34

Liesl finished putting the new linen on her bed and smiled happily. It was so pretty.

“I told you so,” Fred commented with a smug grin.

“You are the best interior designer in the world, and I am so fortunate to have you,” she kissed his cheek.

“Yes, you are.” He looked around the room. “This is a nice place.”

“It really is. I love this room. Its so nice.”

“You got such a good deal on it too.”

“I did. I can’t believe how fast everything came together.”

“Have you heard from Isaias?”

She shrugged. “He called me Sunday night and then I messaged him yesterday. He messaged last night to say he was coming back from LA today sometime, but he had to deal with issues relating to his contract.”

“Did you talk to him?”

“No,” she avoided her brother’s gaze.

“Liesl, what’s going on?” Fred asked her quietly tugging her to sit on the edge of the bed with him. The sound of Meredith, Elsie and Janka in the kitchen arguing over where to put plates and glasses filtered in. As if knowing she was going to use them as an escape from the conversation, he gripped her hand tightly, “three grown women can figure out how to follow a plan I left for them for the kitchen. Talk to me.”

“Sunday night I got into my head, and I did something bad.”

“What did you do?”

“I googled Isaias to see if he maybe he was on a date or out in a club with another woman while he was in LA.”

Fred whooshed air from his lungs and shook his head, “why?”

“He told me before his last relationship was with an actress who lived in LA.”

“So?”

“We’re only starting out and I’m second guessing my entire relationship with Merlin. Fred, you know we didn’t have sex until our wedding night and it got me thinking he was probably fucking around the entire three years. He had to be getting off somewhere. Well, Merlin has a decent libido, but Isaias is out of control. He can’t walk past me without wanting to take me to bed,” she paused, “this is weird telling you.”

“No, it’s not. You’ve been confiding in me for years. Keep it coming,” he wiggled his fingers. “Not the finer details but the romantic stuff. You know I’m a sap.”

“But you work for him. You got the contract.”

“Yes so?”

“Fine.” She huffed, “Isaias has a high sex drive, far higher than Merlin’s. We haven’t talked about being exclusive or anything and I got thinking he had to go all day Saturday and Sunday without having sex. He’s in city where his ex is and millions of gorgeous models and actresses. He would simply need to crook a finger and they’d all come running.”

“You think because Merlin had a lower sex drive and cheated, Isaias with his huge sex drive is not going to be satisfied with only you, especially if he’s away from you in another city?”

“We’re not exclusive.” She pulled her bottom lip into her teeth and chewed thoughtfully. “It wouldn’t even be cheating if he did because we haven’t said we’re a couple or anything.”

“I thought he told the girl in the club you were his girlfriend.”

“He did.”

“Sounds exclusive to me.”

“The thing is Fred, I got into my head and freaked out, so I started looking him up online. It was a total violation of his trust and his privacy, and I feel guilty. I feel terrible. I can’t help but think my issues, caused by my philandering, sister-fucking, troll of an ex-husband, has messed with this relationship and Isaias is paying the toll.”

“I think,” Fred said softly, “Isaias is the kind of man who would understand you’re still going through it because of Merlin and Sandy’s behavior.”

“Do you think Merlin cheated on me in those first three years?”

“I don’t know,” he said simply. “I would never have thought he was capable of it to be honest. He’s so boring and strait-laced. He never struck me the type to have the passion needed to go chasing skirts. He had me fooled, Liesl. I knew Sandy flirted with him, but she flirts with everyone. It never dawned on me ever, he would screw around on you.” He sighed, “to answer your question, I don’t know because the person I thought he was, is nothing like who we’ve found him to be.”

“Isaias deserves better than a woman who searches him online to see if he stepped out on her.” Liesl said as she wiped a tear off her cheek.

“Isaias deserves to have a woman who talks to him and tells him what she’s afraid of and why,” Fred countered. “Liesl, you’re an incredible woman and I’m not saying it simply because you’re my sister. I mean having me as a brother makes you an amazing catch,” he joked hitting their shoulders together, “but do you know how many of my guy friends asked me for your number the day the news hit about Merlin and Sandy? I was on a project Asia, Liesl, and I had four of my friends asking me to hook them up.”

She shot him an annoyed glance, “weird.”

“It was weird. I’m very glad the person you’re with is not a person I’ve known my entire life.”

She giggled. “You think I should talk to Isaias?”

“I definitely think you should. He cares for you, Liesl and he’s too blunt a man to bullshit you or sneak around. If he’s done and wants to see someone else, he’s just going to tell you and then go do it.”

“That’s the other thing,” she whispered.

“What?”

“I think I’m falling too fast for him. Mom called me on Sunday morning and said Sandy keeps talking about my rebound boyfriend and,” she sighed, “I don’t feel he’s a rebound. I don’t even know what a rebound is supposed to feel like but I’m jealous and scared and I’m falling for him fast. I thought,” she took a breath, “if I backed off a bit and gave us a bit of space it would help me clear my thoughts.”

“And did it?”

“No. I miss him so much it hurts.”

“Can I ask you something and you don’t have to answer but I’m curious.”

“Sure. You can ask me anything Fred. We have no secrets. I caught you Sunday morning with your dick out.”

He punched her shoulder and grimaced at her, “gross.”

She giggled at his actions. “What do you want to know?”

“When you first started dating Merlin, eight years ago, did you feel like this?”

“With Merlin I felt like a princess,” she whispered. “I felt like he put me on a pedestal, and I was dainty and treasured. He made me feel like this right up until the day he asked me to sign divorce papers.”

“And with Isaias?”

“I feel if there was a pedestal, he’s kicked it over, has yanked me of it and is dragging me running through the mire to do all kinds of crazy, wicked things. I laugh, Fred. Oh my gosh, I laugh. He makes me laugh so hard sometimes I forget to breath and my ribs ache, and I have to beg him to stop. He makes me stand on my own two feet and praises me for being self-sufficient but he’s also protective and I feel safer with him than I ever did with Merlin.”

“Liesl, I think, your heart needed a restart and Isaias is giving it to you. He’s not Merlin and he’s not going to hurt you the way Merlin did. I’m not saying he’s not going to hurt you because I can’t see the future. I’m not saying you and he are going to be forever. I am saying, if you are open and honest with him, he’ll return the favor. Talk to him. Let him know how you’re feeling and why you’re feeling it and he’ll listen.”

“Okay.” She hugged him tight. “I’m glad I have you. I love you so much.”

“I love you.” He stood up, “now, let’s go see if the girls opened the wine yet. I could really use a glass.”