Twenty-Three

Brian

Ididn't want to burden Lizzie with the information I had gotten from the kid on Halloween, so for a week I'd just been sitting on it, trying to figure out the best way to go about solving the problem. How do I fix this without making things worse for Milo?

The saying snitches get stitches rang in my head as I thought about going to the principal myself, or better yet, Sawyer. But would that then make things worse for Milo, even though he wasn't the one to tell me anything? And why was Billy Irving even bullying Milo in the first place? Surely it would have to be Sawyer's doing. A kid doesn't just hate someone on sight. I hope.

I sighed as I leaned back against my office chair, hanging my head over the top as I dragged my hand down my face like I could pull this emotion off me. My gaze was fixed on the ceiling when I heard a light tap on my office door. Schooling my features, I sat back up, trying to appear busy as the door slowly opened.

"I'm heading off. Gotta get the kids. I'll see you tonight, right?" She stared at me expectantly, as if telling her no would break her into pieces.

"You couldn't stop me." I winked at her, hiding all the stress behind a perfectly curated smile. A smile that could even fool the great Lizzie Wallace…Foster.

"Good." With that, she left my office, leaving me to my thoughts again.

I think it's time I talk to Sawyer. Fuck it.

Before I could convince myself otherwise, I grabbed my keys, and after a few minutes, headed out myself. With the weather getting cooler, I decided to take my Harley to work for the last time before I stored it for the winter. I am not that big of a masochist.

You could hear me coming from a mile away, and I was glad for it when I pulled up to Sawyer's house. Sawyer was used to a life of luxury in high school due his parents' wealth. It was why he and Lyle were friends. Their parents ran in close-knit circles. Sawyer was always at Lyle's side, appearing to be his best friend, at least until Lizzie and I found out that — just like his relationship with Danielle — it was fabricated.

Nowadays, Sawyer could be found in a small, single-wide trailer in the small mobile home complex. He was bitter for it, the way his parents cut him off after he dropped out of college. Things weren't as easy for him once Lyle stopped being his friend. Maybe that's why he was having his son take it out on Milo. Whatever the case, it would stop now!

I kicked the stand out, parking the bike on the paved road outside his trailer, and took my helmet off. The trailer was in good condition, no chipped paint or damaged siding. The windows were clean and Sawyer maintained his small yard well enough. It was obvious he was trying to keep up appearances despite where he ended up. Not that a trailer was the worst place to live, but compared to the literal mansion he lived in, it was a downgrade.

I marched to his door, thinking of only the pain his child caused my own…I mean Milo. Releasing a heavy breath from my flared nostrils, I banged on his door to remind him I was here, as I had seen him peek through the window when he'd heard the bike. It was hard to ignore it when it was outside of your house, always causing curious looks through windows. It was why I was happy I brought it. He showed me he was home, and now he couldn't take it back, forcing him to answer the door.

It took longer than it should have, but eventually I heard the slide of the chain lock and his door cracked open. His sandy-blonde hair was well groomed, each hair meticulously placed in its spot, slicked to the side in a business-like style. His light brown brows furrowed over his olive eyes as he took me in.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" he scoffed. Clearly, eighteen years had done little to the grudge he held against Lizzie and I.

"Can I come in? We need to talk about your son." It wasn't a question as I pushed my way past him before he could answer. He didn't have an option when it came to having this conversation.

My eyes scanned the small living room, seeing everything was neatly organized. The glass coffee table had not a single smudge, despite a small child living here. His living room looked more staged for sale than an actual lived-in space.

"Sure. Come on in." He rolled his eyes as he closed his door, annoyance clear in his tone.

"I have one very serious question for you, Sawyer." I turned to stare him right in the eyes, to show him just how grave the situation was.

"And it required a home visit?" He lifted his brow along with his chin, trying to make himself appear taller than he was. I had passed his height senior year, and he hated it then just as much as he hated it now.

"Sure did." I crossed my arms, eyes deadly as they narrowed on him.

"Well, ask then." He was ready to be rid of me, and frankly I was ready to leave.

Taking a small, intentional step towards him, I asked my question, "Are you making your son bully Milo Foster?"

The flash of emotions that crossed his face told me just how right I was. He wasn't expecting me to know about it, let alone come to his house and confront him over it. His eyes flashed as he tried to come up with some excuse, or maybe some lie. Hell, maybe he was trying to come up with something snarky to say instead, because Sawyer had never been one to own up to his actions, or his flaws.

"If Milo Foster is having trouble making friends, it's because his father never taught him how to be a good one."

And there it is. His lame-ass excuse.

"This isn't high school anymore, Sawyer." I leaned forward, giving him a spine-chilling glare, sending waves of untold threats toward him as rage promised to consume me.. "Get over it, and get your kid to back off, or you're going to have bigger problems than lack of money."

"Are you threatening me?" He met my movements, coming closer as he didn't back down.

"Damn straight I am!"

"You better watch yourself, Walker. I could press charges."

"I'm sure you could, but I think you know I have friends there, and if that doesn't work, I can go the other way." I alluded to my connection to Frank's old biker gang. The whole town knew about it, but no one ever said anything.

His olive eyes flashed, anger being the clear emotion, yet it was defeat that dominated his features. "You don't get to come to my house and make threats. Billy can do whatever the hell he wants."

"Billy needs to back the hell off, or I'm coming for you! Plain and simple. You got that, Sawyer?" Fire raged from my shoulders as I shot daggers at him, every fiber of my being wanting to just deck him right in the jaw, right here and now. Knowing it would do little to remedy the situation, and only make it a thousand times more complicated, I refrained.

"All I got was that Milo doesn't know how to make friends, and for some reason you're blaming my son."

"Because it is your son's fault, and I'm more than certain it was you who put him up to it."

Sawyer rolled his eyes as if I was the one being ridiculous, telling me he wasn't going to own up to it no matter how hard I pressed. I just hoped he'd heed my warning and get his son to stop, because I wouldn't be too upset about going to jail for assaulting this man.

"Say what you want to believe, but get out of my house." He opened the door, hand gripping the knob as he waited for me to step outside. I lingered a moment longer, feeling nothing was accomplished, but noting that staying wouldn't make things better.

As I passed him, I let out one final warning, "Get him to back off, Sawyer, I'm serious."

I marched out, feet practically stomping with every step against the concrete until I got to my bike. I kept my shoulders squared, my back straight, and my head high as I strode, knowing full well Sawyer was still watching me. I hiked my leg over the bike, taking my helmet and placing it over my head. It was hard for my mind not to flash back to the day that started Sawyer's hatred towards our little group.

20 Years Ago

"You can't be serious! With those losers?" My ears picked up the distinct drawling voice of Sawyer Irving, the guy who couldn't stop elongating his vowels, assuming it made him sound smarter when, in reality, it made him sound drunk all the time. Maybe he was. Who knows?

I kept hidden around the corner, knowing if I came out now, they'd all grow silent. I couldn't exactly blend into the background with a blue liberty spike mohawk. My ears perked up more as I heard Lyle respond next, his deep husky voice easy to distinguish by its chipper sound, almost as if you could hear his smile in his very tone.

"Yeah, with them. I thought I told you not to call them that."

"But that's what they are. I mean, come on, man. We're all getting worried about you."

"No need to be worried. I'm good."

I pressed against the wall, listening closely as I came to the realization they were talking about Lizzie and me. Staying glued against the wall, I cautiously peeked around the corner, spotting Sawyer, Lyle, and another one of their football buddies. I couldn't remember his name, blending into the mass of simpleton jocks.

"Dude, you're dating Elizabeth Wallace. You're not okay. What's the bitch got on you?"

My teeth ground at the name Sawyer used to describe Lizzie. I wasn't going to let him get away with it, ready to leap out and make it known. Just as my foot stepped out of the shadows, making my pretense known, the sound of a fist meeting flesh bounced off the walls. Sawyer was on the floor, propped on his elbows as he stared up at Lyle in shock. He'd hit Sawyer so hard that he was still bent over from the force he'd put behind his punch. His fingers were still curled into his palm with an expression void of its usual chipperness.

"Don't ever call her that." Lyle straightened up as he spoke, warning him in the most deadly tone I'd ever heard him use. It sent a shiver down my spine. I couldn't imagine what it did to Sawyer, who was now rubbing his jaw.

"Are you serious right now, Lyle? You're gonna pick them over your actual friends?" Sawyer gestured my way, having been the first to spot me. Lyle looked over his shoulder, causing his face to blanch the moment he spotted me.

"They are my actual friends. They don't use me to get ahead. Lizzie and Brian don't take advantage of me, or try to get popular off me. They're happy being themselves, and I'm lucky that they accepted me, not the other way around. Get it right!"

"You're going to regret this, Lyle." Sawyer was off the floor, walking backwards as he pointed at Lyle with one hand and continued to rub his jaw with the other.

Lyle didn't move, didn't change his demeanor or his pose, staring Sawyer down without a flicker of regret for his actions. I wasn't a hundred percent sure Lyle understood what he had just done. He had publicly announced that he chose Lizzie and me over the football team boys, over the people he'd normally be around.

I can already hear the rumors of cults and brainwashing spreading.

When Sawyer turned down the hall, no longer visible to either of us, Lyle swiveled on his heel to face me. He scratched at the back of his neck the way I noticed he did when he was nervous or unsure of something. His eyes averted from my gaze as he stared at the black baseboard that I was sure was made of some kind of rubber.

"How much of that did you hear?"

I gave him a shit-eating grin as I registered I had something to tease him about. "OH, you know…just that you loooove Lizzie and me," I sang.

Feeling oddly very honored that he had chosen Lizzie and I so easily, I let him really have it. I winked at him and even blew him a little kiss, to which he let out a deep chuckle, all nerves gone. His hand lowered and his shoulders dropped back to their normal position as he gave me that stupid, kind smile of his. I got annoyed at how perfect it was, and how, because of Lizzie, I had noticed it.

She could go on and on about his smile, and not only did it hurt to hear about it, it annoyed the absolute shit out of me. No one wanted to hear the girl they loved so deeply tell them how perfect their boyfriend's smile was, especially when their boyfriend was also their friend.

"Come on, handsome. You can buy me lunch." I continued the joke, needing this moment of not resenting Lyle for doing nothing other than dating her.

"I'll spoil you rotten." He laughed, slapping my ass as he ran.

"Too far, man!" I yelled after him, giving chase as we headed to the cafeteria where Lizzie was probably already waiting for us.

Present

After Sawyer's place, I raced home and locked myself in my room, decompressing by listening to Breaking Benjamin to let my rage out and then switching it to Normal The Kid to mellow out.

Now it was ten at night and finally time for me to see her — my Lizzie. I couldn't wait for the day I could call her fully mine and show her my love for her in all the right ways. She deserved so much more than stolen kisses and window sneak-ins. However, I also knew that she was still healing, and some of the hardest times were yet to come, starting with the holidays, moving to their wedding anniversary, and then the year mark of his death — that one was going to be a killer.

I happily climbed onto her roof, knocking on her window and seeing her jump off her bed with a smile. My eyes must have been playing tricks on me, because for a second I thought she had skipped. Lizzie doesn't skip, except ironically. She opened the window for me, grabbing the collar of my shirt and pulling me towards her, sucking the soul out of me with her kiss before she stepped back to allow me to enter.

"Mmm, someone is in a good mood." I smiled at her, closing the window behind me.

She had a lamp on this time, allowing me to see her better than by just the moonlight through her window. She was so beautiful, with her hair in a messy classic Lizzie bun, the short layers falling around her neck as they couldn't be tied. They waved naturally around the base of her neck, calling on me to play with them.

"Milo said he made a friend today." The way her lips curved to show just how happy she was was absolutely precious.

My heart skipped, elated, yet extremely worried about who this new friend might be. "Really? That's great! Who is it?"

"Oddly enough, Danielle's son, Ryan."

Relief washed over me, worrying that maybe Billy would be the name she uttered. I was paranoid now, worried Sawyer would lash out using his son in a more menacing way. I need to talk to Milo, but I'll have to be careful about it.

"I'm glad he found someone. Crazy that your kids are getting along with hers."

Lizzie let out a singular laugh. "No kidding." A silence fell over us for just a second before her hazel eyes twinkled with mischief and she was whisper-shouting "catch me!"

I silently chuckled as I caught her, feeling her legs wrap around my torso as her arms encircled my neck, one of her hands pressing against the back of my head. Her nose tickled my own as we stared into one another's eyes tenderly. All it took was a singular look to her lips for her to press them against mine, softly at first, and then needy and hungry.

It'd been a minute since we were intimate, as I was leaving all initiation of these activities solely to her. I was on her timetable and I was completely fine with that. I was just happy to be on it.

She pressed her chest up, grazing my chin with her cleavage. God, those tits. Unable to help myself, I tore away from her lips, trailing kisses down her neck to the mounds of her breasts, burying my face between them. A sudden urge to be stupid took over, causing me to literally motorboat her. I caught myself, holding still as I waited for her reaction. A second passed, probably of shock, before she started to laugh.

"Do it again. It actually felt good." She laughed again, a slight tinge of pink on her cheeks from her embarrassment of asking. But she was learning that I liked it when she asked me to do things.

"Gladly."

I buried my face in her bosom and did it again, only this time I ended it by running my tongue between her cleavage and then over the top of her right breast. Her legs squeezed against my sides as she lifted herself up further to feed me more of her boob. I let my hands inch down, holding her by her ass and giving her cheeks a firm squeeze.

"Lay me down now, Brian." Her voice was breathy with need as she commanded me.

"With pleasure." I walked us away from the window to the bed, bending down to lay her gently on the bed. Her legs were still around me, locking me in place above her. "There's gotta be less clothes between us, Lizzie. You're gonna have to let me go."

She shook her head with a single quick raise of her brows as if challenging me to find a way. She has no idea. Accepting her provocation, I hoped she wasn't too attached to her shirt, as I ripped it open. Her breath caught in a gasp, her eyes widening in surprise before a fierce hunger flashed in them.

"Jesus Christ, Brian. Not what I was expecting, but I'm all for it."

I gave her an arrogant smirk as I pushed the torn shirt to the side to expose her milky skin further. Her breasts glowed with a pink hue from her need for me. "Now, are you going to let me take your pants off? Or do I need to tear those too?" Her eyes gleamed with excitement for a moment before I stopped her. "It'll end up hurting you since the fabric is thicker, so choose wisely." I winked at her, seeing her worry at the corner of her lip.

"Ugh fine, I'll take my pants off," she groaned in complaint, "but you're ripping these panties off."

I tried to contain my chuckle, not wanting to be loud for fear the kids would hear us. She let me go, allowing me to quickly take my own clothing off as she slid her pants off. When she was done, she reached out to me, grabbing me by the dick. Her hands glided up and down my shaft in slow, smooth moments, working me up until I was as hard as a rock. Her lips grazed the tip of my cock, parting ever so lightly as she kissed it.

I groaned in pleasure as she spread her lips further and began to suck on just the head of my erection while her hand continued to pump at my shaft. My eyes closed for a moment as I relished the feel of her mouth around me. It wasn't until I remembered exactly whose mouth I had on me that I opened my eyes again, not wanting to miss the sight of her. She caught my gaze, another challenging gleam in her eyes as she started to take more of me into her mouth. I think she was trying to see how much she could do before gagging.

Her tongue wrapped around me, licking as she bobbed her head back and forth. When she started sucking, my eyes almost rolled back from the pure bliss she was bringing me. My hand curled into her hair, grabbing it all and holding it firmly out of the way. The shorter layers escaped my grasp as she increased speed and I started to move my hips, carefully thrusting into her mouth.

I could tell she was willing to finish me off right here, but that wasn't what I wanted. No, I wanted to give her what she asked for — torn panties. I pulled away, seeing her lick her lips as if she were hungry to taste my cum. The thought alone drove my already insatiable hunger for her wild.

I grabbed her by the legs, pulling hard and fast so that she fell back onto the bed. I kissed her leg as I made my way down to her delicious pussy, kissing her inner thigh before I pushed her panties to the side to reveal the other set of lips I loved so much.

My tongue ran across her slit, hearing her arousing moans that only served to stir us both further. "So fucking sweet."

Her panties were a delicate lace material, making it easy for me to stick a finger into the small hole and tear it open over her entrance, creating a slit over her own. She arched her back with need, watching me with hungry eyes as I aligned myself just right.

Pulling her by the hips, I slid her closer to me and the edge of the bed, where I stood against it. "Ready for me?"

"I've been ready."

If only.

I slammed into her with that thought, thinking of all the times — all the ways — I could have had her had I just told her how I felt sooner. Feeling the need to make up for all those nights, I plowed into her as if I could leave my mark this way. She bit back her screams, grabbing onto the sheets beside her and she caged her lip hard between her teeth. Her breasts bounced with each slam of my hips while my balls swung to hit the bottom of her ass.

I wanted to bring her all the pleasure in the world, moving my hands down to her sensitive bundle of nerves. I toyed with her clit as she played with her own breast. If I thought the sex we had before was good, watching Lizzie play with herself made this one the best. Her back arched as her hips swayed viciously against me and the fingers that were playing with her clit. Her muscles tightened as the walls of her sweet pussy clamped around my dick with her orgasm.

I pounded into her as she orgasmed, wanting to keep her going, to ride out this high into the next one. Feeling I would soon cum, though, I pulled out of her, pumping my dick as I climbed onto the bed.

"Open," I demanded, seeing her comply with wanting eyes. My cum shot out of me in long ropes, right onto her tongue. A little missed, sliding down her chin, but she caught it with her finger, licking it clean. I swallowed hard, knowing that when we became more than just this, I would have to take her away for a weekend just so I could have her any way I liked, all day long.

She thought we were done, laying back on the bed and breathing heavily. There was no way I would be satisfied with just one orgasm from her, so I planned to make good on an early promise. I grabbed her by the ankle, making her do a one-eighty on the bed so that her pussy was facing me again instead of her head.

She let out a small yell of surprise, clasping both hands over her mouth to silence herself. "Shh. You'll wake them up." I winked at her, holding back my own chuckle as she glared at me for having caused her to yell.

Her glare quickly changed when my hands pulled at her knees, spreading her legs for me again. "Lizzie, when I make you orgasm, I want to hear you say my name. Got it?"

She nodded, but I waited to hear her say it. "You know, you're lucky you're so good." She rolled her eyes at me, clearly over having to voice everything with me. "I got it."

I got to work, loving the taste of her on my tongue as I slid it across her soaked slit. She played with her tits again as I inserted my tongue, then took it back out to lick her again. I worked on her a while, sucking at her clit at times and maybe even gently smacking it a time or two. She liked that. I made sure to make her not cum too soon, working her up to a big orgasm. When I felt like she was about to break without it, I let her have it, feeling her seize up as she moaned out my name.

It's a sound I will never forget.