Broken & Torn (Emerald Falls #1)

20. 20

20

LYLA

I t’s Sunday, November thirteenth, and my twenty-seventh birthday.

I haven’t told a soul that it was coming up, not even Parker. He invited me over for dinner at his place tonight, and I’m so excited to have plans for my birthday for once. Despite him not knowing the importance of this day, I’m happy to be spending it with him. We’ve been spending every day together, to be honest. Ever since we admitted that what we had was more than a simple friendship, we have done everything together. He came with me to the art studio, we went hiking, we took turns cooking each other dinner, and I’ve never felt happier.

As I drive over to his place, I think about my mom. She called me this morning to wish me a happy birthday and we briefly chatted about how life was going here. I could sense the sadness in her voice and it pains me that she’s in that house all by herself. I feel so guilty that I’m thriving more and more every day, while she struggles to crack a smile. She’s a woman who had been beaten down by a man and left to pick up the pieces of her life when he left. Only, she never did. She’s an empty shell and I often wonder if she’ll ever recover .

I take the turn and begin driving up the gravel road leading to his house when I see that there are several vehicles parked out front. Parker hasn’t mentioned inviting anybody else, and I’m instantly suspicious. I park Cherry and sit in my Jeep for a few minutes. Anxiety gnaws at me as I wonder what the heck is going on, when the front door opens and Parker slips out. He rounds the other cars and saunters his way over to me. I open the door and hop out, eying him questioningly.

“Want to explain why half the town seems to be here?”

He lets out a hoarse laugh before taking me by the hand and leading me to the house. He says nothing and it only heightens my discomfort. We climb the stairs and he opens the door, gesturing for me to head inside. I hesitate before finally stepping into the entryway.

“SURPRISE!”

My heart speeds up as I take in the scene before me. Piled in Parker’s cozy cabin are all of my favorite people in town. Cassie, Dennis, Peyton, Chris, Lucy, Cara, Theo, Bev…

My eyes fill with tears as I turn to Parker. He gives me a cautious smile and puts his arm around my shoulders before saying, “Happy birthday, Lyla.”

“How —” I can’t even finish the sentence, I’m in such shock.

He looks at Dennis, who gives me an apologetic smile.

“I may have looked at your file after you told me you’d never had a birthday party.” Parker answers.

“Oh my god.” My hand goes to my throat as I push back the emotions flooding me.

Cassie is the first to break from the group, folding me into a big hug. One by one, my friends embrace me and I’m surrounded by so much love that I nearly sob in the entryway. I had always dreamed of having a birthday party one day and I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. As I move around the room, my eyes continually land on Parker. The fact he decided to find out when my birthday is, just to throw me a party, made me feel truly special .

Once the greetings are finished, everyone disperses and I finally take a look around. Rose gold and silver decorations litter the space, including rose gold number balloons to celebrate my age. The big 2-7 is against one of the walls and there are hanging silver dots lining the rest of it. There’s a pink rose patterned cake and Bev tells me about how everyone pitched in potluck style. The food is overflowing on the kitchen island, filled with different appetizers. The counters hold ice buckets filled with different beverages and I pick a stout to start.

Everyone brought different games that we play, and after we’re finished, we stand around and chat. Constant laughter fills the cabin, lifting the heaviness that usually follows me around on this day.

I can’t keep the smile off of my face the entire night.

Everyone takes turns pulling me aside and giving me gifts and emotion clogs my throat. My mom had always given me at least a cake or special breakfast for this day, but gifts were rare. Bev gifts me a set of oil paint brushes and an art smock with my name embroidered on the chest. Cassie and Cara give me a bottle of my favorite red wine, along with a gift card to the Jittery Bean and a framed photo of the three of us. Theo gives me a printed coupon that will give me twenty percent off my tattoo cost, Parker and I having booked sessions with him for two weeks from now. Dennis, Peyton and Chris gave me a ski pass to use this season, as I had mentioned how badly I wanted to learn, and Lucy gives me an adult coloring book with mandala patterns and a set of coloring pencils.

Before I know it, it’s ten o’clock and everyone is beginning to help clean up and say their goodbyes, since we all have to work in the morning.

Then, it’s just me and Parker. I’d barely been able to speak with him tonight, and definitely not alone. We stand in the kitchen, having just finished the last of the cleaning.

“Thank you, Parker.” I say, “This was amazing. I can’t believe how much trouble you went through to make this happen.”

He prowls towards me slowly, with his hands behind his back .

“I’m glad you had a good time, Lyla.”

Suddenly, his hands are in front of him, holding a silver gift box with a big purple bow on top. I take the box from him and a smile forms on my face. I hadn’t expected him to give me a gift as well, since he probably paid for this party. I rip off the lid and look down to find something that both shatters and repairs my heart simultaneously.

In the box is a leather-bound sketchbook, just like the one I had as a child. The one that my father had destroyed. Except this one is black, with ‘LMT’ in the bottom right corner.

Lyla Marie Thomas.

It even has the leather ties my original one had.

Sitting on top of the book is a matching leather pencil holder, with individual slots for four pencils, and they’re all filled. I look up and gape at the man before me, having no words for what this means to me.

“I found them in a shop in Jasper. It reminded me of the one you told me about. The one he ruined and I just—I wanted you to have it.” He looks at his feet and shoves his hands in his pockets. I see a hint of redness creeping up his neck and into his cheeks.

I feel tears cascade down my cheeks but I don’t care. For once, I don’t give a shit, because I know that I’m safe with him. Safe to be myself and to show my emotions. Nobody to yell at me and tell me I’m too weak or sensitive. Parker always takes care of me in moments of vulnerability and it’s the thing I love most about him.

I grew up feeling like I couldn’t breathe; I was drowning every day of my life. When I met Parker, it was like I finally broke the surface and took a breath. Life flooded my system, and I’ve slowly been expelling the water, inhaling deeper every step of the way.

He hears me choke on a sob as I think about how I’m so fucking lucky to call this man my best friend, and he curses under his breath.

“I didn’t mean to make you cry, I’m sorry.”

I choke out another sob and reassure him, “No, no. I promise these are happy tears. This is the best gift I’ve ever received. Truly.”

He gives me that gorgeous megawatt smile and I internally sigh. God, I love his smile. It never fails to make my heart pound against my ribcage and I want to make him smile every single day, just to feel it’s allure.

“Lyla?”

I break out of my stupor. “Yes?”

He stays silent for a moment and I see his train of thought written all over his face; wonder, to indecision, to resolve. Then, his eyes darken in a way that have my toes curling. He takes a slow step towards me, crowding my space. I begin to back up, only to feel my backside hit the kitchen counter. I let out a small yelp and his gaze bores into me with an intensity that has my heart pounding. We’re flush against each other now, and I have to crane my neck to look up at him. His gaze drops to my lips, which are parted as I take erratic breaths.

“I’ve had dreams about how your lips would feel against mine. Wondered how you would taste.”

He reaches his hand behind my neck and runs his fingers through my locks before grabbing a gentle fistful of my hair, angling my head further to the side, giving him more access to my neck. He bends down and runs his nose from my collarbone, up the side of my neck and stops just behind my ear. He had done the same thing the night he drove me home.

“You smell like vanilla and jasmine; soft and sweet,” he whispers against my skin.

He lifts his head and his gaze collides with mine as his tongue darts out and he wets his bottom lip. He leans down, slowly and tentatively, assessing my reaction. When he senses no hesitation, he lets out a sigh of relief and presses his lips to mine.

He starts slowly with gentle kisses, as if he’s testing the waters. My heart beats wildly as I meet him with equal tenderness and we gingerly start exploring one another. He takes his hand away from my neck and cups my face, the other lowering to my hip. I place my hands on his chest and his heart beats rapidly beneath them. I whimper into his mouth and he emits a growl.

The kiss deepens and becomes more frantic, the biting of lips and clashing of tongues sending heat rushing over my body. My clit pulses and I grip his t-shirt to pull him further into me. I let out a moan as I feel his erection dig into my stomach.

“Fuck,” he says between kisses.

He grips my hip tighter and I let out a gasp at the sensation. I’ve never been with a man who has this kind of effect on me, and I was starting to think that I would never find such passion. Not that I’d wanted it, to be honest. Passion led to ruin for my parents and I avoided it at all costs, choosing men that I knew were sub-par. But Parker lights my entire world on fire in the best way possible.

I don’t know how much time has passed, but we finally break apart. We’re both panting, clinging to each other desperately. Silence stretches but it isn’t uncomfortable; we simply need a moment to collect ourselves after that show-stopping first kiss.

“Wow.” Parker breaks the silence first. “That was… unbelievable.”

His lips meet mine again and he tenderly gives me a few more kisses. I smile through them, unable to control my muscles, and I’ve never felt this elated. I can’t think of a single moment in my life that tops this one.

Parker reluctantly pulls back and sighs. “I promised to be patient, so I think it’s time for you to go. Otherwise I will throw you over my shoulder and take you to my bed right now.”

As much as that sounds entirely appealing, I know that I’m not quite there yet. My body disagrees, but it’s true. I know that what Parker and I have only comes around once in a lifetime, and I need to ease into it because of that. If we move too fast, I’m worried I’ll get scared and pull away from him. It’s my natural response when people attempt to get closer and I won’t do that to Parker. He deserves the best of me. So, I let out a sigh of my own and push him back a few inches .

“Okay. Walk me to my car?”

He grins and nods before taking me by the hand and leading me out to my Jeep. We steal a few more kisses before he helps me climb into Cherry and I make the drive home. As I drive, I think of the man who has turned my world upside down and I know this is the beginning of something exceptional.