The Game Has Changed

by D. L. Wu

  “That's exactly what I'm saying.”

  “I don’t understand. How can that be?”

  “I don't know of any other way to put this past you, Mr. Johnson. As much as you don't want to hear this, I have to let you know that the DNA findings also support my suspicions.”

  “Your suspicions?”

  “About her acquiring feelings for him,” Marshall replied with annoyance.

  “Please don't tell me they've had intimate relations!?” George bellowed. “Because if they did, I'll catch him myself and castrate him first. And then I’ll kill him!”

  Marshall chuckled in spite of himself. “There will certainly be no need for that. We're going to catch him eventually and then he'll be dealt with accordingly. If it's so proven that he had sexual relations with her, he'll be charged with statutory rape, of course.”

  George trembled with anger despite Marshall's assurances. “I just don't understand why it's so hard to track him down. You people obviously can see where he's headed. Surely, he must be following some sort of pattern?”

  “Exactly, Sir. Many of these perpetrators do follow a pattern. They head to somewhere familiar to them. And that's what I believe he's doing. He's heading home,” Marshall replied as a matter-of-factly, further cementing the fact that it would be quite some time before George would ever see his niece again.

  ***

  The quiet stillness of the dawn surrounded the lonely blue car sitting in the middle of nowhere. Jaime awakened to find herself sleeping in the cramped backseat with Evan lying asleep on top of her. His face was buried between her neck and the back edge of the seat, one hand was clutching her shoulder and both of his long legs were hanging precariously over the seat's edge.

  He appeared so uncomfortable, yet he was sleeping so soundly. Though she was achy and stiff from being held captive beneath his body across the small backseat the entire night, it was a lovely sort of ache, she decided. The bulk of his body above hers felt warm and strong and comforting at the same time. She wanted to remain that way forever. She couldn't bear the thought that she was going to lose him in just a few days, if not sooner.

  Jaime carefully placed her hand upon his head, threading her fingers through his soft, warm, and sweaty hair. His masculine scent assailed her senses. It was sweet and naturally alluring. She wondered as to how he could smell so enticing to her, since they were always traveling and rarely got to shower as it was.

  His physical appeal was phenomenal, yet it was his appealing persona that affected her all the more. He could be so moody, as if he were a manic depressive. Yet when he was happy, he was the most incredible man alive. Within the depths of despair, he was practically unreachable. In the eight short days she’d known him, she’d witnessed this up and down cycle many times already.

  Disappointment filled her as he began to stir. The subtle movements of his body alerted her to his impending arousal. He groaned and lifted his heavy head to gaze down at her with sleepy brown eyes. The look he gave her sent a shiver of awareness throughout her entire body. She stared at him with longing, telling him with her eyes that she still loved him.

  A light of acknowledgment danced through his eyes before it was clouded with worry. “Are you alright?”

  “Very alright,” she breathed, giggling softly. “But that was the smallest bed yet!”

  He laughed with contentment. “I'll complain to the management.”

  “I wasn't complaining,” she reiterated. “It may have been the best sleep I've had so far.”

  “Wow, you're a good liar!” He grinned, gently outlining her lower lip with a fingertip.

  Her heart swelled as she realized that he was feeling a tad better. The thought made her happier than she’d ever expected it would.

  “I'm not lying. I had a heavenly sleep.”

  “Wanna know something?” he whispered.

  She nodded avidly.

  “That was my best sleep in a long time.”

  She was unconvinced. “Now who's lying?”

  “I am totally serious, my dear,” he replied as he groaned and pulled himself up to sit upon the edge of the car's seat. He clasped her hand and helped her to sit up as well. They gazed at one another as he tenderly wrapped his hand about her face. No words were spoken between them as their mouths came together in a passionate and fervent kiss.

  CHAPTER 34

  “I'm afraid we're approximately one more night's stay away from Los Angeles if we cover a lot of distance within the next two days,” Evan replied once they were underway again, driving across the craggy, red tinged terrain of New Mexico.

  “Then don't drive very far,” she mumbled despondently.

  He turned to her and smiled softly. “Just about six hours today, I think.”

  “It's still too much.”

  Evan grinned, eager to spring the surprise he was planning on her later on. A companionable silence accompanied them as they crossed into the Arizona state line. Jaime’s heart raced as she caught sight of several signs pointing toward the Grand Canyon National Park. She glanced at Evan with wide eyes as she realized where he was taking her to. Her long time dream was coming true and he was making it happen.

  “Evan?”

  He smiled and winked at her and he clasped her hand in his. The gesture made her heart skip a beat. A wave of apprehension overcame them as the park ranger took their money at the park’s entrance. Thankfully, the woman was not a policewoman. It wasn't her job to keep an eye out for fugitives, so they were able to breathe a tad easier as they drove into the park.

  Jaime was bubbling with excitement as they drove down the wooded roads that led toward the main park. Evan smiled with pride. He had to do this for her as he wanted to give her this very special gift before he parted ways with her.

  “I'm starving! Should we eat first?” he teased her as they parked in a spot not far from the Grand Canyon's rim.

  “No!” she squealed with delight. “Please, can we go see first? I can almost see it!” She pointed toward the front of the car like an exuberant little girl.

  “Oh, alright,” he said with feigned resignation, a playful grin resting upon his beautiful face. “Come on, then!”

  They got out of the car and Jaime rushed around the car to catapult herself into his arms. “Thank you, Evan! Thank you so much for this!” she gushed as she hugged him to her.

  “You're very welcome, Sweetheart,” he said softly as she planted a loving, wet kiss upon his mouth.

  Evan made sure to take note of the absolute ecstasy that coursed through Jaime's entire body. Pleasure was written across her face as the canyon spread out before them. While he found the sight breathtaking, it was nothing compared to the awe-inspiring delight that emanated from every inch of Jaime’s petite frame.

  ***

  The sight of the afternoon sun setting over the peaceful canyon was a spectacular sight to behold. Brilliant oranges and reds washed over the deep jagged rocks and a vivid purple painted the clear sky above. They sat near the canyon rim alone, perched upon a large rock that was off of the beaten pathway. There was no sound about to mar the echoing stillness, aside from the occasional sound of a cawing bird and the wind rustling the trees.

  “When my dad was away, sometimes, I would search on the internet for pictures of places,” Jaime reminisced fondly, her voice calm, even, and relaxed. “I would pretend to visit those places. I'd put myself inside of the picture and it was like I was really there. And this was the place I went to the most inside my head.”

  The wind gently blew Evan's hair about his handsome face as he nodded tenderly. She stared at him dreamily, unable to properly express how she felt, then and there.

  “And now I'm really, really here! It's so hard to believe! And it's much, much grander than I ever expected it to be!”

  “Our imaginations are vast,” Evan mused thoughtfully. “Much more vast than Mother Nature herself.”

  “Even in my dreams, I never pictured it quite like this. I never thought about the
way it's making me feel inside. It's incredible! But maybe part of the reason I'm feeling more incredible than I imagined is because of the company that I'm experiencing it with,” she added bashfully.

  He reached out to take her hand and present her with one of his devastatingly beautiful smiles. “That probably has a lot to do with it.”

  Her heart fluttered with excitement as Evan clasped her hand and brought it up to his lips to gently kiss the back of her hand. This time, it wasn't just a kiss of chivalry. It was so much more.

  “Do you know . . .” she stuttered, unable to concentrate on what she wanted to say. “That eight days ago was the first time I ever left Philly?”

  “Was it?” he asked as he kept her hand pressed against his lips.

  “Yeah, and . . . and . . . I never . . . ever . . .”

  “Never ever what?”

  She felt as if she was melting all over the hard rock underneath her and felt light-headed and near to fainting. “I love you so much that it hurts. It really physically hurts!”

  “Hurts why?”

  Tears trickled down her cheeks and she wiped them away with the hand he was not holding. “Because I can't bear to think that you'll only be a memory within my life after tomorrow.”

  “Maybe not just a memory, Sweetheart,” he murmured.

  “No?”

  “No.”

  She watched with wonder as he reached into his inside jacket pocket She chewed her lower lip and brushed her long blonde hair back as it blew into her face. He pulled a small box out of his pocket and held it within his palm before her. She stared into his eyes with wonder.

  “This is my promise to you,” he whispered.

  The moment was so romantic, more romantic than she’d ever imagined within her entire life. More so, than all of the chick flick movies she’d ever daydreamed over. A small cry burst from her lips as he opened the box to reveal a pure gold necklace and heart pendant.

  “Wear this necklace every day and it will remind you that someday . . . someday, I will be back for you.”

  Amazement and delight was written across the contours of her face. She began to tremble with incredulity. “Oh my God!” she gasped, frozen into place. “Oh my God!”

  Evan pulled the necklace out of its box and opened up the heart locket before her. Inside was a delicate cursive inscription that read, “I'll love you for all eternity.”

  When she read those words, she was quite sure she would indeed pass out from the emotions that were now enveloping her. Her hyperventilation caused her to clutch her chest with both hands. Once Evan affixed the necklace around her neck, she threw herself against him and hugged him tight.

  “And you said you weren't a romantic!” she tearfully whispered into his ear as they held each other within a tight embrace for a very long time. Deep inside, Jaime couldn’t help but wish that they could remain that way forever.

  CHAPTER 35

  They spent the night beneath the park’s inviting darkness and lay upon the cold, bare ground together, gazing up at the sky above them. Holding hands tightly and lying so close that their hips were touching, they saw what they never would have seen within the polluted skies of their respective cities. Every star, every constellation, even the wondrous Milky Way was spread out above for their eyes to see.

  Jaime was in awe, but more so by the love she felt emanating from the man lying so close to her. She no longer doubted that he was in love with her. She knew it for a fact within every bone of her body. So much so, that her heart was ready to burst with happiness. She turned onto her side and scooted closer to him to lay her head upon his chest.

  It couldn't end! It couldn't! She would rather die than live another day without him now.

  “Can we stay here forever?” she whispered mournfully.

  “Here? Lying on the ground? It'll snow in a couple months,” he said playfully.

  She giggled with delight. “And it can just bury us! As long as we're still together!”

  He gently caressed her cheek, enjoying the feeling of deep contentment and peace within him. It was an alien sensation for him. His life had always been frenetically paced for as long as he could remember. Very rarely had he slowed down and paid attention to his surroundings, to the people around him, or to his own emotions.

  If only he could get through this in one piece. Perhaps he would be ready for that life Jaime had alluded to so early into their relationship. He could somehow picture himself settling down into marriage and having children. If he could envision the other side of the incarcerated years ahead of him, he could finally see himself in that role, that life.

  “You know,” he whispered thoughtfully as he continued his content caress of her. “We're not really on a timetable.”

  Jaime sighed with excitement, refusing to move as she lay there pressed against him.

  “I didn't make an appointment for my arrest, after all,” he continued lazily.

  She wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. She nodded, enjoying the feel of his hand upon her skin. “Does that mean we can stay?”

  “Maybe one more day.”

  “Thank you, my love,” she said and squeezed him tightly to her.

  After midnight, they drove out of the park and took up residence within a motel room just outside the park's entrance. Neither of them was plagued by the worries of the previous night. They wanted to savor each other's company for as long as they were able. They knew their time together was now limited and extremely precious.

  As they had done in Oklahoma, they petted heavily, touching, kissing, and caressing one another. Once again, Evan was careful with her. She didn't care, though. She loved him completely. Most of all, she could feel the reciprocal love he felt for her.

  CHAPTER 36

  “How will it happen?” Jaime prodded miserably as they sat close together in a booth at the motel’s restaurant the next morning.

  Evan had his arm wrapped around her shoulders as he sipped at his coffee. Her fingers were loosely intertwined with said hand. Her free hand clutched her promise pendant tightly. It was now her most precious possession, more precious than her lost box of postcards from her father.

  “I honestly don’t know. If they know who I am now, they could be staking out my house,” he replied, deep in thought.

  Jaime shuddered visibly. “Evan . . .”

  He smiled softly, knowing exactly what she was thinking. “No, you can’t,” he said.

  “I want to be there for you! I don’t want to see you taken away, but I have to be there for you.”

  “This is one time that you have to listen to me.” He gently tapped the tip of her nose in hopes of cheering her up. “You’re not getting your way this time, my love.”

  She gave him a sad smile and nodded with reluctance.

  “I have to make sure you’re taken care of before I go. I have to know in my heart that you’re on your way to a safe place. That you’re on your way home.”

  A shaky sigh escaped her. “I figure I should give you my address now,” she said, remembering how she’d vowed to never give it to him in the beginning.

  “You better, cuz I figure . . .” he continued, mimicking her tone of voice, “that I will turn up on your doorstep, sooner or later.”

  An excited shiver rushed through her. “I hope it’s sooner, then, because I don’t know how I’m gonna last a day without you.” Her voice cracked with emotion.

  “You will,” he assured her tenderly, “because you’re strong. You’re one of the strongest women I’ve ever come across in all of my hundred conquests. And the funny thing is . . .” He cocked his head to the side as he ran his finger down along the length of her nose and smiled. “You’re not even a fully grown woman yet, but you’re a force to be reckoned with, my love. An amazing force. You won the game, my sweet.”

  The tenderness of his words moved her. “Really?”

  “Yeah,” he said softly, removing the tip of his finger from her nose so that he could touch his nose to hers. �
��You won my heart.”

  Happiness warmed every inch of her. “So all along that was the real game?”

  He pressed gentle kisses against her lips. “Yeah, to see if you could break me.” He rubbed his thumb affectionately along her bottom lip.

  The sadness of their impending separation shrouded her as she stared at him. “Are you sure there's nothing we can do?”

  He pulled back from her slightly as he placed his hand against her thigh and sought to find the right words to say what he needed to say, then and there. “It would be better for the both of us in the long run if I turn myself in. But . . . It's strange,” he said, his voice barely a whisper.

  “I was so afraid that day, so terrified of the huge mistake I’d made because of the drug deal and my running from the law. But now I realize that it really wasn't a mistake at all. It was fate sending me on a journey to find you.

  “Of course, I'll have to pay the price, but I know it will be worth it. I don't know the legal recourse at all yet, but I think if I plead guilty then maybe I can plea bargain for a lighter sentence.”

  A fresh wave of tears rolled down her cheeks. She realized just how much she’d cried during her time with him, more so than she’d done in the aftermath of her father's death. The emotions she experienced were so deep and profound, unlike anything she’d felt before.

  “Please let me be there with you,” she pleaded. “I need to be with you.”

  “I’ve already told you. I know you feel the need to stand by me, but I need to make sure you're safe,” he gently reprimanded. “I won't argue with you about this anymore.”

  She relented and let the matter drop. In her heart, she knew it wasn't over yet. He hadn't won that game yet. She kept herself from mentioning things for the rest of the day. She wanted the day to be special for the two of them. Most of all, she wanted it to be a relaxing one for him.