Page 51 of Mercy Lake

Why did I say that?Because I couldn’t fucking help it, that’s why. Her presence felt like a slow toxin infecting my veins. Every time she was near, every time she smiled or laughed, I couldn’t help but want her.

It made my desires escalate out of control, so I kissed her. Her lips, tongue and skin felt like they always had, however infused with so much more.

And when sheer happiness took hold from the long awaited reconnection, it all came crashing down around me. Under the influence of her touch, my declaration of love came rushing out without thought.

The way she froze beneath my hands made me fucking livid at myself.

What right do I have to touch her? To put that type of pressure on her? Fucking none.

It was late evening, and there was a coolness in the air as I sat on a picnic rug at the water’s edge of Mercy Lake—our lake.

My touch really is poison.I was the worst of fools.

Then, my name sliced through the wind. And again, this time closer, dripping in expectation.

“OWEN!”

I jolted to my feet and turned to find Alexis racing towards me, and she was upset.

Give it to me, baby. I’ll take it all.

As if reading my mind, she proceeded to tighten her little fists into my shirt when she reached me. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you come after me for so long? WHY!? WHY!?”

She was crying, hysterical, emotionally charged. It broke me.

I cupped her face with my hands, forcing her eyes to meet mine and for her tohearme. “I was going to come to you after I found out the truth about Everly, but I spoke to your father and decided not to.”

That stopped her crying at least. Her expression twisted in confusion instead. “What?” She hiccupped.

“When I was recovering and had gotten back to some type of normalcy, I ran into your dad. We hadn’t conversed in months, but I knew I had to ask him. I couldn’t wait any longer. I wanted to gauge the chances of reconciliation with you. So, one year after our divorce, I asked your dad if you were happy.Trulyhappy.”

“And he said yes,” Alexis whispered.

I nodded. “He said yes… I thought you had found another, and although Ihatedthe thought, I was happy that you were happy, Alexis. So, I decided to leave you be.”

Alexis sniffled. “Austin was a little baby then, and I must admit, I was happy. Motherhood gave me a certain type of happiness that can never be replicated, and I’m thankful for that. But, Owen, there was no other man. Except for that one stranger—Austin’s biological father. I got tested for everything while I was pregnant, then never touched another man again. There has been no one else.”

“I’ve been with no one since you, Lex.” She gasped, vigorously shaking her head, trying to refute my remark. “It’s true, baby. How could I ever touch another after the last time we made love?”

“Oh, Owen,” she cried, tears running down her face, which I wiped away. She tried to hide and burrow into my chest, but I didn’t let her. Then, Alexis came out with the most shocking statement. “Did you think Everly was me?”

Her unexpected question made me pause. From the connotation, I knew exactly what she meant. Only two people knew the truth. Me and—

“Fuck, you saw her?”

“Not on purpose. But she doesn’t matter. Tell me the truth, Owen. Did you call her by my name?” Familiar dread riddled my senses. Just by my expression, she got her answer. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because it didn’t matter, Lex. You didn’t deserve that information to try and make thepoisonmore palatable.”

The word “poison” grabbed her attention as her eyes widened in recognition as if the mention of it showed her everything I had gone through in the total sum of six letters.

Understanding coated her expression as her palms raised to circle my neck. Alexis pulled me down until her lips skimmed mine.

What is happening? Is this really happening?

“Your touch doesn’t feel like poison, Owen. Your touch feels like life—like you're injecting me with your past but healing me with your future. I want to go there with you.Will you build a future with me?”

Her declaration was a deafening siren that resonated through my system.

---