodness. It’s so good to see you.” She reaches for both of her hands and shakes her head. “I can’t believe it. You’re all grown up, and so beautiful.” She winks at me, and I grin back at her. “Let’s head into the den while we wait for Maddie. It’s hard to believe that when we left for Australia two months ago, neither of my children were in relationships.”

  I follow everyone into the den and sit down on the couch. Lexi sits next to me as my mom grills us on how we met and asks what Lexi has been up to since she left Oceanside. They’ve brought what seems like a million presents for Bella from their trip, including a stuffed koala and a didgeridoo. I groan and roll my eyes as Bella attempts to play the didgeridoo, making the most horrendous noise.

  “As grateful as I am for all of these gifts, that one…” I point to the didgeridoo and laugh, “can stay here with you. I’m sure she can play it for you when she’s around here.”

  “No, Daddy. It has to come home with us so I can practice playing it every day!” Bella says, taking a break from blowing into it. Both my parents burst out laughing, and I shake my head in despair.

  Maddie and Alex arrive a little while later, and my parents seem elated that she’s so happy. Dinner goes well, and Lexi has gotten over her nerves. My parents love her, just like I knew they would. I keep catching my mom staring at me, and she smiles when our eyes meet. I know she’s been worried about me since Emme died. I guess that’s the job of a parent, even when their “child” is nearly thirty-two. I know both of my parents want to see me happy. Isn’t that what every parent wants for their children?

  We don’t stay long after dinner. Bella can barely keep her eyes open, and after the day she’s had, I’m not surprised. My mom hugs me tightly as we leave before whispering something into Lexi’s ear, making her blush.

  “Why don’t we have Bella for a sleepover on Saturday? You two can spend some time together then,” Mom offers.

  “Yay! A sleepover! Please, Daddy. Can I?” I frown. As much as I would love to spend a whole night with Lexi, I can’t help worrying about her arm.

  “What about your arm, baby girl?” I ask Bella. “What if it hurts in the night?”

  “Grams will look after me, won’t you?” Bella turns to my mom and grins.

  “Of course. She’ll be fine, Cooper. If I remember correctly, you broke your arm twice.”

  “Well, if you’re sure…” I turn and smile at Lexi, who’s smiling back.

  “I’m sure. Bring her around mid-afternoon and pick her up whenever you want on Sunday.”

  I step forward and brush a kiss on my mom’s cheek. “Thank you,” I say quietly before reaching for Lexi’s hand.

  “You don’t need to thank me, Cooper. I’m just happy to see you smiling again.”

  I can hear the emotion in her voice. My dad must notice it, too, as he slips his arm around her waist and pulls her against him.

  “I am happy,” I tell her, pulling Lexi into my side. My eyes drop to hers and I watch as her face flushes pink. Scooping Bella up with my free arm, we give another round of hugs before climbing into the truck and heading home.

  “What did my mom say to you as we were leaving?” I watch as her cheeks flush pink and she smiles.

  “She thanked me for making you happy again,” she says quietly. I reach across the cab and take her hand. Bringing it to my lips, I brush a kiss across her skin.

  “You do make me happy, Lex.” And she does. I really am happy. I never would have believed it a few months ago, but now, I can’t imagine her not being in our lives. As much as I love having Bella around, I can’t wait to have Lexi all to myself for a while.

  Lexi

  “Have fun, Bells,” I shout through the open window as we drive away from Cooper’s parents’ house. It’s late afternoon on Saturday and we’ve just dropped Bella off for a sleepover. She is so excited. Her bag has been packed since we got back from their house on Thursday, and it’s all she’s talked about for the past two days.

  “And then there were two,” Cooper says with a grin as he looks across the cab at me. I smile back and reach for his hand, entwining it with mine.

  “So, I’m all dressed up. What’s the plan?” I ask as I gesture to the little black dress I’m wearing.

  Cooper has been secretive about where we’re going. All I knew was I needed to wear something nice. I’d gone shopping with Maddie for a new dress, and I’d spent ages curling my hair in waves down my back. I smile as I remember Bella knocking on my door as I was doing it. She’d sat on the bed with wide eyes as she watched me, before begging me to curl her hair, too. I’d done it, of course, and she’d gone off to Cooper’s parents’ house with curly hair and a Princess Belle dress-up outfit on. She looked adorable. Pulling me from my thoughts, Cooper lifts our entwined hands to his mouth, his lips brushing across my skin.

  “Your dress looks beautiful, Lex.” I watch as his eyes drop to my bare legs, the material riding up as I sit. “It’s going to look even better on my bedroom floor later.” I feel my cheeks flush as he winks at me. Heat pools in my stomach at his words. I’ve slept in his arms every night since we took Bella to see Frozen, but we haven’t had sex yet. But I’m ready. I’ve been ready for a while, but I haven’t wanted to rush him.

  “I like the sound of that,” I whisper, squeezing his hand. He grins at me before focusing back on the road. As I turn my head to look out of the window, I notice we’re heading out of Oceanside. “Where are we going? Are we not staying in Oceanside?”

  “I’ve booked us a table at a restaurant in San Diego. I thought we could take a walk along the beach, maybe get a few drinks before our reservation?” He glances across the cab, raisin
g his eyebrows in question.

  “That sounds perfect, Coop.”

  We ride in comfortable silence for the next few minutes until a wave of panic washes over me.

  “Shit! I put Bella’s pain medication on the counter in the kitchen. Did you put it in her bag? We need to go back. What if she needs it later?”

  “Hey.” He squeezes my hand and waits for me to look at him. “I put it in her bag. She’s got it.” Relief floods my body and I drop my head back onto the seat. “She’s okay, you know. You can stop beating yourself up, babe.” I give him a small smile, knowing he’s right. It was my fault, though, and I’m not quite ready to forgive myself yet.

  Twenty minutes later, we park in San Diego. Other than visiting IKEA all those weeks ago, it’s been years since I’ve been. Although it’s early evening, the sun is warm and there are still people on the beach, enjoying the last of the sunshine. As we near the beach, I slip my shoes off. Cooper offers to carry them for me, and I pass them to him, slipping my hand into his free one. The sand is still warm underfoot, and feeling the grains between my toes is something I know I’ll always love.

  As we walk along the shore, I glance across to Cooper, admiring how good he looks. He’s wearing dark tailored shorts and a fitted white shirt. He hasn’t shaven for a few days, and a shadow of dark stubble covers his face. His hair is styled in its usual messy look, and my fingers itch to touch him. Taking my free hand, I wind it around his bicep, snuggling against him as we walk.

  “You okay?” he asks, looking down at me. Without my heels, he towers above my five-foot-two frame, and I love how tall he is.

  Looking up at him, I nod. “I’m perfect.”

  “Do you want to get a drink?” He gestures off the beach to a funky looking wine bar. There is a raised outside terrace area that looks like it will have amazing views over the ocean.

  “Sure. We can sit outside.”

  He nods and steers us off the beach. I brush the excess sand off my feet and slip my black heels on. I’m a little taller now, but I still need to stand on my tiptoes as I brush a kiss across his stubble. As he winds his arms around my waist and gazes down at me, my heart stutters. I’m pretty sure I’m in love with him. I fact, I know I am. Those three little words are on the tip of my tongue, but I swallow them down. I know he cares for me, and he’s told me he’s falling for me, but love? I don’t know if he’s there yet. I don’t know if he’ll ever be there. I’m not sure he’s ready for me to say how I feel. Instead of words, I kiss him, pouring every ounce of what I feel for him into that kiss. Our tongues dance against each other’s and I feel his fingers dig gently into my hip as he pulls me even closer to him. He moans into my mouth, and I feel his growing erection pressing into my stomach.

  He pulls out of the kiss, his breathing shallow. Resting his forehead on mine, he whispers. “How about we pass on the restaurant and I find us a hotel for the night?” There’s no humor in his voice, so I can’t tell if he’s joking or not.

  “A hotel?” I ask with uncertainty as I lift my head. His eyes hold a mixture of heat and nerves as he nods. “Are you sure?”

  “I’ve never been more sure, Lex.”

  “Okay,” I whisper, nerves swirling in my stomach. A smile erupts on his face and he reaches for his phone.

  Ten minutes later, he’s booked a hotel room and arranged for Alex and Maddie to fetch Bailey from the house.

  “What are we going to do about clothes?” I ask as he takes my hand and leads me back to the truck.

  “I’m not planning on letting you wear any clothes,” he says flippantly as he holds the door to the truck open. Blushing, I climb in and he winks at me before closing the door and making his way to the driver’s side. Jumping in, he pauses, his hand on the key in the ignition.

  “Can you give me a minute?” he asks, his eyes fixed on a point across the street.

  “Sure.” My eyes follow his to a pharmacy.

  He climbs out of the truck and jogs across the road. Disappearing into the store, I only have to wait a few minutes before he emerges holding a small paper bag. As he gets back into the truck, he passes me the bag and starts the engine. I don’t need to look to know that he’s bought condoms. I’m grateful as I hadn’t even thought about protection. I was on the pill, but it ran out a couple of weeks ago and I hadn’t gotten around to filling another prescription yet.

  It’s a short drive to the hotel, and Cooper pulls the truck into the underground parking lot. We head up in the elevator to check in, and I gasp as the doors open onto an impressive lobby. It’s ultra-modern in design with shiny tiled floors and cream-colored leather sofas. Embarrassed that we don’t have any luggage with us, I let Cooper check us in while I wander around the small shop in the foyer. I scoop up two toothbrushes, a tube of toothpaste, a hairbrush, and some hair ties. Paying the young girl behind the counter, I make my way back into the lobby, sitting on one of the plush leather sofas while I wait for Cooper.

  I don’t have to wait long before I see him walking toward me. “Ready, babe?” he asks, holding his hand out. “We’re all checked in.” Taking a deep breath, I stand, giving him my hand. Butterflies swirl in my stomach as I let him lead me to the elevators. “What have you got there?” he asks, gesturing to the small bag in my hand. The elevator arrives before I can answer, and we walk in, letting the doors close behind us. He presses the button for the eighth floor and turns to me.

  “I just picked up some essentials. Toothbrush, toothpaste, that sort of thing.” He nods and smiles.

  “I should have planned this better and brought an overnight bag.”

  “Nah. This makes it more exciting,” I tell him, reaching up and kissing his jaw.

  The elevator chimes, signaling that we’ve arrived at our floor. As the doors open, Cooper pulls me into the corridor before checking the paperwork in his hand. Looking at the sign on the wall, he points along the corridor.

  “Come on. It’s this way.”

  We come to a stop outside the last room on the floor, room 815. Cooper inserts the key card and, pushing the door open, gestures for me to go in first.

  “Wow, Cooper. This room is amazing,” I gush as I rush inside.

  The room is on the corner of the building, floor-to-ceiling windows on either wall making it dual aspect. Being eight floors up, the view is incredible, both windows looking out over the ocean. There is a huge bed against one wall with a beautiful gray comforter that matches the drapes hanging at both windows. Crossing the room, I press my nose against the glass of one of the windows. Feeling Cooper come to stand behind me, he wraps his arms around my waist before pulling me back onto his hard chest.

  “It is pretty incredible. I had no idea it would be this good when I booked it,” he confesses. He nuzzles my neck, and I shiver as I feel his lips on my skin.

  “And here I thought you were trying to impress me,” I say breathlessly as his tongue swipes across the skin under my ear.

  “Well, is it working?” he chuckles as he turns me in his arms and presses my back against the glass. His body pins me to the window.

  “I’d say so,” I whisper as his head drops and his lips find mine. The kiss starts off soft, his lips brushing mine. I feel his teeth bite down on my bottom lip and I open to him, his tongue stroking against mine. As the kiss intensifies, heat pools in my stomach and I hear Cooper moan into my mouth.

  A few seconds later, he breaks the kiss and reaches for my hand. Walking backward, he guides me toward the bed. The back of his legs hit the mattress, and he sits down, pulling me to stand in front of him. His hands hold my hips and he rests his forehead on my stomach. I run my fingers through his dark hair, my heart pounding. When he’s still silent a couple of minutes later, I wonder if he’s having second thoughts.

  “Cooper,” I whisper. “Are you okay? If you’ve changed your mind—”

  His head flies up, my hands falling from his hair. “God, no. I want this. I want you…” He pauses and stands up, his hands going to the zip at the bac
k of my dress. He slowly pulls the zipper down before pushing the material off my shoulders. My dress falls to the floor, leaving me in just my black lace underwear.

  “You look stunning, Lexi,” he says quietly, his eyes tracking over my body. His fingers reach up and trace over the lace of my bra. As his fingers brush over my breast, my nipple pebbles under his touch. Moving to the bed, he lays me down, his body coming over mine. He peppers kisses around my jaw and down my neck. Slipping the straps of my bra off my shoulders, he reaches his hand behind my back, undoing the clasp. Pulling the material from my body, he tosses my bra off the side of the bed, his mouth enveloping my breast. Arching my back, I gasp as his tongue circles my nipple.

  “God,” I moan as his fingers trace over the lace of my panties.

  “So wet already,” he mumbles against my nipple. Kissing up my neck, his lips meet mine in a searing kiss.

  My hands find the buttons on his shirt, my fingers shaking as I undo them. “You’re wearing too many clothes,” I say against his lips. When I’ve finally undone the buttons, I push the shirt over his shoulders and he shakes it off, tossing it onto the floor. I run my fingers over the smooth skin of his chest, feeling him inhale sharply at my touch. A dull ache forms between my legs and I’m desperate for him to touch me. As if sensing what I need, he begins to kiss around my jaw and down my neck. His mouth lingers on one of my nipples, licking and sucking until I’m virtually panting.

  “Please, Cooper…,” I beg almost incoherently.

  “What do you need, Lex?” he asks, his breath hot on my skin.

  “Touch me, please.” I should be embarrassed that I’m begging for his touch, but I’m too far gone to care. I need him.

  His lips graze over my stomach, his tongue tracing around the edge of my panties. He sits back on his heels, and my eyes drop to his erection straining against his shorts. His fingers go under the lace material of my panties and he slowly pulls them down my legs, leaving me completely naked. Heat flares in his eyes as his gaze tracks up and down my body. Dropping down between my legs, he wastes no time licking through my folds. My hips buck off the bed and I feel him chuckle against my skin as his hands hold me down.