Fragmented (34 page)

Raleigh’s smile was slow and lazy. “You know, when you’re not being competitive, you can be kind of sweet.”

“Well that must be never,” I quipped with a wry smile. “Because I always win.”

She made no complaint as I carried her the short distance to my bed. Her blonde hair fanned out on the pillow like a golden halo as she lay back in bed. I remained standing, admiring the view. She was so achingly beautiful. I couldn’t wait to lick and kiss and explore every inch of her body.

I was about to pin her body beneath mine when my phone’s ringtone blasted with an incoming call. I groaned at the interruption. Normally I would have ignored the call and let it go to voicemail, but I knew Jerret and Olive might check in on me. If I didn’t answer, they’d probably send in the National Guard. I was waiting on an update on Damien as well. He would survive the stab wound, but he might not the consequences. I’d given my statement to the Memphis police during my stay in the hospital, and they’d assured me Damien was no longer my problem.

I’d also called the Henderson’s to let them know what had happened, and Mr. Henderson was working in tandem with MPD to construct the case against my brother. Mr. Henderson would finally get to do some real police work I thought to myself with a rueful smile.

“I should probably get that.”

Raleigh stuck out her bottom lip in protest, but nodded her
understanding. I was sure she sensed the phone call’s importance if it was distracting me from her half-naked form.

The number itself wasn’t familiar, but I recognized the Memphis area code. “Hello?”

“Harper!” My mother’s voice rang out on the other end of the phone. “I had to call and apologize.”

“Apologize? For what?”

“I was so rude the other day when you visited. I never asked how your dinner with the Spanish Ambassador went.”

I couldn’t help the laugh that bubbled up my throat.

Raleigh arched an eyebrow at me and my reaction.

“It’s my mom,” I told her.

The wistful, bittersweet smile she gave me practically had my heart exploding in my chest. There would be no more secrets between us, and it felt better than I ever could have expected.

Alternate Ending

http://www.elizalentzski.com/fragmented-alternate-ending

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Eliza Lentzski is the author of lesbian fiction, romance, and erotica including
Don’t Call Me Hero, Winter Jacket 2: New Beginnings, Apophis: A Love Story for the End of the World, Winter Jacket, Second Chances, Date Night, Diary of a Human, Love, Lust, & Other Mistakes
, and the forthcoming
Winter Jacket 3
(May 2015). She also publishes urban fantasy and paranormal romance under the penname E.L. Blaisdell. Although a historian by day, Eliza is passionate about fiction. She calls the Midwest her home along with her partner and their cat and turtle. 

Follow her on Twitter, @ElizaLentzski, and Like her on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/elizalentzski) for updates and exclusive previews of future original releases.

http://www.elizalentzski.com