Laura's POV

Literally the next day after talking to Chris it felt like the fog was lifted. I could focus again but in the back of my mind I constantly wanted to text him. I wanted to know how his day was going. I'd come up with conversation starters but didn't have the courage to send any. I wasn't allowed to do that. I couldn't intrude.

As promised Will got me a job at the hospital again. It was actually a pleasant surprise to see everyone I worked with, to see everyone who cared for me in my time of need.

A week had past since the wedding. Demi was off in Hawaii. I loved the pictures she was sharing on social media.

I was hanging out with my sisters most of my free time. They would hardly let me take a break since I'd come back. I guess they were afraid I might run off or something.

Jamie would often come eat lunch with me at the hospital. She'd bring me food and coffee, knowing it was my guilty pleasure.

"You don't always have to bring me food. I'll gain so much weight if you keep bringing me gourmet burgers." But it was so delicious.

She waved off my comment. "I work right cross the street from here and the burger place is 3 blocks down and worth it."

I offered to bring her food every once in awhile but she was never in the office. She was a social worker working with child sex abuse cases and was on call a majority of the time.

"How's Aaron? Any wedding bells yet?"

Everyone was getting married now a days.

She smiled. She wasn't the type to feed into the norm.

"He's great. We're great and not yet. If it happens it happens."

Jamie was quite the persistent person. She loved sticking her nose into her friends business if she thought it was for their well being. She thought Chris and I were made for each other. That was why she kept trying so hard to get us together. She always meant well.

So when she wasn't as persistent with making Aaron propose to her I had my theories. I think she was afraid.

"You'll make a great wife. You're as beautiful on the outside as you are on this inside." I think she needed some encouragement.

"Thanks. It's a big commitment. I just want to be sure he's the one." She didn't believe in divorce.

Neither did I. Or at least we never wanted to go through it.

I smiled and took her hand. "I missed you." It felt so good to be around her and the people I grew up with. They understood me on a level most couldn't.

Yes I wasn't the same but I was still that person at one point.

"I missed you too." She went in for a hug and we shared the same loving energy.

She was a comfort to me; a solace I nearly forgot about. Why did I stay away for so long?

"Oh that reminds me," we pulled apart. Her expression was the sweetest form of mischief. "Chris is single again."

My chest caved. Did I hear that right? "What?"

Her smile widened. "Chris Compton the love of your life is single again. You better go get him." She nudged me a bit.

No. No. That was not what I wanted.

She frowned. "Why do you look sad? This is good news Laura."

I shook my head, closed my eyes, and rubbed my temples. I was getting a headache. "I didn't come here to mess up Chris' life."

I didn't want him to think I was trying to sabotage his love life. I truly wanted him to be happy,  with whom ever that meant.

"You're his life." She scrunched her face. "Ok. Well you're a huge part of it. When you broke his heart yeah he was devastated but you both knew it wasn't the end. You weren't yourself. I know that's cliche but you shut all of us out. He wasn't an exception. It only made you both stronger. You needed to grow separately."

Her words were bringing me to the verge of tears. "When did you become so wise?"

She laughed. "Since I got a big girl job. I've seen a lot of bad things happen to the most innocent of children. Laura, that kind of pain doesn't just disappear. You choose to fight and be more than what you've experienced. Chris was too blinded by love to understand the blood you were spilling was never meant for him clean."

She knew exactly what I talked about that night at Demi's.

"Chris didn't like talking about you when he got back. He felt guilty. He was never mad at you. I don't think he could ever be. I mentioned you once and somehow he opened up to me. He needed a different perspective. But once he got it he wasn't sad anymore. He prayed for you. We all did. We just wanted you safe and to feel loved."

That did it. I stared to cry again as if I hadn't cried enough in life. "I love you guys."

I felt such a peace in my heart. So I didn't fully crush Chris. Yeah we had trust issues now but at least he didn't go off into the deep end.

I worked with a better feeling in the atmosphere. Nothing bothered me much, not even getting throw up on my scrubs. The night was settling in and I was just about to clock out when a stretcher burst into the ER. Most of the nurses were already with other patients so I sprung into action.

The first responders began filling me in and I noticed three frantic girls crying beside the patient. The girl on the stretcher was young and badly bruised with a few surface wounds.

I lead her into a vacant room and tried not to focus on her story but rather the situation. She needed medicine. I cleared the room so I could think.

The girl woke up in a panic fright. She grabbed my arm and I saw the terror in her eyes. It was a familiar terror.

"Stop. Please stop him." Her voice cracked and she started coughing.

I bent down. "Shhh," I hummed. "You're safe now. He can't hurt you."

She started hyperventilating. "He raped me! He raped me!"

I couldn't breathe. "He's not here. You're safe now." It took everything in me to say those words.

Another nurse was already hooking up an IV for her. I brushed back her hair from her face, it was sticky with blood. She had a open gash on her forehead. It had to have been cause by a sharp object.

"You're safe now." I repeated over and over until the sedative kicked in and she closed her eyes.

The other nurse and I began undressing her to address the other injuries on her body. She was battered, used like a punching bag. My hands started shaking from anger. She was young, a teenager if I had to guess. Multiple ribs were broken, her arm was dislocated, and her wrist was broken. She had blood down her thighs.

Will came inside the room. I heard his voice but I couldn't make out the words he was saying. My mind was foggy again.

I stepped back as another nurse took my spot.

My chest felt like it was solid rock. I turned for the door as I had this strong urge to throw up.

Chris' POV

It was 8:23pm when I got a phone call from Will. It had been awhile since we talked so I figured he was probably wanting to check in. He was one of those concerned friends who made sure everyone around him was doing okay. I could guess it came from his profession. He was a doctor and used to always worrying about others.

"Hey, what's up man?" I answered calmly to let him know all was well on my end.

"Have you seen Laura?" He spoke in a rush.

"What? Laura? No." I hadn't seen her since the wedding, a few days ago. "Why? What happened?"

He took an exaggerated breath, something he didn't do often. It had to be serious. My nerves were instantly peaked.

"We had a rape case come in. She disappeared before I could talk to her."

Although speaking to Laura that night made me feel like she was the woman I had fallen in love with I knew she wasn't. Laura was obviously different and parts of her made her seem like a stranger to me. I didn't know how mentally strong she was now.

Would something like seeing a rape victim cause her to break down? Did it trigger memories of her own injustice?

"And you've called her family?"

"Yes," he responded promptly. "She's staying at Anita's but no one has seen her. She might be fine but I'd rather be sure than assume."

I knew exactly what he meant. "I'll look around and let you know if I find her."

"Thanks." He hung up and I pondered the possibilities.

I felt like there was no point in calling anyone because Will probably already had. Where would she go? If Laura was sad or angry, where would she go? Maybe somewhere to be alone. Somewhere secluded.

I had a brief flashback to a time when I noticed she was out of it. It was on a day we were setting things up for Sarah and Michael's wedding. She was in such a bad mood and wouldn't talk to me. I decided to take her to Mosswright Park. It was an old abandoned park with a lake no one ever went to.

That was where she confessed to me she watched a little boy die in her arms. I'd never forget that night.

Somehow my dumbass got her to take off her clothes and jump in the water with me. Back then all I ever wanted to do was kiss her and see how far I could push her. I thought I could distract her that night with my body.

I knew it was a stupid thought but for me kissing definitely made me forget my sorrows.

It was a long shot but when we were dating we'd often go to that park together. I wondered if she remembered how to get there.

It was kind of on an off road path. Most people probably mistake it for a private property but it wasn't. It was dark outside and hardly any lights were posted.

Yet the parking lot did have one working light source and I exhaled in blissful relief when I saw another car parked under it.

I texted Will to let him know I found her then left my phone in the car.

I saw her figure on the shity ass dock, sitting on the edge. She turned to look back at me as my approach made the wood planks creek. I was surprised it was holding us up.

She dropped her head then turned back to look at the lake and half moon.

Thank God she was ok.

I went to sit right beside her and for a good couple of minutes I refrained from saying anything. What could I say?

My mind went blank. How could I possibly comfort her?

I went back into that little place of helplessness. For the longest time, when I was with her, I felt so helpless. I wanted to do anything and everything for her because I didn't know what I was supposed to do for her.

"I'm fine." She spoke softly into the wind.

Was I allowed to question her about it?

"I won't let the past hurt me." She finally turned her head to look at me and I was captured by the pain in her eyes.

Why was she telling me one thing but feeling another? Why was she lying to me?

My immediate response was to cradle her face. "Then why are you crying?"

"Because it still happens."

Her pain wasn't just for herself. She was sharing pain with the girl who was raped. I rubbed her cheek as tears streamed down. I wanted to hold her, so I too could share that pain.

"Why?" She tilted her head away from my hand. She seemed angry and awake. "Why did you end things with Samantha?"

Was she mad I did? Wait, she wanted me to be with Samantha?

"How am I supposed to be with anyone when you're still lingering in my heart? I thought I was over you but clearly I'm not."

I didn't mean for it to sound offensive. I wasn't mad I ended things with her. I didn't want to hurt Samantha more by keeping the relationship but being unfaithful in my heart. The truth was that Laura was always going to be the one. The one I truly loved first. The one that got away. The one I could never get over.

"I'm sorry." She apologized and I was mad she was.

"Why? Its not like you planned on me falling in love with you at first sight?" Maybe that was too much information.

But it was true. She broke my heart but I knew she would. I knew it for a long time after we moved in together. I knew it was wrong but I wanted to be with her so badly. She wasn't the same afterwards and I just wanted to be there for her any way possible.

"When I saw you at Will's award ceremony I felt like my entire world was collapsing. Everything I thought I knew didn't make any sense. I never hated you, not after everything we've been through. But I didn't realize I could love you more than before."

I saw the shock in her eyes. No. She didn't plan on coming back to intrude in my life. She needed peace of mind. That was why she apologized so deeply to me at the wedding.

I knew exactly where she was coming from. I would have felt the same. It kills you to hurt the ones you love.

"I'm sorry." She said again as if the guilt was too much to bear.

I didn't want her to live her life with anymore of that guilt.

I wrapped my hands around her neck and pulled her face to mine. Our eyes were closed and our foreheads were touching. We took several deep breathes together. I used to do this with her whenever I noticed she was in a bad mood and overwhelmed.

"You don't need to apologize anymore." It was torture watching her beat herself up.

"I lied to myself for so long. I tried to convince myself you were nothing. I thought you were just collateral damage in this war against myself. But you're not." She cried and the more tears she shed the more I wanted to protect her. "You were never nothing. You could never be nothing to me."

"I'm scared." I confessed. She could easily break my heart again and I'd probably let her.

Laura pulled her head back a bit to look at me. Her gorgeous browns eyes made my world spin. I dreamt about her eyes almost every night since we parted. She was like an obsession I couldn't get over.

"Me too. I'm scared one day you'll think I'm not worth it anymore. I'm not worth all the crap I put you through."

I did wonder in the beginning if she was worth the heartache and I realized something. "Every relationship takes effort. When you find that person you want to grow old with, the one you want to fight for, to fight with, you don't give up that easily." I leaned in and kissed her gently on the lips. "I'm here."

She nodded but I could tell she didn't believe me. As if her sins against me were unforgivable. I guess only time would show her.

I let her go and stood up. I saw the disappointment on her face and it made me feel good. It let me know she wanted me.

"Take off your clothes." I commanded as I striped down to my boxers.

The water was probably cold as the arctic but it would be a distraction from kissing her. I jumped in without giving it a second thought. It was like ice piercing into my skin. Yup, exactly what I needed to keep my horniness in check.

Laura was still sitting in the same spot with brows raised. "You're insane."

I shrugged. "Are you chicken?"

She nodded. "Yes and I really don't want to get sick."

I laughed. She was probably right. I was freezing to death.

"Get out of there, crazy."

I laid my head back and started to float above the water. My body was going a bit numb. Maybe she was right.

"I'm fine." I shivered.

"Chris," she leaned over. "Seriously. Get out."

I shook my head. "I want you to nurse me back to health." I teased.

Laura rolled her eyes. "I'll play nurse with you all you want if you get out of there now."

I was most definitely taking the deal. I swam next to her and lifted my ass onto the dock. She took hold of my bicep to help steady me but gasped.

"You're ice." She started handing me my clothes. "I'm gonna go turn on my car and blast the heat. Come on."

She was driving one of Axel's luxury cars, a Mercedes. It was black on black. A gorgeous car and it suited Laura better.

By the time I got in she had the butt warmer on and heat blowing. My clothes did nothing for me. I was so f-ing cold. What the hell was I thinking?

"What the hell were you thinking?"

She took my shaking hands and pressed them to her warm lips then started blowing hot air. Her concern was touching and adorable.

"I wasn't really." I didn't think it would be that cold either.

"You're going to freeze to death." I never saw her so concerned before. "Push back your seat as far as it can go."

I wasn't sure where she was going with that but I did as instructed. I was too numb to resist. The seat actually pulled back pretty far considering I was over 6 feet. My kneels were no where near the dashboard. It was most definitely a luxury car.

Laura had also pushed her seat as far back as it could go. She then proceeded to throw her leg in the air and maneuver around the joystick to get into my lap. She straddled me and I realized exactly what she was doing when her hot thighs started warming up my legs.

"You need body warmth." She whispered as she wrapped her arms around my neck and pressed her chest into me.

She was sitting up a bit so her head was in the crook of my neck. Her breasts were against my chest and I felt every rise and fall.

We remained quiet for awhile. She rubbed her hands down my back to help with friction. I wrapped my cold arms around her small frame and basked in her warmth and scent. I missed her smell, her sweet mixture of roses and vanilla.

"You just wanted an excuse to hold me," I joked.

She laughed and the hot air that escaped from her mouth tickled my neck.

"Yes. I was praying you'd jump into that freezing lake so I could use this opportunity to touch you."

I wanted her to touch me. I had lasting memories of her touch that haunted me and awakened me at the same time.

"You wouldn't have to use this as a reason to touch me." I tightened my grip, squeezing her gently.

She wouldn't look at me. She kept her head planted on my neck and her fingers ran circles in my scalp. She knew how much I loved that.

"Your body's going through shock. You don't know what you're saying."

Having her so close was intoxicating. Or maybe I was delirious from the cold. Yet regardless I knew what I felt for her. Of course I was still attracted to her. I loved her body and having her sit on me wasn't the best idea.

"Laura," I spoke into her ear. She hummed back. "I can't feel my lips."

She leaned back and slowly, cautiously looked into my eyes. Maybe she didn't get what I was saying. Maybe I shouldn't have said it. Was it moving fast? I didn't care at the moment.

I knew if I waited any longer I wouldn't have the courage to do it. I leaned in and kissed her. Her full lips felt like warm water washing over mine. She was kissing me back with the same steady urgency.

"Chris," she moaned in surrender.

"I missed you," I blurted. I dug my fingers in her long, soft hair and pulled her in to kiss her again.

I couldn't help it. I wanted her so freaking bad and for so long. My feelings for her never went away.

She didn't push back or try to fight me. She wanted me to and that burned an incredible desire within me.

My hands trailed down her back, spine, and to her plump ass. She was a deliciously thick girl and I missed her curves. I had an obsession with her perfect peach ass. There were so many things I want to do to her.

Her phone began to ring and her tongue stopped dancing with mine. She reached for her phone and answered it without looking at the caller ID. I began nuzzling my fridgedly cold nose against her warm neck. She flinched before answering.

"Hello."

It was a woman on the other line. I kissed her throat and started sucking every inch the way I knew she loved.