Page 67 of The Lies Always Told (Baker Oaks #4)

THIRTY-TWO

THAT’S A FIRST

Hold Back The River by James Bay

Gus

This has been the second longest drive of my life.

After Nellie called her parents and told them she was fine and messaging a very angry but understanding Cara, we decided it was time to go back.

We both drove there, but I didn’t want her to drive back alone, so Martin and one of the other drivers headed to the cabin.

I have a very restless Nellie as we approach her home.

She’s looking out the window, her hands tucked under her legs, keeping herself from picking at her nails, I’m sure, but biting her lower lip.

“Are you nervous?” I ask, even though it’s an obvious question.

She nods and turns her face my way as we pull up to her parents’ house. Cara’s van is in the driveway, and as soon as Nellie sees it, she lets out a breath and sinks into the seat.

“It’s going to be okay. Just go with the wave,” I say, touching her necklace, reminding her of the meaning: life comes in waves, some high and some low, but they always reach the shore.

“We do it together, okay?” I grab her hand and bring it to my lips, smiling at her and setting the car to park.

The walk to the entryway of her house feels like a mile long.

She’s dragging her feet and looking down.

I was the one worried about everything before, but now, I just want her to be happy.

I know her parents will want her to be happy too.

Our fingers are intertwined, dancing in a safe hold as we approach the door.

She gets her keys and opens it as she squeezes my hand.

“I’ve got you, Trouble.” We walk through the beautiful farm-style foyer and the swinging doors to the living room, where Cara, Manny, Nellie’s parents, and my mom are all sitting talking. At least, they were talking, because when they see us, a hush falls over them.

“Hi,” Nellie whispers, and Cara runs to her.

“You scared me shitless, Nells!” Cara shouts while hugging her tight, her arms wrapped around Nellie’s neck, cradling her head with her hands. Such a protective hold, but I can see her almost trembling.

“Language!” their mom shouts.

“Sorry!” Cara shouts back.

“I’m okay, I promise,” Nellie whispers.

“Still,” Cara adds without letting her go.

I look up from them and find all the parents and Manny with their eyes on me. I smile softly and shrug. Nellie’s mom shakes her head, and mine smile wider. I mouth “La amo? 1 ” to her, and she replies with a nod. Moms do know it all, it seems.

“Okay, let go now. I’m fine,” Nellie says.

Cara lets go of the chokehold she had Nellie on and then smacks her on the arm. “Don’t ever do that again.” Then, she walks up to me and does the same with mine.

“What was mine for? I just brought her back in one piece.”

“Sleeping with my little sister, Gus?! What the hell?” Cara stands in front of me with her arms crossed, her cheeks red.

Oh, she’s mad. She shares physical similarities with Nellie, like the same height and green eyes, but Cara’s blonde hair makes her skin look lighter.

The anger seeping under her skin shows like a bright pink blush on her cheeks.

“Language, Cara!” their mom says again.

“Let’s have a seat,” I say and walk to the couch with Nellie still holding my hand. I love that she’s making a statement with something so small. We’re in this together, and she won’t let go. God, I love her.

We all take a seat, Nellie and I on the bigger couch and Cara sitting next to Manny.

“Anything you both would like to tell us?” Mom asks, for some reason hiding a laugh behind her smile.

“Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, Mom, Cara”— Nellie interrupts me.

“Oh my God, Gus, you make it sound like you’re about to propose.

Stop. We’re together. He loves me, I love him, it started in April—” Cara gasps, and the parents giggle as Nellie continues “—nobody took advantage of anybody. We’re both consenting adults.

We’re together now. Sorry we kept it from y’all. End of story.”

Manny laughs, and that’s the thing that tips the scale. Everyone but Cara starts laughing too.

“Did I get it all, babe?” Nellie asks me with sass behind her words.

“You forgot that I would never hurt you. I promise that to everyone,” I add, looking around and nodding at her dad when he smiles at me.

“I know this is unexpected, and maybe not what you guys wanted, but the truth is, I fell in love with Nellie the way you fall in love with music—with a note first, then with the whole melody. It was beautiful and loud, like how listening to your favorite song makes you want to dance or sing. I wish I could say it happened slowly, but it didn’t.

One look and a few conversations later, and I knew I was in trouble.

We fought it, we did, because we knew it would be complicated, but that was a battle we were both going to lose eventually.

I love her, and I’m honored she loves me back.

I want to be here for her for everything, and these past few weeks just confirmed it.

I’m sorry we kept it from all of you, but I’m not sorry I get to love her. ”

“We know, sweetie,” Mom says, and with everyone else nodding and smiling, I know it to be true. They knew and they didn’t care. I can feel a million pounds lifting off my shoulders, my hands loosening the tight grip they had on Nellie’s. They know, and they don’t care.

“Why is nobody surprised about this?” Cara looks at everyone and frowns. Manny softens his eyes at her knowingly.

“You all knew, didn’t you?!” Cara shouts. Manny flinches and narrows his eyes at me. For a man who likes to talk as much as he does, he sure is quiet now. I open my mouth to say something, but Nellie’s mom beats me to it.

“Not that they told us, Cara, but it was pretty obvious.” Cara’s mom turns to face us now. “I understand why you wanted to keep it from us, but truly, we’re just happy you two are happy.”

“You’re not mad?” I ask, and she just smiles at us.

“Why would I be? Both my girls ended up with my best friend’s sons. We will never need to fight over grandchildren. We can just have them all running wild and free between our houses.”

“Mom, nobody’s talking children,” Nellie says, and we all laugh .

“One step at a time,” I add. “I would like to date your daughter loudly now, so as long as you’re all okay, I’m happy.”

“Of course, we’re okay. You’re like a son to us, and now you get to be a son-in-law.”

“Mom, nobody’s marrying anyone,” Nellie, clearly annoyed, replies.

“Yet,” I say and look at Nellie, who’s shooting daggers at me with her eyes. “Too soon?”

“Too soon.”

“We’re just happy for you. Hopefully, we can see more of the two of you instead of the sneaking around you’ve been doing.” Cara spits her drink, Manny coughs, the parents smile, and Nellie’s eyes are wide.

“You knew this whole time?” Nellie asks.

“Honey, this is a small town. Even the walls talk,” Mom says.

“I didn’t know anything, and I live here,” Cara pipes in.

“You were preoccupied,” her dad says, and although this is the first time he has said anything, it was the perfect come back, making us all laugh.

“Wait, I get that the elderly don’t want to know how this happened, but I do, so spill. Now,” Cara replies.

“How much time do you have?” Nellie asks.

“As long as you need,” Cara says.

“That wasn’t that bad, was it?” Nellie asks me, her head on my lap.

After telling them how everything developed, leaving out all the filthy details, Cara understood, even thanking me for loving her sister.

Eventually, their parents went to bed, everyone else left, and it’s just us, sitting out back on the porch for a while now .

“I don’t know why I was so afraid they would lose it when they found out.”

“You were in your own head. I know the feeling too well. I think we were just so wrapped in our own fears, we didn’t take the time to be vulnerable, honest, and logical with each other.”

“When did you become so wise?” I ask her, caressing her cheek with the back of my hand. Her skin is so soft, and all I want is to keep my hands on her at all times.

“I was born a genius, don’t you know?”

“A beautiful genius.” She closes her eyes and lets out a sigh.

“I need you to promise me you’ll be okay by yourself tonight.” We’ve been dancing around this all night. Ever since I found her beyond drunk on the couch in the cabin, I haven’t let her out of my sight. Tonight, it’s time.

“I don’t know if I will be,” she replies honestly, eyes still closed and her hand holding mine. She looks so peaceful, as peaceful as she always does, as peaceful as I feel when I’m near her. It breaks my heart that she’s hurting so much.

“I’m safe, though, I promise.” That’s what I wanted to hear. She’s safe. She needed time. She needed to cry. She needed to feel. Now, she can heal. Slowly. A day at a time, and I’ll be here for her every step of the way.

“Are you going to work tomorrow?”

“No, I emailed the principal on Monday. I’m taking the rest of the week off. I can’t in good conscience go to school like this. I am seeing my therapist tomorrow, though. I should have gone weeks ago.”

“Mm, then why don’t you come with me? I could use some company.”

I quirk a brow. “Could you now?”

“Mm-hmm. I get very scared when I’m by myself.” She chuckles, and it’s like music to my ears. I would give anything to always make her smile .

“Is that okay with you?” she asks, but this time, she opens her eyes and looks into mine. Her beautiful green eyes—I’m never going to get tired of seeing them, of looking into them.

“It’s always okay with me, baby girl. I want to sleep by your side every night. I want you to be the last thing I see before I go to sleep, dream about you all night long, and wake up to you tangled with me in my bed.”

“So clingy,” she jokes.

“I’m in love with you. I can’t get enough of you, love. Call me clingy if you want, but that’s the truth.”

“I love you too,” she whispers as she sits up. “Are my clothes still in your drawer?”

“Yup, and your toothbrush on my bathroom sink.”

“Then let’s go. I would love nothing more than to fall asleep in your arms again. I love that feeling.”

“Which one, my love?” I ask. I’m never going to get tired of calling her love, of telling her I love her. Of showing her I do, too.

“Safe. I feel safe with you.”

“You are, Nellie, and you always be. Now, let’s go home.”

1 ? I love her.