by Claire Adams
Chapter Thirty-Three
Luke
I finished the Spring Board and it put me in first place. I also was sitting in first place in the underhand chop and standing chop. If my times held, I’d be a champion for the first time.
“Dude, that was amazing,” Ryan said as he found me walking out of the crowd.
“Thanks.” I smiled and then moved toward the RV. I had bested all of my competition by more than a second, and I hoped the times would stand with only two competitors left, Chris being one of them.
Emmy and I had been going strong for almost a month, even though I wasn't seeing her as much as I wanted to. It was hard not seeing her when I was gone since we lived literally three feet away from each other, and I’d gotten used to her being right there.
I was looking forward to being done traveling and being at home more working in the shop. She had been a little preoccupied, but she had also been working really hard on her grant, and with the answers coming back, she was in the woods even more. She was gone to Portland at least two to three days a week every week. I knew we were fine, but it didn't help that everything had cooled a bit over the last two weeks. The first week she was in Portland almost the entire week as she moved everything from paper records to a computer system that would keep it all in line. Her grandfather had fought her over it, but she convinced him it needed to be done. We had dinner and shared a bed that weekend, but Monday she was in the woods all day and then had traveled back to Portland to go to her grandfather’s doctor's appointment. We talked daily about everything and anything, and she had often fallen asleep on me, but not in the way I preferred. Truth was, I’d have spent every waking minute with her if it were possible.
“You got this, my man.” Ryan said pulling me from my thought. I sat in the chair outside the RV and emptied a bottle of water I pulled from the cooler.
I watched the boards and waited to see how I would finish.
When everyone was done, I carried my trophy to the RV and we packed to head for home.
“You might think you have it all figured out.” I heard from behind me and knew immediately who it was. Fucking Chris. I turned to face him and he smirked.
“You think she is saving her body for only you?” I turned because I wasn't going down this road again. She had promised me that nothing had ever happened between them, and I believed her more now than I ever had.
“Have you found that cute little scar just under her left hip bone, the one shaped like a tiny crescent moon?” I turned and looked at him. How did he know it was there? It wasn't out in the open and was only visible if she didn't have on pants. I felt my body flood with anger.
“Just move along,” Ryan said and shoved Chris away from me.
“You keep believing you are the only dick she gets, and I'll keep knowing that it's better with me. Those little sounds she makes when you hit just the right spot are what wet dreams are made of.” I stalked toward him, but Ryan intercepted me.
“Ignore him.”
“That's right. Ignore me, Luke, and I'll ignore you every time I'm balls deep in her.”
Ryan shoved me again. “Don't.”
“I don't give a fuck, let me by,” I growled.
“Not gonna happen, my man. He can't beat you on the field, and he can't beat you with Emmy. She isn't interested in him like that, and you know it.”
Chris laughed as he walked away. “Believe what you want.” He tossed the words over his shoulder and then was gone.
“He’s looking for a fight and will say or do just about anything to pull you into one.”
“He knows about her scar. How could he know unless he’s seen her naked?” I yelled at Ryan.
“I don't know, but I'm sure there is a perfectly good explanation. Maybe a bathing suit. Stop letting him get in your head, damnit. Now let's get our stuff and go home. We should be able to make it halfway if we leave now.” I turned and slammed the door shut on the RV and then moved toward the truck.
“You are not driving.” Ryan pointed toward the passenger seat. I sat in silence as my mind ran through the conversation over and over again. I didn't answer Emmy when she texted me other than to say I won. She called, and I didn't answer, blaming poor reception and that I would call her when it was better. She texted me a dozen more times, and I tried my best not to let my anger leak into our conversation.
I laid in the RV that night and let my mind go on a joy ride with everything that was imaginable. I wanted so bad to believe her, but at the same time, my head was running away because of what had happened before. In my messed-up head, everything was pointing toward her cheating, and that was a problem. Her pulling away, talking less and less, less sex, and mostly more time in Portland... where Chris was. I needed to be grounded, and the only way that would happen is if I was inside Emmy. I needed to claim her.
The next afternoon, we arrived home to her packing her truck.
“Hey.” She smiled brightly as she jogged over to me.
I pulled her against me and kissed her hard. I left everything behind and picked her up walking into her house. I heard Ryan behind me, “Don't worry I'll get it.” She laughed as I pulled the screen door open and pushed her against the first wall I came to, which happened to be the one behind the front door. I kicked it closed with my foot. After the last two days and everything that I had been feeling, I needed to be as close to her as I could be. I was trying to wipe the visions of Chris and her together from my brain, and the only way I knew how to do that was to create a new vision.
“What is this?” She wiggled against me. I pushed her harder into the wall with my pelvis, and she shuddered under me.
“I've been waiting days for this,” I said and started to pull her clothes from her body. I dropped her to her feet long enough to get her shorts and panties out of the way and then lifted her putting her thighs on my shoulders, so my mouth was on her core. I pushed my tongue inside of her, and she wiggled against my mouth. I worked her until she was on the brink of an orgasm and then let her slide down my body.
“No…” she complained not wanting me to stop. I pulled my cock out and stroked it a few times before pushing inside of her. She squeaked when I entered her. I moved her to the couch and began to groan as I pushed deeper and deeper. I knew that this wasn't going to be the best sex we had ever had, but I needed her in that moment. When I felt her contract around me, I lost my control and shoved into her over and over until my orgasm ripped from my body and into hers. I was panting into her neck, sweat dripping from my beard and across her chest. I watched as a droplet landed on her skin and rolled down between her breasts.
“What was that for?” Her voice broke me from my concentration.
“I needed you.” I said dropping a kiss over her nipple. She wiggled under me, and I felt my cock slide out of her causing a sharp intake of breath to escape from my lips. I laid my chin on the top of her head and took a few deep breaths letting my body come down from its high. I turned over, taking her with me. She cuddled against me, and we lay there wrapped in each other’s arms.
***
I was stuck somewhere between sleep and consciousness when her voice broke the silence.
“I have to go to Portland for a few days, sweetheart, but I'll be back Friday to help you prepare for the fourth of July cookout.”
“You just got back.” I said without opening my eyes.
“I know, and I'm sorry. Transferring all this paperwork is taking forever, and I've had to hire an IT guy to make sure it's all in there correctly.”
“I just miss you.” I hugged her to me and frowned.
“Once this is all done, it will be fewer days. I've gotten behind on my grant work and I'm getting emails wanting to know where it is and I keep putting them off saying it will all be done by next weekend. I just have so much on my plate at the moment, but I promise I will make it up to you.” She kissed me quickly and then stood, reaching her hand out to me. I grabbed her undies and shorts and handed them to her as I stood. S
he pulled them over her hips and then looked up at me.
“It's gonna be okay, I promise.” I extended my arms, and she walked into them, wrapping hers around me and pulling me as close as she could. With everything that had happened in the last hour, and the way she looked at me, I was doubting Chris’ story and that's exactly what I had wanted and needed.
She waved at me as I stood leaning against the post between our front doors. I lifted my hand and waved back. I watched until her truck disappeared down the road and then moved into my house. Ryan was long gone, and everything had been unloaded except the coolers.
I made busy work of that and then took a shower. I grabbed a few beers and went out to the workshop to finish a few projects that wouldn't take very long.
***
“I don't know why you don't just see her. She’s been gone two days. She’d love it. Besides, the competitions are over. You won. It's not like we need to keep working out if you aren't going to hit the circuit next season,” Ryan said.
“I don't want to crowd her.” I looked over the beer bottle.
“Seriously? Women want to be wanted. She wants to be pursued. Get to pursuing.” He laughed. I thought about hopping in the truck in the morning and driving up. We could do lunch and dinner, and I could stay the night.
“Okay.” I smiled, tossing another piece of wood in the fire barrel. “You talked me into it.”
“About time I talked you into something,” Ryan mumbled.
***
I thought about us a lot on the way to Portland the next morning. The drive was just over an hour because of the rain, which gave me time for some soul searching. Was I being stupid about this whole situation? She had been even more open with me about when Chris was around and had tried to limit their encounters to only business-related meals. I was just looking too far into this, letting him put doubt in my mind. I needed to let it go.
I followed the GPS to the street her building was located on. I drove past where she worked and turned to try and find a parking place close to her office. It was almost noon, and I wanted to surprise her and take her to lunch. I was just opening my truck to make a run for the front door through the rain when it opened.
An umbrella popped through the door, and then Chris appeared with Emerson. His arm was wrapped around her waist as they walked out into the rain. My blood boiled at the sight of them. I watched in astonishment as they took a few steps then stopped, just after they did, he lifted her chin with his finger and looked her in the eyes then said something to her. I reached for the door to push it open, ready to confront them, but thought better of it and clicked my seatbelt back in place. I continued to watch as they walked to the coffee shop, laughing as they walked. I threw the truck in drive and drove straight back home.
***
I skidded into the driveway, Ryan hot on my heels. I had driven through town like a police car was chasing me.
“What the fuck, dude?” Ryan jumped from the truck, following me into the shop.
“She was with fucking Chris.”
“Wait, what?” Ryan looked dumbfounded. “What do you mean with, she works with him, right?”
“Wrapped up under an umbrella laughing and being all intimate and shit.” I huffed out a breath and pulled a bottle of whiskey from the shelf. It was a bottle Ryan had given me for Christmas this past year, and it was for when I finally won it all and retired. Ryan watched me as I pull the red wax from the bottle and tipped it into the glasses that had been sitting beside it.
“Let's have some fun. No lady talk,” I insisted.
Ryan tipped his glass to me, and I agreed.
“To friends.” Ryan raised his glass and tapped it against mine. The bourbon burned as it went down my throat. I reached for the bottle and poured another. Ryan grabbed another bottle from the liquor stash I kept in the shop, and we eventually moved our drinking party into the house.
“To winning it all this year,” I said.
We once again clinked glasses and poured the shots back.
Within the hour, I was tripping over my furniture and laughing at Ryan as he danced around my living room. He was trying his best to keep my mind off Emmy, but as we emptied another bottle, my thoughts kept drifting to her.
“Holy shit, I'm drunk,” Ryan laughed. “I haven't been this drunk in years.”
“Why do they always cheat on me?” I said as I swayed where I stood.
“Who?”
“Women, all of them.” My vision was blurring in and out.
“She’s a good woman. I don't believe it.” Ryan tapped his head.
I felt my vision starting to darken around the edges.
“I need to go lay down.” I ran my hand along the wall as I walked up the stairs; it took me a good while to get to the top. Halfway up, I was climbing the stairs on my hands and knees. When I got there, I had to crawl to my bed.
“Why did you have to do this to me?” I growled and rubbed my chest as the pain seeped through me.
I was a fool.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Emerson
“Thanks for sharing your umbrella. I have no idea where mine is.”
“It's fine.” Chris’ arm snaked around me and pulled me in closer. I moved close to get under the umbrella. It made me a little uncomfortable to be so close to him, but wet was wet and dry was dry. He was joking around about the mean client we’d had a meeting with that morning.
“Shut up.” I laughed as he gave an impression of my scowl, the one he said I’d made yet again when she was complaining about something in the proposal.
“You've been wearing that thing for weeks.” He did it again, sticking his lip out.
“I'm a little stressed. I just have so much to do.” I frowned and then stopped.
“What? Why are we stopping?” he asked.
“There’s something in my eye,” I stated, blinking, trying to get it out.
“Let me see.” He put his finger under my chin and lifted my face to his before I cold protest. I pulled back from the much too intimate gesture.
“Never mind. I think I got it,” I announced, still blinking. I started to walk again.
“I think you need a joke,” he stated.
I raised my eyebrows and listened.
“What is white and black and red all over?”
I laughed because I knew the answer. “A newspaper, boring.” I smiled.
“Nope, pandas in a chainsaw fight.” I laughed.
“Only you would incorporate a chainsaw into that joke.” I reached for the handle and released him as I walked into the coffee shop where John and two other co-workers were waiting to eat lunch with us.
Four hours later, I scanned in the last document from Granddad’s purely paper filing system. I literally did a happy dance all over the office until John and Stephanie appeared at my door and began applauding my dance skills. Chris followed close behind.
“We are finally paperless, ladies and gentlemen!” I announced. “Now, I am heading home and I won't see you guys for a couple of weeks, okay?”
“You work on your grant. If there are any problems, I’ll get in touch with you.” John high-fived me then turned and walked across the hall into his office, and I got the hell out of Dodge and headed to Granddad’s house.
I spent the next day working from Granddad’s home office, getting his computer set up and integrated with the new system at the main office. I was excited to surprise Luke since he wasn't expecting me until Friday.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Luke
I heard her truck coming down the driveway late Thursday night. I watched as she pulled her bag from the cab and walked over, sitting it on her porch before heading to my door. She saw me and opened the door walking quickly toward me. I stood and put an arm up stopping her.
“Hey handsome,” she smiled and tried to walk into my arms again.
I dodged her.
“Luke, what’s wrong?” she looked confused.
“Why don't you te
ll me the truth?” I growled.
She stood there looking innocent, unaware I’d seen what she was up to. Of course she would look that way. Have a little fun with the poor country boy for a while, but always have her eye on the bigger prize. I was done. After I had been cheated on by my only serious girlfriend, I swore to myself that I would never let it happen again, and there I stood with a girl who was so good at it that she didn't even realize she’d been caught.
“Luke, talk to me. I'm not sure what is going on.”
I turned and walked into the kitchen, the sound of her footsteps behind me. I pulled a glass from the cabinet and the whiskey from the top of the fridge and poured me a full glass. I tipped the liquid back and reveled in the burn.
“I don't understand why you’re angry with me.” Her arms were crossed in front of her, and when I looked at her face she was rolling her bottom lip between her teeth like she did when she was worried.
“Oh, I don't know, Emerson? Maybe because you insist on hanging out with a man you know I don't like.”
“Luke, I don't understand what you are talking about.”
“And have dinner together and lunch,” I rambled on. “And sharing umbrellas and walking arm in arm.”
“What?” Her forehead scrunched up.
“Oh, didn't think I knew about how close you and Christopher really are?”
“Were you in Portland yesterday?” Her eyes widened, but she still maintained her confused facade.
“Yeah, I came to surprise you.” I shrugged. “Seems I was the one in for a surprise. Seems that you and Chris have had something going on. He’s been telling me for months. And I didn’t believe it.”
“That isn't what happened.” Her hands were now balled in fists beside her.
“Oh really? I saw what I saw, and what I saw was a girl and a guy cuddled up under an umbrella all cozy like, laughing as they walked through the rain to go have lunch together alone. There isn't much else you can see in that.”
