Saving Easton Read online

  He looks down at the ground.

  "I was drunk, and it got out of hand."

  "She's your sister, and you used to kick guys’ assess just for cursing around her. God forbid anyone asked her out, you’d kicked their ass to the curb. People had to choose being friends with you or having a chance to date Paisley. Good guys too that weren't there to take advantage of her, but genuinely liked her." I snap.

  "It wasn't my finest moment. I'm surprised she told you about that."

  "We talk, and she tells me a lot. I tell her what I can."

  "What else has she told you?" He says with a smile on his face.

  "That your girlfriend treats her like crap, but you still keep her around, too," I say.”

  Leeland's face gets serious then, but he doesn't say anything, as my phone goes off.

  Paisley: Everything going okay?

  Me: Yeah, we have things to hash out, but it's going as good as expected.

  Paisley: I'm going to head to my parents for a bit. I’ll be over, when he's gone.

  Me: Okay, enjoy your time.

  Leeland is just watching me, so I set the phone down.

  "I know it's been a few years, but you’ve changed," I say.

  "And you don't think it's in a good way."

  "What makes you think that?"

  "Everything about our conversation so far."

  "It's just not the Leeland I used to know."

  "Well, you don't know me like you used, too."

  "You're right, and we are both to blame for that. We didn't fight hard enough for our friendship," I say.

  He doesn't argue, because he knows it's true. We finish our lunch in silence, until my phone goes off again.

  Paisley: Well, Leeland's girlfriend just attacked me at my parents’ house.

  Me: What? Are you okay? Attacked you over what?

  I look up and glare at him. How can he let this woman be around Paisley constantly? Leeland has dumped girls who said one bad thing to Paisley, but I never could have imagined him letting someone treat her like this.

  Paisley: I'm fine. My dad stepped in. And all because I told her she wasn't allowed to go on Leeland's visit to see you. Is Leeland still there?

  Me: Yeah.

  Paisley: Okay, I'm going to go home, have a drink, and take a hot bath.

  Me: Promise you’re okay?

  Paisley: Yes. I’ll call you later tonight after dinner, and after I sort this all out in my head.

  Me: Okay.

  "You know we were friends for a long time, and that means something," I say and Leeland nods. "But Paisley and I are friends now, and she's been my rock. That means more to me. The way you’re letting your girlfriend treat her is bullshit."

  "What are you talking about? Was that Paisley?"

  "Yeah, it was. She went to go visit your parents without the girlfriend around, and she showed up there, attacked Paisley, and your dad had to step in."

  Leeland's face pales. "Is Paisley okay?"

  "She says she is, but I don't think so. Said she's going home to sort it out."

  He sighs and runs his hand over his face.

  "I don't even have your number."

  He gives me his phone, and I put it in mine and send him a text, so he has my number.

  "Listen, we’re different people, and I get that. I haven't made some great choices, but I’ll own up to it. I'm still here for you, and I'm not going anywhere this time," he says.

  "Well, you know where to find me. We can do lunch again."

  He stands up hesitantly.

  "Normally, I'd go for a hug, but..."

  "Please, don't," I say with a bit of a smirk.

  He nods. "Lunch next week sound good?"

  "Lunch next week." I agree.

  I never wished more than I do at this moment, that I could get in my car and go check on Paisley, but I don't think I'd even make it off the Oakside grounds.

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 23

  Paisley

  I couldn't sit around anymore and wait for Easton and Leeland's lunch to be over, so I decide to head to my parents’ house. A little one-on-one time with them seems perfect right now.

  Dad, still being the only one knowing the full story, gives me an extra tight hug, when I walk in. Followed my mom's hug that always seems to make things better.

  "Lee visiting with Easton?" Dad asks.

  "Yeah.”

  "Well, I have to finish up this email. Why don't you go sit on the porch, and your mom and I’ll join you in a few minutes?”

  "Sounds perfect," I say, knowing Mom will make up some sweet tea and find some snacks to bring out.

  I go to the front porch and off to the side is a porch swing. It's my favorite place in the whole world. I can sit here under the shade of the porch and watch the whole world go by. Well, at least the neighborhood. Molly climbs up next to me, and I start rocking us slowly, resisting the urge to text Easton again.

  I read over our messages from last night, when we were just asking each other silly question after question. Favorite foods, music, bucket list items. I'm so lost in reading the texts I don't hear anyone come up on the porch, until I hear Molly’s soft growls.

  "You know you had no right to get between Lee and me," Barbie says, startling me from my thoughts.

  "What?" I ask confused, thinking I missed something.

  "By saying I couldn't go with him to see Easton. You had no right."

  What the hell is this girl’s problem? Why is she so upset over this?

  "The men are there, because they have been injured in action. Easton doesn't do well with strangers, and they were best friends growing up. It took weeks, before Easton was okay to have him visit. If you had shown up, that visit wouldn't have happened at all."

  "Well, that isn't your call," she snaps.

  "Well, actually it is. I’m working with him and Allie, and upsetting him, would push back their care, as well as possibly cause issues with other patients." Even though I know this is a flimsy excuse at best. I might have some pull with Lexi, who might back me up, but that's about it.

  Barbie takes another step towards me, and this is when Molly gets down, sits in front of me, and starts growling loud and threateningly. Without words, Molly is telling Barbie to keep her distance.

  "Lee and I are together, and the sooner you get on board with that the better," she sneers.

  "I doubted Molly once, and I won't do that again. She's a great judge in character or lack of."

  "Listen here, you bitch..." She doesn't get to finish the sentence, because my dad steps onto the porch.

  "It's time for you to leave, Barbie." He says in his stone-cold voice. "You aren't welcome here anymore, so don't bother coming back."

  Barbie's face turns as pink as the Barbie convertible I had as a kid, before she turns and stomps back to her car.

  I slump back into the swing, and my dad takes a chair next to me.

  "How much of that did you hear?"

  "All of it. I saw her walk up just as I was about to step out onto the porch. I was eavesdropping, even though I know I shouldn't have been."

  "Well, I'm glad you were. I just don't understand why this was such a big deal to her. It's like I suggested he go on a blind date with another girl for how mad she is over it."

  "I'm not sure either. Though, I guess it's nothing to the wrath of Leeland Sutton that I'm going to have to deal with. I love that you’re here sweet pea, but it's probably best you go home, so I can deal with Lee myself."

  "Thanks, Daddy. I think a long bath and some wine are calling my name."

  "Okay, sweet pea." He says, hugging me.

  I get in my car and text Easton what just happened. On my way home, I grab take out from the diner near my house. As I eat and toss the conversation over and over in my head, I feel like I'm missing something.

  After finishing my sandwich and wine, I still have no idea, so I run a hot bath, put my hair up, grab a book, and another glass of wine. I sit the bottle of win
e next to the tub and get in. As I sink into the hot water, I already feel all the tension leave my body.

  I get a few chapters into my book and halfway into the bottle of wine, before my phone goes off. I drain some water and add some more hot water for the third time, before I pick it up.

  Easton: How are you doing?

  Me: Wine-tastic

  Easton: Are you drunk?

  Me: Happily tipsy.

  Easton: You have no idea how badly I wish I could be there for you right now. I'd have shown up on your doorstep the moment your brother left, if I could have.

  I want him here too, more than I care to admit. Maybe, it's the wine, or maybe, it's wanting to forget about the run in with Barbie, or maybe, it's both, but I empty the tub halfway and refill it with some bubbles and more hot water. I lay back and rest my legs on the side of the tub and make sure the bubbles cover the surface of the water.

  I snap a few photos, and then pick one and attach it to my next text.

  Me: I wish you were here, too.

  I'm only slightly disappointed, when I don't get a response right away, so I refill my glass of wine and pick my book back up. I barely get a paragraph in, before a text goes off again.

  Easton: Playing dirty, I see.

  Me: Always.

  Instead of another text, he calls me this time.

  "You knew exactly what you were doing, when you sent that picture, sunshine."

  "Yep," I say, popping the p.

  "How much have you had to drink?"

  "Half a bottle.”

  "A better man would hang up and say good night and talk to you tomorrow."

  "Guess it's a good thing a better man isn't on the phone."

  "Do you want to know how the conversation with Leeland went?" He asks, trying to change the subject.

  "I don't want to talk about my brother or his girlfriend. Don't burst my bubble. There’s one thing I need help with, and if you don't want to help me, I can get off the phone and do it myself."

  He curses under his breath.

  "I'm so damn hard just from that photo and imagining you in the tub."

  "Good. If you were here, you’d be in the tub with me. Nice and wet."

  "I'd have you sit in front of me, so I could run my hands all over your breasts and down between your legs. Do it now. Pretend it's my hands on you."

  I do as he says and take my free hand and rub it over my breasts, and then down the center of my stomach to my core.

  "Mmm, Easton. It feels so good." I moan.

  "Rub your clit for me, sunshine."

  "Are you playing with yourself, too?"

  "Yes. Wishing it was you," he groans.

  "Go slow," I tell him.

  He takes in a ragged breath. "Okay."

  "I wish I was there, feeling you wiggle your ass against me, being able to watch your skin flush right before you come."

  "I wish you were inside me right now. My hand isn't enough."

  "I would ride you so hard, Paisley. I wouldn't be able to be gentle. Years of frustration and watching you walk around in those skimpy bikinis. Years of jacking off to the thoughts of peeling that bikini off of you, and then plunging into you the first time with you screaming my name."

  "Easton!" I'm so close, and I don't want him to stop.

  "I’m not going to be gentle with you. You'd ride my cock hard and fast in that tub. Screaming my name over and over."

  That's what sets me over the edge. My orgasm overtakes me, and I explode, moaning his name. Hearing him cum and groaning my name, only prolongs my spasms. As I float back to Earth, I'm grateful I didn't drop my phone in the tub.

  "Damn, that was hot," I say with a laugh.

  "Yeah, it was." He agrees. "I really didn't call for that to happen. I just wanted to check on you."

  "I know, but I needed it. I'm doing fine, I promise. I'm about to get out of the tub and go to bed, and maybe watch some TV."

  "Will I see you tomorrow?"

  "Molly and I’ll be there."

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 24

  Paisley

  Molly wakes me up by licking my face. I groan and turn over to see it's almost ten a.m. When was the last time I slept this late?

  I sit up, and my head starts pounding. I didn't think I had that much to drink last night, but I remember every dirty word Easton said and groan, because now, I'm turned on again just as much as I was last night.

  Now that I know what he can do with just his voice, I can only imagine what it would be like in person, and that excites me even more. I want everything he said last night. I want the rough him that can't hold back.

  I get out of bed, start the coffee, and pull out a pack of pop tarts, while I feed Molly and Atticus.

  "I really should look at getting another dog or two to train. Atticus is going to be going with Jake full-time soon, and then it's just you and me, Molly," I say.

  It's completely normal for me to have full conversations with Molly as if she understands every word I say. I think she does, even if I can't prove it.

  I'm just starting to feel normal with one cup of coffee in me when there’s a loud knock on my door. Great, I'm still in my PJs, and I need another cup of coffee. At least, I’m in my sweats and t-shirt and not something more revealing.

  Opening my door, I find my brother on the other side. He looks me over, before speaking.

  "Can we talk?" He asks.

  I nod and step aside to let him in. I'm suddenly wishing I had let Easton tell me about their conversation yesterday. What did my brother say, when Easton told him about us? At least, I'd have an idea of how this conversation is about to go.

  "You okay? You look like you just woke up." He says, as we sit down in the living room.

  "It's because I did. I had a date with a bottle of wine and slept, until Molly decided to kiss me awake." I wipe my face again, because I can still feel the slobber on it.

  Lee chuckles and shakes his head. "So, I talked with Easton yesterday."

  "How did that go?"

  "It was tense. He told me a bit about why he was there, but didn't go into detail."

  "He doesn't go into detail with anyone, not even Noah or his doctors. We all think it's what’s holding him back." I shrug.

  "He sang your praises, though."

  "What do you mean?"

  "How you've been there for him and been a help to him. He even chewed me out about how I've been letting people treat you." He looks at the floor.

  I smile, because of course, Easton would say something. He's very protective of those he cares about, always has been. Lee used to be that way, but something changed, while he was in college, and he lost that protective side.

  "He say anything else about me?"

  "No."

  Disappointment hits me. He didn't tell Lee about us.

  ‘Be careful that he isn't using you as a crutch to get better.’

  Brooke's words come back to me again. Maybe, I’m reading him all wrong. Last night, I was more than willing, and he's a guy, and what guy wouldn't take advantage, right? He said himself if he was a better guy, he would have hung up. Guess that was my warning.

  My phone goes off, but I ignore it.

  "Will you be going to see him again?" I ask.

  "Yeah, we’re having lunch again next week. He also admitted to taking out the guy who attacked you."

  "Yeah, I had brought Allie to him to take to his appointment and was waiting in his room, when Alec pushed his way in. Easton got there in time and made me promise to always bring Molly. He has Allie full-time now, so I’ll have Molly. For weeks, Molly had been trying to warn us about that guy, and we didn't listen."

  "Dad told me what happened with Barbie when I went over there yesterday."

  I tense up, waiting for whatever excuse he has lined up.

  "I broke up with her. It hadn't been right for a while, and I just kept thinking things would work out. It was just easy."

  "You mean, it was easy to get your dick wet.
" I snap.

  "I'm not okay talking about this with you, but yes, basically.”

  Mumbling under my breath I say, "So, I get put on the back burner yet again. Nothing new I should expect it by now."

  I'm hurt still by Easton putting us on the back burner, so he could reconnect with Lee, and for all the years my parents have backed Lee with the priority to clean up his shit.

  "What?" He asks.

  "Nothing. I'm used to it by now.”

  Lee studies me, and then asks, "Are you sure you’re okay?"

  "I'm fantastic. Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to salvage some of my day," I say, trying to keep my voice even.

  He hesitates only a moment, before standing and turning to leave.

  "If something was wrong, you'd tell me, right?"

  "Oh yeah, because you have shown you care about me so much. You'd be the first I'd tell."

  He cringes, "I'm going to fix this."

  "I don't see how. I’ll see you at dinner next week." I close the door behind him.

  I head to my room and check my phone to see a text from Easton. Not ready to deal with him just yet, I lay back down in bed, and both Molly and Atticus climb in with me, one on either side. Besides, he's probably just wondering, when I’ll be in since I should have been there by now. Heaven forbid I don't show up to help him get better.

  Stupid me for putting my heart on the line, and thinking it was something.

  Chapter 25

  Last night on the phone with Paisley, was one of the hottest nights of my life. Just that photo in the bathtub was enough for me to get rock hard no matter how many times I took care of myself.

  I've been counting down the minutes, until she’s here. Only Paisley was supposed to be here by now. She’s always here by lunch, but she didn't come today. I texted her and got nothing back.

  Her brother was here yesterday, and I know I was supposed to talk to him about us, and I didn't. Did Leeland talk to her? If so, is she upset?

  I try to distract myself by saying she’s just running late, so I watch some TV. Only I don't see the people on the TV, I see Paisley. Allie must sense my unrest and agitation because she comes and lays on my lap.