by Dawn Brower
Jessica lifted her hands and pushed Dani hard, taking her by surprise. Pain shot through her backside as it met the floor with a hard thump. She wanted to jump to her feet and punch Jessica’s perfect face, but it wouldn’t do any good. The girl wanted to fight. Dani wouldn’t humor her. Ren would be in the middle of it all, and Dani wanted to do what was best for her friend. Fighting with his girlfriend wasn’t going to make things easier on any of them. She took a deep breath and prepared to reason with the girl. “Go back to the dance.” Dani said calmly. “I don’t want to do this with you.”
“Too bad. It’s time we settled things once and for all. I’m tired of you getting in the middle of my relationship. School is almost over, and Ren and I have plans. They don’t include you.”
Dani knew what Ren’s plans were. Where he was going to college, what medical school he hoped to get into, and his need to help others. Jessica should know he would share that with her. “I don’t have time for your histrionics.” Dani got to her feet and brushed down her skirt. “I won’t mention any of this to Ren.” She walked past Jessica and headed to the exit.
“Not so fast.” Jessica grabbed her arm preventing her from leaving. “I’m not done. You don’t leave until I have my say.”
She gritted her teeth together. Jessica was so damn demanding. Dani couldn’t believe she called her the needy one. The girl insisted on getting her way far too often. This was the last time she gave in and conceded. “You always have something you have to say. What is it this time?” Dani raised an eyebrow mockingly. “Ren actually hates me? He only puts up with me out of a habit? I’ve heard it all from you. What makes this any different?”
Jessica raised her hand and slapped her. The sting spread across her cheek in tiny pinpricks. Dani rubbed her hand over her face and glared at the other girl. “I’m done with you. Don’t corner me again. If you leave me alone, I’ll do the same.”
“No. I’m not going to step aside and let you ruin my relationship with him. I’m tired of him always running to do something for you. Find your own boyfriend. Ren is mine.”
Dani stepped close to Jessica and stared into her eyes. “Ren is my friend. Get used to it. I will always be a part of his life.” Even when it hurt too much to be around him… It was the path she chose. “Now I’m going to go back to the dance and try to enjoy what’s left of it. I’ll do you a solid and not mention this to Ren because I’m not the vindictive bitch you seem to think I am.”
Dani turned to leave once again but stopped short when she heard Jessica say, “I’m pregnant.”
Dani closed her eyes as her words washed over her. They froze her heart. Any hope she’d thought she had with Ren evaporated. He would never abandon Jessica and his child. She turned toward Jessica. Tears were falling down her cheeks. She was fighting to hold onto Ren. It didn’t matter how Dani felt about the girl. She was going to have Ren’s baby. There was only one decision she could make.
“Does Ren know?”
She shook her head. “I haven’t told him yet.”
“Why are you telling me?” She should be having this conversation with Ren. “You should tell him.” What game was Jessica playing? There had to be a reason she was dropping this particular bomb on Dani.
“I want you to leave us alone. We don’t stand a chance with you constantly around us. We deserve to have the best possible start. Our child needs both parents to be completely devoted to it.”
She was right. Dani knew it. She was done fighting fate. Ren couldn’t even be her friend anymore. He wouldn’t be solely focused on his family if he was always hanging around with her. If she needed him, he’d come running. For his sake, and his child’s, she would have to disappear and allow him the chance to be happy.
She nodded. “You win. You have until graduation to tell Ren. If you don’t, I will.” Dani turned and left the room. The roles had reversed, and now she was the one fighting tears. She’d lost something significant to her, and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it. She left the dance and walked the entire way home. It gave her time to work out what had to be done. There wasn’t much of a choice left. She had to leave, and the sooner the better.
***
Ren never got the chance to tell Dani he loved her. She ran away before graduation. He’d been blindsided by her choice, and beyond pissed off. What had he ever done to her to deserve such little regard? He searched for her. She’d hidden herself too well. If she really didn’t want him in her life any longer, he’d respect her wishes. Ren always did what Dani wanted. Probably always would. They’d set that pattern up early on in their relationship. “Friends forever,” she’d said. How wrong she’d been; how pitiful he was. He’d been a fool to believe they could have anything…
“Damn you, Dani,” he shouted. Tears fell from his eyes. How was he supposed to let her go? She’d been a part of his life for as long as he could remember. Now he was alone. A piece of him would always be missing without her in his life. What if he never loved again? He doubted he truly could. He only had one heart to give—and Dani owned it. She left him with a hole in his chest and nothing to fill the void.
Jessica had become more attentive. He’d allowed her to somewhat fill what was missing, even though a part of him screamed in protest. What else was he to do? There wasn’t much choice left to him. Dani had taken all of them away. He wanted to hate her for it, and maybe he even did on a small level. One day maybe they would see each other again, and he’d be able to ask her why. Until then he was left with so many questions, and absolutely no answers.
He always came back to one thing. Why. Why had she left? He should have known something was wrong. She’d been so weird at prom—after they danced. He’d meant to ask her what was bothering her, but she’d disappeared before it ended. Brian had been no help, when he’d asked him about Dani. No one had seen her or noticed when she’d left. The next day she’d been gone. All her foster parents were able to tell him was she had decided to leave for college early.
So much for confessing he’d love her forever.
He was a damned idiot. The biggest and most moronic fool alive—how could he have believed he could have it all? Some things were not meant to be. Sadly he couldn’t do anything to change the feelings rolling through his heart. He’d always love her, nothing, and no one would ever change that. His heart would be hers, and anyone else who came into his life wouldn’t compare.
No, this couldn’t be the end. He wouldn’t accept that. Someday, he promised himself, if he found Dani again he’d make sure she stayed around long enough to realize what she meant to him. What they’d lost by her actions. It was the only thing he could hold onto. When he saw her again, and he fully believed he would, there would be nothing to stand in his way—even Dani herself.
“One day, Dani, love.” He stared up at the sky. “I will find you, and if we’re both lucky enough we will find a way to be together.” Ren rubbed his chest trying to erase the ache that filled his heart. “Nothing will be the same until that day, but I promise we can make it right if we fight hard enough.”
She was worth fighting for. The best things in life were. It might just take longer than he’d like to make his promise a reality. As time went by, he’d do everything in his power to hold on to hope. It was the only thing he had left. If he lost it, then all would be lost. There would never be a Dani and Ren. There would be nothingness.
“I’ll do my best,” he whispered. “But I’m far from perfect.”
And there was Jessica. She wanted more than he’d been willing to give. It was a temptation he was finding harder and harder to resist. In time he was afraid he’d give in. Life had a funny way of throwing a wrench in even the best laid plans. There was no telling what his future had in store for him, but he had hopes, dreams, and wishes he hoped to one day see fulfilled. Dani was one part of that bigger picture. If he couldn’t have her, at least he could have the rest. He’d work hard and achieve what he could. Maybe, somewhere along the way, he’d discover that
he could live without her.
He snorted. “Not likely.”
But he’d attempt to. Oh he’d try; he had no choice after all.
Dawn Brower works as a substitute teacher and enjoys the flexibility it gives her to concentrate on her other endeavors, and focus on writing when her muse calls to her.
Growing up she was the only girl out of six children. She is a single mother of two teenage boys; there is never a dull moment in her life. Reading books is her favorite hobby. There is nothing like a nice glass of wine and a good book to relax with at the end of the day.
There are always stories inside her head; she just never thought she could make them come to life. That creativity has finally found an outlet.
Visit her website at www.authordawnbrower.com for more information on upcoming releases.
Books by Dawn Brower
Broken Pearl
Deadly Benevolence
Marsden Romances
A Flawed Jewel
A Crystal Angel
A Treasured Lily
A Sanguine Gem
A Hidden Ruby
A Discarded Pearl
Novak Springs Series
Cowgirl Fever
Dirty Proof
Unbridled Pursuit
Sensual Games
Linked Across Time Series
Saved by My Blackguard
Searching for My Rogue
Seduction of My Rake
Heart’s Intent Series
One Heart to Give
Unveiled Hearts