by Jenna Brandt
Lana realized there was too much seriousness to his response. To lighten the mood, she said sarcastically, “Sure, a guy who looks like you hasn’t dated lately.”
The audience laughed, this time with more gusto.
Getting into the scene, Lana stood from the table and put her hands on her hips, pretending to be mad. “I’ll have you know, I’m a good girl, and I don’t take kindly to being tricked into a date with a bad boy.”
He jumped to his feet, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards him. He wrapped her into his embrace. “I’ll have you know, I’m not what you think I am. Since I’ve met you, there has been only one woman in my life.”
She rested her hands on his chest as her eyes drifted up to meet his. “You sure can be charming,” she stammered out.
“Glad you think so. I’ll take what I can get,” he whispered just before his mouth came down to meet hers.
Everyone in the audience made ‘ooh’ sounds for several seconds before the blond said from the side, “And end scene.”
Yet, even as he said the words, Bryce didn’t break the kiss. Instead, his arms came around her waist and pulled her even closer, deepening the kiss.
Lana’s body quivered as her heart thudded against her chest. The intensity of the kiss made Lana dizzy, and her fingers wrapped around the edges of Bryce’s jacket, clinging to him like a raft in a storm.
They could hear even more applause and cheers as the crowd went wild this time. There were hoots and hollers from the men along with more 'oohs' from the women until the noise was deafening.
The blond man put his hands between them, separating them, while making a hmm-hmm sound. “I think that’s about enough of that. Perhaps you should continue it somewhere else.”
Everyone laughed, causing Lana to blush as she and Bryce pulled back from each other. Though the kiss ended, Lana knew its effects on her would linger far after.
Bryce took her by the hand and pulled her through the crowded building until they were out on the sidewalk. He turned her to face him and stated, “That was exhilarating. No wonder you love performing. I’ve never felt anything like that before.”
She giggled as she nodded. “Do you have the acting bug now?”
“I wouldn’t go that far, but it gives me a new appreciation for it,” he reached out and brushed a lock of her hair from her face, “and for you.”
“Thank you for bringing me here tonight. It really lifted my spirits.”
“Glad to hear it. I want to always see that smile on your face.”
“Then kiss me again, but this time without everyone watching.”
"As you command, my darling," he whispered as he took her mouth with his own, causing a surge of joy and contentment to rush through Lana.
10
Since the incident the night before, Bryce had to fight the urge to text Roger and confront him about what he did. Bryce, however, needed to see Roger face-to-face when he revealed he was aware of how Roger conspired with Gabrielle.
When he arrived at the racquetball club, Roger was in the locker room tying his shoes. He stood up, then picked up his racquet, slinging it over his right shoulder.
“You don’t look happy,” Roger observed as he leaned against the lockers. “Did something go wrong with the waitress after you left last night?”
“No, nothing bad happened with her—although I’m sure that disappoints you.”
Roger’s brows came together in a furrow. “What do you mean by that?”
“I know.”
“You know what?”
“I know you and Gabrielle were working together to keep me from seeing Lana.”
“What are you talking about? I don’t even like Gabrielle.”
“No, but you have told me multiple times how we are a better fit; how I should forgive her because we all make mistakes. I thought it odd until last night when I heard you speaking with her in the hall of the nightclub.”
Roger pushed off the lockers, then set his racquet down. His eyes drifted to the ground as he pushed his hands in his shorts’ pockets. “How much did you hear?”
“Enough to realize you’ve been working with her for a while, and last night you went the extra mile to embarrass Lana.” Bryce narrowed his eyes as he added, “That was pretty awful of you.”
“I didn’t have a choice,” Roger defended.
“You always have a choice,” Bryce countered.
“She threatened to tell everyone about the baby.”
“And? You’ve gambled way too long to not have it occur. I’m surprised it hasn’t happened sooner. You being a father will come out at some point. You would be smart to get ahead of it rather than let someone like Gabrielle blackmail you with it.”
“You’re right, Bryce, but I’m not like you. I care what people think of me.”
“It doesn’t matter what people think. What matters is what you do about your situation. You need to accept responsibility for what you did.”
“I have. I paid handsomely to take care of the kid.”
“No, that’s not what I mean. You need to stop hiding from your choices and own up to them. That way no one can use them against you.”
Roger crossed his arms and shook his head. “You don’t understand. You weren’t born into this world. It’s different with a family like mine.”
Bryce realized that Roger was scared. He had it written all over his face. The anger he felt towards his friend disappeared and pity replaced it. He patted the other man on the back. “You can’t live your life in fear running from your past. Lana helped me see that. I forgot who I was because of what happened with my mother, but now I need to honor her by being who she raised me to be.”
“Gabrielle won't let you go so easy. I’m sorry for my part in what happened, and I promise I won’t get involved in your relationship with Lana any further. Unfortunately, that won’t keep Gabrielle from trying to get you back.”
“She can try all she wants, but my heart lies somewhere else now.”
Bryce turned to leave, ready to put all of what happened behind him.
“Where are you going?”
“I need to go find Lana. I’m sure she is at Journey Church since it’s Sunday.”
Roger rolled his eyes and let out a chuckle. “How fitting. Don’t Stop Believin' is probably first on their playlist.”
Bryce was tired of Roger's habit of mocking everything. “You're in danger of losing our friendship. I haven’t decided yet if what we have is worth saving. Perhaps, you should refrain from poking fun at anything to do with Lana.”
Roger sobered up and nodded. “You’re right. I need to earn your forgiveness. I will find a way to make it up to you. I promise.”
“Start by supporting my choice to be with Lana. If you can do that, then it’s a step in the right direction.”
Bryce moved towards the exit without looking back. It was time for him to go get right with God.
Lana was standing in the lobby of the church talking with Celeste when out of the corner of her eye, she saw Bryce enter through the front doors. She sucked in her breath and held it. What is he doing here?
He made a straight line towards her with a determined look on his face. When he reached her side, his expression softened as he said, “I was hoping I would find you before church starts.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Well, you found me. What are you doing here?”
He rolled his shoulders, glanced to the side towards Celeste, then back at Lana. “I took you up on your offer to come to church.”
“I can see that.” Her brows furrowed together as she probed, “But don’t you usually play racquetball with Roger on Sundays?”
He pressed his lips together, pausing before he answered. “I need to tell you something I found out, and it will upset you; however, you have a right to know.”
“What is it?” Lana asked with apprehension.
“I overheard Roger and my ex-fiancée talking last night at the nightclub about you and what happened.
It turns out, she has been blackmailing Roger to get him to keep me from seeing you. I would have dealt with it last night, but you came back in for your sweater so I didn’t get the chance. When I confronted him this morning at the racquetball club, he divulged Gabrielle was using a secret against him, and it is a doozy. He had a misguided response, but I can understand why he did it. He apologized and said he would support us going forward.”
“And what did you say?” Lana inquired, trying to remain calm and not let the news upset her.
“I told him I would consider where he and I go from here. I’m furious with what he did, but we’ve been friends for a long time. He seems sorry and didn’t realize how serious I am about you.”
A flurry of emotions coursed through Lana’s veins. She felt hurt and angry over what happened, especially because it brought back memories of bullying when she was young. She also had a sensation of joy over the fact Bryce admitted he wanted a serious relationship with her. Lana had hoped it was the case but wasn’t sure it would go in that direction.
“He’s your friend, so you have to decide what you want to do. As a Christian, I will find a way to forgive him. People who don’t know God make selfish choices. He was scared and reacted badly because of it. I don’t like what he did, but I can try to move past it if he treats me better going forward and never does anything like that again.”
Bryce reached out and rubbed the side of Lana’s arm. “What did I ever do to deserve someone like you in my life? I can’t believe the generosity of your heart.”
“Thank you,” she said, flooded with warmth from his compliment.
“There is something else I need to tell you.”
“Oh, no, what else happened?” Lana asked with concern.
“Gabrielle admitted to Roger that she was the one behind getting you in trouble at work. I will tell Rick what happened and get that reprimand off your record.”
“I appreciate that, but I have to say, your ex-fiancée is a real piece of work.”
“She is. It’s why we never had a great relationship to begin with. She was always working an angle, but I was too blind to see it in the beginning.”
“Well, you do now, and that’s what counts.”
“I'm surprised how well you are taking all of this.”
“I’ve had to learn to forgive—and it’s not always easy—but God helps with the tough ones. So, all of that explains why you’re not playing racquetball, but why did you come here? Was it only to talk to me?”
He shook his head. “I’ve been avoiding God since my mother died because I was angry. But by doing that, I’ve created a void in my life. I miss my relationship with Him.”
Bryce’s confession caused Lana’s heart to fill with happiness. She had been praying Bryce would want to return to church and connect with God again.
“I’m glad you’re here now,” she said, placing her hand on his arm. “God is too.”
The music began inside the sanctuary and Lana let her hand drift down his arm to take his hand, pulling him towards the double doors. “We need to go get seats. Worship’s started.”
Lana and Bryce, along with Celeste, made their way into the large room and found chairs about halfway down the aisle. Several songs played while the congregation sang along. Lana would occasionally give a sidelong glance at Bryce, curious to see what he was doing. To her welcomed surprise, he focused on the singing and swayed to the music.
When the worship ended, Pastor Greg, wearing a pair of jeans and a button-up shirt, took his place behind the glass pulpit in the center of the stage.
“Good morning, Journey Church. It’s so good to see all of your smiling faces today. God has put it on my heart to talk with you about making God a priority. It’s easy to get bogged down with our daily commitments. Our job, family, and friends can demand a lot from us, but we need to remember that none of it means anything if we don’t put God above all. Without spending time with God on a daily basis, we will slowly wither away spiritually. Spending time with God will strengthen us, motivating and encouraging us throughout the day. In John 3:22, the Bible shows how Jesus spent time with people. He loved being amongst them, sharing His precious time because He cared about them. He is still doing that and wants to do the same with us. All we have to do is take the leap and seek Him out in our daily life. He wants a relationship with us, for us to build a friendship with Him so we can hear His voice.”
Though Lana suspected the message was for Bryce, it motivated her to deepen her daily devotions with God. Often, she was rushing in the mornings and didn’t give God the time He deserved. She needed to remind herself that if He was her best friend, she needed to give Him her first fruits, making Him her priority.
After the service ended, Lana turned to Bryce and asked, “So what did you think?”
He gave her a huge smile and said, “I think I made the right decision coming today. God meant for me to be here. The message confirmed what I was already feeling. I need to rededicate my life to God and pursue a relationship with Him again.” He took Lana’s hands in his own. “When the pastor asked if anyone wanted to pray for help in making God a priority, I raised my hand. As he prayed, an overwhelming peace flooded over me. I asked God to forgive me for straying away and told Him I wanted to restore my relationship with Him. Lana, I can’t tell you how much joy I have now.”
Tears filled Lana’s eyes at the wonderful news. “I’m so happy for you, Bryce.”
“I don’t want to just go home. I want to celebrate. Are you hungry?”
She nodded.
“Do you want to have lunch with me?”
“I usually go get something to eat with Celeste after church, but I’m sure she will understand.”
“She’s more than welcome to come with us. Any friend of yours is someone I want to get to know.”
Lana appreciated his consideration. “Sure, why don’t I go find her? She took off for the bathroom.”
They stood and left the sanctuary. Once in the lobby, Lana suggested, “You can wait here. I’ll go find Celeste and see if she wants to come with us.”
“Sure,” he stated with a nod.
A few minutes later, Lana found Celeste exiting the bathroom. “Do you want to come to lunch with Bryce and me?”
Celeste shook her head. “You two have fun. I don’t want to cramp your time together. Besides, I have a few things I need to do back at the apartment.”
“Thanks. I’ll see you later when I get home.”
As Lana returned to the lobby, she heard Reggie Fields’ irritated voice say, “What are you doing here with Lana? She’s a good girl and doesn’t need some guy like you coming around causing trouble.”
A flood of emotions coursed through Lana’s veins as she made her way towards where the two men stood staring at each other. First confusion, then embarrassment, and finally anger surfaced in Lana over the fact that Reggie assumed he had the right to get involved in her personal life.
“I’m not sure what you think you know about me, but from your tone and attitude, you’re mistaken.”
“Right, chiseled chest, it’s not obvious from the way you look and carry yourself,” Reggie gestured up and down to Bryce, “that you’re the type of guy that’s all about looks. But Lana is special, and she deserves to be treated as such, not just chased after because she’s pretty to look at.”
Bryce crossed his arms, then let them rest across his center. “I can assure you, I have nothing but honorable intentions with Lana, and I don’t like you implying otherwise.”
“I don’t care what you like. All I want to do is protect Lana.”
She stepped forward in between the men, then tilted her head up to face Reggie. “I don’t need protecting, Reggie, thank you, very much. I’m capable of taking care of myself.”
Reggie shook his head. “You should realize his type only see people as possessions. You deserve to be treated better than that, but he’s got you fooled into thinking he’s different.”
“Bryce is ri
ght; you don’t know him, but I do. He’s a good, kind man, and he’s been nothing but a gentleman to me.”
“Do you have feelings for him?” Reggie asked with a dejected face.
She glanced over to Bryce, allowing their eyes to lock. “I do,” she confirmed. “Stronger and deeper than I expected.”
“Fine, have it your way, but when he breaks your heart—and he will—don’t come crying to me. You have to reap what you sow.”
Lana hated when people misquoted the Bible for their own purposes. Reggie consistently took scriptures out of context and used them to make a point that wasn’t valid.
Once they were alone, Bryce turned to Lana and tilted his head to the side. “Did you mean what you said? All of it?”
Lana's cheeks flushed with heat. She had spoken without thinking about what she was admitting to, but now the truth was out and she wasn’t about to lie to cover it up.
“Yes, I meant every word.”
He reached out and cupped her cheek with his hand, letting his thumb rub along the tender skin. “I’m glad to hear it’s not one-sided.” He stepped a little closer and whispered, “I want to kiss you but somehow with everyone watching and where we are, it feels inappropriate.”
Though he was only touching her cheek, the way he touched her conveyed intimacy. She wanted him to kiss her too, but she figured it could wait until they weren’t in the middle of a crowded room with prying eyes.
Licking her lips, she whispered back, “I’ll take a rain check on that kiss.”
He nodded. “Let’s get out of here and go somewhere private where you can collect.”
They didn’t make it very far, merely to his limo before Lana found herself wrapped in Bryce’s arms. She looked up into his eyes and saw his own affection reflecting back. His lips came crashing down in a kiss that took her breath away. If she hadn’t been sitting, she was certain she would have fainted. Her hands found the back of his neck, her fingers wrapping around and tangling in the edges of his hair.