Liz Andrews

“The phone rang and Chassie excused herself to answer it. Silence hung between them as heavy as snow clouds in a winter sky.

Eventually, Edgard said, "She doesn't know anything about me. Not even that we were roping partners. Not that we were..."

He looked at Trevor expectantly.
"No." Trevor quickly glanced at the living room where Chassie was chattering away. "You surprised?"

"Maybe that she isn't aware of our official association as roping partners. There was no shame in that. We were damn good together, Trev." The word shame echoed like a slap. As good as they were together, it'd never been enough, in an official capacity or behind closed doors.
"What are you really doin' here?"
Edgard didn't answer right away. "I don't know. Feeling restless. Had the urge to travel."
"Wyoming ain't exactly an exotic port of call." "You think I don't realize that? You think I wouldn't rather be someplace else? But something..." Edgard lowered his voice. "Ah, fuck it."
"What?"
"Want the truth? Or would you rather I lie?" "The truth."
"Truth between us? That's refreshing."
Edgard's gaze trapped his. "I'm here because of you."

Trevor's heart alternately stopped and soared, even when his answer was an indiscernible growl. "For Christsake, Ed. What the hell am I supposed to say to that? With my wife in the next room?"

"You're making a big deal out of this. She thinks we're friends, which ain't a lie. We were partners before we were..." Edgard gestured distractedly. "If she gets the wrong idea, it won't be from me."
"Maybe I'm gettin' the wrong idea. The last thing you said to me when you fuckin' left me was that you weren't ever comin' back. And you made it goddamn clear you didn't want to be my friend. So why are you here?"
Pause. He traced the rim of his coffee cup with a shaking fingertip. "I heard about you gettin' married." "That happened over a year ago and you came all the way from Brazil to congratulate me in person? Now?"
"No." Edgard didn't seem to know what to do with his hands. He raked his fingers through his hair. His voice was barely audible. "Will it piss you off if I admit I was curious about whether you're really happy, meu amore?"

My love. My ass. Trevor snapped, "Yes."
"Yes, you're pissed off? Or yes, you're happy?"
"Both."
"Then this is gonna piss you off even more."
"What?"
"Years and miles haven't changed anything between us and you goddamn well know it."

Trevor looked up; Edgard's golden eyes were laser beams slicing him open. "It don't matter. If you can't be my friend while you're in my house, walk out the fuckin' door. I will not allow either one of us to hurt my wife. Got it?"
"Yeah."

"Good. And I'm done talkin' about this shit so don't bring it up again. Ever.”
― Liz Andrews

“This long distance relationship thing was for the birds. He absolutely hated waiting for days on end to see Jasmine.”
― Liz Andrews, Coming Full Circle