Crying while staring at the ceiling fan in her bedroom, she heard David. “Lanie, it’s David. I brought some lunch.”

Had Beverly called him? And why? Beverly came by every day. She stayed until after eight the previous night. Lanie should be embarrassed. Stretched out on her bed in a tank top and pair of leggings she wore for three days and oblivious to her appearance, she should jump up and lock herself in the bathroom until she cleaned herself up. But she didn’t. David knew her better than anyone. He had seen her at her worst.

Or had he? Had she ever allowed herself to be her worst?

He stepped inside the bedroom and surveyed the mess. Throw pillows covered the floor. As did any towels or clothes she used recently. He hesitantly approached the bed. “I’m going to run you a bath.”

That sounded amazing. She probably did smell. She nodded. “Thank you.”

She had no idea what time it was. Midday? Early evening. David still had a suit and tie on. She watched him loosen and remove his tie as he headed to the bathroom. She heard him start the water and move around. Probably picking up and throwing out the things she hadn’t. Empty toilet paper rolls that never made it to the trashcan.

“Up and at ‘em. You take a long, nice bath. When you get out, I brought cheeseburgers from Billie’s. Your favorite,” David informed coming to the bed and reaching his hand out to her.

Normally she would be mortified having him or anyone enter her home and find it and her in its current state. She didn’t. She accepted his hand and left the bed. Standing by the tub she removed her clothes. She didn’t close the door. Not as if David had never seen her naked. But he gasped.

“Lanie—” He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. He hugged her as if she might break. “I want to help you. You aren’t pushing me away again. I won’t let you.”

She sighed. Deeply and loudly. Crossing her arms across her midsection, she clasped his wrists and held them around her luxuriating in the comfort he provided. “Do I look that bad? I suppose I don’t need to feel guilty for inhaling that cheeseburger when I get done bathing.”

Chuckling into the top of her head, he replied, “You don’t look all that good. But you’re always beautiful. I think I’ll let you eat my cheeseburger too if you want it.”

“Hmm, I bet you got me a double. So, I think I’ll be fine,” she laughed. She laughed. She could still laugh. “Have you heard from Hunter? I know he’s having a wonderful time. He always does there.”

Flattening his cheek in her hair, he rocked her in his arms. “Of course, I got you a double. I know what you like. And yes, Hunter is having a blast. He met up with a few college buds for a hike today.”

She caressed his arms, rocking with him. It seemed natural. When had they stopped being affectionate with one another? After the death of her mother. “Thank you. Thank you for coming.”

“I never wanted to leave. And all that means is that I will always be here for you. Always,” he stated. “We have history, Lanie. We have Hunter. I want you happy and healthy. Whatever that entails.”

One rude awakening after another. She had checked out of her life. But she needed to find her footing again. Without further complications. “She stopped rubbing his arms and patted them signaling the sentimental moment passed. “I’m going to take my bath now.”

“Yep. I’ll be in the living area waiting for you. Take your time.”

And she did. She cried a little bit more. Had she hurt David? Had he at one time ached as she currently did? She shut him out of her heart. But her heart needed to mend. Nothing more. Nothing less. They were close. They always would be. Because of Hunter.

And slowly, she started mending. Not that she didn’t have setbacks. Bouts of crying. Hours when she sat in silence, unmotivated and recalling Gavin’s smile. And his laugh. His touch. So many special memories of dreams they shared and planned to experience together. She tried to hate him. To lessen the harsh reality of not having him.

But she didn’t. She missed him.

Beverly reduced her daily drop-in visits to every other day. It affected Lanie both positively and negatively. On the negative side it allowed Lanie to sink into periods of reminiscing and depression. On the positive, it forced her to pull herself up, tidy the house, and shower and dress. Which proved she regained her ability to care again. Baby steps. In order to move beyond her heartache, she must endure it. And she defined her recent motivation to no longer remain in her bed and avoid everything around her as progress.

Since the afternoon David came and brought her a Billie’s cheeseburger, she hadn’t seen him. He did shock the hell out of her with his admission of how he had never wanted to leave. And he attempted to cover it up and play it off. She vaguely recalled him saying at some point through all the turmoil that he and Denise weren’t together any longer. She never brought it up to him. He texted her every other day. Those days alternated the days Beverly visited. Had the two of them coordinated it? Probably.

She appreciated this new side of David. Then again, he stopped suffocating her a while back. Had he ever truly ‘suffocated’ her? Well, no, not literally. But she used to accuse him of it. And he didn’t. He went as far as to disconnect with her completely. With her blessing. Any effort he made to bond with her, she not only rejected, but she countered it with mean words and aloofness.

A good idea or a bad one but either way, she texted David and asked if he would help her paint the extra bedroom. Hunter would be back from his grandparent’s in less than a week for the fourth of July weekend. And he asked if he could have his girlfriend come with him and stay—in the extra room. She didn’t know he had a girlfriend. But it thrilled her that he wanted to be at home. He wanted to introduce his girlfriend to his parents.

Luckily after hearing about Hunter’s plans, something possessed Lanie to walk to the other side of the house and scrutinize the guest accommodations for the girl Hunter deemed significant enough to bring home. What Lanie viewed did not provide a great impression. Even good. It looked outdated and blah. A fresh coat of paint. Even a color besides the cold, flat gray would suffice. She could stick with a neutral, an off-white and liven it up with bold prints on the bed and window dressings. And purchase a few beachy prints by local artists.

David called instead of texting a reply. “Sure. Do you have a color in mind? You can send me a link and I’ll purchase it along with brushes and rollers and we can get right to it.”

“Just choose an off-white shade. I’m going to throw color in with a new comforter and pillows.”

He refused, “I will absolutely not choose the shade. Do you remember when you sent me to Lowe’s when you were due to have Hunter because you decided the blue paint we used wasn’t soothing? And I came home with the exact same color. So, no.”

Good point. “Why don’t you come by and get me, and we will go together,” she suggested. She thought about it a little more and decided it might be wise to hold off on picking the color. The room needed all new furniture. The bulky, dark wood overpowered the space. “What time is it? When are you leaving work? I think I’ll run out and I can just meet you.”

“It’s a little after one. I’ll cut out of here about three-thirty. I’ll meet you at Lowe’s at four.”

“Perfect. See you then.” She hadn’t been out of the house in weeks. She applied some makeup, fixed her hair, and put on a pretty sundress. It felt good to be excited about something again. Even if it was redecorating the extra bedroom. But the purpose for doing it excited her the most. Hunter would be home for a few days. And he had a girlfriend. She and David were on great terms. She decided to do a pool day and barbecue for the fourth. She would invite David. And Denise if she were in the picture.

Tags: Sheri Lynn Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net