LanieI bit back a strangled cry. Despite the frustrations I’d been harboring, seeing him looking so broken had me coming undone. “I’m sorry about everything, too,” I whispered.Andrew looked up at me with sad eyes. “I haven’t spoken with your father.”“Neither have I.”His inhale sucked up all the air in the vicinity. “I’ve been trying to work this out, to figure out what we should do.” He paused. “What do you think?”I slowly licked my lips. “It’s complicated.”“Uh-huh.”“I know I’m a coward.” My voice cracked on the last word, and I shut up, afraid that if I said any more, I’d break down.Andrew stiffed. “No, Lanie, don’t say that. It’s not true.”“It’s silly, but I still have this fear of disappointing my parents, you know? Like I’m ten or something.”“A lot of adults feel that way.”“I know.” I nodded thoroughly. “I’ve taken classes on the subject, for god’s sake. But that doesn’t make things any different for me, oddly enough.”He smirked. “If it’s any comfort, I’m here right al
AndrewThe kitchen sang with life as Karen flipped, stirred, and blended. With the morning sun’s rays coming through the windows, the day rang with a familiarity I hadn’t felt in a long time. Or maybe that I hadn’t noticed.“Here you are, Mr. Marx.” My housekeeper set the green smoothie down in front of me with a flourish. I inspected it warily. “Yes, I know it’s a new recipe. But don’t worry. You won’t even taste the greens.”“All right.” I shrugged and took a sip, nothing but pineapple and banana on my tongue.“Now if we can get Raven to drink one of these,” Karen muttered, going back to the counter.“Did you see her last night?” I asked.“No.” She turned the dishwasher on, frowning. “She wasn’t back when I left around six.”“Oh.” I looked away. It seemed Raven had taken my encouragement that she spend more time with her peers to heart. I’d barely seen her since the fundraiser the weekend before.Or maybe she was avoiding me.“Karen, has Raven talked to you at all?”Drying her hands
Andrew“Raven,” I gasped. “Don’t say that you’re not meant to have a mother.”“Why not?” she countered with a steely look. “It’s how I feel.”“Okay,” I nodded, wanting to diffuse the situation before it escalated into a fight. “That’s understandable. I don’t think anyone is ‘not meant’ to have something that’s supposed to be good, though. We’re not cursed or anything.”The dubious look on her face said otherwise.“Really,” I pushed. “What happened to Mom was an accident. Nothing more. She didn’t deserve it, and we didn’t deserve it.”My heart tightened, and I looked down at my lap. We didn’t speak about Danica much. Raven had some therapy after her passing a decade before, but as for me, maybe I’d moved on too fast. I hadn’t predicted the ways Danica’s absence would affect Raven in the years to come. I’d focused on what the little girl Raven had lost, not what the teenager and young woman Raven would need.“Yeah,” she said. “I know it wasn’t our fault.”“Really?”“Yes. Don’t worry, Da
LanieThe cold crept into my car as I sat in my parents’ driveway and stared at their house. I used to think the place was too big, but that was before I had seen Andrew’s home. Now Mom and Dad’s two-story looked modest in comparison.I pushed my hands between my thighs to keep them warm as I continued to look at the house. The automatic lights in the front had come on, sensing that nighttime was no more than an hour away.I’d spent half the day trying to forget what I was about to do and the other half walking around the park and talking about it with Erica. Still, the answer remained the same. Honesty was the best policy.I could just leave. All I have to do is turn my car on and back out of the parking lot. Consequences be screwed. I knew that was silly, though. Plus, the house’s front door was opening. My mom popped her head out and, seeing me, waved me in.Plastering a smile on my face, I climbed from the car.“What are you doing out here?” Mom asked, arms wrapped around herself
LanieMom’s noise-making abruptly stopped, and she turned to look at me.Dad cocked his head. “What do you mean?” he barked. “We met him already?”Just say it, I told myself. The sooner you let it out, the sooner it will be over with.“He’s Andrew Marx,” I spilled, talking faster than usual. “I met him because his daughter, Raven, goes to my school. Weeks ago. We met weeks ago.”The tension in the room was unprecedented, my breathing all I could hear at first. Dad’s eyes were wide, his jowls rapidly turning red.“Andrew Marx?” he repeated.“Yes,” I peeped, feeling like I was shrinking inside my sweater.Dad licked his lips. Looked away. Ran his palm over his mouth. “How? When? Damn it, Lanie.”I flinched at his harsh tone. My father had only cussed at me a few times before, and only when I did something really, really bad—like sneak out of the house in the middle of the night or clog the toilet with all of Mom’s lipsticks after we fought.The disappointment and anger in his voice had
AndrewI darted around the living room, fluffing pillows and putting stray books back on the shelves. Lanie had been over to the house before, but something was different about tonight. There was no Karen. No Raven. Just me and the woman I craved.She was upset, and she was coming to me. Which meant it was my duty to make her feel better.The doorbell rang, making me spring around and bolt across the room and into the foyer. Lanie stood under the porch light, her eyes puffy.“Hi.” She sadly smiled.My heart cracked in two. “Oh, Lanie.”She shook her head and stepped inside. “It’s not that bad.”“Really?” I closed the door and turned to face her.Lanie’s lips pressed hard together, and her chin quivered. “No,” she gasped.Out of nowhere, tears flowed. Without thinking, I crossed the foyer and pulled her into my arms, pressing her head against my chest with one hand and wrapping my other arm around her waist. Her chest heaved with a couple of thick sobs, but then she pulled away.“I’m s
AndrewLanie’s hand fell on my knee as she looked earnestly into my eyes. She seemed unaware that she was touching me, but the shivers of pleasure running through my leg took up all of my attention.I licked my lips and got my brain working again. “Maybe you should take that kid from the coffee shop home. They’d probably like him.”“Oh my god,” she groaned. “Was that a joke?”“Maybe.” I made a pained face. “Humor was never my forte.”A chuckle slipped from her. “It was decent. For someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing.”“Gee, thanks.”“Sorry,” she said, laughing.“I’m just glad to see you not crying,” I softly said, trailing my fingers down her cheek.Lanie sharply inhaled, and the sound made goosebumps rise on my arms.“Are we doing the right thing?” she delicately asked.I had to swallow before answering. Her hand was still on my leg, and my arm around her waist. In that moment, the “right thing” was happening. We were together, and it seemed nothing else mattered.“What do yo
Lanie“Let me down!” I cried, unable to stop the laughter bubbling from my throat.“Not a chance,” Andrew answered, his strong arms around my legs.Up the stairs and down the hallway we went, passing closed doors. A door opened with a bang, and we were in a bedroom. Andrew’s bedroom.A small lamp on a side table softly lit the room, but that’s all I got to notice before I was gently dropped onto the bed. Andrew’s weight pressed down onto me, his hands twisting in my short hair and his nose brushing against mine.I wrapped my arms around his neck, studying his eyes. This close, they were dark pools sucking me in.Slowly twisting a strand of my hair, Andrew dropped a quick kiss on my lips before taking his mouth higher. My forehead. My cheeks. My chin. His lips didn’t miss any part of my face.I closed my eyes, relaxing my weight into the soft comforter as his mouth meandered down to my neck. Somehow, Andrew knew just where the most sensitive spot was. Sucking gently on my throat, he sw