Tethered (Book Two of The Invisible String Series)

Hangovers, Flannel Shirts, and Great Loves

"Lizzie?"

The sound of Y/N's mother's voice pulls me out of my dark thoughts, and I realize that I've just been sitting here, staring down down into my still-full cup of coffee. "Sorry. I'm fine. I was just...thinking."

The older woman raises an eyebrow as she closes her book, placing it on the table in front of her before reaching out to grasp at my free hand, giving it a tight squeeze. "How are you doing, by the way? Y/N doesn't really talk about what happened that much, but last she told me you were talking with someone about it."

"I'm okay. Therapy has been great. I think it's really helping. Sometimes it just kind of hits me, and I realize just how bad things could have gone."

Y/N's mother squeezes my hand once again, giving me a sad smile. "I know how you feel. I still have nightmares about it, about getting that call that she was hurt. And after losing Y/N's father the way that we did..."

The older woman trails off, and I instantly flip my hand over so I can return her earlier comforting gesture of a hand squeeze. "But she's okay. That's what my therapist has me remind myself, that she's still here. We didn't lose her."

I don't know how long we sit there, just holding each other's hand, but eventually Y/N's mom lets out a sigh and pulls away, giving me another smile. This one is much brighter than before, and it instantly reminds me of the way Y/N herself smiles sometimes. "She should still be outside if you want to go look for her. She should have enough wood cut by now."

Taking the invitation, because I just feel the overwhelming need to hug my girlfriend right now, I simply nod and stand from the table, making sure to dispose of my empty coffee cup in the sink before I start towards the door that leads outside.

Sure enough, as soon as the screen door closes behind me, I can hear the sounds of an axe splitting through wood and I follow them around the side of the house until Y/N's form comes into view. I'm not prepared though for the sight before me, of my girlfriend dressed in a pair of old jeans and a plain flannel shirt, swinging the axe over her shoulder in a single, swift movement that has the wood splitting in half. It's obvious she's done this before, and with every swing I can see the muscles of her biceps flexing under her shirt. Combine that with the sweat beading across her forehead and I swear my heart just stops beating right then and there.

I've always found Y/N to be highly attractive. Ever since the moment I met her all those months ago, when I'd stumbled into Scarlett's trailer only to find her there, I thought she was breathtakingly beautiful. And that only aided my attraction towards her, which has steadily climbed since we've been together. But I can't deny that seeing her like this- it's doing things to me.

I suddenly don't feel the coldness that had been seeping into my bones, because it feels like I've been placed in the middle of a July LA heatwave.

She's hot.

Before Y/N can take another swing, and before I can further melt into a pool of desire just by watching her, she glances over at me and smiles brightly. That does nothing to help my situation, though, as that goofy smile of hers only makes my heart thunder inside my ears at a high volume.

I'm terribly head over heels in love with this woman.

"Hi, babe! How long have you been standing there?"

Not nearly long enough.

"Just a few minutes."

Y/N lets the axe fall down to rest against the ground before leaning her weight on the handle, her eyebrows pulling together as her eyes rake over me. "You look flustered."

Oh, am I? I hadn't noticed.

I try to wave her concern off, using the movement to place my hand on my chest, hoping that it will help me reign everything back in, otherwise I'm genuinely concerned I'm going to demand that she just take me right here, right now. "It's just the hangover. Thank you for the aspirin and the water, by the way. You didn't have to do that."