Page 70 of How We Fooled

“So, why did you move here then?” Sarah asks.

“I didn’t know we would be like this when we started dating.”

“Will he come to visit?” Tara chimes in.

“He’s still in school. Last year though. So, we’ll see what happens after he graduates,” I respond truthfully, knowing they are thinking college, just like I did at first.

“I was long-distance with my husband for nine months,” Janie says with a sigh. “It’s not easy. We made it through though.”

“Really?” I raise my eyebrows with hope.

“Girl … I wouldn’t go back to my twenties if you paid me.” She laughs. “I feel for you. Navigating life with what you want and what he wants is tough. We figured it out though. Been married five years now.”

By my guess, these three are in their mid-thirties, all married, and I know Sarah has a little girl. I feel like that’s so far away, but really, I know my life will get there soon. I just pray Eli is in it still.

“Come on. Let’s get you a drink,” Sarah says, waving her hand to get the attention of the waitress.

“Just have faith,” Janie says. “If it’s meant to be, it will be.” She gives me a heartfelt smile that I return with a small nod.

“You’re right. I need a drink,” I respond with finality.

If I can’t have Eli wrap me in his arms, I’ll take the liquid replacement instead.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Eli

The torture of not being able to hold her was getting to be too much, so I finally convinced her to take a trip with me. We have the entire weekend planned in Billings. It’s far enough and big enough that no one will know us and no one will care what we’re doing together.

Yes, I had to lie to my parents, telling them I was going to spend the weekend with one of my teammates from the national team. I feel bad doing so, but getting to spend some alone time with Liza is all I can think about, and I’ll literally go insane if I don’t get to kiss her again.

We took separate cars, which makes the entire weekend feel that much more salacious. This is taking keeping our relationship a secret to an entirely new level, but I swear it turns me on even more, knowing we get to sneak around like this.

She was a half hour ahead of me and checked in to the hotel already, so I try to walk as calmly as possible through the hotel lobby even though inside I want to act like I’m stealing home right now and racing as fast as I can straight into her arms.

I’m barely able to knock on the door when she swings it open and our eyes meet.

Fuck stealing home. I’m hitting the grand slam out of the park with this beautiful woman.

I rush to her, pick her up, and bring her lips to mine.

“Eli,” she pants, and I swallow her words, needing every aspect of her that she can offer me right now.

We walk until I feel the bed behind her and slowly lower her down upon it.

I run my fingers through her hair as she tugs on my shirt, trying to pull it over my head.

Releasing from her lips is painful, but I know I need to get her shirt off as well, so I reluctantly pull back, tug my shirt over my head, then do the same with hers.

With my palm gripping her waist, I lower my head down, kissing her and rubbing my erection against her core, loving the way she wraps her legs around me, inviting me to continue doing so.

I move my fingers to the top of her jeans, undoing the button then zipper, and start shimmying them down her legs, kissing every inch of her body as it’s revealed to me.

I stand up, grabbing a condom from my back pocket, laying it next to her. We weren’t careful last time, and we were lucky nothing happened, but we can’t risk that again.

She holds it up with a sexy expression. “I’m on the pill.”

My eyes widen in cautious curiosity. “So …” I leave my words hanging there, wondering if that means what I think it means.

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