Treasured (Embracing Series Book 1) (10 page)

“Of course it is. When you're finished with school and I can relocate back here, we can plan the marriage. I'm still unsure if I want to move into my house.”

“I’m one lucky lady. Sometimes, when I’m with you, I feel like it’s all a dream.”

“No dream, beautiful. I’m all yours.”

Liam and I have so much fun playing house again. He decided he wants to look for his birth mother. He knows her name and that she was eighteen when she had him. I’m worried that maybe he'll be disappointed when he does find her.

“Liam, are you sure you want to do this?” I ask as we pull in the parking lot of the adoption agency.

“I’m positive I want to do this. I need to know.”

A little, old lady helps us. She informs us that the records are sealed and she has no information on Liam’s birth mother. She suggests, since it was so long ago, that maybe we should contact the hospital or any family that would know.

Liam is determined to find her. “What if I have brothers, sisters and a father? Lila, I want to find them. My blood family will never replace the family I grew up with; it’s just something I want to do.”

~Chapter Thirteen~

We only have one day left before I fly back to New York and Liam goes back to the base. He was originally supposed to be finished and back at a location by September, but they informed him that it would be November. He still has eleven months to go.

God, how am I going to survive not knowing when I will see his handsome smile again? He has the brightest smile and perfect teeth. You would think he wore braces for years, but he’s never needed them.

“Lila, please know that I think of you every minute of the day. I’m going to do everything I can to make these eleven months go by fast.”

“I can’t see you the entire time?”

“I’m not sure. There are guys there that say I’m really lucky that I've gotten two leaves already.”

I break down right there. “Liam, I can’t keep doing this. It breaks my heart knowing you are out God only knows where. What if you get hurt? I would never be able to go on without you! I need you.”

“I know! Please don’t do this. Look at me, I promise you I’ll be back! Don’t you ever think that I won’t! I wanted you for so damn long and now that you're mine, I’m not fucking this up. You hear me, Lila Rae? I’ll be back and we'll be together.”

“Liam, I-I…just love you so much. You're the first guy I've ever loved and it scares the hell out of me to think something might happen to you.”

“I’ll be fine and so will you! Knowing how much you love and want me keeps me safe. Thinking about you, looking at your pictures, your letters…Lila, you make me strong! I live every minute because I know you're here waiting for me. Now you need to be strong for me. I need you to stay focused and help us get through these months.”

I walk in the airport and want to run the other way. I can hear the overhead music. It’s “Far Away” by Nickelback. Every lyric runs through my mind. I just want to throw Liam in a car and drive as far away as we can.

I manage to pull myself together and pray for his safe return. Liam holds me in his arms as I sob like a two year old.

“L, you have to focus on school and helping me find my birth mother.”

“I can do that. I’ll find her for you.”

He kisses my forehead and walks away. I can see he’s crying when he turns to look back at me and waves. Will this be the last time I see the love of my life, my heart and soul?

***

I text Nikki to come pick me up from the airport. Evan has texted and called several times already, but I haven't responded.

“You look awful. Are you okay?”

“Nik, I don’t know when I’ll see him again. He may not be able to leave until November. What am I going to do? I can’t go that long without him. What if something happens to him?”

“Calm down. You're very strong and he'll be fine. If you have to wait until November to see him, then that’ll be one horny and happy man when you do see him. You must really love him; you never act like this. I know you were upset when I moved across the country. Did you cry this much?”

“Shut up, bitch. I love you and you know it.”

“I love you too, but you're a bitch.”

“I’ve missed you. You know you and Addie are my bitches.”

“Always, bestie, always.”

Evan: Hey Lila, are you okay? Are you back yet? I’m worried about you. Please call me.

Lila: Evan I’m fine, I’m almost home. I’m really tired. I’ll call you later.

Evan: Ok, glad you are safe. I’ll bring you breakfast.

“What am I going to do about Evan?” I ask Nikki. “He seems to want more although he says he doesn’t.”

“That man has it bad for you for sure. Brody said he hasn’t seen him this happy in a long time.”

I’m so tired. I decide to text Ads and go to sleep.

Lila: Hey, Ads, really wish I could have seen you when I was home. How are you and that brother of mine doing? Miss you both so much!!

Ads: Hey Stranger! We are doing fantastic, how was the visit with my cousin? You two are so in love. Don’t deny it either, Lila Rae!

Lila: Oh Ads, I love him so fucking much. I never thought I would love someone as much as I do him. I made a scene at the airport when I broke down sobbing, begging him to stay with me. I know he couldn’t. I miss him already. Why didn’t you hook us up sooner? Give my brother a
hug for me. When are you coming out here? Nikki and I need our girl time with you. I’m falling asleep. I love you both, doll <3

***

I wake up with four texts from Evan and one from Addie. She and Eric are planning a visit next month. I call Evan and tell him we can go to breakfast. Nikki’s already out with Brody and classes don’t start for a couple days.

I take a shower and cry the entire time. I wonder if Liam has left yet. I try calling him and it goes straight to voicemail.

“You…um…look like shit, Lila,” Evan says. I know I do. I've cried so much my face is swollen, nor have I bothered putting any makeup on.

I laugh and hug him. “Thanks, you're such a good friend!”

“I’m sorry. Is everything okay?”

“Yes, it was just hard to leave Liam. I may not see him till November.”

“Oh, Lila, I’m so sorry. You want to go for a drive after breakfast? Maybe that'll help take your mind off of things.”

“Sure, where are we going? You sure you aren’t ashamed of the way I look?”

“Hell no, you look gorgeous no matter what.”

“Thanks, you really are a great friend. I wasn’t kidding,” I say, blushing.

“I try to be. You're a special lady, Miss Carls.”

We go to The Corner Café; it’s the best café around and my favorite place to go for breakfast. I’m trying to enjoy myself and not think about Liam. I know Evan can tell I’m not my normal self.

“I know you love bacon, and you haven’t eaten any of it.”

“I’m sorry. So where are we driving to?”

“I figured we could just drive and sightsee, if that’s okay?”

“That would be great.” I’m not hungry, but I force myself to eat. I have to get back to my normal self. It’s just months, not a lifetime.

After spending an hour driving around the beautiful parts of New York I haven't seen yet, we decide to take a tour bus because traffic is so crazy.

“Thank you,” I whisper. “I needed this.”

“Anytime!” He holds my hand. Friends can hold hands, right? I wonder if I should move his hand, but I’m comfortable. Plus, I’m tired and the tour was really long.

I fall asleep without realizing it. When I wake up, I notice my head is on Evan’s lap. I jump up and apologize.

“It’s okay, you were tired. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“I don’t want you to get the wrong impression. We're just friends. I love my Liam.”

“I know! You've told me this already. We're friends and I respect you and Liam. I won’t do anything to jeopardize your trust.”

“I’m sorry for acting like that. I know you wouldn’t.”

We go back to the car. I check my phone and see that I have a few missed calls from Nikki. She left a voicemail saying she was staying with Brody. I’m used to her not being around much lately. I still haven’t talked to Liam, but I know he's okay, that he'll write me soon.

“I’m starving. Want to grab some pizza?” I ask.

“Sure, I wasn’t ready to take you back to the dorms yet anyway.”

“Well, you may not want to go home. Nikki is staying with Brody.”

“Oh, great, I may sleep in my car!” He laughs.

“I don’t blame you. You can come hang out with me. I’m awake now,” I say, laughing.

I order pizza and we go back to the dorm. Evan’s phone keeps ringing. I notice he's ignoring it.

“Is everything okay? Do you need to answer that?”

“Yeah, everything is good. It’s just Alyssa.”
Oh, skankzilla isn’t giving up
. “You can call and see if she wants to come hang out with us.”

Did I just say that? What the hell am I thinking? I don’t want to watch her drool all over him.

He sighs. “I don’t want to talk to her right now.”

“Okay, I understand. Let me see your phone.”

I take his phone, turn it off, and lay it on the counter. We eat and talk for hours.

Evan has a great sense of humor. I laugh so hard at one of his jokes that I actually have to run to the bathroom so I won't pee myself.

“Are you all right in there?”

“Oh, I’m fine; I just laughed way too much. Are you going to ever play your guitar for me?”

“Well, maybe if you're nice.” He chuckles.

“It’s late. Why don’t you just stay here? You can have my room or the couch,” I say.

“Okay, that would be great. I’m really tired.”

I fix my bed for him even though he says he’s fine with the couch. I know the couch is hard and he’s bigger and taller than me.

“Do you want to move this?” he asks, holding up my bra. It must have fallen out of my arms when I was clearing off my bed.

“Oh my, give me that!” I’m so embarrassed. He laughs at me.

As I lie on the couch, tossing and turning, I wonder how Liam is doing. Then my thoughts abruptly shift to Evan and his past. I can't imagine going through something like that at that age. I lie there for what seems like hours. Finally, I get up and go to the bedroom. I know I’ll regret my decision, but I need to be close to him.

“Are you awake?”

“I am now. Everything okay?”

“Yeah I…I can’t sleep and I needed to check on you. I actually wanted to sleep on the other side of the bed. Are you okay with that?”

“Of course, it’s your bed.”

I lie down next to Evan. We talk for what seems like hours. He stays on his side and me on mine. When I feel his hand intertwine with mine, I don’t move it. I wrap my fingers around his.

I’m not sure what time I fell asleep, but I awake with the sun shining through the window and Evan’s arms around my waist.

I hear Nikki calling my name, and then the door flings open.

“Li—Evan? I uh…oops, never mind!”

“Nikki wait, it isn’t what you think.” I walk out of the bedroom. Brody is standing there, smiling.

“What are you smiling for Brody? Remember, I've seen your naked ass.” I laugh. He keeps smiling.

“Where's Evan?” he says, like he doesn’t know he’s in there.

“Brody, he's in my room, but nothing happened between us!”

“Good morning, everyone! How about breakfast at The Corner Café, my treat?” Evan said.

“Sure, I’m starving, man.”

“Brody, you’re always starved!” Nikki says.

We get ready and head to the café. I enjoy hanging out with the three of them. When the waitress comes to take our order, she knows what Evan and I both want. We eat, then go for a walk in the park.

“Lila, would you cook us all dinner? I can go grocery shopping for everything,” Evan says.

“That's a great idea,” Brody says.

“Okay guys. What will it be? Bacon? Eggs?” I laugh. That's my favorite, not theirs.

“I was thinking some cornbread and chili,” Evan says.

“I don’t know how to make cornbread!”

They all stare at me. Nikki says, “They have a box mix you can use.”

“Well, let’s go grocery shopping. That means all of us.”

I'm happy that the four of us are shopping together. When we walk in the store, Evan volunteers to push the trolley.

“Trolley?” I ask.

“Oh hell, I forgot y’all are Cali women.”

“Evan, I lived in Ohio. I know what a trolley is. Lila, it’s a damn grocery cart,” Nikki says.

They all laugh at me. After we're done shopping, we go back to Evan and Brody’s. I cook chili and boxed corn muffins. I don’t tell them, but I have no clue how to make the damn chili. It turns out tasty, though.

“How about some poker?” Brody asks.

“I’m not playing strip poker with you fuckers,” I say as they all laugh.

“Come on, live a little,” Brody says.

“I will if you will, Lila,” Nikki says. Fuck, what have I gotten myself into?

“Fine, I’m not taking all my clothes off, though.”

I’m glad I’m good at poker. Poor Brody sucks, unless he's sucking on purpose because he wants us to see him in his hat and boxers. I can’t stop laughing. I still have almost all my clothes on; so does Nikki.

“Evan, your turn. Now take that shit off.” I laugh.

He’s now down to his boxers. I watch him slide his jeans off. Good God, his package looks even bigger in those boxers. Don’t look Lila, don’t look. Nikki busts out laughing.