The Cliff

by Gucker, Christie A. C.

  “Why are you sorry? Did you do it? I don’t think you did. So don’t worry about it,” I said flatly. I didn’t want to have this conversation in case I lost it on him. It would be so wrong.

  “Lanie, if I hadn’t done what I did, then none of this would be happening. So yes, I do have something to be sorry for.” He pulled back from me. I put my hand over his before he could pull completely away from the tub. He looked at me and repositioned himself so he was sitting next to the tub, holding my hand.

  “You look absolutely fabulous. Did I mention that to you?” He smiled his sweet hot smile and I thought about pulling him in here with me, clothes and all.

  “So I’m bubbilicious? Is that it?” I smiled and placed my arms on the edge of the tub. Grant immediately started to blow the bubbles off my chest. I covered them back up.

  “Hey, what do you think you’re doing?” I teased him and sunk myself into the water again.

  “I find it very hard to keep my hands off you.” He smiled and reached into the tub, feeling for things.

  “Looking for the soap or something?” I handed him the soap and my loofah. “Think you could just get my back for me?” Grant growled and grabbed the items from my hand. He furiously soaped up the loofah and turned me so my back was facing him. He began to scrub. I thought about Brianna’s words: ‘He was rubbing my shoulders and then he just kept getting lower and lower.’ Yeah, that killed the mood.

  “Grant, Brianna said something on the phone I wanted to ask you about,” I said timidly.

  “Ask me anything, I have nothing to hide,” he said confidently.

  “She said you’ve been in contact since you left. Is it true?” I asked. He stopped scrubbing. Shit.

  “I promised you I wouldn’t lie, and I won’t. Yes, she has contacted me.”

  “But I blocked her number from your phone. I have to remember to block her number from mine, too, apparently.”

  “Lanie, there’s still email. And she tried to webcam me the other day, too,” he said, like he was afraid of what my reaction was going to be.

  “You’ve been in contact with her,” I said out loud, even thought it was meant for myself.

  “I said she tried to contact me. Not that I had responded. I haven’t. “

  “How many emails?” I said. I don’t know what difference it made, but I wanted to know.

  “To be honest, I’d have to say at least one or two a day since I’ve been back. She’s really quite persistent. I haven’t replied at all. I just delete them.” He was looking down at the floor and then quickly looked into my eyes so I could see he was being honest.

  “Well, the first thing you need to do is block that email address. And I mean now. Today, as soon as you’re back at your computer. Hell, do it from my phone. It’s right there on the counter.” I pointed.

  “Okay.” He grabbed my phone.

  “Grant. Really. Are you trying to prove something to me?”

  “Yes, Love. I’m trying to let you know you have nothing to worry about. I’ll do whatever makes you comfortable. If ignoring and erasing her messages isn’t enough, I’ll do whatever it takes until it is. After speaking with her today, your imagination must be going insane.”

  “My imagination? Last time I checked, you actually did go to her room and sleep next to her and hold her all night. That’s not my imagination.” Yeah, this wasn’t going to go well. I was too mad at Brianna. I wanted him here, but I knew it would be better for him to leave.

  “I think you need to go. I want to be alone right now,” I said as I pulled the bubbles toward me to cover myself.

  “You want me to go? Lanie, please, I don’t want to be away from you. Everything was going perfectly last night and then it was all ruined. I thought we were headed in the right direction.” He sounded upset and I didn’t really blame him.

  “No, I don’t want you to go. I don’t. But I’m angry, and you’re the only person here I can take it out on, and I don’t want that to happen. So you should go.”

  I pulled him into a deep kiss, soaking his front. He kissed me back feverishly and then pulled away.

  “You know, Lanie, I’ve been waiting for your forgiveness and I understand why you’re upset. I do. And I could understand if I actually cheated on you, which in a way, depending on how you look at it, this could fall under that category. But this not mad, mad, not mad, mad is literally making my head spin. Either be mad at me or forgive me. Because honestly, I can’t handle the ups and downs of not knowing whether you love me or not, or whether we’re together or not. Either put the ring back on your finger, or break things off completely. I love you. I want to marry you. But I can’t take this roller coaster anymore, Lanie. I stood by you when it was the other way around.” He shook his head, got up and walked out of the room.

  My face felt flushed and my heart dropped. I was so confused. I didn’t know how to react; I didn’t know what to think or say anymore. I didn’t want to hurt him. He was right. I had exacted my revenge, but then Brianna’s phone call had just made it all crap again. What if there was something more to what she said? I mean, it was so similar to what we’d done last night. And she had been contacting him, every day since he’d left. But worse than anything, he had just walked out on me, upset.

  I sank myself under the water and held my breath for as long as I could, hoping it would spark my brain into something—anything—but where it was. Not sure how long I was under the water, but when I surfaced, I expected to find Grant waiting for me. He wasn’t, so I was pretty sure he’d meant what he said.

  Damn, I hadn’t even caused any of this, but suddenly it was all on me. What could I do to make things better? I had to forgive my fiancé. I had to put that ring back on my finger. I needed to make things right.

  I got myself out of the tub with every intention of heading over to Grant’s to make amends. I started out, but realized I should probably get dressed first, although I was sure he would be pleased if I showed up in my towel. I dried off quickly and threw on a pair of blue sweats and a tight white long-sleeved tee and my favorite blue sneakers. I towel dried my hair and didn’t bother with any make-up.

  I ran down the stairs and out the door. I had no idea where my drunk girls had gone, but I didn’t check the floor when I left, so they might have been passed out there.

  I was a girl on a mission and was almost to Grant’s when I ran into Dane, heading towards Grant’s house, too.

  “Hey, where are you off to?” I said as I edged up beside him. “I’m heading over to Grant’s. I need to put an end to all this crap between us already. It’s stupid. What are you doing?”

  “Well, I just got quite the email from Brianna. Something about you calling her dad and her being moved out of the company; and then I got a detailed description of some stuff. I was on my way to Grant to discuss it,” he said. I already knew what she told him. I wanted to see how different it was than what she told me.

  “Really? Care to elaborate?” I said with a sing-songy tone.

  “Umm. Not really. I need to talk with Grant first.” How cute. He was trying to protect Grant.

  “You know, I already spoke with her today. I got quite an earful, as you can imagine.”

  “Lanie, I don’t think you understand.”

  “I’m pretty sure I know exactly what she told you. I got the same story, details about their supposed night together. I don’t believe her. Do you?” I chuckled, thinking he would realize it was such nonsense.

  “Lanie, there were some things she said. I need to talk with him. Can you just give me a few moments with him before you do anything?”

  I was starting to get worried. What did she tell him? I had to know.

  “Hey. I want to know. Can you please tell me?” I stopped and grabbed his arm. He wouldn’t look at me.

  “Lanie, I want to talk to Grant first. It’s not right for me to tell you and put him in a bad place. Those days are over. Grant is like a brother to me and I am trying to act like it for once,” he said.<
br />
  “What am I? Chopped liver?”

  “It’s the bro code, Lanie. You wouldn’t understand. Plus, I owe him. A lot. Now can you please hang back or something?”

  “No. I can’t. Sorry, it’s the girlfriend code. You wouldn’t understand,” I said as I pushed past him. I started running to Grant’s. Dane started to run, too, and he grabbed my arm and pulled me behind him. So I pushed him. So he tripped me. We continued like that for the next ten feet to the door. I grabbed the handle, opened the door, and he knocked me out of his way so that he was now in the doorway. I tried to get in, but he wouldn’t let me by.

  “Lanie, please. Just wait here and let me talk to him. Please?”

  “Fine.” I headed toward the kitchen to see if there was any wine. I grabbed two glasses and found a great bottle. I dug through the refrigerator to pick at any leftovers from last night, but at the moment, found my appetite was MIA.

  I sat at the table and waited. I heard nothing, so it wasn’t a heated conversation. Then I heard Dane come down the stairs.

  “I was about to kick Grant’s ass, but I think there’s something you need to see,” Dane said as he motioned me to come with him. I felt a pit in my stomach. I got up slowly.

  “Hurry up, Lanie, I need you to come right now.” I picked up my pace, but right before I sprinted up the stairs, Dane slowed me and gave the shush finger.

  We quietly ascended and headed toward Grant’s office. I heard two voices coming from the room, Grant’s and a female voice. The pit became a knot, and I felt like I was going to throw up. I knew the voice. It was Brianna.

  I started to move quicker and Dane slowed me again. I followed him until we reached the door. Then everything became quite clear. I could see Grant at his computer. He was on his webcam. And on the other end was a scantily clad Brianna. I was fuming. Dane held me back again. I tried to break free, but his grip was freakishly strong.

  “Grant, you know we’re meant to be together. The way you touched me. The way I felt when we were together. This whole thing is a mess. We have to get this right.”

  “Brianna, I—”

  “I know, Baby. You want to be with me, but we can’t until you end things with her. Then you can fly back here and we can be together.”

  I was just about to break in when I heard Grant break into this bizarre laughter. I turned to leave, but the freak held me in place. He spun me around and shoved me slightly into into the doorway.

  “Brianna, what kind of drugs are you on? How many times do I have to tell you? What happened meant nothing. You mean nothing. In fact, nothing actually happened. And nothing ever will. I’ve known Lanie my whole life; and that’s not an exaggeration. And I’ve loved her the entire time. Finally, she sees me the same way. And there is no one who will ever come between us. It’s not possible for me to love another woman. I can’t. I feel nothing toward any other women and never have. It’s her. She’s my soul mate. So stop! Stop trying to ruin what I’ve tried my whole life to obtain—Lanie’s love.”

  “But she’s done with you. It’s over, Grant. You cheated on her with me.”

  “No, Brianna. I didn’t. I was there for you because you needed someone. I would do that for anyone, but not at the expense of my relationship with Lanie. Get it through your sick, delusional skull. You mean nothing to me. You never will. If Lanie chooses not to be with me, then I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to win her back. She’s all that matters.”

  Dane let go of my arm, which I was sure was bruised by now, and gently pushed me into the room.

  “Grant,” I said. He turned quickly and stared at me. I ran to him and threw myself into his lap. I twirled my fingers into his hair and we kissed. Everything else in the world stopped. There was only he and I. Wrapped in each other. Although I did hear a disgruntled noise come from the computer. All I wanted to do was feel his lips on mine, swirl my tongue with his. I was ravenous for him. I had to fulfill my desire to feel him, to absorb him. This was my guy. My Grant. And there was nothing that could keep me away from him ever again.

  “Lanie,” he said as I crushed my mouth against his.

  “Shhhhh. Kiss.” I shot my tongue into his mouth to silence him. All men should be silenced that way. They actually get it.

  But right now, I knew everything he wanted to say to me. No words were needed. I could feel his love in that kiss. He said he had loved me his whole life and always would. And I felt the same. Our kiss became slow and passionate. I was lost in it. Nothing else mattered.

  Grant pushed me back. We were both out of breath, and on the edge of jumping back into more loss of oxygen. He had to talk quick or I’d be right back on his sweet lips. The taste of him drove me insane. Everything about him drove me insane. I was his, down to my very core.

  He put me on my feet and jumped up beside me. In an instant he was on one knee. He’d already asked me to marry him, but there was something about hearing him say it again that just made every single girly part in me squeal. I felt my face flush.

  “Lanie, please. I want and need you to be by my side for the rest of our lives and then some. Please, marry me. I want to have babies with you and grow old together.” He stood up quickly and brushed his lips against my ear and growled. Every nerve in my body jumped. He pulled back from me, but the intensity of what was between us … there were no words to describe it.

  “Grant. There’s nothing more I want in this life than to be your wife. Yes. I’ll marry you. I’d marry you every day for the rest of our lives if you wanted me to. Does that even make sense?” I giggled.

  “Yes,” he said, his loving stare had me hypnotized. I smiled at him. He grabbed me and pulled our bodies together. We were once again locked in a kiss. I could hear Dane clapping in the background and Brianna huff and curse. It was done. Revenge was never as sweet as this kiss. I heard the computer disconnect. Okay. It just got sweeter.

  “I love you, Lanie. And no one, not one single woman out there, could ever take your place.”

  “Dane, you need to leave now. Grant and I have a rule to break,” I said, staring into Grant’s eyes with my best sexy expression.

  “What the hell does that mean?” He was clueless. He backed out of the doorway.

  “Dane?” Grant called after him. “Thank you.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Dane lied.

  “I have very, very good hearing. And I could see you in my monitor,” Grant smiled.

  “You’re welcome. Now go do whatever. I’m going to spread the good news.”

  “Dane?” I stopped him again.

  “Yeah?”

  “Tell Samantha to call Jennifer. This wedding is a lot closer than we think. They have to start planning,” I relayed.

  Dane was out the door before I knew it; and I was all over Grant. All I wanted to do was make love to him. The heavy atmosphere between us was completely gone. Everything felt right. There was no anger or hurt. I heard my guy tell that whore off loud and clear, and there were no doubts in my mind that everything was going to be all right. Grant was innocent.

  I started to remove his clothing, knocking us against a wall because I lost my balance. I was moving too fast. We giggled and each tried to undress the other, becoming entangled in our shirts, with pants stuck on shoes. After a bit of wrangling and wrestling, I gave up and just wrapped my arms around Grant’s still struggling body and kissed him. We crashed to the floor.

  “Well, at least we’re horizontal now. This was all part of my evil plan to destroy rule number two. Oh and just for the record, all the rules are rescinded.” I smiled and tried to get my arms out from under him so I could remove his briefs.

  “Well, I still would love to continue to woo you. I was kind of enjoying your reaction to my romance.”

  “I kind of love your romancing. You treat me like a princess. Not sure I deserve it.”

  “Lanie, you deserve to be treated like a goddess. Any man would be lucky to have you. I just happen to be the luckiest of them all.
Do you know how long I’ve waited for this? Dreamt about this?” He was no longer playing around. But I was having fun and didn’t want the mood to shift back again. We’d been too serious of late.

  “What? You dreamt about being hogtied by our clothing and basically stuck on the floor? We might need some help getting out of this. I’d say call Samantha, but she’s kinky and might like it too much. Steve and Chelsie would just laugh at us. Dylan’s our best bet. Can you dial with your nose?” I giggled out.

  “So, you want to get married soon?” Grant pulled me even tighter to him.

  “Where did that come from? Was I even talking about that? Maybe it’s this whole being bound thing.”

  “Lanie, please. Be serious. When do you want to get married?” He looked me directly in the eyes and I could tell this was one time he didn’t want some snarky reply.