decides on.” I pour another half glass for the both of us and watch him process all of this. “Do you still love her or something?”
‘Yes I fucking love her. I can’t just turn this shit off.” He sits on the bar stool and sets both elbows on the bar to use to prop his head up. I can see that the turmoil he’s feeling is getting to him.
“Do you want her back?” That’s the simple question that means everything to the both of them right now. Looking at him, I’m not sure I can guess what his answer will be.
“Lilly is my life. I just don’t know how to fix this for Kimber. She got dealt the shittiest hand in this whole mess.” He’s not lying and I’ve gotta give it to him for caring enough about her to not just throw her out. Kimber made the right choice to leave him even though I can still see love there for both of them. I can imagine Luke’s love for Kimber is a whole lot different than his love for Lilly.
“She told me the two of you have been hooking up.” Shit, there it is. I feel a little better knowing where his head is before we had this conversation.
“Let’s pour one more and go out on the back deck.” He nods and holds out his glass for me to add more Gentleman to it. I let him lead the way and I fight the urge to open the door to check on her as we pass. That pull she has on me is strong, but I want to clear the air with Luke while I have the chance.
He sits first, then I lean up against the railing so I can face him as I say all of this.
“It’s more than just a hookup for me. She’s an amazing woman and from the second I met her, I was drawn to her. She fuckin’ introduced herself as Brie; damn I had no idea who she was. That first night she got to me, Luke. You know I would’ve never crossed you.”
“I’m not mad. I get it. Hell, I’m happy she’s trying to move on and living a little.”
“She’s had a rough life. I’ve enjoyed helping her get through these last few days and most of the time, I could get her to smile and be genuinely happy. There were just a few times that she kept coming back to you. She was worried that you’d find out about us.” He looks up at me as I talk so I continue. “It’s going to take her a while to find herself. We may just have to give her the space to do that.” He listens to me finish and takes back the last of his glass before he stands.
“You going to bed?” I’m curious about where he’s headed.
“Yep. I’m sleeping in her Jeep. I know she’ll be gone by morning. I’m not letting her leave this time without a goodbye.” I watch him open the glass, then walk quietly through the cabin until he’s going out the front door. I contemplate whether or not he’s right and finish my own glass of whiskey.
I kick off my boots at her door and open the door to a room filled with darkness. I let my eyes adjust to her under the covers on the other side of the bed, so I slide in behind her. She’s tense as I put my arms around her and pull her against me to cuddle. I’m fully clothed and it feels like she is too, but that’s not what this is about. This is about me showing her that I’m here for her. She’s not alone and I’m not all about the sex.
It takes her a few minutes to relax in my arms and I feel her move back into me just slightly as her whole body changes. I can feel her tears.
KIMBER
He held me as I let my tears fall down my cheek and then continued to hold me when he finally fell asleep. His breathing changed about an hour ago and I’ve been struggling with the thought of moving out of his arms I’m going to miss him, but I know I’ll be taking a piece of him with me.
I need to do this for me. Then one day, maybe I’ll meet him again and who knows where life will take us then. I slide out of bed and manage to do it without waking him up. I tip toe as the wood floors creak
‘Yes I fucking love her. I can’t just turn this shit off.” He sits on the bar stool and sets both elbows on the bar to use to prop his head up. I can see that the turmoil he’s feeling is getting to him.
“Do you want her back?” That’s the simple question that means everything to the both of them right now. Looking at him, I’m not sure I can guess what his answer will be.
“Lilly is my life. I just don’t know how to fix this for Kimber. She got dealt the shittiest hand in this whole mess.” He’s not lying and I’ve gotta give it to him for caring enough about her to not just throw her out. Kimber made the right choice to leave him even though I can still see love there for both of them. I can imagine Luke’s love for Kimber is a whole lot different than his love for Lilly.
“She told me the two of you have been hooking up.” Shit, there it is. I feel a little better knowing where his head is before we had this conversation.
“Let’s pour one more and go out on the back deck.” He nods and holds out his glass for me to add more Gentleman to it. I let him lead the way and I fight the urge to open the door to check on her as we pass. That pull she has on me is strong, but I want to clear the air with Luke while I have the chance.
He sits first, then I lean up against the railing so I can face him as I say all of this.
“It’s more than just a hookup for me. She’s an amazing woman and from the second I met her, I was drawn to her. She fuckin’ introduced herself as Brie; damn I had no idea who she was. That first night she got to me, Luke. You know I would’ve never crossed you.”
“I’m not mad. I get it. Hell, I’m happy she’s trying to move on and living a little.”
“She’s had a rough life. I’ve enjoyed helping her get through these last few days and most of the time, I could get her to smile and be genuinely happy. There were just a few times that she kept coming back to you. She was worried that you’d find out about us.” He looks up at me as I talk so I continue. “It’s going to take her a while to find herself. We may just have to give her the space to do that.” He listens to me finish and takes back the last of his glass before he stands.
“You going to bed?” I’m curious about where he’s headed.
“Yep. I’m sleeping in her Jeep. I know she’ll be gone by morning. I’m not letting her leave this time without a goodbye.” I watch him open the glass, then walk quietly through the cabin until he’s going out the front door. I contemplate whether or not he’s right and finish my own glass of whiskey.
I kick off my boots at her door and open the door to a room filled with darkness. I let my eyes adjust to her under the covers on the other side of the bed, so I slide in behind her. She’s tense as I put my arms around her and pull her against me to cuddle. I’m fully clothed and it feels like she is too, but that’s not what this is about. This is about me showing her that I’m here for her. She’s not alone and I’m not all about the sex.
It takes her a few minutes to relax in my arms and I feel her move back into me just slightly as her whole body changes. I can feel her tears.
KIMBER
He held me as I let my tears fall down my cheek and then continued to hold me when he finally fell asleep. His breathing changed about an hour ago and I’ve been struggling with the thought of moving out of his arms I’m going to miss him, but I know I’ll be taking a piece of him with me.
I need to do this for me. Then one day, maybe I’ll meet him again and who knows where life will take us then. I slide out of bed and manage to do it without waking him up. I tip toe as the wood floors creak
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