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For a long time, neither of us say anything. I don’t mind. The sound of her breathing is calming and gives me a reason to stay planted in bed and not cleaning up the mess I’ve made all over my sheets.
I try to think of something to say, but my mind goes blank. As experienced as I’ve been, phone sex has never been my thing. I much preferred a visual media, such as pictures or videos. But this…this was exactly what I needed, and I suspect what she needed as well.
After a few minutes, Harlow clears her throat. “Thank you, Liam.”
5
Liam
Leaving my folks’ cabin is always the hardest part of getting away. I wouldn’t consider myself antisocial, but there’s something so nice about getting away from everyone and just living quietly. Back in town, everyone is so busy, speeding from one place to another. Here in the cabin, I can sit down with a cup of something hot and enjoy the silence and stillness.
But like all good things, my time here has to end.
Being away has actually proven to be good for my work. In a week, I’ve managed to edit two-thirds of the Secrets manuscript and plot and write five chapters of the sequel, Sins and Lies. While I’m not a slow writer, it does take me a while to get that much content put down on paper when I’m at home. There’s something inspiring about this cabin, and I’m already planning on heading back the next time I can get a chance.
On the drive back into town, I turn on the radio and let my mind wander. This whole thing with Harlow has been something out of a movie. As wrong as it is, I can’t help but want her more because of it. She’s forbidden fruit, but more than that, she’s the kind of woman I normally look for. She’s self-assured and strong, and she always seems to know what she wants. She doesn’t hold back her thoughts and isn’t afraid to speak her mind when the time calls for it.
On top of all of that, listening to her moan through the phone has to be one of the most incredible things I’ve heard in years. When she whimpers my name, I can practically see her face contorted in pleasure. There’s nothing quite like it.
Without a doubt, this whole thing is complicated, and we’ll have to walk on eggshells, but I don’t mind taking the risk for her. I want to know everything about her. Shit, just admitting that to myself takes a lot to do. But it’s the truth. Talking to Harlow over the past few weeks makes me want to plan a trip to New York just so I can meet her in person.
It’s fucking insane how this woman makes me want to do things I’ve never done before.
A few days after making it back to my apartment, I realize I need to start taking care of business again. The house is a mess, the fridge is empty, and the laundry needs to be washed. Rather than putting all of this off any longer, I take charge, doing my chores as quickly and as efficiently as I can. Once all the dishes are washed, and the laundry has been folded, I head out to the grocery store.
I don’t usually bother with anything fancy when it comes to food. I like the easy shit: freezer food, oven pizzas, and things I can throw together in under fifteen minutes. While I roam the store aimlessly adding things to my cart, I see a familiar face near the produce section. The minute the man recognizes me, he smiles wide and waves me over.
Michael pulls me into a hug and claps me on the back, laughing deeply. “Holy shit, man, how long has it been since we’ve run into each other?”
“Too damn long, that’s for sure,” I say.
Michael’s one of the few cousins I have still living in Colorado. Most of them moved away when they graduated, but Michael had things to take care of here. We grew up together, and everyone called him my brother when we were in high school.
“How’s the family doing?” I ask.
“We’re doing alright, man. Tanya’s actually pregnant again,” he says.
His wife comes out of nowhere with a bag of shredded cheese. She drops it in the cart before looking up at me and smiling. “This one wanted a girl, so we’re trying.”
“Hey, Tanya,” I say, leaning in for a hug. It’s brief, but that’s expected. She’s not my biggest fan.
Growing up, my parents always pushed me to go to school for something I could profit from. They didn’t want me wasting my time getting a degree in English unless I was going to be a college professor or something. When they finally realized I wasn’t going to live their dream-life for them, they turned to Michael. They considered me a failure, and were twice as hard on him, giving him no other option but to go to medical school. Tanya and Michael met during our senior year of high school, and she got to see all the stress they put on him.
She’s never said it out loud, but I know there’s a part of her that blames me for the pressure my folks put onto Michael. If I’d just did what I was told and gone to school for something profitable, Michael could live his dream. Instead, he was now a surgeon and still harbored a dream of being a musician in his heart. And Tanya? She wanted nothing to do with me because of it.
I try not to let it get to me. Maybe it is my fault, but there’s nothing I can change now. In the long run, both of us are successful, both of us are well-off, and both of us are trying to make it through each day. Whether Tanya’s disdain for me is warranted or not is something I’ve stopped worrying myself over.
“Listen, man, you need to come by the house sometime and say hi to the boys,” Michael says. “They’ve been wondering where you’ve been!”
“You guys free this weekend? I’d love to stop by and visit for a while.”
“I think that could work. What do you think, Tanya?” He turns to look at his wife.
Tanya looks like she wants to say no, but she gives a tight-lipped smile and nods. “Sure, we’d love to have you over.”
“Perfect,” Michael says. “We’ll see you this weekend, okay?”
I pat Michael on the back. “I’ll see you then.”
