by Maci Grant
“Thanks to the two of you.” Cathy walked up to them with her hands shoved deep in her pockets. “If you hadn’t shown up when you did, I’m sure I wouldn’t be standing here right now. I’m sorry that I lied to you. I should have told you the truth from the beginning, then none of this would have happened.”
“Maybe now you know that you can trust Chief Pitman.” Blu glanced in the direction of the chief and James as they continued through the crowd toward the main parking lot.
Cathy stared after him as well. “I do. I wish I’d trusted him in the first place. After he came to talk to me last night, I was scared. James told me that if I went to the cops he’d know, and he’d come after me. He acted like he was such a hero, but he was nothing more than a criminal. I was going to leave town and just disappear. But I knew he’d be able to find me. So I sent him a message to meet me here. I thought in the crowded public place he wouldn’t dare to hurt me. I just wanted to make it clear that I didn’t tell Chief Pitman anything—that I never even let him in the door. But he wouldn’t listen to me. He accused me of setting him up, and then he tried to kill me.” She reached up and rubbed her bruised neck. “Even when it was happening, I kept waiting for him to let me go. I didn’t believe I could have been so wrong about someone.”
“The important thing is that you’re safe.” AJ smiled at her. “You really were dealing with a dangerous man.”
“I was just afraid of the wrong one. I never thought that James would hurt me. He seemed like a superhero, you know?”
“The thing with superheroes is that they’re not real. The only heroes that I’ve ever met wear badges and they know exactly how to protect a town without having to murder anyone.”
“That’s true.” Cathy shook her head. “I guess it’s finally over. I wonder if James will get off easy because of his political connections.”
“He might.” AJ cringed. “But I can guarantee you that my uncle will fight him every step of the way. A man like that needs to pay the price for what he’s done. In his mind he took justice into his own hands, but in reality he just revealed himself to be what he’s always been—a killer. I’m sure that my uncle is going to want your statement.”
“I’ll give it.” Cathy rocked back on her heels. “I’ll tell every single bit of it. Maybe George was a scumbag, but he didn’t have to die the way he did. He didn’t have to be treated that way.”
“No, he didn’t.” Blu squeezed AJ’s hand. “I’m glad that it’s over. I’m ready to enjoy the rest of the clambake.”
“Me too.” AJ’s voice was warm as he looked into her eyes.
As the two walked back toward the festivities, the adrenaline rush that Blu had experienced when James grabbed her finally began to subside. She continued to cling to AJ’s hand, as if she was afraid that letting it go would make him disappear. Earlier, when she’d seen the gun pointed at him, she knew in that moment how it could feel to possibly lose him—how she’d feel if he weren’t in her life.
Blu was feeling way too preoccupied with everything that they’d been through to enjoy any of the activities that they tried to participate in. Most of the people at the clambake had no idea what had been happening only a few feet away from them.
“Blu, you’re not okay, are you?” AJ turned her toward him. “You look upset. Maybe I should take you home so you can rest.”
“It’s not that, AJ.”
“No?” He brushed her hair back from her eyes. “Then what is it? Tell me, please.”
“AJ, there’s something I want to talk to you about.” The moment she spoke the words she knew that there was no turning back. The murder was solved, but her personal life wasn’t.
AJ’s eyes shifted from wide open and questioning to narrowed. His lips twitched from a faint smile into a frown. “Here, let’s get away from all the noise.” He drew her away from the crowd and out toward the water.
Chapter 29
Once Blu and AJ were alone close to the edge of the water, she turned to face him, taking his hand in hers. “AJ, I’m sorry for the way I treated you all summer. You made it clear to me what you wanted, and I did my best to avoid it. That wasn’t right.”
He curled his hand around hers and held it tight even as he turned away from her. “Please don’t.”
“Don’t what?” She took his other hand as well, which forced him to turn to face her.
“I know what you’re going to say.” He looked down at their fingers intertwined rather than into her eyes. “I’m not ready to hear it. I’m sorry. I know how you feel, and I’m trying to be okay with it, but I’m just not.”
“What do you know, AJ?” Blu tightened her grasp on his hands. “I don’t think you understand.”
“No, I honestly don’t. I don’t think I ever will.” He looked at her. “I don’t want this to be goodbye. I don’t know why it has to be. All summer you’ve evaded me—pushed me away. I thought, okay, she’s just testing me. She needs to see that I’m trustworthy. I think I’ve given you plenty of reason to trust me, but still, you seem so unsure. So I thought, maybe she’s just not interested. Maybe some loser from the beach who barely owns a bar just isn’t her type—”
The sudden presence of her lips pressing against his silenced him. She drew his hands around her waist and molded her body to his as he lurched into the kiss. Dizziness swirled through Blu’s senses as every nerve in her body came alive with warmth. It was as if she could no longer feel the sand beneath her feet, or the weight of the sky above her. She was anchored only by the glide of his lips against hers.
She hung onto his neck as if she might be swallowed up by the earth if she let go. Her heart pounded so hard that she was sure it would burst, until she realized that it was his heart that she felt. What started out in a passionate frenzy slowed to a subtle savoring caress, so tender that her entire body relaxed.
When his lips left hers, every doubt, every hesitation, every logical reason to avoid him disappeared from Blu’s mind and heart. It stunned her that this was what she’d been avoiding all summer.
In all of her experiences in life, she never imagined love to feel so good. She thought it was all chemicals and instincts. She never comprehended the level of connection that could occur between two people when they were both open to it.
“It doesn’t have to be goodbye, Blu.” He looked into her eyes, and for the first time she understood why she felt such recognition when she looked at him. It wasn’t because of some chance meeting when they were kids. It was because he was the man she’d been comparing every other man to her entire life, without ever knowing it.
“No, it doesn’t.” She held his gaze. “I’m not going to say it, AJ. I promise. If you don’t say it, I won’t say it.”
“Are you sure?” He searched her eyes. “Because I don’t think I can survive a disappearing act.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” She smiled. Then her smile faltered. “Well, that’s not exactly true. I am going to Manhattan. But apparently there’s something called video chat?”
He laughed and wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug. “Oh, yes. And many other things. Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For being you.” He kissed her again, just as the sun began to spread its evening glow along the waves. Just when he turned back to her for another kiss, his cell phone rang. He laughed as he looked at the screen.
“My uncle has the worst timing. Excuse me a second.”
Blu grinned as he answered the phone.
“Okay, thanks for the information. Yes, of course we’ll fill out whatever is needed. Thanks, Uncle Paul.” He hung up the phone and looked at Blu. “It turns out that it was James’s ring on the beach. The banner we found in Betty’s house was from a college—the same college that James went to, and—surprise, surprise—George also went to.”
“George went to college?”
“I guess he didn’t do too well, but James and George were in the same fraternity. Maybe that’s why James was so angry with Geo
rge for what he was doing.”
“I guess.” Blu shook her head. “It’s shocking that they could have ended up on two very different paths.”
“Were they so different?” AJ shrugged. “One led to drug dealing, another led to murder.”
“You’re right, I guess they weren’t.” Blu rested her head against his shoulder. “I guess that just proves that we never know what the future holds.”
“I know what I hope it holds.”
“Me too.” Blu smiled and met his lips for another kiss.
When news of the councilman’s arrest broke that evening, the scandal spread fast.
Blu arrived back at the beach house to find Marshall and Rachel watching the latest news update.
“Oh, Blu, I’m so glad you’re home.” Rachel stood up when she saw her come in. “The reporter mentioned that the police chief’s nephew was involved and I knew you were supposed to be with AJ today.”
“I’m sorry I worried you.” Blu frowned. “I didn’t know they were saying that on the news.”
“Are you hurt?” Marshall frowned. “Were you with him when it all happened?”
Blu bit into her bottom lip. She didn’t want to lie to Rachel and Marshall, but she didn’t want to worry them either.
“I’m safe now. I just hope that the councilman gets the justice that he deserves.”
“That’s not exactly an answer, is it?” Rachel glanced over at Marshall and then back at Blu.
“It’s okay, Rachel. Blu’s entitled to her mysteries. All that matters is that she’s okay and ready to head back to Manhattan with us, right, Blu?”
“Absolutely.” Blu smiled. “So, can I help you pack?”
Chapter 30
Over the next two days, Blu helped the family get ready to return to the city. She and the kids also spent quite a bit of time on the beach. Though she was busy, she noticed that she didn’t hear too much from AJ. When she did, he mentioned that he was helping his uncle with the case and the media onslaught that it had caused.
On the morning of the drive back to Manhattan, Blu’s stomach was in knots. She’d hoped that AJ would want to be part of her last day, but he hadn’t mentioned meeting her that morning. She also hadn’t had a text from him that morning to even say goodbye. She was tempted to text him herself, but she thought that might be bothersome.
Blu stood beside her car and flipped through her phone. She wanted to call AJ, but she didn’t think she should. It would be hard to say goodbye, and he obviously hadn’t made an attempt to contact her. She sighed as she put her phone back in her pocket.
Rachel waved from her car as she, Marshall, and the kids headed out of the driveway.
Blu waved back with a bright smile. Even if she wasn’t feeling very positive, she didn’t want the kids to know that. It was the first time she’d dreaded going back to Manhattan. Maybe that one kiss between them had been enough for AJ to realize that it wasn’t worth all the trouble.
The problem was, that the one little kiss had seemed to have the opposite affect on Blu. It made her believe that he was worth any trouble she might face during a long-distance relationship. There was no way she could go back to thinking that she could live without him. It made her feel silly to wait next to her car in the hopes that he would call.
She pulled out her phone again—no text, no phone call. She frowned and opened the door to her car. She tossed her phone inside. With one last look in the direction of the beach house she decided it was time to leave it all behind. If AJ wanted to find her, he knew where she’d be. If not, then she had been right all along.
As she started to get into the car, she heard the roar of an engine. She looked up to see AJ’s jeep block the base of the driveway. He hopped out of the jeep with a giant bouquet of flowers in his hand.
A wide smile spread across Blu’s lips.
“You weren’t trying to skip town on me, were you?” He grinned as he walked up to her. “Because you know my uncle’s a cop, and he can hunt you down.”
“I’m counting on it.” Blu smiled back and leaned in for a kiss. She pulled back and looked into AJ’s eyes. “I didn’t think you were coming.”
“I wanted it to be a surprise.”
“I’m surprised.”
He wrapped his arms around her. “Just remember, this isn’t goodbye. Okay?”
“I believe you.” She sighed and hugged him in return. “I’m glad you came.” She pulled away and looked toward the car. “I really do have to get on the road. I don’t want to be too far behind. The kids will be cranky after the car ride, and Rachel and Marshall will be tired.”
“I won’t keep you long. I’m sorry I didn’t get here earlier. My uncle needed some help getting some reporters off his lawn. This James Carry situation is a big scandal.”
“I hope it dies down soon. I know how much your uncle hates attention.”
“And people on his lawn.” AJ laughed. He held out a CD case. “Here, this is for you. Something to listen to on your drive.”
“Aw, how sweet. Thank you.” She read over the assortment of songs. “Just what I like.”
“Maddie might have helped me out a bit with that.”
“Oh, did she?” Blu raised an eyebrow and smiled. “She is always up to something.”
“Only because she cares.” He grabbed her hand and held on to it as he smiled. “You’ll call me when you get to Manhattan?”
“Yes, I will.”
“Promise?” He raised an eyebrow.
“Yes, I promise. I’ll call you as soon as I get there.” Blu laughed. “I don’t think you need to worry about that.”
“I hope not. Because I know how to get to Manhattan, you know.”
“Hm. I’m not sure that I believe that.” Blu offered him a smile.
“It’s true. I might get lost a few times, but I’ll get there.” He narrowed his eyes. “And I have no problem with driving. I’m looking forward to you giving me a tour around the city. Hm? You still owe me an official date.”
“Absolutely.” She smiled at the thought of showing him all her favorite places. Then she leaned close and kissed his cheek. “I can’t say that this isn’t hard, though. I’ve gotten rather used to you being the best part of my day.”
“It’s not goodbye.” He looked into her eyes for a long moment, then kissed her forehead. “It’s just the first part of our next adventure.”
Blu grinned as she thought of the school shopping, homework, and elaborate parties that waited for her in Manhattan. There was never a shortage of drama or things to do. She hoped that would be enough to distract her from missing AJ. She doubted it, but she still hoped.
“I think you might be right about that. No matter what kind of adventure it is, I’m glad I get to share it with you.”
“Me too.” He looked into her eyes and reached up to brush a bit of her hair back behind her ear. “It doesn’t matter how far you wander, Blu, now you’re part of my life, my heart, and my future.”
“Whatever that future might be.” Blu hugged him.
As she looked over AJ’s shoulder toward the road that awaited her, she knew that as strange and wild as the journey ahead might be, she had the feeling that she wouldn’t be navigating it alone—something which suddenly sounded very appealing to her.
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Chapter 1
I ran my fingertips over the well-worn piece of notebook paper. It had ridges from the amount of times I’d folded it up and tucked it away. I had written the list at a time when I didn’t really believe I would ever actually accomplish anything on it. But I had, and now it was time to look at the next item.
I rolled over on my bed and stared down at it. When I had added it to my list, it was just a fun little whim, not something I thought I would actually do. But then again, I never would have thought I’d be able to lose so much weight either.
“What was I thinking?” I said out loud as I gnawed on the pencil between my teeth. I was tempted to just erase the item and replace it with something else. No one would have to know. But I would know. I cringed at the idea of actually following through with it. But I had to do it. I had to. It was on the list. I groaned and rolled over on my bed. I stared up at the cracks in my ceiling for a moment. Then I sat up with a new determination.
“Yes, I will do this,” I said, looking down at the item on the list. “Pole dancing class, here I come.” I was attempting to sound brave for myself, when I caught sight of the time on my alarm clock.
I grabbed my jeans out of the laundry basket beside my bed, and slid the pants up over my hips with my eyes squeezed shut. With a sigh of relief, I let out the belly I had been struggling to hold in. I didn’t think the zipper would slide up so easily, but it did with one smooth zip. I smiled at my reflection in the tall mirror as I studied the way that my jeans hugged my hips and rear. All of my hard work, all of the passed-up snacks, had really paid off. My body looked different and I felt different.