Fat Cat Liar

“As long as you’re here.”

“I’m not leaving until after New Years.”

“That’s when I’m leaving then.”

“Lawson, that’s crazy. What about your job?”

“I’m not worried about my job.”

“Well, what about your family? Don’t you want to be with family on Christmas?”

Something flashes in his eyes, turning them darker, and he clears his throat roughly. “I’m not worried about them either, Greer. You’re the only thing that matters.”

He’s said that over and over.

Texted in messages, printed in poetry, a

nd repeated in voice mails that I’ve listened to repeatedly.

But for the first time, I find myself truly believing him.

“Lawson, you can’t live in the woods for the next few weeks. That’s insane.”

He holds my stare, his expression not wavering. He’s not going anywhere.

My hand raises up to cup his cheek, the soft bristle of his beard tickling my palm. I notice the fading pink mark below his eye where the scar is healing from Stan’s hit.

“Does this still hurt?” My fingertip traces over the flesh.

“Not anymore.”

“I never wanted you to get into a fight, Lawson.”

“And I never want to see you that scared again.”

“I had no idea Stan was going to—”

“He was hired to protect you, keep you safe. When he pulled you from my arms, I lost my mind. He did what he had to do.”

Thoughts of all that has happened come crashing down around me. The strength I’ve relied on to stay away from him starts to weaken from being in his arms pressed so close. My mind betrays me, finding security in the familiarity of his embrace. I need to push back, find my voice and stop this.

My brain starts to fire off questions. Questions I should have asked myself before I hopped in a golf cart and rode through a storm to get to him.

Why are you here? I repeat the question from earlier.

Weeks of avoiding him, and you walked right into this situation. What were you thinking?

The answer comes to me immediately.

“I’m here because you’re here.” It’s complicated and at the same time so simple. I love him. The betrayal and lies still fester inside of me, but the truth is undeniable. I love him with all my heart, and a part of him is growing inside of me.

“Lawson, we need to talk.”

He scans my face, clutching me tighter. “We do, but it can wait. Anything you want to know, any questions you want answered, ANYTHING at all, it’s yours. No more hiding things from you. But, right now, I need this.” There’s a desperate pain in his statement, piercing me deeply.

I’m suddenly trapped back in his warmth, the same desperation seeping into me. Slowly, I nod and agree. “Okay.”

He closes his eyes, leaning into my touch and nestling his face until my fingertips feel his skin. His breathing picks up, and his heart races against the arm pinned to his chest.