Fight for Me (29 page)
It was a long flight back to California, and when we got there, we collapsed in the bed, exhausted by the last few months. In the morning, he woke me and told me to pack for a light vacation but wouldn’t tell me where we were going.
“So where are we going?” I nagged as he pulled out of the garage.
“We're going to the beach.”
“Really?” I asked, unenthused. We lived in California, and the water tended to be cold. Besides, we had access to a private beach at Mom’s house.
“I’m taking you to a private island where I can keep you naked all day long and not have to worry about anyone hearing you screaming.”
“You’re insatiable.” I scolded him, but I loved the idea.
“With incredible stamina,” he pointed out with a confident smile.
“Babe, as much as I appreciate the gesture, you cannot afford this on a fighter’s salary.” Professional MMA fighters made nowhere near as much as professional boxers, so I didn’t want him to overextend himself.
He glanced at me and shook his head. “You don’t know what I can afford. Uncle Drew taught me how to invest wisely from day one. I own that gym free and clear and also have some other pretty smart investments going on the side. So don’t think because Daddy left you a fortune, we’ll be going Dutch on vacations or anything. Ever.”
“Okay.” I shrugged. I just didn’t want him to think he needed to impress me with money, but it seemed he had everything under control. “Can we make a stop first?”
“Sure,” he said, following the directions I gave him. When we parked, he realized what I was doing and looked at me nervously. “Are you sure?”
I nodded, and he helped me out of the car but stood at a slight distance as I leaned down and brushed my hand over the etched words on the smooth stone.
Alec
Cole Jr.
“I miss you.” I started with a broken breath. I didn’t want to get too choked up, but it was harder than I’d expected.
“I wish you were here every day. It feels wrong to be happy again without you, like I’m cheating on our memories, our bond. It’s illogical, I know, but you were always the rational one. You balanced me out.
“Maybe one day we’ll be together, and I’ll feel complete again. I know I’ll always feel this empty hole in my chest, but some days it doesn’t seem like a dark abyss anymore. I was afraid it would suck me up into its depths until there was nothing left of me.”
I pulled on the little weeds growing around the stone. “I think you’d want me to be happy. Love again. Maybe one day I’ll have a little boy, and he’ll have your smile and fantastic hair.”
I choked on my laugh as tears ran down my face. “Oh, and you wouldn’t believe who I ended up with.” I looked back and smiled at Ryder as he blushed. He actually
blushed
. I guess he was a little bashful when listening in on our private conversation. I turned back. “You always did tell me he’d come back when he was ready.”
I wiped the tears away and held a palm to the cool stone one last time. “I love you, Alec. I don’t know how to say goodbye forever. You’re me and I’m you. I’ll live for you… I’ll live for us.”
I got up and dusted off my hands before Ryder grabbed them and pulled me close. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “I think he’s happy I’ve got you now.”
“How would you know that?”
“Maybe my connection with Alec didn’t die with him after all. It’s still in here.” I tapped over my heart, and Ryder smiled, hooking his arm around my shoulder and leading me back to the car.
I’d let him lead me anywhere. He’d already led me through the
m
ajority of my life, and it was turning out to be an excellent one.
About the Author
Bethany Bazile reads, writes, and lives in New Jersey with her husband and two amazing kids. Her passion for writing was born from a love affair between books and music. She loves books that draw her in and won’t release her until she’s inhaled every word, panting with excitement. Then she realizes the sun came up, but the loss of sleep was so worth it. When she isn’t reading, she’s conjuring up steamy love scenes and hot romance stories to share with fellow romance lovers.
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