Always You (4 page)
Authors: C. M. Steele
Tags: #Literature & Fiction, #Erotica, #Romantic, #Romance, #Contemporary
Contents
It was about ten in the morning before we took showers. I had to run to my car and get my suitcase. I used the shower in Rob’s room and she used the one just outside hers. There weren’t going to be any group showers until we were together for the first time, and that’s not something I felt comfortable doing in the house.
When I walked into his room, I felt the pain of his absence. Rob was my best friend, and even though I came over to see Cali all those weekends, I still loved hanging out with him. I couldn’t believe that he was dead. It was so surreal. His room hadn’t changed much in two years. It looked a little more adultish, but the first Rocky poster was still on the wall. I cracked up a bit, thinking about when we saw the last Rocky film and how we weren’t going to be able to see
Creed
together. Damn it, he was gone.
I could hear the other shower turn on, so I hurried up. Cali was going to need me to be her rock. He may have been my best friend, but Rob and her parents were her family. I couldn’t even comprehend the agony that was eating her up.
My shower was quick, and I changed into a tee shirt and khakis. By the time I got to back to the hallway, I heard the water turn off. I knocked on the bathroom door. “Cali, babe. Are you almost done?”
“Yes, I’m just getting dressed,” she called out the door.
“I’m going to make coffee.”
“Okay. I’ll be down in a few minutes.” I left her to go make the coffee, but if she didn’t come down within ten minutes I was going to get her. This was only the beginning of our nightmare. Today should have been a day to celebrate. Instead we haven’t even begun fully to mourn our losses.
I walked into the kitchen I hadn’t been in since I left two years ago and saw nothing had changed. I reached for the coffee and got it started. Opening the cabinet with the mugs, I saw a mug that made me laugh. “I’ve bean loving you, forever.” It had a cartoon woman with her arms wrapped around a sack of coffee beans. This reminded me of Cali so much. When we met she hadn’t tasted coffee, but the week before I left for Italy she gave it a taste. Rob told me she’d been hooked ever since, and I was to blame.
I smiled as I relived that morning. I’d just stopped by for a morning run with Rob when I smelled her coffee brewing. I needed to have a cup, especially because she made it. Her mom handed me a cup with a smile because they all knew why I visited, only Cali was kept out of the loop because they knew she had a crush on me.
I’d just taken my first sip when the bubbly, sunny blonde moped into the kitchen looking like the night got away from her. Her hair was a mess and her face said don’t mess with me. She didn’t hesitate to walk straight up to me and grumbled, “I made that for me.” She snatched the mug from my hand and took a drink.
“No, squirt, your mom made it for me.” I snatched it back making sure I put my lips where hers had been. It was the stupid little things that kept me sane and patient. She narrowed her eyes at me, but then shrugged her shoulders.
“Fine, I’ll get my own.” She got up in her barely-there shorts, making my running shorts tight. Fuck, I had to wear layers to come to their house. I tried to calm down and took a seat before she saw how hard I was.
“Since when did you start drinking coffee?” I quizzed.
“Since I slept like shit last night,” she growled at me. I would’ve laughed, but I was afraid she’d take a bite out of me.
“Why?”
“Our air went out last night and the HVAC guy just left,” her mother answered before shuffling out the kitchen with her cup.
“I’m sorry. If I’d known, I would’ve invited y’all to my family’s home.”
“We’re not destitute, you know?”
“Yeah, I know, but see squirt, it’s what grownups do for their friends.”
“Don’t be a condescending prick.”
“Wow, remind me never to wake you up early.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll never get the chance.” Oh yeah, I would. I couldn’t wait for the day for me to get ahold of her and cuddle up all night long and wake her up with kisses.
I took a sip, waiting for her to come downstairs, thinking last night I got to hold her tight. It was something that kept me going through two years of loneliness.
Cali walked through the door and took my cup from my hand. “Hey, babe. You can’t be stealing my coffee.”
“Tough, big boy. It’s mine. You shouldn’t have been drinking out of my cup.”
“It reminded me of you.” I grabbed the mug from her hand and placed it at the table. Taking a seat, I reached out and pulled her onto my lap. The feeling was so relaxing. I couldn’t do this two years ago, but now I could.
“It’s your fault, I got hooked.”
“You’re blaming me? I didn’t push the coffee in your hands.”
“No, you pushed your way into my life and now I’m hooked.”
“You started that shit. I walked into the house, thinking I was going to have a peaceful week off with no females walking around half naked, and someone done blew those plans out of the water. My thoughts were so damn inappropriate I was living with guilt.”
“Thanks for waiting for me to grow up.”
“I waited as long as I could. Saying goodbye to you two years ago was the hardest thing I ever had to do, but your brother constantly kept me up to date. All except the boyfriend thing,” I grumbled the last bit.
“That’s because he didn’t know. It was a school relationship that lasted less than a school week. I only saw him in passing through the halls and maybe when we all hung out at lunch. My heart belonged with the man that left me for another land.”
“I want to take you there one day. When the timing is better and when we have nothing to do but explore each other.” I held her tight, resting my head on her round breasts.
“Alex, how am I supposed to…it’s just. I can’t believe they’re not going to walk through that door and bust us.” It hurt to think of them never coming back.
“What I wouldn’t give for them to catch us. Cali, I don’t know what I can do to ease your pain, but anything you need, just tell me.”
“I will.”
The doorbell chimed and we both looked at each other taking a deep sigh. I knew it was time to face the music. I hoped it was the police department’s social worker or some shit. Since we didn’t turn on the television, I didn’t know if their names had been released. She jumped out of my lap, taking our cups to the living room. “Can you get the door? I don’t feel like talking to anyone except the police.”
“Okay, love.” I didn’t blame her on that one. People would be showing up to express their condolences, but we didn’t need that at the moment.
It was the police, and they did bring along a grief counselor. “Hello, I’m Alexander Richmond, Ms. Delaney’s fiancé. Please come in; Calista’s in the living room.” I escorted them to her before taking a seat at her side. With her hand in mine, we waited for the details.
“Ms. Delaney, we’re truly sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you. Can you tell me what happened? Did they suffer?”
“No, they didn’t. When help arrived on the scene moments later, they were all deceased. It seems that they were traveling the speed limit, but with the slick roads and cold night it was very dangerous. Their car veered off the road and over a railing and down to a line of trees.”
“That’s strange because my father was a very safe driver. He wouldn’t speed, especially in the rain.”
“Was there another car involved?” I asked.
“We don’t know. We’re still investigating the scene. If there wasn’t a blowout, I don’t see how he could have lost control like that, but our investigators will know something this afternoon.”
“What happens now?” I asked, Cali was holding onto me tightly.
“They’re at the county morgue. Their identification was in their personal effects, but we will need a verification.”
Cali looked frantically at me. “I can’t. I just can’t,” she sobbed.
“Don’t worry, my love. I’ll do it.” I turned to the officers and asked, “When do we need to do this?”
“As soon as possible,” the lead officer said.
I looked at all of the officers. “Okay, well. I can go down there with you.” I turned to my woman, and asked, “Cali, do you want to wait here for me?”
“I don’t want you to go. What if?” Her fear shone in her expression.
I tipped her chin and looked into her eyes. “I’ll be careful. I promise.”
“Actually, Mr. Richmond, we can take you down there and drop you back off,” an officer suggested.
“Will that work, Cali?” I asked her softly. I knew it was hard for her to let someone leave in a vehicle again, but I wasn’t too worried. My issue was leaving her here alone. She was too sad and upset, besides I’ve missed her for two years. Being away from her had been brutal, but it had to be done. Separating for even an hour was too much for me.
“It’s fine, Alex. I’ll be okay. I need to make some calls anyway before it’s all over the news. Oh my! Is it already over it?”
“No, miss. We didn’t get a verification yet, so we waited.”
Her tension eased, then she whispered a heartfelt, “Thank you.”
Alex just left and my anxiety hit a ridiculous level. My loss was real, and Alex was the only reason I didn’t turn into a pool of misery. If something happened to him, I wouldn’t be able to make it another day. Without him here, I felt the pain. I started to shake the moment the front door closed. Leaning against it for support, I tried to calm my racing heart. Now I knew what a panic attack felt like. He needed to come back. My breathing was unsteady and my head was pounding. I rocked myself against the door frame, hoping time would fly and my rock would be here to make it better. Just a few minutes later, I felt my phone buzz. Answering without looking, I said, “Hello.”
“Hey, babe. I just wanted to talk to you during the short ride. I wanted you to hear me so you’ll know I’m safe.”
“Thank you. I need this.”
“Anything for you. Just so you know this isn’t the first time I’ve been in the backseat of a squad car. You’re marrying a hoodlum, Cali.”
Alex called me and the stress lightened. He knew what I needed. “Oh, no. I guess I’ll have to rethink that. Especially since you didn’t ask me.”
“Well, it was a done deal two years ago. You just didn’t know it back then.” No, I didn’t know, but I dreamed of it. I wished for it.
“So, what did you do?” I hesitated to ask, but I my curiosity got the better of me.
“I got into a fight in high school with a guy on the football team and broke his nose. His father had me arrested on the spot. It was dropped; the jackass hit me first. Luckily, the school had a camera there or I would have gone to juvie.”
That seemed a bit harsh for a punch. “Just for a fight?”
“Being the mayor’s son holds a lot of weight, but his punch didn’t.” he chuckled.
Oh shit, he was lucky he didn’t face serious charges back then. The mayor’s son had seemed to calm down more recently, but that was after a small stint in jail. He went away for domestic violence. The man was rumored to have a serious complex when it came to the opposite sex. I was certain that the fight had to be over a female. “What did you fight over? A girl?”
“Yes. He thought I was after his ex-girlfriend. I didn’t do anything with her. She was after me and he hated it. I may have goaded him about it,” he said with another laugh. Damn, he did have a sexy laugh. It was a deep chuckle that came from the soul. I smiled, then shook my head. Men. I should be jealous about the exes in his life, but I wasn’t. Life was too short for living in the past. I lost everyone I loved last night—but Alex. Fighting over something before we met had no real purpose.
“Men and their egos,” I remarked sardonically.
“Yes. That’s true, babe. I’m cocky. You’re going to have to remind me when I get out of hand.”
“I see you being bossy, but cocky and a jerk to others doesn’t seem like you.”
“No, but if someone challenges my manhood where you are concerned, they will get knocked out.”
“I don’t think it’s good to talk about assault while in the back of a squad car.”
“No, it isn’t, but I still mean it.” Again my frown was gone. He worked magic on me every time. He teased and spoke to me for five more minutes, then they pulled up to the front of the hospital.
“Hey, Cali we’re here. I’m going to let you go. I’ll call you as soon as I’m on my way back.”
“Okay,” I said. My mind was back with my family in the cold morgue. The tears were there at the bottom of my eyelids, just ready to spill over.
“I love you, Calista.” Hearing those words were a soothing balm to my wounded spirit.
“Alex. I love you, too.” I hung up before he walked inside. I didn’t want to accidentally hear anything about them that I couldn’t handle. I closed my eyes and thought about the last time I saw them and how they hugged me so tight, like they knew it was going to be for the last time. Wiping the tears that leaked down my face, I pushed away from the door.
I walked back to the sofa, just to think. I had a lot of calls to make. The most important being to my grandparents. My dad’s parents were still alive, and I knew it would crush them. I made the call, but no one answered, so I left a message. “Nana, Papa, please call me when you can. It’s very important.” Next, I called my aunt Marie and uncle Joe in Houston and broke down as I told them. They were on their way up and would call my other relatives because I couldn’t do that. It was hard just telling my mother’s brother. Hearing my uncle break down just gutted me.
Leaning on my elbows, I played with my cell phone in my hand, twirling impatiently, waiting for Alex to call me back. I didn’t know how long it would take, and frankly, I didn’t want to know. Lost in thought, I dropped my phone when the doorbell rang. Getting up was hard to do at the moment, but I wondered who could be at my door. Was it on the news?
I opened to see Mark Reddick, my best friend’s brother, here. The look he gave me told me they must have announced it on the news. I didn’t want to be visited by well-wishers and hearing how everyone was sorry for my loss; no one could bring them back. I appreciated the gesture, but I wasn’t up for it.
“So, it’s true?” Mark asked with wide eyes. I nodded, my eyes watering. “I’m sorry, Cali, baby. I saw it on the news and the car looked like your parents’ car.”
He pulled me into his arms, holding me tight. I knew that if Alex saw he would lose his mind, but Mark was just a friend and nothing more. Mark knew that, too. I told him when I was dating Danny that I wasn’t interested in a relationship with him. I wasn’t really interested in dating Danny either, but my obsession with Alex was making me miserable. Danny dumped me the next day claiming I, but it didn’t matter to me because my feelings hadn’t ever been for anyone but Alex.
“Please, come in before somebody nosy comes by. I can’t deal with people and their pity right now.” I closed the door behind him, leaving it unlocked for Alex.
“No problem. I’m sure your place will be inundated today. I can’t believe this.” We walked into the living room. Being here felt like I was invading my parents’ space. My breath caught in my throat and the sadness engulfed me. I stopped in my tracks trying to catch my breath.
“Cali, are you alright?” he asked frantically.
“Yeah, I just need to get something to drink.” I started to move toward the kitchen, but he put a hand on my wrist stopping me in my tracks.
“I’ll go get it. You just sit down and relax,” he commanded gently. I just nodded in agreement as I looked at all the photos that sat on the fireplace mantel. There was a photo of all of us at a Cowboys game. It was a great day. Our Cowboys beat their rivals, the New York Giants. It was an intense game with fans from both teams getting rowdy and belligerent. I loved it. I had a grin on my face before the feelings rushed through me that we’d never have one of those fun times again. I had to look away, wiping the tears.
I sat down on the sofa while he got us something to drink. My hurt was sharp as ever. I had nothing to focus on in the room. Every single piece of the room had a memory. Having Mark here did nothing for my sadness. With Alex, at least I forgot about my loss for a moment. I couldn’t wait for Alex to come back. He had been all I thought about and now he was my crutch.
I had an uncomfortable feeling being alone with Mark without Alex, but maybe it was because I was afraid of what Alex might say. I’d never felt anything but normal around Mark. He came back into the room so quietly that I didn’t notice he was there until he spoke. “So have you started making arrangements and everything?”
He handed me my glass and I took a large drink of my soda. I think it was flat because it had a little carbonation and tasted lousy. My throat felt dry. So despite it tasting like shit, I downed the glass.
“No, I haven’t. I only learned of it in the wee hours of the morning,” I admitted. Alex was going to take care of that for me. I wasn’t strong enough for this, but Alex was my hero.
“Well, if you need me to handle the arrangements, just say the word. When I lost my parents in an accident, I had to figure it out all on my own.” I remembered him losing his parents right after Alex left to work in Europe. I spent so much time with Lydia and Mark during their time of grief. Mark had been the strong one. I think it was a man thing.
The fatigue of all that happened was starting to wear on me, I felt extremely sleepy. “Mark, I’m drained and just want to go lay down. Can you excuse me?”
“Absolutely. I just needed to know if it was true. Again, I’m so sorry, Cali. Of all days, you should be celebrating, but instead you’re dealing with such a loss.” I completely forgot about my birthday because to me it wasn’t significant at the moment. I stood up to walk him out when he took me in his arms again, squeezing me tight. Truthfully, his hold was the only thing keeping on my feet. I felt like falling out. That was when the door opened and it was Alex.
~~~~~
“What the fuck? Who the hell are you and get the fuck away from my woman,” I roared. Walking in on someone else holding Cali didn’t sit well with me. I’d been calling Cali, but she hadn’t picked up her phone. The fact that she didn’t answer made me panic, but I talked myself down from the ledge of constant fear. Then, I walked in to find another man hugging her. Murder was going through my mind.
After what I’d been through with identifying the bodies and the information I overheard the police mention about the accident, I couldn’t deal with rationality. They had reason to believe it wasn’t truly an accident. I wasn’t going to say anything to Cali about it, but I was sure the police were going to be visiting again. Now this fuck is touching what belonged to me.
She stepped away from him. It was the guy’s face I hadn’t forgotten. She had the nerve to narrow her eyes at me. “Alex, this is Mark Reddick, he’s my best friend’s brother. He came to check on me.”
“I bet he did. Well, I’ve got this, Reddick. My fiancée and I will see you at the services. Thank you.” I hurriedly walked him toward the door, but not without giving Cali a warning. “I’ll deal with you in a minute.” I knew she was going through some shit, but for her to ignore my calls, scaring me half to death, only to be alone with some other man, she was in for it.
I opened the door and glared at him. “I’m engaged to her. I know you were interested in her when she was too young, but she’s mine now. So do remember that. Don’t try to play on her grief.”
I could tell he’d like to fight me, but I knew he was too much of a pussy to swing on me. “I’m not. She needs someone. You disappeared two years ago, and now you show up out of nowhere just as her parents are killed in an accident?”
I didn’t like the way he phrased it. I knew my paranoia was from the news I heard, but there was something about Reddick that bothered me, besides the fact that he wanted my woman. That piece of shit looked at me like he was ready to punch me in the face. His scowl didn't bother me; she was mine, end of story. I’d drop him before he got his fist all the way up.
“I was working and waiting for her to be legal while you stood by stalking her. I know you want her, but it’s time to find your own girl. She’s mine, and don’t make me tell you again.”
The moment I shoved his ass out the door, I returned to my angry little Cali. She had her arms crossed like I was the asshole, but she didn't know that he still wanted her.
I looked around but didn’t see her phone. Maybe that was why she didn’t answer it. I bet she left it in the kitchen since I saw two cups on the table. I should have been a fucking detective, but I couldn’t work long hours for mediocre pay. "Babe, do you want to be with him?" I asked seriously, hoping the answer would be no.
"No, of course not. You're all I want."
"Then good. Stay away from him. He wants you, and I warned him, too. The look he gave me told me he was ready to fight for you."
"But he knows I'm not interested," she said, sitting down on the couch.
"Cali, sweetheart, he doesn't care." That kind of scared me because if he knew she didn’t want him, why was he still willing to fight me?
"He's just being nice. I lost my family, and he's checking in on me." Cali brushed it off, like it was no big deal.
"Then why didn't he come with his sister?"
She was stumped on that one. Even she couldn't defend that. I looked at her, waiting for a response, but that was when I noticed my woman's eyes were drooping. She hadn’t eaten since yesterday some time, so I needed to get some bites into her before she fainted. Cali huffed and her shoulders slumped. “I’m so tired, Alex. Can we go to bed?” I just nodded. She must have been worn out. I scooped her up, carrying her back to bed. After she was settled in, I headed back down to make us some food.
There were some steaks in the freezer, so I thawed them out and looked for some veggies. I remembered how much she loved T-bones. Setting them to thaw under cool water, I unwrapped them and tossed the packaging in the trash. That was when I saw her phone in the garbage can in the kitchen. That it explained why she didn't answer it just like I thought. She was probably so out of it she dropped it in there instead of the soda cans on the counter. I wiped it down with a damp paper towel, then dried it quickly. I wondered if she knew that she didn’t have it. After I got dinner started, I needed to call my family and let them know what happened.
My dad was shocked at the news and said he hadn’t seen anything on the news about it yet.
“Talk to Cali to see if they had a funeral plan or where important information’s stored. If they don’t, your mother and I can make the calls to set up the funeral.”