“When I found out he hooked up with Sophia, I knew then he liked it wild.” Maggie responds with a wink. “I want him to have his wild but also his rock. We all need a partner to weather the storms with. Sophia can’t give him that. She is too distracted in her own world to be what my brother needs. Sophia is my friend, I love her, but she’s wasting Harrison’s time and preventing him from seeing what’s right in front of him.”
“He’s happy with her Maggie.”
“He’s comfortable with her. He’s happy, deep down in your bones blissful, with you. He smiles when he talks to you. Hell, he actually talks to you on a regular basis. Don’t get me wrong, he talks to Sophia, but not like he does you. It’s genuine with you, he cares, he is curious about whether you have a good day. Its routine and duty with her. These are observations that anyone close to Harrison can see. Even my mom sees that he is different with you. When they came for the funeral, she watched how attentive and compassionate he was towards you. Harry’s not like that. He’s rough, unemotional, and cold at times. Mentioning your name, he softens, he smiles a real smile, and he gives off a welcoming vibe. I’ve never known him to be like this with anyone but you.”
Taking in all of Maggie’s words, I remain silent. We finish girl’s night out with no further discussions of Harrison’s feelings towards me. I’ve never had so much fun before. Maggie and I really seemed to connect. Kenna even plans to keep in touch with both Elodie and me. Knowing this I smile inwardly; Matt, I really am making friends and letting people in. I’m not alone anymore. I’m learning to stand on my own, be myself, and love me as I am.
Harrison
Maggie and Kenna have returned from their weekend event with Tiffany. They both keep going on and on about the fun they had. Hearing Maggie talk like she and Tiffany have been friends for years brings me immeasurable happiness. I’m not sure why their friendship is affecting me like this, but it is.
I’m on my way to Sophia’s shop to get some new ink. She’s got her station all set up for me to settle in. I have enough space left on my upper arm for a Roman Catholic cross with Matt’s initials around it. I get in the seat; shirt tucked appropriately, and settle in for the tattoo. We aren’t far into the process before Sophia asks the question I’ve been waiting for.
“What is Tiffany to you now that Matt’s gone? I get that you have a past relationship. Matt is dead, he’s not coming back. What’s your obligation to her?”
Her words sharp and cold; a bitter reminder that she doesn’t understand the friendship I shared with Matt. It stings, the realization that the woman I’ve spent two years with doesn’t really know me like I thought. The bond Tiffany and I share is incomprehensible to her.
“She was with me when I was lost. I’ve seen things, babe. I’m not the man I was before. I’ve seen things that can’t be erased. Nothing is easy anymore. I can’t turn a blind eye to what goes on for others. She was with me when I was injured; we weren’t even together, in a serious way, at the time. She sent care packages the entire deployment. When I got back stateside because my knee was too far damaged, she was with my parents at the hospital. She dropped everything in her life, to be by my side. When I was angry about being discharged, she let me get it all out. I threw things, cussed her out, and yelled at the top of my lungs. She stood by day in and day out, letting me sort through it all. When the pain was overbearing and physical therapy exhausting, she was there massaging my tight muscles, relaxing me back to a calmer place.”
“She loves you, do you realize that?” Sophia says in a whisper.
“Yeah, I guess she does in her own way. Outside of Matt, all Tiffany had, and has, is me. She’s doing well now. She’s made friends, got a job, her own place, all without her dad and without me or Matt holding her hand. I know it’s hard to understand, but Tiffany and I aren’t together like that. Yes, she messed up and pushed me away. I now know it’s not because she was ashamed of me, but because she didn’t know how to be independent. She didn’t know how to face her father’s rejection. She’s stronger now and will one day have her happiness. She’s even dating someone. Why the sudden concern for Tiffany and what she is to me? I’m with you Sophia.”
“She’s important to you. Things are different now that she’s back in the picture.”
That’s all she says on the subject. The tattoo is finished in relative silence before we head to her apartment. Inside, I kiss her slowly, teasing her lips with my own. As she opens her mouth seeking more, I merely wisp my tongue across her top lip before sucking on her bottom. After the tattoo shop conversation, I’m determined to take things slow and gentle with her.
After slowly undressing her, I lay her down on her bed on her stomach. I grab a bottle of baby oil out of the nightstand drawer. Moving her hair off her back and neck, I put a small amount of oil on my hands, rubbing them together to warm it up.
I massage her neck slowly, working out every knot. As I begin to knead her shoulders and upper back, I lean down to nibble on her ear lobes. Reaching her sides, I push my large hands along her ribs, lightly brushing the tips of my fingers on the under skin of her breasts. This motion sends shivers through her sensitive skin. Knowing the gentle manipulation is getting to her, I continue to focus on maintaining a slow, gentle pace. Once at her ass, I lean down and brush my nose and lips across her completely relaxed back. She’s moaning in peaceful bliss. At the juncture of her ass and tops of her thighs, I teasingly rub my fingers across her folds and asshole. I make my way, down still kneading and working her tired muscles. Her legs becoming jelly in my hands.
Once I’ve made it all the way down to her feet, I pause to get comfortable. There are thousands of nerve endings in a person’s foot. I take her left foot in my hand, bringing it to my mouth. I blow across the bottom of her foot before I nip the arch area. The unexpected pinch causes Sophia to squeal.
I bite my way back up her body. At her knees, I bend them under her, putting her pink pussy in my face. Pinning her legs down, I begin to lick and then pull back, the tease causing her to rock back seeking more. My hands on her legs still massaging as I take to a torturous tease to her pussy.
“Please, Harrison, give me more. Fuck me, damn it!”
Ignoring her pleas, I continue sucking only to pull away, licking only to stop and blow.
“Spank me, Harrison, do something, give it to me hard. Stop this slow shit and fuck me!” She’s now demanding.
“Oh no, baby, tonight is slow. Tonight, I’m not going to fuck you, Sophia. I’m going to cherish you.”
Before I can stop her, she flips over underneath me. She’s now face up, legs wrapped around my waist pulling me onto her. As I stop my downward movement, trying to slow down the onslaught that is to come, she comes up and kisses me. All coherent thoughts now abandoned as lust over takes me. She’s wrapping a condom around me before I can even comprehend that she had one in her hand. I slam into her tight core without warning or forethought to stop myself. Lost in lust and sensation, I roll us over allowing Sophia to control our pace. She rides me hard and rough, leaning her hands back on my thighs as she arches her back. Our bodies slapping against one another loudly. My climax is building, wanting her with me; I reach between us and rub her clit in a furious pace. She falls forward onto me sobbing as her orgasm courses through her body sending me over the edge. The buildup of waiting gives her an additional dose of adrenaline and is now subsiding as the sensations overtake her.
I feel my chest wet with her tears. Not knowing why, I gently move her off of me. I move into the bathroom to dispose of the condom. I return and pull her into me in the bed. She’s quiet, unusually quiet. Something is wrong.
“Sophia, baby.” I say, but before I can finish she’s put her hand on my mouth to quiet me.
“Not right now, Harrison, please.”
Deciding now isn’t the time; I rub her back in small circles until she finally drifts off to sleep. No matter how hard I try, sleep evades me. I need to know what’s really going on with Sophia.
Chapte
r Fifteen
The Truth Will Set Someone Free
Tiffany
Time flies when you’re having fun…..or so they say. I believe time flies when you’re busy. Work is great; Elodie, Susan, and Josie are like family, but Alex that is an entirely different circumstance. We’ve been dating well over six months now and yet we’ve shared nothing more than a few chaste kisses. When I’m with him, I feel like a piece of arm candy. It’s like being under my father’s wing again. The chemistry, the spark, it’s always been lacking, but his demeanor to parade me around at business events gets old.
We are at an evening cocktail event tonight. Another country club affair that will bore me to tears. We are seated before I can take notice of the place cards surrounding us. The bustling activity around me momentarily distracts me from the approaching couple. Movement beside me draws my attention. There in all their pristine perfection was none other than my Dad and Candice.
“Good evening, Tiffany. Pleasure seeing you here.” My father states with a knowing glint in his eyes. He reaches behind me to greet, a now standing, Alex with a handshake. “Alex, how are you this evening? Partnership is getting closer for you each day so it would seem.”
My upbringing in these situations calls out for me to plaster a smile on my face and trudge through. All while, the newly independent and strong woman inside me is screaming to be turned loose.
“Alex, what is going on?” I ask trying to calm my voice as my entire body begins to shake.
“Nothing, dear, we are attending a charity business dinner for my job. Mr. King is my boss, sweetheart. I would introduce you, but it seems you already know one another.” He says, all too calmly.
“Alex, I need to leave.” I manage to get out. Part of me knows I’ve been played while the other part of me wants to believe Alex is innocent. Either way, I need to escape my father’s presence. His continued leer is making my stomach churn.
I start to push my chair out, as Alex grips my arm firmly and uses his leverage standing to push my chair back.
“Eh, eh, eh, not happening. Behave yourself Tiffany there is more riding on tonight than just our relationship.” Alex whispers in my ear.
Becoming numb, I settle in at a loss for what to do. Dinner starts, my appetite now nonexistent, I pick at my plate. My Dad has been sitting stoically beside me the entire evening. At dessert he leans over to me and whispers.
“Tiffany, you could have it all again. No need to work for minimum wage for that small bakery, you could have the BMW back. Alex can provide for you in the ways that you are accustomed to.”
“That’s what this is about. You sent Alex after me, to do what exactly?” I’m trying to hold back tears as it slowly sinks in that everything has been a lie. Alex didn’t like me for me.
“Alex is to remind you what life was like before your loyalty to Matt consumed you. Matt’s dead Tiffany, he’s not coming back. Why suffer by hanging out with his people when you could have your life back to the way it was?”
Seething in anger and sadness, I stand up. “Life the way it was - no amount of money will ever make me want to go back to that. You’re all hung up on presentation and material things. There is no genuine love or care. Matt and his friends are the only ones to ever love and accept me just as I am. I will gladly work minimum wage until the day I die doing something I love than spend one more second in your presence.” I stand, grabbing my clutch, I walk away, never once looking back.
Outside, I reach the courtyard, when I hear Alex call my name. Turning to face him, I see the desperation in his eyes to make my dad happy.
“Fuck off douchebag. Lose my number. Go be my Dad’s bitch, you have no balls anyway.”
I hop in the back of my Dad’s town car knowing Bill, his long time driver, won’t refuse me. Once home, I get in comfortable clothes, grab the ice-cream and cry over the evening, over my life, and over everything. I wish Harrison was here to comfort me, to make me laugh, and to tell me it will all be alright. I’ve sealed my fate now. My Dad will never forgive my behavior tonight. That door is closed and although another loss hurts, it feels good to know my future is completely free of him.
Harrison
Holding my niece for the first time is surreal. Dina and Ryder are now the proud parents to a precious baby girl. Lauren Renee Davenport captured my heart in a single breath. They’re all settled in at home being showered with attention. My parents came to visit, Maggie has practically moved in with them, Kenna lives next door, and I visit daily.
Sophia has stayed away and for the life of me I don’t understand why. She’s avoided talking about her emotional state from the other night and still refuses to let me be slow and gentle. We’re all going to Jake and Kenna’s for dinner, Sophia included. Baby Lauren will be there so Sophia will have to come out of her self-induced shell. Who can resist being happy with all that chubby baby goodness around?
Dinner begins relatively quiet. Lauren is sleeping in her carrier, content to be surrounded in love. We all chat amongst each other. Lauren begins to fuss, a cute whimper that quickly becomes a raging wail. Dina, and everyone else at dinner are so focused on the baby’s new eruption, they miss the look that crosses Sophia’s face. I don’t however. Her next statement doesn’t surprise me either.
“Harrison, I’m not feeling so well, can we please leave?”
“Sure.” I respond simply.
The ride to her apartment is one in silence. Sophia is lost in her own thoughts. I plan to change that, something is going on and she needs to let me in. At her door, she tries to send me away, but I’m having none of it. I follow her inside.
“Okay, Soph. What gives?”
Without warning she lets loose. “I told you my heart belongs to someone else. My son. Yes, Harrison, I have a child. I was fifteen and I haven’t seen him or his father since just after he was born.”
Stunned by her omission I stand there as she sobs hysterically.
“I told you I have no future with you. He’s thirteen years old. I have five more years to wait. Once he’s of legal age, I hope he will understand what happened. Until then, my life is stalled. No one can love me and I can love no one beyond my son. My heart aches daily for the little boy I never got to hold.”
I reach out to hold her, comfort her, and provide solace. She pushes me away.
“No. No more Harrison. You’ve been a great distraction, a way to pass the time these last two years, but it’s over. Hearing baby Lauren cry brings back my reality. I must remain diligent and focused in having my life together for him. I dropped out of school, gave up on everything but art after his grandfather took him from me. Since my mother lost her job in all of this, I used my art to help support us after the payoff ran out.”
At the word payoff, I gasped. My reaction sent her into a tailspin.
“Yes Harrison, a fucking payoff. My mother is an illegal immigrant. She came to America to make a better life for me. What did I do? I thought I was in love with the son of her boss. I lost my virginity to him, became pregnant. When his dad found out, he threatened that if we didn’t sign over custody of the baby, my mother and I would be deported. The papers drawn up and signed before I even knew what exactly I had agreed to. I had two days in the hospital with my baby right down the hall, unable to see him. Then we were gone and he was gone. They fired my mom, but had given us enough money to relocate from Texas, and set up a follow up job. We moved around a lot until we got to Charlotte and I was able to really have a solid clientele. Thirteen years I have survived with not a day going by that I don’t miss my child.”
I sink down onto her couch. I’m speechless, unable to complete a thought.
“Sophia, there are people who can help you. I’ll help you. You don’t have to wait five more years.”
“Yes, I do Harrison; I have a no contact order. I’ve saved twice in the past to have lawyers look at my case and even had a friend who hired a private investigator. The papers I signed even as a minor hold tight. I promised myself I would
not allow my heart to any man again until I met my son as a young man. I promised I would not allow myself to be cherished or loved until I had the other half of my soul with me. Until I have my son, until he knows what happened, I can’t be with you Harrison. As much as you bring my body pleasure, my heart and mind never leave my son. You’re a great man, Harrison. You deserve a woman who can give you everything. I can’t, do you understand that now? I don’t even know how I’m going to handle being around Dina now.”
Recognizing that this is it, Sophia really can’t be with me, I don’t feel as hurt as I thought I would. More so, I feel pain for my friend. The loss she has to face every single day. I miss Matt every single day, he’s my brother. I know he can’t come back to us though. What would it be like to know someone you love is out there, but you can‘t be with them? Slowly, I make my way to the door, conscious that Sophia is ready to let me go. She needs me to go. This is what she’s determined for herself and there is no convincing her otherwise. I lean down, hold her close, I kiss her forehead, and leave.
Chapter Sixteen
All Work and No Play
(8 Months Later)
Tiffany
Work has kept Elodie and me busy. After the country club event, I haven’t heard a word from my father or Alex; granted I did change my phone number, but no one has shown up to try to talk to me. Elodie’s divorce is final. She moved out of her mom’s house. She and Josie now live within walking distance from my condo, in a charming little house that feels like it was made for them. Things are falling into place for both of us. Our friendship is rock solid and something I find to be important in my life. Never before did I miss having friends, until I realize what it is to have them.
We are playing spa at her house, letting Josie paint our toenails, when my phone chimes. Maggie has text me.
Wanna go to the beach house next weekend with us?
Love and Repair Series Box Set Page 34
