Changing Lanes (Highway 17 #1)

by Leaona Luxx

  “Don’t you dare walk away from me, again,” Torrie yells at me, bringing me up short. She jumps from her SUV, charging at me. “I’m sick to death of you walking away.”

  “Turning to her, her eyes glisten with unshed tears. “Ava came over although I told her I had to help my dad. I hurried through my chores so we could play video games, I was fourteen. Who the fuck has to learn lessons like this at fourteen?” Dropping my head, I wipe my eyes.

  “He came to the barn to get the tractor for plowing. I had oiled and serviced it, but in my rush, I left it in gear. He turned it on and realized the wheel stop was in the way. When he got down to move it, the tractor jumped forward.

  “He lost a lot of blood, too much. All because I wanted to get to Ava. I’m not sure if I’ve resented her since, but I sure as hell felt like if she was so important, I should always make her a priority.” Shaking my head, I try to clear the memory of finding him.

  “It was an accident, one you need to forgive yourself for.” Stepping closer, she takes my hand. “You’re a good man, you’ve paid the price.”

  “I didn’t know you called me. I never saw…” I trail off when realization hits. “Ava,” we say in unison. “She must’ve deleted it. I’m sorry.”

  “I figured that out a few weeks ago, but thank you,” she offers.

  “Can I show you something?” I tug at her hand.

  “Always.” Hesitant but she follows me.

  We walk across the field to the barn. Opening the door, I hold her hand as she steps through. I help her up the ladder this time, on her own. Climbing up behind her, she giggles as she gets to the top. Her dress slips up when she throws her leg over the top.

  “Do you do this when I have a dress on so you can see my panties?” She looks over her shoulder as I get to the top.

  “Honestly, no. Because I’d plan it so you didn’t have panties on.” She smacks my arm as I crawl past her. “Just being honest.” I shrug.

  “Whatever. What are we doing?” Her forehead wrinkles with question.

  “I’m sorry I talked about you to Ava. I missed you, Torrie. I keep telling you, Ava knows how I feel.” Taking her hand, I rest it on my leg.

  “I’m not sure she’ll ever understand. She thinks you belong to her.” Her eyes drop as she contemplates her words.

  “There’s not a lot I can do about it. When she asked me what happened between us, I told her your father had other plans for you. I told her you needed to work things out with your dad, and if ever you come to find me, I’m yours.” Digging my box out from under the straw in the corner, I open it.

  “What’s that?” She peeks around my shoulder.

  “Stupid stuff. Memorabilia, things from my heart.” Searching through the papers, I find the one I’m looking for. “Only one person in this world has ever seen this, and she was too young to understand.” I hand her the folded paper.

  She glances from my hand to my face, slowly taking the paper. It’s a light tan in color now, ten years in a box covered in a barn does that to paper. She scans the paper, and I’m sure she’s confused about what she’s reading. I give her a few minutes to read it all.

  “What is this? I mean, it’s names but why?” Her faced is pinched up in question.

  “When Ava suggested we need to pick a name for a girl, I started like this, trying to find the right one.” Tapping the paper with my finger.

  “Randi, Avery, Bobbi, Wynnie? Wynnie? Wait. What are these?” she asks, looking from the paper to my face.

  “Boy names with a twist, except for the last one. It’s taken from your middle name. I wanted my children to be with you, Andi is as close to a ‘Torrence’ I could get.” Explaining to her.

  “So, you gave your daughter a gender-neutral name so it would remind you of me?” Her small smile plays at her lips.

  “Yeah, at the time it’s all I could do. If I had to give you up, I’d do all I could to remember you.” Using my finger, I wipe a stray tear from her face.

  “Brannon, I don’t know what to say.” She kisses me tenderly.

  “I want you to know, to understand. I get it, damn, I get it. Ava is beyond controlling, but I could never love her the way I love you. Are there things we need to learn about each other, yes. But, Torrie, I’d rather fight the havoc with you than live without you.” Taking her face in my hands, I press our lips together.

  “I want that too, but can we survive it?” Her tears run around my fingers on her face.

  “We’re here. We’re trying. All these years later, you still make my heart skip a beat.”

  Laying her back, straw tangles in her hair as it fans around her. I could get lost in her eyes alone. The bluest of blues with what looks like silver strands running through it. Her full lips, soft pink, spread, waiting to meet mine.

  I hover over her, gazing into her eyes. She takes my breath as I look at her beneath me. Her fingers lightly run over my bottom lip as she trembles. Grazing her cheek with my thumb, she gasps from the contact.

  Time has no place here, in her eyes, I search for our future. Spend time with our past. Find answers for the present. Watching as we grow old together, here, in her eyes. As her heart pounds with mine, I know this is our path.

  “Torrie, I can’t give you the world. I can’t promise tomorrow will be better. But I can tell you, you’ll have me. Forever.” Kissing her, she sighs.

  “Do you not understand? I don’t want the world, I want you, this.” Our lips smash against the others, taking what we need.

  “Marry me.” I’m not asking.

  “Of course”—she rolls me over, laying on me— “but you could’ve asked.” She leans in to kiss me but hovers for a moment. There’s a sound. It’s getting closer.

  “Dad? Torrie? Are you guys playing hide and seek?” Andi asks.

  “I wish I was hiding my cock in your pussy,” I whisper to Torrie, she looks shocked as her mouth pops open. “Okay, I’ll take that.” Her mouth hangs open, then she smacks me before crawling off me.

  “We’re here, baby.” Torrie bends over to show Andi where we are, her ass is the perfect heart shape.

  My hands find her ass making her jump. She swats at my hand as I rub her cheeks with my thumbs, both hands full of her plump ass. I lean in, kissing each cheek, and she wiggles; like that’ll make me stop. I know Andi can’t see us as she climbs the ladder, so I get one more in and bite her ass.

  She jumps, hits her head on the rafter above, and falls back on me. We’re a tangled mess when Andi pops her head over the last step. She begins giggling, making us all laugh. Andi crawls up, joining us while we play in the straw.

  “Dad. Why did you goose, Torrie? That wasn’t nice,” Andi admonishes me.

  “I just couldn’t resist. She was so cute watching you up the ladder.” I tickle her belly making her laugh.

  “It was nicer than you think, Andi. He made me laugh.” She winks at me.

  We stay up there until it starts getting dark. Not wanting to leave but knowing we need to, we walk back to the house. Andi’s in the middle, holding our hands. Torrie’s busy pulling the straw from her hair. I bet she has a bite mark on her ass. I laugh at the thought.

  “What are you laughing about?” Torrie eyes me suspiciously.

  “Nothing really, vampires,” I say as I pull the straw from Andi’s hair.

  “You know what they say about payback?” She narrows her eyes at me.

  “That it’s best served with ice cream?” Looking at her with wide eyes.

  “I want ice cream,” Andi chimes in, we all laugh.

  Laying in Brannon’s arms later that night, I think of his marriage proposal. Without a doubt, not having a ring to show my parents’ wouldn’t be the first thing on my father’s mind. The simple fact of me accepting a proposal without his approval wouldn’t even be the first thing. Brannon O’Hurley would be the first.

  Memories flood my mind as my tears come faster. I try to dry my face but it doesn’t help, I’ve lost all control. The thought of al
l the things we lost are too much to bear; I tremble and shake. Lost in my nightmare, I don’t even realize Brannon has me in his arms until he speaks.

  “Shhhh, baby. It’s alright, you’re okay. I’m here, I’m right here with you.” I’m not sure if it’s his soothing tone or being in his arms that’s more comforting, but I slowly calm down. Now comes the questions. “Were you dreaming?”

  “No.” I wipe my eyes and try to clear my throat. “Just thinking.”

  He rolls me over, pulling me to his chest. “I promise you, we will find a way.”

  Sniffling, I bury my nose in his neck. “I know, I do, but there’s still so much more you don’t know—that we don’t know—it scares me.”

  He leans away, lifting my chin. “I agree, we have things to learn about each other. Ten years of living between us, but Torrie, none of it matters to me. Here and now, nothing else.”

  “There are things…about me you need to know.” Who would ever have thought this would be so hard?

  “There’s time,” he repeats the words I said to him when he was apprehensive in the beginning. “We have all the time in the world to learn new things about each other.”

  Closing my eyes, I see it all play out again. Memories burned in my mind, forever. “But…there are things I need to tell you.”

  “There’s time. Stop worrying, please,” he says.

  I try to explain again, but as I open my mouth his finds mine. He eases himself over me as his lips graze my neck. His tender lips work their way down my neck, finding their way to the swell of my breast.

  He raises, tugging my tank over my head. I run my hands over his chest and down his abs. Placing his lips over my nipple, he sucks it into his mouth. His warm tongue swirls over my hard tip, and I palm my other breast. Bucking from the bed when he takes my nipple between his teeth, sweeping the tip of his tongue over it.

  Wetness pools in my panties as he presses the head of his shaft into me. He lays against my panties, sliding up and down as he thrusts. He switches his attention to my other nipple, showing it the same appreciation as the other.

  He palms the other, kneading it as he licks and bites with his mouth. He covers my breast with his mouth as he rolls the other with his middle finger. His hard cock lay between my legs, bobbing up and down. His finger and thumb twist my hard tip as he bites down on the other.

  Rising on his knees, he removes my panties. He leans over me, working his boxers down his thighs. I wrap my legs around him, helping him to remove his shorts with my feet, kicking from the bed. Brannon lays between my legs, covering my mouth with his. My legs hook around his waist, waiting for him to take me.

  He enters me slowly until he’s sunk fully, stretching me with his girth. I’d bite my lip but his mouth still hasn’t left mine. He works slowly, sliding in and out of me. Making love to me with every fiber of his being. My hands find purchase in the back of his hair.

  Adjusting on his elbows, he holds my face, his knees digging deeper in the mattress. I meet his every thrust as I pull his mouth back to mine. Unhurried, we pour our love into each other. Living in this moment, he and I.

  As I begin to tighten around him, he drives deeper. Pulsating, I squeeze him, releasing only at his demand to pull. He pushes deep as I hit my release, moaning his name. Two more thrusts, his mouth covers mine again as he empties into me.

  His forehead rests against mine as we fall back to earth. Sluggishly, I open my eyes to find his watching me. Feeling shy for some reason, I bite my lip as I glance to the side then back at him. He breaks the silence, stopping my heart.

  “I love you.” He searches my eyes for understanding, I do.

  “I love you,” I say in reply.

  “I promise you, we’ll figure this out. No matter what it is you need or want, I’ll be by your side.” He kisses me tenderly. And without a doubt, I believe him.

  We fall asleep, me, tucked tightly in Brannon’s arms. We try to be careful with Andi in the house as to how we dress for bed, until this morning. I feel something run feather light across my forehead, it tickles. I’m thinking it’s Brannon, but when I force one eye open, I spot the sweetest smile and beautiful hazel eyes. Her father’s eyes.

  Andi’s sitting on the edge of the bed, moving pieces of my hair from my face. Opening both eyes, I lift my head to the scene before her. Brannon’s legs are tangled with mine, a sheet covering only his perfect ass and just my torso. It’s apparent we have no clothes on.

  “Good morning,” she whispers.

  “Good morning, sweetheart.” Tucking the sheet around me, I shift around in the bed.

  “We don’t have Sunday School this morning, I think Dad forgot.” She wrinkles her nose.

  “Oh, well. I guess we need to get some breakfast, don’t we?” I ask because her belly growls. “Let’s not wake the others, we’ll surprise them.”

  “Okay.” She scoots from the bed.

  I crook my finger at her, motioning her back. “You go grab some clothes, and I’ll get dressed. We’ll meet downstairs.” I wink at her and she smiles, shaking her head.

  Andi runs from the room, leaving the door open. I leap from the bed, grabbing anything I can get my hands on. I end up slipping into Brannon’s boxers and my tee shirt. Not a great look, but it’s clothes. I gather my hair up on my head, twisting it in a knot.

  Andi stands at the bottom of the stairs. Taking her hand in mine, we walk to the kitchen. “What would you like to eat?”

  “What does Gamma have?” she asks.

  “I’m not sure. Let’s go see.” We inspect the refrigerator and the cupboards, nothing stands out. “Do you see anything you might want?”

  She twists her mouth a few times, pondering my question. “What can you cook?”

  “Tell you what, do you like eggs and cheese?” Andi nods. “How about vegetables and Canadian bacon?” She smiles. Now we’re getting somewhere.

  I get to work on making breakfast, Andi acts as my sous chef. I prepare a baked omelet with a hash brown crust, cheddar, mushrooms, sweet peppers, and Canadian bacon. I chop fresh fruit while Andi arranges it in a bowl for us.

  I hear him before I see him, Brannon’s footsteps echo through the house. We snicker when he pauses at Andi’s door. He raps on his mom’s door, making us smile when we hear muffled words. We sneak over to the bottom of the stairs, peeking around the corner.

  Brannon stands at the top, talking to his mom. He stretches, his shirt rides up over his abs. My knees go weak, damn he’s fine. He has basketball shorts on, and if I’m right, no underwear. He turns to us, and we jump back, giggling.

  I know he saw us, but he pretends otherwise. Andi hurries to the table. Grabbing a towel, she tosses it over her arm like a waitress. She’s adorable. I wink at her, stepping back out of Brannon’s sight so she can surprise him.

  “Good morning. What’s all of this Andi Pandi?” He walks over to her, and she pulls a chair out.

  “Please be seated.” She bows. Oh, my. My heart just melted.

  “Why, thank you. Did you do this all yourself?” He pulls her to his lap.

  “Nope. I had help.” She smiles, then points to me behind him.

  He turns in his seat; his smile grows as he takes in my outfit. “Well, you two make a great team.” Tugging my shirt, he pulls me into a kiss. “Thank you.”

  “You’re very welcome. Now, if you wouldn’t mind helping Andi serve, I’ll put some real clothes on,” I answer.

  “Naw, you’re good.” Andi wiggles from his lap, which leaves me on it before I realize what’s happening. He leans in, whispering, “I’m getting hard just looking at you in my boxers. I wondered where they’d went.”

  Laughing, I tell him, “She surprised me. We were all legs tangled, sex rapture, naked. I did what I could.”

  “I like it.” He kisses me, and this time, Andi giggles.

  “Good morning, folks. What is all of this?” Joyce walks through the door. “Thank you, ladies. Everything looks great!” She exclaims.

 
“It’s an omelet with fruit,” Andi explains.

  “It looks amazing,” Joyce adds.

  We sit around the table to eat. Everyone’s talking, and I just sit there taking it in. Brannon glances over a few times but says nothing. Andi breaks my silence. “Are you okay, Torrie?” she asks.

  “Yes. I'm just not used to so much talking at the table.” I’m even uncomfortable saying it to her.

  “Well, you can talk here. We don’t care,” she says with her eyes wide, like she’s convincing me.

  “Thank you. I’ll remember that.” I smile as she returns it.

  Brannon takes my hand under the table, I know he’s trying to help me loosen up. I join in on the conversation and begin to relax. A family meal where people actually talk, unfathomable. I loved every minute and was thrilled when I didn’t have to do the dishes.

  We spend a lazy Sunday just being together. Monday, I run to my house and fax a few things to the office, giving my dad an update with a few pictures. Then I gather my things to go visit Thayer. Brannon asked me earlier to meet him there, so I thought I’d check in on her.

  He’s been working non-stop, I hope they decide to take a break. I know Brannon’s up to something, he told me to wear something nice. I opt for a little black halter dress with a swing, flowing skirt. Black bowtie heels in velvet to finish the look. Leaving my hair down with beach waves. Simple and sleek.

  Knocking on the door at Thayer’s office, I wait for her acknowledgment before walking in. Once she does, I make my grand entrance. “So, what do think?”

  She whistles between her teeth. “Hot. What are you up to?” She smiles, wiggling her eyebrows.

  “I’m not sure, Brannon said to put on a great dress and be here, waiting.” I settle in.

  “He’s gonna fall over.” She laughs. “Oh, there’s Hardy.” She waves.