Trust Me Forever (Forever Happens Series Book 2)

by Josie Bordeaux

  I shook my head, wanting to shove him for his stupid comment. I guess I’d have to hold off on that for quite some time.

  “He’s going to be okay. The bullet seems to have grazed the top of his shoulder. I’m hoping there’s not too much damage,” the paramedic whispered to me.

  I closed my eyes and thanked whoever it was that Alex was going to be all right. Opening them, I watched Alex as the corner of his mouth turned up. “Told you to trust me this would all work out.”

  He had told me that. I hadn’t believed him, but trusting was never easy for me. I should have known that the one boy who’d promised he’d be there for me always would be.

  Epilogue

  For over a year, I’d recounted every aspect of my life from when I had lived with Remy up until the horrible day that Alejandro had called me into his office. Alex had listened to me retell a relationship with another man he’d never wanted to learn about, and the torment that led to my life on the run. Yet through it all—the trial, the countless hours searching through criminal photos, going over my testimony—Alex had stood by me and never left my side.

  Right after the arrest, while we were waiting in California for my charges to be dropped, Alex and I had discussed our future. Part of that future included me working toward my GED.

  Alex also continually brought up my childhood dream of owning my own bakery, but I insisted that seemed impossible. Alex was willing to sink money into a business that I wouldn’t even have a clue of starting, and I was terrified of disappointing him. His answer to that was that I change jobs and work at a small nearby chocolatier—an idea I first laughed at but proved to be quite helpful. The elderly shop owner taught me little tricks and tips for sweet treats that I could later put on top of my baked goods, as well as how to handle a business and the books. Firsthand experience was what Alex told me was the best way to learn, and since that was more of a candy shop, I wouldn’t eventually be competing with her for business. We could actually send each other business.

  Once she learned of our plans, Granny couldn’t wait to sell her house and prepare to help me open my shop. It seemed like she was getting ahead of herself, but having her around was something I was really looking forward to.

  Granny’s house seemed to be in great condition, and looked just as I remembered it. Returning to my childhood home, right next to Granny’s, opened old wounds as well as reminded me of good times. Seeing the house was something I hadn’t thought would hit me as hard as it did. Alex hadn’t anticipated so either, as he held me while we stood on the sidewalk, marveling at it while I had another blubbering moment. The white siding was dingy and more faded than I had remembered. The new owners seemed as though they had children, with tricycles and other various toys that were left outside.

  When I closed my eyes, all the memories flooded back. The good ones. The ones that I wanted to hold on to with everything I had. Those were the thoughts that had helped me get through some hellacious moments in my life. I pictured my mother and I planting the flowers out front together. The time when Dad and I had to paint the fence, but wound up getting more paint on each other than the fence. They were good memories, and I wanted to savor each and every one of them.

  Another arm encircled my waist as my crying session continued. I shouldn’t have been surprised that Granny had come out of her house to welcome us. I supposed seeing her guest bawling in front of her house wasn’t what she had expected when Alex had told her we were coming. Nor would it have helped sales if someone drove by.

  Granny brought us inside, and the memories hit me just as hard. It seemed like tears couldn’t stop pouring out of me, and I kept apologizing since I knew Alex was excited about the trip. After catching up with Granny and visiting all our old restaurants, the arcade, and some shops, I kept pestering Alex that I wanted to visit our old field. He had saved that for last.

  “Cory.” Alex’s gaze on me had me in tears already, when he’d just started talking. I could tell something huge was about to happen. It was the moment I had hoped would happen soon. I massaged the ring finger on my left hand as if I couldn’t wait to see what he would put on it. He paused and looked around. I wasn’t sure if that was for dramatic effect or if he really needed a moment. Would he tease me at a time like this? Yes, I answered my own question; he definitely would.

  The air was cool, yet the hint of summer was right around the corner. Standing there in the middle of our old ball field was overwhelming, to say the least. It was run down, the chain-link fence broken in most places. The bench that we’d used as our dugout was busted up, and the grass was overgrown in most places. Memories flooded my mind of hot summers with the sun beating down on us while we tried to practice playing baseball. There were times where we were able to gather the neighborhood kids for a game or two. Sometimes we’d even get the adults down there to watch us and keep score, as if it had been a real game.

  I heard a cough in the distance but wasn’t sure who would be here. It was dusk and I supposed the area had changed. Maybe there was a drug dealer around that was waiting for us to leave? Maybe I couldn’t shake the fears from being out on my own for so long. I glanced around but couldn’t see anyone. Alex squeezed my hands, bringing my attention back to him.

  “Remember when we first met?”

  I nodded and smiled. How could I ever forget?

  “You had tears in your eyes and dirt all over your face. You were throwing the ball up in the air and then trying to hit it.”

  I chuckled, remembering that day. Dad was on a business trip and I wanted to practice my hitting. I was the worst one on my team. I was never really great at softball but played because my dad loved the sport so much. That particular day it had been steaming hot and I was the only kid down there, since no one else wanted to be out in the scorching sun. Needless to say, I had been in a rotten mood.

  “Yeah, it wasn’t my most shining moment.” I laughed and thought about all my recent ones. It seemed that Alex had seen me at every point in my life.

  “You told me you didn’t need my help and then proceeded to drop the ball before hitting it.”

  I swallowed hard, hoping he hadn’t really dragged me out there to discuss my shortcomings as a ballplayer. I glanced up at the sky and noticed the stars were starting to appear. I wished we had brought a blanket.

  He took my hands in his and I inhaled as my eyes landed back on his. This is it. I couldn’t stop smiling.

  “See how you needed me the first day I met you?” he teased.

  “Yes,” I admitted, drawing the word out as I rolled my eyes.

  “Even though you were determined, I knew right then I always wanted to be there for you.”

  “And you were.” I chuckled. “Almost every school break.”

  The silence was almost deafening. There was only the sound of crickets and the rustle of wind over the tall grass in the field. Now, he’s going to ask me. I just knew it.

  I watched as he inhaled deeply and told me, “I love you.” He gazed deep into my eyes.

  I bit my lip. “I love you, too.”

  He pulled my hands up to his lips and kissed my knuckles.

  My heart pounded inside my chest as if thousands of baseballs were being knocked out of the park. All at once.

  Alex leaned in and pressed a sweet kiss upon my lips, and I tried to hold back my smile so I wouldn’t ruin such a romantic moment.

  “Granny left a little surprise for us back at the house,” he said as he pulled back and smiled at me.

  I blinked, my mouth still puckered as if he were still kissing me. Alex tugged on my hand and began to walk back to Granny’s.

  Disappointment spread through me, and I mentally kicked myself for thinking he’d want to marry me. After all I’d put him through, why would he be ready then? Hell, there could be a new gang member they’d found and we’d have to fly back out to California.

  I closed my eyes quickly and tried to push away my negative thoughts. Alex had helped me put my life back together
and there I was thinking the worst of him. He’s just not ready. I probably wasn’t either. Maybe there was a little part of me inside that wanted to hurry and get married before the opportunity slipped through my fingers, like so many other things had in my life.

  We hurried back home, not even the lingering romantic stroll that I had hoped for since I hadn’t been proposed to. Under the underpass where we had our first kiss would have been perfect.

  Reaching for the door, Alex turned back and winked at me. My heart skipped and the same excitement formed again in my belly. What if this is it?

  Alex opened the door and…no one jumped out at us, like I thought they would. I had quickly conjured up an image of all his family gathered, ready for him to propose to me in front of all of them. Again, disappointment settled through me. I took in a deep breath, reining in my frustration.

  “Where’s Granny?” I asked, feeling as though the house were empty. Too quiet.

  “Oh, she went to a friend’s house.” He smiled and wiggled his eyebrows. “Said she wanted to give us alone time.” I laughed as he led me into the newly updated kitchen. It was modern for her taste, and I was sure that was Alex’s doing to help with the sale. The light gray cabinets with steel handles were a nice touch and made the cozy space seem open.

  Alex stood proudly before the kitchen counter as if he had gone all the way to the bakery and purchased them. The pink Sno Balls. I laughed as I picked one up off the decorative plate. I hadn’t noticed it before, but the intricate Mexican-themed design had beautiful colors of blue, yellow, orange, and red. My heart quickened as I thought this might be it. I checked the plate to see if anything was written on it. There wasn’t. My eyes darted to Alex to see him breaking apart a Sno Ball like we always did. He took a bite, moaning as if it were the best thing on earth.

  My shoulders sagged until I looked at my pink Sno Ball. Surely he wouldn’t? Would he? My heart quickened as I pulled my pink Sno Ball in half. Inspecting the crème filling, I didn’t see anything. I licked the center of one side and then the other. I frowned, not finding a ring in either side.

  “Something wrong? I thought you’d like the snack,” Alex said, his eyebrows pulled in.

  “No! It’s fine. I just…” I set the two halves on the plate and then picked it up just to make sure nothing was under it.

  “What are you looking for?” Alex asked.

  I peeked back at him. Not a smile or hint of one on his face. He really just wanted to have pink Sno Balls. I exhaled, knowing a proposal wasn’t going to happen. Such a silly idea anyway, that he would propose to me so soon.

  I shook my head and gave him a smile—probably a meek one, but he needed reassurance. “Nothing.”

  Alex’s eyebrows pulled in as his eyes roamed the room. He headed toward the back door and I followed, wondering what his concern was. Tugging on the back door, he stepped out onto the back patio and I followed. We both stood on the patio pavers. The quiet was deafening and I searched to see what he was worried about.

  Boom! A firework exploded far into the sky, and the sound made my heart jolt. Looking up, I saw a burst of colors, blue and purple, as they lit up the night. My eyes scanned the backyard and saw nothing, but I assumed a neighbor had lit it.

  Granny’s backyard was dark except for the lingering illumination by the fireworks. I could barely see something hung between the two trees lining the backyard, and figured it had to be a sheet hanging on a line.

  Boom! Another blast of fireworks lit up the sky, and that time colors of yellow and white peppered the night. I exhaled as I realized how tightly my hand gripped Alex’s. As I looked over to him, wondering if he knew what was going on, he lowered himself.

  Completely confused, I was blinded when the lights in the backyard suddenly illuminated the dark night. My heart almost stopped when I heard shouts of “Surprise” yelled out from what seemed to be at least twenty people. Scanning the small crowd quickly, my eyes settled on Granny—who seemed to be trying to emerge from a bush.

  “You made Granny wait in the bushes?” I smacked Alex’s arm and Granny chuckled.

  “It was fine until the mosquitos started coming out!” Granny smacked her arm and swatted another bug away.

  Then I realized I had just watched Alex drop down to one knee. After finally grasping the people that seemed out of place there—such as Andi and Cal, holding little Toby, along with Jay and Carissa—my eyes cast down to Alex. He held out the most beautiful square-shaped diamond with a thin band full of smaller diamonds. I swallowed and couldn’t help wondering how much that had cost—yet I was entranced by the fact that he’d spend that much money on something for me.

  The warmth of Alex’s hand spread through me as he took mine and gave it a light squeeze. My stomach summersaulted.

  He smiled warmly. There was just a hint of mischief in his gaze. “Do you trust me?”

  That wasn’t the question I expected, but I knew how fitting it was. I exhaled and answered, “With all of my heart.”

  The corner of his mouth turned up as he stood. “We were kept apart once,” Alex started, and then shrugged a shoulder and chuckled. “Well, more than once if you count the whole gang/FBI thing.” I briefly rolled my eyes and shook my head.

  “I never want to be separated from you ever again.” He squeezed my hand. “We’ve endured so much over the past year, and through it all—just like that tough girl I met on our baseball field—you’ve been so strong. If we can weather something like that together, then I know we can endure anything.” He paused and smiled at me. His voice deepened and I could have sworn it wavered slightly. “Cory, will you marry me?”

  My lips quivered, and I wasn’t sure if my legs would continue to hold me as tears filled my eyes. “Alex,” I sniffled and tried to regroup myself. “You just put me through the most emotional roller coaster a girl has ever been on.” The crowd laughed and I had to let out a chuckle too.

  “Well, I could have called you Sarah and really stumped you,” Alex joked.

  I smacked his chest. “I, being both Sarah and Cory…” I smiled and paused hoping, he would have some sort of torment like he had caused me. “…would love to marry you, Alex.”

  Before I knew it his lips were on mine and everyone cheered. I heard someone yell out, “Light another one!” Fireworks erupted above our heads again, and that time the huge boom! didn’t startle me.

  Stepping farther into the backyard, we were swarmed by congratulations and hugs. Andi and Cal both hugged me tight. Toby squirmed, wanting to be put down. At nearly eleven months, he was just learning to walk.

  “See,” Cal said. “He doesn’t even care about what’s going on. Just wants to take off on his own.”

  Andi chuckled. “He just wants to help celebrate having an aunt.”

  My heart flipped. I hadn’t thought about that. I was thrilled enough to have a family, and didn’t even consider the excitement of becoming an aunt.

  Jay came over and hugged me. “Funny how you always seemed like an annoying little sister to me, and now you’re legally becoming one.”

  “Haha,” I mocked.

  Carissa came up behind him and smiled. “Congratulations,” she told me as she sweetly took my hand and gazed at my ring. “Wow. A cushion-cut diamond in a French-cut basket setting?” Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at me. Jay took a sip of his beer and turned, walking toward Cal and Alex. Carissa’s smile faltered as she glanced after Jay and then back to the ring. Releasing my hand, she told me, “It’s beautiful.”

  “Thank you,” I told her, unsure of what to say. Thankfully, Granny made her way over to us.

  “Ah, there you two are,” Granny said. Carissa excused herself politely, walking over to Andi, who was holding Toby’s little hands while he toddled around.

  Granny took my hand and patted it, staring at the ring Carissa had just looked at longingly. “I always knew you were the one for our Alex.” She smiled and embraced me.

  With tears in my eyes, I thought back to when I was
a girl and daydreamed of marrying Alex. My dad had always been the one to walk me down the aisle, and now I had no one. I swallowed. “Granny,” I started as she waited for me to continue, wiping a tear away with the pad of her thumb. “I know it’s not tradition or anything, but would you walk me down the aisle?”

  Granny inhaled deeply, her eyes now welled up with tears. “I’d be honored.”

  “If Pappy were still here, I’d have asked both of you.”

  She nodded. “And we both would have been honored. Just like I am right now.” She hugged me tight. “We love you so much, Cory.”

  I nodded into her shoulder.

  After everyone said their goodbyes and left for their hotels or homes, I turned to Alex, wondering where we were going to sleep. I knew Granny was liberal with the two of us; however, I wasn’t sure how she would feel about us sleeping in the same room.

  “Where are we sleeping?” I whispered as I picked up the last beer bottle and soda can, carrying them to the recycling bin.

  Alex gave me a look like I was insane. “At a hotel. I’ve got a suite at the Coronado.” He tossed his bottles into the bin and held the lid up for me. “You think I want to have sex with my fiancée at my granny’s home?”

  I laughed. “I wasn’t sure what to expect. You kept me on my toes all day.”

  “Well then, I’ll just have to keep you on your back all night. Or your knees. Your feet, bent over the bed.” He waggled his eyebrows. “I could go on, you know.”

  “Oh I know you could.” I gave him a side glance. “The question is—can you keep going all night?” I joked.

  “Is that a challenge?”

  “Trust me,” I mocked. “That’s a challenge.”

  Dear Reader