New Year's Kiss (One Night in New York) (7 page)

“Haylee, what is going on? Why did you block my calls and emails?”  Kyle ignored the can of beer and came around the counter.

Haylee backed away from him and tilted her can, gulping down the remainder of beer.  “I’m not going to sugarcoat it, Kyle.  You broke up with me over text message.  I think that says everything that needs to be said.”

Kyle halted his pursuit of her.  “I did what?”  He shook his head. “I would never do such a thing, what are you talking about?”

Haylee walked away from him, into the living room.  She grabbed her phone off the table and swiped her finger across the screen a few times.  “You deny sending me this?”  Her voice had risen, her heart pounded as she thrust her phone in his direction.

He took the phone from her and looked at the screen, his face scrunching up as he did.  “I wasn’t breaking up with you, Haylee.”  Kyle’s voice was hard.  “I just needed a day or two to get my head back in the game.  You completely blew my fucking mind that weekend and I couldn’t get shit done being away from you.”

Haylee’s mouth dropped open.  She couldn’t take in every thing he was saying to her.   Had he really been missing her?  Maybe even as much as she missed him?  She was completely blown away by the serious tone of his voice.  But, what about the laughing woman in the background?

“Tell me, Kyle, who was with you the last time we spoke?”

Kyle ran his hands over his short hair and locked his hands behind his neck.  His brow furrowed.  Haylee waited, part of her hoping it was a misunderstanding.  The other part dreading his explanation of why he’d have a woman with him when he supposedly missed her.

“When we last spoke, my room mate, Sam had his girlfriend over.  It was just the three of us.  Why?”

Haylee plopped down on the couch, her energy completely zapped from her.  Could she have been so utterly mistaken?  She’d assumed and overreacted and had spent the last few weeks in pure misery.  All for what?  Something she overheard and jumped to conclusions about.  She dropped her head in her hands and felt the tears stinging her eyes.  She’d majorly fucked up and now…what?  What could she say?

“Haylee?”  Kyle sat down on the couch next to her.  “What’s wrong?  Are you okay?”

Haylee shook, then nodded her head.  She wasn’t okay. But he was here with her and she had the chance to fix everything if only she could explain and he’d forgive her.  Her heart skipped a beat.  Kyle was here.  He wasn’t in London, but sitting right next to her.  Her head snapped up, almost whacking Kyle in the face.  She smiled and lunged at him, throwing her arms around his neck, and squeezing him as hard as she could.

She inhaled his scent.  The same scent she’d coveted after he left behind his t-shirt and had slept on her pillows.  She refused to wash a single thing, and the scent had faded as the weeks went by.  Now, here it was again.  He was here again.  Her heart lifted and she felt that she finally had a shot at happiness.  But, would it last?  Doubt crept in and she decided she had to talk this out with him before she stripped herself naked and threw herself at him.

Leaning away from Kyle, Haylee looked into his beautiful green eyes.  How she had missed those eyes.  She broke the gaze, knowing she’d never be able to focus unless she did.  Slowly, she explained everything to Kyle; from the phone call to the text and everything after.  She left out the depression part, but simply said she was sad and kept to herself.  She couldn’t let him think that she’d fall apart without him.  After all, what if he wasn’t here to stay?

“Haylee, I have a present for you.”  Kyle stood up and walked over to his coat, pulling a small box out of his pocket.  He came back over to her and sat on the coffee table in front of her.  “I bought this when I first got to London.  I wanted to give it to you when I knew I was back in Jersey to stay.”

Haylee’s eyes widened.  She stared at the small blue box as her mind processed his words.  He was here to stay.  She wanted to jump up and down and shout her excitement for the world to hear, but she remained seated. 

“I know we haven’t actually been together very long.  After all we’ve only spent about three full days together over the past six weeks. But, I’ve come to cherish you.  My time in London was horrible.   I couldn’t wait to get back home to you.  I promise you that for as long as you have me, I will be the perfect boyfriend.”  He smiled at her and she felt herself go soft and mushy all over again.  “And, when you are ready, I want to replace this with something more sparkly.”

Haylee couldn’t contain her excitement much longer. She bounced on the couch as she waited.  He opened the box and she gasped.  Inside, sat the most beautiful Claddagh ring she’d ever seen. It was white gold with her birthstone, an emerald, in the heart.  She brought her hand to her chest and felt her heart beating heavy.  The emerald stone matched Kyle’s eyes right now, a deep green.  How had he known her birthday was in May?

“I want to share something with you, Haylee.” Kyle’s face was serious, matching the tone of his voice.  He slipped the ring on her left finger, the heart pointed towards her fingertips.  She knew what that meant and her heart soared.  “My family was Irish.  Women in my family have always worn a Claddagh ring given to them by the man that loved them more than anything in the world.  My mom’s was lost in a fire, or I’d be putting hers on your finger tonight.  The Claddagh is a symbol of loyalty, friendship and love.  Even though I am placing this ring on your finger, stating that you are taken, I want you to know that you own me.  Heart, body and soul.”

Haylee looked at the ring and tears dripped from her eyes.  It was the most romantic and sentimental thing anyone had ever done for her.  She knew she loved Kyle.  She couldn’t remember when it happened exactly, but she’d known it for awhile.  She couldn’t hold it in any longer.

Grabbing Kyle’s face with both of her hands, she planted a soft kiss on his lips.  “Thank you.  I love it
, Kyle and, I love you.”  She closed her eyes, bracing for his reaction.  She felt fairly confident that he might feel the same way, but she wasn’t entirely sure and was afraid to face rejection. 

Her eyes popped open as Kyle swung her up in his arms.  That earth-shattering smile was on his lips.  As he carried her to the bedroom, he said, “I was hoping you’d say that.”  He leaned his head down to kiss her lips then whispered against them, “I love you too Haylee, always.”

New Year’s Eve 2012

“I now pronounce you man and wife.  You may kiss the bride.”  The pastor smiled and held his hands out. 

Kyle swept up Haylee in his strong arms and crushed her lips with his kiss.  Laughter and catcalling surrounded them and she giggled through the kiss.  “Now, Mrs. Simmons
, may I have this dance?”  Haylee kissed him again and nodded.

As he led her to the dance floor, the countdown began.  She wrapped her arms around her husband and pulled him close, as their friends and family shouted out the final numbers to the New Year.  It had all began on a New Year’s Eve, what better day to seal their commitment and pledge their love to one another?  And, for the next sixty some-odd years, they would always remember the way they met and fell in love as they rang in another New Year.

“Happy New Year, Haylee.”

“Happy New Year, Kyle.”  She kissed him softly.  “I love you.”

“I love you too.”  Kyle kissed her back.  “Always.”

~The End~

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This story came together after I finished writing
Four Weeks ‘til Christmas
.  I enjoyed having a theme and the ability to put together a short story that could read in one sitting, like one would sit and watch a holiday movie.  Yet, I wanted the story to have enough depth to reach the reader’s heart.  I hope that you’ve enjoyed this story.  If you have, please go back and leave an honest review.  Reviews are what help us writers keep going.  Constructive criticism is always welcome.
 


Thank you to my readers.  I love you all.  I am always working on something, so feel free to pop by my blog at
http://authorjaynwilde.blogspot.com
subscribe and keep up to date on what I am doing.  You can also visit me on Amazon at
https://www.amazon.com/author/authorjaynwilde

Thank you to my family for putting up with my intensity.  When a story comes to mind, I steal away to type it out, or write in a notebook, until it is out of my head. That means that sometimes, even when I am present, my mind is elsewhere.  I tend to write like I watch movies…and Lord knows, I watch a LOT of movies.  So, I see the story unfold in my mind and then write it out as best as I can.

Thank you to my dear friend and fellow author, Samantha Holt.  She is always helping me with ideas and she proofreads my work, finding all my grammar errors.  She supports me and encourages me through the blocks and rough patches.

Thank you all so very much!  <3 

~J~

Other books by Jayn Wilde

The Key to Helmbrooke: For the Love of Isabelle

Isabelle is a young village woman who must find her way to her father who has been kidnapped by the vindictive Queen Tristana. Isabelle must bring the Key to her in order to save her father, Thomas' life. Time is of the essence and when she meets the handsome Zander along the journey, she finds herself thinking thoughts and feeling emotions she never has before. His motives, however, are not as noble as she thinks.
Along the way, truths are revealed, motives are uncovered, and emotions flare. In order for Isabelle, Zander or Thomas to be truly free, the truth must reveal itself before the Queen uses the Key to regain her health and her youth. Because once that happens, all will be lost.
http://amzn.com/B00BIM3BFK

Danika’s Gift

Danika's lived a secluded life, hiding her 'gift' from others.  Her mother protected her and home-schooled her after a tragedy at the age of six.  Now with her mother gone, her father a thousand miles away, Danika is moving forward with her life and heading to college.

Despite trying to blend in, Danika meets Derek and she fears the new feelings he brings out in her.  She’s never known her stomach to flip flop, her pulse to race without exercising, her face to heat up or the feel of throbbing between her legs.  His attention to her creates mixed emotions and with that comes the fear that her gift may become known.  For her to get close to anyone may reveal future events that she cannot control.

Everything comes crashing down around Danika as she and her friend are kidnapped.  While every previous event was a distant fear, now her gift has brought danger directly to her.  All of her fears and insecurities are laid out before her as he struggles to find a way, any way, to use her gift for as something other than a curse.

Her gift makes her special...but is
 the gift worth dying for?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DR5JEA2

Four Weeks ‘til Christmas

The four weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas can be hectic for some, while festive for others.  Noelle Tanner, 25, once enjoyed that time with her family as they celebrated her birthday and Christmas.    But an accident changed all that for Noelle.  Now, she simply goes through the motions every day full of guilt and pain.

Zane Williams is wealthy and sinfully handsome. At 30, he must take over the reins of his father's large corporation.  He has little time to enjoy life. His family is scattered and the end of the year means he must devote all of his time to work.  He has yet to understand the meaning of the season.