by Nicole Reed
Dear Lord, I never knew. What did Coach Branch plan for me? Looking at her, I know I have to fight. I didn’t survive my hell to die like this. I’m going to live.
“You don’t want to do this. Think of your children. You will go to jail forever.”
“Jail, little girl? I live every day in Hell, so jail would be a vacation. But no, I don’t think anyone would ever guess it was me. I drove out to get milk and then drove back home. I can then tell my husband that you are no longer a problem. No James, no trial, no jail. All my problems solved.” She looks over at JT’s grave then back at me. “Say hello to JT for me,” she says a second before I see the resolution on her face to pull the trigger.
Everything happens so fast. One moment I close my eyes, knowing I’m too late to do anything but drop to the ground, and the next, I hear blast of the gun. Its harsh resonance shatters the silence, but it’s her grunt of pain that causes me to open my eyes. At the same moment, I feel someone set fire to my neck.
I watch as Kip rolls on top of her, wrestling the gun from her hands and screaming at her to stop fighting. He looks over at me, and I see horror wash over his face. “Jesus, Jay!”
Reaching up to pat the flames on my neck, I pull back when wetness coats my hand. My fingers begin to tremble, and looking down at them. I watch as the thick red fluid drips to the ground, pooling at my feet. My body begins to shake as I realize what it is. Blood. My blood.
“Damn it, Jay. Grab the fucking gun!” Kip’s voice yells.
His words finally penetrate my mind, making me walk on my knees toward the gun. Reaching it, I pick it up with my hand and turn to see that Kip holding her down and straddling her body. Scratches mar his face and fresh blood trickles down his cheeks. Her cries of anguish fill the air.
“Jay, listen to me.”
I look at him, but everything is muddled, going in and out of focus.
“You can’t go into shock on me, and ah hell, it looks like you’re losing a lot of blood. Do you have your cell phone?”
Phone. Phone. Do I have my cell phone? In my pocket, maybe? My neck, oh my God, it burns. Tears fall down my face from the pain, and I realize that I’m sobbing. I have to call for help. Willing myself, I put the gun down and reach into my pocket. Bringing it out, I dial 911.
“911....what’s your emergency?” the operator asks.
My voice won’t come out at first. I try to speak, but I can’t. I start to panic. Seeing the look on my face, Kip speaks up.
“Calm down, Jay. Just tell them where we are at JACKSON HEIGHTS CEMETERY,” he yells. “SEND HELP!! We need an ambulance and police, Jay Stevenson has been shot. HURRY!
My head feels fuzzy and it’s getting heavier. My mouth feels full of cotton balls. I blink my eyes, trying to stay lucid, but it’s hard to focus on what Kip is saying. Falling to the ground, I lie there and think about my life. Kane. I don’t want to leave him, or my mom and dad, Molly, Reed, Eli, Cal. I don’t want to leave any of them.
Looking over at Kip, I say through the tears, “Tell them I love them all. That my life was worth living, because of them.” Closing my eyes, I try to take a deep breath, but the pain robs me of it. Opening them back up, I look towards JT’s grave and speak to Kip, “I loved your brother, always. I would have died that night for him. I tried to stop him from leaving that night, Kip. I swear I did, and then I tried to follow him, but now I’m glad I didn’t. I am so sorry.”
Shutting my eyes one last time, I can’t feel much of anything as the pain drifts away. I hear Kip yelling in the background, and the sounds of sirens fall in behind him. I wish I could choose the path of life again. I should have always chosen the path of life.
Do you want to know what Heaven looks, smells, and sounds like? It’s white and sandy with a view of clear blue ocean water as far as the eye can see. It smells like coconut tanning oil, heated from the sun and rising from bronzing bodies. And the sound? Well, it’s the lap of the waves as they crash against the beach, and most importantly, it’s the sound of the man next to me as he tells me how much he loves me.
It’s been three months since Lisa Branch shot me; luckily, she only grazed my neck. If Kip hadn’t decided to visit JT’s grave so early that morning, I wouldn’t be here. I thought I was dying, and that was the most agonizing five minutes of my life. I thought about everything prayed to have it back. You see, I finally realized that life is what you make it. If you make it hell, then that’s exactly what you will have. Sometimes we can’t control what happens to us, but we can control what we do from that point forward. I still see my therapist, take my medication, and I deal with depression every damn day, but I can make that day worth living or not. It’s my choice and my path to choose.
“Would you like another drink, senorita?” the waiter walks by asking.
“Yes, I would please. The same,” I reply, shading my eyes to look up at him.
I look down my bikini clad tan body as I sit up in my lounge chair. Only one ear bud is in so I can listen to Rhye’s new single that is ruling the iTunes charts. He called to check on me in the hospital, keeping it short and simple, but he promised to keep in touch. Grabbing the suntan lotion, I pour a small amount into the palm of my hand, preparing to coat my body again.
“Babe, can you rub some on my back?” Kane asks from the chair beside me
He is stretched out on his belly in nothing but his swim trunks and sunglasses. The sight of his muscular back and, oh that ass. Yes, I still can’t get over his ass; it lights my body up every time. Unable to help myself, I lean over and kiss his shoulder, nipping it with my teeth.
He jerks away laughing, “Now, Mrs. David, that wasn’t very nice. I haven’t had you long enough to get your shots yet.”
It feels like a million butterflies are set loose in my stomach as I think about what we did before flying here. My family and friends are going to kill me, but Kane asked, and when it comes to him, he pretty much gets whatever he wants. So, we made a tiny stop in Vegas. Holding my ring finger up, I stare in amazement at the diamond he bought me and the matching band. Glancing over at his hand, I smile seeing his band, proving that he is mine.
“Well, if I have rabies, then you’re already infected, Mr. David.” We both laugh. “When do you plan on telling my dad?” Kane adamantly states that he needs to be the one to smooth things over with my parents about our impromptu ceremony, but honestly, I don’t think anyone will be surprised.
After I was released from the hospital, I went straight to Kane’s house, to live. We were inseparable for the first month. Bruce Branch’s trial was postponed because of the new investigation of Lisa Branch. Evidently, she admitted everything she knew about his sick obsession with me and even had letters that she found that he never sent. With all the new incriminating evidence, they both were apprehended and placed into custody without bail. My testimony may not even be needed, but I’m willing and ready if it is.
So, after all that we had been through, I explained to my mother and father that I needed to be with Kane. Tomorrow isn’t promised, and well, I really wasn’t asking for their permission. Looking down at my arm, I read “Carpe Diem” which is tattooed on the inside of my left wrist. For me, life is all about remembering to seize the day and never looking back. My parents weren’t happy, but now, our lives are about acceptance. They’ve gotten pretty good at it. My mother has returned to running the business, and she’s happy. My dad and I are working on our relationship. We still have a long way to go, but we are getting there.
Molly and Reed are getting ready to go their separate ways for college. I don’t know how to help her, but I see the pain she is in. I’m probably not the best person to talk to either because I’m telling her to go with him. Love is what is important in this life. Screw her scholarship; she can apply and get into somewhere closer to him. She’s thinking about it.
Cal is going to the University of Georgia in the fall. I can’t say that I’m not sad for him when I think about his childhood dream of playing football the
re, but I know he’s planning for his future, and that’s all that matters. He is also dating this really sweet girl, and I haven’t had to beat her down yet, so that’s good. Eli is working for Kane’s company this summer, and then he will be attending the local community college with me until he decides what he wants to do. He is still single, but I know he’ll find the right one someday.
“Want to go for swim?” Kane asks as he rises up from his chair, reaching for my hand.
“Yeah,” I say, grabbing hold of him and letting him pull me up.
I lean in and up to kiss his lips. Wrapping my arms around him, I whisper, “I love you.”
Smiling, he looks down at me and squeezes tight. “I love you,” he says, capturing my lips with his and kissing the living daylights out of me.
Pulling away, he loosens his grip and takes a step back. “Think you can catch me?” he says with a twinkle in his eye.
“I think I already have,” I reply, grinning.
He laughs and takes off for the water. Looking back, he snickers and taunts me. Does he really think I’m going to run after him? Well, he does look sexy when he’s wet, so I guess I’ll chase him and this life forever. Smiling, I take off, running towards my future.
~The End~
by
COMING SUMMER 2013
Quiet and mousey Kylie has known Trent Moss and Dray Savage since college. Trent, the smart and kind-hearted humanitarian has had her heart from the moment they met, but someone else always has his. Dray is an arrogant and conceited jock who happens to be Trent’s best friend. Their friendship is the result of an instantaneous series of events that forged an unbreakable bond, one that Kylie never understood.
Five years after graduation, Kylie is commanding the world with a new image and a successful business; however, she lacks the one thing she wants and the one thing she can never have. That is, until one fateful night when a man finds her a little tipsy and a little too honest.
Two men, completely different and poles apart, but together they are her idea of perfection. One can only offer her tonight and the other forever, but insecurities threaten to destroy them all. Can Kylie settle for just one man, or can she have her cake and eat it too?
Shannon ~ You are my everything. Always remember that.
Cannon, Reese, and Madison ~ Thanks for letting Mom do her “thing” with little fuss. Love you guys!!!
Pam & Dwight ~ I will always be your problem child no matter how old I get. What matters most, is that I know you’ll always love me anyway.
Lynn ~ Where do I start, because you’re in EVERYTHING that I do. I love you beyond words. My biggest champion and confidant. Thank you for believing in me. Oh, and Monk...I still haven’t forgotten about you.
Trina ~ You will never know how much I’ve come to love and respect you. You have been my calming voice when I get a little (okay...a lot) crazy. You’ve saved me from myself so many times. I know that you love my characters as much as I do and that means the world to me. Trina’s family...thank you for sharing her. You’re one lucky bunch.
Erin Noelle~ I’ve always had faith in you and knew you could do it. I’m so proud of you!! I pray that all good things come your way!!! Show them what you got!!! :)
Ela ~ I know you’re always there for me. Thanks, Girl!!!
Christan ~ Thanks for the awesome cover photo you took for Ruining You. Keep pursuing your dreams and everything will work out.
Erinn Giblin at Yours Truly, The Editor ~ Luckiest day when I found you. I let you hold my books for the first time and trust you to take care of them. You clean them up and make them shine. Not enough “thanks” exists in this world. Thanks for the all-nighter!!!
Mollie Kay Harper ~ “WHAT THE HELL!!!!” Those three words changed my life without a doubt. Thank you for being so supportive of me. No matter if you like another book I write, you will always hold a special place in my heart.
Flirty and Dirty Book Blog ~ D & N...thank you for supporting indie authors like you both do. It’s amazing and I’m so appreciative. Denise...you have been in my corner from the beginning and I can’t tell you how much that means. Thank you for being there!!
Sarah at Okay Creations ~ Thank you for creating awesome covers!!
Julie at JT Formatting ~ Thanks for rocking these formats out.
Vicki Underwood & Josh Reed ~ Thank you both so much for being my fountain of knowledge about the criminal justice information. Thanks for taking all the calls and late night text!!! Best mother-in-law and brother a girl could have!!!
And to all the bloggers and readers out there. YOU.....You keep me going. Thank you for all the love, support, and well wishes. YOU ALL ROCK!!
I love angst....I thrive on it, but only the fictional kind. I adore a story that grips the reader from the beginning and doesn't let go...EVER. I'm an avid reader who just recently discovered my love of writing. My favorite things in life include my three wild & crazy kids, Reeses Pieces, and every genre of music.
Please come find me:
http://nicolreed.wordpress.com/
Or
http://www.facebook.com/ruiningme