by Amy Stephens
Erica wore her hair shorter now, but it still looked good on her. I preferred her long, wispy locks that she’d had when we’d first met, but this style could grow on me too. I couldn’t believe she was in our living room and sitting on our couch. Yes! She was right there!
I didn’t want her to think I was staring, but I wanted to check her out. I wanted to take a good, long look at the woman who’d captured my heart a year ago. It was hard to believe how much time had passed since we’d met that night in class. It was even harder to acknowledge that I’d left her six months ago, not knowing if I’d ever see her again.
“Your brother, Ricky, contacted me.” She was finally able to compose herself long enough to answer.
“I should have known. He’s always up to something.”
“Jaime, he was worried about you. Right after the holidays, I’d gotten your message, and I was angry with myself for not answering the phone. I’d thought it was Monica and I’d call her back later. Well, anyway, I attempted to call you, but the number had shown up as unknown on my phone. So then I tried calling the number you’d given me before we’d left, but it didn’t work anymore. I was devastated, not sure what I needed to do.”
I reached up to cup her cheek. “The number didn’t work?” Then it hit me. “Momma had just gotten her new phone.” I felt terrible I hadn’t thought of it when I’d called. Man, was I stupid for not realizing it, and I wanted to smack myself.
“I kept thinking you’d call back. I waited and waited. When I never heard from you, I assumed…” Her breath hitched in her throat. “I assumed you didn’t want to talk to me anymore. I figured you’d probably met someone else, and I was just…”
“No, baby. There’s been no one else. I promise.”
“It’s okay. I believe you.” Her voice sounded so sincere. “Apparently you’d been dealing with some personal issues, and you were having a hard time finding work. You’d had some struggles, and your family was concerned about you. One day, out of the blue, I got a phone call. Your mom had been putting your clothes away, and she’d found the paper with all my information on it in your drawer. She gave it to your brother and told him maybe he should call. Maybe I was a friend of yours, and I might be able to help you. Ricky had no idea who he called or how in the world we knew each other. He was just as shocked to find out about me as I was him.”
“Well, that sure explains things,” I added, remembering all the times I’d seen Ricky on the phone. That little sneak!
“I was sad to know you were dealing with personal struggles, but it nearly broke my heart that you hadn’t bothered to reach out to me again.”
“I’m so sorry, Erica. So very sorry. I was ashamed.” I dropped my head, embarrassed she’d had to find out that way. She lifted my chin so I’d look at her again.
“Jaime, I care. I cared about you back then, and I care about you now. That’s never changed. Ricky and I stayed in touch. Nearly every week, he’s called to update me about you. When he told me you’d finally gotten a job at the fast food restaurant, I just knew you would contact me then. When you didn’t, I thought it was over. Ricky kept telling me to hang on. He had something in the works, and he was positive it was the one thing that’d pull you out from being so sad. And he was right. I’m so proud of you, that you have your very own business now.”
“Dang it. Why does Ricky always get me so emotional?” I tried to joke about it, but it was true. Ricky was the turning point in my life, with the business and now with Erica.
Our conversation was interrupted when Ricky walked in with a plate full of steaks.
“Steaks are ready,” he called.
“Are you hungry?” I asked her. “Can you stay for dinner?”
“I’m starved. I’ve not had anything to eat since early this morning.”
***
After dinner was over, Ricky and Diego ran us both out of the kitchen. I’d offered to help clean up, but neither of them would allow it. So I grabbed Erica’s hand and we walked outside onto the patio. The sun had gone down already, but the sky still had a pink tint to it. It was almost as pretty as looking into her eyes. I was still having a hard time believing she was there.
We spent the next hour or so catching up. Erica was still attending Bishop, but she’d changed her major from business management to that of elementary education. Monica had tried her best to get her to attend State, to get her mind off me, but hadn’t been able to leave. While it was tough being there alone, it reminded her of all the good times we’d had. She’d never gone back to the library again, and I couldn’t blame her. Damn, some of those nights had been so hot!
She yawned, and I knew she must have been worn slap out.
“Baby, where are you staying?” I looked over and noticed the travel bag she’d left next to the front door.
She reached for her purse that was on the floor next to her feet and pulled out a folded piece of paper. As she unfolded it, she read the name of the hotel that Ricky had reserved for her during her stay. I wanted to ask her to stay at the apartment, but it wasn’t the right thing to do. Not yet, anyway.
She said her goodbyes to the guys, and I reached for her bag. The hotel wasn’t far, and it’d only take a few moments to drive her there. I hoped she didn’t mind riding in my work truck.
After she checked in, I walked her up to her room. I wanted to make sure she’d gotten there safely and that everything with it was okay. Truth be known, I didn’t want to let her out of my sight. I was afraid if I left her, I’d never see her again. The way I saw it now, I’d walked away from her once before and this time I was never letting her go.
I stood waiting at the door and she faced me.
“Thanks for bringing me here.”
“You know I’d do anything for you, baby.”
“I’ll see you in the morning?” she asked.
“You better believe it.” I kissed her softly on the lips.
Yes, I still loved that girl. With everything in me, I still loved her.
I drove home that night the happiest man on the planet. Once again, Ricky had been my hero. How would I ever repay him for all he’d done?
Epilogue
I ENDED UP STAYING the next night at the hotel with Erica after spending all of the day with her. That night I took her into my arms and literally held her until the wee hours of the morning. It was the greatest feeling in the world, waking up with the woman I loved.
It was hard for me to let her go on Sunday, but she had a flight to catch. Erica was still working at the boutique at the mall, and she had to be at work the following day. Her classes would resume in the fall, but she promised she’d fly back to see me before then. She also made me promise I’d call her as often as I could. So I was relieved to know that once every day had been enough for her to know I was dedicated to making our relationship work.
A week before she started her sophomore year of college, she came back down to stay for several days. That time, and each time thereafter, she stayed at the apartment with us. Ricky had insisted on staying over at Momma’s to give us a bit of privacy. It was truly a nice gesture. I’d also been able to finally introduce her to the rest of my family. Of course they loved her, and Momma was so glad to meet the woman who’d stolen my heart. Before Erica left to head back, I promised Momma I was going to make her my wife one day. Something about that particular visit had confirmed everything. Marriage was something I’d never really given much thought to up until then, but in my heart, I knew she was the one for me. And, well, she’d been willing to give me as much time as I needed. I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. I just had to find the right time to ask her.
It was a few months before she’d been able to return, given her busy schedule. It was hard being apart, but since we’d reunited again, I was never letting her go. Ever.
We spent the holidays together, and I hated that I still hadn’t been able to meet her family. I felt bad she was always the one flying down, but she insisted she didn’t mind. I was u
nder a probationary period with the state for another year before I was able to cross the state line.
We continued our long-distance relationship for the next couple years. It was tough, but with everything we’d been through, we knew our love for each other would see us through. It wasn’t something everyone could handle, but for us, it’d only made us that much stronger.
Erica’s graduation was coming up, and I’d already bought my plane ticket to fly up to see her. Just as she’d promised me four years ago, I wouldn’t miss her special day for anything in the world. My family regretted not being able to attend since they felt as if she was already a part of our family, but they knew she’d understand. A little celebration was planned for the next time she came down to visit.
It was hard at first, visiting the Bishop campus again. I was proud of Erica for sticking to her dreams with everything we’d had to endure. During the commencement ceremony, I paid special attention to the guys in the Falcon Club as they received their degrees. It was easy to pick them out in the crowd. After all, I’d been one of them. I recognized Professor Jordon in the distance and I walked over to him.
He remembered me, especially when I explained to him I was there to see Erica graduate. I think he’d known back then there was something special between the two of us, but he’d never let on.
After graduation, I officially got to meet Erica’s family. Neither of her parents had ever remarried, and Erica often suspected they secretly saw one another, but were too ashamed to admit to their daughters that they’d made a terrible mistake all those years ago. Erica didn’t care one way or the other. Their shortcomings with each other back then was the reason we’d met in the first place. Had Erica gone away to college like she’d originally planned with her best friend, well, she’d never have enrolled in Bishop.
I think my long hair and age may have concerned them a little bit, but they could tell how much we were in love just by the way we acted. Erica hadn’t made up her mind yet if she was going to continue with her master’s degree. I think she needed a break, not to mention a long, well-deserved vacation.
To my surprise, that vacation turned into a permanent change of residence for her. She decided she wanted to try living in Florida. After all, she’d heard there were some gorgeous beaches and a few good-looking men.
Erica found a teaching job rather easily at one of the inner-city schools. She was thankful she’d taken a few Spanish classes while in college, but being with the students every day was the best experience for her to communicate with them.
Ricky and I still owned Lopez and Garcia Brother’s Lawn Care, but we didn’t work nearly as hard as we’d done in the beginning. There were five other guys who worked for us now, and I mostly tended to the bookwork while seeking out new customers. It’d turned into a profitable company for us, but we refused to leave the city we’d grown up in. Miami was our home.
On New Year’s Eve night, Erica and I made plans to attend a celebration that was being held near the beach. It was funny, but now that both of us were older, people didn’t stare at us as they’d once done. We’d brought along a blanket, and I wrapped my arms around her as we watched the fireworks being shot off in the distance. There was a slight chill to the air, but neither of us cared. We were together, and that was all that mattered.
As the time changed to midnight, and the new year was upon us, I pulled away from her for a moment. I got down on one knee and reached for her hand. As I held it in mine, I pulled a tiny box from my pocket with the other and flipped it open. I lifted the ring out and held it tightly between my fingers. My hand trembled so bad I thought I might drop it into the sand.
“Erica, will you do me the honor of becoming Mrs. Garcia? Will you marry me?”
My gaze was locked with hers underneath the moonlight. I saw the stars in the reflection of her eyes. Tears spilled forth from them, and I patiently waited for her response.
“I will, Jaime. I’d love to be your wife.”
After I’d slipped the ring onto her finger, I pulled her to me and vowed to be the best husband I could ever be. Our relationship wasn’t without its flaws, but that night had been so worth all the obstacles we’d had to overcome.
We didn’t talk much about the years I’d been in prison, and for that I was grateful. It was a part of my past I wished I could put away in storage and forget about. It wasn’t something I wished had never happened, because had I not been sent off, I’d have never met her. I didn’t want to give Javier credit for the two of us meeting, since he’d been part of the reason I’d gone to prison.
To this day, I’d never heard any mention of Javier. His grandmother passed away not long ago, but I couldn’t bring myself to attend the services. Momma did, though. After all, his grandmother had been innocent to the situation. She said Javier hadn’t attended.
I’d been through so much over the years, but even through all the bad, there’d been something good to come from all of it. I’d found the woman of my dreams. Falling for her was something I’d never regret. Ever.
The End
About the Author
Amy Stephens is a new adult/contemporary romance author. Originally from Greenville, Alabama, she now lives in Robertsdale, Alabama, just minutes from the beautiful Alabama Gulf Coast beaches, with her husband and son. She is a graduate of Troy University with a Master’s in Human Resource Management. She works in retail management full-time during the day and pursues her passion for writing in her down time.
When she’s not working or writing, you will find her reading, watching her favorite football team, the Auburn Tigers, her favorite baseball team, the Atlanta Braves, or watching NASCAR. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
She’s just recently completed her second series: The Falcon Club: Falling for Him (book one) and The Falcon Club: Falling for Her (book two). Both are available through Booktrope.
She is also the author of the Coming Home series: Don’t Turn Back (May 2014), Never Look Back (September 2014) and Heart of the Matter (November 2014). The Ride Home for Christmas (December 2014) is her first standalone holiday romance novella.
For more information, please visit:
www.facebook.com/amystephensauthor
http://www.goodreads.com/amystephens
[email protected]
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