Текст книги "Love in Between"
Автор книги: Sandi Lynn
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Love in Between
Love (Lynn) – 1
by
Sandi Lynn
Prologue
“You’re the most beautiful bride that I’ve ever seen.”
“You have to say that; you’re my mom.” I smiled.
I stared at my white A-line strapless dress, embellished with rhinestone flowers that cascaded asymmetrically over the bodice as I ran my hands down my sides. I turned my head to make sure my cathedral bridal veil was placed perfectly amongst my elegant curly updo.
“I can’t believe you’re finally getting married!” Giselle smiled.
“You’re picture-perfect, Lily Gilmore,” Gretchen said as she snapped a picture with her phone.
I was so nervous; my hands were beginning to sweat. I couldn’t believe this day had finally arrived. The past year of planning the perfect wedding was torturous, but exciting. Hunter stood by my side and had agreed with everything that I liked. I think he just wanted to keep the peace, or he just didn’t care. He didn’t want a big wedding; he wanted to run off to Vegas and get married at one of those drive-by chapels. I’ve always dreamed of a big wedding, and he understood, so he nixed the idea of Vegas. Plus, my mother would have killed us both if we eloped.
People were gathered in the church, waiting for the ceremony to begin.
“Lily, where’s your sister?”
“I’m not sure, mom. She said she had to go get something and that she’d be right back.”
“She’s your maid of honor, and she needs to be here; the ceremony’s about to start.”
I sighed and headed out of the dressing room. I walked down the long hallway that connected to a small kitchen. I figured she probably went out behind the church to have a cigarette, so I proceeded through the kitchen and stopped when I heard a noise coming from one of the rooms off to the side. I put my hand on the knob and slowly turned it as I pushed opened the door. Nothing had prepared me for what I saw.
I pulled the door shut, and I ran out of the church. My heart was racing, and my stomach felt sick. I heard my mother’s voice following me from behind. I stopped when she asked me to. I put my hand on my head and paced in circles, not believing what I just saw. My breathing was rapid as I looked up and saw Hunter standing there, looking at me, and my sister standing behind him. Tears began to stream down my face as he slowly started walking towards me. I put my right hand up before he took three steps.
“Don’t you dare come near me, you bastard!” I screamed.
“Lily, Hunter, what the hell is going on?” my mother asked.
I stood there, pointing my finger. “Why don’t you ask that cheating bastard over there and his dirty whore standing behind him?!” I spat.
My mother turned her head and looked at my sister, Brynn. She stood there, shaking her head; then looked at Hunter. By this time, a crowd of people had emerged from the church and were gathered around to see what all the commotion was. The way my mother was looking at Brynn and Hunter gave me the feeling that she knew what was going on between them.
“Lily, please let me—”Hunter started to say.
“Don’t you ever say a fucking word to me again!” I screamed, cutting him off.
I stood there, feeling about as small as an ant, and raised my arms up in the air. “Well, it looks like there isn’t going to be a wedding today, folks! Unless, my whore of a sister over there wants to marry this cheating bastard!” I yelled as I pointed to Hunter.
“Lily! That’s enough!” my mother commanded.
I looked at her with disgrace and slowly walked towards her. “You knew, didn’t you? You knew they were screwing behind my back!”
She stared at me with a look of guilt. She didn’t have to say a word; her reaction said it all. I shook my head as I looked at my sister who was standing on the steps, crying. “Why are you crying? Isn’t this what you wanted? You can have him, baby sister, because the two of you were made for each other!”
I ripped off my veil and threw it on the ground as I turned on my heels and stomped away. Giselle and Gretchen followed behind, and we took the limo back to their hotel room.
We stepped into the hotel room, and I immediately sat on the edge of the bed. I was still in my wedding dress. The only tears that fell were the ones outside the church. I was still in shock until Giselle sat down next to me and told me that it was ok to cry. I broke down as she held me. Gretchen walked over and sat on the other side as all three of us hugged each other.
“It’s going to be ok, Lily,” Gretchen whispered.
“How could he do this to me?” I sobbed.
“He’s an asshole, and it’s better that you found out now,” Giselle said.
“She’s right, honey, it’s better now than five years from now,” Gretchen spoke.
I sniffled as Giselle handed me some tissues. “What are you going to do now?” Gretchen asked.
“Gretchen!” Giselle scolded.
“It’s ok. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I can’t go back home, and I can’t face my family. I can’t believe my mother knew about Hunter and Brynn. How could she do that to me after what my father did to her?”
“I don’t know, sweetie, it’s pretty fucked up that she knew, and your sister, my god, why would she do that to you?”
“I feel like I’m going to be sick,” I said as I sprang from the bed and into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me.
* * *
I stayed in the hotel room for an entire week. I didn’t get out of bed except to use the bathroom. I kept my phone off and gave strict instructions to Giselle and Gretchen not to let anyone know where I was staying. They went out and bought me a new cell phone so that we could keep in touch, because they needed to get back to California for their jobs. I ordered room service when I felt like it, but I mostly stared at the ceiling, thinking about how much my life sucked. I cried until it felt like my eyes were going to fall out, and I didn’t understand why Hunter would do that to me. Oh wait, yes I do. It’s because he’s a man, and that’s what men do. They’re cheating, lying bastards who can’t commit to one woman. Are all men like that? I’m starting to believe they are. Then, there was my sister.
* * *
It was Wednesday, so I knew my mother would be at her charity meeting and that my sister would be having lunch with her friends. It was something they did every Wednesday. As the cab pulled up to the house, I stared at it for a minute through the window.
“Miss, are you getting out?” the driver asked.
I looked at him, and it took my brain a minute to register what he asked. “Yeah, I’m sorry.” I paid him the cab fare, got out of the cab, and stood in front of the long winding driveway that led to the only house that I’ve known my entire life. I slowly entered the house, making sure no one was home. I couldn’t face my family; not after what they’ve done to me. I went upstairs to my room, quickly grabbed my suitcases from the closet, and began throwing only the necessities inside. I needed to do this quick before someone came home. I grabbed a handful of clothes from my closet, my makeup, bras, underwear, and shoes. I had two suitcases packed and ready to go. I opened the top drawer of my desk, pulled out my bank book, and I stood in the doorway, looking at my room. I headed down the stairs with my suitcases. As I was approaching the front door, it opened, and my mother walked in. She froze when she saw me, and tears started to fill her eyes.
“Lily, my baby, I was so worried about you. Where have you been?”
I looked at her with a stern look, and I instantly felt sick to my stomach. “It doesn’t matter where I’ve been. The only thing that matters is I’m gone and out of this family forever. What you did to me, by not telling me about Brynn and Hunter, is unforgivable. You helped me plan my wedding, knowing he was fucking my little sister. You were going to let me marry a cheater and a liar. What kind of mother are you?!” I started to cry.
“Lily, please, you have to understand that I was trying to protect you, and he promised me that it was over,” she said as she walked towards me with her arms out.
“Don’t you dare take another step!” I snapped. “I’m nothing like you, and I won’t live my life like you either.”
I walked out the front door, stopped, and turned around, staring at my mother as she stood there, crying. “This family is dead to me. Tell my little sister that I hope both her and Hunter live happily ever after. Have a nice life, mother.” I threw my suitcases in the back of my Explorer, got in, and started the truck as my mother came running out of the house after me.
“Please, Lily, I’m sorry; don’t do this to us. You’re going to regret it.”
“The only thing I regret is ever being a part of this lying, cheating family!” I spat as I peeled out of the driveway and headed as far away from this place as I could. The only thing I knew was that I couldn’t stay in Seattle anymore. It was time for me to disappear and start a new life.
I drove for about three hours until my gas light came on. I had reached Portland, Oregon. I pulled into a gas station and opened my purse to get my credit card; then I froze when I saw the two tickets to Aruba, which was supposed to be my honeymoon. We were supposed to leave tomorrow because Hunter couldn’t get two weeks off the day after the wedding. I filled up the Explorer with gas and drove down the road to a mini outdoor mall. I took out my camera and decided I was going to take pictures of every place I stopped. I wanted to make a scrapbook of the journey to my new life. I took pictures of the shops, the signs, and the people all around. It was a beautiful, warm sunny day, and I noticed a café with tables that sat outside. I wasn’t really hungry, but it had been several hours since I last ate. I took a seat at an open table and then placed my order with the waitress. I was looking around, taking in the fresh air, when I noticed a couple sitting a few tables over from me. They were holding hands, and laughing. The guy was hot; there was no doubt about that, and his girlfriend was very pretty. There was something about his smile that struck me in more places than one. They looked happy, and from what I could see, they were very much in love. I grabbed my camera and snapped a picture of them.
I ate lunch, had a couple glasses of iced tea, and reached for my purse to pay the bill. The tickets fell out and onto the cement floor. I reached down, picked them up, and held them in my hand, staring at them. I left some money on the table and walked over to the happy couple that I’d been watching since I sat down.
“Hi, I know this is weird, but I have two airline tickets to Aruba. The flight leaves tomorrow, and I want you to have them.”
They both looked at me like I was crazy.
“You aren’t going?” the woman asked in confusion.
“No, actually, something came up, so my fiancé and I aren’t able to go. I don’t want them to go to waste, and you two look like you would enjoy Aruba together.”
She looked at him, and they both looked at me. “Let me pay you for the tickets,” the guy said as he reached into his pocket to pull out his wallet.
“No, please, just take them. I don’t want your money. Just promise me that you’ll have a good time,” I said as I put the tickets on the table and started to walk away.
“Wait!” the girl yelled. “Thank you.” She smiled.
“Consider it a gift, and just pay it forward someday.” I smiled as I walked back to my Explorer.
1
One Year Later…
I inserted the key into the lock and unlocked the door. I slowly turned the handle and lightly pushed the door open as I stepped inside my new apartment. I set my suitcases down and took a deep breath. I flipped the light switch on the wall next to the door and looked around. The furniture that I ordered online had arrived, and it was scattered all over the room. I rented this apartment based off the pictures showcased on the internet. I walked around and inspected the place. The light gray walls and white moldings gave the place a classic look. The eggplant color couch and loveseat I bought matched perfectly, as did the glass coffee table and end tables. I walked down the hall and into my bedroom. I flipped the light switch and stared at the empty space. The bedroom set was being delivered tomorrow. It was late, and I was exhausted as I drove fourteen hours straight from Portland to Santa Monica. My Explorer was filled with boxes, but they would have to wait until the morning. At that moment, I just wanted to feel the comfort of my new couch.
I spent the last year in Portland when my car broke down, and it took two weeks to get it repaired. I guess you could say the place grew on me, and I really didn’t have any other place to go. I rented an apartment, took a job as a freelance photographer for the local newspaper, and I was a substitute teacher for a few months at one of the local elementary schools. How did I end up in Santa Monica? The local newspaper shut down, and my gig as a substitute teacher had ended when the regular teacher came back from maternity leave. Giselle called me one day and said that her aunt Chris, the principal of an elementary school in Santa Monica, was looking for a long-term substitute teacher and that I should call her. So, I did, and that’s how I ended up here.
Giselle and Gretchen live in Santa Monica, and I was excited to be living near them again. They’re twins, and we’ve been best friends for as long as I could remember. I met them when I was six years old, when they moved into the house next door. Their father was an investment banker, and their mother was a model in her younger days. Giselle and Gretchen followed in their mother’s footsteps. With their 5’10” height and size 6 bodies, they were made to be models. I was envious of their deep brown eyes and their long, straight brown hair. Our mothers used to call us the three musketeers because we were inseparable. We did everything together, and we were always there when the other one needed us. The twins were my rock, and no matter what exotic place their job took them to, we talked every day.
* * *
I opened my eyes and was startled by the music I heard, coming through the wall. I grabbed my phone and looked at the time; it was 3:00 a.m. I had been sleeping for about two hours, which had become the norm for me since I caught Hunter and Brynn together in the church. My mind’s on permanent rewind, and every time I closed my eyes, that scene played over and over again. I got up from the couch, grabbed my purse, and walked to the bathroom. I wanted to wash my face, but I forgot that all my towels and washcloths were packed away in one of the boxes that sat in the Explorer. I took the brush out of my purse and ran it through my long, blonde hair. I searched for a rubber band and pulled my hair into a high ponytail. As I looked at myself in the mirror, I couldn’t help but notice the bags underneath my blue-gray eyes. I really needed a shower, so I put on my shoes, grabbed my keys, and headed towards the Explorer. As I stepped out into the hallway of my apartment, I stood there and stared at the door from which the blaring music was coming from. I shook my head, rolled my eyes, and headed to my SUV for the box that was labeled: BATHROOM.
I lifted the box out of the Explorer, and then carried it to the door of the apartment building. I set the box down for a minute while I opened the door with my key. As I was inserting the key, the door opened, and I stumbled back, nearly being knocked down.
“I’m sorry, miss, I didn’t see you there,” he apologized.
He looked at me and then at the box on the ground. “Are you moving in?” he asked as he looked at his watch.
“Yes, I just got here a few hours ago, and I haven’t had a chance to get the boxes from my truck,” I answered.
“It’s nice to meet you; I’m Sam,” he said as he held out his hand.
“Hi, I’m Lily. It’s nice to meet you too.”
“Let me grab that box for you,” he offered as he bent down to pick it up.
“No, that’s alright, I’ve got it,” I said as I put my hand in front of him.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Let me carry the box for you since I almost knocked you on your ass with the door.” He smiled.
It was the middle of the night, and I was arguing with a hot guy over a box. “Fine; my apartment’s right there,” I said as I pointed to my door.
Sam looked at me and smiled. “Well, look at that; looks like we’re neighbors.”
I opened the door for him as he stepped inside my apartment and set the box down on the floor. “So, you’re the one playing the loud music at 3:00 a.m.?” I asked.
“Sorry about that,” he said as shrugged his shoulders. “I’ll tell Lucky to keep it down.”
“I’d appreciate that. Thanks for the help with the box,” I said as I shut the door.
I spent the next hour unpacking the box and putting away the towels. I organized all my bathroom items and then took a hot, relaxing bubble bath. My hands began to wander as it had been a while since my battery operated boyfriend and I had a date. As soon as I was finished, I got out of the tub, wrapped a towel around me, and walked into the living room where my suitcases were. I opened one suitcase and pulled out a pair of jean shorts and a navy blue tank top. I grabbed my phone from the couch and looked at the time; it was 6:00 a.m. Giselle and Gretchen were coming over to help me unpack around 8:00 a.m., and the bedroom set was being delivered between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. I blow-dried my hair then put it back up in a high ponytail. I put on some light makeup and then decided to go for some coffee.
I stepped out of my apartment at the same time Sam did his. We both looked at each other, and he smiled. “Don’t you ever sleep?” he asked.
“I should be asking you the same thing.” I smiled back.
Sam was hot; there was no question about it. He stood around six feet tall with a great muscular body, sandy brown hair, and brown eyes. He definitely fit the Santa Monica image.
“Where are you off to so early in the morning?” he asked.
It really wasn’t any of his business, but he was being nice, so I felt the neighborly thing to do was to be nice in return.
“I’m off to find some much needed caffeine,” I replied as I stepped out of the building door, and he followed behind me.
“Me too,” he said. “I went to make some coffee, but the bag was empty. I hate it when Luke doesn’t tell me we’re out of coffee.”
“Luke?” I asked.
“Yeah, he’s my BF and roommate. Hey, would you like to go get some coffee together?” he asked with a smile.
I studied him. Sam seemed like a really nice guy, and he was gay, so I didn’t have to worry about him hitting on me.
“Sure, I’ll go with you, but we have to make it quick; my girlfriends are coming over to help me unpack.”
I hopped into his truck, and we drove down the road to a coffee house called ‘Brewsters.’ We walked inside, and Sam was instantly greeted by the girl behind the counter.
“Morning, Sam! Who’s your friend?” she asked as she was wiping down the counter.
“Morning, Jamie! This is Lily; she just moved in next door. Lily, this is my cousin, Jamie; she owns this lovely coffee house.”
Jamie wiped her hand dry and held it out to me as I gently shook it.
“It’s nice to meet you, Lily. Are you new in town?”
“Yes, I just moved here from Portland last night,” I replied.
“Great, well welcome to Santa Monica and to Brewsters! What can I get you?” she asked.
“I’ll just have a large black coffee.” I smiled. I looked over at Sam and found him staring at me. “What?” I asked.
“That’s how Luke drinks his coffee. I don’t understand how you can drink it with no sugar or cream. We argue about it all the time.”
“Everyone has different coffee taste, Sam,” Jamie said.
“Let me pay for your coffee,” I said to Sam.
“It’s on the house.” Jamie smiled as she handed us our coffees. “Cheap-ass, Sam, over here never pays. Consider it a ‘welcome to Santa Monica gift.’”
“Thanks, Jamie!” Sam smiled as he grabbed a bag of coffee from the shelf. “I’m taking a bag home; I owe you!”
Jamie rolled her eyes. “He owes me every week.” She laughed.
“Thank you, Jamie. It was nice to meet you.” I smiled as I held up my coffee cup.
“It was to meet you too!”
I walked out of Brewsters and climbed into the truck. “Your cousin is really nice,” I said.
“Yeah, she’s more like my sister. She came to live with me and my family when she was eight years old. Her mom and dad were drug dealers who got caught, and they were sent to prison.”
“Are they still in prison?” I asked.
“Yeah, 20 years later, and they’re still there. She hasn’t seen them in all these years either.”
We arrived back at the apartment building, and I got out of the truck. I walked over to my Explorer and set my coffee cup on the hood. I took the keys from my purse and unlocked it. Sam followed me.
“Let me give you a hand with those boxes,” he offered.
“That’s alright, Sam. Go enjoy your coffee. I can handle this.”
He walked over to the back of the Explorer. “Nah, come on, Lily; just let me help. It’s the neighborly thing to do anyway.”
I sighed and unwillingly opened the hatch. Sam smiled, grabbed a box, and headed towards the apartment building. I stepped ahead of him so that I could hold open the door. Before I got up to the door, it swung open, and a guy stood there, staring at me.
“Luke, you’re just in time; hold this box,” Sam said as he handed it to him.
“What are you doing?” Luke asked. “I woke up, and you were gone. By the way, there’s no coffee left.”
“Yeah, I know; I just picked some up at Brewsters. I have the bag in my truck. By the way, this is Lily; she’s our new next-door neighbor.”
Luke looked at me. “Hey,” he said as he quickly looked away.
“Hey,” I replied back.
I couldn’t help but stare at him. He stood in the doorway—all six feet of him—in ripped jeans and a gray muscle shirt. He was barefoot, and his short, brown hair was messy. He was definitely one of the hottest men that I’d ever seen. You could tell he worked out by the muscle and definition in his arms and shoulders. He had a Celtic cross tattooed on his left bicep, with wings behind it. Thank God he was gay. I felt rather uncomfortable because Luke didn’t seem as friendly as Sam did.
“Lily, go unlock your apartment door so that we can get these boxes in there,” Sam said.
I walked past Luke and caught him staring at me. The minute I looked at him, he turned away. As I unlocked the door and opened it, I stepped outside and held the building door open so that Luke could set the box down in my apartment. He did just that and then went inside his apartment and shut the door behind him without saying a word.
“What’s his problem?” I asked Sam.
“Just ignore him. He’s not much of a morning person, that’s all.”
I couldn’t shake the feeling that he seemed familiar to me, but I knew it wasn’t possible. Just as Sam and I were bringing in the last of the boxes, Giselle and Gretchen pulled up. I haven’t seen them in over three months, so I put down my box and ran over to them as they got out of the car. I hugged Gretchen first and then Giselle.
“I’m so happy you moved to Santa Monica,” Giselle said as she hugged me tight.
“Me too,” I said as my eyes began to swell with tears.
“Who’s the hot guy that’s walking towards us?” Gretchen smiled as she pushed her hair back behind her ear.
“Hello, ladies.” Sam smiled.
“Sam, this is Giselle, and this is Gretchen; they’re my two best friends.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet the both of you,” Sam said as he held out his hand to each of them.
“Sam lives next door, and he’s been helping me bring the boxes in,” I said.
“We also went out for coffee this morning,” he blurted out.
Giselle looked at me and smiled. “Did you hear that, Gretchen? Lily went out for coffee with a guy.”
“I sure did, sis!” Gretchen smiled at me.
I turned and looked at Sam. “Don’t listen to them. Thank you for your help; I appreciate it.”
“No problem. If you need anything, just knock on my door or wall.” He smiled.
I grabbed Gretchen and Giselle’s hands and led them into my new apartment.
