The Journey Home(18)
Author: Kelly Elliott

Once we were in the bedroom Zoey walked over and took a bottle out of her purse and took a pill out.

“Zoey are you okay?” I asked. She smiled briefly and then crawled into bed.

“I’m just so tired all of sudden. Just so tired. Please call my parents and tell them I need to cancel lunch.”

I sat down next to Zoey on the bed. I placed my hand on her forehead and was relieved when she didn’t feel feverish.

“Okay.” I said. “I’ll do whatever you’d like.”

She went to say something else but all that came out was a whisper. “So. Tired.”

I sat there for a few minutes watching her as she fell asleep. I wanted to make myself love her, but I couldn’t. At the same time, I knew I’d never leave. Not now, when she was sick and carrying my child.

Back in the kitchen, small finger sandwiches where all laid out on a plate, along with some fresh fruit. I picked up my phone and called Zoey’s parents. After telling them Zoey was tired and needed to rest, her mother informed me they were calling Zoey’s doctor tomorrow and we were all going to go. I agreed. It was yet another quick conversation – her parents still hated me.

I sighed as I ran a hand through my hair. Something caught my eye on the deck. Maddie was standing there, looking out over the lake. I took in a deep breath and made my way out to where she was. The closer I got, the more I felt it—the connection between us was so strong, and I knew the only reason we bickered so much was to mask our feelings. Maybe keep each other at bay. If Zoey ever found out, she’d be devastated.

I stopped just short of her and stood there. The sun was high in the sky and reflected against the water. Maddie’s brown hair was softly blowing in the wind.

“I can’t do this anymore,” she said, sensing me behind her. “I can’t keep pretending that I’m okay, standing by and watching you with her. Hearing about the two of you together…I just can’t do it. My heart is slowly breaking.”

When she turned and looked at me, I sucked in a breath. The tears on her face did something unexplainable to me. I never wanted to see tears on her face again.

I approached her and gently placed my hands on Maddie’s face and wiped her tears away with my thumbs. Moving my hands to the back of her neck, all I could focus on was her breathing. Her chest was heaving, and she kept flicking her eyes across my face. I leaned down and gently brushed my lips across hers. She moaned sweetly and closed her eyes. I wanted her more than I’d ever wanted anyone. I kissed her soft lips and I whispered her name before pulling away.

I wanted to deepen the kiss, but I knew that this was unfair to both her and Zoey.

Maddie placed her hands on my chest and began to cry harder. She looked up, locking eyes with me. She was filled with sadness. I leaned down again, barely kissing her.

“I’m so sorry, Maddie.” I gently kissed around her lips, whispering my apology over and over.

She shook her head and looked away. I placed my finger on her chin, pulling her eyes back to mine. “If I could go back to that night on the beach,” I said, “I’d have never let you walk away.”

She let out another sob and took a step away from me. “I…I have to go.”

I nodded and knew I had to let her go. She turned and walked away, never once looking back. I turned and looked out over the lake. I’d just let the only woman I’d ever loved walk away from me. Again.

I TRIED TO seem interested in Andre’s story, but my mind was a million miles away. This morning, Zoey slipped and said something that had been weighing on my mind all day. I don’t think she’d even realized she’d said it:

“All I had to do to get him to forget was let him fuck me.”

We hadn’t even been talking about Cale. When I mentioned it to Monica, she pulled out her handy dandy “Zoey notebook” and wrote it down. She and Jack had been spending more and more time attempting to take Zoey down.

“Maddison? Are you even listening to me?”

I snapped my head back to Andre and smiled. He smiled back, slightly melting my insides. He was so handsome. I’d meet Andre on a business trip in Florence. The moment we bumped into each other, I felt something awaken in me. He was tall and broad-chested, with dark brown hair, blue eyes, and muscles to make a girl squirm. His family was from Florence and he said he flew to Italy a couple times a year. Since returning from Florence, he’d already flown in to Northwest Arkansas six times from his home in New York just to see me. Last weekend, I’d finally decided to move on by flying to New York City. Of course, Monica was dying to know how Andre was in bed, and I couldn’t complain. He always made sure I had at least one orgasm before he did, and he showed amazing attention to detail. Unfortunately, I just wasn’t feeling it. He wasn’t Cale.

“I’m listening,” I said. “I think I’m just tired.”

Andre licked his lips and I could feel pressure building between my legs. “I know how to relax you, Bella,” he said.

I bit down on my lip. I needed to forget, and Andre always made me forget. At least for a little while.

“My place, or your hotel?” I asked as I raised my eyebrow.

“Your place. I want to wake up to the sounds of the lake, then hear you moan as I make you come.”

I inhaled sharply, nodding. I stood and Andre led me out of the restaurant and to the car he’d hired. I slipped into the back seat of the BMW as he settled next to my side.

“We’re going to Maddison’s.”

The driver nodded and took off for my house. But it wasn’t long before I was on Andre’s lap. He slipped his fingers inside me and I dropped my head back and moaned.

“Yes…” I whispered. I closed my eyes but, when green eyes appeared, I opened mine to see Andre. I leaned down and kissed him.

“Jesus, Bella, you feel so good. I want to take you right here.”

I laughed and rubbed against his hard dick. “I’m okay with that. I’d say you were more than ready.”

He laughed that deep, throaty laugh of his and looked into my eyes. “You know my last name, Gallo, means cock in Italian.”

I rubbed against him again and moaned.

The driver cleared his throat. “Mr. Gallo, we’ve arrived at Miss Powers’ house.”

I pouted and moved off of him. Andre smacked my ass. “Next time, Bella.”

Stepping out of the car, I headed for my door. But Andre grabbed me from behind. I turned around and he picked me up. I wrapped my legs around him as he pushed me into the door. Still outside, he shoved my shirt and bra up and sucked on my nipples.