Treasured (Embracing Series Book 1) (21 page)

“No problem. What are friends for?”

I give him a half-smile; I can see that he's still hurting from all the pain I caused him.

“How long are you staying?” he asks.

“I’ll be here for a few more days. My mom and Eric’s girlfriend said they would help Liam with the twins. Oh, Eric started dating again.”

“That’s great. He really loved Addison. I always wondered if he would move on.”

“It has taken him a while. He met Kaylyn at UC. She’s studying to become a nurse practitioner. She's a terrific woman; my mom adores her. They found the young guy who killed Ads. He was sentenced to life without any possibility of parole. I was so happy that justice was served, but he not only took the life of Ads and her baby, he also hung himself a year after he was convicted.”

“Oh wow, I’m glad they found him. I wish I could have been there for you.”

“I know, Evan. Me too.” I squeeze his hand tighter.

We walk through the park, holding hands. It's beautiful; I really miss this place.

“You want to go back to the hotel with me?” I ask. “We can get a couple drinks.”

“That would be great.”

We sit at the bar for hours, drinking and talking.

“I’m having so much fun. I’ve really missed you,” I say.

“I’m also having a good time. I think you, my friend, have had too much to drink.”

I think I've had at least four screwdrivers and a martini. I was hoping that maybe drinking would take all my feelings for Evan away.

“Would you like to dance, darlin’?”

“I thought you would never ask, Mr. Martin.”

I smile as he pulls me close. The song is “Won’t Let Go” by Rascal Flatts. He sings in my ear.

“Lila, I’ll always stand by you, no matter what.”

I lean my head on his shoulder. Great, another song to remind me of him. Hell, who am I kidding? Almost everything reminds me of him.

He notices my bracelet. “You still have that?”

“Of course I do. It broke a few times, but I got it fixed each time. I even wore it on my wedding day.”

There are huge tears in his eyes. “Li-Lila, that's great.”

He holds me tighter. When the song ends, he says, “I won’t ever let you go. You can always run back to me.”

I have to choke back my own damn tears.

“Evan, I think I should go lie down. I’ve had a wonderful time.”

“I’ll take you to your room.”

We walk to the elevator and I grab his hand. Oh fuck, why did I do that?

“Why don’t you come in with me?”

“I don’t think that would be a good idea. You’ve had a lot to drink. Darlin’, I would have to say you're drunk.”

“No, I’m fine. Please don’t leave me. I need you.”

I place my hands on his face, look deeply into his eyes, and kiss him. He tries backing away, but I push harder. He finally grabs me and pulls me into him. The passion in the kiss is everything that I've missed about Evan.

“As much as I want you, we can’t do this,” Evan says.

“I love you. I've always loved you. I have needed you for so long. Please give me this.”

I notice the tears in his eyes. “I’ll give you whatever you want.”

He kisses me harder and we start undressing each other. He kisses my breasts and bites my nipples. Holy hell, I've missed this man something fierce. He makes his way down my stomach.

“Please give me all of you,” I say. “Show me how much you love and missed me.”

“I want you so bad. Are you sure you want this? There's no turning back, my love.”

“I want you. I want to feel you inside of me. I want you to love me.” I grab him and guide him inside of my opening. “Oh my God!”

“I've missed making sweet love to you.”

Evan pushes into me harder and faster. It feels so good.

“Ev-Ev-Evan, har-har-harder.” I moan into his mouth.

“I can’t hold it anymore. I’m coming, baby, I’m coming.”

He grabs my hips and thrusts into me as hard as he can. As he does, I feel him come inside of me.

“Oh fuck, I’ve missed your body just as much as I've missed you,” he says.

***

As we lie in bed together, neither of us speak for hours. We just hold each other, and for the first time in four years, I cry silently. I've just cheated on my husband—the love of my life—with a man that I fell madly in love with. Evan and I knew we could never be together because I belong to another man that stole my heart, a man who I promised I would be his forever. That promise has caused me so much pain and has made me hurt the only other man I've ever loved.

“Are you okay?” Evan asks.

“I’m fine. Will you just hold me all night?” As I say that, I feel the tears running down my face.

“If that’s what you want, I’ll stay here all night, sweetheart.”

“Thanks, I really need to feel your arms around me.”

What have I done? How can I ever face my husband again? I fall asleep in Evan’s arms and wake up to his wonderful kisses.

“Good morning, pretty lady.”

“Good morning to you too, handsome. I’ll order breakfast.”

I order our breakfast and we make love again while waiting for it. My phone starts ringing—oh God, Liam.

“Hello. Hi, love, how are you? No, I’m fine, just woke up. What are my girls doing? Hi, Mads, Mommy loves you too. Where’s your sister? Hi, Ads. Mommy misses you both. I’ll talk to you soon. Liam? Okay love, I’ll call you later. I love you, too.”

I try not to let Evan see me crying. He comes over and puts his arms around me. I sob into his chest.

“Evan, I’m a horrible wife, mother, and friend. I broke your heart once and here I am again, doing the same thing.”

“You’re a wonderful mother, wife, and friend. I’m the one who fell for you. I knew you would go back to Liam. I know you’re going back to him now too. Please don’t blame yourself. I wanted you so fucking bad. Hell, I wanted to kiss you when I saw you at the café. I can’t help the feelings I have for you. Yes, you broke my heart. It’s still broken and will always be. I can never love anyone the way I love you.”

“I needed you so bad. I’ve been thinking about you for years. When I found out I would be here, I wanted to come, hoping to see you. I don’t understand myself because I have the perfect life, but it doesn’t feel complete. Being here with you makes me feel whole again. How can I love you and Liam so much?”

I break down and cry as hard as I can. I cry for what I've done. I cry for my husband, I cry for hurting Evan and I cry for my best friend and my dad who I need so bad. Evan holds me.

***

The wedding is beautiful. Heather looks stunning. I get to see a bunch of old friends. I call Evan so I can see him before I leave. I meet him at his place for dinner.

“It’s been wonderful spending this time with you. It’s meant so much to me,” Evan says.

“Me too. I’m really sorry that I’m leaving and bringing back old memories.”

“I think about you every second of every day.”

Evan takes me to the airport, and I hold him and cry. I know that this can never happen again. We had an unforgettable night together, a night I will never regret, but I have to live with the fact that I've cheated on my husband. My Liam is a great man and I love him with everything I am, but the one thing I need, he can’t give me. I've needed Evan so bad, for so many years.

While sitting on the plane, I think about all the pain I caused Evan and all the pain Liam will feel knowing I broke our marriage vows.

I can’t tell him. God, how could I tell my wonderful husband this? I can never tell him. He never has to know.

I call Liam. “I’m on my way home. I’ll see you all soon. I love you too. Kiss my girls for me.” The plane makes a weird noise. “Holy hell, Liam, something is—”

“Baby, what’s happening? Can you hear me? I hear all this noise. What’s going on? Hello? Lila?”

~Epilogue~

Liam

Everyone brought flowers and pictures. We all sit around her bed, telling stories and crying for Lila together. Our beautiful girls miss their momma so much. It's so hard to explain to them what happened to her.

I know Lila saw Evan when she went on her trip. He showed up here, at the hospital, after the accident and it was written all over his face.

I've always known how much she loved him. She tried not to mention his name, but I know my Lila better than anyone did. She has the biggest heart and once she loves you, she loves you forever.

I never understood what he gave her that I couldn’t because we were so happy, but there were times I could see the pain in her eyes when someone would mention New York or when Brody would visit with Nikki.

The time I was gone, Evan took care of her. I really appreciate everything he'd done for her because I never wanted her to be alone. The day I left her at the airport, crying her heart out, I knew she would find someone to heal her heart while I was gone, but I also knew she would never stop looking for me or loving me. Hell, I knew she would always love me.

I knew she would never leave me for Evan, but I also knew he had a part of her that I didn’t. Lila and I can never get back the two years I was gone.

I never stopped thinking about my Lila while lying in that hospital bed. I've thought about her every day of my life since the day I met her. Sweet, beautiful, and full of spunk. My Lila Rae. I see her in our girls. Everything they do reminds me of her.

***

As I stare out the window, I think about my beautiful L and wonder why all of this has happened. I pray and thank God for what I have. He's taken so much from me in my lifetime. I've lost so many people I loved, but he also gave me all those people to begin with.

I know I need to stay strong for my girls, but it's hard as hell. I've wanted to break so many times, but then I would look into their beautiful little faces and see Lila in both of them. Just looking at them makes my heart smile, so I thank God for my girls and pray I’ll never lose them.

“Mr. Ellis, can you come with me for a second? I want to talk you about a few things. It's been and will be a long road. However, Lila will be fine and she is awake now. There’s no memory loss, but she's still in a lot of pain. Her ribs are cracked and both arms are broken. She’s ready to see you now.”

I walk in the hospital room and see Lila’s beautiful smile, the smile I haven’t seen in two months.

“Liam, are you okay?”

“I am now, beautiful.”

“Where are the babies?”

“My mom has them. She and your mom will be here shortly.”

“I hope I don’t look as bad as I feel.”

“You look beautiful, L. I’m just glad you’re awake.”

I kiss her beautiful face and tell her how much I love her.

“What happened?” Lila asks. “I remember being on the plane and talking to you and something happened…”

“The plane crashed into another plane. You’ve been asleep for two months; they weren’t sure if and when you would wake up. We have all sat by your side and prayed for you to come back to us.”

“So, I’m okay? Well, other than my arms.”

“Yes, you’ll be fine. You’re also pregnant. Did you know that before you left?”

“No, I didn’t know. How far along am I?”

“They said you're about eight weeks.”

I can see 'the look' in her eyes. I know she's thinking about something serious.

“Did you say eight weeks? I must’ve gotten pregnant before I left to see Heather.”

“Yes, you stopped your pill about a month before you left.”

I can hear her trying to swallow the huge lump in her throat. “Have Nikki and Brody been here?”

“Yes. Heather, Brandon, and Evan have been here too.”

“Ev-Evan was here? At the hospital? What did he say—I mean, how did he know?”

“Nikki thought he should know, so she called him. I let him sit with you for a few hours. I know how much he loved you. Hell, who wouldn’t love you?”

“I love you, Liam. I’m so glad I’m okay. We’re having a baby?”

“Yes, love, we are. Hopefully a boy, but as long as it’s healthy, I’ll be happy.”

I can see the look in my beautiful wife’s eyes—the look of concern about the pregnancy. I’ll never tell her that I know she slept with Evan and that the baby may be his. I’ll let her tell me when she’s ready. If she never tells me, I’ll still love that baby no matter what. In my eyes, it's my baby. Lila is my
treasure.

~This Isn’t The End~

Watch for Salvaged, Book Two. The love triangle isn't over yet.