Into You (29 page)

I will always love you.
Happy Valentine's Day.

My heart leapt. What did that mean? I will always love you, so I want to cut out all reminders that you exist? Or I'll always love you, and I'm losing my mind without you? And she came on Valentine's Day. My head had been in such a fog, I forgot all about it.

I was driving myself mad with countless possibilities behind the significance of coming today. I jumped out of my seat. I knew what I had to do. I had to go see if she was alone. If she was, then I knew we had a chance. If not, I'd have no choice but to walk away with my tail between my legs. I shoved the ring in my pocket, grabbed my jacket, and headed for Elizabeth's.

*

I parked my car across the complex. I didn't want to risk her seeing me. The only light coming from her apartment was from the T.V. I knew she could be on the couch cozying up with someone, but I thought the fact she was home was a good sign. A first Valentine's Day together would call for something more than rented movies or television.

I zipped my jacket up as I got out of the car. It was a cold night. Little puffs of steam formed as my warm breath hit the cool air. I walked for a while, keeping my eyes on her apartment, waiting for a hint of movement.

I didn't want her to see me, didn't want her to think of me as a stalker, then she might be afraid and it would be harder to win her back. Was that what I was doing? Trying to plan a way to win her back? Hell yeah!

With that thought, came courage. I could do this. I just had to size up the enemy. I moved closer, my eyes focused on the living room window. The lights flashed on. This was my chance. I could see inside while it would be more di
fficult for her to see outside.

She was on the phone. It was her land line, not her cell. She never used that line. I couldn't see anyone but her as she moved to towards the window and closed the blinds. Oh shit, d
id she see me?

I needed to move. She couldn't catch me there, it would ruin everything. I pulled the hood of my jacket up and crossed the street as I walked back toward me car. I heard her door open and had no idea what to expect. If I'd been with her, I would've run out and beat the crap out any guy l
oitering around her apartment.

"That's right, keep moving or I'll call the cops and have your ass thrown in jail, you freak!"

Someone must have seen me and alerted her. I didn't want to frighten her, but I was glad I did. The sound of her voice made me giddy. I wouldn't risk getting in my car until I was certain she was safe inside. After all she was alone. She had to be, or else the guy she was with would've come to the door, or at least stood beside her.

"Happy Valentine's Day, baby."

Chapter 65

Elizabeth
 

I hoped he'd call. I chose today to return my ring for a reason. It was Valentine's Day, the lover’s holiday. I hoped seeing it, along with my note would spur some kind of reaction from him. Instead all I got was silence. The same deafening tone he'd taken since he walked away from me.

I jumped when my phone rang. I didn't care if it was him and I sounded desperate to talk to him, I was. I looked down at the caller ID first to make sure it wasn't Mason. Initially I hadn't heard from him after his visit, but in the last week he left three messages asking me to go have dinner with him.

The display read Private caller. If it was Carter he would've called on my cell phone. Unless he somehow lost his contacts, or deleted my number and decided to call on the land line. Why wouldn't his name come up? You could block your information. Maybe he changed his number and didn't want me to have the new number. Or maybe it was all just wishful thinking.

"Hello."

It wasn't
Mason, or Carter on the other end. It was Megan, a neighbor from across the street. She called to tell me there was some strange guy looking in my window. I begged the universe, please let it be Carter. By the time I got to the door, whoever it was was on his way down the street.

So much for my wild fantasies.
It wasn't Carter or Mason, and I suddenly felt very vulnerable. I didn't want to be alone, but there was no one to call. I moved a kitchen chair over to the front door and stuck the back of it under the knob. Well that at least would slow someone down, if not prevent them from coming in that way all together.

This was turning out to be the worst Valentine's Day ever. Maybe it was time to go back home to my parents. I had nothing holding me here anymore.

Chapter 66

Carter

I drove too fast. I knew that. I didn't care. I made up my mind. I was going to win Elizabeth back, but I needed help. I made it to Bay Ridge in thirty minutes. I checked the time, it was still early. Chances were she wasn't home yet. I was stopped in the lobby. I gave the name and apartment number to the overzealous doorman.

"She's not back yet. But she should be home in about ten minutes."

"Are you sure?"

"It's Monday night, she always comes home early on Monday nights."

I wasn't sure I believed him, and wondered if he knew the habits of all the building’s residents that well. I'd wait, but not in the lobby. If she saw me in the lobby she might call Elizabeth and that would ruin everything.

*

I took the elevator up to the apartment. I sat on the floor beside her door, my back against the wall and my earbuds in while I waited for her. I stared at the elevator, willing the doors to open. Fifteen minutes later they did.

I jumped to my feet and pulled the
earbuds out. She took one look at me, her eyes blazing, turned around and got back on the elevator. I stuck my hand between the doors as she kept pressing the close door button.

"Leave me alone."

"Please, Violet, I just want to talk."

"I have nothing to say to you. You broke Elizabeth's heart."

"I know. And I have plenty to say, so either let me on, or come off so we could talk."

"There's nothing to talk about. Don't think you're going to stand there and talk trash about my sister."

"I wouldn't dream of it. The truth is, I'm lost without her."

"That sounds like something you should be telling her, not me."

With my body between the doors so they wouldn't close, I reached for her arm and pulled her out. "Please. I want her back, and I need your help."

"It's about time." The gruff male voice coming from behind made me nervous, but I had to face him eventually, and there was no time like the present."

"Hello, Mr. Jennings."

*

The three of us went into the apartment, and sat at the kitchen table. Louis called a very surprised Anne in to join us. I started the conversation with a heartfelt apology, to all of them. It was good practice for when I'd finally have the chance to apologize to Elizabeth.

"Were you outside her apartment tonight?" Anne asked.

I looked down, embarrassed before I nodded. "I swear I'm not stalking your daughter. And I'm not unstable or dangerous. But it hit me tonight that it was really over, and I needed to know if she moved on."

"Does it matter if she did?" Violet asked.

"At the time I told myself if she did, I'd walk away and she'd never know I was there. No harm, no foul."

"And now?" her father questioned.
I knew there was a purpose behind his question. My answer would help him decide whether or not he was in.

"Nothing in my life is as important as it was when she was beside me. The only thing that matters is winning back her love and trust."

Louis and Anne exchanged a look. "This really is a discussion you should have with Elizabeth," her mother said.

"I will. But this time I want to do everything right. I want to make sure I do all I can to make her happy. So I'd like to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage."

"Carter, son," the fact that Louis called me son reassured me this was going to work. He'd agree once he understood I would never do anything to hurt her again, at least not purposely. "I think you're getting ahead of yourself. On one hand you're hoping she'll forgive you, on the other you're talking about a lifelong commitment."

"I understand your concern, I do. But all this last month proved to me was how I don't want to wake up and face another day without her in my life.
Ever. And even though we aren't together, I love her more with each passing day. I'll do anything, we'll even rent an apartment here in your building if it makes you feel better."

"Wouldn't that be a hell of a commute for you to Common Sense?"

"I don't care. I just want her back."

Louis nodded. "If she agrees, then yes, you have our blessing."

I could breathe again. I wanted to jump up and hug him.

"When do you plan on seeing her?"

"That's where I need your help. This time around, I want to go into it with something to offer her. I found out today I've got the funding for the center I want to open. And I'd like to give her half. And half my house as well."

Anne looked concerned. "I'm not trying to buy her, but part of the reason we broke up . . . it had to do with money. I want to prove to her, money isn't important to me. She is."

"What is it you want us to do?"

"Help me buy time to get things in order. I know you can't keep her from seeing anyone else, but maybe you could keep her distracted so she won't want to. And then help me blow her mind."

"Where did the funding come from?" Violet asked. I narrowed my eyes at her and thought for a moment. I was so excited I never asked how the non-profit group found out about me, how they got my contact information. I never asked any of the relevant questions. And how did Louis know? When he mentioned Common Sense a minute ago, I hadn't yet told them about the funding.

"It was her, wasn't it?" I searched her father's eyes.  “Elizabeth did this.
Even after I was such a shit."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Louis smirked as he looked away.

"C'mon Dad, she made us promise not to tell him, she didn't say anything about him figuring it out on his own."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. My precious angel still loved me. I knew it! "Now I really need to make this work. So what do you say? Are you in?"

Chapter 67

Elizabet
h
  

Since I called my mother on Valentine’s Day freaked out by the guy looking through my window, my family barely left me alone. Either they were here, or they wanted me home with them.
Especially on the weekends. Sick and tired of being alone I gave in, often.

And then came the pressure to move back home. I didn't want to, but I hadn't found another job, and soon I wouldn't have a choice. While I did search for a job and get on all the employment sites, all I could find was temporary work,
unless I wanted to move south.

A physical therapy facility was opening a new office, and offered me a position, but it was way down in South Jersey. The thought held appeal for all of ten minutes. Until I started to seriously consider it. But being here, so close to where Carter lived, it gave me hope that we'd eventually run into each other. I just hoped if we did, he wouldn't have some bimbo draped all over him. Maybe it was better if I moved back to Brooklyn? Maybe that would cure my obsession with him, and my broken heart?

It was over two months since we broke up, and still not a word from him. My father assured me Carter had the money and was working hard to open Common Sense. I knew he'd turn it into a huge success. I only wished I could be there to see it.

Easter came early this year. My parents expected me at their house. Where else would I be? But I didn't want to go. I knew I had to move on, in every area of my life, I just didn't know how. The truth was I didn't want to be there.

I threw on a dress I bought with my mother and Violet a few weeks earlier. That was their cure for everything these days, new clothes and a manicure. I expected it from my mother, but not from Violet. Sex with a hot guy was her go to activity when things got tough. But not once had she even suggested it. Maybe she finally understood I couldn't just have sex with a guy for the sake of having sex. I needed to be emotionally vested in him.

My cell phone rang.
Violet. "Hey Frog Face, Mom needs you to pick something up from the store."

"Frog Face?"

"What can I say? You sit there like a lump on a log all day."

"Go to hell."

"It's okay, I love you, too. Can you pick up a carton of eggs on your way here?"

"Eggs?
You're not planning on coloring eggs today are you?"

"No smart ass, but Mom forgot to buy extras and we're all out. She said she needs them."

"Does she really need them today?"

"Yes. I don't see what the big deal
is, just pick up a carton of eggs."

"Go get them yourself."

"Can't. Since you're not here, I'm helping mom cook."

I hung up annoyed. I didn't want to get eggs, they reminded me of Carter. Of all the things they could've asked for, why eggs?