Chasing Each Other

by J. D. Rivera

  “I don’t know,” he replied.

  Judy seemed to agree with Miranda and me. “Oh, Harold, it’s only nine years. My parents had an age gap and they did just fine. Heck, they gave birth to me so they must’ve done something right.”

  And then hell must’ve froze over because Harold Clark cracked a grin and chuckled.

  Chapter 31

  Miranda

  I’d be lying if I said a part of me wasn’t upset over Preston’s death. Especially the way he died—he was still a human being. But for the most part, I’d been sporting a face-splitting grin since Brad and I returned from Maverick.

  I scooped the last chocolate chip cookie from the pan and placed it on a plate. I was so in love with my man and his forgiving ways, I had baked cookies for him. I snatched the plate and took off for the living room, sitting down in the recliner.

  “Let’s watch this,” Brad announced as he tossed a movie at me.

  I grabbed the DVD case and grinned. Napoleon Dynamite. “You really want to watch this?” I questioned as he grabbed a bowl of popcorn off the kitchen counter and sauntered toward me.

  “Yep.”

  “Okay,” I said as we switched places and he fell onto the recliner while I walked toward the entertainment center. I popped the movie into the DVD player and snagged the remote control before turning back to the recliner. “Move over, Nicholson.”

  Popping a cookie in his mouth, he scooted a marginal amount and stuck his arm out in a gesture for me to sit. I curled up next to him—mostly on him—as the movie started. Brad scooped a handful of popcorn. “I think I finally won your dad over,” he remarked before tossing the handful in his mouth.

  “Yeah. For a while there, I didn’t know if y’all were going to start throwing fists or not.” After my mom’s remark about her parents’ age gap, my dad had warmed a little toward Brad and they actually talked and laughed a little. I could tell Brad didn’t like my dad’s judgements toward me, and I secretly loved it. They weren’t best friends and won’t be hanging out alone anytime soon, but they had become civil by the time we left.

  He kissed the top of my head where it rested on his shoulder. “Look, I don’t care who you are, if someone disrespects you, I’m not going to be nice. You deserve to be treated well.”

  “Thank you. Now, let’s watch the movie.” I grinned.

  We spent the next couple of hours cuddled in the recliner as we watched the movie and laughed. I hated some of the decisions I’d made in my life, but I’d do it all over again if it meant I’d be right here.

  He accepted every part of me, and I accepted every part of him.

  “You tired?” Brad asked as the credits rolled and I yawned.

  I didn’t really want to move, I was perfectly content, but I had to. “Yeah. I have class all day tomorrow, so I better get to bed.”

  He moved first and we both finally got out of the recliner. I grabbed the plate and bowl from his hands. “I have to get a drink, so I’ll put these away.”

  “Okay,” he replied as he walked to the door and locked it.

  I was filling the glass with water when a thought occurred to me. I was shocked I hadn’t questioned it earlier. “Brad?”

  “Yeah?”

  “If you didn’t find out about my connection with Preston until yesterday morning, why didn’t you text or call me on Sunday or Monday morning? You didn’t contact me until yesterday afternoon with your ‘we need to talk’ text.” I whirled around to look at him and took a sip.

  He scratched the back of his head. “I helped my mom hook up her new washing machine and I was giving you space. I also might’ve been a little pissed at you. I hated that you wouldn’t talk to me.” He shrugged.

  I nodded, understanding his reason completely. I turned back around and finished my drink as he waited for me.

  Once we were both under the covers and I was tucked into his side, he asked, “So, the shooting lessons…they were because you were scared of Preston?”

  “Not at first. I really did think it would be fun to learn. And…I may have had a crush on you and wanted to spend time with you. Thinking about you had become my newest addiction.”

  “Not at first? So, it was a reason eventually?” he asked, stroking my hair.

  I placed a kiss on his chest. “Before Harley’s party, I was at Target buying her gift and I saw him. He didn’t see me…or I don’t think he did, but I’m not sure now. Anyway, he called me a few days later and he was really sweet at first—typical Preston. Then as the texts and calls came and I kept ignoring him, he kept getting angrier. I don’t want to say he was a horribly violent person, but when he was high, he could be. He slapped me around a few times before he knocked me out cold.”

  “I’m so sorry, beautiful.”

  “It’s okay.” I began kissing his chest, inching my way up his neck before placing my lips on his and straddling him. His hands found my backside while mine found his hair. It was an intense kiss and we both pulled away, panting. “Wait,” he gasped.

  “What?” I asked, confused.

  “I need to tell you something.”

  “Okay.”

  “I don’t want to have sex with you.” It was dark so I knew he couldn’t see the color drain from my face, but he must’ve known how much that statement hurt. He ran his hand over my arm soothingly and then placed it on my cheek. “Just hear me out. Preston treated you like a slut and you began to think you were only good for sex. Am I right?” I nodded. “I don’t want you to feel that way anymore. I want you to see that I want you for you, not what you can give me. And that’s why I don’t want to have sex with you…until you have a ring on your finger.”

  Holy shit! Had he really just said that?

  “Until I have a ring on my finger? Brad, that could be years.”

  “I can promise you it won’t be years.” He leaned forward and kissed my lips then pulled back. “And we need to talk about one more thing.”

  “What else could we possibly need to talk about? You know everything, I promise.”

  He cleared his throat and his voice turned completely serious. “I think it would help you to see a therapist. Maybe they can help you heal after all of this.”

  “I have,” I whispered. “When I was in rehab and afterwards. I stopped going because it didn’t help. The therapist was an idiot. I’ve done better on my own.”

  His fingers began running through my hair as he spoke. “Just give it another chance? You can try out different ones until you find one you like. And you were alone before, but now you have me. And I know you won’t admit it to me, but I know Preston’s death isn’t all happiness for you. You dated the guy, spent a lot of time with him, it has to hurt. I won’t lie and say I like it, but I understand it.”

  How was he so perfect? He understood my feelings better than I did. “I don’t want to feel sad about him dying. He did a lot of shit to me. But in the beginning, he was perfect. And I truly believe that guy died a long time ago. The guy you found wasn’t really him. The real Preston actually cared about people.” I took a deep breath. “I am glad I got the chance to take up for myself. Well, if you can call yelling into a phone taking up for yourself. But then again, I hate that my last words to him were mean.”

  “You have a heart, that’s why you feel a little sad. As far as the yelling at him and feeling good about it, you should. Just because he’s dead doesn’t erase the crap he did to you.”

  “You said you understand, but are you mad?” I asked. I hated the thought of Brad being mad or upset over my feelings.

  “No, beautiful, I’m not mad at you. I’m mad that you met that asshole and he put you through all of this. But I’m definitely not mad at you.” He kissed me once more. “I love you. Addictions and all. I promise.”

  “Thank you,” I replied. “I’m hoping that with time and you by my side, I’ll be able to get some of my confidence back. You’d probably never believe me, but I used to be the life of the party.”

  “I can believe it
.”

  Epilogue

  Brad

  As soon as the wheels of the plane touched down, Miranda relaxed. Apparently, she hated taking off and landing, but she had been fine for the rest of the flight. I had whisked her away the day after Christmas to St. Thomas. I thought it would be nice to be together for a week with no one bothering us. Plus, she needed a break.

  After everything that had happened, she was handling it well and the therapist she’d been seeing for a few weeks was helping.

  Preston’s murder case was still ongoing, but both Miranda and I suspected it was a drug deal gone wrong. The problem was there was no evidence. Nothing at all. I was still holding out hope for a break in the case so Miranda could have complete closure, but for now, she was doing okay.

  “I can’t wait to get to the hotel and relax,” she stated as our plane came to a stop.

  “Me, too.” The passengers all stood around us, grabbing bags out of the overhead compartments and I waited until most had cleared out before I stood and grabbed ours. I led her out of the plane, hand-in-hand, toward baggage claim.

  ***

  After checking into the hotel and relaxing a bit, we dressed and went to dinner at a restaurant overlooking the ocean.

  “This is beautiful,” Miranda breathed as she watched the waves.

  “It is,” I agreed, “but it has nothing on you.”

  She turned her gaze back to me. “You are such a suck up.”

  “No. I’m honest.”

  “Well, if we are being honest, I’m going to get drunk and let you take advantage of me tonight.” She winked as I studied her beautiful, carefree face. “And before you go into cop mode, I’m legal here.”

  “I wasn’t going to say anything,” I said. “I was just going to say you shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep.”

  “I guarantee that is a promise I can keep. I bet I can drink you under the table,” she challenged, a grin spreading across her face.

  I laughed. “Is that so?” She nodded and I stood. “I’ll be right back.”

  “Where are you going?” she asked as her eyebrows bunched.

  “To get us started. I’m thinking a few shots of tequila.”

  After the first round of shots, we ate our dinner then found a dance club. Miranda gave me a glimpse of her former self, dancing and drinking until late in the night. Once we made it back to our room, we were both slightly drunk and she didn’t make good on her promise. Instead, she took advantage of me and I let her, short of breaking my no-sex rule.

  ***

  My alarm woke me early and my stomach was a ball of knots, staying that way the entire time I showered, dressed, and waited for room service.

  Once breakfast arrived, I decided to wake her up. Crawling up the bed, I hovered over her and bent to kiss her just above the waistband of her shorts. She stirred a little more with each kiss, until she was fully awake and moaning when I kissed each of her breasts. “Morning, beautiful,” I said as I kissed up her neck, chin, and finally pressed my lips to hers.

  “I like this kind of wake up call,” she half moaned, half spoke after my lips left hers to trail toward her ear.

  I nipped her lobe, and whispered, “Me, too. Now, get up and get dressed. We have plans.”

  “What kind of plans?”

  “You’ll see. Get dressed,” I told her as I raised up and pulled her to sitting. I kissed her once more before standing. “Breakfast is over there, I’ll give you fifteen minutes.”

  “Fifteen minutes? What the hell should I wear?”

  “Whatever you want.” I winked before making my way out to the balcony.

  Exactly fifteen minutes later, she opened the balcony door. “I’m ready, bossy pants.”

  I smiled and took her hand, kissing each knuckle. “And you look beautiful. But you always do. Feeling okay? Hungover?” She rolled her eyes as a smile bloomed across her face.

  “Nope. I’m great, actually.”

  I led her back into the room, out of the hotel, and finally to the beach. “I thought we could watch the sunrise.”

  “Oh,” she said. “That sounds amazing, and something I never would’ve thought of.”

  “That’s why I’m here.”

  The sun began to rise, a bright orange in the clear, dark sky, and I knew it was now or never. I stopped walking and drew her closer to me, taking a deep breath. “Miranda,” I started.

  “Yes?” she questioned, worry in her eyes. “You look…I don’t know. You look like you’re scared. What’s going on?”

  I shook my head and pulled her closer. “Miranda Clark, you amazing, beautiful girl, have turned my life upside down. And I’ve loved every minute of it. We’ve both spent our lives chasing each other and…I was wondering if you’d like to chase life together?” Her eyes were wide and I was beginning to sweat as I lowered myself onto one knee and pulled the diamond ring out of my pocket. “Miranda Clark, I love you with all my heart, will you marry me?”

  Her mouth popped open and her eyes filled with tears. She nodded once and then began nodding frantically. Her breath hissed out, making me realize she had stopped breathing. “Yes!” she exclaimed. “Hell yes!” I stood up and placed the ring on her finger. “Oh my gosh! I…can’t…I can’t believe you just asked me to marry you.”

  I wrapped my arms around her waist as she wrapped hers around my neck before planting a kiss on my lips. I pulled back a fraction. “Believe it, beautiful. I’m spending the rest of my life with you.”

  She placed her mouth on mine once again, latching her fingers into my short hair. My tongue found hers a second later and I was in complete heaven, kissing the most beautiful girl on the beach. And she had just agreed to marry me.

  Her hands left my hair and pushed my chest. Reluctantly, I pulled away from her and was met with a dreamy expression across her face. “So, Mr. Nicholson, you promised me once I had a ring on my finger, I’d get to have you again. Completely. And I now have a ring on my finger.”

  I smiled, loving the way she thought. “So I did. I guess we should head back to the hotel then, huh?”

  “Yes, yes we should.” She kissed me again before we strolled back to our room and I showed her exactly how much I treasured her. And how happy I’d make her for the rest of our lives.

  The End

  If you are struggling with addiction, please consider contacting Narcotics Anonymous and getting the help and support you need.

  www.na.org

  If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Hotline:

  1-800-273-8255

  Acknowledgements

  First, I want to say thank you to all of my lovely readers. I can’t say thank you enough for reading my work.

  As always I have to say thank you to my wonderful husband and my two boys for encouraging me on a daily basis. Your support means more to me than you’ll ever know.

  A special thank you to Jennifer Wilson for helping me with Miranda’s emotions and actions. I hope I did her character justice. I also have to thank my wonderful editor Monica Black of Word Nerd Editing. You went above and beyond, and I can’t express how grateful I am to have you. I’m very fortunate to not only have you as my editor, but also a wonderful friend.

  My beta readers Raj Billa, Jamie Taliaferro, and Tiffany Henderson: thank you for reading my first draft, and giving me amazing advice to make the story that much better.

  And of course a huge thank you to Between the Sheets Promotions, Red Coat PR, The Star Chasers, and all of the blogs and readers that share my work. I can’t express my gratitude.

  About the Author

  J.D. Rivera lives in Oklahoma with her husband and two boys. Her life consists of school projects, homework, cartoon shows, and little league sports. She loves Diet Mountain Dew, the OKC Thunder, costume jewelry, the beach, and reading.

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  And feel free to send any emails to: writerjdrivera@gmail.com

  Other Books by J.D. Rivera

  Chasing the Stars

  (Hayes and Mackenzie)

  Guarded

  Defensive

  Always Friends

  Always Us