Free Impossibly Love by Shane Morgan Page A

husband.
         “You kids have
fun,” Ashton smiled cunningly. He whispered something to Branden and squeezed
his shoulder before hurrying off to the car.
         Branden and
I stood quietly as his family drove off. Now that I was categorized as a
friend, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to say to him. Though, I partially caused
that on myself for pushing him away so much.
         “So, this is
your turf, where do you wanna go?” he finally broke the silence.
         I shrugged,
peering around us. “Um, there’s a little park over there. Maybe we could sit
for a while?”
         He allowed
me to lead the way, falling in step beside me.
         When we got
to the park and sat on one of the benches, I resisted the stimulating effect of
Branden’s spicy and masculine scent, not letting the intensity of the lavender
and musk get the best of me. “So,” I searched my head for something to say,
playing with my hands and keeping my eyes away from his.
         “So,”
Branden repeated, “you seemed a bit out of breath before, were you running to
catch up with me?” he teased. Damn him for noticing.
         I shook my
head. “No, um, actually I run on weekends, during the…evenings…as in for
exercise.”
         Branden
smirked, “Oh really? That’s interesting, because I’ve never seen someone run in
such stylish attire.”
         I stayed mum.
         He hung over
and cracked his knuckles while gazing at me. “I’m glad I’m here with you
tonight, Moya. I really wanted to see you.”
         I gulped.
Forget not wanting to let myself go. It had to be now. I had to tell him how he
was making me feel. “Branden, I…” I couldn’t find the courage to say it.
         He sat up
and waited patiently. When I wouldn’t continue, Branden shifted closer to me
and cupped my hands into his. “You don’t have to say anything. I’m alright
sitting next to you like this. It’s comforting.”
         I didn’t
pull away. And we didn’t utter a single thing up until Branden left me at my
house and took the taxi back to the Inn where his family was spending the
night. Not sure what, but Branden’s right. There was definitely something growing
between us.
     
    Light flickered through the window
from the living room as I entered my house. Momma was home from work. She liked
watching television in the dark.
         Momma called
out the second I walked through the front door, “Moya?”
         “Yeah, Momma,
it’s me,” I replied, gliding into the room to sit down on the crimson sofa
beside her.
         “Hey, baby
girl,” she greeted me, rubbing my arm as I placed one of the yellow-orange,
striped accent pillows on my lap.
         Slipping off
my shoes, I settled my bare feet on the warm carpet and made myself more
comfortable. “How was work?” I asked,
         Momma
brushed back my curls as she said softly, “Not bad. It was a good day. Went out
with Nessa?” she asked.
         I kept my
eyes away from hers and on the television, where she was watching an episode of Scandal . I didn’t want to tell Momma about Branden. There wasn’t
anything to tell. Not yet. Not until I sorted out whatever it was that I’d
suddenly started to feel for him.
         “No,” I
said, glancing back at her. “Just went out for a walk by myself.”
         Momma leaned
her head while regarding me with concern in her eyes. She reached over and
squeezed my hand. “Is there something bothering you?” she asked. “People
usually go for walks when they have a lot on their minds.”
         I smiled to
reassure her. “No. There’s nothing. I just needed some air.”
         She relaxed
her gaze on me then, gracing me with the heartwarming smile I loved so much.
“Well, if you ever want to talk, I’m here, baby girl.”
         I nodded in
a way to say ‘I know’.
         Getting even
more at home, I sat Indian style on the sofa as I watched the rest of the show
with