by Ali Parker
He turned and kissed her palm before looking back down at her. "You told me about your dad back in Maine. It's my turn."
"You don't have to share if you..." He cut her off as he pulled her toward a large rock and sat down, patting the space beside him.
"Hush and sit down. I want you to know everything about me, good and bad."
Lisa joined him and reached over, rubbing her hand along his thigh as her stomach tightened. She would have to be careful or they would be naked and showing their love in the middle of the waterfall soon.
"My mom loved my dad the way your dad loves your mom. She worked her ass off to make ends meet and he dicked around in school for far too many years. When he finally graduated, he went from being a joke to making loads of money within a few years. He just hit a sweet spot in the banking industry and I guess he thought he didn't need her anymore." Marc paused and shifted his eyes from Lisa toward the waterfall in front of them. "It crushed her. I had always had commitment issues as a kid because Drayer had his heart handed to him time and time again. I started fucking around just to prove a point to him, and pretty soon, I realized that I liked to live the life of non-commitment. Girls were bitches... and most of them whores in my world."
"Marc..." Lisa reached out and brushed her hand over his back.
"After my father cheated on my mom, I knew that I couldn't be in a relationship. Like you were scared of becoming your father, I was mine. Frat boy asshole? Check. Partying all the fucking time instead of holding down a job and helping my family? Check." He coughed and shook his head as if trying to push the painful memories away. "I couldn't be the cheater too. I figured if I never committed that I would just be a playboy, but never... ever a cheater."
"Is that why the situation with Michael seemed so bad to you?"
"Is Michael rich old dude?"
Lisa laughed softly and nodded before moving into Marc's lap, her chest pressed to his as she straddled him. He cupped her butt and leaned forward to press kisses on her chest and neck.
"Yeah, that's rich old dude."
"Do you want me to be rich? I can still get into med school if I get my head in the game."
"No, baby. I want you to be happy. I want you to be with me, whatever that means. I can move back to New York or whatever." She leaned down and kissed him softly, suddenly wanting to explore him for hours.
He kissed her back and wrapped his arms tightly around her. Breaking the kiss, Marc glanced up at her. "I think I want to come to Maine, but I need to talk with my mom. I'm not sure leaving her here is such a good idea. If she's okay, then I'm coming to you when I'm done in a year from now."
"When is this semester over?"
"One more month. I have three weeks off after that. I'm still surviving on a scholarship, so I'll come stay with you for that break if you want me to."
"Of course I want you to." Lisa kissed him again as she ran her fingers through his hair. She sucked his lip into her mouth, a soft moan leaving them both as she pressed her teeth against the thick meat.
"We don't need to make any other plans right now, Marc." Lisa moved back, her fingers pressing into his shoulders and rubbing up to his neck. "We know that the plan is forever. How long it takes us to get there, or the journey we travel is irrelevant."
"I used to think I was justified in being a whore, in wanting only lust to rule my world. I was wrong." Marc reached up and slid his fingers into her hair. "It was a defense mechanism, but it's gone now. I want you forever, Lisa."
"You have me, baby... forever."
Epilogue
One Month Later
"Marc, grab the tray of pickles and onions Sicily put together in the kitchen, baby." Lisa turned from the picnic table on the back porch of their large house in Maine.
"How about you get them and I'll just follow closely behind you?" He smiled and wagged his eyebrows as Kari reached out and swatted at him.
"No," Kari responded, rolling her eyes. "If you both go into the house again it will be another freaking hour until we see either of you. I'm ready to eat."
"She's right. Marc, get the tray. Lisa, go pour tea in the glasses." Sicily walked toward Jake and put her hand out as he gave her the spatula.
"Why do you always have me start the burgers, but I never get to finish them?" He laughed and moved to stand beside Drake as Sicily stuck out her tongue.
"She wants us to give her the compliments when we decide they're the best damn burgers in the universe." Lisa looked over her shoulder and laughed. Marc had been with her for the last three days and she had him for a few more weeks. Her mood was light and fun, her heart on fire for the man who had disappeared into the house.
She turned and finished pouring the tea as the door opened and Marc came out, whistling something. Lisa glanced over at him, a smile lifting her lip.
"I got the pickles and onions. See? Everyone happy?" he muttered and winked at Lisa, setting the tray down and wrapping his arms around her from behind. She put the tea pitcher down and turned to face him, sliding her arms around his waist.
"I don't want you to go back to school." She pouted as she glanced up at him.
"I know, baby. I could quit and become your assistant. We could go to all the showings together and baptize each room before selling it." He smirked as gagging sounds rose up behind them.
Lisa laughed and moved to face her friends, Marc pulling her into a side hug as she glanced up at him. "I think they're jealous."
"I'm not," Kari responded before moving to Jake and wrapping her arms around him. "I found my Prince Charming."
Marc gagged. Drake laughed and walked to the table beside them, picking up a pickle and eating it quickly as Sicily looked over her shoulder.
"No eating the fixings before the burgers are ready." She lifted her eyebrow at him.
Lisa popped Drake in the stomach and narrowed her brow playfully. "Yeah. No eating the pickles. The full jar in the cabinet will not be used tonight. It's for a more special occasion."
Drake winked and picked up another pickle, sucking at it sensually when Sicily turned around.
"Good grief, Drake. You're so vulgar. You fit in perfectly with Lisa and Marc." Sicily turned back around and started to pull burgers off the grill.
Jake stepped up and held a platter as she loaded it up. "Glad Kari and I aren't considered vulgar."
"We were at one time, baby. We've moved past that." Kari shrugged as if it were a bad thing. Jake laughed and Lisa joined in, knowing exactly how it felt to always be the vulgar one.
Drake glanced to Lisa and mouthed, 'watch'.
"Sicily. I like my burger medium-rare, baby. Juicy, like my women." He smirked, pulling his expression down as she turned and rolled her eyes.
"Then cook it yourself. I'll not have you judging me or my abilities by the juiciness of my burgers." She walked toward him and extended the spatula. "Here. Get to it."
"He's just picking at you." Lisa took the spatula and popped Sicily on the butt with the greasy thing as she yelped. Marc grabbed it from Lisa and popped her on the butt too, her white Capri pants ruined no doubt from his efforts.
Lisa yelped and grabbed a glass of tea, tossing it toward him as they all started laughing. Marc growled softly and gave her a look that could only lead to pleasure.
"Oh, that's it. You better run, pretty girl." Marc moved toward her and Lisa yelped, twisting from his grasp and running down the stairs of the patio. She glanced behind her as he jumped the railing, and she screamed again, laughter bubbling up in her. She hadn't acted so silly since she was in junior high, but damn if it didn't feel good. She ran toward the edge of the bay, turning and putting her hands up.
"All right... you win. You're the bigger person. No need to retaliate." Lisa shook her head, knowing that he wasn't about to let it go.
"Take her ass into the bay," Sicily yelled as Drake moved beside her, closer than Lisa would have imagined. Were they dating? No. Sicily would have mentioned it.
"Yeah... get her." Drake smiled
like a schoolboy.
"Marc Martin. Don't you dare take her into that filthy water! You'll ruin her pretty outfit," Kari yelled as she moved in beside Sicily.
Marc had yet to turn toward them. His attention was only for Lisa. He licked his lips and dragged his eyes down the front of her as she swatted at him.
"Listen to your sister. You do not want to do this." Lisa shook her head and took another step back as he stepped forward.
"Jake? Whatcha think, buddy?" Marc yelled into the sky.
"She needs a good scrubbing. I vote you get her."
"Jake! You're supposed to be on my side," Lisa yelled as Marc moved toward her, sweeping her up in his arms and rushing them into the warm water of the bay. He turned around and faced their friends as the water reached his waist, Lisa in his arms.
"Just want you all to know that I love this girl." He let her legs go as she swatted at him. Marc caught her hands and pulled her to him, leaning down to kiss her long and passionately as their friends whooped and hollered.
Lisa broke the kiss and narrowed her eyes on him. "You ass."
"Your ass." He pulled her close, grabbing her butt tightly and smirking. "Hold your breath, baby."
"What? Why?"
"Because I've fallen deeply in love with you, girl. I'm not ever letting you come up for air." He chuckled before wrapping his arms around her and pulling her under the water with him, his lips finding hers as she pushed her heart into the kiss.
Lust would always be an old friend, her go-to emotion, but love would now find a warm welcome within her as well. No longer would she allow her past to justify her future.
Forever was their promise, but she knew, without a doubt, that forever would never be long enough.
The End
Judged is up next for you...
JUDGED
“Once Judged, Always Judged”
Chapter 1
Sicily pressed her forehead to the door of the dressing room and let out a long sigh. Was there anything more depressing than trying on clothes because you couldn't fit into a damn thing in your closet?
"You okay?" Kari's voice was far too soft, her friend aware of her struggles.
"I guess. I just think this is stupid. I plan on losing this extra weight... like now. Spending money I really don't have on clothes that I'm not going to be able to wear soon seems dumb." Sicily moved back and unzipped the pants that fit perfectly. Too bad they were two sizes bigger than she wore back in New York. It had been six months since she, Lisa and Kari had left New York and moved to Bar Harbor, Maine. The need to break away from the big city and start a new life had panned out well for both Kari and Lisa, each of them in happy, healthy relationships.
I'm the only one without a guy. Maybe if I was thinner... Definitely.
"Sicily. Losing weight is a great plan, but you have to have something covering your pretty butt now or you're going to give all these older people a heart attack." Kari let out a short laugh and Sicily forced herself to chuckle as well.
The community was more of a retirement locale, but there were still plenty of people their age working and living around them. It wasn't about wanting someone to make her feel pretty or keep her company, but more about fitting in. Being the fifth wheel with her friends was getting old. She would start looking for love as soon as she got back into shape. No one deserved to be with someone who was obsessive about her size and most likely headed toward a heart attack any minute.
She shuddered at the thought, pushing down the memories of her mother's death earlier that year.
"Do those pants fit? They were cute." Kari's voice was hopeful, leaving Sicily to feel like shit that she hadn't told Kari no to her coming. It was traumatizing enough to realize that she needed to step on the scale, seeing that she had gained more weight than she had convinced herself of. Having her best friend, her thin, beautiful, best friend, standing on the other side of the door trying to coach and encourage her was mortifying.
Sicily took a slow breath and turned to look in the mirror as tears burned her gaze. "I'm good."
"No you're not. I can hear it."
"I just need a few minutes. I'll meet you up front." Sicily swallowed the thick knot that sat in her throat.
Moving back to the small bench in the room, she sunk down on it and pressed her hands to her knees, trying to force herself to pull it together. It was just a few pounds. She would go for a jog that afternoon and start back on her meat and veggies diet at lunch. Owning the best bakery in Bar Harbor didn't mean she had to look the part of a trustworthy chef.
Maybe if she had decided to sell diet products or to bake pastries and treats without sugar or flour or oil. She rolled her eyes and slid her hands into her long dark hair, tugging a little in hopes of letting out a little bit of her angst. How long had she watched her weight to make sure she didn't look like her mother's side of the family? They were Sicilian and her mother and older brother were far too heavy, their legs thin and middles portly.
"And she died because of it. You will too. Fat ass." Sicily glanced up at herself in the mirror, flinching at the harshness of her own words. Being the only one in the room when her mother suffered a massive heart attack had left a severe toll on her and yet here she was... starting to look more and more like the woman she missed every day since her passing.
Sicily angrily wiped her tears away and got up, tugging the pants off and leaving her back to the mirror. She didn't want to see herself without clothes covering up most of her. It was mid-October and she was so beyond grateful for fall's arrival. Not because of the cooler weather or all of the great events and holidays. It was simply a time where she could wear jeans and sweaters and cover herself up without looking ridiculous. Everyone would be joining her in the comfort of fall attire. Shorts and tank tops and bathing suits be damned.
She checked her face once before walking out of the dressing room, the puffiness around her chestnut gaze leaving it more than obvious that she had wept in the small room and had far too many issues. She paused by the front counter as a thin older woman glanced up.
"Is this all for you dear?"
Sicily kept her head down, making like she was trying to find her card in her purse. She was grateful that Kari was near the front, moving through the racks. Her friend would know right away that she was struggling, and in her kindness would cause Sicily to lose the composure she was tightly grasping.
"Yes. Thank you."
"I love this style. I'm so glad we have them in your size. I bet you look as cute as a button with them on."
Sicily glanced up and forced herself to smile. "They are great. It will be cash, please."
"Of course." The woman tilted her head as if studying Sicily. The dainty older woman pursed her lips as if trying to hold something behind them before ringing her up and sending her on her way.
Have them in my size? Did she mean to imply that the tent makers don't usually do this pattern?
Kari looked up as Sicily approached, a concerned smile on her pretty face. She had gotten her hair cut a month back and still looked impossibly beautiful with the style. It pulled in at her narrow face, framing her and helping to accentuate her button nose and brown eyes. Her blue blouse fit her snuggly, but it was a good look for her, Kari having been a runner her whole life. Dating the junior high coach in town was quite perfect for her and the two of them were beyond good for each other.
"You get the pants?"
"Yep." Sicily nodded toward the door. "I've had enough torture for the day. Let's go get a coffee and sit outside and enjoy this weather for a while."
"I'm completely down for that." Kari reached out and pressed the door open. "Lisa should be back in town tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah. I'm not sure how she and Marc are affording flying back and forth between Maine and New York every other weekend. When is he graduating?" Sicily reached up and pushed her hair behind her shoulder as the cool air of fall picked up around them.
Crimson, burnt orange and yellow leaves fluttered
around their feet, the trees a sight to see that time of year. The fall season was the whole reason for Lisa and Sicily picking Maine as their locale for setting up shop and trying to start a new life. She glanced over at Kari, grateful for the girl being with them as well. Kari hadn't been part of the original plan for moving to Maine simply because she was engaged to be married to a guy who was born, and would die, in New York. Frank was a scoundrel and had cheated on Kari the night before the wedding.
Sicily reached out and took her friend’s hand, squeezing it and smiling at her as Kari glanced over.
"Did you hear me? You look lost in thought." Kari squeezed back.
"Hm? Oh, I am. Did you tell me when Marc was graduating?"
"Yeah. It's next May from what momma told me. I swear Marc and I haven't spoken in a while. Just both so busy I guess."
"I need to call my brother, Johnny. It's been a few months since I've heard his voice too. That's just unacceptable. Life can be taken from you at any moment. Best to tell those you love how much they mean to you every chance you get. Right?" Sicily released Kari's hand as they walked into the quaint coffee shop.
Kari glanced over as sadness swept across her pretty features. Sicily's friends were empathetic to her situation with her mother, which helped, and yet didn't. She needed closure, but wasn't quite sure how to get it.
"The pumpkin spice coffee is finally back in season. I swear I want to get ten of them just to make up for the rest of the year when they don't have it." Kari smirked and moved toward the counter, glancing over her shoulder. "My treat."
"No. You paid last time." Sicily moved up beside her, handing her card to the handsome, young barista. "I'll pay for both of us."
"Of course, ma'am. What can I get you?" He glanced at Kari and then back to Sicily, his gaze almost analyzing.
He's disgusted by how fat you are. Hurry and order. Order something non-fat. Order it skinny or with no milk at all. Just get an espresso. No, you don't need anything. Get a water.
