Page 54 of Justified Lies

“I’m not an idiot. It’s just … frustrating, that’s all.”

She looked frustrated, and tired. If he were the man she deserved, he would have a solution to make all the bad things go away.

Lianna had different plans for making the bad things go away.

“Thanks again for your help today. I should get busy preparing for tonight.”

That was his ‘don’t let the door hit you on the way out’ cue. While Gabe wanted to argue his way into staying, he knew he wasn’t going to give her what she wanted, what she deserved. Unless he was willing to open up and tell her the truth, he would only add to her frustration. That was the last thing he wanted.

“Okay, I’ll be at home all day. Call me if you need anything at all, or if you want to talk.”

“The only things I want to talk about are off limits.”

Gabe opened his mouth to argue but was cut off.

“I know, I know … forget it. I’ll lock up behind you.”

She gazed at him expectantly, waiting for him to turn around and disappear out of the mudroom door they came in through.

Gabe may have floundered his plan today, but if he couldn’t tell Lianna with words, he would try to tell her physically what he was feeling inside. He seemed to be pretty good at that. If she let him. Closing the distance, he advanced until she was forced to step back against the kitchen island. Then he pressed against her, taking her sweet face in his hands.

Lianna looked up at him with adon’t you darewarning in her eyes. He dared. Without uttering a word or giving her a chance to, he bent down and sealed his lips over hers.

Gabe didn’t push, but he kissed her deeply, thoroughly. Just enough to convey that he wanted her, for more than just sympathy and more than just sex. That, although she may be frustrated with him, he wasn’t renouncing his claim on her.

When he pulled back her eyes were still closed, her lips still parted, signaling that she wanted more. That was good. She would get more when they were both ready.

“I’ll be a phone call away if you need me,” he whispered, her eyes slowly opening.

Gabe stared down at her, fighting hard to make himself release her. She nodded and he let go. As he walked out, Gabe possessed a renewed determination to find a resolution to his own problems. Then he could get back to this woman and give her the man she deserved.

Chapter Sixteen

Despite the birthday festivities keeping Lianna going later than she would have liked on a school night, she woke up as excited as she always did. It was Halloween, and since childhood she had always loved this day. Everything about this time of year—the comfort food, the way the changing leaves transformed the scenery—made her giddy. Although she had her fair share of the creepy, mysterious side of the holiday this year, she still embraced the fun aspects.

Dressing Annie in her Wednesday Addams costume and Harris as a soldier, Lianna donned her jack-o-lantern hoodie as they hustled out the door. It was a beautiful crisp morning, so they decided to walk. Halfway along their walk to school, they stopped at the tall, wrought iron gates of Nicki and Darren’s home. There, Nicki and the twins waited for them. The girls were dressed as jellyfish, each one sporting a clear umbrella with rainbow-colored tentacles streaming down. What she would give for Nicki’s creativity.

This morning her sister-in-law accessorized her costume with dark bags under her eyes. The guilt tugged at Lianna. She had been caught up in her own drama, leaving her sister-in-law without a friend to lean on. Nicki wasn’t doing very well since Darren’s drunken escapades the previous Friday night. She had called Lianna several times to check on her, but Lianna had a feeling that Nicki was reaching out for help that she didn’t know how to ask for.

As the kids took off ahead of them, Lianna kept her voice low. “Morning, sweetie. How did it go?”

At Annie’s birthday dinner last night, which Darren was unsurprisingly absent from, Nicki quietly confessed that she had been feeling helpless and decided to talk to a professional.Her sister-in-law was going to broach Darren about potentially joining her.

“I didn’t bring it up. He was in his office when we got home. I was asleep by the time he came to bed. Conveniently, he was gone for the office before I got out of bed this morning.”

Flashbacks of the emotional void that had plagued Lianna’s own marriage came rushing back. The sinking feeling in her gut solidified her decision to hit pause with Gabe. She could not and would not go down that road again.

“Let me know if I can help. I’m happy to take the girls if you need some time.”

“I know, and thank you, but you have enough on your plate. I got the name of a good therapist from Taya Murrey, she has a third grader and a first grader in the twins’ class. Anyway, I’m calling today, with or without Darren’s blessing. The girls need at least one emotionally available parent.”

“Good for you. Seeing a therapist is the best thing I ever did for myself. And the offer always stands if you need to talk or a break from the girls.”

“Thanks, hon.”

As the group neared the school, Lianna saw Dolores, who had already delivered Jacob and was hurrying back to her car. The older woman waved, slowing down to intercept Lianna.

“Glad I ran into you, I was going to call later. Gabe had to leave town this morning so I’m going to take Jacob trick-or-treating with my daughter and grandkids. I know he’ll be sad to miss out on going with Harris.”

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