Текст книги "The Scheme"

Автор книги: Mia Kayla

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Текущая страница: 17 (всего у книги 18 страниц)

I wanted to turn around but I was so fucking tired of getting hurt over and over again.

***

KENDY

“I wrote you a poem.” His back was still to me, but I kept on. I hated that I couldn’t read his face or his reaction. My hands shook as I reached in my purse and pulled out any crumpled piece of paper. I was grasping at straws here, using my last life line as I remembered what he’d said when we were drunk and playing ‘I Never’.

Once he stepped away from me, I’d lose him. This was my last chance.

I closed my eyes and inhaled a long, calming breath as my hands began to sweat. “Roses are red. Violets are blue . . . I made a mistake. I love you.” I gulped hard, wrinkling the receipt in my tight grip.

I said it with such conviction, such sincerity that, even though the poem was stupid and I had just pulled it out of my ass, he had to know it was sincere.

I held my breath and didn’t move a muscle. It seemed as though the silence stretched on forever.

I waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Please, Brian. I need you. Give me a sign that you need me, too.

This time, I didn’t want a psychic to tell me anything. I just wanted Brian’s reaction, just him. He was all that mattered now. I didn’t need anyone else telling me how my life was going to go. I wasn’t going to put my faith in someone else’s prediction in my future. I already knew how I wanted it to be. And I wanted him.

Just when my heart was about to plummet to the dirty ground, he turned. So slowly, it was almost too painful to take in. But when I saw his face, his blue eyes meeting mine, I released a thankful sigh.

“I’m tired of getting hurt,” he said, his jaw tight and his eyes cautious.

“I’m tired of not moving on,” I said softly. He was speaking of his past, and I was speaking of mine, too, because that’s just what it was, our pasts, not our future.

The tension in his stance lessened as our eyes locked. And as silence built between us, the congestion of the Manhattan noise surrounded us in the empty alley.

I broke the silence. “I’m not going to hurt you anymore, not if I can help it.”

We didn’t make a move toward each other. I was afraid if I approached him, he’d reject me. My heart was on my sleeve. One more move and it would fall to the ground and shatter.

He stood there for a moment, assessing me. “I want all in,” he said. “It’s all or nothing with me. I don’t share.”

I nodded. “All in,” I said it with conviction as a glimmer of hope bloomed in my chest. I was still worried that he might change his mind, though, and I contemplated what to say next.

But then I had a brilliant idea. Instead of speaking, I took action. I retreated backward toward the fire escape by the dumpster, and Brian lifted an eyebrow as I pulled the worn steel ladder to the ground. With shaky hands, I took a step up the rungs, and then another. I was a few feet up when I looked back down at him.

I suddenly felt woozy.

Don’t look, don’t look. Okay. Deep breath.

“What’re you doing?” A flash of humor crossed his face. It was the most positive reaction I’d received from him since I’d kicked him out of my apartment, so I welcomed it, feeling lighter already.

“I’m scared,” I admitted, taking another step up the ladder and gripping the iron tightly. My white knuckles were a stark contrast against the black flaking iron, rusted from age. “Before you, it was only Cole.” I took another shaky step as Brian made his way toward me. I sensed he was afraid my crazy ass might fall and break a leg. If I was being honest, I was more than a little frightened, but I needed to prove a point. “It was a reckless kind of love, twisted. I didn’t have control, and I hate feeling out of control. But . . . that’s how I feel when I’m with you.”

Another step. I was more than three feet from the ground now, and when I registered how far up I was, I hugged the stairs toward me and closed my eyes.

Don’t look!

“Are you okay up there?” he asked, worry heavy in his tone.

“Y-yeah. It’s just that . . .” I opened my eyes and peered down at him and only him. If I looked past him or below him, I might pass out completely. “After that night, I vowed to always be in control of every relationship I was ever in. With you, I feel like I’m on some crazy roller coaster ride that takes me higher and higher. I’m afraid of that final dip that brings us to the end. You scare me, Brian,” I said, the honesty seeping out of my mouth.

A sheen of sweat formed at my brow as anxiety built in me as I noted my distance from the ground. “But I’ve come to realize I’d rather be on some crazy ride with you than some lazy river with Stiff.”

At his tiny smile, I continued, “I wanted to believe that psychic because she told me I would heal. It was the easier route to believe in those predictions than to take control of my own life. But I don’t care anymore because I can’t stand another day without you.” I proceeded up the stairs again, trying my hardest to ignore the ladder shaking around me. When I started to lose my footing, though, I let out a small scream.

Brian’s eyes widened. “Kendy, get down,” he commanded. He gripped the bottom of the ladder, keeping it steady.

“I’m just letting you know. I’m ready to fall.” I shook my head because I made no sense. This was such a stupid idea. Stupid, stupid! I took another deep breath. “I’ve already fallen in love with you, but this is my crazy way of saying . . . I’m ready to enjoy the rush of falling. Letting go of control because that’s what love is.” My eyes locked with his as I gripped the back of the ladder, facing him. My heart stammered against the cage of my chest. “The question is . . . am I too late? Or are you ready to catch me?”

I held my breath, not looking at the ground, and once again only focusing on his beautiful face.

His smile was blinding, seriously the most magnificent thing I’d ever seen.

And I knew—he was saying yes.

“I was ready to catch you on that very first day,” he said, his eyes shining up at me.

I let go of the ladder and balanced on my feet. “I trust you. You’re going to catch me. I know.” I met his eyes, unwavering and knowing that I could trust this man with my life. But when my gaze flickered to the concrete below me and I realized how high I was, I gripped the ladder again with my clammy hands. “Remember . . . catch me. Because if I bust my eye open and need stitches, James is going to have to mend me up. Do you really want that?”

He let out a boyish, carefree laugh, the one that made my insides tingle. “That’ll never, ever happen.”

And then I fell.

And he caught me.

And I would’ve thought it would be like in the movies where I fall and land smoothly in his arms.

But no, not in my story.

I fell in the most unbelievable, awkward position, my elbow jabbing him in the shoulder. He almost dropped me, catching me by one leg as my other leg hit the ground.

Once I could catch my breath, we both laughed, and then he set me on the ground and lifted me again. But this time, it was just like we were on our honeymoon, his arms firmly under my knees.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and grinned. “You caught me,” I said breathlessly.

His face turned serious, sweet, and tender, along with his voice. “Was there ever any doubt?”

I peered up at the sky, pretending to think deeply. “Well, I was a little witch to you the other day.”

He leaned into me, our foreheads almost touching. “Baby, there’s no way in hell I was going to let Stiff work on you . . . not when you’re mine.”

His. That I was. Forever and ever, if he let me.

I touched his forehead with mine and closed the gap between us.

He kissed my nose and whispered, “The course of true love never did run smooth.”

“Shakespeare.” I recognized the quote on the coaster he had on his table, the night we’d played ‘I never’.

He nodded as a flash of humor crossed his face. “Now, let me see that poem you wrote me.”

A blush crept up my cheeks. “Uh . . .”

The teasing amusement was back in his eyes as he let out a carefree laugh.

Busted.

When he pulled back, he asked, “Are you hurt?”

“What?”

“Because I’m about to make you feel a whole lot better.” The glint in his eye sent shivers down my spine.

I was smiling so big my cheeks hurt. “Oh, I’m hurt all right.” I was picturing the ‘better,’ and my insides leapt with anticipation. Then our lips connected in the most soul-crushing, body-warming kiss from my ‘it’ man.

EPILOGUE

SIX MONTHS LATER

KENDY

The smell of grease filtered through the air as I bounced on my stool at the Chinese restaurant and waited for Brian to bring us our meals.

“Chicken fried rice for the princess,” he said as he placed my food in front of me and sat down opposite me.

When he handed me chopsticks, I glanced at my watch. “Are you going to be late for work?”

He tore through the red paper, opening his chopstick packet, and shook his head. “It’s fine. I don’t bend the rules often.”

Of course not. One of Brian’s best qualities was that he was responsible and took his job seriously. Who would have guessed that I would settle down with the good boy? But as I took in his handsome face, I knew I wouldn’t have it any other way.

As we both chowed down, my phone rang, and Beth’s cheesy face popped right up.

“Hi, girlfriend,” I answered.

Brian continued to eat as I chatted with Beth. Ever since I’d told her that we’d made it official, she called daily to get the deets. She was more than excited for me, ecstatic I had finally picked myself a good one.

“You busy?”

“Kind of.” I lowered my voice to a sexy tone. “We’re just having lunch. Brian had his dessert earlier.”

“It’s the middle of the day!” she protested, incredulous.

“Please . . .” Sarcasm was heavy in my tone. “Don’t tell me you and Kenty Poo don’t do the nasty in the middle of the day.”

“We’re at work,” she said primly.

“Your point?” I laughed, knowing they were most likely at it like rabbits being the newlyweds they were.

Brian cocked an eyebrow, and I knew I was being a tad bit rude talking to Beth on his lunch break.

“Let me call you later. I want to spend time with my man before he has to go back to work.”

I hung up and Brian lifted an inquiring eyebrow. “Do you tell her everything?”

I smiled sweetly at him. “Of course not. If I did, she’d know she made the wrong choice and want you back.”

He shook his head, amused, and picked at my fried rice, grabbing a piece of chicken with his chopstick. “Does it bother you that we had a brief history?” He cocked his head, his face thoughtful. “Because it shouldn’t. The reason Beth and I didn’t happen was because we were supposed to. And maybe if Beth and my paths didn’t cross, ours wouldn’t have. I don’t like to think that’s even a possibility.”

My eyebrows pulled together as I looked down at my food, getting emotional at the thought. I didn’t want to think of us not being together, either.

It wasn’t like I was insecure about our relationship. Brian had never given me a reason to feel like I wasn’t enough for him. Still, I couldn’t help but sigh inwardly with relief that I was it for him and that he had no regrets.

I set my chopsticks down and rested my hand on his forearm. “I don’t care that you shared spit with my best friend because you and I have shared more important bodily liquids, and I’ve already told her that.”

Mouth still full of food, Brian coughed, choking back laughter while pounding on his chest. He picked up his water to wash his food down. “Baby, you’re crazy sometimes.”

“As if you didn’t know that already,” I joked, laughing along with him.

“Oh, I did.” He inched in closer, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “And that’s one of the reasons why I love you. That, and you have the Power of the—”

“Hey,” I said, slapping his shoulder.

“—of a princess,” he finished, silencing me with his lips.

My insides swooned.

I’m his princess.

He focused at the overhead clock against the wall. “I need to get back, but I need me one of those.” He pointed to the table next to us.

I looked at the pastry the couple was chowing down on. It was round with a light reddish center.

“I’ll be back.” He stood, placed the order at the counter, and then came back to our table. “I have to go, but I’ll see you tonight.” He kissed me on the lips, long and lingering, but not long enough for me. “They’ll bring out some of those Chinese cakes I got for you. Save me one for tonight. I love you,” he said, smiling at me.

My stomach dropped with disappointment. I wasn’t ready for him to leave. I stuck out my lower lip in a full-on Kendy pout. “Can’t you play hookie, just for today?” Somewhere along the way, I had turned into one of those girlfriends who wanted to hang on her boyfriend all day and night long. And I wasn’t a damn bit ashamed or self-conscious about it.

He never seemed bothered by it, either. His mouth curved up in a beaming smile. “If I don’t go to work, how can I afford that Tiffany ring you want?”

Tiffany ring?

Tiffany ring!

My heart stammered in my chest. For a moment, I thought I’d heard him wrong, but his smile widened. I blinked and tried to keep my face even, but I was failing miserably as a humongous grin swept up my face. So big it made my cheeks hurt.

I pushed my finger into my cheek where a dimple would be if I had one. “Okay,” I said, bringing my shoulders to my ears, playing shy.

“I love you,” he said again. “And I really have to go.”

My heart swelled to double its size. “I love you, too,” I said softly, while the couple next to us observed our display of affection.

As he walked away, I sighed, realizing we had turned into ‘that’ couple. The one that made out in public, was overly touchy, and way, way too affectionate. We’d turned into the couple that disregarded what everyone thought. The corny duo that would eventually wear matching outfits and walk with our hands tucked into the back pockets of each other’s jeans.

Oh well. I didn’t care. I felt utterly complete.

The cute little Asian woman placed a white paper bag in front of me. “This is for you?”

I smiled up at her and gave her my receipt. “Yes, thank you.”

“Two moon cakes,” she confirmed.

The paper bag crinkled within my grasp, and as a sudden clarity hit me, I blinked and kept blinking, my mouth dropping open.

She was about to turn away when I reached for her arm. “What did you say?”

She frowned, slowly extracting her arm. “Moon cakes. That’s what you ordered, right?” At my utter silence, she said, “Is something wrong? Do you want to change your order?”

The ringing in my ears intensified. Holy shit. “What’re these?” I asked again, needing her to say it just one more time.

She still seemed confused, so I pulled them out of the bag and pointed to the pastry, which was still warm between my fingertips. “This?”

“Moon Cakes.” She was now looking at me like I was crazy and she might call the cops if I didn’t leave soon.

I stepped back, in a daze, and gave her a nod. She took that as her permission to skitter away.

Moon cakes . . .

Holy crap, had Brian planned this?

I reached for my purse and rushed out the door. He was probably close to the subway, but I raced back down the route we’d taken to get to the train. The farther I ran, I started to doubt my ability to catch up to him in my heels, and I was a tiny bit afraid that my skirt was going to fly up and people would see my hoo-ha.

I dashed faster down the street, knowing full well that it could be a lost cause, but I just couldn’t stop. The white bag swished against my hip, probably giving the moon cakes whiplash.

And then I saw him.

“Brian!” I yelled. When he didn’t hear me, I yelled his name about ten more times. Well, more like screeched his name. People were glaring at me like I was a crazy person, which I was fully aware of.

My chest heaved from my unplanned workout. I needed to make an effort to work out more. Sure, I could be the Energizer Bunny in bed, but running was not my thing.

When I saw him stop by the light, I slowed to a fast jog. “Brian!” I yelled louder as a woman in a suit flipped toward me and stared me down. I threw her my ‘bitch’ look when Brian finally glanced back at me.

Thank God!

His eyebrows pulled together, and he forged through the crowd to get to me. Without explaining, I charged toward him in a full on sprint, and we crashed together. After a few seconds, he pulled me to the side, away from the oncoming traffic. I doubled over, needing a moment to catch my breath.

When I was better, his gentle hands framed my shoulders, his eyes searching my face. “What’s wrong?”

“One second,” I said, raising a finger, worried I might barf up all my food. Nope, false alarm. But then a blush crept up my cheeks at how overly dramatic I’d just been. I was starting to feel silly, yelling his name down the street like he was in danger or something.

He pulled me closer. “What’s the matter?” he asked again. “Did something happen? Are you okay?”

I went up on my tiptoes and kissed his lips to calm him. “No . . . I just . . .” I stuttered, feeling my blush deepen. And then I lifted the white bag. “I got your cakes,” I said sheepishly.

He blinked at the bag, confused, then his gaze returned to me. “Baby, are you okay?”

“Yes,” I said. I reached into the bag and offered him one. The normally round pastry was flattened from my run.

“Kendy . . .” He still looked worried.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “Please don’t be mad. I just wanted to give you a cake.”

His face softened and he shook his head then he reached for the bag, taking the cake from me. “Thanks, Princess. But I really have to get back to work.”

My eyes raked in his handsome face, the sun beating down on him, which only made the blue in his eyes more evident. Such emotion flooded me as I realized where we had started and where we were now.

All that time before, I had been living my life, following the prediction, almost forcing it to come true. And just when I had stopped allowing those predictions to control my life, they came true anyway. It was funny how the world worked.

“I’ll walk you to the train,” I said, feeling a fluttering in my stomach and a lightness in my heart. The prediction had come true after all, and with the right man—my man, my chosen man.

He nodded and placed the cake back in the white paper bag, careful not to get his hands dirty. Smiling, he locked our fingers together and led us down the block.

“Do you know what they call those cake things?” I asked casually, watching his reaction.

He frowned. “Chinese cake with light reddish filling?”

I dropped my gaze and smiled to myself.

He didn’t know. And because he didn’t know, it just increased my love for my man, if that was even remotely possible. But a small part of me wondered if he had bought me the cakes to prove a point.

Should I tell him? Not tell him?

I peered up at him through my lashes and decided it didn’t matter. He didn’t believe in horoscopes or psychics. That was my thing, and it wouldn’t change anything anyway. I wasn’t letting predictions rule my life. I made my own choices now. To hell with the predictions! He was sure of us without ‘all that hocus pocus,’ as he would call it.

At the entrance to the subway, I went up on my tiptoes and placed a light kiss on his mouth. “I love you, I love you, I love you,” I said as I pecked him sweetly, feeling his smile against my lips.

When he reached to give me my moon cake, I took a bite, but then placed it back in the bag for him to take to work. Because in a way, my way I guess, I wanted to give him the moon right back.

At his questioning glance, I smiled slyly. “I’m watching my calories.”

He rolled his eyes then snaked an arm around my waist and bent me backward to really kiss me. “I’ll see you tonight, Princess.”

“See you tonight,” I said seductively.

Then I watched his sexy self take the stairs to the subway, and I sighed. Though I was running my life now, it was still pretty damn cool.

The man had given me the moon.

In the form of food.

And it couldn’t have been more perfect.

The End

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