The Turning Point

CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN - A LITTLE MISUNDERSTANDING

Heloyse

We stood there, motionless, our chests rising and falling as we tried to catch our breath.

Seconds later, he pulled out of me and, without a word, drew me close. We stayed in each other’s arms for a long time, breathing in the silence that filled the room.

We needed that moment.

We missed gestures like that.

“I could never stop loving you,” I murmured against his warm skin.

He let out a deep sigh before asking, “Then why the hell did you go back to Michael if you still love me?”

My eyes opened slowly.

“What?”

Will pulled away slightly, his gaze serious.

“Why are you with him? I don’t doubt how you feel about me, but I still want to understand. What made you go back to him?”

“Will…”

“How long have you two been together?”

He sat at the edge of the bed, still naked, legs dangling off the side as he ran a hand through his hair, pushing it back.

I frowned, leaning slightly toward him.

“Where did you get that idea?” I asked, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

His eyes were filled with confusion.

“I went to your house, and some woman said you were somewhere else. She gave me an address, and when I got there, I saw you holding a child.”

My lips parted in surprise, but he continued.

“Then that idiot Michael showed up…” He paused, inhaling sharply before going on. “And then you said, ‘Go with Daddy.’ The little girl cried as she left your arms, and he looked clearly uncomfortable with me being there. I don’t get it.”

I smiled, sitting up and pulling my dress over my body, crossing it in the front since the buttons had been torn off.

“The woman you saw was Ashley. She stopped by my house to pick up some tablecloths. Today is Julie’s birthday—Michael’s daughter. I was helping with the preparations. Besides, Julie is like a niece to me. Alice, his wife, had gone out to buy the candles she’d forgotten.”

Will got up and walked to the window, running a hand through his hair, still facing away from me.

I approached him slowly, watching as he broke into a smile.

Then he turned to me, still smiling, cupping my face before pressing his lips to mine in a long, deep kiss.

“You have no idea how relieved I am. I thought you’d built a family with him. Damn! I was starting to feel guilty for sleeping with you.”

I laughed at the sheer relief on his face.

“No other man could ever touch me when both my body and soul belong to you.”

He pulled me into his arms, still naked, murmuring, “You people are weird.”

“Why, cowboy?”

He raised an eyebrow, tilting his head to the side.

“He’s your ex, and you get along with his wife? And on top of that, you help take care of their daughter?”

“Yes, it’s strange. But it’s not unheard of,” I replied with a smile. “I learned to respect Michael as a friend. And I learned to love Alice. We became close.”

“How did that happen?”

“Alice was pregnant with Julie. One day, she tripped and fell down the stairs. I happened to be driving by when I saw her coming out of the house, struggling to walk, holding her belly, and crying for help.”

Will’s eyes gleamed with a mix of surprise and admiration.

“You helped her, didn’t you?”

“I did. There was no one else home. Michael was at work, and Erick had gone out with some friends. I was scared, Will. She could have lost the baby, and I would’ve done anything to keep that from happening.”

He pulled me into his arms, wrapping me in a warm, secure embrace.

“I’m proud of you, Lisy,” he murmured against my hair. “I imagine they care about you a lot.”

“And I care about them. I can see how much they love each other. They always have, despite the years apart. Michael and I were never meant to be together because I know life intended something else for me. For us. A love that time can’t erase.”

Will brushed his fingers gently over my face.

“My sunshine.”

I smiled, my heart swelling at the nickname I adored.

After a moment, he asked, “Does he know?”

“Yes. He overheard me telling Alice about us.”

Will nodded, as if things finally made sense.

“That explains the way he looked at me. Not that it matters.”

“He has no right to judge you. Besides, it’s my life. And the only thing that matters to me is being with you.”

The torn fabric of my dress slipped open, revealing the top of my breasts.

Will’s eyes darkened, and in one swift motion, he pulled me back into his arms. Our lips crashed together, hungry and desperate, and minutes later, we were back in bed.

In the car, his hand rested over mine on my thigh as we talked about the ranch. The atmosphere was light, peaceful.

I hadn’t felt this way in a long time.

Before we left, he had stopped by a store and bought me a new dress. It was nearly the same color as the one I had worn earlier—only without buttons and far more elegant.

Will pulled up in front of Michael’s house and stepped out, walking around to open the door for me.

“Why don’t you stay?” I asked, looking up at him.

His gaze flicked to the house, and that’s when I saw Michael standing at the door, watching us.

“Better not.”

I nodded. “Alright, then.”

Will took my hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to my fingers.

“I want to see you tomorrow. Can I come by?”

I smiled. “Of course.”

He gave me one last lingering look before getting into the car and driving away.

Michael was holding Julie in his arms, and as soon as she saw me, she beamed.

“It’s him, isn’t it?” Michael asked bluntly.

I turned to face him. “Who?”

“Just answer me, Lisy.”

I exhaled slowly.

“You already know it is.”

Michael clenched his jaw.

“How can you be with that guy after everything?”

I rolled my eyes. “He didn’t do anything.”

“There’s no way to see it differently! That idiot hurt you, and—”

My expression hardened as I cut him off.

“If you keep going, I’ll walk out of your house and never come back. I don’t want you judging him. Will never hurt me. It was an accident. One that didn’t just hurt me—it hurt him too. He suffered, Michael. Just like I did.”

Michael stayed quiet for a moment. Then he took a deep breath, adjusted Julie in his arms, and turned away.

“Come on. We’re about to sing happy birthday.”

And without another word, he walked into the house.