Lives Collide (Collide #1)

by Kristina Beck

  “I like any wine, darling. Thanks. Can you please put it in the fridge for later?”

  “Let me do that for you.” I take the bottle from Lisa’s hand and place it next to a bottle of champagne in the fridge.

  Lisa leans over the stove. “Everything smells so delicious. I’m starving. Hospital food is nothing to write home about. Actually, it’s pretty disgusting. This meal will be a real treat. What are you making?”

  “Tuna carpaccio for the appetizer, Thai vegetables with chicken and rice for the main dish, and for dessert, homemade lemon sorbet.”

  “Wow. I wasn’t expecting a meal like this. I’ll come here more often.”

  I hope so.

  “We have a bottle of champagne,” I say. “Why don’t we open it?” I take it as a yes when Mom pulls out the champagne flutes from the cabinet.

  Lisa’s smile stretches from ear-to-ear. “I love champagne. I can’t even remember the last time I had some.”

  I carefully open the bottle, praying it doesn’t shoot out. I fill the flutes to the rims.

  Alexa grabs her flute. “Let’s make a toast.”

  “What are we toasting to?” Mom questions brightly.

  “Did you buy a new pair of shoes?” I joke.

  We laugh.

  “Just for that comment, I should throw my champagne in your face. Be nice to me, James.” Alexa clears her throat. “Can I please finish?” She raises her flute. “To James and Lisa officially meeting each other after all these years.” She looks at Lisa and me. “Cheers to you both. You are lucky to have found one another. Since you have met, little by little the old James is peeking through. We couldn’t be happier or more thankful.”

  Lisa and I clink our glasses together with our eyes locked. The intimate moment is interrupted when everyone else tries to clink our flutes.

  I put my arm around Lisa and kiss her forehead. “Are you all right?” I whisper.

  “Yes, I’m better than all right. Your family is very warm and friendly. I feel comfortable here.”

  “I hope so. They seem to be fascinated with you,” I say as my parents walk to the dinner table.

  To prove my words, Mom says with enthusiasm, “Lisa, come sit at the dinner table and talk to us.” Her bracelets tap on the table as she seats herself. “I hear you are a psychiatrist. That has to be an interesting medical field. I hope it’s not too depressing.”

  Lisa walks over and sits across from Mom. I proceed to sit at the end of the table between them.

  “It can be a bit draining at times. But there are days when I see the medical team has made positive progress with a patient. It makes it all worthwhile. I doubt I’ll work in a hospital once my residency is over. I would love to open my own practice one day.” She pulls her chair closer to the table. “My goal is to specialize in helping people work through traumatic experiences or losses or something related. This can be done one on one or in a group setting. Have you ever heard of post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD?”

  “Yes, just a little bit. Soldiers suffer from something like that when they come back from serving in a war or battlefields. Correct?” Mom says.

  “Yes, that’s correct. However, it’s not just an experience like that. It could range from losing someone close to you, having some kind of serious accident that you were directly involved with or witnessed, domestic violence, or being a rape victim. There are many reasons why someone can suffer from that.”

  She sips her champagne. “I’m sure James has told you about our connection with the car accident.”

  She smiles at me and looks back at Mom. “Because of the accident, I’ve dealt with similar problems common to PTSD. It took me years of therapy to come to terms with issues caused by the accident and to deal with the death of my mom. I still hate driving in a car. I had one specific therapist who really helped me, and I couldn’t be more thankful I found her. I still have bad days after all these years, but I know how to cope with them. Since then, I decided to attempt a career in medicine. I want to help people in need, as my therapist helped me.”

  I sip some champagne as I watch them talk to each other with ease. I realize Lisa still has her jacket on.

  I rub her knee. “Should I hang your jacket? Sorry I didn’t ask you when you arrived.”

  She shakes her head. “No thanks. I’d like to keep it on if you don’t mind.” She smiles.

  Mom grabs Lisa’s hand. “We are sorry you lost your mother. We were speechless—weren’t we, John?—when James told us what you both figured out. What are the chances? We remember the moment he came back home after the accident. He was pretty upset and a little bit in shock. It’s amazing you still have his leather jacket.” She reaches over and brushes her thumb across the jacket sleeve. “He always wondered what happened to you both. We tried to help him find information regarding the accident, but nothing was in the papers.”

  After Mom stops talking, Lisa looks at me. I can’t read her face. Maybe she’s having a moment of clarity. Talking about it openly with other people confirms it was really us. It gives me clarity.

  “Mom, can you help me bring the food to the table?” Alexa yells from the kitchen.

  “I can do it, Kathleen. You stay right here.” Lisa gets up from the table and walks into the kitchen.

  “Thanks, dear.”

  My eyes follow her as she walks away, and Mom notices.

  She nudges me with her elbow. “She’s really nice and quite beautiful. I can see by the way you look at her that there’s chemistry between you two. Enjoy it.” I don’t say anything, but I know she is right.

  I stand up to help Lisa place the dishes on the table. I whisper into her ear, “I guess Alexa has good timing. I hope it didn’t upset you we were talking about your accident. Your face was hard to read.”

  “Actually, it did the opposite. It’s really nice to be open about it. I feel like I can be myself in front of your family. It’s such a breath of fresh air to talk freely about it.”

  Chapter 28

  Lisa

  “Let’s eat, everyone! I’m starving.” Alexa prances over to the table while taking off her red apron.

  Minutes pass by as we eat. The only sound in the room is from the silverware scraping the dishes.

  “Alexa, this is absolutely delicious. You’ve outdone yourself this time,” Kathleen proudly says.

  “Thanks, Mom. You taught me how to cook.” Alexa reaches over and gives her a hug. I can see how they really love each other. It makes me miss my family.

  Kathleen then puts her hand on James’s arm. “James, we have a surprise. We are staying at the Snow Peak Lodge in Killington for Christmas and New Year’s. We haven’t gone there since your accident. You never had time when you were going to medical school. Would you be interested in going with us this year? Would it scare you to try to ski again? I wonder if you would be able to hold a ski pole securely with your left hand.”

  I chime in with a smile. “I used to go to Killington all the time. I think the last time I was there was when I was a freshman in college. I love skiing. I skied as much as I could back then.” I pause to wipe my mouth with a napkin. “James, what kind of accident did you have? Was it bad?”

  He angles in my direction. “Yes, it was bad. I was going into my last semester at Johnson College. The college we both went to.” He squeezes my hand. “Mom and Dad, did I tell you that? We both went to the same college and medical school.”

  “Seriously? How spooky,” she says as she shivers. Alexa seems to have her mother’s personality.

  “Anyway, we always stayed at the Snow Peak Lodge. Alexa and I went out to the slopes early that morning.”

  I’m listening attentively and choke on my champagne when I hear he was hit by another skier and a girl named Lisa, with black hair, helped him before the ski patrol came. I had black hair at the time.

  Alexa interrupts and explains how she was at his side, crying. I remember Alexa. I thought she was his girlfriend.

  He describes the severit
y of his injuries and why he couldn’t become a surgeon. He keeps talking, but I can’t hear him anymore because my ears are buzzing. I stare into space as my heart races and my stomach turns.

  “Lisa, what’s wrong? Are you feeling sick?” James asks as he touches my shoulder.

  “Yes, I’m feeling nauseated. I think I need to go home. Can you please call me a cab?” I try to stand up, but my legs are like rubber.

  “No, I’ll drive you home myself. Let me get your handbag. I’ll grab a bag in case you need to throw up.” He rushes into the kitchen.

  “I’m so sorry, Alexa. Maybe I’m allergic to something. I’m so embarrassed.” I stand up and steady myself. It’s taking everything in me not to lose it right now.

  “I hope it wasn’t something I cooked,” Alexa says. “Please feel better. James will take care of you. Come back soon.” She rubs my back.

  “Nice to meet you, John and Kathleen. I probably picked up a bug or something from the hospital.”

  “Do you have everything, Lisa?”

  I look around and see he has my handbag, and I’m still wearing my jacket.

  “Yes. Are you sure I can’t just take a cab? I don’t want to ruin your evening with your family.” I extend my arm to take my handbag, but my hands shake profusely. His eyebrows squeeze together in confusion. He yanks it away.

  “You are not taking a cab,” he says with a sharp tone.

  “Fine, then please take me home as fast as possible.”

  James drives very carefully. He probably thinks I’m going to throw up. That would be the least of our problems. I don’t want him to know the real reason for my actions. We aren’t talking, which makes the silence unbearable.

  “Do you think it was the food?” he asks.

  I nod.

  “Do you feel like you are going to throw up?”

  I shrug.

  “Close your eyes for a little while. We’ll be at your apartment in a few minutes.”

  As he parks his car, I jump out and sprint to my apartment. He’s right behind me. As he gets closer, I try to close the door so he can’t get in. He’s too fast and pushes the door open.

  “Lisa, what the hell is going on? I have a feeling it has nothing to do with the food you ate tonight. Talk to me, or please let me help you,” he shouts with his hands on his hips.

  “James, please go home. I can’t be around you right now.”

  “What the hell is that supposed to mean? Is there something you aren’t telling me?” He enters the apartment a few feet and slams the door. “I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on. You know you can tell me anything.”

  He’s in the kitchen while I’m standing in the living room, leaning against the back of the sofa. I drop my head because I can’t look at him. Why am I so scared?

  “I was there,” I whisper.

  “Lisa, I can’t hear you. Please look at me.”

  My stinging eyes roam up his body to his face. “I was there, James.”

  “You were where?” He grimaces.

  I stab my chest with my finger. “I was the girl who helped you when you had your ski accident. Your head was in my lap. My fingers were caressing your face. It was my voice that was soothing to hear,” I exclaim.

  “I had black hair at the time. Back then I changed my hair color regularly. You are lucky you didn’t see it when it matched my pink ski jacket.” I cackle nervously.

  “I remember Alexa. I thought she was your girlfriend. She wore a bright-red ski suit. She screamed your name over and over again. Every time I heard the name James after that day, I thought about you. Tina was with me. She helped get the ski patrol.

  “I’m looking at your eyes right now. When we met those couple of times in the beginning, I would always think of the car accident, then the ski accident. Your eyes and your name. It was all so confusing and seemed completely impossible you could be the same person. I ignored my instincts. Your eyes are so beautifully unique, and now you are standing in front of me. How can you be the same fucking person from both accidents?” I slam my hands on the back of the sofa.

  My voice rises. “How did we not recognize each other right away? It’s all so frustrating, so frightening. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Why are our lives so intertwined like this? Why have we only reconnected now? I thought things like this only happened in books and movies.”

  Chapter 29

  James

  “No! This can’t be true,” I blurt out, but everything she said is true. I shake my head in disbelief.

  I take a moment to reflect on that day. “It was your voice I remembered. How it soothed me and kept me calm while we waited for the ski patrol. When I slept at your apartment the first time, I remember you talking to me right before I passed out. Your voice was the same. That’s why I put your hand on my cheek to say thank you.”

  I inch toward the living room, careful not to get too close to her.

  “These last weeks have been surreal. Everything we’ve experienced and discovered has yanked me out of my anger and depression. I can’t say I’m healed, but I think I’m on my way. Lisa, you’re the best thing that has happened to me in a long time.” I keep my distance, even though my body aches to touch her.

  She looks at me, her eyes wide. “When I brought you home when you were drunk, you looked at me and asked, ‘Is it you?’ You recognized me but just dismissed it. I’m blown away it’s you, but every time I go through it in my head, I’m more mental than I already was.” She tugs on her hair. “It’s so much to process in such a short amount of time.”

  My body and mind encourage me to go to her, but I’m not sure she wants me near her. “Don’t worry. We’re in this together. I agree this seems impossible, but almost comical as well. I believe we’re meant to meet properly at this time in our lives. We have helped each other in our past, which helped shape our future. We each have had our ups and downs, but it’s our time to be together. Must we analyze it? Or can we just follow our hearts and see what happens?”

  “I don’t understand how you can be so calm, while I’m freaking out inside.” Her arms are wrapped around her stomach, as if trying to give herself comfort.

  I want to be the one to keep her safe and warm. Our eyes lock as I step closer. I put my hands on the back of the sofa, caging her in. A single tear drops down her cheek.

  I inch forward and whisper, “I have no idea why I’m so calm. What I do know for sure is I want to kiss you.” Her chest moves rapidly up and down. My lips skim over her cheek and stop where our lips are bound to touch. “Are you going to stop me again?”

  She shakes her head.

  In an instant, my lips collide with hers. I run my hands down the sides of her body. She wraps her arms around my back and pulls me against her. I taste the salt from her tears. Where should I touch her first? I have wanted to touch and taste every part of her body for so long now.

  We stop to take a breath. I step back to see if she will stop me. Thankfully, the opposite happens. She walks away from the sofa, stops, and turns around. She brings her hands up to her red sweater. I watch her slowly pull it up over her head, revealing a lacy red bra. She drops the sweater to the floor, then reaches forward and opens the bra’s front clasp. It slides down her arms and falls to the floor. I memorize every beautiful curve of her body.

  “You are beyond perfect.”

  I follow her lead and pull off my T-shirt, tossing it to where her sweater lies. Her eyes sweep over my bare chest. We both move a few steps closer to one another. She’s close enough I can touch her. I reach out and graze her skin with my fingers. She throws her head back and takes a deep breath. I see her neck, and I want to bite it. I grab her and turn her around so her back is against my chest and her head is to the side. I push her hair away and start to kiss and suck on her neck. I don’t care if I leave a mark.

  “I wanted to do this to you on your birthday. I love this part of your body. Your neck and back were completely exposed with the black dress you wore.
I could have licked you right there in the bar. It was so hard to keep my hands off you. I fought it, but I can’t anymore.”

  She raises her arm and puts her hand in my hair, pulling me gently, encouraging me to explore her body more.

  I reach in front of her and cup her breast with one hand as the other one travels lower. Her body was meant for me. She arches her back while rubbing up against me. I’m going to explode if I don’t slow down. I turn her around and kiss her long and slow, this time enjoying every movement we make.

  She puts her hands on my shoulders and softly pushes me away. She takes my hands and guides me toward her bedroom. She turns on a small lamp next to her bed. It gives off a soft glow that lets me see all of her.

  She proceeds to remove her pants, revealing a matching red thong. My thoughts are jumbled. The only words I can say are “come here” as I sit on the edge of the bed. She smirks and teases me by taking her time as she comes closer. She stands in front of me now, almost naked, and it’s all for me. I pull her closer and eagerly kiss her waist. Her hands glide through my hair, pulling me closer.

  Chapter 30

  Lisa

  James’s mouth is so warm, and his tongue tantalizes my skin in ways that make me tremble. I straddle his legs as his kisses burn a trail up to my mouth—kisses that will emotionally scar me for life. I want to feel that burn everywhere. My bare skin against his.

  He stops kissing me so he can watch me unbuckle his belt and then his jeans. “This is all I have been thinking about since the night we kissed. I can’t resist you anymore. I tried so hard not to think of you in this way. But every time I see you, you take my breath away. I need to see all of you. Touch all of you.” I trace my fingers down his chest and then to his stomach. His ab muscles contract. His body is beyond my every fantasy.

  His eyes close, and he whispers, “I want you to touch me. All of me. My body is yours. Look how I respond to your touch. Let your walls fall down.”

  My body shakes in anticipation as I push his black boxers down. My throat goes dry, and my breathing becomes even more irregular. “You make my body react in ways I didn’t think were possible. It’s euphoric. You see the real me. I’m not like this with anyone. I have never been like this with anyone.”