Lost Her (Lost #1) Read online

  I shift in my seat not liking what I was hearing about my son being slapped. I felt myself turn red with angry. Livi continues to speak, “When he was 10 he started pushing me and hitting me back. He even spit on me a few times, which he learned that from your Mother.” I feel the blood draining from my face as the angry just left me when I heard Livi’s agony. I knew I needed to say something but I had no words.

  Henry taps his hand on my shoulder, “It is alright Son. Many of us had turned a blind eye on Briar’s behavior hoping he would grow out of it. The one thing I could not understand for the life of me was why did you always allow your Mother to disrespect Livi in front of her own children?”

  I look from side to side realizing that Henry knew so much more than I with what was happening within my own family. I think to myself for another few seconds before I speak, “My mother had been like that to everyone but my sister and I. She treated my father like he was a failure. There were some mishaps that I was not aware of, that I learned of, that my mother did to Livi without me present, but when I was present, mom just seemed normal to me.”

  Henry laughs, “Your mother is not normal; a bitter hag, yes. Ryan, at your rehearsal dinner she had the balls to say to me that I should have forced Olivia to get an abortion and that she has just ruined your life forever.” I see in the corner of my eye Livi’s hand come up to cover her mouth in shock.

  Rosalie was shaking her head, “Henry, what did you say to her in response?”

  “That I was happy to be gaining a son which I provided him with an educational scholarship. I gave him the tools to be his own man. I invested in his future and now he is going to be my son. You lost him,” Henry continues, “then she said the most twisted thing since she put it together that I was the McGraw in the State Attorney McGraw Scholarship. She said I paid off Ryan with an education to date Olivia. That was the funniest thing I ever heard.”

  I move around in my seat to try to relax, “I think it was fate that we met at school. I am not going to lie though, when I learned that day who Livi’s father was, who was my idol and mentor. I felt like it kind of sealed the deal and all the pieces fell in place. I was so honored by the scholarships. I was so honored that you allowed me to date Livi. You awestruck me and I wanted to make you proud of me. So if anyone was digging for a better life, it was me.” Henry taps me on the shoulder again showing me that he cares how I feel.

  Henry takes his hand back, “Want to hear something really funny? The two of you met in high school, I bet you did not know that? I think twice that you met, if I remember correctly. I would have my scouts for the scholarship look around for promising students. Then provide them with the letter of how to apply. They always narrow it down to 3 students for me, where I would watch video footage of their sports or academic achievements. Well, I guess Ryan did not have video footage of himself. So I personally had to sit in on your high school hockey game, but I never got to see you play soccer until you were already in college dating Olivia. Then you sealed your fate at the Legal Advisement Panel Debate Club Championships held at Princeton University. You debated against Olivia and beat her little ass. She never fails. Then after that you got notice to come to my office for an interview. You were made to wait outside my office when Olivia had come to my office to tell me the unthinkable. We were arguing, but she made her case. I asked her to let you into the office when she was leaving.”

  I hit the brakes on the truck to look at him and Livi whips her head around to look at Henry. Livi looks at me, “Huh that was you? You were the one I hated. You made me look so bad. I honestly did not put it together though that you were the boy in the office awaiting his interview or I would have made it go all wrong for you. I guess I did not look at you. All I can say is wow,” she laughs.

  Rosalie look at us both with a sweet smile, “So, you both have been battling before this relationship. How beautiful!”

  I turn my head forward to continue driving. I glance over to Livi again placing my hand on her thigh. I speak trying to be humorous, “So that day, what were you arguing about with your father? Not wanting to be hooked up with a stud like me? Just joking, honey.”

  “No, I was there to tell him that I decided that I did not want to attend Princeton. I did not want to live there. I was young and I was already taking college classes close to home while in high school. I did not want to leave my friends. I was not ready since I just got my ass handed to me at the debate championships. I lost my legal confidence that day and felt I was not worthy to go to Princeton,” her voice fading off.

  I am still trying to lighten the mood, “I had no clue you were accepted to Princeton. You never told me that and you were awesome that day, but I was just better. We were the top two for the championship; you should have never felt not worthy with that accomplishment. That was a dumb move on your part, but I still won. I won by you attending my school. I am telling you we were meant to be together.”

  Henry chimes in, “Crazy thing, I knew how much she hated you too. When she brought you home that Thanksgiving, I thought it was some sick joke to get back at you. I was more than sure she was going to have her brother rough you up, but she seemed to really like you. I brought up the debate a few days later to see what I could get out of her about that boy. I guess she never caught your name or looked at you. She was still fuming mad at the boy that beat her. She never caught on either that you were that year’s boy for the scholarship. That has been my internal chuckle for about 25 years.”

  Livi shifts in her seat looking out towards the jungle and speaks in a mellow tone voice, “I had slept with the enemy. I was so intimidated by that boy and his confidence just made me nervous. I could not think straight at all.”

  Rosalie lets out a bellowing laugh, “That was because you liked the sense of him. It sound like to me that his presence just brought you to your knees.” The three of us laugh at Livi and she rolls her eyes at us.

  As Rosalie predicted, we caught up to her Jeep. So I followed them up the rest of the way. I see a dark thin woman waving at us from the other vehicle. Parker pulls off the road to park. I pull right alongside him. Parker greets us as we get out of the Land Cruiser. He gives Rosalie a hug and Rosalie introduces Henry to him. They express pleasant hand shake. Then Parker turns to Livi taking her in to a big hug that seems to last a little too long. I hear Livi say happy birthday to him as she places her hands on his shoulders standing on her tippy toes pulling him down to give him a kiss. Looks to me like she was aiming for his check when he turned his head to meet her lips. I flashed red putting the cooler down.

  Henry grabs my arm tight giving me a jerk, “Down son, it is just a birthday kiss.” I whip my head around to look at him nodding that I understand. Parker then calls his friends over and the introductions are made. Parker introduces the dark woman as his half older sister, Maribel. Maribel’s boyfriend Tomas and Parker’s best friend Marcus. Everyone shakes and greets.

  Livi walks away back to the truck. She pulls out the bug spray wiggling her index finger for me to come over to her. “Take off your shirt,” she demands.

  I look right into her eyes speaking while I pull my shirt over my head, “Yes ma’am.” I turn for her to spray my back and the back of my legs. She pokes me with her finger to signal me to turn around. She bends over to spray my legs and I notice Parker’s buddy Marcus is checking her out. Livi moves up to my chest then sprays my face. I start coughing.

  Then she says to me, “That is what you get for not being nice to me in high school,” she ends laughing. I am still damp with bug spray lean in, bear hugging her tightly. She is letting out a playful scream wiggling to get out of my arms.

  Then I hear Henry’s voice calling over to us, “Best to make those phone calls before you get all liquored up.” Livi waves in acknowledgement and pulls out her phone to dial.

  She speaks in to the phone kind of yelling, “Chris is that you. Hi sweetie, I miss you and love you,” she turns walking away from me and I remain still listening while sh
e continues talking, “Yes I know Daddy told me. I am really excited. No, no, but I am working on that. It takes time you know. Wow, really, sure. I can’t wait. I will see you then. I love you too Chris.” She ends her call and I see Parker standing away from his friends. It is apparent to me that he was eavesdropping too.

  Livi begins another phone call, “Katie, it is mommy. Yes, yes, Daddy is right here. Yes, Parker too. We are all at the park today for Parker’s birthday. No Katie, it does not work that way. Please stop with that nonsense. You are only hurting us when you say things like that.” Livi turns away walking further away from us for more privacy.

  Livi turns walking back to me and she hands me the phone. I take the phone and put it to my ear. I listen to Katie chatter away and then she asks to speak with her mother again. Livi takes the phone back and listens for a moment. Livi then walks to Parker handing him the phone. Livi turns to me and shrugs.

  I move closer to hear what Parker is saying, “Yes, thank you. Younger huh, well thank you. Yes, I do not think that is going to fly. Nope, I hit a road block. It is more than just a bump. Okay, Okay, I will work harder. Thank you again and bye bye.” Parker ends the call handing the phone back to Livi saying to her, “That daughter of your is a piece of work. She is non-stop.” Livi turns nodding at him. Marcus’s head keeps going from Livi to Parker like he was missing something. Parker turns to him shrugging his shoulders.

  As Livi was putting the phone back in the truck, I walked up behind her wrapping my arms around her. I place my chin on her shoulder to whisper into her ear, “Today, you are going to talk to him about your mistaken kiss and leading him on.”

  I feel Livi tense up as she turns to look at me, “Do not kill my mood right now. I am as happy as I can be after talking to Chris and no, not today. I am not that cruel to do that to him on his birthday.”

  She pushes away from me walking over to the group. Parker and Tomas carry one cooler together and Henry and I carry the other. Parker leads the way up the path, “It is only about a half mile, but it will seem further with the rocks and all.” We get to a rocky spot where Marcus is helping the ladies navigate through the stones. He takes Livi’s hand to pull her across and I notice that his gaze is on her breasts, not her face or feet. He helps her another two times with his eyes on the same spot on her body.

  I begin to tense when Parker announces that the rock is right around the corner. We walk through some thick brush then my breath is taken away by the beautiful waterfall with a crystal blue pool at the bottom of it. The pool reminds me of Livi’s eyes. We place down all the coolers and belongings. I walk up behind Livi who is engrossed in the view. I am feeling overly romantic wrapping my arms around her, holding her so tightly. I speak softly in her ear, “Do you know what this pool reminds me of?” She shakes her head no. “The first time I held Katie in my arms in the hospital when she opened her eyes looking up at me with those large crystal blues eyes. Just like the eyes I loved so much on her mommy.” Livi tilts her head to give me access to her neck and I place a few soft kisses. Then I turn her to me taking her lips with mine for a deep passionate kiss. We break our kiss when we hear the water splash. Parker’s sister and boyfriend, Tomas jumped into the water with Parker and Marcus following. They are swimming around and frolicking.

  Livi goes to her bag taking out three towels. She places them on the large flat rock that we are all standing. She takes off her flip flops sitting down on her towel. I move in behind her scooting up until her back is against my bare chest. Henry is sitting on the cooler. He leans into the beer cooler and takes out four beers. He opens them handing one to each of us. Rosalie thanks him then she raises her beer, “To nature’s beauty!” We are about to clink the beers together when Henry says, “Thank God for no humidity.” We all laugh.

  Livi shifts pushing herself up to stand. She takes off her shorts while still holding the beer in her hand. She lets them drop to the ground. I cannot peel my eyes away from her. She takes another drink of her beer and finishing it. She places the bottle safely in a bag. She walks back over looking down at me. “So you want to go in the water?” I jump up and she takes her top off. My eyes are instantly pulled to her bikini top where her breasts are barely covered with the thinnest material I have even seen. Before I could say anything to her, she jumps in the water. I watch her come up to the surface spinning around to look at me. She calls out to me, “Are you coming or are you scared?”

  I laugh, “Yes, I am coming. I was just admiring the scenery.” I jump into the cool water and swim over to her. Then she takes off to swim over to the group.

  Parker looks at her with a big grin and says, “I was wondering when you would be joining us.” He glances at me and continues to speak, “I was just telling them that there is a cavern to the left of the falls. We are going to make our way to it now.” We all swim over making our way up the rocks. I stay back to make sure Livi gets up. I smile at myself when I see her nasty bruise turning funny colors. Parker gives her a hand up and then me a hand up. I look seeing that Maribel is still climbing. Parker and I turn to pull her up and Tomas as well. I turn to see Marcus staring at Livi’s soaking wet breasts as she is pointing out to him the plant life. I step over to her taking her hand. Marcus’s eyes shift to me and he turns away. This guy is quite odd, I think to myself.

  Parker goes in to the cave first since he has a dive flashlight with him. We go in deep when I see another lit up area. It was beautiful; there were holes in the top of the cave that allowed sunlight to light up the room. Parker touches that water. “Feel how warm that is. When Olivia and I found this cave a few months back when we were hiking, it appeared to be like a hot spring. Olivia did some research and found that the heat source is volcanic and completely safe to enjoy bathing in the water as we did.” I feel my blood boiling thinking about Livi and Parker alone here. This place is very sensual and romantic. I wonder how often they come here.

  So I just open my mouth and ask, “How often do you come here?”

  Livi turns to me, “All the time, it helps me with my stress just like the hot tub did at home.”

  I turn looking at her, “All the time? That cannot be safe to come out here alone in the jungle.”

  She grabs my hand pulling me toward the water, “I do not come here alone. You are right, not safe. Parker and I come here together. We have camped here too with Marcus over there. We tried to get Katie to come, but she refused. The bug and spider thing.” I shiver with those last words and Livi notices. She is entering the hot spring pulling me along with her. She crouches down so that the water is up to her shoulders. I look down at her and she is squeezing my hand to join her.

  I say to her as I lower, “Spiders, huh?” She looks at me seductively with those eyes, “Like daughter, like father. The bugs here can kill you, but I will keep you safe.” She laughs, “Just like home in our hot tub, right?”

  I looked at her with wide eyes, “Nice bottle of red wine, a few candles and me cleaning it out the next morning. No this is better than home. Speaking of home, I need to tell you something. I think it may confuse you, but you will understand. So here it goes, I sold the house. The closing is in two months. I hope the hot water is relieving that shock?”

  She whipped her head around looking at me. She thinks for a moment, “I think that was for the best with everything that has happened and all.”

  I look at her and she is smiling, so I continue, “I am putting the money back into your retirement account that you wiped out.”

  She smiling at me big and wide before she speaks, “I am retired. I have money stashed away. I am just living on what the Providence pays me to teach. I do not need the money at all. Help Katie buy a condo, she will need a place to live once she is out of school.”

  I place a kiss on her cheek, she is always thinking about others. I lean over to kiss her on the lips, but she take control. She slips her tongue over mine and continues to deepen her kiss. She breaks away being a little breathless. I am fully aware that I am erect k
nowing that I will have to get out without being seen. I lean over to her and whisper in her ear, “That completely turned me on you know.” Trying to get my mind off my throbbing manhood I continue to talk about our money. “So what will we do with the rest of the money? We can buy 12 condos for what I sold the house for. We can fix up your house here with some upgrades like a range oven. Maybe get us a townhouse back home for when I have to work or visits. We can make this work, Livi.”

  She smiles seductively with her eyes are very hooded. She runs a finger down my nose whispering as she leans in to me, “This is working.” She places her lips to mine and kisses me again. I feel myself just go right back to being excited again. She breaks the kiss again taking a look around to see where the others are in approximation in the water. I feel her hand slide down my wet chest to my swim trunks. She is caressing me on the outside of the material. Then I feel her tug at the string loosening the top of my trunks. She frees me and begins to stroke me. She is looking right into my eyes while she does this. She knows I can’t make a noise or we will be a dead giveaway to the others. I bow my head down and with my hand I reach out for her breast. She knocks away my hand. I look up at her in shock. She just shakes her head from side to side slowly. Her control of the situation had just heightened my desire. She is staring at my face watching my jaw muscles contract. She knows that she has me near the edge. She looks back up into my eyes wetting her lips with her tongue ever so slowly. I lost myself right there trying to be perfectly quiet while my nostrils flaring with my every breath. She knows it is the hardest thing for me in the world not to be loud, but I think I just made her proud containing myself. She winks at me as she puts me back in my swim trunks and ties the top of the trunks.