Read Foster Brother's Arms for Free Online Page A

talking like we’re over, Lana. We can work through this. I’m willing to fight for you.  Hell, I’m willing to wait for you to realize that you’re making a really fucking horrible mistake.  I might beat the shit out of the fucker who—“
    “It doesn’t matter, because I just don’t love you anymore—not the way I love Elliot.  I’m so sorry, but I have to go.”
    “Lana, stop! “
    “I have to go,” she repeats and whirls around, running out the door.
    I watch her run to her car in the rain.  Its yellow headlines come on, cutting through the gray gloom as the engine revs to life.
    She drives away without ever looking back.
     
     
    I stand there staring after her stupidly for the next hour, waiting for her to return.  Expecting her to return—knowing in my heart she will. 
    But she doesn’t.
    As reality begins to set in, my chest burns.  I feel like I’m being punched over and over directly in the heart.  Like my head is about to explode. 
    I have to get the hell out of there.
    I start to run.  I’m not even sure where I’m going.  All I know is that I have to move.  Have to feel something other than the utter despair threatening to drown me.
    It’s storming now and sheets of rain hit me in the face, making it hard to see.  Squinting against the rain, I run to the beach behind my family’s house.  The wet sand makes it harder to run, but I welcome the ache in my muscles and the burning in my lungs as my body propels me forward. 
    Legs pumping, lungs straining, I run toward the ocean.  Finally I reach the shore, which is completely empty except for me. 
    I stand alone before a desolate grey sea.  It’s the only witness as I break down, falling to my knees and weeping. 
    My tears mingle with the rain, and loud, ugly sobs tear from my throat.
    I cry until I’m wrung out. Until there’s nothing left.  Until I’m an empty shell. 
    As I stare out at the grey, churning water, I know that Lana has broken something inside me that can never be repaired.  And this is the last time I’ll ever truly feel anything again.    

 
    Lana
    Now…
    I sit alone at a table in the restaurant Raine chose for us, trying not to tap my fingers or bounce my leg to relieve some of my nervous energy. 
    Raine is late, but he’ll show.  I know he will.
    The restaurant he chose is lovely.  All white tablecloths and servers in tuxes, and there’s even a woman playing piano in the corner.
    I wish I could enjoy the music, but my stomach is in knots and my heart is in my throat.
    Then Raine walks in.
    His black suit stretches perfectly over his muscles. And even though I saw him just this morning, my breath still catches at how handsome he is.
    He’s the only man I’ve ever had this kind of reaction to.
    He sits down across from me with a cold smile, then leans back in his chair carelessly as if waiting for me to justify my reason for bringing him here. He looks bored and put upon. 
    My heart hammers in my chest, but at the same time, I know what he’s doing.  This is a power play.  He’s waiting for me to prattle on nervously to fill the silence. So I don’t.
    Instead I meet his gaze and offer him a polite smile.  Moments later the waiter arrives and Raine orders wine. The waiter quickly returns with the bottle and two stemmed glasses, pouring one for each of us.
    Raine and I continue playing this game, waiting for the other one to break the silence. Finally I do.
    “So what’s up with all the crazy S & M stuff?” I ask. “The spanking and domination and whatnot?”
    He had his wineglass to his lips and nearly spits it out in surprise.  He puts his glass down and coughs, raising a white linen napkin to his lips.
    I smile internally. Score one for Lana.  
    “You always were direct, weren’t you?” he says.
    “I was just curious. It’s not that I didn’t like it, just the opposite.” I shrug. “I just didn’t remember you being into that sort of thing.”
 
    He sets his napkin down