A Tragic Wreck (12 page)

“You heard right,” he responded, running his fingers through his hair. “I’m sorry. I meant to ca…”

“It’s okay, Alex,” she interrupted. “I was just wondering if you’ve thought about what I said on the phone…”

“I have,” he said nervously.

Chelsea raised her eyebrows, wanting an answer.

Taking a deep breath, he closed the distance between them, pulling her body against his. “I’m sorry I was such a fool, Chelsea,” he breathed against her neck. “I should never have ignored what was right in front of me. I want to make it up to you. I want to do this right.”

Chelsea searched his eyes. “So, you want…”

“Yes, Chelsea. I want something more, too. Let me take you to dinner. A real date.”

A smile crept across her face. “I’d like that, Alex,” she responded.

He placed a kiss on her forehead before grabbing her hand and leaving the apartment, eager to forget that he ever found his Olivia all those months ago.

~~~~~~~~~~

It felt like Christmas came early later that week when a large truck pulled up outside of Olivia’s cottage. Within ten minutes, a piano sat in the spare bedroom downstairs, waiting to be played. Olivia wondered why she hadn’t thought about buying a piano before.

Earlier that week, Cam drove her to a piano showroom in Jacksonville where she purchased a Kawai console piano. Thankfully, on that shopping trip, Olivia remembered her stash of cash from home. Cam raised an eyebrow when she pulled out stacks of hundred dollar bills to pay the six thousand plus sum for the piano.

“I told you. I don’t want to be found. No paper trail.”

“It’s not that. It’s just…I don’t know. You don’t work, yet you just pull out six grand in cash like it’s nothing. I mean, I do well for myself, but what did you do? Rob a bank or something?” he asked semi-jokingly.

Olivia shrugged. “Mom was loaded. She left me with more money than I can even fathom spending in a lifetime. It’s not all it’s cracked up to be. I’d give up the money in a second if it meant my mom would still be alive.”

As she sat in front of her piano, recalling Cam's reaction earlier that week, a warmth spread through her core. After her admission, he pulled her body into his, kissing her full on the mouth right in the middle of the piano showroom. “God, Libby. You get more and more attractive every minute I spend with you.”

She wished she had the same enthusiasm for him as he appeared to have for her. To her, Cam was just someone who could dull the pain. Nothing more.

Just as Olivia placed her fingers delicately on the cool ivory that breezy Thursday morning, she heard a gentle knock on the door. She smiled weakly when she saw Cam standing on her deck wearing his wetsuit. “Morning, beautiful,” he crooned, a sparkle in his intense silver eyes. “Everything okay?”

Olivia shrugged, turning away, leaving the door open for him to follow her. “As okay as it’ll ever be, I suppose.”

Cam stopped, wishing he could get her to come out of the shell she seemed to be in. “Don’t do that, Libby.”

She turned around from the coffee maker, thrusting a cup of coffee into his hands. “Do what?” she spat.

He narrowed his eyes at her. “You know what,” he said quietly, taking a long drink from his mug. “You’re doing it again. You’re trying to push me away.”

Olivia sighed. “Please, Cam. I just want to be alone right now. I want to sit at my piano and play until my fingers bleed. You said yourself that I needed a healthy coping mechanism. So unless you want to sprawl me out on my bed and fuck me, I suggest you leave me be.”

Setting his coffee mug on the kitchen island, he placed his hand on the small of Olivia’s back, pulling her body toward his and gently pushing his erection between her legs. “Has anyone ever told you how exasperating you can be sometimes?” he whispered in a sultry voice, the warmth of his breath hot against her skin. “And, for the record, I’d love to fuck you, but I refuse to be your enabler.”

Olivia’s body was aflame with desire, her mind consumed by the thought of Cam being inside her to dull the heartache. She pushed her body even further into his, wrapping her arms around his neck and running her fingers through his hair. “Cam,” she exhaled breathlessly. “Either fuck me or let me get back to playing my piano.” She dragged her tongue against his neck, causing the hair follicles on his body to stand on end.

“Damn, Libby.” He stepped back, needing his distance from her before he did the one thing that would hurt her. “I’ll let you get back to your music.”

Olivia frowned. “What’s it going to take to get you to crack?”

“A lot more than just a pretty smile, although yours is spectacular.” He winked before walking out the front door toward the shoreline.

Returning her attention to the piano, she poured her heart and soul into the ivory keys, willing it to dull the pain. After playing all morning, the heartache was still there, all the songs reminding her of Alexander. She wished she could just erase him from her mind. And her heart.

~~~~~~~~~~

Over the next several weeks, Olivia remained glued to her piano, seeking comfort among the white and black keys. Comfort that never came. She thought about Alexander, wondering whether he had moved on. She hoped he had. As much as the thought of his lips touching someone else made her want to scream, she needed him to move on.

Cam's visits were the only thing she looked forward to, although she would never admit it. She remained distant and aloof, still trying to get him to break down and sleep with her to take away the ever-present pain. He remained strong, but Olivia could tell it was only a matter of time before he cracked.

“Happy Thanksgiving,” he said one morning as he walked into Olivia’s kitchen after she opened the door for him.

“It’s Thanksgiving?” she asked, a confused look on her face. “I guess I completely lost track of time.” She shrugged, returning to the guest bedroom and the only friend she felt she had in the world. Her piano.

“Yes, it’s Thanksgiving, and I’m not going to let you spend the holiday alone,” he said, following her into the guest room and closing the cover on the piano. “Come out with me tonight. It’s ‘Open Mic’ night and I think you could really benefit from playing in public again.”

Olivia eyed him suspiciously.

“Come on, Libby. Just the other day, you said how much you missed performing in front of an audience. This is the perfect opportunity. Even if you don’t want to get up on stage, at least come out with me and the guys tonight. It’ll be fun. I promise.”

Olivia searched his eyes. “I don’t know. I’m not so sure it’s a good idea.”

“Libby, you need to get over whatever it is that’s keeping you down. Staying locked up and playing piano all day is not the way to do that. You’re closing up again. Please. Come back to me.”

Exhaling loudly, she took a sip of her coffee as her eyes remained glued to Cam's. “Fine,” she said, caving in to his request. “But I’m not getting up on stage.”

“You don’t have to,” Cam said quickly, putting his empty mug in the dishwasher. “Gotta run, gorgeous.” He kissed her cheek sweetly. “Pick you up at eight.” He planted a more affectionate kiss on her neck, leaving her body wanting some form of release as she watched him walk out the door.

T
HAT
EVENING
, C
AM
WAS
at her house a few minutes before eight. “You’re on time,” Olivia said, opening the door. “You’re always on time.”

“I hate being late,” he replied, holding his hand out for her. She grabbed it and he led her down to his car.

He glanced over at Olivia as she sat there, her eyes void of any emotion. The spark was gone. He raised her hand to his lips, kissing it gently, reminding her of all the times that Alexander used to do the same thing. She still couldn’t get him out of her head, no matter how hard she tried. “You look beautiful tonight, Libby.”

She returned a half-hearted smile, sick of how empty she felt. Nothing worked. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Alexander’s green eyes and felt his hands all over her body. She felt lifeless without his touch, her heart aching at the thought of never feeling his hands on her again. She wanted to stop feeling that pain.

They headed west toward the downtown area and pulled in front of a local bar. Olivia scowled when they walked up to the old building. From the outside, it appeared rather rundown.

“I know it doesn’t look like much, but the drinks are strong and the music is good. I promise.” Pressing his hand to the small of her back, he opened the door and steered her toward a table. She recognized three of the guys from surfing a few weeks earlier.

“Hey, Olivia! How’s your head?” Benny asked as Cam held a chair out for her.

“Better, thanks,” she said, smiling. “Please, call me Libby.”

“This is my girlfriend, Elsie,” Benny said. Olivia smiled across the table at a tall woman in her twenties with raven black hair and bright red lipstick.

“Are you going to play anything tonight?” Elsie asked Olivia cheerily.

“I hadn’t thought about it,” she replied. She was happy to get out of her house and meet some new people. If this was to be her new home, maybe setting down new roots would help her forget about her old ones. But she didn’t know if she could get on that stage and pour her heart out through music. The pain was still too raw.

“Libby used to go to 'Open Mic' night every week up north before she came here,” Cam said.

Olivia shot daggers in his direction.

“She even used to sing in a band.”

“That settles it then,” Chris said excitedly. “You’ve got to get up there.”

“Go put your name on the list,” Jason chimed in.

She looked around the table, noticing how different all the guys looked out of their wetsuits. They all had that typical surfer look…sandy hair, tan skin, and a sparkle in their eyes.

“If you don’t do it, I will,” Cam said. Olivia stared back, ready to kill him. “It will make you feel better, I promise,” he whispered before signaling a server. “What would you like to drink, sweetheart?”

The term of endearment sent shivers up her spine. She was eager to feel something for Cam again. Hell, maybe if she got up there and performed, he would finally cave and give her what she needed.

She smiled at him. “Well, if I’m getting up on that stage, I need something strong. Sapphire and tonic, easy on the tonic.”

“That’s my girl,” he replied as Olivia got out of her chair, walked up to the small table next to the stage, and wrote down her name on the sign-up sheet. There were only about five people in front of her so it wouldn’t be too long before it was her turn. She just hoped she had enough time to down a few drinks. A little liquid courage never hurt anyone.

Olivia returned to the table, thankful that her drink had arrived. “I ordered you a double, just in case,” Cam said, bringing his drink to his mouth. Olivia’s heart rate picked up a bit as she watched him lick his lips after tasting his whiskey.

“Thanks. I’m going to need it.” She looked around the bar, noting that it was starting to fill up. No one had begun to perform yet so she assumed Open Mic didn’t start until nine. She looked at the large stage, lit with just a few key lights casting low ambient light on the various guitars. There was a full-sized keyboard set into the shell of a baby grand piano, as well as a drum kit. As the bar filled up and the atmosphere buzzed with excitement, she actually started to look forward to performing.

After twenty minutes or so, an M.C. jumped onstage, warming up the crowd before announcing the first performer. Butterflies fluttered in Olivia’s stomach. Cam looked over at her, dropped his hand underneath the table and, finding Olivia’s, clutched it. “You’ll do great,” he said quietly, his breath warm on her neck. She held onto his hand, desperately wanting to feel something. Anything. But the spark that was there just a few minutes earlier was gone again.

After a few more performances, the M.C. walked back to the microphone stand. “Looks like we have a new one this week.” Everyone cheered enthusiastically. Olivia assumed the bar got a lot of repeat performances. “Miss Olivia Adler.”
 

“Good luck, Libby,” Cam whispered in her ear and Olivia felt a sliver of a tingle. Nothing like she felt when Alexander would whisper in her ear, but at least she felt something other than the dull pain. Maybe Cam was right. She needed to get back on stage and perform to help her rid herself of the hold Alexander still had over her. She desperately wanted to be free of him. As she walked up to the stage, she knew exactly what song she needed to sing.

Sitting down at the keyboard, she adjusted the microphone to her level. She played a short little chord, checking the feeling of the keys. “Thanks. This is
Gravity
by Sara Bareilles. Hope you enjoy it.”

She took a few breaths and began playing the opening lines, the melody slow and haunting. Cam sat on the edge of his seat watching her performance, her sweet voice cutting through the room, unable to mask her obvious pain.

As she sang, Olivia thought about the hold Alexander still possessed over her, causing her heart to ache from the loneliness of life without him. But it was a necessary self-imposed loneliness. It was almost Christmas and she had no one left with whom to celebrate the holidays. She pushed everyone away again, refusing to let anyone in. She hopelessly wished that her entire life was just a bad dream and that she would wake up in bed with Alexander any day. But she knew that wasn’t the case. He found her and begged her to go back to him, and she pushed him away. Again.

Benny elbowed Cam. “She’s good, man. Seems a little sad, but she’s rocking.” Cam simply nodded, staring at Olivia as she sang the first chorus, a hurt expression on her face while she pleaded to be set free. At that moment, Cam knew that something happened to her. Something recent. Maybe something to do with a man named Alexander, the name she murmured over and over again in her sleep that one night. Maybe he was the reason she left Boston and ended up on the little island. Nothing about her said that it was a planned move. Cam knew that she ran from something, but what? He told Olivia time and time again that he wouldn’t pry, but how could he really help her get past it if he didn’t know what it was?