Love Scars - 5: Covered Read Online Free Page B

voice, low and strong and kind in my ear. The feel of his hands on my waist. His kisses on my neck. How utterly safe I felt when I realized it was J.D. beside me in the tree house. I’m here.
    But he wasn’t here. I’d had a glimpse of heaven, and it turned out to be a lie. I told him to get out, and he got out. According to Brad, J.D. wasn’t even in California anymore.
    Stop. I told myself. This ends now. No more self-pity.
    “Lisa?” Brad was in my bedroom. I’d left my bathroom door slightly ajar. I turned to go tell him she was with her mother, but he kept talking. “I’m glad I caught you alone for a minute.”
    I froze.
    “Brad, you look…good.” She was out there.
    “You look beautiful, Lisa,” Brad said. “You always do, but especially…well. I just wanted to say I’m so glad I know you. You’re funny and kind and sweet. I think you’re the loveliest woman on the planet. I always feel better being in the world, knowing you’re here too. Oh, god. I’m rambling….”
    “Brad, that’s sweet of—”
    “Oh, Lisa.”
    The room went silent with the unsilent silence of two people kissing.
    After at least a full minute Lisa said, “Brad, no. I can’t.”
    “God, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” Brad said. “I—I hope Frank makes you as happy as you deserve.”
    The bedroom door closed. I hesitated behind the bathroom door. Maybe Lisa would leave and never know I’d heard everything. But a horrendous sob filled the air. She was sitting on the side of the bed, stunned. A tear ran down her cheek, dragging a black trail of mascara with it.
    “God, Leese,” I said. “I didn’t mean to listen. I didn’t know what to do.”
    “Nora.” She grabbed my hand.
    The door flew open and Stacey breezed into the room flushed with happiness. “It’s almost time !” The Mason Brewer campaign must be going according to plan. She frowned at me, sitting next to Lisa in my bra and panties. “Nor, what are you doing? Put your clothes on.”
    “Excuse me.” Lisa jumped up and rushed to the bathroom while Stacey helped me into my dress and zipped me up. As Lisa came back with her mascara fixed, Frank stuck his head in the door.
    “Frank, what are you doing?” Lisa looked horrified. “ It’s bad luck to see me in my dress.”
    “I won’t stay, baby doll.” He pushed the door open wider and stood there holding the handle. “I just want to tell you how much I love you. I’ve been waiting forever for this day. I want you to know I’m going to dedicate the rest of my life to making you happy. You're my world, Lisa.”
    He blew her a kiss and winked at me and Stacey. Then he disappeared down the hall.
    I couldn’t help thinking Frank must have seen Brad leave the room, and he’d come to check up on Lisa. I couldn’t even guess what she was thinking.
    “What a doofus, but we love him,” Stacey said. “I’ll go find your dad, Leese. It’s time.”
    I closed the door after Stacey left and gave Lisa a hug. “She’s right about Frank. We do love him.”
    “He never said it, you know,” she said. “He never said he loved me.”
    She wasn’t talking about Frank.
    We mustered in the kitchen and proceeded out the deck down to the lawn. I scanned the guests seated in fold-out chairs as I followed Stacey up the aisle, wishing she’d go a little slower.
    The groom’s side was as full as the bride’s, but I only recognized Frank’s parents and the DJ from our end-of-semester party who worked at the equine center. For the processional music, she played Eddie Vedder’s Longing to Belong .
    I did know a few people on Lisa’s side, her parents and some people from the restaurant. Dr. Barton and his wife had come. Jane Marks was there with an amazingly gorgeous date. Go Jane! Cindy gave me a little wave. I guess she thought we were buds now. She nodded at Brad, standing beside Frank’s brother and mouthed wow .
    Wow was right. Brad looked amazing in a tux . With his black-rimmed glasses, he made me