Leaving Amy (Amy #2) (34 page)

“It’s a piece of paper.”

“I can see that. What’s on it? And where is your car?”

“My car is in the shop. Jim is coming to get the car tomorrow after he gets home.”

“Jim?”

“My friend.”

“Where’s Wesley? Why didn’t he give you a ride?”

I stared at my shoes. I could hear the clock in the foyer ticking. I didn’t want to lie to Tom.

I licked my lips, priming them for whatever truth fell from them. “Wesley isn’t exactly in the position to be driving me places and dropping me off.”

“What are you talking about? What happened?” He took a few steps closer to me.

I retreated to the other side of the counter. “You were right. He cheated again.”

“Amy.”

“I’m not in the mood to hear how you told me so, Tom.”

He rushed to me and crushed me in an embrace. His clean scent, his firm body…they all teased my susceptible emotions. The ones that’d been bleeding out for the past few days. He somehow absorbed all my hurt with his embrace.

I pushed him away. I couldn’t do this. My feelings would have to wait until we were on the road out of here. Then they could turn into a river of tears. For now, I needed to feel cold slabs and bristle tops. Not wonderful and secure.

He took the phone out of his pocket and began to dial.

“What are you doing?”

He held his finger to his lips as he waited for the person on the other end to pick up.

“Yeah, Kate. This is Tom. I’m sorry. I won’t be able to make it tonight. Amy’s here and I have to be with her.”

I waved my hands like a freak in front of him, shaking my head no.

“I’m sure she’ll be fine. Okay, I’ll tell her you said that. Good-bye.”

I hit him on the shoulder. “Why did you go and do that for?”

“Because I’m not leaving you like this.”

“Like what? I’m over it, Tom. Wesley and I have talked. He’s with Ashley now. And I’m fine.”

He hugged me again. Suddenly all my emotions swelled up into a tsunami and spilled out everywhere.

“Here, here.” He caressed my hair.

“What’s wrong with me, Tom? What’s wrong that I can’t ever be enough for someone?”

“What are you talking about? He’s the fool, Amy.”

I buried my head into his chest and stopped trying to refuse the exiting of my raw emotions. They poured out the more Tom caressed my back. “Why didn’t he ever push me up against the refrigerator and kiss me the way he did her?”

“He’s a jerk, Amy.”

I tried to control my snappy inhales and exhales. I hated when they skipped out like a bumpy road. I needed to gain control.
I was over this, right?

That’s when Tom looked down at me and wiped my cheek with his finger. And I got lost. Lost in his eyes, in his kiss as he smothered me with his lips. My body shorted out. Pleasure mixed with misery and I was no match for what it was doing to me. Duty to Kate, duty to friendship…my wall of defense to Tom shattered as his hand traveled down my back slowly. I dropped the letter I was still clutching and took his face in my hands, kissing him as I’d wanted to for so many weeks. He pressed me deeper into him. I raised my neck as he kissed down it, disappearing somewhere into my breast, cupping me and pressing harder. A moan released from me as I lit with ecstasy. Like a motel light:
come in; we
’
re open for business!

We somehow made it to the living room floor. Which was new to me. I’d only seen action in an actual bed. There Tom made love to me as if it was my first time with a man. Lying there now after it was over, I tried to remember every bit of it. The way he undid my pants, the touch of his lips on my stomach.
Bliss needed to have a picture of this in the dictionary.

I rubbed his chest as I watched it rise up and down.

“Hey, you.” He looked at me with sleepy eyes.

“Hey.” I pulled the blanket up a little. Thankfully there was one on the back of the sofa.

“Want something to drink?”

“Sure.”

“You want to go upstairs? I’ll bring it up.”

“Okay.”

I watched as he got up and walked off.
My Lord!
This was definitely not what I imagined for New Year’s.
What was I going to do now?
Go upstairs, I suppose. I’d think about it then.

I was feeling a little out of place in his bed when he walked in and handed me a water. His smile was electrifying. I hadn’t ever seen him so happy.

“What?”

He got in to bed and nuzzled up to me. “I’ve never been happier.”

I stared at the wall. An image of Kate came to my mind.
Poor, wonderful Kate, asking me for all the advice I could offer to get Tom.

“Amy? What are you thinking about?” Tom moved back and studied my face.

“I’m just thinking about how this wasn’t what I imagined.”

“Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this?”

“Tom, what about Kate?” I hit my head. “What have I done to her? I’ve become Ashley.”

“Don’t be foolish. These are completely different circumstances. I’m not married to Kate.”

“But you’re dating her. And she’s married to you in her mind. She’s just playing along until it catches up to you.”

“Amy, I never led her on. I barely kiss her on the cheek at the end of all our dates.”

“You didn’t mean to, but, Tom, any time you went out with her, it gave her the notion you were into her. And why shouldn’t you be? She’s a lovely lady. Not to mention your age.”

He sat up in bed.
Instant mood killer.
“Is my age a problem for you?”

“No. It’s just that there is a difference. And Kate needs you. She’s settled on you. It would devastate her if she knew this is what happened with us.” I hit my head on the backboard. “Oh my God! I’ve just destroyed her life.”

“Amy, don’t be dramatic. Kate’s a big girl. She’ll be fine. I never once told her this was serious.” He pulled me to him. “Now, come here.”

He made love to me again. There should be a law against that much pleasure. He was so much better than Wesley. Stroking me in all the right places—places I never knew made me purr.

I watched him before I pulled on his shirt from the valet in the corner. He was out. A light snore came from his lips. I slipped downstairs and saw my phone on the counter. There was a message from Kate.

Amy, I hope everything
’
s all right. Thank you for being there for me this past year and I just wanted to let you know you are the one responsible for making me hopeful for the New Year. Cheers, and I
’
ll see you at work next Monday. Kate.

I could hear the song they used to sing on the bus in that awful girl troop. Something about sunshine and flowers. Duty was calling me. I could smell the smoke from the exhaust pipe as I waved good-bye to my mom and dad. It was my duty to represent the church and go help the less fortunate. Kate was my new less fortunate. Tom may not see it that way, but I couldn’t be the one who held the gun, and finished off her last hopes for love. Or seeing her head in a stove after it got around that I was with him. And that Patricia woman. She’d make it her life’s mission to see that I lived with the scarlet letter burned in my chest.

I was younger than Tom and Kate. I had somewhat of a sliver of hope life would get better. And if it didn’t, it wouldn’t be because I killed someone’s hopes. I was responsible for only me. I could move away and put what happened out of sight. My mind would come around eventually.

I pulled open the drawer and found the keys to the van. I tucked the letter in Tom’s jacket on the floor of the living room. Memories of us just moments ago pulled at my heartstrings. I was surprised I had any left.
Pulled strings eventually lost elasticity, didn
’
t they?

I was on the highway before I could breathe normally. I tried to keep all the noise suppressed as I collected my clothes and dressed in the downstairs powder room. I imagined what Tom would think when he awoke and saw I was gone. For now, I’d keep all my imagination of Tom thoughts to a minimum. It’s the only way I found my way to the open road and all that waited for me. I did, however, leave an amended letter for him. I hope he loved me enough to acknowledge my last wishes.

I thank God for the inspiration to write stories that people can relate to.

I thank my beautiful family and friends who’ve encouraged me and cheered me on during this beginning of something wonderful. I’m having the time of my life, doing what I love to do.

For the readers who are sticking with Amy and continuing her journey, thank you for all the support. Your kind words and lovely reviews make this worth it. I hope everyone stays around to see how Amy’s life unfolds next!