Lily White Lies(88)

“I say go for it.”

Charlotte pursed her lips. “No, I think it’s a mistake, Meg. I’d let it go.”

I tipped my head back and closed my eyes.

The girls sat and argued about whether or not I should face Joker with my questions. Suddenly, I sat straight and waved their argument off with a peremptory gesture.

“I’m going to do it.”

Charlotte shook her head in disgust while the corners of Cory’s mouth turned up in satisfaction.

“What if it makes the situation worse... or... or worse yet, what if causes problems between you and Con? Is knowing the past really that important to you?” Charlotte asked.

I didn’t have to think about her question. “Yes. My relationship with my grandfather means a lot to me and right now, he won’t even see me much less speak to me. It almost seems self-destructive to embark on a new life with Con when everything that makes us who we are is a lie.” I hesitated. “Earlier today, Sally said if your heart is full of hatred you have no room in it for love. Well then, using the same theory, if our pasts are full of hatred...”

I stopped. I wasn’t even sure I was making sense to myself anymore. I was over obsessing. I knew what I had to do and I had made the decision to do it. Deep down, I felt pride. I had made a decision regarding something important and that wasn’t something that happened often.

Placing my empty glass on a coaster, I said, “I’m going to do it! Tomorrow, I’m going to see Joker,” and slid off my stool.

“Give’em hell, Meg,” Cory cheered, as she swirled the ice cubes in her empty glass around.

Charlotte shook her head. “I still think you’re making a mistake but for your sake I hope I’m wrong. Call me if you need to talk afterward.”

I thanked her, gave them each a hug and headed home to wait for Con.



~ ~ ~





“We need to talk...”

His teeth grazed my earlobe, sending jolts throughout my body.

I managed to say, “Really, it’s important,” before my head fell back, as he kissed his way across my neck to the other ear.

With his hands on my backside, he pulled me against him, pressing me into his desire and I felt my knees buckle beneath me.

He moaned, “Hmm?”

With one hand clutching his shirt and the other buried in his hair, I clung to him as he took me past the point of return. I was his. Nothing seemed important as long as his arms encircled me.

“I... oh God.” He ran his hands up my back lightly and along my sides until they cradled my head between them.

After several minutes of urge-provoking kisses, they softened to mere brushes against my lips until finally, his lips released mine completely and he gazed into my desire filled eyes.

“I missed you,” he whispered.

“Mm, me too.”

“Where would you like to eat dinner?” he asked.

I stuttered, “That’s it... dinner?”

The corners of his mouth turned up to form his most flirtatious smile. He replied, “For now.”

He had just doused my internal fire with ice water, leaving me short of breath between irregular heartbeats.

When I finally regained composure, I playfully scorned, “You’re a tease.”

As he tugged at the front of his shirt several times, he casually replied, “Teasing is the prelude to pleasing,” which left me reeling.

I knew it was important to him to be sure I was completely ready before we took our relationship to the next level and even though I knew I was ready for that step, he had already made up his mind to wait until he was convinced that I was ready. So for now I would play it his way and do my best to brush off the urges he had stirred in me.

I straightened my clothes and brushed my hair back, all the while organizing my thoughts.

“Can we talk?”

The light in his eyes dimmed and his expression became more serious. “What’s up?”

“I went to visit my grandparent’s today... well, tried to visit, my grandfather hid... my grandmother flat out told me that they couldn’t help me... anyway, that’s all beside the point. Gram said that if I wanted answers, I’d have to get them from your grandfather. Cory says go for it... Charlotte says the past isn’t that important...”

“What do you say?”

“It’s important to me.”

Playing with my hair, he said, “Then you should do it.”

I searched his eyes for answers. “You won’t mind?”

“Mind? I know you need answers and I support that. I’ll go with you.”

Placing a hand on his chest, I applied pressure and backed away from him.

“Con, I appreciate that but, I think I have to do this alone.”

He offered a short nod. “I can’t say I’m thrilled with the idea of you being alone with my grandfather, but I understand why you have to do it.” Smiling, he added, “Are you sure you don’t want me to come along, just to keep the engine running?”