The Cliff

by Gucker, Christie A. C.

  “Dane, I swear to God—”

  He interrupted me. “I won’t say anything about you and Grant. I’m not an ass, you know,” he said defensively, holding his hand over his heart like I had stabbed him there.

  “Huh, that’s news to me, because you’ve been a total ass lately.” He winced at my words; the truth hurts sometimes.

  “Lanie, I backed you up last night. I got rid of Lori for you.”

  “Dane, you got rid of Lori because she was an unnecessary fixture that was just getting in your way. She wasn’t helping you get what you thought you wanted anymore. So don’t try and play any kind of games with me. I know exactly what your motive was.”

  “Lanie, I’m offended. How could you think that about me? I love you. I want to be with you. I’m not out to hurt you.” He gave me his best puppy dog eyes, but I wasn’t going to let him play me like he had been.

  I looked at him in shock. “What the hell kind of crazy pills have you been taking lately, huh? I mean, all of a sudden you’re in love with me, out of nowhere. Then you decide you want to be with me, as soon as you found out Grant and I were together. And then you do really dirty things to try separate us. If you really loved me, you’d see I was already in love with someone else and happy, and you would let me be. But no, instead you push and continue to play games.”

  “Lanie, it’s not like that. I’ve always been in love with you. Always.”

  “Oh bullshit, Dane. Really? What about Callie? Remember her? You were practically ready to get her an engagement ring for high school graduation. How long did you date? Pretty much from seventh grade all the way through high school and then some?”

  “That was different. That was puppy love and then it was just habit.”

  “Dane, if you hadn’t had that stupid, drunken one-night stand at that college party and then got caught, I’m pretty sure you two would be married with at least one kid by now. Instead, she is now soon to be Mrs. Jones. You blew it. And I’m not letting you ruin my chances for a fairytale love story happily ever after. So get it out of your head. It’s never going to happen. Even if Grant and I didn’t work out for some reason, I just don’t feel that way about you.”

  He looked hurt, but once again, sometimes that’s what the truth did. I was really getting tired of all this stupid bullshit. It was starting to get in the way of living my life and being happy. Dane was single-handedly making the beginning of my relationship with Grant, which was supposed to be one of the best times of a relationship, crappy.

  “You’re wrong, Lanie. You’re the one who’s in denial. Grant is just sweeping you off your feet because, really, when was the last time you were actually with a man? Tom?”

  “I’ve been on plenty of dates since then.”

  “If I had been the one to get to you first, you’d be in love with me. Let’s face it, Lanie, no one is knocking your door down for romance. You jumped at the first one who did.”

  “Get out.”

  “What’s the matter, truth hurt?”

  “I will not stand here and listen to you tell me the only reason I’m with Grant is because I was hard up. That I would honestly be in love with whoever made the first move. I won’t listen anymore. And you know what? I don’t have to. This is my house; leave it—now.”

  “Okay, Lanie, I’ll leave, for now. But I told you. I’m the right man for you. I won’t give up.”

  I turned my back and pretended he wasn’t there. He got the hint and finally left. I grabbed my phone and text messaged Grant.

  L: U have 2 get 2 my dad. D said he needed 2 tlk 2 him alone

  G: No worries, Babe, Im alrdy w/ur dad.

  L: Asum. I love you.

  G: I love you.

  L: CU in a bit. <3s

  I finished up cooking, packed everything up, and headed to the fishing spot. I actually had butterflies in my stomach waiting to see Grant. I loved that feeling. I felt so alive. When I got there, they were all in a curve along the edge. Some of them were sitting, others were casting, and Dylan looked like he was still sleeping. I kicked him lightly when I passed him by.

  “Food. Coffee. You need some.” He grumbled something back but it sounded somewhat happy, so I was satisfied with his reply.

  I laid a blanket out over a big square-shaped boulder and began taking out breakfast.

  “Okay, who wants what?”

  “I would love some sandwich cookies, but I’ll settle for bacon, egg, and cheese,” Grant whispered from right behind me. I got chills down my spine and the most wonderful tickle in my chest. Just him being so close to me made every nerve in my body feel electric. My entire body was humming with a pull toward his.

  “You can have anything you want. Everything is on the menu for you,” I purred. I reached behind me and pulled him closer until he was right up against me.

  “I’ll take whatever you’ve got. At least two of them.” Steve was ready to eat and he pulled me out of my Grant-moment for his grub.

  I grabbed two sandwiches that had lots of stuff on them and tossed them his way. Joe and Jack were headed over, so I began to pour them both some coffee.

  “Thank you, Lanie. I’d like something without all the grease,” Joe said. I handed him a plain egg and cheese, and then I immediately grabbed my dad’s request from this morning and gave it to him. He gave me a smile and nod. I then brought Dylan something I hoped would help stir him out of his perpetual slumber.

  I turned to my attention back to Grant. It was sometimes hard to focus on anything but him. I could always feel his beautiful blue eyes burning into me. They seemed to encase me in all his emotions. I felt so much love for this man. Why had we waited all these years to give in to these feelings? I walked over to him and touched his sleeve.

  “I’m taking my dad for Italian tonight.” I smiled.

  “Can I come for the limo ride home?” he teased.

  “I think this calls for my car. No limo rides with anyone but you ever again.”

  “I like the sound of that. How about you meet me at the stables when you get back? Midnight ride?”

  “I guess that all depends on who I’m riding,” I whispered with a wink.

  He reached up and ran his hand down my cheek. He gave a quick look around to see where Jack was and then pressed his lips softly to mine.

  “You can ride whomever you choose, but I can guarantee I’m your best choice,” he growled at me.

  I kissed him softly back.

  “Hey, Lanie, what about me?” Dane shouted, hopefully referring to a beach sandwich. I grabbed one, whipped it at him, and beamed him right in the side of his head. Everyone laughed, except I guess I hit him the wrong way, because in a second he was on me and his rage was far more than was called for.

  “What the fuck was that for, Lanie? Why would you do that? What the fuck is wrong with you, you bitch?” He was right in my face. I was actually a little scared. His reaction had caught me totally off guard. Jeff and Jack were over in a second trying to back him down, but it was Grant who took over. He grabbed me and pulled me behind him, placing himself in Dane’s face.

  “Get away from her, Dane; back down now, or so help me …” Grant’s voice was low and threatening; he meant business. I knew he had been waiting to talk to Dane, but now I could see just how volatile he had actually become. I was scared. I tried to get back between them.

  “No, Lanie, you need to step back. Please. I don’t want you to get hurt.” He gently pushed me back behind him. My dad grabbed my arm and pulled me to him.

  “Listen, boys, I see no need for this over something as silly as a sandwich,” Jack said.

  “I agree. Grant, you need to calm down right now.” Joe tried his hardest to reason with him, but Grant put his hand up to his father to let him know this was happening.

  Dylan and Steve were behind Grant in a second and Jeff was trying to pull Dane away.

  “Dane, your mother and I don’t like who you’ve become. I don’t like this. What’s wrong with you? Why would you lash out a
t Lanie like this over a sandwich?”

  “She’s nothing but a bitch dick-tease lately. Walking around here trying to see who she can get to kiss her ass the fastest!”

  Before I knew what was happening, Grant had pushed Dane away from us all and was pummeling him, blow after blow after blow. All Dane could do was hold his arms out to block Grant’s assault. He hit him repeatedly in the face. Dane’s nose was a bloody mess.

  My adrenaline was soaring and I stood there, unable to move or speak. I was completely cold and my stomach turned watching them. Everyone else seemed to be having the same reaction: pure shock at what they were seeing unfold in front of them in a matter of seconds. Jeff looked pale, as I’m sure I did, too.

  “Don’t you ever touch her again. Don’t you go near her. You’ve hurt her enough, Dane. I’ll kill you before I let you harm her again.”

  Grant stopped only long enough to speak, but it was enough time for Dane to get his footing. He went right back at Grant, throwing punches. He caught Grant right above the eyebrow and split it open. Blood started to rain down his face. I reached up to my own face, remembering Dane’s shot to my jaw. Grant blocked the next shot and pushed Dane to the ground and gave him a kick to the ribs. But Dane was back on his feet in seconds, lunging at Grant. They were wrestling, punch for punch, grabbing and hitting, growls and curses coming from both of them.

  “Steve, do something. Stop them before someone gets hurt. Please!” I begged. I could feel the tears welling in my eyes. I would have tried to break them up myself, but I knew it would only cause Grant to lose focus and open himself up to Dane’s blows.

  I saw Steve start to react, but as he was heading toward them, their struggle got further away from us, and closer to the cliff’s edge.

  “Oh my God! Get away from the edge!” I screamed. “Please, Grant, you’re too close to the edge!”

  Jack, Jeff, and Joe turned to the sound of my voice and then quickly to the edge of the cliff and the scuffle. I saw their eyes get wide and they took off towards them.

  “Grant, NO!” I screamed and he turned to look at me. It was a fatal mistake. Dane swung hard and caught Grant right in the jaw and he lost his footing.

  Everything else happened in slow motion. I didn’t hear anything. There was no sound, only the beating of my heart in my head. It vibrated there, echoing, pulsing.

  I watched in horror as the love of my life slipped over the edge …

  Chapter 28

  Together, Together

  … of the cliff. He was grasping furiously at anything he could to save himself. Steve wasn’t fast enough. His fingers just slipped right through Grant’s as he thrust out to grasp him.

  I felt my whole world shift.

  “Dane, save him! Please, save him!” I screamed out, begging him with my entire heart, my entire soul.

  Dane’s arm shot out and he and Grant locked hand to wrist. He held him there. He just stared at him, like he was debating whether to pull him up or not. Grant just stared back, his mouth agape. I saw him mouth the words, ‘Dane, what are you doing? For God’s sake, pull me up.’ His eyes were wide and his face was pale. Dane just knelt in front of him, frozen. I couldn’t tell if he didn’t have the strength, was in shock, or what was going on. They were eye to eye in some bizarre stare down. I could see their hands starting to strain, the veins in their forearms were popping and their knuckles were white. If he didn’t pull him up soon, Grant would fall onto the rocks below.

  My heart broke into a million pieces at the thought of losing him like this, at losing him at all. It was a defining moment, which made me realize that, without him, I wouldn’t be able to survive. I couldn’t, not now that I knew what it was like to have him as mine.

  The three fathers had reached them just as Steve scrambled across the dirt to reach for Grant’s other arm. Once he had him, he braced himself and began to pull. He couldn’t do it. His angle was wrong. He just couldn’t get the strength. Jack quickly grabbed Grant’s other arm and pushed Dane back so Dylan could grab him for support. Jeff did the same for Steve. They brought Grant back up to the safety of the cliff.

  Joe dropped to his knees and grabbed Grant into a close hug. He held him tightly and almost rocked him, his paternal instincts kicking in. I was beside them within seconds. Joe released him and I threw myself into Grant’s arms. We sat on the ground, wrapped around each other. I held onto him like it was for dear life; it almost had been. I put my face against his and told him how much I loved him and how I couldn’t live without him over and over again. He held me just as tightly, and I could feel our tears mix with one another’s. We had almost lost each other.

  “Hmm.” I heard Jack make the sound. I knew this was too much for him to see and not start asking questions. Hell, for all I knew, he was aware of everything, just like Jennifer and Joe, and waiting for me to spill it.

  “Baby, are you okay? Are you hurt?” I said as I examined him. I grabbed a napkin out of my jacket, wet it with my tongue, and began to pat at the blood all over his face.

  “I’m okay … I’m alive. No thanks to Dane.”

  And then I could feel the fury building inside of me. I was ready to jump up and rip into Dane, but I didn’t have to. Dylan and Steve were on him, and so was Jeff.

  “What the fuck, Dane? You could have killed him!” Dylan yelled.

  “It was an accident. I didn’t realize we were that close to the edge,” he said flatly, without one ounce of emotion.

  “Why didn’t you pull him up? See, that’s what I’m seeing as the issue here,” Steve questioned.

  Dane just stood there, staring at the ground. He didn’t speak or move. He didn’t even blink. It was like he was in a trance.

  “Dane—What were you thinking, son? I don’t understand. Grant is practically your brother.”

  “He’s not my brother.”

  “Dane! Grant has been like a brother to you your entire life. This is a family, and you’ve shamed us all. You’ve shamed me. I raised you better than what you’ve become. But to let Grant just—to almost let him die …” Jeff’s voice sounded stern and sad at the same time.

  “A potential murderer and definitely a rapist. That’s what he’s become,” I heard Dylan spit out.

  I felt all the air escape my lungs and my chest began to burn. I looked at Grant and his eyes were already on me. He grabbed me and pulled me closer.

  “What do you mean, rapist?” asked Joe. He looked over to Grant and I. I put my head down to avoid eye contact. My eyes would have told him everything he needed to know.

  “I didn’t rape anyone. And I didn’t murder anyone. I wouldn’t have let Grant fall. I just … I don’t know what happened. I panicked. I just didn’t have a good enough grip. If I shifted in any way, I would have dropped him.” He looked at Grant and I. His eyes pleaded with Grant for something.

  “It’s fine, Dane.”

  “No. No, it’s not fine. It’s not fine at all!” I was rushing to get to my feet, but Grant held me tight. I shot my gaze to his and he just looked back at me. It was like I could read his thoughts. Now was not the time for me to put everything out in the open. This was a private matter between the three of us.

  “But …”

  “Lanie—please—for me.”

  I shut my mouth and looked down. I couldn’t even look at Dane. All I wanted to do was get Grant home and hold him and never let him go, ever.

  “I think we need to talk. Now. Get your stuff and come home with me,” Jeff said to Dane. He was all about the father-tone now.

  “Yes, sir.” Dane’s voice was solemn. He reached down and started to gather his things. He looked up at Grant and I.

  “Grant, I’m … I’m sorry.” He nodded his head without looking at him.

  “How about apologizing to Lanie, Dane? How about her? Or doesn’t she deserve an apology for what you did to her?” Steve was always coming to my rescue. Steve had been like a big brother to me since we met freshman year of college.

  “I didn’t
do anything to Lanie that deserves an apology. She knows where things stand between us.”

  I felt the tears starting again, along with a huge lump in my throat, and I turned my face away from everyone so that only Grant could see. He squeezed my hand and I heard him sigh.

  “I think we should all pack it up and head home. Lanie, I think you and I need to have a heart to heart, don’t you think?” Jack said.

  I gave Grant a panicked look and he mouthed, ‘It will be okay,’ and then released his hold on me. I stood up slowly, having a hard time moving away from him.

  Joe moved toward us. He looked at Grant and then to me. He put his hand on my shoulder and gave me a soft push toward my dad.