The Bridge

Chapter 26

Eric

"Lia! Baby talk to me.." We were on the phone and I was trying get some form of direction from her. Trying to hear her through her sobbing was difficult and was breaking my heart.

"Lia?" I was driving while searching the sidewalks on either side of the road, "OH SHIT!" I swerved to the right narrowly missing a figure in the road. I pushed hard on the brake and my rental car came to a screeching halt. Breathing heavily I tried to regain my composure and opened the car door to see what some stupid asshole left in the middle of the road that almost made me kill myself.

"LIA?!"

I ran as quickly as I could over to her. She was on all fours in a cocktail dress and what had to be six inch heels sobbing uncontrollably with phone in hand.

I lifted her up to stand fixing her dress in the process to ensure her decency, and lifted her head to look at me, "Lia? Why the fuck are you in the street baby?". I cradled her face in my hands and pecked her forehead several times.

"Eric? Wha..wha...what are you doing here?" She managed to get out.

"Don't worry about that right now babygirl, lets get you to the car."

I lifted her body bridal style and walked her to the car and placed her in the passenger seat. I took off my jacket and draped it on her and shut the door. I made my way around the car and got in. Turning on a bit of heat, I adjusted a few air vents so they were directed towards Lia. I plugged the address to the hotel I was staying in into the gps, making a u-turn heading back in the direction from which I came.

Lia was quiet the entire ride and I let her have that peace to gather herself. I parked in the garage and quickly ran to the other side to help her out of the car, offering my hand for stability given the shoes she was currently sporting.

When we finally made it inside my suite, she stood in the middle of the living room hugging herself and slightly sniffling, the jacket I gave her consumed her frame. She held her phone tightly which was consistently chiming but she didn't make a move to view the contact name displayed.

I moved to stand behind her, peeling my jacket from her body. She was so zoned out she just moved as I directed her.

I led her to the bedroom and sat her on the bed then proceeded to dig through my suitcase for a t-shirt she could wear. Helping her out of her clothes I struggled to maintain my composure. I wanted her badly but now was definitely not the time. I slipped on the shirt and went to the bathroom to wet a face towel. Squatting in front of her I gently removed what little makeup she wore. She was so beautiful without it.

Leaning up to kiss her forehead once more I scooted her back further onto the bed and and tucked her under the covers. She was asleep within minutes and I was thankful I could offer her some peace.

The chiming of her phone became increasingly bothersome so I checked to see who it could possibly be. Aubrey. A smirk graced my lips.

"Hello?" I calmly answered.

"Aye who dis?"

"Eric."

"Eric?! Yo nigga what you doin' with my girls phone? If you fuckin touch her imma kill you!"

"Nigga calm yo ass down, you aint bout to do shit! From what I heard from Lia, she ain't-"

"Where my girl at!" He cut me off, his voice bellowed loudly into the receiver causing me pull it slightly from against my ear.

"Is that her?!...Let me talk to her!" I heard a frantic female voice that sounded a lot like Aris'. I was still pissed that bitch interrupted what Lia and I had going on. Lia tasted so fucking good a nigga could live off that shit. I can only imagine how she feels.

I don't even know why I bothered answering the call. I just wanted to fuck with his ego a bit but I was already growing tired of the conversation. It was taking away precious time I could be spending with Aurelia.

"Lia is here wit me, no need to worry playboy I'm taking good care of her!"

"Detroit?!" I laughed at his confusion.

"She went back home?!" Aris' voice cut in faintly.

"Nah, nigga we still in yo funky ass city!" I smiled.

"Put Lia on the phone now!"

"Nah, I ain't gon do dat, she sleep right now."

Hanging up the phone, I placed it on silent mode a
setting it on her nightstand and crawled over top of her to the side I would be sleeping on. Cupping her waist I pulled Aurelia into me and held her tightly, my nose taking in the floral scent of her hair.

"Mmm...night babygirl." I whispered and drifted off into a content slumber.

Aurelia

I woke to the sun shining through the blinds. I was feeling a bit drowsy still, it had been a long night. A crazy ass night. I was trying to think back at how everything had gone so wrong in a matter of a day or so. I could barely even process everything I was going through in regards to Aubrey and now...Eric. How did he even find me? So many thoughts were clouding my mind that I was developing a major headache.

I turned over in Eric's arms and watched as he slept. He wasn't the most beautiful sleeper I have ever seen but he was handsome nonetheless. I could stare at Aubrey for hours as he slept. I miss him.

"I can feel you staring at me," he smiled with his eyes closed.

"Yeah I am", I spoke with a whisper.

"How are you feeling baby?" He opened his eyes finally and brushed a few misplaced curls out of my face.

"I'm...I don't know." I closed my eyes and sighed, "In this moment, I am thankful that you are here but...what ARE you doing here and how did you even find me?"

He chuckled a bit and I opened my eyes once more to view him smirking, "I didn't like how our conversations were going and I was just worried about you altogether," he stroked my cheek with the back of his hand, "I just had this gut feeling that you needed me and ole dude being who he his here..." he rolled his eyes "that party wasn't hard to find...when I didn't see you...I panicked so I drove around a bit hoping to find you."

"...you almost ran me over." I laughed.

He shook his head and chuckled, "...I almost ran you over...I don't know why we are laughing. That could have gone poorly."

I nodded in agreement, "it could have."

We both grew quiet for a moment just taking each other in.

"You really flew here for me?" I asked staring into his brown eyes.

"I really did...I want you Lia, I have always wanted you. Whatever I have to do to prove that to you baby...I will."

"Anything huh?

His gaze turned intense.

"Anything."