Or is it time that I finally talk to him? Have I given him enough space? If I’m honest with myself, I’m not sure space was a good idea. It let all the nasty thoughts and rumored words percolate in his head.
I run my fingers softly down Lie’s spine, just as I have so many times before. When I reach the crest of his ass, I move back up, skipping over my hand around the back of his shoulders to hold him tightly to me, and into his hair.
Lie’s awake. I think he’s been awake longer than I have. How can we sleep peacefully when we’re in such close proximity to his hostile father? Interestingly enough, his mother has been dead silent on the matter.
I’m guessing she doesn’t recognize Nason either. I’m sure she’s upset and disapproving, but I’m also sure that it hasn’t hit her in the same capacity it has Nason. I haven’t seen either of them face-to-face since the beach, but I would guess that she’s dumbfounded by Nason’s behavior, especially with their son.
Lie sighs. I’d like to promise him again that this will pass. It’ll get better. I can’t promise him a resolution with his father, but I can promise that it will get easier.
But I think right now, he doesn’t believe that. I don’t want to keep saying those words. I’m sure they sound empty.
“There’s an opening at the post office,” Lie says. “I’m going to check it out before the meeting tonight.”
I kiss the top of his head. “You as a postal worker. I can’t see you in their baggy clothes.”
He grunts, making me grin. “Maybe they’ll let me be their fashion consultant. They need some serious help. What’s with those shorts—a cross between respectable shorts and capris? It’s a crime to dress like that, even in hell.”
I chuckle.
Lie leans back to look at me. I love his dark eyes. This close, I can see their beautiful brown depths.
“Can we talk about things?”
My stomach flips at his question. ‘Things’ could be a lot of topics. “Of course.”
“I’m going to preempt this by saying that I’m not hinting even a little. I’m just curious, and I’m looking for literally anything to take my mind off Dad.”
I kiss his lips lightly. “Noted. Thanks for the disclaimer.”
Lie tugs on my chest hair, making me smile. “Do you see yourself getting married again?” he asks.
“Ah. I don’t know. If you want to get married, then I’m open to it.”
He shakes his head. “I want to know what you want. That’s what I’m asking.”
“I just told you what I want. I don’t have a preference either way. I don’t need a legal document to call you a specific label. We don’t need a legal ceremony to wear rings or exchange vows. Likewise, if you want to remain in this capacity, I’m perfectly happy with that future, too.”
“Really?” he asks skeptically.
“Yes. I’m not for or against marriage. I’d be equally happy with or without the ‘legality’ of our relationship.”
“Huh,” he says, staring at me. I give him a minute, wondering if he’s going to ask more since he’s staring into my eyes like he’s going to find a specific answer there.
“Can I ask you a personal question?”
“Says my boyfriend,” I muse. “Yes. Ask.”
Lie rolls his eyes. “Some people don’t like talking about their pasts, but I’m curious about some things. It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it, though. That’s all I’m saying.”
“I see. I can’t think of anything in my past that I won’t feel comfortable talking about. So ask.”
He nods. “Do you regret marrying Denise?”
I take a deep breath and close my eyes for a moment. “No. I don’t have many regrets in life. What I wish I had done differently with Denise is the entire premise of our relationship. I told you I wanted what Nason and Miranda had, and I thoughtthat—” I laugh at the words in my head and how ridiculous they’re going to sound out loud. “I thought she was a perfectly nice girl, super pretty and smart, so she was a perfect candidate for loving like that. I’m not kidding you when I say that my thought process going into asking her to marry me was right along those lines.”
“How romantic,” Lie says, an amused smile on his lips.
“Right? So, no, I don’t regret our relationship or marrying her. I wish I had been more patient. Taken my time with her to see if we were ever going to fall in love like that. I should have been slower. In the end, I think we gave it a valiant effort, but we were simply never meant to be. We wanted different things. We had different goals. She liked condiments on our walls.”
