by B. B. Reid
She trailed her finger to a specific spot on my chest just below my heart. Caged in between the broken vines were the words—A broken love can still last forever so long as you carry the pieces close to your heart.
“I forgave him years ago, and I carried the pieces too, waiting for him to come back, but he never did. I had to learn to live without him.”
She looked up at me with so much hope and love that I had no choice but to let her go and leave the bed. In truth, I was at a loss for words. I quickly gathered my clothes to dress and headed for the bathroom. The door closed, but not in time for me to miss the sound of her cry.
* * * * *
When we arrived, the restaurant was alive with locals and tourists. The bar was already crowded and every table seemed to be filled. I quickly spotted our party seated at a table in the back and led Sheldon by the hand, much to her chagrin.
“Nice of you to join us,” Dash greeted sarcastically.
“You really need to find a girl so you can stop acting like such a cock block,” Keiran remarked.
“Keiran!” Shelly scolded as she took her seat on Kennedy’s right. I took the seat on Kennedy’s left and reached for the waiting glass of water.
“I’m not cock-blocking. I’m hungry.”
“Uncle Keke, what’s that?”
“Shit.”
“Oooh, mama. Uncle said a bad word.”
“Congratulations, douchebag. You have officially corrupted our niece.”
“What’s a doo?”
“You’re both dumbasses.” Q laughed.
“Dumb ass!” Kennedy repeated and then laughed outrageously.
“For fuck sake, everyone stop talking before you all corrupt my daughter.” Everyone at the table grew quiet at my outburst including Kennedy. Sheldon’s gasp was audible, but I had eyes only for Kennedy and her for me though hers were rounded with wonder. I wondered if she could understand what had just happened. I chewed on my bottom lip wondering what I should do next.
“What’s fuck?”
Everyone burst out laughing.
“Kennedy, that is a bad word that little girls should not say and neither should grown-ups when in the presence of a sweet little girl like you. I am so sorry.”
She nodded and turned her attention back to eating her chicken tenders as if nothing had happened. When she dipped a chicken tender, I noticed she had ketchup and honey mustard mixed together just as I do.
“We ordered for her so she wouldn’t have to wait for you to finish bumping uglies like the rest of us,” Dash griped once again.
“You are suffering from serious blue balls, my man.”
We ordered and conversation flowed easily for the rest of dinner. I learned a lot of what had taken place in my absence.
Sheldon was scheduled to graduate with a pre-medical degree next Saturday. She wanted to study to be a pediatrician. This was news to me given that she’d always wanted to be a fashion model. I had a feeling that Kennedy had something to do with that.
Keiran was studying for a degree in computer science. That gave me the longest pause. He had received an athletic scholarship to play basketball for Arizona so I knew obtaining a degree was a part of that deal, but I hadn’t expected him to choose something that didn’t involve sports.
Lake was studying for a degree in education. Her plan was to become an elementary school teacher specializing in learning disabilities.
Dash studied business while playing ball at Arizona much to the displeasure of his father who preferred his heir and only son to attend an ivy league or more specifically his alma mater. He was already beginning to take over business operations from his father.
Quentin had joined the army straight out of high school when he claimed college life wasn’t for him and a little structure and violence never hurt anyone. Jesse surprisingly hadn’t although he was raised in a military family. Everyone expected him to simply follow in his father’s footsteps but instead chose to work with them instead.
It seemed that everyone had taken great steps and moved forward while I still felt as if I were standing still.
“So where’s Willow? Was anyone ever going to bring her up?”
“On that note, I think I have to use the gentlemen’s room,” Jesse coughed.
“Willow is, um… well, she…”
“She went to Nebraska and we haven’t seen or heard from her since.”
I made a point to glance over at Dash, who sat glowering at the tabletop. “So she is literally the one that got away, huh? I guess charm and money doesn’t work on everyone.”
“What’s your problem?” Dash said finally looking up.
“You are. You’re stupid.”
“And that makes you?”
“Cocky, arrogant, spoiled, and unfaithful. Did I get it right, Shelly?”
“Yes, but I believe I forgot one. You’re also a coward.” She pushed away from the table and stood up from her chair. “Lake, can you look after Kennedy?” She didn’t wait for an answer before walking away. I tracked her movements until she disappeared inside the ladies room.
“If you want her back, you’re going about it the wrong way,” Keiran stated.
“Are you supposed to be an expert?”
Instead of answering he turned to Lake. “Baby, do you love me?”
“Yes. Do you love me?”
“Forever,” he whispered softly. His hard gaze shot to me. “See? It’s that simple.”
“Is it?”
“It is. You just have to be smart enough to realize it before it’s too late.”
“How about we take Kennedy with us and put her to bed so you and Sheldon can have some alone time?” Lake offered.
I wasn’t going to argue with that possibility.
“Kennedy?”
“Yes, Keenan?” I had to swallow the urge to tell her that I was her father for the umpteenth time before speaking.
“Your aunt and uncles are going to take you back so you can get some sleep. Your mother and I will be right behind you to tuck you in.”
“Come on, you little juvenile delinquent. Let’s see how much trouble we can get in before bedtime.” Keiran scooped her up and tossed her over his shoulder much to her delight. Her squeals of excitement echoed through the restaurant as he led the rest of them out.
It took me another moment to realize that they’d all left me to pay the bill. As I was fishing out my credit card, Sheldon emerged from the restroom. Even from here, I could see how red and puffy her eyes were.
“Shelly?”
My ears began ringing from the sound of some prick calling my girl by the nickname I gave her when we were in love. Sheldon had been on her way back from the restroom, with me clocking her every step when this blond, frat-looking guy approached her. When his fingers slid around her waist and pulled her close for a kiss, I was out of my seat and closing in fast. Her back was to me so she didn’t see me approach them.
“Eric? How—what are you doing here?”
“I’m having lunch with my parents. I told you I’m from this area. Are you okay? I’ve been calling and looking for you everywhere.”
“I’m fine. I’ve just been going through a really tough time with the stress of finals and medical school admissions.”
“You’re still coming to the graduation, right?”
“I’m not sure, and I’ll tell you all about it later, but I have to get back.”
“There’s no need to rush off, Shelly. Everyone left. So who’s your friend?”
Her complexion noticeably paled at the sound of my voice invading their intimate moment. I schooled my face into a complacent expression, but judging by the way she was shaking, she already knew it was an act.
I warned her of what would happen if I found out she had lied. I knew she had been lying to me. She’d forgotten just how well I knew her. I also knew one day I’d come face to face with the guy she thought she could use to forget about me.
“I’m her boyfriend. Are you a friend of the fami
ly?”
“No, I’m the father of her child, and the man she’ll be fucking for the rest of her life… however long that might be.” I made sure to make eye contact with her when I said the last. “So now that we are all clear about the role in her life, I’m going to have to ask you to remove your fingers from her body before I break each one of them.”
“Shelly, who is this guy?”
I snapped and I wasn’t even sorry for it. Screams rent the air after I knocked the frat boy on his ass and made quick work of bashing his face in.
“Keenan, please!” Sheldon screamed, but I heeded to none of it. Visions of the two of them together assaulted me and each blow to his face and body was my way of beating them away.
“You’re killing him. Please stop.” She tugged on my shoulders, and with each desperate attempt to stop me, her strength grew until I could no longer ignore the scene I had created.
The black fog slowly lifted, and when I stood to my feet, I grabbed her hand and walked her back to our table as if nothing had happened. I switched from card to cash to pay the bill and led her out of the restaurant, blatantly ignoring the bloody mess that was left by her boyfriend and the man who might have gotten her killed by the end of the night.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
SHELDON
A RIVER OF sweat had formed over every inch of my body. We had been driving for almost an hour now, and I had no idea where we were going. He never said a word other than to order me inside of Keiran’s car after nearly beating Eric to death.
Keiran had always warned me what would happen when he found out, but I hadn’t believed him just as I never truly believed Keenan would come back. I had been searching for a way to tell him about Eric despite our not being together. I knew he would be upset, but the level of brutality he unleashed in that restaurant went far beyond everything I thought I knew about him.
After another hour, I couldn’t stand the silence and fear of the unknown, so I curled as far against the door as I could and let sleep take me.
The rough slam of a car door jolted me awake some time later. “Where are we?” I asked as soon as the door was opened.
“You’re home. Now get inside.”
Home? Did he say home? The city lights that filtered through the windows of the parking garage were a far cry from the peaceful dark nights of Six Forks.
The eerie look in his eyes set my heart racing. There was nowhere to run so I sat back in the seat. I could tell by the hard set in his jaw that he took the move as defiance rather than fear. When he leaned down, the sweet smell of his skin and cologne invaded my senses, temporarily causing me to forget that I was with him against my will.
The click of the seatbelt unlocking cleared the fog of lust.
“You have tried my patience for the last time, Sheldon. Get in the fucking building or you will spend the rest of the night regretting that you disobeyed me.”
I took his threat for what it was worth and stepped from the car. The elevator ride to the very top of the building seemed longer than it should. Maybe because it felt like I was on my way to my impending doom? Maybe it was because I held my breath?
The elevators doors finally opened up to a large, spacious apartment. It's sterile, trendy look with hard lines and glossy surfaces didn’t give the feeling of home.
Keenan had to place his hand on the small of my back and force me into the apartment. I looked around for a place to hide if need be but quickly figured it would be useless since it was his place. Regardless of the size of the apartment, there wouldn’t be many places to hide, and he’d likely know where to look. I turned to face him finally, seemingly accepting my fate. I just prayed that maybe he’d calmed down during the drive.
“Did you fuck him?” His voice was calm, giving the appearance of a casual question, but the quiet, deadly storm brewing in his eyes was anything but calm. I took a slow step back hoping he wouldn’t notice my desperate attempt to retreat. His gaze slid down and slowly back up, letting me know that he had noticed.
“Where will you go, Shelly?”
“Keenan, you’re scaring me.”
“Am I?” I could only nod due to the tremble of my lips increasing beyond control.
“Sheldon… I asked you a question. One you have yet to answer. Please don’t make me force the answer from you.”
I barely noticed the skilled way he stalked me. He moved so silently, and before I knew it, I was backed through the open doors of the balcony with nowhere to run.
Being cornered surprisingly gave me the opposite effect than I had anticipated. Instead of cowering in fear, my own rage pounded through my veins.
“You have no right to be upset. So what if I fucked him? I belong to him, Keenan. I don’t belong to you. I haven’t for four years… maybe I never did.”
I choked on my last words when his hands closed around my throat. My feet fought for the ground when he lifted me high. We were moving, but I couldn’t see where. It wasn’t until my ankle banged against the railing that I realized I was dangling over the edge with only his strength and mercy to keep me from falling twenty stories.
“Answer me,” he demanded. “Or I’ll make our daughter a motherless child.” Coldly, he made a show of releasing a hand from my neck. I was only held up by one.
I told myself not to struggle, but I couldn’t help but to do just that.
My vision blurred.
My face heated while the rest of me had gone cold, and suddenly, I couldn’t fight anymore.
I made the effort to take one last look, hoping to find the boy I fell in love with a lifetime ago.
I froze.
When my eyes finally locked with his, it wasn’t rage I found in his expressive depths. Tears streamed down his face, and all I could see was hurt, panic, and lost love just before it all faded away.
* * * * *
SEVEN YEARS AGO
“Are you cold?”
“A little.”
Keenan shrugged off the hoodie I often saw him wear and wrapped it around my shoulders.
“How’s that?”
“Better.” To be honest, I was still a little cold but I appreciated the effort. We were having a late night, forbidden picnic in the park. I wanted to look my best for our first date so I foolishly chose the thinnest and shortest dress I could find in my wardrobe. I had only just turned fifteen, so I didn’t have many that my mom deemed appropriate for a girl my age.
“Liar.”
He grinned just as his arms came around. I didn’t expect it or for him to settle me on his lap and wrap them tighter around me. My body instantly warmed from the feeling of his. It was equal parts flustering and body heat.
“How about this?” he whispered against my neck.
“I definitely feel warm now.”
“Good. I wouldn’t want my girl getting sick.”
“Your—your girl?” I stammered.
“I told you I’d make you mine.”
Keenan hadn’t wasted any time asking me out. It had only been two days since he first spoke to me in the hall. He said he had a few hoops to jump through first, a.k.a. my brother. Yesterday they’d gotten into a pretty bad fistfight. Dash wouldn’t agree to let him take me out and apparently, the confrontation escalated. What I didn’t understand was how they could possibly still be friends.
Keenan currently sported a black eye and several bruises that disappeared inside his shirt. Dash hadn’t fared any better from the fight.
In the end, Keenan made the decision that he would take me out on a date, and Dash couldn’t stop him.
“I won’t be yours for long if I don’t get back home soon. My parents will kill me if they find out I snuck out.”
We’d actually gone on our date earlier to the movies but a few hours after returning me home, I’d heard the first tap on my window. When I asked what he was doing at my window so late, he had charmingly declared that he couldn’t wait to see me again. I had melted right there against the windowsill and didn’t care who might see.
“If my queen wishes… but first things first…”
“What’s that?” I could literally feel my heart race with excitement at the look in his eyes. It was a look I was quickly becoming accustomed to seeing. Sometimes, he would just stare at me as if unwilling to let me go so he kept me captive with his eyes.
“Have you ever kissed anyone?”
Should I lie or tell the truth? Would he think I was a loser if I told him the truth? Would he think I was a slut if I didn’t?”
“If you’re thinking about lying to me, I would love it if you didn’t. Whatever your answer is, I will still want you.”
For the second time tonight, I melted. I realized that with Keenan, it was a constant state of being. “No, I haven’t ever.”
The wide, boyish smile that graced his lips put me at ease. His hand boldly slid up my front. My dress bunched slightly. All the while, I anticipated the moment he would touch my… ribs?
His hand stopped there to pull me closer before skipping over my breasts entirely and gripping my neck. “Can I be your first?”
I barely finished nodding before his lips brushed mine in the softest caress. It was a feeling I would never forget and one I’d hope to never lose.
* * * * *
PRESENT
They say true love’s kiss is the most powerful sign of love in the world. It’s the moment when you find the person to who you are meant to trust the rest of your life.
Nothing was ever said of life ending on a balcony because of true love.
While I had lived, true love died.
“You tried to kill me,” I shuddered. I’d come to on his bed. He sat on the edge, watching me.
“You lied to me even when the lie meant our daughter. I should have killed you.”
“Eric doesn’t know about Ken. He’s never even met her.”
“How noble of you, but that doesn’t change things. While I couldn’t kill you, I promised you’d be sorry for lying to me. It was a promise I was prepared to fulfill because I know you, Shelly. That means I know when you’re lying.”
