Free The Exception by Sandi Lynn

to happen. Did I regret it? No. Not in the least. Come tomorrow, we’d part ways with only the memory of this night and the journey I was on would continue. I wrapped my leg around him as his strong muscular arms held me. Grant rarely held me after sex and it was something I was used to. But this. Being wrapped around Drew’s body was something I liked. I felt secure and safe in his arms. Something I never knew I desperately needed.
    The next morning, when Drew’s alarm on his phone went off, his arms tightened around me.
    “Good morning,” I spoke as I looked up at him.
    “Good morning. I need to go. I have to get packed and head to the airport.”
    “I know.”
    “Hand me your phone,” he spoke.
    Reaching over to the nightstand, I grabbed my phone and handed it to him.
    “There. You have my number. If you ever need anything or need help, please call me. I can be wherever you are in a flash.”
    “Thanks. But I’ll be okay.”
    “I know you will be. But you have it just in case.” He kissed the top of my head and climbed out of bed.
    After he got dressed, I walked him to the door.
    “I had a great time last night.” He smiled as his hand swept over my hair.
    “I did too.”
    “Good luck on your journey. I hope you find yourself and the happiness you deserve.”
    Taking hold of his hand, I pressed his palm against my lips.
    “Good bye, Drew.”
    “Good bye, Jillian.” His lips softly kissed mine and he walked out the door.
    Suddenly, it felt like all the air had left me and I couldn’t breathe. Sinking down to the ground, I brought my knees up to my chest and tightly wrapped my arms around them. Tears started streaming down my face and I didn’t know why. Confusion set in and, suddenly, I was afraid. Picking myself up off the floor, I took a shower, dressed, and headed to Ano’s house to say goodbye. When I arrived, all he needed was to take one look at me to know something was wrong.
    “You’ve come to say goodbye, Jillian, but you seem so sad.”
    “I messed up, Ano. I slept with someone last night and it wreaked havoc on my emotional well-being.”
    “The man from the plane?” he asked as we sat down.
    “Yes. He left today to go back to wherever he calls home and the minute he left, I started sobbing.”
    “Do you know why?”
    “I don’t know; that’s the thing.”
    “Do you have feelings for this man?” he asked as he placed his hands on mine.
    “Yes, no. I don’t know. All I know is that when he held me, for the first time in my life, I felt safe.”
    “Ah.” He slowly nodded his head. “You discovered that you need safety.”
    “But I always thought I felt safe.”
    “Your perception of safe and the reality of it are two different things. It’s natural for a child to feel safe in the company of their parents because they are supposed to protect us. It wasn’t until you shared a special connection with that man that you realized you never felt it. Remember what I told you about your journey. You need to be fearless because every road you travel on will bring something about yourself that you didn’t know or realize. Now it’s up to you to take what you realized and find safety within yourself.”
    “How?”
    “You’ll figure it out along the way. You’re a strong and smart woman. Don’t underestimate your strengths.”
    I got up from my chair and gave him a hug.
    “Thank you, Ano. I better get going. I still have to pack and get to the airport.”
    “Take care, my child. Don’t be a stranger.”
    I gave him a smile as I kissed his cheek.
    “I won’t be.”
    Heading back to the hotel, I gave a lot of thought about what Ano said. My whole life had been spent being around people who controlled me, and now that I was alone, what I thought I knew I didn’t really know at all.

Chapter Thirteen
    Drew
     
    “Thanks, Randall. I’ll see you in the morning,” I spoke as I climbed out of the Bentley.
    Walking up the steps of my townhouse, I saw my next door neighbor and