I run my hands through Lana’s hair. She always loved it when she played with the strands until she fell asleep. My own eyes begin to droop, the post-sex drowsiness trying to weigh me down.
Time to leave.
I’m not ready to leave, although I know I’ll have to. It’s inevitable with Cami in the house.
“I should go before I fall asleep.” My fingers run down her back, tracing the goosebumps that appear on her skin. She snuggles deeper into my chest and puts her leg over mine.
“I don’t want you to leave,” he growls against my skin.
I laugh and place a soft kiss on the top of his head, earning a sweet sigh from him. “I know, but I doubt you want to wake up in the morning to Cami asking you a hundred questions about us.”
She shudders against me.
This is exactly why you have to leave.
Because no matter what has changed between us, Lana will always protect her daughter first, even if it means hiding who we are until she fully trusts me.
“It’s not that I’m ashamed…” His voice trails off.
“I understand.” And if I go to rehab soon, it’s probably for the best. I have every intention of going back, but Cami won’t understand.
She lets out a heavy sigh. “She was so excited about Victor.” I shudder and my hands remain frozen against her back.
Lana traces an invisible pattern against my chest. “I was careful at first and didn’t make them meet until I was sure he and I were serious.”
The only thing keeping me from escaping is his gentle touch teasing my skin and my growing curiosity about what happened.
“He pressured me to meet her. That should have been the first sign of many that I wasn’t a good match, but I felt so alone and I was afraid of losing the only person who made me feel a fraction of what we had.” Her voice breaks, and my arms tighten around her.
I let out a heavy sigh.
It’s only fair that you listen to every word since you are the one who got her into this situation in the first place.
I’m an expert at self-inflicted torture, so I can handle an awkward conversation.
“At first, things were good. Cami was happy with him. She even asked me a couple of times if we were going to get married, although she stopped asking after the first time he took care of her.” Her voice trembles from her.
I press her harder against my chest. “You did not know”.
She looks at me with glassy eyes. “Shouldn’t she have done it, though? She’s my girl. I’m supposed to know every little thing about her, but I couldn’t even figure that out.”
“He was an idiot.”
“I know now, but I missed the signs. It wasn’t until she timidly asked me if he was going to become her dad that I finally started putting things together.”
My lungs seize up, and a hot stab of pain shoots through my chest. I don’t speak for fear that my voice will give me away.
I wished you could be my new dad.
Did she wish the same for Victor?
Lana continues, unaware of the change in my mood. “When I asked her about it, she told me that she would rather not have a dad. It was the first warning sign I really heard. Because my girl is a romantic through and through, ever since she saw her first princess movie Dreamland. She even wrote letters to Santa asking for a daddy, only to be disappointed when his search for her under the tree came up empty.”
A laugh breaks out of me, followed by relief. She didn’t want Victor to be her father. She loved you .
It’s scary but empowering all at the same time.
A small smile teases Lana’s lips. “One year I had to write a fake letter from Santa Claus to let him know that he can only deliver toys, not people.”
My chest shakes with silent laughter. “It is a pity.”
“A shame, until he faced the next best person.” “Who?”
“The Easter Bunny.”
My head shakes. “She is the cutest girl ever.”
He sinks into me, his body melting against mine. “I think so, but it’s good to hear it from someone impartial.”
I laugh. “Oh, I was biased the day he scammed me out of six hundred dollars.”
“You didn’t stand a chance, did you?”
“It seems like the Castillo women are my only weakness.” “Only one?” She smiles.
I kiss the stupid smile on his face. She reciprocates, matching my fire with one of her own. I’m not sure how I survived six years without this. without her The way I feel around Lana makes the whole world pale in comparison. Like I’ve been stuck living my life in black and white, only to change it to color.
I’m not sure I can go back to a life without her.
You won’t have to.
As long as I commit to working on myself, I can have Lana forever.
Just as you were meant to.
I pour everything I feel into my kiss. Desire. Love. hope _
Lana wraps her arms around me and pulls me closer. Everything about us feels good. Like two halves of a puzzle finally put together.
I’m desperate to keep the connection as long as I can. I tease, suck, and kiss every inch of her body until she’s writhing beneath me, chanting my name desperately.
It’s not long before I find my head between her thighs again, worshiping her body like I always should have. The combined taste of hers and mine is addictive, and I can’t stop playing with her pussy until she cums on my tongue, rewarding me for my hard work.
Somehow, I end up under her with my back pressed against the headboard while she rides my cock.
Every gasp. Every moan. Every little breath pushes us closer to the edge.
I drag Lana with me, teasing her clit until she cums around my cock. He doesn’t stop moving until she comes down from her orgasm. Her body goes limp and falls against my chest with a contented sigh.
My hands grip her hips as I lift her up and down my cock, desperate to find my own release. Her head rolls back, giving me the perfect opportunity to take one of her nipples into my mouth.
She shivers around me, taking every inch of me like she was supposed to.
“California.” She grabs my hair and pulls, making my scalp tingle from the sensation.
“You like this?” I slam it against my cock, earning me a gasp. “Driving me crazy?”
She reaches between us and teases her clit.
Shit. That’s hot.
One of the things I love about Lana is that she has never been shy about seeking her own pleasure. Her finger accidentally brushes against my cock as I pull out of her, making me cum so hard I almost pass out. Lana continues riding my cock, playing with her clit until she orgasms again.
His small smile of triumph draws one of his own. Then I realize that Lana not only feels like home, she feels like my everything.
I stay inside her as long as I can, settling into the mattress as I hold her against my chest. Her breathing eventually evens out as she slips into unconsciousness, and I’m left grappling with the emotions she stirred up in her.
At some point, I get carried away by the sound of his constant breathing.
I’ll get up in a minute , I repeat to myself for the third time. I lied.
 |
“Mommy! Wake up! Today we are going to Dreamland!” Cami slams against the door.
Lana sits up abruptly, the sheet falling around her waist. “Oh my god! What are you still doing here?” she whisper-screams.
“Shit.” I grab a pillow and cover my head. “I fell asleep.” “You have to hide!” He rips the pillow out of my hands and throws it at the end of the bed.
“Mommy? Did you hear me?” Cami smacks her palm a few more times. “Coming! Why don’t you go ahead and pick out your outfit for today?” Cami’s voice sounds farther away when she answers.
Lana shoots me a look as she slides out of bed, distracting me with her naked body as she runs around the room, gathering our clothes. She pulls her shirt over her head before running her fingers through her wild waves.
“Get dressed.” She throws my shorts on my chest. “Go.” She reluctantly got me out of bed.
Lana’s eyes widen as she presses a hand against her mouth.
“That?” I look down at my erection. “This?” I give it a couple of pumps, earning a hiss from Lana.
“No. I…” His eyes widen. “I’m so sorry.” “What’s wrong?” I turn and look at my reflection in the mirror.
Damn.
Lana left some memories of our time together. In addition to the few hickeys marking my neck and chest, my skin is covered in light scratches and a couple of bite marks.
I run my hand over one of the marks. “If you wanted to mark your territory, a tattoo might have been more effective in the long run.”
“Be quiet.” He throws my shirt right at my smile.
I pull her in for a quick kiss. Her lips mold to mine, and I run my hands up her body, tracing her curves before squeezing her butt.
I walk away even though I’d rather not. “You distract Cami and I’ll sneak away.” She places a quick kiss on my cheek. “Negotiate.”
|
Fortunately, the real estate agent can stop by early on Sunday afternoon. Now that we’re going to Dreamland tonight for Cami’s birthday, I want to make sure everything is settled with the lake house while Wyatt and Delilah take Cami to lunch.
The meeting with the agent goes smoothly and he assures me that the house will be on the market first thing in the morning while we are in Florida.
I should be happy with that kind of news. Excited even. The sooner I sell the house, the more liberated I will feel. Hopefully, the heavy weight pressing against my chest that has been present since last night’s conversation will lessen before disappearing completely.
Lana stayed quiet, reserved as we reviewed the logistics of the sale and our price. She only spoke after the agent said goodbye and asked me to do one last tour of the house on our own. He saves cooking for last, something I know is intentional given how much time he spends inside.
He opens the pantry door and frowns. “Hmm.” “That?” I look over his shoulder.
“Just wondering if they are going to paint over this or replace the door and frame entirely.”
“I’ll probably replace it.” She makes an imperceptible noise.
“That?” He asked seeing her frown.
“It is a pity.” She traces the different marks etched into the wooden frame, all written in her mother’s handwriting. Five different initials in different colors mark the entire side: RGK, DLK, CPK, AVC and CTC. Rowan and Declan’s heights were no longer recorded once they stopped visiting the lake house, while mine continues until my final six-four mark.
“Did you add Cami’s height?” I crouch down and trace the first little pink mark on the bottom, which is barely two feet tall.
“Yes. My mom thought it would be a fun idea.” Lana looks on with a watery smile. “Cami couldn’t even stand up yet, but I held her up while my mom used the ruler to mark her spot.”
“You miss her,” I say.
“All the time.” Look around the kitchen. “Being here… it feels like he’s still connected to her. He spent most of his time in the kitchen, cooking, cleaning, eating . It was her favorite place in the whole house.”
“And yours.”
“Definitely.” Lana pats the kitchen counter affectionately. “It’s hard to believe that by tomorrow all this will be gone.” “Crazy, huh?” I lean on the counter next to her.
“If my mom was here, she would be excited to say goodbye to the counters. She probably would have begged Ryder to let her hit them herself with a sledgehammer.
I smile “Really?”
“Oh yeah. She warned your grandpa not to choose blue tile for the countertop, but he was very insistent. Mom said it wouldn’t age well, and she was right. Plus, she hated cleaning the grout all the time, and after being stuck doing the same thing, “I completely agree.” Lana’s nose twitches in disgust.
“That was Brady for you. Stubborn as a mule and always thinking he knew better, even when he didn’t.
He walks over to the window over the sink and looks out at the lake. “I still haven’t gotten around to the fact that we’re selling the house.”
Me neither. “Are you going to talk to Cami?”
His fingers gripping the counter twitch. “After we get back from Dreamland.”
“She will understand.” I walk behind her and place my hands on top of hers.
“I hope so. I just…” “What?”
“I’m afraid to let go.” Her voice breaks.
“Wool”. I turn her face towards mine. Her gaze remains glued to the lake outside. “Look at me.” The glaze in her eyes guts me, and I’m questioning giving up my grandfather’s task entirely.
“We can cancel this,” he snapped.
Are you…
An idiot in love? Absolutely. Sue me.
If you don’t, your brothers will.
I push the thoughts of Rowan and Declan out of my head.
His eyes closed. When they open again, the watery sheen is gone. “No.”
“Are you sure?”
His fingers intertwine with mine, dispelling the cold fear spreading through my veins. “I want you to be happy.”
My lips press together. I feel like the biggest idiot on the planet for hiding the truth from him.
You have no choice.
Well, I wish I had. My grandfather’s will makes me feel helpless. Dirty. dishonest _
“We can start somewhere new.” She sighs at her use of the word ” we” draws a sharp breath out of me and sticks to my heart, breaking down the scar tissue.
I give his hand a reassuring squeeze. “I would like that.”
|
While Lana and Cami pack for the trip, I sit inside my car with my phone pressed to my ear.
Callahan Kane. To what do I owe the pleasure of this call? The carefree tone of my grandfather’s lawyer’s voice brings a small smile to my face.
“I have a question for you.” “What is it?”
“When my grandfather asked me to stay at Wisteria Lake all summer, did he specify how long?”
“I don’t remember the top of my head. Do you want me to review the will?
“Yes please.”
“Give me a minute.” Papers rustle and Leo breathes heavily into the microphone, his confirming noise only adding to the growing tension in my shoulders.
“One hundred and twenty days.”
Shit.
“Is there any way around that?” My molars are crushed. He only complains to himself.
That can not be good.
“What’s the rush?” he asks. “You only have one month left.”
“I need to check into rehab next week.” “Rehabilitation?” Her voice perks up. It’s a strange way to react to someone who clearly has a problem with alcohol, but Leo was always a strange guy. That’s why he and my grandfather got along so damn well.
“Yes. I have a place reserved in Arizona, but the will prevents me from going.” More papers move in the background. “I see.”
“Well, I can’t, so would you mind sharing?” I close my eyes and take a deep breath to calm my frayed nerves. Without any alcohol to calm this conversation, I’m stuck facing my anxiety head-on.
Charming.
“Your grandfather was willing to adjust the time period on one condition.”
“Let me guess: I do go to rehab.” He laughs. “No.”
My shoulders slump. “So what? You want me to take a breathalyzer test every day for the next few days? Or maybe you want me to stay home with a babysitter?”
“Nothing that serious. All she said was that the four months required at Lake Wisteria could be null and void if you get a green chip.”
“A green chip?” “From aa”.
My lips purse as I consider my other two times attending Alcoholics Anonymous. Green was a color I achieved but lost shortly after.
My grip around the phone tightens. “And you didn’t think to tell me this before I moved?”
“I wasn’t at liberty to say unless you came to me first regarding sobriety. Your grandfather emphasized the importance of you making this decision on your own, so he didn’t want you to do it. he is tempted to be sober because of an inheritance.”
I close my eyes so the world stops spinning around me.
Leo clears his throat. “Your grandfather already chose an AA program for you too.”
My laugh comes out forced. “Of course she did.”
The son of a bitch set me up.
My grandfather had to have known that if he came back here, it would only be a matter of time before he wanted to get sober again.
“Could you send me the information so I can take a look?” Asked.
“Of course. I’ll ask my assistant to send you that and the phone number of the person to contact. From what I’ve heard, it’s a small group for those who require discretion.”
Fantastic. I can’t wait to spend my AA meetings with a bunch of rich snobs who can’t get their shit together despite having access to everything.
“Sell the house and get me that green chip so we can sort out the rest of the inheritance.” He speaks with a light, airy tone, as if getting sober is a simple task.
It is not a big thing. My teeth grind together. “Right. Thanks, Leon.” My finger hovers over the red end call button, but Leo’s voice stops me.
“I just know that your grandfather would be very proud of you. Every decision he made until his accident was meticulously thought out.”
“Even sell the house?”
“Especially that. For you and Mrs. Castillo.”
