-A Note: Hello everybody! Thank you all so much for continuing to read. I know It's been a bit since my last chapter was posted but I've got lots of stuff going on in my life right now so I appreciate the patience. That you guys for all the feedback. I really do love reading every one of them. Please continue to review! Enjoy the next chapter!
"Emily is moving out of my house today," I say out loud to my lonely hotel room as I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling. I just woke up and yet all I can think about is Emily and how I've lost her again. I have to say things like this aloud to myself to remind me that they are real. 'Emily is engaged', 'Emily's moved on', 'Emily's moving out of OUR house' and so on. I try to not be hurt by it but I am. She's not at fault, I know that. I would've tried to move on also if the roles were reversed and after meeting Stephanie a couple of nights ago, I can see why Emily loves her. She's a very kind and funny person; and you can see in her eyes when she looks at Emily that she loves the girl deeply, plus she's definitely hot. It's good she caught Emily's eye over others. I can be content knowing that Emily is happy with someone who will care for her and love her for the rest of her life. I guess this means that it's my turn to move on or try to at least.
After several more minutes of wallowing, I get up and get ready to head to the house. I figure I might as well make myself useful and help them move some things. I fully realize I am helping the love of my life move in with some other woman but all I want is for Emily to be happy. I know just being here after being basically dead for years is already tearing her apart and I really don't want to cause her anymore pain. Before heading to the house to help the love of my life move in with her fiancé that not me, I stop at the coffee shop and find Aria, Hanna and Spencer once again in the same spot as always. I order my coffee and head over to their table.
"Do you three ever leave this spot," I say jokingly with a raised eyebrow.
"No," Spencer replies, her voice dripping in heavy sarcasm. "In fact, none of us have jobs and we job sit here all day, every day." God, I missed her sarcasm. I scoff at her comment and try my best to keep my coffee from painfully ejecting out of my nose.
"Hey Paige!" Hanna and Aria say together. "How are you doing?" Aria adds. I'm able to regain my composure and smile at them but only even Hastings sarcasm can only cure so much.
"Oh you know, I'm great considering I've been home for like three days after being locked away for three and a half years to find out that the love of my life is engaged and now moving in with said fiancé." I reply sipping my coffee.
"Wow, can someone say buzzkill?" Hanna remarks, giving me a wink.
"So she's moving in with Steph? Is that so you can have the house?" Aria says rolling her eyes at Hanna. My only reply is a nod.
"Ok should I be happy or sad?" Spencer says looking at me with a somewhat scary grin and a raised eyebrow.
"Spencer!" Hanna and Aria say in unison once again. They still have it after so long.
"What? I want to know if we are congratulating them for finally moving in or if we have to kill Stephanie." She replies with another grin as she throws her hands out to the side, palms up, and shrugs her shoulders.
"Spencer!" The pair exclaim again evoking a spontaneous giggle from me that almost causes me to spew coffee out of my nose...again. I put a hand up to stop them from bickering. I really don't want to have hot liquid scorching the inside of my nose this morning.
"No Spence, it's ok. If she's happy, I'm happy. Besides Stephanie is a nice girl. I'm actually going over there to help them move Em," I say causing the blonde and shortest one to whip their heads around to look at me. Spencer just sips at her coffee and slowly raises an eyebrow. "What?" I say with a curious look.
"You're a better person than me, that's for sure," states Spencer. Maybe I am being too gracious but I don't care. I love Emily and I will still do anything for her even if that thing is moving her in with someone else.
"Guys, you know I'll do anything for her," I voice, looking down at my coffee cup and fiddling with the rim. I get a collective sigh and sad looks in return. I know they are conflicted. They all like Stephanie but they also know I love Emily with all my heart and always will; now and forever. I don't stay longer to talk to them; they all have plans I need to get to the house. When I get there, I find that the door is open, probably so things can be carried out more easily.
"Hello?" I call out looking for Emily or Steph. No one answers so I walk further into the house to see if I can find someone. In the kitchen, I find Emily going through the cabinets wearing jeans and a tank top. Even though it's September it's unseasonably warm so the tank top makes sense. Her beautiful hair is pulled back to keep it out of her face while she works. Her ear buds are in her ears with the music playing just a tad too loud, explaining why she didn't hear me call out. Thank God she didn't. I lean against the door frame and watch her as she goes through the cabinets, placing a few dishes here and there into a box on the counter in front of her, dancing and singing along the entire time. It's the cutest damn thing I've ever seen. She bobs her head to the beat, swaying her hips that mesmerize me with every beat they time out. I let my mind slip for a second as a memory of a similar scene takes over.
I lean against the doorway, watching my very sexy girlfriend dance along to the Beyoncé song playing loudly from the speakers connected to her iPod, as she unpacks her things into my house. The way she moves her hips, swaying back and forth with a slight roll to them, hypnotizes me and causes an electricity to course through my entire body. Her back is to me so she doesn't see me standing there staring at her ass. I watch as she dips down, really getting into the music and I can't stand it anymore. Want and desire take over and I can no longer just stand there and watch. I walk up behind her, glad the music is loud enough that she can't hear me; I don't want her to stop. I carefully wrap my arms around her waist trying my best not to startle her as I whisper, "Don't stop" into her ear. I quickly settle into a rhythm behind her, trying my best not to throw her off. She glances to her side to see my chin resting on her shoulder and smiles without missing a beat with her hips. We sway together with her back pressed into my front for some time. I close my eyes as she presses her cheek into one of mine with her hand caressing the other. Eventually, my hands can no longer resist the temptation of her sides in the tight-fitting tank top she is wearing and they begin to run my hands up and down her sides. She responses with a slow dip down, running her hands down my thighs and her ass against me on the way back up. The heat I'm experiencing builds exponentially and becomes unbearable, so I turn her around to face me, crashing our lips together in a deep and passionate kiss. She places one hand behind my neck, pulling me closer running her tongue along my bottom lip, asking for entrance, which I gladly give. Her other hand runs up my side under my shirt, as I grip her back with both hands, pulling at the hem of her shirt. Emily gets the hint and pulls apart from me long enough for to silently give me permission to remove her shirt by lifting her hands over her head. I can't get the barrier off fast enough. Before the shirt hits the floor, the buttons of my shirt are unfastened faster than I thought they could, signaling to me that Emily is getting just as worked up and hot as I am. I slide my hands down her back to right below her ass, and lift her onto the counter. She looks into my eyes as I lift her and I can see them growing darker by the second. No sooner is she up on the counter, she starts working at my belt and manages to get my jeans undone quickly, despite the kisses I'm placing to the sweet spot behind her ear. She moans as I move my kisses down her neck and undo her pants as well, slipping them off her while stepping out of mine. She forcefully pulls me back into her by my shoulders and crashes our lips into a deep and sensual kiss. My fingers roam to her back and begin to play with the clasp of her bra. When I've had enough of the fabric between us, I unsnap it with one fluid motion, letting it fall away from her chest to expose…
"OH MY GOD, PAIGE! You scared the shit outta me!" Emily shouts with her palm on her heart. She must have turned around while I was lost in my memories. "How long have you been standing there?" She adds, taking deep breaths to calm herself.
"Long enough," I reply with a smirk earning and a suggestively raised eyebrow. I make my way into the kitchen to sit down on one of the stools at the island, holding a cup of coffee out to her. "Cappuccino still your favorite?" I add tilting the bottom of the cup in her direction.
"Yeah, thanks," she replies, taking the cup from me, eyeing me in the process. "You were checking me out weren't you," she jokes. I love that we can still banter like this without it being awkward. It feels good; makes me feel at home again.
"It's hard not to when you're flaunting your hotness around like that," I say, circling my pointed finger in a circle for added effect. I use a teasing tone but I can't be more serious. Her face flushes, causing me to dip my head and smile at how adorable it is when she blushes. Seeing my reaction, see clears her throat before speaking again.
"What are you doing here anyways?" She says taking a sip from her coffee.
"I figured I could make myself useful and give you some help, if you need it that is," I reply. I really just want to spend time with Emily and if helping her pack is the way to do it, then so be it.
"Aw you didn't have to do that, but I'm glad you're here. You can help me go through things. I don't want to take anything you might need or want," she offers, leaning on the counter with her elbows.
"Well, I have furniture and dishes, so I'm pretty much good to go but sure I'll help with anything you need."
We start going through the house, putting knick-knacks and pictures into boxes as well as her clothes. She leaves some of my old shirts that she had taken from my things before donating the rest. She must have worn them a lot because they smell like her. She decides to leave most of the contents of the house to me since a lot of it, such as the furniture, was mine to begin with.
We spend the entirety of the process filling each other in on what has happened to us in the past few years. I withhold a lot of the gory details though because I don't want her feeling sorry for me. She seems happy talking about her life and things seem to be going very well for her which I'm glad to hear. She's happy and as far as I'm concerned, that's all that matters. We spend a few hours together packing up and talking, until Stephanie shows up and helps carry things to the car. A twinge of sadness, rises in me at the sight of the boxes being carried to the car but it helps to know, they only live down the street. I might be able to see Emily more often then I originally thought.
"Thanks for helping me out today," Emily says standing by the doorway with hands in her pockets.
"Any time," I smile back to her. She crosses the distance between us and pulls me into another tight lingering hug, similar to the one she gave me after our dinner the other night. After handing me the keys, she walks out the door and into the car with Stephanie, leaving me alone in the entrance way. The house already feels so empty without her.
I head out to go back to the hotel but I don't stay long. My two duffels, the original from the Army and the new one I had to buy after going shopping with the girls, are not too heavy which I'm thankfully for since I'll be walking back to the house. I check out of the hotel and begin my walk getting to the house about ten minutes later. I let myself in the house and throw my duffels on the floor, my shoulders needing a break from the walk. I sigh against the silence, hating it and welcoming it at the same time. At least the silence here is familiar, unlike the pseudo silence of the hotel room. Leaving my duffels by the door, I wander around the first floor, reacquainting myself with house. I pause as I pass the window overlooking the pool.
"I was drunk that night and I got lost, only I didn't really get lost. I was looking for something... I was looking for somebody... And I came here," the beautiful girl standing in front of me confesses making me sigh out and dip my head. My breath catches in my throat in the realization that she's talking about me. I've been waiting for this moment for so long and here it is. My heart stops as she places her hand on the side of my neck. "Don't look away," she says softly and sweetly. I look up into her eyes for just a moment before she closes the gap between us and into a very passionate kiss. It's the best night of my life so far.
I smile to myself as the memory plays in my head. That kiss, the moment we got together, was like a scene out of a movie. It couldn't have been more perfect. I continue my lap around the house until I eventually find my office. The desk and most everything else, are still pretty much exactly how I left it. Walking around to the other side of the desk, I reach to open the top drawer and find it's been cleaned out and organized. I reach into the back knowing I probably won't find it and I don't. Emily must have found the ring like I predicted. Wondering to myself what she did with it, I head back to the front door to grab my duffels and carry them upstairs. Pictures of Emily and me at various points in our relationship still grace the wall leading up the stairs. It makes me smile knowing she kept them up the whole time despite being in a relationship with someone else. I walk into my room and set down the duffels deciding I'll unpack them later, it's been a busy day and I'm ready to relax and unwind. I'm thankful to know that Emily had decided to live in the other room after my attack, not wanting to relive the memories in this room every day because it eases my mind to know she and Stephanie weren't in here 'together'. My room has barely changed as well, as if she had closed the door and locked it away in order to preserve whatever memories of us she had left. My eyes scan the room and I relax into the familiarity. I walk over to the dresser near the bed to look at the pictures that are still there when I notice something resting on the top that I know I definitely did not leave there. I place my hand carefully on the small charred and twisted metal pieces, the memory of them being ripped off my neck flashing through my brain. My hand notices that one of them is raised off the desk as if something is under it. I slowly grab the end of the chain my tags are on and lift them off the table, taking note of the added weight. I drop chain into my other hand before clenching them tight as tears well in my eyes. I drop to my knees and lean against the desk, unable to keep myself upright any longer. I can feel the rough edges of the tags and the sharp points of the diamond cutting into the flesh of my tightly clenched hand. After a few moments, I'm finally able to open my hand to look once again at the faded metal next to the silver diamond ring that had been taken from my desk.
I don't leave the house for a few days desperately needing the rest and time to clear my mind. I slept pretty well on those days but for some reason I wake up today very early, close to four A.M. I'm exhausted but I know I can't go back to sleep. Deciding instead that I need some exercise, I grab my old swimming gear and head to the pool. The pool used to be open in the mornings around five to the public with morning practice beginning at six thirty. I'm hoping this is still the case. I figure Emily won't be there until closer to practice and I'll be long gone by then. I've avoided her since finding the tags and the ring, not sure if I'll be able handle seeing her yet without breaking down.
I'm surprised my swimsuit still fits me when I put it on, since it's been so long since I wore it last. When I walk onto the deck, I find I'm the only one at the pool and it makes me happy to know I get it all to myself. The quiet, stillness of the large open room is just what I need.
I dive into the pool, feeling the cool water rush past my streamlined body. The water rushes past my ears, essentially trapping my thoughts in my head to be sorted through and properly processed. Immediately my legs move up and down together, in a wave-like motion, my body following in line, before I surface and begin my stroke. I'm thrilled to find that I still got it. My endurance and speed maybe shot to all hell but my technique is still spot on; like riding a bike. I slide my hand into the water in front of me at an angle, minimizing the splash as I bring my other hand out of the water, my elbow to the ceiling, hand dangling down. My entire body rotates effortlessly as I pull my front arm underneath me replacing it with my other hand to rotate to the other side. I had forgotten how peaceful this sport is. I settle into an easy rhythm, taking three strokes for every breath I take. I hear only the muffled sound of my splashes induced by my kicks. I focus on my arms feeling the pull of the water on my hand and forearm as I move my hands underneath me. I don't move myself through the water, I move the water around me; I control it. It's the one thing I can control right now.
I've swam several yards but I feel like I can go on forever to make up all the time I missed not being in the water. I come up to the wall about to pull myself into a flip turn when I feel a tap on my head. Without thinking, my self-defense skills kick in. In one fluid motion, I grab the hand and pike my body down to come to a sudden stop, plant my feet on the bottom and pull the stranger over my head and into the water. Immediately, a gasp of horror releases from my throat as I turn around to see a figure soaking wet from her jet black hair to her sneakers. All Emily can do is look at me startled and dripping.
"Emily, shit... I'm so sorry. You scared me... And well... I got startled and..." I begin before she cuts me off.
"Note to self, never sneak up on a soldier," she laughs to herself. Phew, she's not angry. I take a breath as I see her move to the edge of the pool. Instead of getting out, she takes off her Rosewood Sharks coach's jacket along with her tennis shoes and socks before turning back to me.
"It looks like you've still got it McCullers," she says to me. "Want to race? For old time's sake?" She looks at me with those big brown eyes and despite my better judgment, I agree. I'm about to get annihilated. We push off the side of the wall together and it doesn't take long for her to pull ahead of me even with the added hindrance of her jeans. She turns and starts heading back in the opposite direction. I cheat and turn around after she passes me, putting myself closer to her heels. We are about half way down the pool, when I'm able to catch her enough to grab her ankle and lank her back propelling myself in front of her. I hear her yell 'Hey!' but I put my head down and dig deeper trying to distance myself from her in order to win. I fail and feel her grab my leg instead. When I feel her pull on my leg, I stop her from propelling herself in front of me by curling into a ball, suspended by the water, causing her to crash into me. We begin to wrestle with each other, flipping end over end in the water in an attempt to keep the other under. We surface a few minutes later, gasping for breath, still in each other's arms with our faces dangerously close as we laugh at what just happened. Our laughter dies quickly when we lock eyes and realize the proximity to each other. The electricity between us is intense and almost unbearable. I want so badly to kiss her but I cannot run the risk of her hating me for trying to get between her and Stephanie. But, before I can break her gaze to avoid doing something I'll regret, I feel her sweet soft lips on mine and can't help but pull her even closer to deepen the kiss as I silently pray I'm not just dreaming.