Running From Forever (26 page)

Once the spasmed rush of pleasure escaped our
bodies, I set her leg back on the ground, but kept our foreheads
touching as our breathing evened out. Kayla’s eyes squeezed shut as
what I thought was a tear slipped down her cheek. I couldn’t be
sure as we were in the shower, but I had a feeling it was. I kissed
her cheek where the tear just fell then asked if she was okay in a
low whisper. She nodded her head, eyes still closed as more fell. I
kept kissing her face, kissing as many of them away that I could.
After a short minute, her eyes opened, her lips finding mine,
kissing me gently. It was the most consuming kiss I’d ever received
from her. I felt everything she was trying to express that words
couldn’t speak: love, trust, devotion, remorse.

Her voice appeared after the third kiss. “I’m
sorry,” she whispered raggedly. “I’m sorry I ran.”

I held her face in my hands, making her eyes see
mine. “No. You have nothing to be sorry about.” I paused, closing
my eyes, feeling the emotion bubble up through my chest,
threatening to escape my eyes. “You had every reason to run, baby,
just never leave me again,” I begged, my eyes now open, tears
hopelessly falling from them. I couldn’t remember the last time I
was so open and vulnerable, but the emotion was too high to hold
back. Kayla caused feelings to arise that I never knew I carried.
With her, I was an open book, letting my heart explode freely
between us.

Her eyes shut and she shook her head before they
opened again, looking at me with her heart in her eyes. “I’m done
running,” she repeated softly. “You’re my forever. I’m done running
from happiness.”

***

6 Months
Later…

It was just after three in the afternoon when
the last boxes arrived from Kayla’s apartment. After months of
searching, refusing my assistance, Madison was finally employed
full-time, working as a receptionist at nearby law firm, which
enabled her to afford and transfer the lease for Kayla’s apartment
into her name.

I laughed when the moving crew dropped the final
box next to the other ten sitting in my entryway; it was probably
the simplest moving job they’d ever experienced and also probably
be the only time I could say that my girl packed light—her
apartment was nothing more than a place to sleep and shower. All
that would change now that she was with me; now her home was where
her heart was and my love would be pampered and taken care of, and
she deserved it. Kayla deserved everything that I could fortunately
provide her. It was because of her that I saw a life like I had
never seen before, because of her that I felt love that I never
knew existed. Kayla deserved the world, and I was bound and
determined to give it to her every day for the rest of our
lives.

Kayla was gone visiting her friend, Merrick. It
was a friendship that I never understood, but one that I would
never challenge. She cared for him deeply, as he did for her. They
had a special bond that only two people from similar pasts could
share. Merrick lived in the city by himself. He had friends that
lived nearby in Jersey, and a sister that lived in some country I
couldn’t remember, but here, in New York City, he only had Kayla,
and in a way I prefer to not admit, she only had him, too. Kayla’s
past and the struggles she endured were nothing I could relate to.
I was privileged; given anything I had ever asked for. She and
Merrick…not even close. So in a way, Merrick was all that Kayla had
to relate to, the only person she could talk to about the
underlying feelings of her past. She had Maddy, but she was still
the younger sister— not as mature, and she carried their past a
little differently than Kayla did. I could listen, and I’d always
be there as someone she could bounce her emotions of off, but I
couldn’t relate, and for that I was eternally grateful she had
Merrick.

He was her escape, but I was her home.

At just after four, our driver arrived,
carrying our suitcases down to the awaiting town car. I made sure
to grab everything on the checklist Kayla left, making sure we
didn’t forget anything. Every time we traveled I was given a long
list. It didn’t matter that I told her numerous times that anything
that may have been forgotten could easily be purchased when we
reached our destination. No, she wouldn’t hear it, reminding me
that it was a waste of money to buy something twice. I couldn’t
disagree with that.

I had phoned when I left our building that I was
on my way. Merrick was invited to attend this weekend, but he had a
big race that he couldn’t miss. Even though Kayla was exceedingly
thrilled for the weekend, I knew it hurt that she couldn’t be there
for him—she never missed his races.

Kayla was already reaching for the bar door when
I entered, allowing me to only have to wave to Merrick from the
exit before holding it open for Kayla to leave.

“Everything well with Merrick?” I asked, kissing
the top of her head gently.

She smiled and thanked the driver holding her
door first, then climbed into the backseat of the car. “Fine.
Bummed he won’t be there this weekend, but otherwise good,” she
said while getting situated in her seat. She smiled, her eyes
bright. “Did everything get delivered okay?”

Wrapping my arm around her shoulders, I slid her
closer to my side, eliminating the distance between us. I softly
held her chin up to face me, pressing my lips against hers briefly.
“You are officially a permanent resident in the Blackwell
penthouse,” I whispered against her mouth.

“The Blackwell penthouse? Sounds so
sophisticated.”

I smiled at her adorableness. “Well, Ms.
Reynolds,” I slid the back on my hand along the cheek of her skin,
admiring her beauty, “the title must hold the utmost sophisticated
label in order to accommodate such an elegant woman.”

She snickered, cheeks blushing the perfect shade
of pink. “I don’t know what that means, but I love the way it
sounds.”

I laughed at her simplicity, kissing her again
on the forehead. “You amuse me, Ms. Reynolds.” I peered down at her
and smiled. “More than you could ever imagine.”

Today was the big day. The sun was shining,
the beaches of the Caribbean pristine as ever…an exceptional day
for an ocean view wedding. I wished we would’ve gotten in earlier
yesterday; it would have been lovely to have some alone time
together before the wedding festivities started today, but with the
executive title, time was of the essence and I had minimal time
allotted for getaways—even for one with today’s stature.

I knocked on the door of the suite that Kayla
was in. Though the men were ordered to stay away, I couldn’t. I
needed to see my love. I couldn’t wait. I heard voices conversing
on the other side and it took a minute before the door opened and
Kayla’s head peeked out around it, sure not to reveal the dress she
was wearing.

“You’re not very good with rules, are you?” she
asked me, her smile radiating against her freshly-applied makeup,
her hair down in long, loose curls just the way I loved it.

I grinned, emotion flooding my body. My love was
beautiful, stunning…breathtaking. “Not when it involves keeping you
away from me.”

Her cheeks flushed and her lips curled up into
the grin that stole my heart every time. I loved the way my words
affected her, the way they still flattered her after the months
that we had been together.

“Only a little longer,” she promised
flirtatiously, “then I’m all yours.”

She made my insides cave. With the simplest
declaration, she always left me a pile of mush. Only this time, I
was turned on, emotionally fulfilled, and left all to myself. I
would have to wait a little longer to indulge. With my hands in the
pants pockets of my suit and my weight shifted back on my heels, I
licked my lips then cynically glared at her with a look of
apprehension.

“Will you stop it!” she kidded. “I’m going.
You’re supposed to be out there waiting by now anyway,” she
continued to point out with a statement that was very much
accurate.

Knowing that her lipstick had just been
professionally applied, I brushed her cheek with mine, whispering,
“You look beautiful,” in her ear before stepping away, giving her
one last, lingering glance.

Everyone stood with the violinist’s change in
music, and the beautiful bride rounded the entrance of the rose
petal aisle. I couldn’t look away or anywhere but at Kayla.
Engrossed by her beauty, my eyes stayed fixed on her; captivated
and in total awe of the woman before me. Her eyes glowed and her
skin glistened in the warm sun, making her makeup sparkle on her
face like an angel’s would, but her eyes were on everyone’s but
mine, making me snicker …she couldn’t, could she? She’d pre-warned
me about the emotional state weddings put her in, and said she
wouldn’t be able to focus on me or anyone else in attempt to save
her makeup.

“We are gathered here today to witness the
joining of two lives. These two separate people have chosen this
special time and place to be married to each other. The decision to
marry is not entered into lightly, but rather is undertaken with
great consideration and respect for both the other person and
oneself. You, as friends and family, are able to celebrate with
Matthew and Leah in the making of this important commitment,” the
justice of the peace began with Leah now standing beside Matt with
her back to her maid of honor, Kayla.

The ceremony and words slowly disappeared as my
eyes focused on Kayla once again, picturing us standing just as
Matt and Leah were at the moment, vowing their lives together.
Marriage had always appeared superficial, unnecessary. It was
nothing but a sheet of paper signed by two parties—a contract.
Contracts were something I dealt with daily. I couldn’t fathom it
as the legal bind in love and trust. One shouldn’t need a piece of
paper to have a successful, prosperous relationship with someone
they presumed to love.