“Jessa,” I started as I removed my jacket, “I really like you.”
She smiled and grasped my hand. I didn’t flinch or pull back, and I knew it was because she put me at ease. “I like you too. A little too much, I’m afraid.”
“I’m sorry?”
She looked in the direction of David and Alex and sighed. “I just . . . I haven’t seen David this easy and relaxed since we were children. Don’t get me wrong, he’s always playful with Alex, but he just seems different around you. Less edgy. Like he’s actually found . . .” She turned back to me. “I can’t help but wish for the impossible here.”
I nodded, searching for the words. As I did, silence drew out between us and understanding appeared in her eyes. For the first time, she looked at my left hand, her eyes lingering on the empty space.
“I’m leaving my husband,” I said, and then added, “for David.”
After a moment, her eyes flicked up to mine. “That must be very hard.”
“It is.” I glanced over at David, who still took my breath away. “But it almost feels like I don’t have a choice. I couldn’t move forward with Bill after knowing David.”
I looked back and tried to read her passive expression. It was hard to gauge her reaction, but there was no judgment, and that was the best thing I could hope for. “All this is just happening,” I continued. “Things have been hectic. Complicated. Divorce has always freaked me out.”
She nodded. “It was a difficult time for me.”
“What was?” David asked, walking up and crouching beside us, a sheen of sweat glistening on his biceps.
“Divorce,” we said in unison.
“Oh.”
“That’s a lot to take on,” Jessa warned him, but she was smiling. “Huge commitment.”
“She’s worth it,” David said without hesitation and winked at me.
Jessa fell back on the blanket dramatically. “Oh my God. Finally!” she yelled up to the sky.
“What?” Judy called from across the grass.
“Shut up,” David hissed. “You act like I’ve never had a girlfriend.”
“Olivia,” Jessa addressed me seriously. “It may be too soon to say this, but I don’t care because the energy is good here. Welcome to the family. I can see my brother here is quite taken with you.”
I blushed wildly, unable to contain the huge grin spreading across my face. “It’s complicated, Jessa,” I said, hating to ruin the moment. “There have been . . .” I glanced up at David. “Indiscretions. We haven’t been as ethical as we would like.”
She blinked at me, and her smile wavered. “Do you think I’m blind?” she asked. “I could see that there was something going on the moment I saw you two together.”
“Does that bother you?” David asked.
“Of course it bothers me, David,” she said, nodding over at Alex. “But . . . sometimes something passes between two people that can’t be explained. If that’s how it had to go down, then I guess you two have to live with that. I can’t condone it, but when Alex’s dad cheated on me, it was because he was drunk and stupid, not because the universe was giving him something better. It was really just a symptom of a dying marriage.”
“So you think it would have happened eventually? Your divorce?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“I do. I loved him, and it destroyed me, but after many years I’ve realized that we were not a match. He brought me down. I mean, Libra and Virgo – what was I thinking?” She laughed as if I should understand that.
I found comfort in her words, though. The more time I spent with David, the more I realized how out-of-sync Bill and I were. The recent deterioration of sex had indicated as much. At the same time, David and I had connected on a level that couldn’t be ignored.
“We’re good, right?” David asked Jessa. “Can I go play?”
She laughed. “Get out of here so I can tell embarrassing stories about you.”
He halted suddenly and looked toward his parents. “What am I going to tell Mom and Dad?”
“I suggest you tell them the truth. Today.”
He broke out into a smile and, with a glance to make sure they weren’t watching, leaned over to give me a swift kiss.
“Jesus, I’ve never even seen him hold hands with a girl in public,” Jessa said after he jogged off.
“Has he brought many girls home?” I asked, fingering a lock of my hair.
“Here and there over the years.”
“How about Maria?” I blurted.
“Oh, yes,” Jessa said, rolling her eyes. “I’ve met Maria at a couple events. She’s a first-rate snob.”
“She’s not happy about this.”
“She told you that?”
“She came to the apartment last night to say she wants a real chance with him.”
Jessa burst out laughing.
My eyebrows knit. “I worry about her,” I confessed.
“Don’t,” she said through a smile. “David called me Friday to say he’d met someone and Maria’s out of the picture for good. He knows how I feel about her.”
I curbed a triumphant smile. “How about you? Are you seeing anyone?”
“I have a few prospects,” she said, smiling. “No one I’m ready to introduce around though.”
“Right. Is it hard dating with a kid?”
“Yes,” she mused. “But I make it work. Anyway, Alex is more fun than any guy I’ve ever gone out with.”
I smiled. “Seems like it.”
“Little boys,” she said, gesturing to both of them and laughing. “They get along so well that sometimes I forget they aren’t the same age.”
She asked me about my family. I told her my parents were divorced and was surprised to hear that she’d read one of my mom’s novels. As she talked about what she was currently reading, I glanced over at David because I couldn’t resist. He was crouched on his knees, wiping something from Alex’s face with the same care he used when he handled anything he loved. He ruffled Alex’s hair before grabbing a football and motioning for him to go long. It was a sweet scene. But it didn’t inspire in me what I knew it should, and a tiny knot formed in my stomach.
David’s dad, Gerard, called the family to the picnic table. David served me a hamburger exactly how I liked it, and I thanked him with a soft smile. As I took my first bite, I noticed Gerard staring at my left hand. I wiped it on a napkin quickly and put it in my lap. His gaze shifted.
“What on earth happened to your arm?” he asked.
David’s body stiffened in the same moment that his head turned. Having lived a life with the bruising abilities of a peach, I already knew what I would find, so I didn’t bother to look.
“How did I miss these?” David mumbled, taking my elbow gently and lifting my arm. He inspected the marks as I felt myself reddening. “Jesus, baby.”
My color only deepened at his endearment, and my eyes dropped to the table. Still, I felt everyone watching as he tenderly stroked my back and examined the bruises.
I grasped for an explanation, but he cut in. “Mom, Dad. You know, for a long time, I’ve been searching for . . . something more.”
“Honey,” his mom said softly.
“I’ve found it in Olivia.”
A blanket of silence fell over the table as his parents stared at us. I grasped David’s thigh under the table nervously as I waited.
“Honey,” Judy said again, “I’m confused. I thought Olivia was married.”
“I am. I’m sorry. I know this is uncomfortable. My husband and I have decided to separate.” David’s leg tensed under my hand. I closed my eyes. “Divorce, I mean. We’re getting a divorce.”
When I opened them again, Judy was looking between the two of us with round eyes. “Because of David?”
My eyes also went to David. “I’ve come to realize that things weren’t right with my husband, but I wouldn’t have come to that conclusion without David’s help. David is . . .” I let the sentence trail as I looked at him. He looked bac
k at me, and I didn’t finish because I knew that he could see all the things he was to me.
Gerard’s voice cut angrily into our moment. “What does that have to do with the bruises, Olivia?” He fixed a stern, dark stare on me. It was a look I knew well from his son, and I cowered down in my seat. David went to speak, but I squeezed his leg and shook my head at him. I wanted to be the one to tell them. His hand moved to my lower back as I felt myself quake slightly.
“I’m sorry, this is embarrassing,” I said, swiping the back of my hand over my forehead. “David and I . . . I mean, I – I was unfaithful. I told my husband, and we tried to move on from it. I couldn’t. Not while I felt this way about David. As more details come out, my husband becomes less . . . understanding.”
Gerard’s eyes flicked a mile a minute between my face and my arm. He banged his fist on the table, and everyone jumped.
I rose immediately. “I’m so sorry,” I said, backing away and holding in tears. “I know that – all of this – it’s awful.”
David called after me, but I ignored him as I walked out to the grass to regain composure. He was right behind me and when I stopped, he hugged me to him. “What did I tell you? Let me be your shield. Don’t run away from me.”
“They think I’m not good enough for you, and I don’t blame them.”
“Baby, that’s not – ”
“No. I did this; I have to face the consequences. You can’t protect me from it.” I sniffled back tears and rested my head on his chest. My chin trembled. “I just wish it wasn’t your parents,” I whispered.
David was gone suddenly, and I felt another hand on my shoulder. When I looked up, Gerard’s tall frame loomed over me. As he sent David back to the table, I noticed how attractive he was up close. He was sturdy, like David, and his hand weighed heavy on me. “I’m sorry if I startled you,” he said when we were alone. “I’m not angry with you.”
I sniffed and wiped my face with the back of my hand. “Please don’t be upset with David. This isn’t his fault. He’s been nothing but amazing to me.”
Gerard surprised me by laughing. “And I think I have you to thank for that. My dear,” he continued softly, “I’m upset that anyone put his hands on you in anger. I don’t care about the ‘details’ of your relationship with my son, because I’ve never seen him this happy with anyone. And if your husband hurt you like this,” he said, motioning to my arm, “even once, then I am even happier that David saved you than that you saved him.”
I gawked up at him. “Saved him?”
He peered over at his family and then back at me. “David’s waited a long time for you to come along. I can’t say I’ve ever been happy with David’s choices when it comes to women, so we’re thrilled that you’re finally here.”
“But you barely know me,” I blurted.
“We know our son. And to see him with you, we know enough.”
“You . . . I – I don’t know what to say, Mr. Dylan.”
“This has been hard, hasn’t it?”
I nodded. “I’ve hurt people, including David, very much.”
“Do you love him?”
I looked at David’s back as his elbows rested on the table, his forehead in his hands. His fingers swept through his hair. “Yes,” I answered. “But I haven’t . . . It’s hard for me to express.”
“He knows, I can tell. Life is nothing without love. My wife taught me that. I could not breathe if not for Judy. If your gut tells you you’re doing the right thing then you are. And you have our support.”
“Thank you,” I whispered with tears still lingering in my eyes. “You and David are so much alike.”
“Lucky for him,” he said with a playful smile, and I nodded. “Come back,” he coaxed with an arm around my shoulder. “Tell us everything. And call me Gerard. You’re making me feel ancient.”
I followed him back, avoiding everyone’s gaze as I sat. David took my chin in his hand, raised my face and gave me a determined kiss. His mother gasped, and I tried to pull away, but he held me steady. “Are you okay?” he asked, glancing at my arm.
I looked into his eyes and nodded ardently. He released me, and we turned to face the table.
“My baby,” Judy said to David, her eyes glossy. “In love.”
“Yes, Mom,” he said grumpily, and I finally smiled.
When I heard a sniffle next to me, I turned to see that Jessa was crying.
“Oh, come on,” David moaned.
“I’m sorry,” she said, blowing her nose into a napkin. “I was worried you’d never meet the girl.”
“And she’s a Leprechaun to boot,” Gerard put in, puffing up in his Notre Dame jacket.
“Mom,” Alex groaned. “Why’re you crying?”
“Don’t worry, sweetie. They’re happy tears.”
“Women,” he said, rolling his eyes and returning to his video game.
We laughed, and Judy asked us for more details. Given that David and I had only had a weekend together, there wasn’t much to tell when we removed sex from the equation. They were excited nonetheless.
CHAPTER 10
IT WAS LATE AFTERNOON when David and I walked from the train to his apartment.
“You’re quiet,” he said, squeezing my hand in his.
“It’s been a long weekend. I’m tired. And sore.”
“Sore, huh?” he asked, bumping me with his shoulder.
“Sore,” I said with the most serious face I could muster. “Like, I might have to start yoga.”
“Yes,” he said immediately. “The more ways I can bend you, the better.”
“You’re such a hornball.”
“You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into.”
I laughed, and he stopped to drive me up against a brick wall. “Think I’m kidding?” He clasped our hands together and brought them behind his back. “I had the best time today,” he said quietly, kissing his way along my jaw until he found my lips.
I’d had a great day too, getting to know his family, helping out the shelter, spending time with someone who, frankly, I never wanted to be away from. But there were things at the back of my mind demanding my attention. It was clear how much he enjoyed being with family, specifically Alex. Did he envision a family of his own?
And tomorrow it was back to reality. Our sheltered weekend was almost over. My things were at his place, and he’d asked me to move in. If I was honest with myself, I wanted that too. I wanted to move in with him. But we were moving at lightning speed, and that scared me. I hadn’t thought of Bill all day, at least not to wonder how he was doing, and that made me feel guilty.
“Um, earth to Olivia.”
“Sorry,” I murmured against his lips.
“Where’d you go?”
“Nowhere,” I said. “I’m here.”
“Are you sure?”
I had promised to try not to hide anything from him, and I didn’t want to. But the moment was perfect right then as the sun disappeared behind the buildings around us. I didn’t want it to end. I smiled and touched his cheek. “I had the best time too. I’m good.”
He pulled me from the wall, and we continued on to the apartment. When we’d arrived and were boarding the elevator, he cursed to himself.
My heart leaped. “What?”
“I just realized something that pisses me off,” he said as he swiped his card to the penthouse.
“What?” I asked again, but in a whisper. I wrung my fingers together, unsure of how much more I could handle.
He jutted his chin at me. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You’re pissed?”
He laughed and kissed me between the brows. “Honeybee,” he said softly, “I’m not going anywhere. Quit bracing yourself for bad news.”
My shoulders slackened slightly as the elevator slowed. We exited, and he unlocked the door to the apartment.
“Well?” I asked impatiently as I tailed him to the bedroom.
“Oh. I’ve never taken you out on a pr
oper date. You know, picked you up, driven you to dinner. Kissed you on the doorstep.”
I laughed on an exhale as he stripped off his shirt and tossed it in the closet hamper.
“Due to the nature of our relationship,” he continued, “I’ve skipped over the entire courting process. So we’ll have to make up for that. Olivia Germaine, would you let me take you out tomorrow night? Anywhere you like.”
“Surprise me,” I said, scrunching my nose at him. “Also, is walking around shirtless something you do often? It makes it hard to concentrate.”
“I’m thinking no shirts allowed would make a good rule.”
I reached out and wrapped myself around his warm skin, careful not to touch the darkening bruise near his abs.
“I hate this,” he sighed, ghosting a hand over my bicep. “I hate that he got to you before I did. Did I hurt you last night?”
“No,” I replied, thinking that he’d handled me perfectly the whole night. “Your dad was pretty upset though.”
“Where do you think I got my temper?” he asked. I tilted my head back to look up at him. “He sits on a few boards, one of which focuses on domestic violence.”
“He’s scary,” I said. “Like you.”
He laughed just as my cell phone rang. I rolled my eyes and tried to pull away.
“Ignore it,” he said, kissing my forehead.
I wanted to, but I knew I couldn’t; not with all the things going on in my life. I detangled myself from his arms.
“Who even has your new number?” he asked.
“Just Gretchen, my dad and Bill.”
“Bill?” he asked as I rummaged through my bag.
“I e-mailed it to him.”
“Why?” he asked irritably.
“Like it or not, we’re going to have to be in touch.” I put the phone to my ear. “Hello?”
“Olivia?” My mother’s panicked voice came through the line, and I paled instantly.
“Mom? What’s wrong?” I felt behind me to sit at the edge of the bed.
“What’s going on?” she cried. My heart sank when I realized from her hysterical voice that she’d been drinking.
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