Dangerous Confessions of the Heart (Dangerous Secrets of the Heart) (8 page)

              “This is one of my favorite places and I remember you talking about missing your waterfalls back home. So I decided to bring you here.” He clarified.

              I looked up at his eyes and gave him a appreciative smile. He pulled me close to him and kissed me. “I love you Ami.” He said.

              “I love you too Austin.” I said back.

              I got up from the solid, drenched caved floor. We were now soaked from the mist of water coming at our face. I removed my shirt and jean shorts and placed them on the cave floor. Austin got up and placed his hand on my neck. He pulled me deep into a kiss. After the kiss I realized I needed to leave this cave.

              “I’m going swimming. Wanna join me?” I asked.

              “Sure.” He said removing his shirt because his pants were swimming trunks.

              I eased out of the waterfall and looked at the rushing waters below it. I gradually eased myself into the deep water and began to swim around. My memories of Jesse began again:

“Enjoying yourself?”
A male voice came from behind me.

“Oh my god! Jesse.” I said.

“Mind if I join?” he asked splashing me as he jumped in. 

“You splashed me.” I said.

“What brings you out here?” he asked.

“I needed to relax.” I explained.

“I can help with that.”

“Oh really, How?” I asked.

“Did you know that people are completely weightless in the water?” he scooped me up in his arms bridal style.

I smiled at him “I’m sure I’ve heard that somewhere.”

He swam around with me in his arms. I looked into his eyes. They were shamrock green again. I was in a trance.

“Lay back…” he commanded in a whisper but his voice was gently, easy and sweet.

Austin interrupted my flashback as he cannonballed into the water. I let out a slight scream as the water splashed in my face.

“Austin, you splashed me.” I said with a chuckle. I didn’t want him to see my annoyance for messing up my flashback of Jesse.

He let out a chuckle and we began to swim around together. “Enjoying yourself?” He asked.

“Yes.” I lied. Actually I wanted to get out of here and go somewhere that doesn’t remind me so much of Jesse.  “I’m starving.”

“Good. I brought us some lunch to eat by the river and a change of clothes. As soon as we are done swimming I’ll go get them.”

“Of course you did…” I thought to myself. I wanted to get away from this waterfall. The sounds, the smells; It was the same as home, with Jesse; But somehow…It was very different also. I detected Austin staring at me for an response to lunch. “Yeah. That sounds great.” I said trying to hide my sarcasm.

“Is everything okay Jamie?” He asked. The water was loud and roaring around us but I’m sure I heard him call me Jamie.

“Jamie?” I asked.

“What?” He asked brushing me off.

“You called me Jamie?” I said.

“No, Ami, I called you Ami.” He lied. “Are we done swimming?” He asked promptly.

“…For now, yeah” I lied. I wanted to be done and away from this place as quickly as possible. I needed to know why and how he knew my name is Jamie, if he did.

“Okay.” He said as he lifted me up into his arms bridal style and carried me out of the water. I let out a small but convincing giggle.

“I’ll be back.” He said as he positioned my feet steady on the ground. He vanished into the woods.

I heard a rustle of trees just a little ways from me. “Austin?” I called out. I walked toward the noise. As I approached it, whatever it was, the leaves rustled in the opposite direction. It must have run off, maybe a deer or something? I don’t know much about the creatures here.

Little did I know it wasn’t a deer at all; it was a human, the man that had been following me. I sat on the ground and waited for Austin.

Meanwhile:

The man that was just looking at me had now reached Austin. He snatched him and spun him around to look at him pushing him firm against a tree.

“Nice going Romeo.” He started. “You nearly blew our cover.” He said hatefully.

“Sorry sir; But don’t you think she deserves to know the truth.” Austin debated back to the man.

“That isn’t for you to decide.” The man said back. “Stick with the program Austin.”

“I think she should at least know about you.” Austin said back.

“When the time is right… She will. I’m still trying to get in touch with Jesse.” The man said.

“Why won’t you just let me make her happy?” Austin said.

“Austin…You’re a good guy…but her heart doesn’t belong to you.” He stated the terrible truth. “Didn’t you see her face when you brought her here? She was thinking of “Him” the entire time.”

“Maybe not…it’s not like you can read her mind.” Austin still argued.

“I don’t want her to get hurt. Don’t slip up again.” He warned. “I’m watching.”

“Yes sir.” Austin said.

“Austin?” I yelled into the woods. I was beginning to worry about where he was.

“I have to go.” He said to the man.

The man shook his head yes and disappeared behind the trees.

Chapter 9

              “Hey babe” Austin said as he came out of the bushes.

              “I was thinking about calling search and rescue. What took you so long?” I asked.

              “Just enjoying the view…and setting up your next surprise.” He lied.

              He sat down beside me on the ground and laid a light brown, picnic basket in front of me. He unfastened it and pulled the food out. It was sandwiches, chips, cookies, and water. I ate at the food like Cody eats at his. I barely had a chance to taste it; partially because I wanted to get out of here and partially because I was starving.

              “Was it good?” Austin asked.

              “It was great. Thank you. I was just really hungry.” I said.

              “Wanna get out of here?” He asked finishing his food.

              “No, it’s pretty here.” I lied.

              He knew it was a lie. “Come on, I have another surprise for you anyway.” He said he scooped up our clothes from behind the waterfall and snatched up the basket. He came over to me, took my hand and helped me up.

              He put his arms around me and walked me casually to the car. When we reached it he helped me into it. My bathing suit was now dry so I didn’t worry about changing. He climbed in the car and roared it to life. He drove us back up to the main road.

              “So, where are we going now?” I asked.

              “You really don’t like surprises, do you?” he asked.

              “I’m starting to get use to them.” I confessed.

              My phone began to ring in my purse. I grabbed it. “It’s James.” I said.

              “Don’t answer…” Austin said as I pressed the talk button.

              “Hello?” I said.

              “Jamie…? Where have you been? I’ve been calling.” He said.

              “I’m with Austin. I left my purse in the car” I admitted.

              “I’m at your house.” He said.

              “Oh, Okay. I’m on my way.” I unenthusiastically said.

              I hung up the phone.

              “He’s at the house.” I admitted.

              “Alright, so, I guess I have to take you to him?” Austin asked.

              “Yes.” I said. In a way I was thankful.

              He drove in direction to my house. We sat in silence. When we reached my house I kissed his cheek and climbed out of the car. He didn’t say anything. I could tell he was brokenhearted.  I shut the door and turned toward the house. James was sitting on the porch. I heard the mustang drive off.

              “Sorry to ruin your date.” James said sarcastically.

              “No you’re not.” I said bitterly.

              He laughed as I walked to the door and unlocked it. We walked in together. I put my keys and my purse down on the table beside the door and followed James into the kitchen.

              “You’re early.” I stated.

              “Yeah, I have a lot of things to do.” He said.

              “Cool, Austin will be graduating soon.  And he has a job now.” I said trying to small talk him.

              “Well, I am here to give you this.” He placed a blue gift bag on the table.

              “What’s this?” I inquired.

              “We’re paying you up.” He announced.

              “What do you mean?” I questioned.

              “This is your last three payments of $1000. There is $3000 in this bag.” He declared.

              “Paying me up?” I asked confused. “I thought this deal was supposed to last until I die?” I asked.

              “Well, dad said that he sees no reason to take care of you anymore. Jesse has moved on and evidently you have too. You are no longer a risk to him.”

              “This is bull shit James. I was supposed to be paid $1,000 every month until I died.” I was starting to get mad.

              “I don’t make the rules Jamie, I just enforce them.” James admitted.

              I rolled my eyes. “Fine” I said.

              “I do have one more gift for you.” He laid an envelope on the table.

              “Okay. I’ll open it later. I have to go look for a job.” I said sarcastically.

              “I guess this is goodbye Jamie.” He said. He came over to me and kissed my cheek. “It’s been a pleasure.”

              “Goodbye James.” I whispered. “Although I hate your guts, we’ve became close.” I admitted. “I’m going to miss you…a little.”  I confessed.

              “Me too… Take care of yourself Jamie.” He said.

              He turned around and caressed Cody’s head. “Bye Mutt.” He said.

              Cody licked his hand. I smiled at them. This was a bittersweet moment. James had kind of grown on me. He had become the only one who knew my secret and really knew “me”. I was going to miss him slightly. Undoubtedly because he reminded me of the face I so desperately desired to see again. James shook his head in a nod and walked out the back door, closing it behind him. He disappeared. My heart sank as I began to realize that I was never going to see him again. Although it wasn’t him I was going to miss, it was his face. I was going to miss seeing Jesse every time I looked into James’ eyes. A knock came at the door breaking my thoughts.

              “Who is it?” I asked.

              “It’s me, Austin.” Austin voice said.

              “It’s open.” I said.

              He opened it. “Is he gone?” He asked.

              “Yea, come on in.” I said.

              He walked over to me. “You want to get going?” He asked as he seen the hurt in my eyes.

              “Sure.” I said.

              He gripped me and pulled me into a hug. “Are you okay?” He asked.

              “I’m fine.” I said. “It’s just…James said goodbye. He won’t be back again.” I admitted.

              “Doesn’t that make you happy?” He said.

              “Yes.” I lied.

              “Okay then, what’s wrong?” He asked.

              “It’s nothing.” I lied again.

              “You’re going to miss seeing Jesse’s face?” He said.

              It’s like he could read my mind. “Does that make me a bad person?” I asked.

              “Not at all, Ami, I understand you had a life before me; one that was ripped from you” He said. “It’s normal to still feel for someone you once loved…or maybe you still do. But you have to face that he is never coming back.” The words stung my chest like a dagger.

              “I know he isn’t coming back. But what if he doesn’t know I’m alive?” I questioned. “What if they told him that I’m dead?”

              “I thought you said he left freely?” Austin said. “Went with his fiancée?”

              “He…he did.” I told him another half-truth. The truth was I didn’t know if he really wanted her.

              He could see the hurt in my eyes and decided not to press me any farther. “Let’s get going.”

              I got up from the kitchen table and took his hand. He led me out the front door. I locked it and walked with him to the car. He helped me into the car and climbed in himself. He drove us to the spot he likes to surf at. Our friends were not there.