Chapter One #2
“This is Martin Foley,” he announces, “coming to you with breaking news.” He pauses for effect, pulling me and my fake fiancée out of our bubble and back to reality.
Martin stares at his cell where he’s clearly recording a video.
“Keaton Wayne, quarterback for the Midland Mavericks, is engaged.” I feel my companion gasp as she presses her face to my chest to cover the reaction.
Once again, protecting me. “I witnessed the touching proposal, though I was unable to get close enough to capture his speech. I’d say it would have to be a doozy to win her heart and acceptance, but who wouldn’t say yes to what he brings to the table?
” The implication being that’s the only reason she or anyone else would accept.
Something the woman at my side catches, causing her to call him an amoeba.
She is stealing my heart section by section.
“I have pictures of their first kiss as an engaged couple and it’s enough to melt your screen, so make sure you have a fire extinguisher handy.
” I see his brows waggle and the leering on his reflection as he thinks back to it.
Creep. “Stay tuned for details as they begin to plan their lives together.”
He preens as he replays it, punctuating it with various accolades such as, “Damn, I’m good,” “That’s a keeper,” and “I’m on my way to the top.” And we’re the rungs on the ladder he plans to use to get there.
With her still in my arms, and I’m finding I love her being there, I slowly take a step to the side, then another, and another. “Do you need any of that stuff you dropped?” I whisper in her ear once we’ve put enough distance between us and Martin, who is, once again, watching himself.
“Not enough to be near that smarmy little man.”
“It’ll be safe there until he leaves,” I assure her. “We’ll go back for it then.”
“We?” She asks, grinning.
“I wouldn’t expect my fiancée to retrieve it on her own.
” Thankfully, she laughs as we sneak around the corner and out of view.
Well, Martin’s view. We can still see him from our hiding spot and watching as he turns and sees us gone is hilarious.
“Thank you for helping me,” I tell her, reluctantly letting go of the hand I’d grabbed before we escaped. The one still wearing the ring.
“You’re welcome and thank you for the same.” She wiggles her finger.
Which makes me remember our conversation before Martin inserted himself in our business. “I’ll take full responsibility for any fall out you may experience from what happened back there. Your actual fiancé is an incredibly lucky man.”
“Yes, you are,” she replies. That doesn’t match up with what I said. “You’re the only fiancé I have,” she explains at my obvious confusion.
“But…”
“A client of mine let me try it on because I was admiring it. When she left, she forgot to take it. I was on my way to return it to her. I claimed it was mine because I figured it was the safer option.”
“It’s a beautiful piece,” I agree, complimenting the true owner’s exquisite taste.
Peering closer, the haze from our kiss and the adrenaline from holding in my anger for Martin is fading and I get a better look at it.
I wasn’t able to when I picked it up, and after, I was too busy staring at her and trying not to throttle Martin.
Now, though… “This was my great-grandmother’s.
” I can’t believe I didn’t immediately recognize it nor the gemstone that perfectly matches Lily’s eyes.
“May is not that old,” she declares.
“You know my mom?”
“She’s your mom?”
“How do you know her?”
“I told you; she’s a client.”
“What is it you do?”
“That’s privileged information.” Umm…
“I’m her son and your fiancé,” I remind her. Why do I love the sound of that so much? She’s shaking her head and I know there’s only one way to handle this. Withdrawing my phone, I hit the speed dial I need. The first ring isn’t even completed before it’s answered.
“How’s my favorite son?” There’s no use pointing out there isn’t another. I’ve tried. She merely replies that it’s a good thing I have that status then.
“I’m fine. How are you and dad? You need anything?” Despite my urge to discover how these two women are connected, I take the time to check on my parents. It doesn’t matter that I saw them yesterday. I have to know they’re okay.
“You’re such a good boy.”
“The best,” Dad hollers.
“It’s not a competition,” she scolds him.
“Then there’s no reason to be upset you only said good and I said great.”
Giggles are coming from my companion at their antics. I grin, knowing they’ll adore her, and attempt to steer the conversation back to my reason for phoning.
“Mom,” I interrupt when she pauses for a breath, knowing they could do this for hours.
All with affection, of course. Their marriage is a fairy tale come to life and another reason I’m still single.
Well, I was. I want what they have. A true partnership.
An undeniable connection that will and has survived anything.
“Yes, dear?”
“How do you know…” Awkward. “What’s your name?” The woman who is somehow a stranger and responsible for my first kiss ever stares at me. “We had our tongues down each other’s throats and you agreed to marry me, so I think it’s only fair I know my fiancée’s name.”
“Keaton Michael Wayne!” Shit. I forgot to hit mute.
Grimacing, I look at the troublemaker and implore her for help. “Lily.”
Bat ears May is working overtime today. “Was that Lily?” A squeal. “I knew you two would be perfect together. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to introduce you for months.” Mom harrumphs. “I’m still taking credit for it. I wished for it, and it happened. Manifesting and all that.”
Praying for patience, I try again. “How do you know Lily?”
“I’m her client.” Now she sounds frustrated with me. “And future mother-in-law. Do keep up, Keaton.” Lily snorts, enjoying my mom scolding me. Going a different route, I glance at Lily once more.
“What is it you do, fy seren?” My mom gasps and immediately starts talking to my dad again. No doubt informing him what I just called Lily.
My star.
The surname Wayne does have a background that is primarily English, yet some of my ancestry can be traced to Wales.
I had to explore my family for a school project and became fascinated by the Welsh language.
I studied it and, though I never picked it up as fluently as I would have liked to, my brain retained some of the words.
Maybe fy seren stuck because fate knew I would meet mine?
“I’m a paramedical tattoo artist.” Pride comes through her title, and I intuitively know it’s warranted. I don’t need to understand what exactly she does to know she’s damn good at it.
“She makes scars beautiful,” Mom explains. Having put the call on speaker, Lily hears and laughs at the description.
“In a nutshell, that’s exactly what I try to do.” Mom sniffs on her end and it hits me. My freshmen year of college, Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. The doctor recommended a full mastectomy as a precautionary measure and Mom and Dad agreed to it. The procedure was a success, thank God.
“Not try, sweetheart,” Mom whispers. “You helped me be proud of marks I once thought of as proof I failed at being a woman.” Speechless, I stare at my device.
Hating that mom is returning to that time, even if mentally, I want to beg her to stop.
To not go to the dark place, but something tells me she needs to get this out.
“I never knew you felt like that.” She shouldn’t have. Having cancer in no way lessens who she is.
“Why would you?” Mom asks and she’s not doing so to be cruel. It’s a matter-of-fact question from a mom that would do anything to protect her child. Even after he’s a grown man.
I feel Lily’s hand on my arm, the gentle squeeze to convey comfort, and I lean into it. I’ve never been comfortable with touch aside from my parents and what’s necessary during the game, yet I am craving hers.
Sensing I need to think about something else, Lily informs Mom, “I have your ring, May. I was bringing it to you when I happened upon Keaton.” The fact she dropped it will remain our secret.
It wasn’t injured, so sharing that tidbit will serve no purpose other than making Lily feel guilty and I’d hate that when it’s clear she and Mom have a bond.
“It’s yours, Lily. Keaton did say he proposed, right? I never wear it anymore, but I had it because I was going to see Keaton and give it to him. I just knew he’d meet his soulmate soon and I wanted him to have it.”
Lily looks to me for assistance. Mom’s not wrong. I feel like Lily and I were meant to meet. That fate played a hand in it happening sooner rather than later. Lily is mine. I just have to convince her of that.
**Lily**
If I’m dreaming, I never want to wake up.
This is too good. May had hinted over our sessions that she wanted to introduce me to her son, but I never encouraged it.
As much as I like her, I wrote it off as a Mom’s prerogative to exaggerate how wonderful her son is.
My own mom isn’t exactly unbiased when it comes to singing my praises.
That wasn’t the case here. Keaton is as wonderful as she proclaimed him to be.
But, according to that weasel who almost salivated upon finding us, he’s also a professional football player.
I promised myself I would never give a man in the same field as my father the power to break me as he did my mom.
The divorce was finalized two months ago and went uncontested on his part at Mom’s insistence due to his lack of integrity, loyalty, and honor, but I fear she still loves him.
Maybe it takes longer to dissolve feelings than it does a marriage?
They had decades together versus twenty-four months apart.
Honestly, in my opinion, it was over before that.
My father traveled frequently, using his history and status as a football legend to secure speaking engagements.