Amy

by Deborah A. Price

  Elaine walked back into the living room holding the prescription bottle that was over ten years old. Slamming it on to the table, she glanced at Kyle. “Go talk to her. See if she took those damn pills.”

  Kyle grabbed the bottle and shoved it into his pocket. “I guess I can do just that because she isn’t mad enough at me. Thanks, Elaine.”

  “Don’t mention it,” Elaine ran a hand through her long blond hair and started pacing the floor.

  ≠

  Amy glanced up after hearing her door open and stared at Kyle. “I was serious.”

  “And so am I,” Kyle muttered before stepping over to the desk where Amy was sitting. He tossed the rose that he was holding on the keyboard of her computer and grabbed the prescription bottle from his pocket. “Did you take these?”

  Amy stared at the bottle, shrugging. “Do you think that I did?”

  “I don’t want to think that you would, not after that story you told us earlier. Did you?” Kyle watched Amy push back from the desk and stand. “You really have to tell me why I’m the one in the doghouse. I did what I thought was right.” He noticed the blood that was showing through her shirtsleeve and walked towards her.

  “I’m the one that told Rose to open the door.” Amy stated, taking the bottle from him. “Me. Ricky sent her a text from Bob’s phone. I should’ve paid better attention to what Bob said about some of his things disappearing, but I didn’t. Nobody has the blame for what happened other than me.”

  Kyle walked her over to the bed and lifted the sleeve on her shirt. “Bob didn’t say anything about the phone. I remember distinctly that Bob had sent a text on it before he came over with Rose tonight.”

  “Then how?”

  “Maybe Ricky cloned Bob’s phone just like he did yours and mine. It wasn’t your fault.” Kyle answered. “Rose mentioned it while you were taking your shower.” He slowly unwrapped the gauze on her arm and studied it. “You should get stitches.”

  “You didn’t answer me before, Kyle. How is Melody?”

  “She’ll survive. Pretty bruised up, but they say she’ll live. Melody finally admitted to Bob that Ricky had been bullying her, beating her when he got the urge. Bob was going to call their parents.” Kyle spotted a box of Kleenex and pressed several on the spots that were bleeding on her arm and stomach. “Does this hurt?”

  “It’s numb.” Amy stated. “I flushed all of the pills, Kyle.”

  Kyle smiled. “I’m sure that Elaine and Nate will be thrilled. Why did you flush them?”

  Amy tilted her head. “I don’t need them to remind me; I probably haven’t needed them for a while.” She glanced down at his hand and frowned. “Okay, let’s go to the hospital.”

  Kyle nodded, standing while still placing pressure on her arm. “When did you realize you didn’t need them?”

  Amy stood up beside him and sighed. “Maybe one day I’ll tell you, but right now I just want to apologize to you for the way I’ve acted. I guess I should also apologize to Nate and Elaine. I didn’t think about anybody spotting the bottle.”

  Chapter 24

  Amy watched the basketball game while sitting with Elaine, Rose, and Melody. She had been amazed at the friendships that blossomed from what she had gone through and looked at Melody. The two had both understood what the other had gone through and had conversations that had sped up the healing progress for both. Ricky had pled guilty to all of the charges, and as far as Amy was concerned, life was good. She hadn’t realized that she had sighed until Elaine glanced at her curiously.

  “Something on your mind, Amy?” Elaine asked before trading bridal magazines with Rose.

  “Look around us, Elaine. I don’t remember the grass ever being so green or the sky being so blue.”

  “Oh, oh. I think that she’s going to get deep on us.” Rose laughed.

  “Do you have a problem with that, Rose?” Amy asked. “I guess what I’m trying to say is that I’ve never felt more relaxed or. . .”

  “I guess Kyle makes a difference. The two of you might as well move in together the way you never seem to leave each other's side.” Elaine smirked knowing that Kyle had spent the night. “It must be good sex.”

  “I’m not complaining.” Amy couldn’t help but to smile. “But it’s more than that. It’s the knowing that life is short, and I might be enjoying my dessert first,” Amy scowled when Elaine laughed at her again. “Okay, I’m not going to just up and say. . .”

  “Sex,” Melody inputted the word without looking at them. “It’s a really simple word.”

  “I prefer dessert.” Amy smirked. “The fact is that I feel like I belong where I am. I even got over the fact that Kyle owns part of the company where I work, but don’t tell him that. I like using his partnership against him to make him stop talking.”

  “Or bringing you ice cream or the constant roses or. . .” Elaine teased.

  “I get it.” Amy chuckled.

  “He spoils you rotten.” Rose added. “Enjoy the romance while it lasts. Lord knows that Bob could take a few lessons from Kyle.”

  “As could Nate,” Elaine confided. “I’m happy that it worked out like this.”

  Melody glanced at the women beside her. “I have a slight confession to make.” She was watching the game while she spoke and smiled when one of the men playing against Kyle’s team waved at her. “I’ve been dating him for several weeks now.”

  “Does ‘him’ have a name?” Amy asked.

  “Sure, it’s Anthony. I’d like to invite him to our gathering tonight if it’s alright with you.” Melody turned towards them and smiled. “Well?”

  “Melody,” Rose hugged her fiancé’s sister and smiled. “It’s more than alright with us. I mean if I can speak for all of us.”

  “We don’t have a problem with it. Does Bob know?” Elaine asked with interest.

  “We thought that we would tell him tonight. Anthony is a great guy.” Melody focused on Amy. “I know now that the way I felt was wrong. My confidence is slowly building up to where it should be, and I’m thinking that our conversations helped with that. I owe you.”

  “You don’t owe me anything, Melody. You owe yourself the chance to be happy. We all do.” Amy turned when she heard Nate, Bob, and Kyle talking on the way to the picnic table. “Make sure that you invite him, Mel. I think that it will be great.”

  Amy watched Melody leave after hugging Bob and smiled when she caught Kyle staring at her. “What?”

  “Can I interest you in a walk, Amy?” Kyle asked, watching Elaine stand beside Nate.

  “I actually have to run some errands, but I’ll see you tonight.”

  “What errands?”

  “She has to ride with me to try on her Maid of Honor dress.” Elaine answered from beside Nate. “I’m sure that you guys can find something to do to amuse yourselves.”

  “Sure, I think that Kyle has something that he needs to do before tonight. I’ll tag along to make sure that he does.” Nate smirked when Amy looked at them puzzled. “You’re not allowed to ask questions, sis.”

  “I wasn’t going to ask.” Amy retorted. “Have a ball.”

  Kyle kissed her and watched while she walked off with Elaine. “What do I have to do before tonight?”

  “You would make my father a very happy man if you asked him for Amy’s hand in marriage before you pop the question.” Nate laughed. “He won’t bite off your head. No worries. Believe me when I say some fathers still expect for you to say something before placing a ring on their little girl’s hand.”

  “Okay, but if he tells me that I’m not the man he’s envisioned for Amy, I’ll elope with her anyway.”

  Nate rolled his eyes and started walking to his apartment.

  ≠

  Amy watched her friends after they met at Sonny’s house for a barbeque, sighing after Kyle sat down beside her. “Isn’t it great?” Amy asked after he placed his arm over her shoulder. “Rose and Elaine are so excited about their weddings, and Melody is going to surprise her brot
her when she arrives.”

  “Oh?”

  “It seems that she’s gotten involved with one of your opponents.” Amy turned towards him. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately, at least when you’re not around and I can manage that simple feat.”

  Kyle glanced at her curiously. “I’ll bite. What have you been thinking when I’m not ravishing you?”

  Amy watched Kyle’s nephew playing with his new puppy and sighed. “In our life, we’re given choices to make albeit that some of the occurrences are not what we would’ve chosen. Some good and,” Amy paused, “some bad. Some of the time the choices are a challenge, and we wish they had never been made even if the decision hadn’t been made by us.” Glancing down, she realized that Kyle was holding her hand. “Along with the choices, we’re given chances. A chance to better ourselves, to stand back and look, to say yes to certain options that become available. To be able to embrace a new idea or concept.”

  Amy squeezed his hand and blinked. “A few weeks ago, you asked me when I had realized that I didn’t need those pills that I had held on to for so long. I never really thought about them being there until everybody thought I should talk about my uncle, so it had been a while. I can’t remember when.

  I had made it through college on a scholarship. I was seeing more of my father even if it was just for the weekly dinners, and I’ll tell someone in a heartbeat that I have the best brother. Everything was starting to work itself out even if I had buried that secret.” Amy looked up when she heard Hunter squeal. “I started working for Sonny as an intern and felt that I found what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I was exactly where I should be. Kenny worked with me and. . .”

  She looked over to where Bob and Melody were talking and saw who Melody said was Anthony standing with them. Smiling, she continued. “Kenny went to bat for me with your father. Sonny wasn’t looking to hire someone at the time my internship was over. Kenny talked him into taking a chance on me. I’m very thankful that he did, because I love my job.”

  “From what I’ve seen, you’re great.” Kyle whispered.

  “Thank you. That means a lot coming from my supposedly silent boss.” Amy squinted her eyes before growing serious again. “The thing is that I never thought about the pills. I was too busy making choices and taking chances. I was content. I saw them when I moved out of Nate’s apartment, but I didn’t harp on why they were still in my possession. I had started going out with Randy, and life was growing rosier every day. I guess that with Elaine missing in action, I needed someone to talk to, but I never told Randy anything about what I had gone through. Shoot, I had never told anybody until you interfered. I couldn’t force myself to take a chance on that relationship.” Amy angled to where she was looking at Kyle. “There was a reason I didn’t.”

  “What?” Kyle asked before picking up the puppy that had managed to find himself on his feet.

  “There was this day when time froze; I swear it did.” Amy chuckled. “A runaway basketball had this guy chasing it down the hill. You. That happened right before I met Randy.

  I had just opened a bottle of water when you looked up at me. Boom- eye contact. Everything froze.”

  “Except for the bottle of water which you dropped on your feet,” Kyle laughed and placed the puppy down on the ground.

  Amy chuckled at the memory. “I’ll have you know that I cussed you all the way to the apartment. That’s when I signed on to my email and sent a note to Randy that I was ready to meet him in person. My choice, another chance.” Amy sighed, blinking when she felt the dampness in her eyes. “We were very compatible, but it leaned more towards friendship than romance. I’m not saying that we didn’t kiss, but I was never ready to take it the next level with him. I wasn’t shocked when he admitted that he felt the same way.”

  “The engagement?”

  “It was for his parents like I’ve already explained. He was going to tell them that we broke it off after they stopped pressuring him about the daughter of their friend. Randy couldn’t stand her, but he didn’t want to hurt his mother’s feelings.” Amy lowered her eyes again. “I didn’t want to tell them the truth while they grieved for the loss of their only son. It just didn’t seem right. It was a choice I made.”

  “You were receiving those letters that you never told anybody about until he forced you.”

  “By that time, the frequency had increased from monthly to weekly to daily. I know that I should’ve told Nate, but he was ill over Elaine. She never knew just how much those trips hurt Nate. I love the fact that Elaine finally figured out that Nate meant more to her than that job she had taken.”

  “And us?” Kyle finally asked before placing a finger underneath her chin and waiting for her to look him in the eyes.

  “Us? Any man that buys me ice cream deserves a chance in my book.” Amy smirked while removing his hand. “You made that choice easy for me when you kissed me in that parking lot. You had me confiding in you before I could think twice about it. Nate would’ve never convinced me to take that stupid over the counter test. I was ready to accept the fact that I would have to pay for a choice Nash made.”

  “But?”

  “I chose. I knew that I felt something for you, and I wanted to see where those feelings would lead me. You had already sworn up and down that you loved me. I’ll tell you right now that hearing you say that scared the daylights out of me. You know- the letters and phone calls were already stressing me to my limits. Nate and Dad were trying to force my hand into talking. Elaine was always ill towards Nate, and he was giving everything that she dished out back to her. There was too much going on for me to do more than to push you away. It wasn’t the right time.”

  “When did it become the right time?” Kyle asked.

  “I thought that it wasn’t the right time.” Amy corrected. “It’s funny that I can’t imagine what my life was about before you started interfering. You’re the first chance that I remember wanting to take, and I hope I never regret making that choice. Kyle, I love you. I’m not really sure when that happened, but. . .”

  Kyle stood and pulled her up, placing a finger over her mouth. “Amy, I would never ask you to make a different choice as long as you’re willing to take a chance on us. Not just me, but us. You realize that you just said I love you without whispering the words.”

  “Yes, I do. What’s the deal, Kyle? I’ve told you before that I loved you.”

  “Only after I said it. Amy,” Kyle knelt down in front of her after removing a box from his pocket. He looked around them after the banter from the other couples had seized and then focused on Amy. “Amy, I have a question for you. Will you marry me?” He opened the box to reveal a dainty diamond on a gold band. “Amy?”

  Amy stared at the ring and dabbed at her eyes, nodding because she was speechless. Feeling the coolness of the gold ring being slipped on her finger, she knelt in front of him. “Thank you for taking a chance on me, Kyle.”

  “I’ll always take that chance.” Kyle responded before embracing her and claiming her mouth.

  Other books by this Author

  The Game

  Life’s Gift

  Lost and Found

  Amber’s Destiny

  Deception

  Rainbow of Roses – The Rainbow Duo, Book 1

  The Key to Her Heart- The Rainbow Duo, Book 2

  Finding Gracie’s Rainbow- The Happily Ever After, Book 1

  Finding Annie’s Dream- The Happily Ever After, Book 2

  Finding Sammie’s Fantasy- The Happily Ever After, Book 3

  Cloaked Ice, Hidden Riches

  Finding Bea’s Hope- The Happily Ever After, Book 4

  Charmed Liaison

  Kismet- Fostered Love, Book 1

  Karma- Fostered Love, Book 2

  Harbour- Fostered Love, Book 3

  Charisma- Fostered Love, Book 4

  Kindle- Fostered Love, Book 5

  Sagacity- Fostered Love, Book 6

  Hidden Truths

  To
Love Again

  First Comes Love

  Fated

  The Happily Ever After is a combined book with all four of the novels.

  Rainbow Duo combines both Rainbow of Roses and The Key to Her Heart

  Fostered Love, The Beginning contains Kismet, Karma, and Harbour.

  Fostered Love, The Finale contains Charisma, Kindle, and Sagacity.

  To be published in August of 2014

  Indulgence

  Outlook for the remainder of the Year

  Piper- Chances, Volume 2

  Legend

  Blaire- Chances, Volume 3