The Air I Breathe

by K. Renee

  I learned that lesson the hard way and the reason we are even together now. Sager Stone goes after what he wants no matter the consequences, and I am sure glad he does. Without him, I’d still be suffocating even when I didn’t realize it.

  Alec and I should have never been together, and now I see that. He wanted something that I wasn’t, and I was too afraid to ever walk away on my own because I felt safe. Feeling safe isn’t always living though. Sometimes the only way to ever feel anything at all is to do something dramatic, or as I did…

  It will never be an okay way to escape everything I was trying to get away from, but Sager taught me so much in those seven months.

  As I wash my hair, I think of the first time I knew without a doubt that I was in love with Sager Stone.

  Alec left town again for the dozenth time in the matter of a few weeks. He promised to call and even then it was going to be just like it was every other time. I’d get one phone call at night around eight when he was probably headed to bed or something.

  Instead of waiting around for that call, I made up my mind and called Sager instead. Listening to the phone ring in my ear, I try to keep all perverted thoughts to myself, but it was impossible. It had been a week since I’d been able to head over to the gym or even his place and I was missing him.

  “Hey babe, I didn’t expect you to call.”

  I mess with the blanket that is still covering me because after Alec left, I couldn’t help but think of Sager. I spent the last fifteen minutes rubbing myself and getting off to a memory that I was dying to relive.

  “He’s gone, and I was wondering…” I trail off, still unsure how to ask for anything from a man that isn’t my fiancé.

  “You were wondering what? If I’d fuck you while he’s gone? You already know the answer, Cam. You say the word, and I’ll be ready and willing.” I push away thoughts of how wrong this is.

  “I want you. Can we meet somewhere?” I can hear the hesitation in my own voice, and even though he won’t mention it, he’ll still think that I don’t really want this.

  “Come over. I’ll be waiting for you.”

  Once we hang up, I get out of bed and freshen up. One thing that Alec always told me was to make sure when you go out, that you are always presentable. Little did he know that I would be using that same mantra to be going out to meet up with the man I was cheating on him with.

  Pulling up to Sager’s place, I put my car in park, and before I can even get out, my car door is being opened, and Sager is leaning in to kiss me.

  “I’ve missed you.” His lips press to mine, and when he pulls away, he grabs my hand and helps me out of my car.

  “Come on, I want to take you somewhere.”

  Heck, right now I would agree to go anywhere with him. All he would have to do is ask.

  After he gets me seated in his car, we take off, and I don’t think twice about what I’m doing for the first time. Instead, I just let it happen; knowing that being right here with Sager is where I belong.

  The drive to what seems like the middle of nowhere is peaceful. We talk and laugh about anything and everything. I can be myself with him. I don’t have to play a part that I’ve adopted over the years, and I can let my hair down.

  When he pulls over to the side of the road, I look over at him, and he has a grin on his face. He doesn’t say a word as he gets out and walks around to my side of the car and opens the door for me.

  “Come on. I want to show you something.” I give him my hand, and he helps me out of the car like a true gentleman, that is until he shuts the door and slaps my ass.

  “This place is where I used to come to think. I was an angry kid growing up, and so I would run away more times than not. This place never let me down though.” He leads me down this little path, and it’s the most gorgeous sight.

  There are green trees as far as you can see and wildflowers growing through the area. It’s almost like a little perfect slice of heaven.

  “It’s beautiful here.” I can’t help but stare at everything in awe. Where we live, we don’t get to see anything like this.

  He leads me in front of the car and sits me on the hood before moving between my legs. I wrap my arms around his neck, and I know that if he looked down, he could probably see my panties. My dress barely stays in place as he moves his hands up my thighs.

  The look in his eyes tells me everything I need to know. He brought me to a place that he considers his, and he’s sharing it with me.

  Just as our lips touch, I feel that jolt, and I know that it’s starting to happen; I’m starting to fall in love with Sager.

  I shouldn’t, but I can’t help it. The way he makes me feel is undeniable, and I want to bottle it up to keep it in my pocket for whenever I don’t feel good enough. Then I’d have something to remember. He grabs something from his pocket, and he holds it out to me.

  “I want to remember this moment.”

  My hands slip under his shirt, and I pull it over his head before kissing his mouth. I’m afraid to see what’s in his hand, so I distract him as much as I can. Him giving me something will make this too real. It will solidify that whatever this is feeling is and it makes me nervous.

  It reminds me that I am out in the middle of nowhere with a man that isn’t my fiancé and that I’m falling in love with him.

  “Cameo, take it.” He sticks his hand out again and pulls back slightly. I hold my palm out, and he places something in my hand. My eyes drift down to my hand, and I see the delicate necklace. I stare down at my hand for far too long, not saying a word. Speechless is the only thing that comes to mind when I try to form words.

  “I want you to always remember what we have. It may not be right to most, but I don’t care. I only care about you.”

  “Thank you,” I finally whisper. “It’s beautiful.”

  “Not as beautiful as you.” He tucks my hair behind my ear and leans in for a kiss. When he pulls away, he takes the necklace from my hand and puts it around my neck, pulling my hair out of the way and fastening it.

  Twenty-Four

  Sager

  When she finally comes out of the room, I feel like I can’t breathe.

  Her blonde hair is in curls that flow down her back, and she’s wearing a dress that fits her body like a glove. Even the heels she has on are sexy as hell, and when she walks toward me, I forget how to breathe.

  The smell of her perfume hits me, and she smooths out her dress as she stands in front of me, but I’m too stuck on stupid to even speak.

  “Does this work?” She looks at me shyly and fuck she has no reason to feel self-conscious at all.

  “You look amazing.” I reach out and wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her body into mine. My hand automatically goes to her stomach, and I wait to see if I feel the baby kick again, but I don’t.

  “So where are you taking me?” she asks, looking up at me.

  “Don’t worry about a thing. I have a plan.” I grin at her, and she gives me a look that tells me that she doesn’t trust what I have up my sleeve.

  “I feel overdressed.” I look down at my jeans and button-up shirt. She has known all this time that I am not a suit and tie type of guy and I never will be.

  “Trust me, you won’t be overdressed. If anything, I’ll be underdressed, and that’s fine with me.”

  She rolls her eyes at me and shakes her head. “I’ve only gotten to see you in a tux once, and it was hot.” I can’t help but laugh at that.

  “It was Jenner’s, and it’s the only time you’ll see me in one.”

  “Did you go to that party just to see me?”

  I shrug, not wanting to really give away all my secrets.

  “You did. You dressed up just to see me.”

  “It was so damn worth it.” I kiss her neck and lead her toward the door.

  The drive to the restaurant is short, and as much as I don’t want the banter between us to end, it does when she sees the restaurant we arrive at.

  “Sager, this is
way too much. You don’t have to spend money on me for me to be happy with you.” Although I knew she would say something along the lines of this, I still brought her here.

  “Cameo, nothing is too much for you. I love you, and I want to spend the money on you. Think of this as our first date. I’m wining and dining you, just hoping that I’ll get lucky at the end of it.” I wink at her and get out of the car, moving around to open her door.

  “All you had to do was ask.” My hand rests on her ass as I shut the door and lead her toward the front of the restaurant.

  Once the hostess seats us, water is brought to our table and Cameo is looking around the place almost like she thinks Alec is going to appear magically to ruin this for us.

  As I stare at her, I can’t help but grin when I see what is around her neck. I had no idea that she even had it still after she left him, but there it is. The necklace I bought her four months ago.

  I still remember how terrified she was when I met her and how since then she’s become so comfortable with me. That girl belongs with me, and there is nothing that I would change in our lives except maybe Alec possibly being the baby’s father.

  “Stop thinking about him.”

  My eyes snap to her face, and she’s got a knowing look spread over her features. “You don’t know if he’s the father or not. The more we dwell on it, the more it hurts us. I just want to focus on us for a while.”

  I reach across the table and take hold of her hand. “You have my attention.” She grins at me as the waitress comes over.

  “Welcome, can I get you something other than water? A beer? A soda?”

  Cameo looks up at her and shakes her head no before replying, “No, water is good for me.” Her hand goes to her stomach and rubs it slightly before the waitress turns to look at me.

  “Water is good for me,” I answer looking back at Cam.

  “Do you need another minute to look over the menu or are you ready to order?”

  Cam asks for a few more minutes, and the waitress smiles before heading off to another table.

  “She was checking you out.”

  This time it’s me rolling my eyes at her. “Babe, not everyone wants me.”

  “You are kind of irresistible, I mean look at you.” She smirks at me, and I want to reach over and pull her mouth to mine, but I refrain.

  “The difference is I wanted you and wasn’t about to let you get away.” I shrug, “I had to get you while I had the chance.”

  “Well, now that you have me, what do you want?” I look at her from across the table, and I grin. She has no clue the things I want from her.

  “Well, for starters, I want you to be the mother of my child. But I think we already have that one down.” She shakes her head laughing but lets me continue. “Second, I want to always be your safe haven. The one you know you can run to no matter what happens.”

  “I already know that one,” she grins.

  “And third, I want you to be my better half.” She gives me a questioning look, and I don’t say anything else.

  “What are you trying to say, Sager?” She has the hint of a grin on her lips. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

  I grab the ring out of my pocket and stand. Her eyes widen, and I kneel in front of her. “I know that we have been anything but normal, and I don’t regret a minute of it. You are the air I breathe, and I want nothing more than for you to be the only woman I ever wake up next to for the rest of our lives. Marry me.”

  She throws her arms around me and pulls me tightly to her.

  “Yes,” she whispers in my ear, and I squeeze her.

  Pulling back, I take her hand and slide the ring on her finger, and when she looks down at it, I know what she’s thinking.

  “You got this one. The one I stared at in the window of the pawn shop the day we bought the crib.”

  I nod my head and tears fall down her cheeks.

  “You are so amazing, Sager.” A few people around us start to clap, and I can’t express how I feel that she even said yes. Even after everything we’ve been through so far, I know that she’s the one.

  “We don’t have to rush into any of this, just know that when you’re ready, I’m ready.”

  Just as she’s about to say something his voice echoes through the restaurant. “Oh good, not only did you steal my fiancée and mother of my unborn child but you are now proposing. And here I thought that you couldn’t get any more pathetic.”

  The look on Cameo’s face is of pure horror. She hates when things get confrontational, and he always shows up right when we are getting back on track.

  “Still jealous she chose me over you? That your money couldn’t buy her love?”

  He scoffs at that, and a waiter gets in between us as I stand up.

  “I didn’t think you’d be able to afford a place like this.” He looks at my clothes and turns up his nose that they aren’t even fancy enough for the establishment. They aren’t fancy enough for him.

  “Alec, please leave us alone.” Cameo’s voice breaks through the conversation, but she still hasn’t risen from her chair.

  “Why, because I’m humiliating you? I mean what do you call what you two did behind my back?” I can hear the anger in his voice, but it’s only because he was humiliated himself. His ego was bruised, and now he’s just lashing out like a child.

  “We never made a scene.”

  He snorts out in laughter, and she just shakes her head. I can see the frustration written all over her face.

  “No, you just let him fuck you in the bathroom of the gala and probably all over this damn town.”

  The waiter between us is looking at me like he’s afraid I’ll swing and hit him when I go at Alec, but he doesn’t prepare himself for when Cameo gets up.

  Very calmly, she walks over to him looks him right in the eye, and slaps him. I watch his head snap to the side, and she says, “At least he never put his hands around my neck and squeezed until I passed out. He’s not perfect by all means, but he’s still a better man than you’ll ever be.”

  The waiter looks at me with wide eyes, and I grab her hand and pull her with me.

  “Just wait until he finds something better and he cheats on you.” I push past the waiter, not giving him the chance to stop me. My fist lands into his cheekbone and the sound of my fist hitting him echoes through the now silent restaurant.

  All eyes are on us, but I could care less. He deserves this and so much more. He’s lucky we are in public, or I’d beat the shit out of him for the shit he’s already said.

  When the waiter gets between us again, he pushes me back, and I go willingly. Grabbing Cameo’s hand, we turn and walk toward the door, not bothering to look back at the chaos that is behind us. It’s going to be us against the world, us against that bastard until we find out if he’s the father or not.

  When we get to the car, I push her lightly against it and box her in. When she refuses to look at me, I grab her chin and force her to. “Don’t listen to a word he says.” I run the back of my fingers against her jaw, and she gives me a watery grin.

  “I’m sorry he ruined our official date.”

  She shrugs her shoulders in answer, and I hate that he keeps showing up when I try to sweep her off her feet.

  “It isn’t about the date. I don’t care if we get to eat in a fancy restaurant or if you just take me to get a cheeseburger. I just want to be with you, Sager.”

  I press my lips to hers and close my eyes. “I would kill for a cheeseburger. Come on, I’ll wine and dine you with a cheeseburger and milkshake.” She giggles against my lips and kisses me softly.

  “That sounds amazing. I love you.” The baby kicks as she’s pressed up against me and I cup her jaw.

  “I love you more. We will get through all his bullshit, I promise you.”

  “We can get through anything.” I kiss her nose and open her door, helping her into the car before shutting the door and making my way over to the driver’s side. Looking back at the re
staurant, I see him standing there watching us.

  Instead of stooping to his level, I get in and start the car ready to get the fuck out of here and back home with my girl.

  Even though I had plans of a fancy dinner with the proposal, I’ll settle for her agreeing to be my wife one day and cheeseburgers instead because I got the most important part, which is her. I’ll get to call her Mrs. Sager Stone one day and that day will be one of the best moments I’ll ever have.

  Twenty-Five

  Cameo

  As the weeks go on, I can’t help the anxiety of not knowing who the father is.

  Sager swears he doesn’t care as long as this baby is happy and healthy, he’ll love it either way, but I need to know. I need my mind to be at peace at least a little. I need to know if I have to prepare myself for the worst and how I’ll even handle Alec if he is, in fact, the father.

  Heading to the doctor’s office, I try like hell not to let my nerves get the best of me.

  The ride feels like it takes forever and when I finally pull into a parking space, I have to take a couple of deep breaths before even undoing my seatbelt.

  Grabbing my bag, I get out and make my way into the doctor’s office.

  After checking myself in, I wait in the waiting room for longer than expected and when they finally call my name, I feel like I might throw up. I know this isn’t even the worst part of everything, but it feels like I’m going behind Sager’s back to find out.

  When the doctor walks into the room, he gives me a polite smile and says, “Good morning, Cameo. How are you doing today?”

  “Nervous. Terrified is probably more like it.”

  “There is nothing to be terrified about. This is non-evasive, and you and the baby will both be perfectly fine.” He writes a few things down in the chart in his hand before he continues. “Were you able to bring DNA from the father?” Just as I’m about to hand him the little baggy with the gum that I picked up after Sager spit it out last night, the door to the exam room opens, and Sager walks in with a nurse following behind him.