Made by Us: Giselle and Liam's Story (The Made Series Book 3) (3 page)

At the courthouse, nervousness kicked in and I didn’t see Ethan’s bike. I gave myself a quick glance over, got out of the car and walked into the stone courthouse. The marble staircases separate the buildings three levels. I took the broad stairwell up to the second floor, where the Judge would be marrying us behind the double mahogany doors. My hands started to shake as I watched the clock ticking down the seconds, until I would become Mrs. Thomas. As I looked around I spotted several couples seated along the benches with their soon to be spouses. Most women were wearing long white dresses, while some men wore only a nice blazer with jeans. At first, I hoped Ethan wouldn’t show up in his leather jacket, but soon I started not to care just as long as he showed. This wasn’t the most romantic place to get married, but we said that we would have a grand wedding a few years later after we had jobs and saved money.

I waited and waited for what seemed like hours and he never showed. Ethan stood me up. After having a perfect relationship and everything we did together, there was no explanation, nothing. How could he do this to me? I turned my back on my parents and told them what we had was real. I was going to give up my scholarship and not attend college. I felt like a fool and looked like one too. The pain felt as if someone was repeatedly stabbing me in the heart. I silently wished this wound was being inflicted by a stranger and not by the man I loved.

My only choice was to call my parents. Surprisingly, they didn’t say “I told you so.” My mother held me while I cried and my father hugged me. That was the last day we ever spoke about Ethan and I never gave him a second thought.

Thinking about my childhood is something I haven’t done in years. By the age of 4, I knew my birth mother was a drug addict and didn’t know my father. We would go days without eating and the only thing my mother cared about was when she would get her next “fix.” My mother having sex with strange men for money and drugs was the norm for me. When she remembered that I existed, I would be sent to the next door neighbor’s house. There, an older lady gave me baths and warm meals. Soon this turned into daily visits until she became ill. She told my mother to do right by me and get herself clean, but that didn’t happen. The day my life changed was when I came home to find my mother dead with a needle sticking out of her arm.

Some random man was there. He stood over her lifeless body and said, “Damn, she’s dead. She was a good fuck.”

When he noticed me, I stopped breathing. I tried to run but my legs were locked and I couldn’t move. He grabbed my arm.

“This is no place for you. Don’t scream.”

My body was shaking; I prayed that he doesn’t do to me what I had seen men do to my mom. Even though this man was scum, he took me to a safe place. I watched him talk to a lady in an all-white uniform.

He kept saying, “She not mine, her momma is dead. It’s not safe for her on the streets.”

Then he left. The lady walked over to me, told me not to be afraid and gave me food.

Months later my adoption was finalized. I would be leaving Barbados and going to America with my new parents, who looked nothing like me. They are fair skinned with blonde hair and blue eyes, while my eyes are gray and my complexion is a creamy shade of mocha.

After my run, I’m exhausted, mentally but not physically. I wave to Frank, the doorman, and get inside of the open elevator. It’s 6:30 when I step into our apartment. My shower is quick and I throw on a green Hello Kitty tank with the matching pajama pants. Opening the refrigerator door, I grab yogurt and bottle of water. I turn around and Liam’s standing behind me, shirtless.
Why does he want to continue torturing me?

“Don’t you own a shirt?”

He laughs, but I’m not joking. To keep my mind off his chiseled body, I start eating my yogurt.

“Since I’m going to be gone for two weeks, I thought we could turn off our phones and spend the day together.”

Turning off my phone that will mean I could miss a text from Ethan.

Reluctantly I say, “Okay, what did you have in mind?”

We spend the day curled up on the couch watching reality TV and old movies. Several times, I catch Liam staring at me.

“What?” I ask and throw a pillow at him.

He catches it and kisses me on the forehead.

“Giselle, you mean so much to me and lately things have been strange. I don’t want to leave when things aren’t right between us.”

Liam is gorgeous. His dark eyes are kind and always sparkle. He places his hand on my knee.

“If leaving is going to make things worse, tell me and I won’t go.”

“Things have been crazy lately. We’ve been so busy and I think stress got the best of me.”

“Are you sure? Recently you seem distant; like you’d rather be somewhere else.”

Crap.

“You were right, I need to stop comparing our relationship to my friends. ”

I give him a reassuring smile, which causes him to relax and start watching the movie again. What am I doing? This wonderful man sitting beside me really does care about me. Maybe sex isn’t important when we have everything else?

Chapter Five

The clock reads 4:35 once my eyes finally open. I quickly change out of my pajamas and into my yellow and gray running gear; this run will be shorter than usual since I’m meeting with a client at eight. Its ten minutes to 6:00 when I reenter the apartment, the TV’s on but there’s no sign of Liam. He’s leaving this morning, and I want to be out of the shower and dressed in time to see him off. I’ll miss him but right now my main focus is seeing Ethan later tonight. This couldn’t have panned out any better than it did. So why do I feel guilty already? My shower is quick and refreshing. I dry off, moisturize and wrap the towel around me while walking to the bed where my outfit awaits me. I refuse to overthink the Ethan situation, but rather, look at it as getting reacquainted with an old friend. That’s the only way I can come to peace with what may occur.

I toss the towel and grab my undergarments. I put on a pair of white skinny jeans with a black and white striped tank. In the bathroom, I style my hair and apply clear lip gloss. I slip on my jade green blazer and a stylish pair of hot pink tasseled flats before I open the door. Liam comes down the hall with luggage in hand.

“Good Morning. Do you want any help?”

“Morning. No, I got it.”

He kisses my cheek before walking past me and wheeling his suitcase to the front door. I head in the kitchen and grab the cranberry juice from the fridge. I pour myself a glass and put one out on the counter for him.

“Are you going to miss me?”

“Liam, of course I’ll miss you. It will be very lonely around here and
Indulgence
for that matter. It’s only two weeks though so we’ll get by. Make sure you enjoy the lovely Texas weather for the both of us.”

Franks states through the intercom, “Mr. Jackson, your transportation has arrived and is parked out front.”

He hits the call button and tells him he’ll be right down.

“Can I get a goodbye hug?”

“Yes, of course. I can’t believe they’re here already.”

I rush to him and throw my arms around his neck. I give his lips a small peck. He tells me I’m beautiful and kisses my cheek before letting me go and grabbing his bags.

“I’m going to miss you. Text to let me know you arrived safely.”

“I’ll miss you too, but we’ll talk soon.”

As he leaves; freedom and naughtiness enters. I enjoy the feeling, grab my white clutch and head out the door.

I press the unlock button on the key to my silver Mazda6, open the door and speed to the meeting. It’s a shame that Liam’s plane hasn’t taken off yet, but here I am plotting on what to wear to Ethan’s later. My thoughts of Ethan are paused for the duration of the meeting. But hours later, I am thinking about this evening again.

I take another hot shower and afterwards I start packing my overnight bag, making sure not to forget my favorite Hello Kitty nightgown. Picking out my outfit was somewhat difficult, but my satin undergarments are sexy. They’re cream silk and black lace overhangs around the waist and breast area.

I put on a double pleated skirt, yellow dots outline the black and white floral pattern. The shirt is beige with a pointy collar that has cappuccino colored buttons. My peep toe champagne laced up knee boots would make Marcia proud. I have second thoughts as I put extra clothes in the bag for tomorrow. Just because I’m staying the night with him doesn’t mean we’re going to have sex.
Right?
It will be like old times before I lost my virginity. I know I’m lying to myself as I zip my bag shut.

My phone jingles.

Ethan:
Staying at the Ritz-Carlton, room number is 37.

I stop second guessing myself. It’s clear I need to meet him and should be leaving soon in order to arrive on time. In the kitchen, I put my bag by the front door and grab a wine glass from the rack, fill it half way full and down it within a minute. It’s just enough to kill the nerves and doubt from reentering my mind. I respond to his text.

Leaving in ten minutes. See you soon.

The hotel is upscale, classy, extremely expensive and attached to the Fashion Centre at Pentagon City. Walking into the well-lit beautiful hotel, I wonder what Ethan’s room is like. The lobby features chic and stylish décor, the displayed paintings are incredibly eye catching and bold in color. I pass a stripe lounge chaise that sits in a corner of the marbled floor on my way to the elevator. The door opens and in no time it comes to a stop on the third floor. I follow the signs that take me to #37. Before knocking, I reapply my lip gloss. I double check my appearance and knock gently. Ethan opens the door. He’s wearing white skinny jeans, a blue and white striped shirt, and a charcoal tailored blazer.

“Good evening, Giselle.”

He looks at my attire, slightly twists his mouth, but eventually says, “You look nice tonight.”

“Thanks.”

“Come in.” He grabs my bag. “I’m glad you packed your overnight bag.”

The suite offers a stunning panoramic view of the city. His living room is complete with a leather couch and arm chairs, there’s also an eat-in area with six high back leather cream chairs situated around a large wood circular table. The floral centerpiece has colors to brighten up the goldenrod color scheme in the adjoined living room.

“Not sure if I’m staying, but brought it just in case.”

“You’re staying.”

He moves toward the front door and holds it open for me. I walk ahead of him and hit the call button. Soon he’s behind me and our bodies are close, almost touching. Ethan had such an effect on my life in the past. It’s hard not to think about the old times we shared together and the love we had for one another. My love wasn’t enough for him years ago, so what makes me think it ever would be?

When the elevator doors finally open, he hits the lobby button and places his hand on my lower back. The ride down  is short, and I’m thankful because there was no time for Ethan’s hand to possibly begin exploring down my backside. Then again, I would have probably liked it. He removes his hand from my back and links his fingers with those on my left hand. I’m hoping he doesn’t notice my sweaty palm. After we get off the elevator, we stop at the front desk where he orders champagne and chocolate covered strawberries to be delivered to the room.

“That takes care of dessert,” he says before escorting me into the Fyve Restaurant Lounge.

“Reservation for Thomas,” he tells the hostess who greets us at the door. She leads us to a seated area for two right in front of the lit fireplace. The chairs are red leather accentuated with cream decorative pillows. The dark cherry mantle is decorated with vases of dark red roses, and other flowers hang over the ledge. Crackled glass cylinders cover tree decorations that hold lit tea lights. He requests a glass of white wine and orders me a glass of cabernet.

The waiter comes back with our wine and sets our glasses down over a napkin on the glass topped tables. Ethan orders for us. The waiter takes our menus and excuses himself.

The glow from the firelight reflects across Ethan’s chiseled face.

He takes a sip from his wine and says, “Let’s catch up.”

“Okay, you first.”

“Alright, what’s the main thing you want to know?”

“There’s a couple of them, actually.”

“Go ahead, ask.”

I start with a simple question, “What have you been doing with your life?”

“Over the last few years I’ve been modeling. It’s a great job. I get to travel all over the world. I’m doing very well for myself, a lot better than I was five years ago. I finally got my shit together.”

“Is that why you came to Arlington?”

“No, I came here to find you and it worked out perfectly because I have a shoot in DC later this week.”