I know the second she gets wind I am a few feet from her. Her body stiffens and she tucks her hair behind her ear, a move that drives me crazy and makes my mouth water to suck and bite a hundred marks on her neck. Her face turns toward me. She stares, biting her lip unsure of my reaction. I smirk, letting her know I know what she is thinking, and I am thinking of it too. From six feet away I can see the blush creep to her cheeks. Thank fuck. At least she still feels the pull. “Dude, are you going to stand there all day gawking or are you going to go talk to her?” Larson says, before walking away. I wish it were that simple.
Chapter Nine
TIFFANY
THREE DAYS LATER
How can you be emotionally drained but physically invigorated at the same time? I didn’t know it was possible, but that is how I feel. My mind and heart are exhausted, depleted of life, draining due to the back and forth sensual cat and mouse game Mark and I are playing but the truth is, it is not a game. It's foreplay. We have somehow both come to an unspoken agreement that neither of us was ready to talk, to lay it all out on the line, but we don’t want to let go either.
The day after the balloons and picture arrived at my house, I received a tub of my favorite salted caramel ice cream and an envelope that had every movie ticket stub we ever went to see. That broke me. My beautiful, kind, thoughtful Mark kept every memory of us. What man does that? My dream man. I answer myself right back.
That was followed by my favorite lunch delivered to me at work and now, I am staring at a box filled with baby clothes and toys with a note that reads, Will. Be. Seeing. You. You would be emotionally taxed too. “Whoa. Pulling out all the stops I see,” my mom says, walking into the room.
“Yeah.” I nod, letting the tears flow freely. She gives me the look and I nod my head. It’s time. It is time for me to tell him why. I have to talk to him. Calling the committee, I plan for them to deliver a basket to him with all of our favorite food and a note that says, “Meet me at our place, at our favorite time of day.”
Satisfied when the call is made, I decide to take my time getting dressed. I need time to fortify myself and get brave. It sounds crazy like I am scared of him, but I am not. I am more terrified of the encounter. What if he is so upset that he only wants to be here for the baby? What if I am right and he wants something different than me? My mind wanders as I bathe in the tub and allow my eyes to close for a few minutes.
Out of the tub and dressed in one of the only things that looks good on me right now, I brush my hair out and apply a little blush and lipstick. “Well this is as good as it is going to get, little girl,” I say to my belly. Walking into the kitchen, I am surprised to see my older brother Lionel Jr.
“I had to come and see for myself,” he says, pulling me in for a hug. “I can’t believe it. My little sister is having a baby.” He pushes back and looks down at my belly. “How are you?” He sits on the stool, and I know this visit is going to be serious.
“I am… busy.” I say, pointing to my stomach. He chuckles and shakes his head.
“You could have told me, you know. I would have kept your secret for you.”
“I know. I just didn’t want to put this on you. It’s my thing and I needed to figure out how to handle it.” His face says I haven’t done a good job of it, and I agree, but graciously he doesn’t say it.
“Please tell me he didn’t know.”
“He didn’t. Not until I came back to town.” He visibly exhales and I smile. No matter how old I am, my brother is always my protector and I know he would have had my back if Mark had done me wrong.
“Good. That’s good because I respect the hell out of him and the love he has for you so I would have hated to kill him.” I roll my eyes, though I believe he would try. “So what is the plan? He has to be hurt. Have you talked to him?”
“Not really. We have been…circling, if you will, but we have a date of sorts to finally talk. I am on my way out to go and meet him.”