The Ghost Groom

by Jennifer Youngblood

  Ace blinked. “Oh, my gosh. You are.”

  She frowned. “What? I just said I wasn’t,” she spat.

  “I know what you said, but I also know what’s written all over your face.”

  She was going to come back with some smart retort, but he held up a hand. “Just hear me out, okay?”

  She folded her arms over her chest. “Fine.”

  “That day at Los Tios when I first learned you were going out with Rennen, I was shocked.”

  “You mean ticked,” she grumbled. She gave him a hard look, daring him to deny it. The wounded look on his face had ripped her to shreds. Heck, her mind still replayed that look over and over.

  “Okay, you’re right. I was ticked.” He paused, his eyes taking on a distant look. “This thing with the Titans had me all tied in knots. I couldn’t stand the thought of being replaced, of becoming a has-been.”

  “Everyone gets replaced eventually,” she countered, remembering what Rennen had said. “You were luckier than most. You just ride the wave as long as you can and hope for the best.” She was surprised when he smiled.

  “That sounds familiar.”

  “It does?”

  “Yeah, Rennen used those same words.”

  Her heart pounded. “You’ve been talking to Rennen?”

  “Yeah, we spoke earlier today.”

  “Really?” She tried to wrap her mind around what he was saying. It kind of irked her that Rennen had gone behind her back and talked to Ace … while she was sitting here eating herself into oblivion. And yet, the notion of Rennen and Ace reaching an understanding sparked more hope in her than she dared express. “What did he say to you?”

  “We mostly talked about you.”

  She rocked back. “Me?”

  “Yep.”

  She clenched her hands. “What did he say?”

  A mischievous light came into Ace’s eyes. “I can’t tell you that. It’s against the brotherhood code.”

  “That’s the most absurd thing I’ve ever heard,” she scoffed. “Football players have no brotherhood code.”

  “It’s not about football. This is about men, in general.” He chuckled. “But if you must know, Rennen might’ve said something about me being so fragile that you felt like you had to jump to my defense.”

  She gritted her teeth. “You wait ‘til I get my hands on him.”

  Ace laughed. “The part about me being fragile is a load of crap,” his jaw worked “… mostly. But the part about you jumping to my defense is true.”

  “I don’t feel like I always have to jump to your defense, and I resent Rennen insinuating that I do.”

  Ace touched his temple, his voice taking on a musing tone. “Let’s see. We were in … Elementary School? Davie Crabtree was picking on me on the playground and before I could even react, you ran up and socked him in the face, bloodying his nose.” He shook his head, laughter in his voice. “You barely came to Davie’s chest.”

  Her eyes rounded. “Oh, yeah. I’d forgotten about that.” She chuckled, remembering. “Well, he deserved it.”

  “Yes, he did.” His eyes went soft. “I really do appreciate you taking up for me, but I’m a big boy. I had a wonderful career that most players can only dream about. And now I can turn my sights to the restaurants, Silver, Gracie, and the new baby.” His eyes went moist. “I have so much to be grateful for. Football was a huge part of my life, but it doesn’t define me. At least that’s what someone very close to me keeps harping, even gave me two pictures of some silly-looking girls to prove it.”

  She couldn’t help but smile. Ace was referring to the twin pictures she’d given him. Ariana had put them in the guest room of Ace’s home, but then little Gracie loved them so much that she wanted them in her bedroom. One picture depicted a poor girl holding a flower. The other a rich girl, also holding a flower. The idea being that both girls had something of value to offer, regardless of their station in life.

  “Rich. Poor. Football or no football … I’m enough.” Ace scooted forward. “Look, I know it’s awkward for you to be with Rennen … under the circumstance. But we’ll just have to work through it.” He gave her a rueful smile. “I have a feeling that you might’ve finally found your man.” He glanced around. “And I think you’d better own up to those feelings before you eat yourself out of house and home … or at least your clothes.”

  “Oh, shut up,” she said reflexively, then processed his words. Ace was giving her his blessing. Her heart soared, then she frowned. “But what about the press? They’ll drag us all through the mud before it’s over.” She shot him a steely look. “And don’t pretend that doesn’t bother you, because I know it does.”

  His jaw tightened. “Yeah, it bothers me.” He shrugged. “But what can you do?” His eyes took on a defiant light. “I refuse to live my life tiptoeing around the press.”

  “Yeah, me too,” she said, just now realizing that Ace was right.

  He held up a finger, fire sparking in his eyes. “But you can tell your boyfriend that if he has any grand illusions of purchasing a house in The Reserves, he can nix that right now.”

  Ace referred to the mean-spirited article stating that Rennen was taking everything from Ace and would eventually get his house in The Reserves. She laughed. “I doubt very seriously that Rennen would even want to live in The Reserves. But I’ll be sure and tell him.”

  He looked at the clock. “Don’t you have a trip to get ready for?”

  She giggled like a sixteen-year-old. “You know about Austin?”

  “Yeah, Rennen told me.”

  She sprang to her feet, hardly believing this was happening. Then as quickly as the excitement came, it faded as her stomach lurched. It was 3:05. “Then you also know Rennen’s gone.” She could call him and tell him to come back. Yes, that’s what she’d do.

  Ace stood, a sly smile touching his lips. “You might be surprised.”

  “You told Rennen you were coming over to talk to me?”

  He made a zipping motion over his lips. “Brotherhood code, remember?”

  She crossed the distance between them with two steps and flung her arms around her big brother, giving him a tight hug. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” He pulled back, looking her up and down. “You’d better hurry and get dressed. He’s gonna be here at 4:00.”

  A wave of panic raced through her. “He’s coming here?” Yikes! The place was a disaster. She was a disaster! And she had to pack.

  “Yep, that’s the plan.” Ace wrinkled his nose. “And for goodness’ sake, take a shower. You reek of stale chips and Dr. Pepper.”

  Ariana had just gotten dressed, her skin still supple from the mist of the shower, when Rennen came to the door. She flung it open—he looked at her, she looked at him—the air crackling with unleashed energy. A soft cry escaped her lips as they rushed into each other’s arms. His lips crushed hers with a savage passion as he pulled her closer. A delicious rush wicked through Ariana, making her feel like she was riding a dozen roller coasters all at once. She savored the fire that simmered through her bones as she clung to him, the kiss deepening to the point where she felt their very souls were connecting. This man was filling her heart and soul, taking everything from her, then regenerating it and giving her back impossibly more. She ran her hands over his back, her fingers memorizing the firmness of his sinewy muscles and how they rolled underneath his shirt.

  He pulled back, assessing her. “You’re amazing.”

  “So are you,” she uttered, getting lost in the depth of his jade, gold eyes—flecks of sunlight on the tips of a lush, green forest.

  He searched her face. “For a moment there, I was afraid I’d lost you.”

  Emotion clogged her throat. “I thought so too,” she uttered.

  A teasing smile stretched over his lips, lightening the mood. “You taste sweet, like root beer.”

  Her eyes snapped open, face warming. “Dr. Pepper, actually.” Sheesh. She’d not yet brushed her teeth. Her
breath was probably atrocious. She was grateful she’d thrown away the food wrappers and other incriminating evidence of her carb overload before she jumped in the shower.

  Adventure lit his face. “You ready?”

  “Almost. I just have to finish packing a few things.” And brush my teeth, she added mentally.

  He stepped away from her and went to the photographs hanging on the wall.

  She held her breath, watching him assess them.

  He lifted an eyebrow. “These are yours?”

  “Yes.” The photographs were of landscapes mostly, but one was of her mother and father in the kitchen at Los Tios. She’d caught them in the throes of the dinner hour, their faces glistening with a sheen of sweat, holding platters of food. The picture was one of Ariana’s favorites because it captured her parents in motion, a slice of precious time forever preserved.

  “These are good.” He turned to her, admiration shining in his eyes. “Really good. You’re a woman of many talents.”

  “Thanks,” she murmured, a burst of pleasure running through her. She brought her hands together, pulling herself into action. “Well, I’ll only be a few more minutes. Make yourself at home.”

  He nodded, turning his attention back to the photographs, studying them with such intensity that Ariana would’ve thought they were fine art pieces in a museum rather than simple photographs. It was immensely gratifying to know that Rennen was interested in the things she valued. Excitement brimmed through her as she rushed into her bedroom to finish getting ready for the trip.

  11

  When Rennen and Ariana arrived in Austin the night before, they went straight to the Boyd’s home where they had a big birthday party for Gary. Ariana fit right in with the family, and Rennen could tell everyone loved her. They’d spent the night at the Boyd’s home and were now standing in the middle of an open field, about to do something Ariana would never forget.

  Anticipation rose in Rennen’s chest as he glanced at Ariana. Her eyes had sparked like a dozen firecrackers when he announced the big surprise—that he was taking her paramotoring over Austin. Afterwards, they’d drive a little over an hour to spend the remainder of the weekend at a quaint inn in Schulenburg, a German settlement.

  Paramotoring was one of Rennen’s favorite sports, but paramotoring with Ariana took the experience to a whole new level. He couldn’t wait to get her in the air, to share this with her.

  Ariana’s face was a mask of concentration as she absorbed every word coming out of Warren’s mouth. Rennen smiled inwardly as he looked at his best friend who was more like a brother. Warren was giving them the very detailed, lengthy run-through about how to get the paramotor in the air and then land safely. Rennen knew it all like the back of his hand, so he wasn’t paying much attention to the instruction.

  In high school, Warren had been as much of a jock as Rennen. He was still thin and fit, but his reddish-blonde hair was thinning on top, his skin freckled from a lifetime spent in the harsh Texas sun. Warren was an auto mechanic by trade, but ran a paramotoring school on the side. Warren had gotten into paramotoring when he was in his late teens. Flying had always fascinated Warren, so it was no surprise when he jumped whole-heartedly into the sport. And, of course, it didn’t take long for Rennen to get into it as well.

  “Paramotoring is essentially paragliding with a motor. It’s the same principle as launching a kite. You need opposing air for the glider to lift, which is why you have to run against the wind. Make sure you keep running, even when the glider lifts you,” Warren cautioned. “You may run in the air for a couple of seconds, but that’s better than the person behind you tripping over you.”

  Ariana nodded, a determined look on her beautiful face. Even though she was dressed casually in yoga pants and a black t-shirt, her hair was styled, make-up perfect, her diamond-stud earrings glittering in her ears.

  “You know why I’m in the back, right?” Rennen asked, keeping a straight face.

  Ariana looked thoughtful. “Because you’re the expert?”

  A grin washed over Rennen’s face. “Because I’ll cushion your fall if we crash.”

  She laughed, shoving him. Warren just shook his head, only partially amused. He took his instruction seriously and didn’t like Rennen cracking jokes. Rennen glanced at Ariana. “Any confessions you’d like to get off your chest … in case we don’t make it?”

  A smile tugged at her lips as her hand went to her hip. “You wish.”

  “Just saying. When we get up there … with a single motor … nothing but air under our feet … you might be singing a different tune.” He knew this would get under Warren’s skin, which was why he said it. The two of them got great pleasure out of needling one another.

  Warren frowned. “Hey, now. Don’t be giving paramotoring a bum rap. It’s much safer than flying a small craft.”

  Ariana made a face. “Really? I wouldn’t have thought that.”

  “Absolutely,” Warren continued. “In fact, I feel as safe flying as I do riding a pedal bike in my neighborhood.”

  “That might be pushing it,” Ariana chuckled.

  “It’s true,” Warren argued, red tinging his face.

  Rennen laughed. “Oh, no. Don’t get him started. Next he’ll be spouting off stats.”

  Ariana cocked her head. “I’d like to hear them. It’s fascinating.”

  Warren shot Rennen a vindicated look. “I’m glad someone appreciates my wisdom.”

  Rennen only shook his head and smiled.

  “Paramotoring is much safer than skydiving,” Warren said. “And it’s safer than scuba diving.”

  “Safer than scuba diving?” Ariana wrinkled her nose. “No.”

  “Four times safer,” Warren added. “Just be sure and stay clear of power lines.” His light eyes took on a teasing glint as he motioned at Rennen. “Slugger here came gliding down a valley and nearly ran head-on into a string of power lines.”

  Ariana’s eyes widened as she turned to Rennen. “You sure you know what you’re doing?”

  Rennen cut his eyes at Warren. “Yes, for sure. The incident Warren’s referring to happened when I was eighteen. I’ve gotten a lot more careful with age.”

  “Let’s hope so,” Ariana quipped.

  Rennen pumped his eyebrows. “You ready?”

  A broad smile curved Ariana’s lips. “Vamanos.”

  Warren handed them helmets. “You’ll be able to talk to each other through these. They’re equipped with radio communication.” He looked at Rennen. “How long are you planning on staying up? You have enough gas for about two hours.”

  “We’ll probably stay up for a good hour … maybe a little more,” Rennen said. “The plan is to come back to this spot.”

  “All right. Sounds good. I’ve got a few errands to run then I’ll come back here to wait for you.”

  A breathless excitement came over Ariana, partly because they were about to lift into the air and partly because Rennen was so close. It was fun being here with him and seeing the playful banter between Rennen and the Boyds. It reminded Ariana a little of her own family. This was a side of Rennen she’d not seen and she liked it. He was more carefree and open here.

  “You ready?” Rennen asked through the radio.

  “Yep.”

  He started the engine. “Let’s do it. Run like the wind.”

  Ariana ran as hard as she could, keenly aware that her fastest pace was probably excruciatingly slow for Rennen. She hated feeling like the weak link in the operation. She felt the glider pull up behind them. And as Warren said, she kept running even when she felt them lift. Her stomach swooped as they rose in the air. Then came the rush of exhilaration.

  “How ya doing?” Rennen asked.

  “Great,” she breathed. Then realized she was yelling into the mic. As they lifted higher, the field below became a tiny square of green. The landscape unfolded before their eyes. Ariana took everything in, feeling like she could see forever. “This has to be one of the coolest things I’ve eve
r done,” she murmured.

  “I’m glad you like it,” Rennen said, appreciation coating his voice.

  Being up here with Rennen made her feel as free as a bird soaring in the air without a care in the world.

  “Look to your left,” Rennen said.

  “Wow.” Her gaze took in Austin’s cityscape with a large cluster of buildings that looked like rectangle boxes from their altitude. The trees were tiny green circles. The view was similar to what you’d see from an airplane, but there was a weightlessness with only the air around them. Ariana could see how paramotoring could get in your blood. Her eye caught on a ribbon of blue from the lake snaking around the perimeter of the city. Extending out from that were neat rows of homes reminding Ariana of houses in the board game Monopoly, except they were beige instead of green. Everything looked so orderly and pristine up here, the landscape cut into intricate sections of browns, greens, and blues.

  Ariana lost track of time as they flew higher. The sky above was a bright, azure blue with tufts of wispy clouds. She felt like she was in the middle of a splendid dream. It was hard to believe she was here with Rennen … and that nothing was stopping them from being together.

  “Uh, oh.”

  It was astounding how quickly those two words struck fear in Ariana’s heart as she tightened her grip on the rope handles, level with her head. “What’s wrong?”

  “The motor’s cutting out.”

  It coughed and sputtered, jerking them in the process.

  Ariana looked down at the ground, which seemed a world away. Whereas she’d felt free before, she now felt exposed and vulnerable—a tiny dot with nothing but menacing air around them. If they plummeted to the ground, there would be nothing left of them.

  The motor died.

  Rennen swore. “That’s not good.”