It is not worth jeopardizing our partnership and friendship for it. Though friendship might not be entirely accurate; we’re still rivals in a way. We still compete and fight and call each other on our shit.But like yin and yang, we complete each other. Where he’s quiet, I am loud. Where he’s cold, I can be hot-blooded, which makes our partnership extremely profitable.When Dan and I are on a mission, nothing can stop us.Or at least, I thought so until this morning.Until the fucking phone call I had not so long ago.Until I realized the actual danger to my daughter’s life.The daughter I did not think I wanted when she showed up at my door. But one look into her innocent rainbow eyes made me fall in love when I thought I wasn’t capable of the emotion. I never even considered giving her away, I couldn’t. She was a part of me and I knew I had to protect her. It did not matter that I was young and reckless at the time. It did not matter that I knew shit about raising a child.Living wi
In the golden rays of the setting sun, I found myself standing on the precipice of change, the very edge of a new beginning. The wind whispered secrets in my ear, and the world seemed to hold its breath, as if anticipating the momentous shift about to unfold.As I gazed into the horizon, I couldn't help but think of all the dreams and aspirations that had carried me to this point. The journey had been tumultuous, filled with trials and triumphs, and it was the fire within me that had kept me pushing forward. The fire of hope, of unrelenting determination, and the belief that I was destined for something greater.In my heart, a storm of emotions swirled - a heady mix of excitement, fear, and anticipation. The unknown stretched out before me like an uncharted sea, its depths hiding treasures and challenges in equal measure. But I was ready, armed with the courage of a thousand warriors and the resolve of a soul unbreakable.With every step I took, the ground beneath me seemed to vibrate
My fingers falter and something stings my skin. I must’ve cut myself on the glass, but I do not pay attention to it as I stare at the man whose long legs eat up the distance in no time.Even the way he walks is unique. Only, he does not walk, he strides, always with some sort of purpose. His movements are purposeful, confident, and so damn masculine. Everything about him is manly, hard, and tenacious. It is present in every line of his face, every flutter of his lashes.It is in the way his broad shoulders stretch his tailored black jacket. The put-together look does not fool me, though, because I am well aware of what lurks beneath it.Muscles. Whether it is his chest, abdomen, biceps, or strong thighs. I know because I have watched him box with Dad many times, half-naked, and he gave me my first view of male beauty. I have seen his cut abdomen and bulging muscles. I have seen his fluid movements and quick reflexes.Young girls my age only have eyes for teenage boys and jocks, but I
DANIELcoma.The doctor is telling us that Krew is in avegetative state. He’s saying things about swelling in the brain due to the impact and that he might wake up in the next few days, weeks, or never.This hotshot surgeon spent hours working on my friend with his people, and yet he still couldn’t bring him back.He was in the operating room for hours, just to tell us that King might or might not wake up. I do not miss the fake sympathy or his attempts not to give hope.But even if I grab and shake him, then punch him in the face, it will not bring King back, and it sure as fuck will not serve any purpose. Except for maybe getting rid of some of my pentup frustration.Genevieve listens to the doctor’s words with her lips slightly parted. They are lifeless and pale, like the rest of her face. She clinks the nails of her thumbs and forefingers together in a frantic, almost manic type of way. It is a nervous habit she’s had since she was a kid—since she learned the truth about her moth
She shakes her head again, but it is meek, weak, just like she is beneath my touch. Until now, I have never noticed how small she actually is compared to me.How fragile.Actually, I did once. When she was pressed up against me with her lips on mine.But I should not be thinking about that. I should not be thinking about how small my best friend’s daughter is or how she feels in my hold when we’re in front of his hospital room.A muscle clenches in my jaw and I loosen my hold on her shoulders, starting to step away from her.I am unprepared for what she does, though.Completely and utterly taken off guard.Just like two fucking years ago.Genevieve lunges at me and wraps both arms around my waist. And as if that is not enough, she stuffs her face in my chest—her damp face.I can feel the moisture clinging to my shirt and seeping onto my skin. But it does not stop there, no. It is like acid, melting away the flesh and bones and reaching for an organ I thought only functioned to pump bl
DANIELwyneth falls asleep.After so much struggle and standing for hours infront of Krew’s room, she lost the physical battle and slumped over on one of the chairs in the waiting area.I told her that she could go home, but she vehemently shook her head, pulled her knees to her chest, and closed her eyes.Which is why she’s about to fall forward.I place a finger on her forehead and push her back so she does not hit the ground. It is light contact, only a damn finger, and yet it feels as if my skin has caught fire and the flames are now extending to the rest of my body.In hindsight, I should not have let her hug me. Or I should’ve pushed her away sooner. Because now, even a mere touch brings back memories of her body pressed up against my chest.Her slender body that I can not stop thinking about how small it is compared to mine.I clench my fist and close my eyes to chase away the haze. It does not work. Because even though she’s out of view, her scent clings to me as stubbornly a
GENEVIEVEhen I was a kid, I had a problem learning words. I do not know why. I have a high IQ, and I can figure out my way around things, but memorizingwords was a bit difficult.The professionals my dad took me to thought I had some form of dyslexia, but it is not like I couldn’t read or recognize words. It is not that they all appeared the same. They just appeared alive.You know that feeling when you are reading something and it nearly jumps off the page at you? For me, it was literal, and that is exactly how it felt. As if the words were coming after me.Turns out, I did not have a problem with all the words. Just the negative ones. The words that make my skin itchy and my vision turn hazy. The words that I felt instead of only reading them.Anxiety made my skin crawl and my nose tingle.Cruel turned my cheeks hot and my body tight with the need to defend the one who was subjugated to it.Fear made my teeth clench and my heart shrink in anticipation for what was to come.Sad era
The man whose shirt I probably messed up.He did not touch me back, did not console me, but having him there, even immobile, was enough for me.He still had his body tight and rigid like the day of the kiss. He still refused any contact with me, just like back then, but that is okay.He covered me with his jacket. And maybe I can keep it like I have kept a lot of him with me.Like his notebook, his shirt when he once forgot it, his hoodies from when he runs with Dad. Most of them were my father’s, but if Dan wore them even once, then they became his. Do not ask me why. It is the law. Then there is a scarf that he gave me because it got cold. A book about law. Make that plural. A pen. Okay, pens, plural again.And no, I am not a stalker. I just like collecting. And by collecting, I mean the things that belong to him.But he’s not here now.And there is a hole the size of a continent in the pit of my stomach because now I am thinking he’s abandoned me and I need to deal with these jumbl
ONE YEAR LATERon’t cry…I am here…” I croak, patting my hand “D on a chubby chest and holding another chubby bottom so she can suck on my breast.Only…I am not holding anything. I am not sitting down either and I am only touching the mattress.I startle, my eyes flying open.Our bedroom comes into sight with the pulled-down curtains that make it dark even though the clock on the wall reads ten in the morning. I fumble for the baby monitor, my heart beating so loudly, I hear it in my ears.Holy shit.Shit.Where are my babies? I clearly remember falling asleep breastfeeding Lily and rocking Logan back to sleep around two in the morning.Did I lose them somehow? Dan spends one night working late in the office, one night, and I lose our twins?They are three months old—I think I got pregnant that day before Dan’s birthday a year ago. As soon as we found out the news, I was ecstatic, but that can not be said about everyone else. Dad wondered if I was going to be fine with law school and e
THREE YEARS LATERSomething is evidently amiss, and the signs of its presence are glaringly conspicuous. The unmistakable manifestation of this disquieting anomaly lies in the unequivocal fact that Genevieve, a typically unwavering and unswerving companion, has taken a perplexing turn towards avoidance when it comes to me.A deviation of this nature is an anomaly in itself, as Genevieve has historically been impervious to any inclinations towards avoidance, even in those moments when my behavior has teetered on the precipice of insensitivity and provoked her ire. Instead of retreating or descending into a sullen disposition, she would typically seek solace on my lap, insisting that I impart lessons on decorum and propriety. However, the current situation presents a stark contrast, as she has continued to maintain a conspicuous distance from my presence for a duration spanning two whole days. This departure from her established demeanor is compounded by another observation that is not
GENEVIEVEIn the end, love's difficulties remind us that love is not meant to be perfect; it's meant to be real. It's not about avoiding conflicts or challenges but about navigating them together, hand in hand. It's about finding the courage to confront the issues that arise and the humility to recognize our own flaws.Through the difficulties of love, we discover that love is a dynamic force, ever-changing and evolving. It's a journey of self-discovery and a shared adventure with another person. It's about learning, growing, and evolving together.Love's difficulties may test our patience and resolve, but they can also deepen our emotional connection. They make the moments of laughter and tenderness all the more precious. The difficulties are like the shadows that define the contours of the relationship, making it multi-dimensional and unique.Ultimately, love's difficulties are part of the intricate mosaic of life, and they are a testament to our humanity. They remind us that love i
DANIELknew this would be hard, but I did not think it would be this fucking unbearable.There is always been an emptiness inside me—it comes with all the baggage of being an unwanted child. But I have managed it well through the years.Or, I thought I had.Turns out, I was only numbing it with no way to effectively deal with it. Which is why I am here, in the middle of nowhere.On the mountain.I have done a lot of hiking and thinking, mostly about her.The girl I left behind without a word because her dick of a father is testing me.“Stay away for a while and take the time off as an overdue vacation,” he told me that day. “If she’s really serious about you, she will not move on. But if she does move on, you will fuck off from her life.”He also wants ten percent of my shares, which will give him the majority in W&S. We agreed to never sell our shares to outsiders or each other in order to keep an equal power balance. But he’s using the circumstances to twist my arm.I agreed anyway.
In the tapestry of love, the difficulties form intricate patterns, weaving together the fabric of our experiences and memories. It's in the trials and tribulations that we discover the resilience of the human spirit, the ability to bounce back from heartache and forge ahead with newfound strength.The journey of love teaches us that perfection is not the goal, but rather, it's the acceptance of imperfections and the willingness to work through them. It's about recognizing that no relationship is without its share of obstacles, and that the process of overcoming them is where we find growth and deep connection.Overcoming the difficulties of love requires a commitment to self-improvement, patience, and a profound understanding of our partner. It's about listening, compromising, and showing kindness even when emotions run high. It's about finding the balance between individual growth and the growth of the relationship itself.In the end, love's difficulties are an invitation to embrace
GENEVIEVEate is gone.He disappeared the same day my life shattered topieces after I learned I have had a mother all along who did not know I existed.The same day my dad threatened to remove her from my life again.The same day I cried until there were no tears left, then instead of going home, I went to Dan’s apartment because I needed him. Not anyone else, just him.He’s the only one who’s able to chase away the chaos and make me feel at peace.He’s the only one I think of when my world splinters to pieces. It is not that he mends it together—he’s not my fixer. He’s just the other half who helps me in being me.In fighting away the emptiness.But he wasn’t there and his phone was turned off.So I called Sebastian and he said he had no clue where his uncle was. He still does not. Because Dan left nothing behind and the perpetrator is my father.I could feel it deep down in my heart that Dad had something to do with it. Not only did he drive Dan away, but he also made him the devil
DANIELknew something was wrong the moment I saw Genevieve sneaking up behind a car.Then came King’s fucking loud voice, because he does not know how to stay quiet.Then Aspen’s full-body shudder as she barely remains upright.But the only person I care about is the girl who’s standing in front of them, her mouth falling open and her nails clinking against each other fast, as if she’s on a mission to injure herself.I step to her side, holding her elbow because she’s on the verge of something, and it is not something good.Her gaze slides to mine and it is a myriad of confused, muted colors as she gulps. “Dan…they said…Dad…called her my mother. It is not true, right?”I tighten my jaw, then glare at King, who’s clenching his fists because he knows he fucked up. He couldn’t just keep quiet. No, he had to make a scene and have her find out this way.He hasn’t been subtle at all since he woke up from the coma. Even I could see that his animosity toward Aspen was uncalled for. She hit ba
He wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me to the edge. My fingers splay out on his shoulders and then I am kissing him again because I love it. I love how his tongue toys with mine and how he nibbles on my lips, letting me know who’s in control.And he is, because I completely let go and I still feel powerful as fuck. He makes me feel it with the way he worships my body, the way his hands are all over my breasts, my waist, and my thighs as if he can never get enough of me.He makes me feel powerful by wanting me with a ferociousness that turns him animalistic, and I get off on that.I get off on how he wants me, not caring about the consequences or what the world thinks of us.While he’s still kissing me, he frees his cock and lifts me slightly off the table so he can drive inside me.“Oh, God,” I mumble against his lips, my eyelids slowly closing.“No. Look at me while I fuck you, wife.”I open my eyes and our gazes lock as he thrusts into me slow and long and deep. So deep that h
The complexities and difficulties of love also underscore its uniqueness and value. Love is not a one-size-fits-all emotion; it's a highly personalized experience that varies from one relationship to another. Each relationship comes with its own set of trials and tribulations, but these challenges can be the very catalysts for profound connection and personal growth.One of the most remarkable aspects of love is its ability to evolve and mature over time. As a relationship weathers storms and navigates the ups and downs of life, it can deepen and become more profound. The difficulties faced together can serve as the building blocks of resilience, forming a bond that can withstand even the harshest of trials.Moreover, love has the power to teach us valuable life lessons. It teaches us patience and the importance of compromise. It encourages us to let go of our ego and prioritize the happiness and well-being of our partner. Love fosters empathy, as we learn to see the world through the