Shattered Chances: A Breaking Black Companion Novel (20 page)

“Maybe she’s right.”

“Zip it.”

Randy focused his eyes on the road, and I glanced over at him as he drove. 

“Thank you…”

Randy glanced over at me with a bewildered look on his face. 

“For what?”

I smiled. 

“For being you…”

Randy was taken aback. 

“I have to admit, you always surprise me when you say that.”

“I’m serious. Most people would have ran.”

“I did run, but I just couldn’t do it anymore. I was miserable.”

“You were miserable?”

Randy grabbed my hand and squeezed it tight. 

“It made me sick. Absolutely sick knowing you were out there unwell and being controlled by that asshole. I couldn’t watch. Shit, I prayed for you… and you know me… I don’t pray!”

“I’m sorry…”

Randy shrugged his shoulder. “Look. I don’t want to talk about the negative anymore. You’re healthy. That’s what matters. But I have to tell you, this is our last chance.”

“This reminds me of something you’ve always said…”

“What?”

“What kind of football games do you love the best?”

“When the Cowboys come from behind.”

“This cowgirl’s comin’ for ya… You better hold on,” I said with a wink.

*** 

After breakfast, Randy and I headed to the ranch. I had to admit that the place was quite beautiful when it wasn’t littered with dead bodies and a Devils infestation. The house was lit up for Christmas. Colt and Tim had strung up lights in several of the trees, and across the front of the house. Averi had placed bright decorations in each window. Through the storm door, I could see a brilliantly lit Douglas Fir Christmas tree. It was the type of Christmas I had only heard about. One without abusive step-fathers and drug-addled mothers. One where a freshly baked ham and a table full of holiday goods were laid out instead of a fresh layer of cocaine smeared across the table and a six pack of beer waiting to be chugged. It was like stepping into a Norman Rockwell painting, only where the people cursed like sailors and weren’t afraid to stand up for what they believed in. But the McClains’ and the Fords’ loved hard, and once you were in, you were considered family. 

Randy pulled the truck alongside the back of the house, and put it in park just a few feet from his house. 

“This is yours?”

“Sure is… C’mon.”

I followed Randy inside the house and was surprised by what I saw. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect walking in, but I found an actual home, with furniture and pictures on the wall, a big screen TV and all the home comforts that I never had growing up. There was a fresh Christmas tree that largely resembled something that Charlie Brown would have. There were a few presents scattered underneath. A gift bag with Averi’s name on it, a small square box for Shelly, and two medium sized boxes with Colt and Tim’s names on them. In the center of the pile there was a small square box with Chey scrawled on the top. My pulse quickened. Randy saw my eyes focus on the gift, and he smiled. 

“Go ahead. Open it.”

I leaned down and picked the box up. My eyes met Randy’s gaze and he had an amused look on his face. I ripped off the festive wrapping paper and set it on the couch beside her. I held the jewelry box in my hand, my heart thumping against my chest as I lifted the lid. Inside the box there was a simple silver band with our initials inscribed on the face. It was a promise ring. 

“This is not the ring you are expecting, and for that I am sorry.”

“No, it’s beautiful…”

“In one year, on this day, I will ask you to marry me.”

I gasped as a hand went up to my mouth. 

“What?” 

“I’m serious. No drugs. No alcohol… and you have to be 100 percent honest with me.”

“I can do that. But I have a stipulation for you…”

“What is it?”

“Relax and let me show you exactly what you mean to me.”

By the gentle light of the Christmas tree, I came to Randy’s side. Placing a gentle hand on his chest, my lips met his, and I gave him a sweet kiss – a departure from our lust filled encounters as teenagers. It was much deeper than just a sexual attraction. He felt lost without me, and without Randy, I had fallen.  

Pulling my lips away, I looked Randy in his eyes. “One year from today, you will propose, two years from today I will be your wife. I swear to God, Randy. Doubt me… I live to prove you wrong.”

“Don’t I know it,” Randy said with a smile on his face. 

“Now, c’mon… Take me shopping. I need to get some things.”

“What do you need? Do you have money? I have some.”

I pulled a wad of cash from my pocket. 

“Sure I do, this is on Trent’s dime… I need clothes, and I want to get some things for the house and I need to get you a Christmas present.”

“Well then… Let’s go.”

Though it probably wasn’t the most morally correct thing to do, me and Randy took great pleasure in spending Trent’s cash after all the pain that he had put us through. 

After several hours of shopping, Randy and I drove back to Hall Ranch, and Colt was waiting on the porch for us. As we unloaded the bags from the back of the truck, Colt called over to us, “Dinner time!”

We dropped the bags off in the living room, and filed into the dining room where Averi and Shelly were setting the table. Averi’s meatloaf took center stage and the scent damn near made Randy’s eyes roll into the back of his head. He was in heaven. I was out of my element, but I was welcomed in like an old friend. Though me and Averi had never been friends per se, Averi wanted what was best for her brother. Averi placed a platter of roasted potatoes on the table and gave me and Randy a warm smile. She kissed her brother on the cheek and brought me into a hug. 

“Looking good, girl… Take a seat. Tim! Grab some forks and put them at each setting!” 

I eyed Averi nervously, surprised at how welcoming she was. Shelly waved at Cheyenne non-chalantly and continued pouring sweet tea into everyone’s glasses. Tim rushed out of the kitchen with the utensils in his hand. As he placed the last fork on the table, Averi urged everyone to take their seats. As she flopped in her chair, a look of relief crossed her face, happy to be off her feet. Colt took the head of the table, and everyone sat down. 

“Bow your heads…” Colt said as everyone, even Randy, lowered their heads and waited for the dinner prayer. “Thank you Lord for the meal we are about to eat. Please continue to watch over this family and bless us and keep your ever watchful eye over Averi and our baby as the due date approaches. Amen.”

“Dig in, everybody!” Averi said, as she pulled the lid off of a casserole of baked macaroni and cheese. 

I watched as everyone began to dig into the meal. No one made a big deal over my presence. No one gave warnings of what behavior needed to be followed. No one cast sideways glances my way. After dinner I made a point to ask Colt if my being there was okay. He quickly replied, “We all have pasts, Chey. You can’t hold yourself prisoner forever.”

I watched in surprise as Colt chomped into an apple and walked away. 

“C’mon… Let’s get settled in. I want to watch the game,” Randy said as he approached me on the front porch. 

We walked side by side across the lawn making our way to our house. Randy hadn’t left a light on, so the house was dark. He walked over to the far wall of the house near the kitchen to turn on the overhead light, but as his hand hit the switch, something knocked him hard against the wall. I pressed my hands against Randy’s arm, pushing him roughly against the wall. A frame fell off and crashed to the floor. Sinking my teeth into his neck, I refused to wait anymore. The sexual tension was thick, Randy picked me up, wrapping my long legs around his body. Our lips met as an electric current ran through our bodies. He carried me across the room, his strong arms supporting me, traveling haphazardly throughout the dark room. He crashed into a chair and I laughed, but I refused to stop kissing him. Finally he found the kitchen table. Resting my ass on his knee, Randy cleared off the kitchen table in one fell swoop, sending papers and a bottle of soda flying to the ground. He sprawled me on over the table, ripping my sweater over my head. I ran my hands up Randy’s chest, his shirt rumpling as I traveled north. I pulled the buttons free and brought my mouth to his chest. My tongue traced the skin where I knew his tattoos were, but with a forceful shove, he pushed me down on the table, hell-bent upon having his way. He couldn’t see me but he could feel me and in the darkness, he sunk into me and reclaimed me as his own. The push and pull, the give and take of control, it was enough to set us both over the top. Both with type A personalities, both alphas in their own right. If I was a CAT 5 hurricane and Randy, a F5 Tornado, when we merged under the right conditions, we were the perfect storm. Falling off the table I landed on top of Randy, and gave him a sweet kiss on his lips. We laid there in silence for a moment, not saying a word, not moving a finger. Finally, in the dark of the house, Randy stroked my hair and brought my head to his chest. 

“Thank God I have you back.”

66.

Randy

My promise of a year was short-lived. The fair was open and old habits die hard.

“C’mon! We gotta go!” Cheyenne said, sounding as excited as she usually did with something that involved speed and heights.

“Alright, alright… but NO flying swings!” I demanded.

“Oh, fine! Take away all my fun,” Cheyenne said with a wink.

We arrived at twilight and the fairgrounds were packed. I wanted to eat, but I thought it would be better to wait until after the rides. She kept mentioning the new rollercoaster, and I groaned ferociously.

“C’mon, it’s over here!” she said, as she ran ahead.

“Oh hell.”

The Rockin Rollin Coaster looked to be at least 75 feet tall. It was a classic wooden rollercoaster. It didn’t go upside down, so that was at least a perk.

We got in line as my nerves frayed. Crazy woman. The line moved fast and we were in a coaster car in the matter of minutes. I felt like I was going to puke. Tim and Shelly climbed in the car behind us, while Averi and Colt waited on the ground with baby Matthew.

Our car jolted forward as we were noisily pulled up the lift. Cheyenne leaned over to me, shaking my hand, trying to jostle me from my panic. I wasn’t panicking nearly as bad as normal. That’s probably because I had other things on my mind. We were nearly at the top of the lift.

“Cheyenne…” I said with a serious tone of voice.

“Yeah, baby?” she said looking over at me with concern.

“I have to ask you something.”

“Okay…”

I waited for dramatic effect til we were almost ready to tip down the first steep hill.

“Marry me.”

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!”

We had gone down the hill, only this time it wasn’t just me screaming. Cheyenne had tears streaming down her face and a jubilant scream poured from her mouth. Shelly and Tim were cracking up laughing and as the coaster whipped us up and down and to and fro, Cheyenne kissed me, officially making the Rockin and Rollin Coaster the only fair ride I could actually enjoy.

Her hands wouldn’t let my shirt go. Her lips wouldn’t leave mine.

“Is that a yes?!”

“YES!” Cheyenne shouted as a camera snapped and we plunged another fifty feet to the ground below.

The moment would be forever immortalized by the coaster cam at the fair. I couldn’t breathe, and it wasn’t the ride. My girl was mine again. Officially.

As we got off the ride, we couldn’t help our joy. We were smiling from ear to ear. My sister, who was not so patiently waiting at the coaster cam booth where we could pick up the pictures, started bouncing up and down with baby Matthew in her arms.

Colt took the baby from her arms as she ran to give me a hug.

“She said yes?!”

Cheyenne nodded her head with a smile.

“She said yes alright,” Colt said as he waved the picture from the coaster cam in his hand.

“Immortalized for ever!” Cheyenne exclaimed.

“This one is going up on the wall. Blown up,” Colt said.

“Oh, God. Let me see.”

In the picture, Cheyenne looks like she is about to jump out of the coaster car, while I am screaming like an idiot from a mixture of excitement, terror and fear. Old habits die hard.