has never used my real name. She once told me I reminded her of a pip-squeak, and for that reason it stuck. Go figure!
Liza can’t help gloating. She’s been on cloud nine ever since she met Ace a few weeks ago. Grabbing my coffee and her tea, we sit by the window. Sitting down, I realize just how tired I am. I’m so tired, my bones ache.
“So you want to know what’s weird?” Liza looks at me with her lips puckered up. Something is on her mind.
I stare at her, wondering if I want to answer her. “No idea, but I’m sure you will fill me in, though.”
“Well, it is clear that you were totally screwed over by this dick in your past, right?”
I roll my eyes, not this again.
With a big sigh, I whisper, “Well, that’s not entirely accurate, but whatever.” I’m never one to enjoy discussing my past.
“Anyway, Ace was telling me he has had a hard time getting over a girl from his past. He won’t talk about her, but he wanted to let me know why he’s careful and wants to take things slow.”
Okay, this is news to me. She has mentioned how hot he is, and how beautiful he makes her feel. The rest is all new, and I do not understand where she is going with this.
Taking a sip of her tea, she looks off into the distance. “Tell me something about him, Pip. You don’t tell me anything about what happened, not even his name. I have never pried but why the hell can’t you just get over him?”
My moan lasts longer than I intend. “Oh Liza, there is just too much to relive it all. It’s best to leave it where it is.”
Without pausing, she asks. “Why did things end?”
Looking into her curious brown eyes, my mind drifts back. That question haunts me to this very day. How our marvelous one night together had changed my life forever. After that evening, things changed drastically. Micah became distant. I knew he never regretted it, but things were not the same. The short explanation I got is he had family issues to work out. Whatever it was, it took him from me. Not a month later, Micah had left. He joined the Air Force Academy earlier than originally planned. I learned he left school, being privately tutored so he could earn his diploma before heading to the academy. He was older than I, and only needed a few more credits to graduate. His father, and his father before him had all been in the military. Dave Taylor had connections in high places from what Micah had mentioned, at one time.
He had his life planned out, and apparently I would not be a part of it. I had to take a back seat to the larger picture. It happened so fast. One minute I’m in his arms, in his bed and the next, I’m on the outside. The girl he said he loved was a girl he needed distance from as he lived his dream. The idea his family expected of him. A note and a brief phone call were all I received. Life stood still, and shock took over. Losing him tore me apart and left me confused. Something did not add up and if losing him wasn’t bad enough, I certainly wasn’t prepared for the unexpected gift from our one night together.
Loving Micah was easy, hearing him say he loved me was an unexpected blessing. Even more surprising was finding out about the life we created from our love.
Shaking away those memories, I concentrate on Liza, who is eyeing me carefully. Finding my voice, I explain. “He never loved me though, not like he said he did. He moved on.” I leave it at that as I fight back my emotions. How could he truly love and then leave?
“You and Ace need to get together and see if you can both help one another move past it all.” Hearing her say this, I’m baffled because she is being sincere.
Seriously, there is no way I’m sharing my life with a stranger.
“Not happening, let’s get out of here.” I stand up a bit mortified.
With a wave of my hand at Tristan, we head back home. My phone rings in my purse. Holding it, I glance and see it’s Nick calling. He always seems to know when I need him the most. Over the years he’s been the one to calm my nerves. He just understands