Thrill Ride

by Breezie Bennett

  Twenty-five

  Dylan

  My head is spinning, and the world is buzzing as I whip down the road and turn into my dad’s parking lot.

  Melody left early this morning to teach back-to-back classes at her studio, and I can’t stop thinking about her perfect body bending and balancing and twisting. Her sweet and magic voice echoing through the room as she muses about peace and calm and inner strength.

  I feel like a complete idiot, grinning ear to ear in the car by myself, but I truly don’t give a fuck. This is a new kind of happiness. It’s in my heart and my head and my bones, and I never want to let her go. I can’t let her go.

  Which is exactly why I’m here to see my dad. He seems to really be fixing things with Mom, not to mention he’s basically the president of the Melody Hayes Fan Club.

  I feel a rush of joy when I realize that I can go to my father for advice again. It’s been a few years since I really wanted anything to do with him, let alone his life guidance. Everything seems to be fixing itself.

  No, everything is being fixed by Melody.

  “Hey, sonny!” Dad opens his arms wide as soon as he sees me in the doorway. His eyes are bright, and his whole face has a newly restored look of youth to it. Melody would say he’s “radiant.”

  “Hey, Pops.” I accept his embrace and walk through the door. The condo is full of light and warmth, and the sticky heaviness that’s been in the air since he and Mom separated is completely gone. I smile and take a deep breath, smelling a familiar sweetness. “Do I smell that vapor stuff?” I laugh softly.

  “Oh yes.” He clasps his hands together. “I don’t know how I lived without my necessary oils.”

  I snort and shake my head. “I think they’re called essential oils.”

  “Yeah, well, same thing. So…” He glances at the bedroom door, like he’s nervous or preoccupied or something. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?”

  I follow his gaze, which is stuck on the bedroom.

  “Is someone here?” My mom peeks out of the bedroom, wrapped in a robe, with a wild mess of hair. “Oh!” She jumps as we notice each other.

  “Mom!” I raise my brows and draw back in shock. “I didn’t know you were here.”

  “We were just…” My dad offers me a glass of iced tea and smiles knowingly. “Watching a movie.”

  “Okay.” I eye them both and stifle a laugh. “Gross.”

  They share a look I’ve seen a million times. A look I used to watch go between them every day as a kid. A look I started to realize was rare as I got older. A look I admire, that made me decide long ago that the two of them, with that look, are proof that soul mates exist.

  “I’ll be right out.” My mom slips back behind the bedroom door. “And we’ll have a good old-fashioned family chat.”

  My dad grins at me like a teenager, and without hesitation, I throw my arms around him and give him a firm pat on the back. “I’m proud of you,” I say.

  He pulls away and shakes his head slowly. “Ditto, son.” He points his finger in my face and raises a brow. “Your little girlfriend taught me that word.”

  We walk over to the couch, and I slump down on it, swallowing a wave of emotion that twists in my gut.

  “How is Pinky, huh? Was she jazzed about that win yesterday?”

  My mind races with images of making love to her on the beach. Feeling every inch of her bend and arch and tighten around me while the moon poured light over us and the ocean sprayed by our feet. Jesus Christ.

  “Yeah, I’d say she was, uh, pretty jazzed.” I clear my throat and try to shake off the flashbacks.

  “Ooh.” My mom bounces out of the bedroom, holding a cup of tea with both hands, shimmying her shoulders. “Are we talking about Melody?” She practically sings her name, the same way she did when I was thirteen and told her about my first crush. “She’s wonderful, Dylan. She’s absolutely—”

  “I know,” I interject, running a hand through my hair. “I know she is. And that’s actually why I’m here.”

  My dad leans forward and furrows his brow, and my mom sits on the couch and crosses her legs, smiling eagerly.

  “You guys both know she’s supposed to leave this week. She has that job offer on a cruise line, and she’s absolutely convinced it’s her destiny to go. Some psychic told her she’d meet her soul mate on the water…” I wave a hand. “And something about leaves…I don’t know. But that stuff really matters to Melody. She thinks it’s, like, the universe’s plan for her to go on the boat and do this job.”

  “Soul mate?” my dad mumbles gruffly. “You’re her soul mate!”

  “Well…” I lean back on the couch, biting my lip. “I think that’s a bit of a jump. I only recently realized how serious my feelings are, and—”

  “I call bullshit.” My mom claps her hands together and looks at me fiercely. “Your father and I knew we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together from the moment we met.” She reaches for his hand and gives it a squeeze. “And we’ve never wavered. Especially you, Robert.”

  They give each other “the look” again.

  “I’m so happy for you guys, seriously.” I smile and gesture between them. “This is the reason I believe in the one. Because of you two.”

  “Well…” My mom swallows. “I know better than anyone that even true soul mates can lose their way sometimes. Get confused and lost and wrapped up in life.”

  “But when you know…” Dad nods with certainty. “You know.”

  “So…” My mom purses her lips. “Do you know, Dylan?”

  I sit there for a moment, watching them looking like a pair of newlyweds. I think back to yesterday’s game. How Melody poured her entire golden heart out just to get my dad there. For me. How she is the reason they’re sitting here together, and there’s a catalog of houses for sale in the area on the coffee table. How she’s the brightest light I’ve ever seen and—shit. My world would be so dark without her.

  “Yes.” The syllable slips out of my mouth before I think for another second. “She’s the one. I love her, you guys.”

  Weight lifts off my shoulders as my dad smiles and my mom coos.

  Suddenly, Dad stands up, his back straight and his chin high. He points at me sternly. “Then you fight, son. You fight for her to stay. Because let me tell you something right now.” He glances at my mom. “Every second you spend not fighting for the person you love is completely wasted. Don’t waste it, son.”

  Mom holds a hand to her heart as emotion fills her eyes. “Robert…”

  I nod quickly, feeling my heart rate pick up as my head fills with blinding clarity. “You’re right. Shit. You’re so right.”

  “Sweetie!” Mom exclaims. “Watch your mouth.”

  I laugh and stand up, feeling dizzy and drunk and one hundred percent in love with Melody.

  “Take her out.” My dad pats my shoulder. “Take her out on a real nice date. Tell her how you feel. Lay it all out there.”

  “A date. That’s perfect. I have a late workout tonight, but tomorrow. I’ll take her tomorrow. Now that I think about it, we’ve never even been on a real date…”

  “Are you kidding me?” Mom gasps dramatically. “Isn’t she living with you?”

  My dad flicks his hand. “These Millennials. They do everything all screwy.”

  “Thank you, guys.” I hold my arms out and hug them both.

  “Of course, my darling boy.” My mom kisses my cheek, which she can barely reach at almost a full foot shorter than me.

  Dad pulls back and jumps. “Honey! We better get ready. We’re meeting with the real estate agent in twenty minutes.” He smiles at me. “Looking for a new house.”

  I nod at the catalog on the table. “I figured. You’re…going, too?”

  “Heck yeah, I’m going. My days of being cooped up are over.” He places a triumphant arm over Mom’s shoulders. “We’ve got a life to live.”

  My heart tugs. “You’re like a different person,” I say quietly.<
br />
  His expression turns serious, and he locks his gaze with mine. “You know exactly who to thank.”

  “Hell yeah, I do.”

  I grab my keys off the counter and head out the front door, noticing five different little Melody cacti around the kitchen.

  I smile and shake my head. She has to be mine.

  Twenty-six

  Melody

  A date. Tonight. Dylan wants to take me on a real-life, fancy-ass, NFL-girlfriend kind of date tonight. The thought makes me giddy and happy and all glowy.

  Or maybe that’s the sex. The sex that’s been virtually nonstop since the night on the beach a couple days ago. He got back from the Riders gym at, like, one in the morning last night, and we still did it for almost a solid hour.

  But his plea for me to stay has definitely been hanging in the air. I haven’t given him an answer, although I have a feeling that tonight’s date is going to seal the deal.

  I’m driving to work now. It’s early in the morning, and the sky is as bright and sunny as my heart is today. I know all the facts. I know what Psychic Angela said about the water and the leaves and the soul mate. I know the universe has been clear with me about what I should do, but the more I let myself fall in love with Dylan, the less I care.

  What’s the point of following signs and fate if the grumpy football player makes me happier than anything or anyone else ever could?

  I turn onto Oceanside Road, where my studio is. I take in a deep breath and smile. I love my studio. I love owning my own business, and I have the best job in the world. I don’t need a stinking cruise ship. I want to be here. With Dylan. No matter what the universe—

  “What the holy freaking hell?” I blurt as I pull into the parking lot of the studio and try to process what I’m looking at.

  Alyssa and Clementine are standing outside. Clementine is crying. Alyssa is yelling into her phone. And behind them…

  Our yoga studio is completely destroyed. An enormous live oak tree fell onto the building. Actually, it crashed through the roof and demolished the quaint, adorable studio. Shards of wood and drywall are scattered all around the massive hole in the roof. Tree branches smashed the place beyond recognition. It looks like something out of a disaster movie.

  I don’t think I’m breathing. The world stops and shifts, and suddenly there’s no oxygen in my car whatsoever.

  Once I gain a small level of coherence and consciousness, I swing my car door open and jog over to the girls. “What the…how did…” My voice breaks. “Is this really happening?”

  “It fell overnight.” Clementine wipes a frantic tear and looks defeatedly at the remains of the building. “It’s absolutely insane. How is that possible?”

  Alyssa finishes her call and wraps her arms around us. “The fire department is on their way. I know, I know.” She rubs our backs and takes in a deep sigh. “It doesn’t make any sense.”

  “I don’t even know what to—” I choke and feel a sob rising in my throat as a tear falls on my cheek.

  “I’m gonna try the insurance company again.” Alyssa waves her phone around. “But they told me there’s no way this is covered in our policy.”

  I puff out a breath. “I knew we shouldn’t have cheaped-out on the disaster insurance. I think that was me.”

  “Hey, no.” Clementine squeezes me tightly. “This is no one’s fault.”

  The next hour is a blur of tears, fire trucks, disaster services, and the voice of an insurance agent on the phone saying, “It’s a total loss.”

  The sun beats down on my skin, and I don’t think I can physically hold my body up anymore. I slump down on the curb and let my face fall into my hands.

  “Hey.” Clementine sits next to me and rests her head on my shoulder. “You’re gonna be fine. You have your cruise job. Besides…” She nods at the destroyed studio. “I guess your decision was kinda just made for you. If that’s not a sign, I don’t know what is.”

  “I know,” I whisper through soft tears. “I think that’s what hurts so much. It’s not even about signs or messages or the universe.” I swallow and wipe away a teardrop, shaking my head slowly. “Now there isn’t even a choice for me to make. I have to go. This…” I hold my hand up weakly in the direction of the building. “This was my life here. Now I need the cruise job.”

  “Your soul mate’s out there on the water. Remember?”

  I stare blankly forward. She has to be right. This is the most obvious path I’ve ever seen. Staying is no longer even an option.

  I let more tears slide down my face and stand up slowly. I feel numb and cold, like all the light has been drained from me. The world melts and swims in front of me as I try to make sense of it.

  “They won’t cover anything.” Alyssa walks over, looking just about as defeated as I feel.

  “Nothing?” Clementine pleads.

  She shakes her head, blowing out an exasperated breath. “It would cost thousands to fix. Many, many thousands.”

  I twist my hair over one shoulder and take a last look at my studio. The place I poured my heart and soul into. The place I had decided to stay in.

  I clear my throat. I have to find peace, and I have to be strong. This is what’s meant to happen. Nothing happens without a reason.

  I always knew I was going to follow my destiny. I was going to trust Angela and get on that boat and live freely and boldly on the ocean. Dylan was always temporary. There was always going to be a goodbye.

  I just had no idea how much it was going to hurt. I had no idea how hard I was going to fall for him.

  Twenty-seven

  Dylan

  I’m practically jogging down the hallway to get back to my condo. I feel like a fucking school kid who knows he’s about to take the prettiest girl in algebra class out on a date.

  My whole body feels light and high and super amped up. I kicked ass in practice, the division finals are in a week, and…after tonight, I think Melody is going to stay.

  She has to stay. She has to want it, too. I can see it in her eyes and feel it in her magnetic touch. I don’t care if it makes zero sense. I don’t care if it’s insane and ridiculous and that, on paper, we’re beyond wrong for each other. She’s the one, and I need her, and I’m telling her tonight.

  I push the door open as a smile tugs at my face. I sure as hell could get used to coming home to her. “Hey,” I call as I reach for the light switch. That’s weird. Why are the blinds closed? “You ready for to—”

  The lights click on, and I stop dead in my tracks as the door slams loudly behind me.

  What the fuck?

  Everything’s gone. All the string lights. All the rainbow throw pillows. All the tiny little plants, and…I glance in the living room.

  Even the yoga mat.

  My gut twists and drops, and I feel the smile fall from my face. This isn’t happening. She isn’t actually fucking leaving, is she?

  “Melody?” I drop my gym bag to the floor and walk around the corner into the hallway, feeling a rush of relief when I hear her moving around in the spare bedroom.

  I feel like I can barely breathe as I step into the doorway and see her on the bed folding a pair of leggings, a packed suitcase lying next to her.

  “Hey.” I rush over to the bed, confusion swirling through me. “What’s going on? Are you…what about the date?” I realize I sound like a desperate, babbling idiot, but who cares? Her mind is clearly made up. But, fuck. I did not see this coming.

  “I’m leaving for the cruise job.” Her voice is weak and shaky and defeated. The bright, musical sweetness that always fills her tone is completely absent.

  I crouch down in front of the bed, trying to see her face, which is hidden by her hands and a pile of messy pink hair.

  “Hey. Hey.” I tilt her chin up to meet my gaze and notice her eyes are puffy. There are streaks of black makeup underneath them. Her lips are red and swollen.

  I can talk her out of it. She just needs to know how I really feel.

  I l
ean in to kiss her, because I can’t not kiss her. Not kissing her just doesn’t make any sense.

  “Dylan—” She pulls back and shakes her head. Her blue eyes are gray, and her energy is nonexistent. “I’m going, Dylan. This is over. I have to go.”

  “Melody.” I stand up, charged with emotion. “You don’t have to go. I know you think it’s destiny or whatever, but what we have is—”

  “No.” She holds up her hands and gives me a steel gaze. “It’s not about that. My studio is destroyed.” Her voice breaks, and my chest tightens. “A giant freaking oak tree fell on it overnight. Insurance won’t help us, and the building’s irreparable. I know that’s hard to believe, but it’s true. I couldn’t even believe it, and it was right in front of my face.”

  I swallow hard and try to process this as I sit on the bed next to her. We sit in silence for a long second.

  The sex and the feelings and every hot and amazing moment from the last month seem to be filling the space between us. My mind races a thousand miles an hour, and I dig hard for something, anything, to say.

  “I’m guessing you were waiting for a sign before giving me an answer. And I’m also guessing you think that’s a…pretty big sign.” I stare at the floor as the reality of this stabs me.

  “It’s not about a sign, Dylan.” She turns to me, desperate sadness clouding her striking face. “Sure, it’s a clear message. But that’s not why I’m going. I’m going because I literally have to.” She pushes a strand of hair behind her ear. “I don’t have even a fraction of the money or resources that we’d need to fix the studio, and I’m in no position to open another one. This, believe it or not, isn’t about signs or energies or the universe.” Her lip quivers, and I feel a sting of pain as I watch her fight tears. “This is about logic. I need a job. And I have one. And I leave tomorrow.”

  The certainty in her voice feels forced.

  I clench my jaw and run my hand through my hair, standing up. The ground feels tilted under my feet, and an icy sadness washes over me. “You’re sure?”