“You have no idea how happy I am that you’re in Luke’s life. The past year has been so difficult for him; for all of us, really.”

As I tilted my head, I smiled at her. “I’m sure it’s been very difficult. It seems the past year wasn’t good for any one of us.”

“No, it wasn’t, but the only thing that matters is that you and my son found each other, and you’re both happy. I’m thrilled he’s decided to buy this bar. It’s all he ever talked about for years. Now, he’ll finally put that settlement money to good use.”

“He never mentioned the settlement money to me.”

“He doesn’t like to talk about it; I think it’s a reminder of the accident. The man who ran the red light was drunk and driving on a suspended license. He was a partner at a prestigious law firm in Los Angeles. Needless to say, he’ll never be practicing law again. Luke settled for five hundred thousand dollars. His attorney said he could probably get more, but Luke just wanted to be done with it. It was settled out of court to avoid publicity.”

As I sat there, pondering the fact that my boyfriend had five hundred thousand dollars that he didn’t tell me about, Luke and his dad sat down at the table.

“What have the two of you been talking about?” Luke asked.

“Just girl talk.” I smiled. “You haven’t told Bernie yet that you’re buying the bar, have you?”

“No, I just sent him a text message, telling him that I need to meet with him tomorrow and that I’ve made my decision.”

I reached over and kissed him on the cheek, leaving a lipstick mark on his face. I laughed as I grabbed a napkin and wiped it off. We ordered some chicken wings, had a couple of beers, and enjoyed the company of his parents. Luke leaned over and told me he’d be right back as he got up from his seat. As I continued to have a conversation with Tom and Annie, the lights on the stage caught my eye. I looked up, and Luke was sitting on the bar-stool in front of the microphone.

“Good evening, everyone.” He smiled and waved to the patrons in the bar.

Everyone cheered and said hello as Luke strummed his guitar. “This song I’m going to sing for you tonight is a song I wrote for a very special woman in my life.”

Annie looked over at me and smiled as she placed her hand on mine and gently squeezed it. My eyes started to swell with tears before he even started singing. He strummed the chords as our eyes met, and he started to sing.

Even the Clouds will say

There’s nowhere we can get away from everything

There’s nowhere we can practice positivity

When all I see is me

So let’s drop let’s stop this teenage rivalry

And every heart will break

There’s just no way to keep it safe from anything

If the only thing that makes it break is somebody

Please don’t give it to me

’Cause seeing you cry makes me want to leave

But losing you scares the shit out of me.


Or maybe, I’ll sail the ocean blue

Or I’d fly a rocket to the moon

But I’m good for nothing without you

It doesn’t matter what you say

I think about you every day, girl, I

Am good for nothing without you


Even the clouds will say

That Saturdays and rainy days were meant to be

If you’re indoors and in the arms of somebody

Under the blankets and sheets

Well the sky is clear; it’s the middle of the week

So come my dear, let’s make believe.


Or maybe, I’ll sail the ocean blue

Or I’d fly a rocket to the moon

But I’m good for nothing without you

It doesn’t matter what you say

I think about you every day, girl, I

Am good for nothing without you


Cause I want you

I want you

I want you

To want me to

I want you

I want you

I want you

I do

But I won’t fool this heart anymore

Or maybe, I’ll sail the ocean blue

Or I’d fly a rocket to the moon

But I’m good for nothing without you

It doesn’t matter what you say

I think about you every day, girl, I

Am good for nothing without you


Even the clouds will say

There’s nowhere we can get away from everything

And if the only thing that breaks your heart is somebody

Please don’t give it to me

‘Cause seeing you cry makes me want to leave

But losing you scares the shit out of me.


Annie and Tom both looked over at me as the tears that swelled in my eyes slowly fell down my face. The crowd cheered as Luke strummed the last chord and exited the stage. I stood up from my chair and wrapped my arms around him when he approached me.

“I love you,” I whispered in his ear as I tightened my grip around him.

“I love you too, babe. I’m glad you liked it.”

“I loved it, Luke. It was perfect; you’re perfect.”

As he sat down, he brought me onto his lap and kissed me.

“That was a beautiful song, honey,” Annie said.

“Great tune, son.” Tom smiled as he held up his glass.

We talked for a while longer and then called it a night. I had work in the morning, and Luke had a meeting with his lawyer to talk about the purchase of the bar. As we hugged Annie and Tom goodbye, we got into the Jeep, went back to my apartment, and I made sure Luke received his punishment for calling me mean.

32

One Month Later

Lily

My life was perfect. Luke and I were perfect. I’ve never been more in love with anyone like I was with him. He consumed me, and he owned me. He owned my heart and my soul, and I thanked God for him every day. He had completely changed my life. When I didn’t think it was possible ever to trust someone again, he walked into my life and showed me that it was.

As Luke was still sleeping, I slipped out of bed and headed to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee. When the coffee began to brew, I walked over and opened the blinds. It was cloudy outside, and I could already smell a hint of rain as I opened the window. It was the perfect day to stay in bed and watch movies. I walked back into the bedroom, took off my nightshirt, and I climbed into bed, wrapping my arms around Luke and softly kissing his back. He rolled over and smiled.

“Good morning, beautiful.”

“Good morning,” I said as my lips traveled across his chest.

I reached down and stroked his erection through the soft fabric of the sheet.

“Someone’s horny,” he said as he ran his fingers through my hair.

“I’m always horny when you’re around.”

“I know you are, and I love it,” he said as he flipped me on my back and climbed on top of me.

As Luke ran his tongue behind my ear and softly nipped my neck, I could feel the warmth deep in my belly. His hard cock pushed against my thighs as his lips made their way down to my breasts. His hand cupped me down below, before his fingers found their way inside of me.

“Someone is more than ready.” He smiled as he looked at me.

My hips moved in sync as his fingers moved in and out of me slowly. He was teasing me; I could tell by the smirk on his face.

“How bad do you want me inside you?”

“Very bad. Can’t you tell by how wet I am?” I said breathlessly.

“Yes, but I want you to tell me how bad you want me inside of you.”

“If you don’t put that hard cock inside me now, you’re not going to have one anymore.”

The look on his face was priceless. “Well, that wasn’t the answer I wanted to hear, but it’ll do.”

He asked me to put my arms above my head; then he locked my wrists tight with his hand as he pushed himself into me. I threw my head back as he did it with such force that it made me gasp. He stared at me the whole time, smiling, while he pounded into me and gave me exactly what I wanted. I needed to run my hands through his hair, but his grip was too tight, and I couldn’t free my hands.

“You want to touch me, don’t you?” He smiled.

“You know I do.”

“Should I let your hands go?”

“Yes, please,” I said breathlessly as my heart raced at full speed.

The grin on his face grew wide. “I’ll let go if you come first.”

I wrapped my legs around his waist as he took in a sharp breath. He took his free hand and placed it flat on my breast, with his palm face down and pressed hard against my nipple. He began rubbing it in slow circles as he moved fluently in and out of me. My body was ready to release and he knew it.

“That’s right, baby, let go, and come all over me.”

His words were all I needed to hear as a moan came from my lips, and my body shook, releasing my pleasure all over him.

“That’s it, Lily. I can’t hold back anymore, baby,” he said breathlessly as his grip tightened around my wrists, and I felt the warmth of him spill into me as he pushed himself one last time deep inside me. Luke let go of my wrists and brought them to his lips, kissing each one softly.

“I hope I didn’t hurt you.”