by Emma Nichole
The long walkway that leads from the center of the park to the fountain is lined with benches, and the sky is hidden by Spanish moss-covered tree branches.
The closer we get to the fountain, the louder the sound of the water becomes, and honestly, it’s so tranquil I almost, almost relax for just a moment, as if tomorrow isn’t going to come.
I wrap my hands around the iron fence that surrounds the fountain, and Falcon stands right behind me with his chest to my back, and his hands resting right next to mine.
“You know, during St. Patrick’s Day, they have a big ceremony here in the park and dye the water in here green. People take it seriously here. You’d think this was Ireland.”
“I’m sure that’s a sight to see.” He is resting his chin on top of my head.
“It’s bizarre, but I love it, everyone does. There are people all around here. News crews. Everyone.”
“I’d like to see that one day.”
I close my eyes at that and take a deep breath. “Maybe you can come back for it one year.”
I can feel each breath he takes, his chest rising and falling against me. Part of me wants to turn around and beg him to stay, but that’s not who I am.
I can’t get swept away in something I can’t even identify yet. All I know for sure is I enjoy spending time with him. I want to keep spending time with him, and I don’t want him to go.
I’ll miss him.
“Tell me what you’re thinking?” he asks.
Can he read my mind? Hell, he can do everything else. Clairvoyance wouldn’t surprise me at this point.
“Do you want the truth or an easier answer?” I don’t turn to look at him; I just stare down at the flowers. Purple ones to be specific.
“The truth. Only the truth. Always.”
“I’m thinking about tomorrow and how saying goodbye to you is really going to suck.”
“It’s not exactly going to be cake for me either, baby.” He presses a kiss to the top of my head.
“At the risk of sounding like a complete girl, I just…what is this, Falcon? Where do we go from here?”
“I wish there was a simple answer for that, but everything I’ve come up with in my head sounds too…insignificant.”
Insignificant?
“It’s okay. I understand. You have your life there, and I am so far away. This was fun, but…”
He cuts me off and spins me around to look into his eyes. “Don’t. Don’t you dare.”
“What?” I swallow the knot forming in my throat.
“Don’t say what you were about to. Don’t lessen or cheapen this or us. I won’t let you because this wasn’t less than or cheap to me, Faith, and this was more than a solid fuck on vacation.”
I rest my forehead on his chest. I’ll never tire of how strong and powerful it feels.
“All I know is I’ve more than enjoyed getting to spend all of this time with you, and I’m not ready to say goodbye yet.”
“So don’t,” he says, matter-of-factly.
My brows wrinkle in confusion and I look up at him. “What?”
“Don’t say goodbye. We are adults. We can choose what we want to do, right?”
“Yeah, yes…I suppose. I still don’t understand.”
“Come on the road with me. For my last three fights. I’m not ready to say goodbye either, Faith, and I want you to come with me. I know it’s crazy, I know it’s irresponsible, and nuts, but I want this. Come with me.” He is cupping my face in his hands so I can’t look away.
“I…I can’t do that. I have a job, responsibilities, I can’t just leave for…however long I’d be gone for.”
“My last three fights spread over a month and a half. And you said yourself; you have nearly six months worth of time off saved up at work. Take it. You’ve earned it.”
Why is it I know I should decline? I know I should tell him thanks but no thanks. I have a job, a home, things to do, so I can’t just drop everything for an extended vacation.
But I look into those beautiful brown eyes of his, and the word yes is tickling my tongue.
The idea of going with him, of being in his environment, of watching him do what he does, of spending even more time with him, more kissing, more touching, more laughing, more sex, just…more, makes me glow from the inside out.
You need a vacation, Faith.
I can hear Case’s words echoing in my brain.
You need to get out more, sweetie.
My mom’s voice is next up.
“Come with me,” he says again.
There are so many reasons why I should say no, but as I take in his eyes, his smile, and the feeling of his hands on me, I’m suddenly forgetting each and every one of them.
Rose always tells me to just jump, to trust the universe to catch me, and that I need to embrace a little crazy as long as it means I’m living.
I release a breath, smile just a little…and dive, arms outstretched, trusting the feeling deep in my chest that is telling me to live.
“Okay.”
Chapter 16
Faith
“Wait…hold on…back up…rewind,” Rose says, with her hands up. “You’re leaving? With Falcon?”
“Just for a few weeks, but yes.” I turn to face her. “I know it’s crazy. It doesn’t even make any sense. Why would I even consider…”
She stops me with her hand covering my mouth. “Don’t. Stop right there.”
I just widen my eyes in response and place my hands on my hips.
Rose has always been my most honest friend. She scoops me up when I need her. She gives tough love when it’s necessary. If I’m being dumb or over the top or too sensitive, she tells me to buck up and stop wallowing. I know I can count on her to tell me the truth. If this is a crazy decision, she will tell me that, and I will take a step back and really think about this.
Even though, deep down, I know I want to go more than anything, and I’m not sure any amount of logic will stop me at this point.
“Don’t do exactly what I know you’re about to do. You don’t need to defend yourself or your choices. You don’t need to explain your choices to anyone at all. You are doing what you want for the first time in so long. How many times have I told you that you need to live a little?”
My body sags in relief. I didn’t even realize I was tense until this moment. I don’t need Rose’s approval or permission, obviously, but knowing that I have at least one person in my corner, telling me this is okay, means everything to me.
She moves her hand from my mouth and takes both of my shoulders in them.
“Too many times to count,” I admit.
“So go live. You need to explore. Have fun. Have sex. Be crazy. Be spontaneous and risky. Follow the hot fighter for a little bit, get a few killer orgasms out of it, then come back home refreshed and ready to take on the world.”
“It’ll be more than a few.” I smirk. “But Rose, is this stupid? I mean...should this be something I even do?”
“Goddamn right. That’s my girl,” she says, completely ignoring my question at first. “And what did I just say? Stop questioning yourself. If you feel in your heart you want to go have some fun, do it! But, while my job as your best friend is to gas you up and tell you what a badass you’re being, the other side of my brain wants to make sure you’re not leaving me for good. You are coming home…right? I don’t have to say my goodbyes or anything right now?”
I frown a bit and pull her into a tight hug. “I’ll be home. This is just a fun, long vacation.”
“Then do what feels right and good in your heart and your body. Promise? You’ve earned this and you, of all people, deserve this. I’m really proud of you, Faith. You could have allowed your past to destroy you, but you came out on the other side. That’s huge.”
I try not to cry, I really do, but the hot tears seep down my cheeks before I can even stop them. Not because I’m leaving, because I know I’ll be back, but because of her words. I’ve needed to hear them for so long. I’
ve needed to know from someone, other than my mom, I was okay and I had finally made it.
“I love you, Rose.” I wrap her up in a hug and squeeze tight.
“I love you too.” She pulls away just a bit before she claps her hands together. “All right. Let’s back you some surprises that will knock that filthy fighter’s socks off.”
Falcon
“This is my least favorite part,” my sister says, as she sits on the edge of the bed, holding my hoodie in her hands. “Do you really have to go?”
“You know I do, Nor, and don’t act like I’m enjoying this part any more than you are. I miss you every day.”
“Then stop fighting and move here,” she says matter-of-factly, as if it’s just that simple.
“I really don’t want to argue about this every single time we speak. You know I want to finish out my scheduled fights. Let me do that and then we can talk about the rest.”
“Why can’t we talk about it now? Faith is here. Doesn’t that change anything?”
“What do you mean?” I stop what I’m doing and look her way.
“Don’t play dumb with me. It’s obvious you two like each other a lot. Dinner last night made that crystal clear, so trying to be coy like we didn’t all see it was a useless effort.” She tips her head to the side and waits for my response.
“I do like her. She’s fun and…” I pause as I try to find the right words to describe her, and honestly, nothing I can come up with does her justice, so I go with something simple, “absolutely fucking amazing.”
“If she’s so fucking amazing. Stay here.”
I scrub my hand over my face and pull the chair out from the small desk on the other side of the room. I drop down to have a seat before finally speaking, “Well, I have to go because...Faith is coming with me. Problem solved.”
For the first time in my entire life, since the day she was born, my sister is silent. Completely silent. She’s not even moving. She’s just staring at me.
“Say something...” I urge.
She blinks twice. “I’m processing.”
“There isn’t much to process.”
“Um, you just dropped a bomb that my neighbor is moving to California with you. My neighbor who you barely know and who barely knows you.”
“Whoa, she’s not moving with me. It’s not like that. She’s just taking a vacation and coming with me on the road.”
“I’m...wow.”
“You sound shocked.”
“Well, yeah, I am shocked. Faith doesn’t do things like that. Faith is really routine-based. She is a fun girl, but she stays the course more than she veers off of it.”
“Have you ever stopped to think that maybe you don’t really know her?” I say. I don’t mean to sound as defensive as I do, but it’s the tone I feel right now.
“I know what her past has been like. I know she has tried to live her life as best she could, but I also know the type of life you live, Marco. The belt riders making their presence known, the few asshole fighters who don’t know when to stop, the fans, the chaos, the media, the cameras. I just want her to know that’s what she’s getting into, and I just...worry about her. That’s all.”
“Do you really think I won’t shield her from that shit? Christ, Nora, you act like I’m an asshole.”
“No, I don’t think you’re an asshole at all. I just know she’s been through a lot. She has told me what happened to her. We’ve lain together and talked about everything and nothing. I won’t let anything happen to her.”
“She’s a grown woman. If she wants to come with me, she can. I don’t know what this is with her, Sis, but I know I’m not ready to say goodbye to her yet.” I shrug my shoulders. “When she agreed to come with me, my stomach flipped upside down. I haven’t felt that way before. Ever. Maybe I’m a selfish fuck for wanting to drag her across the country because I want more time with her, but I don’t regret asking her, and I’m fucking stoked she said yes.”
My sister places my hoodie on the bed beside her and stands. She piles her hair in a quick messy bun, so quick, in fact, I’m not even sure how girls do it. It must be a special course in high school, or something, because it’s an impressive skill.
“Marco,” she sighs, “I’m happy you have that feeling. It’s one I hope everyone gets to feel, but I need you to promise me you’ll watch out for her. She’s like a sister to Case, and when he finds out, he’s going to demand the same. Just as you would for me.”
“She’s going to be fine. It’s California. Not a war zone.”
She scoffs. “I’ve met those bimbos who hang around the fights. It may as well be one.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Ah, they are harmless. All talk.”
“And no bite?” she asks.
“Oh no, they absolutely bite.” I smirk and she swats me across the arm. “Ouch! Easy with that. Damn.” I rub my arm to ease the sting of the slap.
“You deserved it.” She sticks her tongue out at me. “Seriously though, I hate this, but at least Faith is going with...so she can be my spy and make sure you’re doing the stuff you’re supposed to be doing and not putting yourself in a bad place.”
“Don’t involve her in that shit, Nor. The last thing she needs is to be stressed out about me. She is going on this trip with me to take a break and have some fun. I know you’ll agree if anyone deserves that, it’s her.”
She releases a heavy sigh. “You’re right. You’re right, I’m sorry. I guess I’m just sad you’re leaving and it’s showing its face in everything else.”
“I’m not exactly used to you being all the way across the country either, but at the end of the day, I know you’re happy...and I also know if Mr. Police Man down there does anything to hurt you, I’ll march my way back here and stick his head up his ass.”
“That sounds impossible and impressive. If you can do that, I’ll gladly let you,” a voice calls from the doorway behind us, and we both turn to see Case standing there with his arms over his chest, leaning against the doorframe.
“So he eavesdrops too?” I ask Nora. “A real catch.”
“Wow, could you be more of an asshole?” she says with an eye roll, as she goes to give him a kiss.
I like Case, I do, but it’s my brotherly duty to give him some shit now and again. But at the end of the day, I see how he looks at my sister, and I know she’s in good hands.
“I just talked to Faith and Rose outside,” he says, as he wraps an arm around Nora.
Christ. “Okay...” I say.
“And Faith told me she’s taking some time off. That HR approved it early this morning. And she’s going with you when you leave this afternoon.”
“He just told me,” Nora tells him.
“Falcon, I love that girl like you love Nora. I’d do anything to protect her, just like you would do for Nora, and to quote someone I know Nora cares deeply about, ‘if you do anything to hurt her, I’ll march my way over there and stick your head up your ass.’”
“Heard and noted.” I reach out to shake his hand in a sign of understanding and mutual respect.
He reaches across and gives my hand a firm shake, and I swear, my sister lights up like a goddamn firework.
“So if Faith is going with you, are you taking your bike all the way back?” Nora asks.
I shake my head. “No, I booked a flight for us. I’ll have the bike shipped home. It’s easier that way.”
“Wow, Marco Masen without his motorcycle. How will you even cope?”
“I’ll have something even prettier keeping me busy.” I wink.
Nora and I laugh when I hear Case groan, just like I do when he and Nora kiss or even touch.
“Do you need a ride to the airport? We’ll absolutely take you,” Case offers.
“Actually, yes, that would be great,” I tell him. “I just need to finish up in here and I’ll go over and see if Faith is almost ready.”
“What time is your flight?”
I pull my cell out of my pocket to check the
time. “Six hours from now.”
“Then we’ll head out in four.” He kisses Nora’s head. “I’m going to take Arya for a run. I’ll leave you two to finish up whatever you need to do.” He gives me a nod then heads back down the hall.
Nora turns to watch him go then looks back at me with tears in her eyes. “I’m going to miss you, Big Brother.”
I pull her in for a hug. Not much in this world guts me, but seeing my sister cry does that in spades.
“I’m going to miss you too, but I’ll come back soon. I promise.” I rest my chin on top of her head. My large form hulking over her small one.
“Promise me, because I can't deal with not seeing you. It sucks way more than I thought it would.”
“That’s because I’m awesome and everyone likes being around me.” She pinches my side. “Ouch! God, you’re so mean.”
She steps back and wipes her eyes. “I learned from the best.”
“I take offense to that.”
“You were meant to.”
“I’ll be okay, Nor. I promise.”
She just gives me a nod. “Okay, well, I’ll let you finish up over here then go check on Faith. You let us know when you’re both ready to roll.”
There it is. The Masen Brush Off. It’s our patented move. We mastered it years ago.
“Okay. And Nor?”
“Yeah?” She halts in her tracks before walking away.
“I love you, kid.”
She gives me the smallest smile. “I love you too, jerk.”
***
Forty-five minutes later, I trudge up the front steps on Faith’s house and knock on the door, tucking my hands into the pockets of my jeans.
I stand there for a few minutes, letting the warm, salty air blow over my face, taking the time to really let the aura of Savannah wash over me, before the door swings open, and it’s not the petite blonde that I’m expecting.
“You,” Rose says, pointing at me.
“Um, me?” I respond.