Hooked (50 page)

     “I’m sorry
,
Millie
.
I wasn’t trying to make you feel bad,” she said looking down.

     “Cara
,
pleas
e
.
Y
ou are happy
and
I’m happy for you.  You could never make me feel bad,” I said hugging her.

     “I love you.”

     “I love you
,
too.  I’m so lucky to have friends like you and Jess.”

     “Yes, you are,” she teased.

     “Wow,
someone’s
been hanging out with Jess too much.”

     “It’s hard not to, her and Jake never leave each other’s side.  I knew the moment they got together, he would never be with anyone else.  It’s funny how I could tell that with my brother.  I guess us sisters just know, huh?”

     “Well, I’ll let you know if I ever get there with Eli,
that boy is
a womanizer.”
 
We both started laughing thinking back on stories about him. 

    
“I’ve got class all week and I’m planning on staying with Rob at night, so I probably won’t be around much this week, but we’re still on for Friday night at the bar, right?”

     “Wouldn’t miss it,” I replied.

     I went to class all week feeling lighter.  I had made it through my first semester and it was great.  I actually ended up with all A’s and one B.  To make matters better, I had finally decided what I was going to major in…elementary education.  I figure it’s the best of both worlds.  I can still work and have a career
,
but be off during the holiday vacations and summer break with my own children when I have them.

     Friday night, I was in the mood to go all out and dress up. I can’t explain why, I just wanted to feel pretty.  While going through my closet, I picked a black skirt and paired it with a green one shoulder blouse.  I looked down at my feet.  I wanted to be comfortable
,
but I really needed something that would look hot with the skirt, yep I’m going with my gold wedges.  Jess always told me they made my legs look sexy.  I got dressed and straightened my hair while adding a little bit of makeup.  I still felt like I looked the same, maybe a little older, but my body looked the same (with the exception o
f the freshman fifteen, alright
six
,
but still) and I kept my hair long.  I smiled at my reflection in the mirror.  I added my silver necklace that I hardly ever took off, except to shower and sleep.  I had finally found myself again, because I looked good if I do say so myself.

     As I was walking up to the sports bar, anticipation grabbed me.  I was in the mood to play pool tonight.  I was definitely teaming up with Tyler because he was the best player. 
Dylan, one of Tyler’s friends
,
was supposed to be there too. 
Everyone greeted me as I came in.  

    
“Wow, Millie you look absolutely
gorgeous
,”
Ty
ler said after he whistled at me.  I blushed at his comment. 

    
“Thank you
,
sir
.
Y
ou’re looking pretty good yourself.”  He winked at me
.

    
“
Y
ou ready to kick a little ass tonight?” he said handing me the pool stick.
 

    
“
Absolutely
.”

  
“You break,” Dylan said nodding at me.

   
“No problem,” I said as I walked around the table. 

    
I was concentrating on my shot when I noticed the song that was playing in the background.  I got a little sidetracked because it was one of my favorites, Bryan Adams, When
Y
ou
L
ove
S
omeone.  I was bent over the table about to break and I don’t know how I heard it above all the noise from the bar and the music
,
but I heard my name.

     “Millie.”

     I looked up and the
re
he stood…Cash.  I rose up without breaking eye contact.  I couldn’t wait to be in his arms.  I handed my pool stick to someone, I didn’t even look to see who it was and ran to him.  I ran as fast as I could (in wedges) and it still seemed like it took me forever to get to him.  I jumped in his arms and wrapped my legs around his waist.  I didn’t even think about me having a skirt on, I didn’t care.  He held me so tight it
,
was hard to breathe.  I stayed like that for a long time, just hugging him, breathing him in, feeling him with my eyes closed tight and my arms around him.

     “I’ve missed you so much
,
sweetheart,” he whispered in my ear.  My heart swelled fifteen times at the sound of his strained voice.  I leaned back to look in his eyes.

     “I’ve missed you
,
too.  I love you so much.”
  I squealed.

     “I love you too
,
Mil
.
I’m sorry I didn’t contact you
,
but the
F
eds thought it would be best to have no contact with you just in case they still had someone on the inside.  I didn’t want you in danger
,
”
h
e pleaded.

     “I don’t care about the past, just please tell me everything is over and you are safe and we can be together now.”

     He untangled my legs from his waist and sat me down.  He took both my hands in his and knelt down on one knee.  Oh
,
my gosh
, is he?  I wanted to squeal I was so happy right now. 

     “I hadn’t planned to do this here
,
but I stopped by your
folk’s
house on my way and talked to your dad.  Millie, I love your more than anything.  I had to prove that by giving you up for a year.  That was the worst time I’ve ever had in my life because you weren’t with me.  I knew I had to do it to keep you safe and so I could make a better future for us.  I don’t ever want to be without you again.  Please make me the happiest guy alive and let me know that everything I just went through wasn’t for nothing and marry me?”

     The tears were flowing down my cheeks at a steady pace now.  It felt like my heart was going to burst out of my chest.  “
O
f course
,
I’ll marry you!  I love you so much and I never want to be without you again.”

     He stood up and placed the ring on my finger.  It was gorgeous.  He picked the perfect ring for me.  It was platinum with small baguettes on each side of a one karat princess cut diamond in the center.  I couldn’t stop staring at it.  Finally, after a year of not touching him, kissing him,
or
talking to him, he was here.  He kissed me so soft and sweet, I never wanted it to end.  I was so wrapped up in him
,
I didn’t notice everyone cheering and clapping until Cara came up and hugged me.

     “Congratulations
,
guys!  I’m so happy for you
,
Millie.”

     “Thanks,” I said hugging her back.

     Cash wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me close to whisper in my ear, “Sweetheart, I know you already think I’m anti-social, and well, you’re probably right
,
but it’s been a year
.
C
an I meet your new college friends later?  I need you right now,” he said nuzzling my neck.

     “You read my mind,” I said smiling up at him.

     I turned to tell Cara bye and she said, “Have fun, I’m staying at Rob’s tonight.”

     “
Thanks,
see you later
,
”
I called over my shoulder dragging Cash out the door.

     When we got back to my dorm room
,
we
went straight to my bed and held each other.
  I hadn’t felt him for so long
,
I felt like I needed to touch him the whole time so I didn’t lose it.  We had the best night together, one I’ll cherish forever.  We stayed up all night talking until the sun came up.  He told me about the trial and how when he lived in Boston, my dad helped him find a place to live and he went to a new school.  He said my dad actually gave him a loan and apologized to him for the way Rusty found out where he was.

     I told him about checking up on his mom and how high school ended and how I’d spent the summer with my parents and Eli.  I had to talk a little bit about fishing too, because that’s just funny.  We laughed so hard we cried.  I found out that he did
in fact
,
join the Army
,
where he was currently on leave for ten days.  He was going to be an Army Ranger soon.  I was on cloud nine and felt like nothing could bring me down.

      “Are you
sure you are
ok
ay
with transferring schools to California?  I can’t exactly relocate for another three years,” he said as he played with my hair absently.

     “I’d move anywhere to be with you.”  He smiled at that.  I loved seeing his dimples.

      “This is what I was
thinking
,
let me know what you
think.  I have to go back in t
en days and you have to finish this semester.  As soon as you’re done with finals, what do you say you and I elope?”

     “Elope?  What about our families and friends?”

     “Well, I’ve been saving every penny I’ve made so far. 
I’ve already paid your dad back everything he helped me with and m
y mom got her job back and since she’s not been spending extra on the alcohol, she hasn’t needed much.  I have a good chunk of change for us to start out with.  Our housing on base won’t cost us anything
,
so I was thinking about just flying everybody to Fiji with us for a couple of days and then of course, they leave after the wedding and you and I stay for a week or so.  I was thinking we could do it in the summer that way Jess, Jake and Cara will all be out of school.”

      I looked into his eyes amazed.  “I can’t believe you’ve thought about all of this.  I absolutely love your idea!  I’m so excited, I can’t wait to tell everyone and plan this!”  I screamed as I jumped on top of him and straddled him as he lay beneath me.

     “I love how excited you get about everything, I’ve missed that,” he said laughing at me as he rubbed my thighs with his hands.

     “Well, I love everything about you!” I kissed him and didn’t stop until we had to. 

     We spent the night wrapped in each other’s arms and touching every uncovered inch of skin we could find.  I felt like it would never be enough, like I couldn’t get close enough to him.  We hadn’t been intimate or spoken with one another in over a year.  He had changed in so many ways, I could tell, but he was still the same Cash.  He loved me.  He promised me he would be back, that he would never stop loving me and he kept his word.  I’m sure people thought I was crazy for keeping hope in us, including my family, but when you know something to be true in your heart, you can’t help it. 

    
We decided to hang out on c
ampus today
,
so I could show him around.  We were walking through the park hand in hand when he asked the question, “So
,
Mrs. Soon to
be
Davis
, is there any guy lucky enough to snag a date with you
while I was away, that I now need to beat up?”

     I took a minute to answer him.  I didn’t want to get into the gory details about not doing anything for three months.  “Cash, I couldn’t.  I made friends
,
but my heart was with you.  It wouldn’t have been fair to them or me.  What about you?  You know I can kick some butt now, I took lessons from Jess while you were gone.” I laughed trying to lighten the mood.