Free Forbidden Paths by P. J. Belden

I’ve been forced to give up hope and move on.
    That’s when I met Tami. Tami was an amazing woman. She worked with a friend of mine. We met at a work function and really hit it off. There was a connection between us, but it just wasn’t the same way I felt as when I just heard Lia’s voice.
    Tami had short black hair, whereas Lia has long blonde hair. Tami has brown eyes and Lia has bright blue intoxicating eyes. Is it wrong of me to be with Tami when Lia has always held my heart? Maybe so, but I do care about Tami and we are happy together.
    It’s just a matter of accepting the truth and moving forward. The fact of the matter is that Lia only sees me as a friend regardless of how I feel. She’s never let on that she’s felt any differently.
    “Always the charmer, Leif. What do I owe the honor of your call today?”
    “Honor, huh?” I joke.
    “You know I love you,” she says almost breathlessly.
    My heart stutters in my chest. For a moment I am completely stunned. To hear those words come out of her mouth was indescribable. I just wish she meant them the way I long for her too. Still even though I know it wasn’t real, my mouth spews the words out anyway.
    “I love you too, Lia.”
    It was breathless and as close as I’ll ever get to sharing that moment with her. Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I hear her intake of breath. There is a long pause where neither of us say anything. I wonder if maybe she’s feeling the same thing I am.
    “So, uh, what did you call for?” Lia asks almost sounding choked up.
    “What did I call for… Oh yeah,” feeling stupid. “I wanted to find out if you’ve been able to do what I asked for Friday?”
    “Yeah, I’ve got it all set up. What time should we arrive?”
    “Can you be there around say four? We’re kind of busy tonight and I want Logan to have a full night of enjoyment out of this.”
    “You got him a girl?”
    “Kind of,” I laugh.
    “You didn’t buy him a girl?”
    “I did and I’m hoping she stays all night.”
    “You know that co…”
    “I’m fully aware of what that means and his happiness is worth it.”
    “Okay,” she replies almost sounding hurt. “I was just warning you.”
    “I’m sorry, Lia. I didn’t mean to bite your head off. I’m just so tired of seeing my brother unhappy.”
    “And what about you, Leif? What are you waiting for? You deserve happiness too.”
    “Have you ever fallen for someone you can’t have?” I whisper.
    “Yeah, it’s the reason I won’t date. Not fair to only give a part of myself when the other gives their whole self.”
    Nodding as if she can see me. “Well, I thought the same thing until I realized that if someone can love that part of me that’s left enough it might be able to make me happy. So I’m trying that.”
    “You’ve never stepped forward with the person you’ve fallen for and told them?”
    Why was she so damn curious all of a sudden?
    “I’ve hinted at it, but there’s too much to lose if she doesn’t feel the same.”
    “Maybe she feels the same way you do and won’t speak up?”
    “Lia are you tr…”
    “Did you get whatever you needed in the…” he looks around with a smirk on his face. “In the baby aisle?”
    Looking around, it was the first time I register any of my surroundings. Shit!
    “I’ve got to go. I’ll see you at four tomorrow.”
    Hanging up the phone, I look at a laughing Logan. It was good to see him laugh even if it was at my expense.
    “Okay so I needed to make a phone call that you couldn’t hear,” I confess.
    “I was about to ask what you and Tami have been up to,” he laughs.
    “Hardy har har… bastard. Let’s just go. Do we have everything?” I grumble.
    “Wow, somebody’s good mood has vanished,” Logan observes.
    Shaking my head and the mood that phone call puts me in, I smile at him. “Let’s go brother. We’ve got company coming soon.”

Chapter Eight
    Faith
     
     
     
     
    This was my last time.
    Wow…
    I will