Love Rekindled (Love Surfaced)

by Michelle Lynn

  She slides back and my hand falls from her face.

  “Are you expecting someone?” I ask.

  She shakes her head no and rises to her feet.

  “I’ll get it,” I say, beating her up and making my way to the door.

  “Brad, you don’t have to be protective of us. We’re in Roosevelt.” She follows right behind me, and I look through the peephole.

  A tall guy with a John Deere cap low over his eyes stands on the porch. A big jacket covers up his upper body, and worn in jeans with a pair of work boots clothe his lower half. Taylor unlocks and opens the door without even looking.

  My hand splays on the door and I shut it before it fully opens.

  “You’re going to open the door without looking?”

  The one side of her lip quirks up. “You just looked through the peephole. I’m fairly sure if there’s a man with an axe, you’d have said something.”

  The knob twists in her hand, but my hand holds it firmly closed.

  “It’s some guy with a John Deere hat.” Her lip turns down.

  “Tay,” a guy slurs on the other side of the door. “Open up, Tay.”

  I remove my hand and she opens it up, ignoring my objection. The man falls into the house, landing on his face.

  “Friend of yours?” I ask. She peers out the screen door, waves to a truck. It then pulls away, and I’m guessing there’s more than one reason for her apprehension and her hesitation to give us another chance.

  “This is Sam.”

  “That’s me,” the man raises his hand. “That hurt.”

  Taylor kneels down and helps him sit up. He leans against the staircase and rubs the tip of his nose.

  “You reek,” she says, waving her hand in front of her face. He captures it and kisses the top. My veins explode with rage.

  “Marry me?” He laughs, but anyone can tell he’s dead serious from the admiration overflowing his eyes.

  She pulls her hand away, and looks at me nervously. “Sam is my brother-in-law,” she informs me, and I shove my hands in my pockets. Sam looks at me, judging and appraising my size. I’m doing the same, but a little more discreetly since I’m not drunk off my ass.

  “Oh, I forgot the deadbeat was coming over tonight.”

  I inhale a deep breath, hold it, and count to ten before I lose all control and beat the shit out of him in front of the girl he loves.

  “Sam, don’t say that.” Taylor gets up and grabs her bottle of water, handing it to him. “Have some water.”

  He takes it easily from her hands and starts drinking.

  “I should probably go,” I say, moving to grab my jacket hanging on the knob of the staircase.

  “Back to wherever you came from,” Sam sneers.

  “Excuse me?” I turn around, but Taylor shakes her head, and I clench my fists at my sides.

  “You obviously prefer blondes, right?” He grabs a strand of Taylor’s dark hair. “She’s a brunette now, so beat it.” He stumbles to his feet and Taylor helps to hold him up.

  I can’t deny the fact that she told him about my indiscretion hurts, but whatever relationship she has with him isn’t my business. She agreed to one week, and I’m going to hold her to it.

  “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t allow drunk men around my daughter,” I say, swinging my arm through my jacket.

  “Oh, fuck off. She calls me daddy,” he says, and this time I can’t restrain myself. My fist flies out my pocket and cracks along his jaw. His head hits the floor, and Taylor looks up at me, her eyes pleading. This isn’t the first fight she’s seen me get into.

  She’s down on her knees at Sam’s side again, but her eyes are on me. “That’s not true.” She’s defensive. “I swear.”

  “Is she close with him? And where the hell is your sister?”

  She swallows deep, and I watch her panic. “She is. He’s helped me out since she was little, but I swear I’ve always been clear that he’s Uncle Sam and nothing more.”

  “Your sister?”

  “She disappeared right after I delivered Em. I don’t know where she is. Probably shacked up somewhere half unconscious.”

  I close my eyes and inhale a deep breath to gain control. I bend over and pick up the piece of shit, who’s just protecting his spot in my family. My family. I drop him on the couch, and he falls into the cushions.

  “Thank you,” Taylor whispers. “I swear he’s a good guy. He’s just hurting.”

  I nod, not wanting to hear anything else. I’ve processed as much as I can tonight.

  “Are you okay with him here by yourself?” I look around, finding nothing for me to sleep on besides the floor. Not that I wouldn’t consider waking up with a backache in the morning.

  “I’m good.”

  “I can sleep on the floor,” I offer, but she shakes her head.

  “Thank you, but no. He’ll sleep it off, and I’ll drive him home in the morning.”

  “I hate that he’ll wake up where I want to be,” I softly say, surprised I’m revealing my envy to her. Taylor moves closer, her hands moving up my face until they mold to my cheek.

  “I know it hurts, and I can never fully express how sorry I am for that. I made the best choice I could at the time, but I know now it might have been the wrong one.” Her body heat is so close to mine, I struggle to not grab her and smash my lips to hers.

  “We both made mistakes,” I say, hoping we can somehow find a way to forgive one another, because in all honestly, I haven’t forgiven her yet.

  She nods. “She has your arrogance.” She smiles.

  “I’m not sure that’s a good thing,” I mumble, still trying not to kiss her. Those lips are so full and inviting, the memory of them causes a flash of heat to spread through my body.

  “My nurturing side evens it out.” She laughs, and at the sound of her happiness, I yank her into my waiting arms, securing her body to the length of mine.

  I kiss the top of her head, smelling the jasmine shampoo I’ve always loved. I smile at the memories that flood into me from just one smell.

  “I never stopped loving you,” I tell her, and she looks up at me through her eyelashes.

  “You’ve always been sweet.” She kisses my cheek. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Anything.”

  “Are you clean? I mean, are you still using?”

  Her eyes flicker with worry that she’s offending me. I want our relationship to be honest and whole, with no secrets from one another.

  “I don’t use. I went into counseling about a month after you left me. I’ve been tested and I’m clean. Promise.” I hold up my hand with the Boy Scout’s salute.

  “Okay.”

  She slides out of my arms, and I miss her immediately.

  “Goodnight, Taylor,” I whisper, my hand fiddling with the door.

  A small smile crosses her lips and she remains planted in her spot, watching me leave. Hopefully, she’s afraid if she comes closer, that kiss I’ve been trying to ignore will happen.

  I leave the house, shutting the door behind me. She flicks the lock, but turns on the porch light for me to see my way. Small steps . . . baby steps if we need to, but I have no doubt we’ll get there.

  Taylor

  THROUGH MY WINDOW, I WATCH Brad walk down my driveway to his truck. Sam moans and rolls over on the couch. Brad’s back is stiff as he shoves his hands in the pockets of his jacket—the jacket I’d bought him for his birthday our senior year. I didn’t remark on it, and I wonder if he even remembers. He’d passed out early that night and Piper helped me carry him to bed.

  Piper.

  I’ve thought about her plenty over the years. She should know she’s an aunt—well, I’m guessing she knows now. If Brad didn’t tell her directly, I’m guessing Brad told Tanner and he informed Piper of the news.

  Brad climbs into his truck and flicks on the interior light. The shadows on his face worry me. He’s processing the news of Em at such a fast pace. I assumed he’d get furious and storm off, a
nd maybe he’d come back, maybe he wouldn’t. But the electricity that hung between us two years ago hasn’t fizzled out in the slightest. If anything, the time apart made it fiercer.

  Before he left, I willed my hands to stay at my sides, but I had to reach out and assure him Sam hasn’t taken his spot. Even if he never would have shown up, he’s always been Em’s father. I hate myself for waiting until now before I figured out that running away had been the wrong choice.

  Right before he turns off his interior light after fiddling with his GPS, he glances at our house. The longing and hesitation in his movements breaks my heart. I’ve had a soft spot for Brad Ashby since the first time I met him. He flicks off the interior light and darkness consumes his truck, obstructing my view. As his truck slowly pulls away from the curb, my arms wrap around myself to sooth the knots tightening my stomach, as I watch his truck’s taillights dwindle into the darkness.

  I turn around, my back firm against the door as my body loses all control and slowly crumbles to the floor. My heart aches already, and he’s only reappeared in my life in the past two days. My eyes scan the home I’ve made for Em and myself. I’ve let Sam wiggle in, welcomed him, even when I shouldn’t have.

  Two days ago, I thought my life was good—not perfect by any means, but solid and firm. Now I feel like I’ve transplanted into someone else’s and all my mistakes are lined up in front of me.

  I rise to my feet, grab the blanket hanging over the chair, and I lay it across Sam. His cell rings in his pocket, but I don’t pull it out. After turning everything off and double-checking that the doors and windows are locked, I climb the stairs. Em is fast asleep, so I turn off her lullabies and stare down at the little girl who has no idea she just met her daddy today.

  After changing, washing my face, and brushing my teeth, my feet slide under my covers and I pick up my e-reader. My finger swipes the screen to scan the books I’ve downloaded, but I’m not into it. My usually dead tired body is now consumed by a bustling of nerves that refuse to let me rest. Instead of reading, I turn on the television. I’m struck right off with that damn laundry detergent commercial with Piper and Tanner. I roll my eyes at their adorable and loving smiles at one another. Envy rings loud and clear in my heart. They’ve forgiven each other after what Tanner had done, giving me hope that Brad and I have the same odds. It’s a little harder with Em, and cheating on me with some bimbo isn’t the same as what Tanner did, but love can prevail. I hope so, because as many times as I’d begged my heart to stop loving Brad, it wouldn’t. So, here I sit, reading these romance stories filling my e-reader, dreaming of Brad at night.

  While I’m watching some episode of Friends with Ross and a monkey, my phone rings and I jolt.

  Fiddling with it until I can grab a good hold, I quickly slide my finger across the screen to answer before Em wakes up.

  “Hello?” I say softly and leave the comfort of my warm bed to shut my door completely.

  “I hope it’s okay for me to call,” Brad says, and I can tell from the outside noise he’s driving.

  “It’s okay. What’s up?” I slide under my covers again, unable to deny my smile. What can it hurt? No one can see me.

  “I just wanted to hear your voice. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye.”

  The pit of my stomach warms like I just indulged in a gooey chocolate lava cake at hearing his words.

  “Okay.”

  “I wanted to expand on a few things too. Is it okay if we do it over the phone?” I hear the ticking of his turn signal, and wonder if he still has the nervous habit of tapping his thumb on the steering wheel. On the way to meets, that thumb would tap to the beat of Eminem’s Till I Collapse, his go-to song to fire him up.

  “Okay.”

  “You know you can say more, right?”

  “Okay.” I snicker, and he chuckles lightly.

  “After you left me, I continued to get really messed up until Piper finally informed my parents. They got me to a counselor. It took about two months and living with my parents, to get my act together. I enrolled in business school to get my master’s.”

  He pauses and I continue to wait for the entire story.

  “That’s where I met Bayli.”

  “You don’t need to continue. I don’t need to know.”

  “You do because, Taylor, I should have come after you, and please believe me, I regret that decision every day. But I truly thought you were better off without me.”

  “What’s changed? Why now?”

  “Me. I’ve changed. I know it will take time for you to believe me, but not one day has ever passed where you didn’t occupy most of my mind. I have a whole fucking list of regrets, but you’re my biggest, and I’m here to make amends now.”

  I release a breath, my feet rubbing together for warmth from the shivers he just ignited. “I’m scared,” I admit.

  “Me too, but I think we’re scared of different things. You’re scared to trust me, and I’m terrified you won’t.”

  My hand lands on my heart to stop it from opening. They’re words, Taylor, that’s all.

  “You can hurt me, Brad, but promise me you won’t hurt her. No matter what, I have to know you’ll be in her life forever.”

  “I’m going to prove it, Taylor. I promise I’ll show you I’m back for good and I’m not that piece of shit anymore.”

  “I fell in love with that piece of shit.” I wish I could stay silent and allow him to knock himself down, but I can’t. He may have faults, but he is a good person deep down.

  “Well, if I wasn’t a piece of shit, you’d still be in love with me.”

  Who’s saying I’m not?

  “I’m going to extend a branch, Brad, but that’s all.” He doesn’t need to know I’m close to giving him our whole tree.

  “That’s all I need. Just give me a chance.”

  “Okay.”

  “But, Taylor, I’m warning you; I’m not going away.”

  I nod, even though he can’t see me. A small part of me likes it that he’s going to be fighting for us. I just have to trust him enough to let him. That’s the hard part.

  “Okay.”

  “Please give me another word.”

  “Yes.”

  “Taylor,” he pleads, and I hear his turn signal go off again.

  “Tell me something I don’t know about you.”

  “Hmm . . .” I can imagine he’s nibbling on the inside of his cheek, thinking about it. “Do you want to know about Piper and Tanner?”

  “Nope. Something about you.”

  “Okay, I like long walks and candlelight dinners.”

  I cover my mouth to conceal the burst of laughter that’s threatening to pour out. “Seriously.”

  “I am serious,” he argues, but he’s laughing as well.

  We talk for another hour about how he got fired and his roommate Dylan, Tanner’s brother. He touches on Piper and Tanner, their problems, and how they reconciled at his wedding, but I can tell he’s hesitant about sharing because of the fact he was going to marry someone who wasn’t me. He’s moved from his truck to his apartment, and I waited on the line while he took off his shirt to climb into bed. What I wouldn’t do for a selfie of him right about now.

  “I guess I should get to bed. She wakes up early.” I yawn, stretching my limbs.

  “Okay. If you can’t sleep, call me back because I’ll be awake.” He doesn’t sound groggy at all.

  “Brad, I have to work late tomorrow. Would you like to pick Em up from daycare?” I bite my nail, because as much as it frightens me, I have to extend the branch. Some might think it’s too soon, but I know Brad. Plus, I want this to be as amicable as possible.

  “I’d love to. What time?”

  “Five o’clock. I’ll text you the address. There will be a list of instructions on the counter for you when you get here.”

  “I got it. I’m an adult.” He laughs, but whether he knows it or not, this is a huge step for me.

  “I know, it’s just . . . Okay, I’m
going to tell her daycare provider you’ll be picking her up.”

  “Sounds good. Get some sleep.”

  “Good night, Brad.” I wish I could stay on the phone with him all night, but I can’t let him in completely, and after talking with him for just a little bit, I know it would be too easy. He’ll slide back into my heart without me even knowing it.

  “Good night.” I move to hang up.

  “Wait, Taylor?”

  “Yeah.” I bring the phone back to my ear.

  “Thank you.” His voice is humble and gracious. Everything I’d hoped for in this moment.

  “You’re welcome.”

  We finally hang up, and I lay in bed wondering if it’s even possible for me to fight my feelings for him.

  “Mama!” A small hand smacks my face.

  I bolt up, my heart racing. My eyes fly to the monitor to see it’s disappeared from my bedside. Then I find a tall figure in my doorframe, still dressed in his clothes from the night before and a smirk plastered on his boyish face.

  “Good morning,” I say to Em, pulling her small body to mine.

  “Sorry.” Sam’s voice is low as he walks into the room and hesitantly sits on the edge of the bed. “I made you breakfast.” His eyes cast down to the floor, and I hate the fact that I’m part of the reason he feels this way. Us Delaney girls have taken his heart for granted too many times in his life.

  “Okay. I have the late shift today.”

  He looks up with hurt in his eyes. “I know.”

  Of course he does, he probably knows my schedule better than me. The room quiets, and lucky for us, we have an almost two-year-old to break the silence.

  “Play!” she demands, jumping on my bed. I hold her hand as she catapults from my mattress and falls down into the softness.

  Sam smiles at her. “Let’s give Mommy time to get ready.” He holds his arms out for her and she bounces over to him until she’s secure in his arms.

  “I’ll be right down,” I say, covering myself as much as I can. No need to show off what little cleavage I have.

  They leave and I throw off my covers and move into my bathroom. I grab some yoga pants and a T-shirt, figuring I’ll shower during her naptime.

  By the time I reach the bottom of the stairs, Em is laughing uncontrollably and Sam is doing his elevator impersonation where he disappears around the wall. It’s like a jab to the chest knowing Sam will have to step back in order for Brad to come forward. I’ve worked the angle, and there’s no doubt about it. Then again, ultimately, Sam knew his time with Em was going to be cut short.