Crossing Paths (29 page)

“I wouldn’t go that far. I still think we need to talk about it all, but I’m pretty sure I’ll forgive you if you’re really nice to me.”

“I can be nice,” he states in a low voice.

I notice when the sound of the shower stops down the hall. “I’m sure you can be nice. Why don’t you go take a shower in the basement? I’ll get cleaned up, and then I’ll come down, so we can talk.”

“Okay, I’ll see you down there,” Liam says as he heads toward the stairs.

Having the self-control to just have a talk with him is going to be a challenge.

When I walk down the hall, June is already out of the bathroom. The guest room door is closed and the lights are off, so I assume she’s already lying down. After heading into the bathroom, I grab a towel, set the water to a comfortable temperature, and step into the shower. For a few minutes, I let the water run over me to get the food mess out of my hair, and then I run a bath, so I can soak my tired body.

As I lie in the bathtub, I think about June finding out about my brother. I know it’s bound to happen, but I don’t think I’m ready for the fallout. Every scenario I play out in my head ends with June storming out of the room as she shouts some version of, “Never talk to me again,” or “I thought you were my friend.”

When my bathwater starts to turn lukewarm, I decide to get out and go have my talk with Liam. I get dressed in a blue tank top and gray cotton shorts, thinking about what I’ll say to him. Although I’m glad to know he cares about me, I have to get to the bottom of what happened Friday night. Maybe I did handle things in an impulsive manner. June surely wouldn’t have been so nice to him in front of me if she thought he had done something wrong.

As I come down the stairs, I can see Liam sitting on the couch. His back is to me, and I can tell he has his shirt off again.
Is he trying to break my resolve?
I attempt to walk without making a sound, but when I reach the twelfth step, it creaks.
That stupid step has gotten me caught since I was in second grade.

Liam stands and walks toward me. “Hey.”

“Hi.”

“I saved you a seat,” he says, motioning to the couch.

“Gee, thanks.”

“Can I talk first?”

“Sure.”

“I need to tell you that nothing was going on with those girls. They both work with me, and I’ve known them for at least a year. We were just out celebrating work stuff. When I said I talked about you nonstop, it was true. I wish you would have come up to the bar and said hello, so they could meet you. They kept telling me that you had to be a figment of my imagination. They said that no girl as perfect as you sounded would go for a guy like me. When June told me you were upset when you left, I had no clue it had to do with me. I was so worried that something was wrong with your mom or with your job. I had to find you and make sure you were okay.”

I can’t take it. I don’t want to hear him talk anymore.
I place my finger to his lips. “Shh, take a breath,” I whisper. I lean toward him and lay my lips softly against his.

“I was so worried.”

I kiss him again.

Pulling away, he looks into my eyes. “I know what you thought, but you have to know that you are all I can think about. I don’t want anyone else.”

“I know,” I say just before I crash my mouth into his.

As I moan against his lips, he pulls me onto his lap. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I lean my head back as my fingers gently tug at his wet hair. His lips touch the soft skin around my collarbone. He lingers there for several kisses, and then he slowly drags his tongue to the side of my neck just below my ear. My body is humming, and I am panting with uneven breaths. His kisses are tender and loving as his hand runs down my sides to my hips.

Within a few minutes, Liam sets me back onto the couch and takes my face in his hands. “You wanted to talk, didn’t you?”

“Yes,” I say reluctantly.

“So, talk to me.”

I close my eyes and take in a few deep breaths. When Liam releases my face, I instantly feel his absence. I open my eyes, slide closer to him, and lay my head against his shoulder.

“Seeing my brother today was really great. I really appreciate you taking care of everything.”

“It was no problem.”

I’m debating on whether I should tell Liam the truth about my brother. I mean, June is his sister, so I would understand if he got pissed. After I go through the possible scenarios of the aftermath in my mind, I decide to lay it all out there. It’s killing me to keep this secret from everyone. At least this way, it won’t be my secret alone.

“I know he still has some level of recovery ahead of him, but after everything that happened with Julie, hearing that he was in an accident was gut-wrenching.” I go on, wanting to tell Liam about Cohen’s wife. “Julie is my brother’s wife. He was actually driving to the hospital to see her when he got in his accident. She has been ill recently, and she was just put in the hospital this week.”

“Wow. That’s pretty crappy. I am so sorry your family has had to go through all of that.”

“Well, that’s not the whole story.”

Liam sits in silence, waiting for me to continue.
I can still turn back. I don’t have to tell him.
I am freaking out inside. My heart is racing.
What if he gets really mad and doesn’t want to see me anymore?
He could go upstairs right now and tell June everything.

“I’m going to tell you something, and I hope you can understand.”

“Hey, if you can let go of the misunderstanding with the girls at the bar, then I think I can let go of whatever you’re about to say.”

“I’m not sure about that. You see, my brother works for a company here in Seattle, but he travels a lot for work. For the past two weeks, he’s been back and forth to Houston for business.”

“Well, that’s interesting,” he says with a little sarcasm lingering in his tone.

“Yes, but here’s the bad part. My brother’s name is Cohen. He met June at the business meeting she went to in New York. They met again in Houston two weeks ago, and since then, he’s taken June out on a couple of dates.”

“Wait, are you saying that your brother…” He pauses, staring at me with his brows furrowed.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. The guy she talked to you about the other night, the one that took her to the museum and out to dinner, the one she kissed—that’s my brother…my married brother.”

“Wow. And you didn’t think telling her would be a good idea?”

“I didn’t know right away. After I figured it out, I discussed it all with him, and he promised he would talk with June. Then, he got in this accident, and I was so angry with you. I didn’t know what to do. Actually, I still have no clue what to do.”

“Well, you’re in quite a predicament. Do you plan to tell her soon?”

“I want to, but I have no idea where to begin.”

“I don’t think it matters where you begin or end as long as you’re telling the truth. Give June some credit. With everything that’s been going on, I think she’ll understand. You’re her best friend. She knows you wouldn’t intentionally hurt her. Now, on the other hand, Cohen might want to stand a few feet away when he tells her he’s married.”

“There is actually more to that story, too. Selfishly, I hope you’re right about her reaction to my part in it all. Cohen will have to explain his side of the story.”

“Hopefully, you can talk to June tomorrow and get it all sorted out. She’s going to find out everything eventually. You might as well get it over with.” Liam kisses the top of my head. “For now, let’s get some rest.”

I lie down in front of him, and he wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me against him. I close my eyes and drift to sleep easily.

Saturday

“Sweetheart, are you awake?” my mom asks, placing her hand on my shoulder.

“Uh-huh, just resting my eyes a little bit.”

“I don’t want to upset you, but the Franklins are worried about Julie. They’ve asked your doctor to let you see her now.”

“Oh, okay. What did the doctor say? Can I go?”

“Yes, but you have to stay in the wheelchair, and you can’t be gone long. Your nurse will come with us.”

“Can I put some pants on?”

“Sure, baby.”

As my mom leaves the room, my phone vibrates on the bedside table. I decide to ignore it as I get dressed. I can’t think of anyone I need to talk with right now. I saw Caroline tonight, and I’m sure she has told June everything by this point. I’ve been worried about facing June with the truth, but she probably doesn’t want to have anything to do with me now.

I push my call button, and within a few seconds, the nurse is in my room with a wheelchair. We meet my mom in the hallway and head down the elevator. I have rehearsed this conversation in my head so many times. I need Julie to know everything. I need her family to understand. I want to be there for her and for them.

When the elevator doors open, Julie’s mom is waiting for us with her arms wrapped around herself.

“Cohen…”

When she begins to cry, I try to get up from the wheelchair, but the nurse places a firm hand on my shoulder. I reach out my hand instead. Her grip is soft, and her fingers feel fragile.

“Laura, I’m so sorry.”

“Let’s just get you in there to see her,” she says without looking at me.

My mom steps closer to her and places an arm around her back. It’s obvious that Laura needs the support. As I release her hand, she crumbles into my mom’s shoulder, still crying.

This whole scene is breaking my heart. I can’t imagine what will happen when I enter Julie’s room. I’m glad it’s late, so at least, a lot of family or friends won’t be in the room. When we round the corner and pass a nurses’ station, several of the nurses look up at me with eyes that tell me they know our story. I used to see those eyes a lot when Julie was in the hospital before.

“I’ll stay at the door. Just push the call button if you need anything,” my nurse says kindly.

“Thank you.”

My mom wheels the chair into the room and then leaves me alone—alone with Julie. It has been so long since we were alone in a room together. It almost feels unnatural.

Julie is covered with a sheet and several blankets up to her shoulders. She must have been cold. Her face is pale, but she’s still as beautiful as a bright sunrise. I stroke her cheek lightly and run my hand softly across her golden hair. It has lost much of its shine, but her long locks still make me smile. She used to spend hours trying to get a certain curl just right. It drove me insane, and it made us late anywhere we went.

I start to pull my hand away, not wanting to disturb her, but then I realize she won’t be waking up. My mom already told me that she hasn’t opened her eyes in days. I hear a faint beep and look up to see her feeding tube has run out. I reach up and turn the dial, placing it on hold, so no one comes in to interrupt us. She has two IV lines in her right arm. Being careful not to tug on any of them, I lay my head against her chest and squeeze her frail body. The fact that I’m aware of the purpose of all these tubes and lines is sad. At the age of twenty-seven, I shouldn’t have this much knowledge without being in the medical profession—but I do.

“Hi, Julie. My sweet, sweet Julie, it’s Cohen. I’m here, baby. I know you aren’t going to answer me, but I pray you can hear me. I’m so sorry you are sick. The doctors are taking good care of you, and all your family and friends have been coming to visit you. I had a little accident, but I don’t want you to worry. They say I’m going to be just fine.”

I don’t deserve to be fine.
I don’t deserve to be sitting beside her as she lies in a hospital bed. I should be in a bed right next to her. Better yet, I should be the one in her state while she is awake and living her life. I put aside my self-pity. I know I need to tell her. I’m just not sure how to do it.

“You are so beautiful. I know I’ve always told you that you were as beautiful as the cupcakes you made. That sounds ridiculous now, but I loved the smile on your face when I would say it. The truth is that you are so much more beautiful than that. You are gorgeous from the inside out. No one could ever say anything negative about you. Your beauty, your compassion, your love for life—they are all perfect pieces of you.