Sweetest Heartbreak

by Heather Bentley

“We’ve only been official for a month, Lee. I wasn’t going to introduce her to my friends until I thought it might be going somewhere,” Eli says as he steals one of my grapes and pops it into his mouth. We’re hanging out at Heath’s before meeting Eli’s new girlfriend for dinner tonight.

  “And is it? Going somewhere?” I take a grape and push the bowl toward him, across the kitchen island.

  “If you had asked me that question when we first met a couple of months ago, I’d have said no way. But, now, yeah. It’s good. I really like her.”

  A dreamy look washes over his face causing flashbacks of protective mama-bear feelings over Connor to come rushing back to me. “Why? What happened when you first met?”

  Eli doesn’t miss my concern, and his tone turns pleading. “Can we save this conversation for another time? I want you to come to dinner with an open mind.”

  His answer gives away nothing, but I decide not to push it.

  “Fine. But, one day, you will sit down and spill all the details.”

  “I promise.” He meets my stare before eating another grape.

  I want to like Lindsey. I really do. Because I want Eli to be as happy as I am. But I’ll decide for myself when we meet her in a few hours.

  “Hey, Princess, grab me a towel!” Heath shouts from the depths of his bedroom.

  “I thought you hate when people call you that?” Eli asks.

  I raise a shoulder and smile as I rise from my stool. “Turns out, it’s not as bad as I thought.”

  “So, you’ll be fine with me calling you that from now on?” He raises an eyebrow in jest.

  I get in his face and lower my voice. “Don’t even think about it, Elijah Francine.” I pull away and move toward the hall.

  “Hey, my grandmother was a lovely woman! It’s not my fault my mom thought she’d never have a girl.”

  We both laugh as he walks to the door.

  “I forgot to tell you.” I take a few steps back to the room as he speaks. “I left you tickets for next week’s game at Will Call. Although I don’t know why you’re going. You hate football.”

  “Correction—I don’t hate it. It just bores me out of my ever-loving mind. They are two very different things.”

  He rolls his eyes. “Whatever. I should get going though. Lindsey asked me to come by early. She’s really nervous about meeting you guys.”

  I swat my hand through the air. “Tell her she’s got nothing to worry about.”

  “Trust me, I did at least a hundred times. But I get it. It’s hard enough to meet your boyfriend’s best friend, but when there’s two of them . . .”

  I shake my head as a chastising tsk escapes my lips. “So, you haven’t told her everything about your other best friend?” I point to myself.

  He puffs out a breath. “Not yet. I want to make sure we’re in a good place before I throw that at her.”

  “Well, let me know if I can help in any way. I want good things for you, Eli, and if she is what you want, then I’ll support you in any way I can.”

  He walks over and wraps me in a warm hug. “Love you, Lee.”

  “Love you, too.”

  “Leah!” Heath shouts again.

  Eli pulls away. “I’ll let myself out. See you tonight.”

  I don’t wait for the door to close as I hustle down the hall, grabbing a towel from the linen closet on my way. I hear the water running and walk in to find the rain shower pouring down over his back. When I go to set his towel on the small teak bench, I see one is already there.

  “Hey, you already have a towel.” I turn to find him standing in the shower, wearing nothing but a wicked smile.

  “Do I?” he asks before raising his face to the water.

  I try to maintain focus above his shoulders. Not the glistening body below them.

  Who am I kidding? I sneak a quick glance, which turns into a long one.

  “My eyes are up here, Princess.” He runs his hands over his soapy hair. “And the towel isn’t for me,” he taunts.

  “Oh.” The soapy sight of him has stolen my ability to speak.

  I’ve seen him naked more times than I can count now but usually in bed. Not like this, behind the full glass doors of the shower, where I can admire him, examine every line and ridge. It’s like he’s an exhibit at a fine art show. Or a caged animal.

  I scream as I’m literally pulled from my thoughts, getting soaked in a matter of seconds by the wide stream overhead.

  “Please tell me Eli is gone.”

  I’ve lost the ability to speak, instead choosing to run my hands over his hot, slick skin, watching with intense awe as my fingers glide through the soap bubbles on his chest. His hands lift my face up to his, and his tongue traces my lips.

  “Is. He. Gone?” Fiery eyes look down on me.

  I’m about to answer when he steps me back against the tiled wall and pushes his naked body against my fully clothed one.

  I manage to pump soap into my hands then rub them everywhere I can reach. The feel of his lean, strong body is one of my favorite things in this world, but add soap and water, and I’ve found my newest fixation.

  He releases the button of my khaki shorts and I continue my exploration until he peels my tank top up and over my head and I step out of my shorts and panties. With one hand at my back, he pops open the hook of my bra with practiced ease.

  “Has it been long enough?” he asks, kissing my neck, his fingers wasting no time in sliding between my legs.

  It’s been over a week since I went on the pill and we both got tested.

  He slips two fingers inside me and swirls his thumb, hitting the spot.

  “Yes,” I answer as I buck against the tiled wall and dig my fingers in his hair. I don’t even know what I’m saying yes to right now, Eli or the pill, but fortunately, it’s the right answer to both questions.

  As he continues his pace between my legs, his other hand glides up my arm until his palm wraps high at my neck, angling my face to his. I’m pinned in place as his mouth takes mine and we kiss like we’re in a race, furious and rough. Our teeth clash, and our chests heave. I scrape my fingers down over his shoulders, dragging a rough path to his hips and smiling when I earn a nip to my lips in reward.

  The hand at my neck travels with the water, over my breast and finally to my stomach where he rests his wide palm for a long beat—his way of silently directing me not to move. His body shifts as he kneels before me and plants a trail of cool kisses across my stomach. The water from overhead is hitting his back as steam builds up around us, but it doesn’t hinder the sight of him as he lifts my leg and guides it over his shoulder.

  With my back pressed against the smooth tiles and his mouth between my legs, I tug on his hair, close my eyes, and let him take me to a place I never knew before Heath.

  One hand comes around my backside, pulling me forward, while his other hand pushes my thigh wide, not stopping until my hands slap against the tiles, and my satisfied groans bounce off the fogged glass walls.

  He finds my breasts without haste, squeezing and pinching, as he rises to his feet and my breaths begin to even out. He looms over me, eyes dark and hungry and I have no doubt what they’re saying. It’s my turn. I skim a finger down from his waist and wrap my hand around him, stroking firm and fast. But when I attempt to lead him forward, to where I need him most, his head turns in a slight shake. Instead of giving me what I want, he turns me to face the wall and reaches overhead for the wand as water begins to fire out from its chrome head.

  When I look back at him, questioning, his answer is laced with a sly grin as he slips the wand into my hand and guides it down. His tan hand covers my own until the stream makes contact between my legs, and I involuntarily jolt back against him.

  “Leave it there,” he says in my ear.

  Braced against the wall by nothing more than a forearm, my palm flat on the tile, I do as I am told. When I lose his body heat at my back, a quick glimpse over my shoulder tells me he’s still close. Very close. And very
much watching me.

  Before I begin to think too much, he’s behind me, one hand gripping my shoulder while his other is secured tightly on my hip, and he enters slowly from behind. A strained, “Fuck,” travels from his lips as he moves in deeper and quickens his pace.

  Just when I thought being with him couldn’t get better, the spray from the wand and the force of his thrusts takes me there, harder and faster than any time before. I catch my breath, enjoying his low, guttural groans as he finishes. We stay connected as he pushes aside my wet hair and slides his lips across my shoulder.

  I turn, facing him, and take advantage to study every element of his face. The straight line of his nose. The three small freckles above his right brow. The short, fine scar that runs just below his chin. When I spot a second faint white line at his jaw, I lean in and kiss it.

  He bends in for a kiss, this one slow and smooth, like a relaxing, easy day at the beach. I can have it all with this man. From the hot and fast to the steady and gentle.

  “Move in with me.”

  My mind bounces back to reality. We stand motionless. The only sound is the water pouring around us as he plants light kisses across my cheek and down my neck.

  “Move in with me,” he repeats, his mouth now sweeping across my own.

  My head is spinning. The naïve girl in me wants to clap and cheer and giggle like a fool while the young woman in me wants to analyze and debate if we’re really ready for this.

  As if he senses my internal war, he braces his forearms on the shower wall, trapping me in and demanding my full attention, his blue eyes dark in the haze of mist. “I want to come home to you every day and wake up to you every morning. I want your clothes in my closet and your body in my bed. I want to cook dinners with you and take Sunday naps with you. I want you to fill this place with whatever makes you happy, makes it ours.” He exhales a nervous breath. “Move in with me, Leah. Please.”

  An uncontrollable smile spreads across my face, and all the what-ifs and I don’t knows float away with the steam. “Yes, Heath, I will move in with you.”

  He smiles back in relief. It’s the gorgeous, carefree smile I’m convinced he only shares with me.

  “Good, because I was ready to trap you here until you said yes.”

  I eye the sprayer and whisper shyly, “I’d actually be okay with that.”

  “If you liked that, Princess, then I’ve got some really fun things to show you.”

  When my eyes widen, his laughter bounces around us.

  My experience was limited before Heath, and it showed. So, when he told me that day that I could trust him, I fought against my fears and did just that. I trust him completely—with my body and, more importantly, my heart. And, every day I spend with him, I’m so thankful that I let go and took a chance. Whatever is to come for us, I’m confident we’ll see it through together.

  Heath

  “So, how many kids are in your class?” Leah asks Lindsey.

  We’re meeting her for the first time, and I was so relieved to see that, although she’s good-looking, she’s not Leah 2.0. Lindsey is a few inches taller with dark brown eyes and matching hair that rests on her shoulders along with a narrow face and a wide, toothy smile, almost like she’s got a couple of teeth too many.

  I haven’t decided what I think of her yet. Sure, she’s a kindergarten teacher, but that doesn’t necessarily mean she’s nice and sweet. One of the craziest girls I ever hooked up with was a pediatric nurse. By day, she was tending to sick kids, but by night, she had a fetish for kitchen gadgets. I’ll never look at a spatula the same way again.

  “Twenty, but I have an aide for part of the day.”

  She and Leah continue talking. They seem to be hitting it off, which I’m sure is a big relief to Eli. Although I’d love to be there when he decides to tell her the truth about his past with Leah.

  I shake away the thought. I like to stay in a total state of denial when it comes to the two of them ever being together. In my mind, it never happened. In fact, I’ve taken it one step further and convinced myself that Leah was a virgin when we met.

  “It’s still early. Why don’t we walk over to Duke’s? There’s a band playing tonight that’s supposed to be decent.” Eli proposes the question to the table, but he only has eyes for Lindsey as he speaks.

  With her eyes locked back on his, it seems the feeling is mutual.

  The band won’t start for another hour, so a DJ is pumping music through the space as the bar slowly begins to fill. We’re at a table in the back, talking and getting to know Lindsey better.

  First thing to know about Lindsey is, the girl likes her wine. She even managed to talk Leah into a glass, and I can count on one hand how many times I’ve seen her drink more than a sip or two. Good. I’m glad. Leah deserves to let loose a little bit.

  I take a drink of my tonic and lime as I survey the room. “Fucking hell.” The words fall out from under my breath before I can stop them. Unfortunately, not quiet enough.

  Leah moves her hand to my thigh with a questioning glance as I turn my back on the last person I want to see.

  “Hee-eeth.”

  Damn it. Fucking Laurie Cantano.

  “Hee-eeth.”

  I hate how she always makes my name into two syllables.

  I grab Leah’s hand on my thigh and squeeze, a pre-apology for whatever this bitch is about to bring. Even though I can feel Laurie at my side, I don’t turn.

  “Laurie,” Eli states flatly.

  “Oh, hi, E-lie.”

  Jesus. Did she always talk this way, and I never noticed? Probably. Communication wasn’t really our thing.

  When she gets nothing from me, she moves her arm across my back and around my shoulder, attempting to turn me in her direction. I shake her off and twist toward her as little as necessary, still unwilling to release Leah’s hand.

  “Laurie.” I match Eli’s tone. I catch her looking down at my hand that is gripping Leah’s.

  “I just thought I’d come say hi. Who’s your friend?” She jerks her chin toward Leah. “Is she the reason I haven’t heard from you?” Her muddy-brown hair is frizzier than usual, and she’s wearing a tight, sleeveless shirt cut with a deep-V that reveals the top of her bra, along with shorts that barely cover her ass.

  What was I ever thinking?

  “We’re in the middle of a conversation here. Do you mind?”

  And, just like that, she’s the crazy Laurie I remember from high school.

  She leans into my face and screeches, “Actually, yes, I do mind. When you fuck a girl and say you’re going to call her, then you need to actually call her.” Her voice ascends as she enunciates the last few words just in case the other side of the room can’t hear her.

  Leah’s body goes rigid next to mine before she attempts to pull away from me, but I refuse to let her go.

  Luckily, Eli tries to defuse the situation. “Laurie, we’re just trying to have a nice night here. As you can see, Heath has moved on. So, let’s just be adults about it and go our separate ways.”

  I silently thank Eli. Anything I might have said would not have come out that diplomatic. I’m relieved when she seems to listen to him and turns to leave.

  Just as my spine softens and I loosen my grip on Leah, Laurie lunges past me, shoving a finger an inch from Leah’s face. “You might be a cute little priss, but don’t fool yourself. He’ll get tired of you and come back to me. He always does.”

  I’m off my stool, tendrils of anger flaring up my neck and down my arms as I wrap my hand around Laurie’s finger, twisting it up and away from Leah. When Laurie lets out a yelp, I throw her hand to the side and hiss in her face, “Fuck. Off. Whore.”

  “Enough, Heath,” Eli says sternly from his seat.

  But I hold my scowl. She has the audacity to look at me like an injured puppy before finally walking away.

  We’re done here. I don’t even bother to sit. Instead, I hold my hand out to Leah.

  “We’re leaving?”
r />   Is she kidding me right now? I scorch her with a look that asks just that.

  “Heath, sit down.” She pulls my stool next to her and pats the top. “Please.”

  She waits patiently. Finally, at the sight of her small smile and outstretched hand, I give in and sit. I focus only on my drink as she takes my hand under the table and weaves our fingers together. The weight of her stare grows heavy around us, but I can’t bring myself to face her just yet.

  “I need a drink. Come to the bar with me?” Eli asks Lindsey.

  And, a moment later, they’re gone.

  “Look at me, Heath.” Leah’s grip on my hand tightens, and when I finally turn to her, she’s wearing a compassionate smile. “We all have a bedpost. Yours just has a few more notches than others.”

  Regret burns in my chest at ever letting someone who wasn’t her touch me. She is fresh air and calm seas and the brightest star in the sky. Everything I’ll never be for her. Remorse tears through me over every Laurie who came before her, along with every drug and every drink. Self-doubt grabs ahold of me, jamming an endless stream of fear and anxiety down my throat. Eventually, she’ll figure out she’s too good for me, and she’ll leave me. It’s just a matter of time.

  “Don’t. Whatever you’re thinking, just stop.” She pulls my chin toward her and places a solid, pointed kiss on my lips before angling back. “I know more about you than you realize, Heath. Eli likes to share. A lot. Some of our best nights in college revolved around stories of the two of you as teenagers. Your past makes you who you are. And I wouldn’t change one thing about you.”

  Despite the sincerity of her words, I eye her in disbelief.

  “You still don’t believe me? What about the time when you were seeing two girls behind each other’s backs? When they found out, you continued to tell one that you broke up with the other until they both confronted you and slapped you across the face in the cafeteria. Or how about the college student your dad hired to tutor you in math, and she ended up teaching you a whole lot more than Geometry? And let’s not forget about your friend’s mom.” She leans in until we’re nose-to-nose, her hand burning a path up my thigh and her lips achingly close to my own. “Actually, I should write them all thank-you notes. Because, without all of that experience, you’d never have learned my favorite move. You know which one, right?”