Crystal Clear Love Novel – My fiance Mikey cheated on me. And he lied to me. I was driving my car when his Jeep passed on the crossroad. A blonde rode in the front seat. I sat paralyzed at the stoplight until the driver behind me honked the horn. I turned in the direction of the Jeep. The road led to a park that was well known as Lover’s Lane. Mikey and I had parked there often. My clammy palms clutched the steering wheel and my racing heart drowned out the radio. I look inside. A woman, undressed from the waist up, bounced in the back seat. Her long, blond hair concealed the face of my fiance.
The phone jolted Crystal awake. “Hey sleepyhead. Open your door. I have coffee. You need to get moving.” Crystal checked the alarm clock, surprised that it was eight-thirty. Jumping out of bed, she flung open the door to find Mike standing with two cups in his hands. She headed to the bathroom to brush her teeth and when she came out, he sat in the desk chair, a steaming cup of coffee extended toward her. The corners of his mouth lifted when he eyed the extra large Pittsburgh Steelers football jersey she slept in. Did he remember that she wore nothing underneath? Over the last two days he’d surprised her with the things he recalled. “I spoke to Johnner this morning. He’s waiting for me to drop you off and we’ll go dig out your car.
You might as well make up your mind to stay. He said Sherrie already made up a room for you. I said we’d be there by eleven so get moving. Sherrie is already fussing over a big lunch for us.” Crystal sipped her coffee and apologized for sleeping so late but Mike waved it off. It didn’t look like he planned to move. “You need to leave, Mike, so I can get ready.” He frowned. “You can’t get ready with me here?” “No.” “Why not?” The room felt overly warm. “I don’t, I can’t, I’m not comfortable with you here.” His eyebrows rose and his lips pursed, a mixture of surprise and offense. He glared at her, stood, and started toward the door. “Thanks. That makes me feel real special. Tell me, Chrissy, what are you uncomfortable with? Is it what you think I might do or what you want me to do?” His words incensed her. “You go to die.” She stormed to the door, pointing a shaky finger at him.
“Get out of my room!” She reached to throw open the door. Mike clutched the knob and when she touched him, a bolt of electricity shot up her arm and into her heart. The contact seared her hand and she jerked it back, breathless, frightened. “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean—” “You’re sorry? Sorry about what? Do you hate me so much you can’t stand to touch me?” She raised tear-rimmed eyes to him, unexplainably recalling a study that proved love and hate are intimately linked within the brain. Did she hate him? A lone tear escaped and rolled slowly down her right cheek. Mike stared at her while his thumb rolled across her face, brushing away the droplet. Crystal’s head dropped backward. She closed her eyes and held her breath. His voice was low when he spoke, so low it reached into her soul. “What are these tears really about, baby?”
His touch was still so gentle. He called her baby. She used to love that. All those counseling sessions and nothing had been resolved. Her heart and stomach rode the Tilt-A-Whirl with him so close. She wanted him closer. “Please, Mikey…” She sensed his mouth moving toward her before she felt his breath and then his lips on hers. A soft, gentle peck that turned her on as easily as a switch turns on a lamp. He stepped backward but she reached up and cupped his face. She wasn’t letting this moment go. She coaxed him toward her and pecked him hungrily. He wrapped his arms around her, returning the fervor. All at once she was helpless and powerful. She wanted to devour his mouth, and drink in every inch of him. She pressed her lips to his while she nudged his hips backward and moved her hands to his belt. Hastily she undid the snap on his jeans and hurriedly shoved his pants down. Urgency washed over her when Mike ran his hands underneath the football jersey and caressed her bare skin, moving from her bottom up her side to her breasts.
He lifted her in the air, banging her roughly against the wall, and she instinctively wrapped her legs around his waist while she plunged her tongue into his mouth. In a frenzy of passion, he lowered her onto his eruption, moaning as he thrust himself inside her. He nuzzled the soft spot behind her ear. He slipped his foot out of his boot and the leg of his jeans. Keeping Crystal locked against him he shuffled to the bed, his pants dragging behind him with each step. Once his knees hit the edge of the bed he fell forward on top of her, sinking more deeply inside. She climaxed immediately. But Mike had been true to his word all those years ago when he promised they would work on her pleasure. He’d called it “going for second base” and taught her to heighten her body’s senses. Crystal had been with several lovers over the years, but none of them ever took her to the place Mikey could take her. He deftly moved his hand between their pelvises and caressed her with his fingers. Slowly. Rhythmically.
The movement of his fingers matched the thrust of his hips, offering up a physical concert of vibrations that peaked to a crescendo. She reached for a bed pillow to cover her face and muffle the scream of ecstasy she knew he would evoke. He didn’t disappoint. Her back arched and she gave into the sensation of complete surrender. Her spasms were accompanied by his groan of release, vibrating the side of her neck where his face was buried. It was over in minutes and they lay together panting. Her legs quivered. She threw her arm over her face. “Please go.” It was a soft request. She shut her eyes to the rustle of denim and the sound of his zipper. He closed the door quietly and the door to his room slammed. Then his shower turned on. She lay motionless on the bed. There was no energy to move. The winter storm that raged outside was nothing compared to the storm that engulfed her. How had she let this happen? She stared at herself in the bathroom mirror and chastised her reflection. “You idiot. Don’t you ever learn from your mistakes?” Her mind and heart were in turmoil.These last two days with him, laughing, being so close, were delicious. She’d been unaware of a hunger that he sated just by talking to her. Wrapping her legs around his hips proved to be the luscious dessert.
Her heart cried. Mammaw, you’re supposed to be watching out for me. I need you now. The hot shower did little to calm her. Checking the clock, she picked up her pace, slamming bureau drawers and tossing her clothes onto the bed. Outside the wind howled and the snow fell nonstop. She berated herself for allowing Mike to affect her like this while she jammed everything into her suitcase, smashing her shoes on top. He cheated on her. And he lied to her. Where was that memory to fortify her? She summoned every painful minute of that night to shield her like armor. Oh, and how vividly she remembered that night. Sherrie had been so nervous about her wedding in two days that she couldn’t sit still. Johnner said there was confusion about the bridal limousine and he and Mikey were off to the rental agency to sort it out. Crystal suggested ice cream. That always worked to lighten their moods. She was driving her car when Mikey’s Jeep passed on the crossroad.
A blonde rode in the front seat. Crystal sat paralyzed at the stoplight until the driver behind her honked the horn. She turned in the direction of the Jeep. The road led to a park that was well known as a Lover’s Lane. She and Mikey had parked there often. Her clammy palms clutched the steering wheel and her racing heart drowned out the radio. Slowly, she approached the gyrating Jeep parked at the curb. Tears rolled down her face when she whispered to Sherrie, “I’ll cruise by, you look inside.” But she looked too. A woman, undressd from the waist up, bounced in the back seat. Her long, blond hair concealed the face of her partner. Shocked into silence, they returned to Sherrie’s front porch and waited. Her voice quaked when the boys returned and Mikey ambled toward her. “Where have you been?” “With Johnner. You knew that.” “Tell me the truth, Mikey.” He crossed his heart with one finger. “That is the truth.” Her outrage won the battle for control.
“You liar. I saw you. I saw you screwing that blonde. Who was she? Did you enjoy it? Was she more experienced than me? More woman for you?” Johnner’s mouth dropped open, but he stood speechless beside his friend. Sherrie’s eyes filled with tears. Mike looked once at Johnner than leveled his gaze on her. “It wasn’t me.” The pitch of her voice elevated with her indignation. “How can you lie to me like that? I saw you. We both saw you. Lies are unacceptable. Mammaw taught us that. And yet you stand here lying to my face.” Mike was as calm as a sleeping puppy “I’ve never lied to you Chrissy. I never will. It wasn’t me.” And that was that. No gray area, no room for alternative answers or plausible theories. She had unclasped his identification bracelet and watched it fall to the ground, pieces of her dreams falling with it. “I hate you.” She had executed a soldier-like pivot and turned away from him, her heart shattered.
She zipped her suitcase closed and straightened her shoulders. The knife that slashed her chest that day pierced it anew with the recollection. Her discipline returned. She ruled her life. He wouldn’t hurt her again. Filling her lungs with air and expelling slowly, she knocked on the adjoining door. “I’m ready.” The television clicked off and Mike’s door slammed. She opened her own door with her suitcase and makeup case at her feet, her shoe bag, garment bag and overnight bag in her hands. Mike’s cheeks shined red. “I’m sorry Chrissy. That shouldn’t have happened. I should have—” She cut him off. “Let’s pretend it didn’t. Would you mind grabbing my bag?” She pushed past him without waiting for an answer and marched toward the elevator. Another silent ride to Sherrie’s house. Johnner waited inside the front door.
Mike drove into the driveway and shifted the rental into park. He opened his door to step out. “Stay in the car.” One more minute in his presence and she’d lose her mind. “I’m perfectly capable of getting out myself. I’ll take my bags later.” Snow pelted her face and eyes, adding to her stinging tears. Mike obeyed her and she trudged through the snow to the front porch. She handed Johnner the keys to her Trans Am. “Be careful, it’s terrible in snow. No weight in the back.” Surprised by the scowl on her face, Johnner pecked her cheek and assured her he’d be fine. Sherrie sat at the kitchen table peeling potatoes. One look at Crystal and her hands stopped. “What happened?’ Crystal burst into tears and fell into her arms.