Take Me Away (20 page)

"Honestly," I answer, "I have no idea. Jeremy and I never got along."

Zara's eyes go wide. "That doesn't worry you?"

I shake my head, "No. Why should it? There's nothing to be worried about. I promise, Peaches." I kiss the tip of her nose and finally see her relax.

CHAPTER 25

ZARA

OKAY, HEARING ABOUT HIS affair and his past is not what I wanted to hear, but the truth isn't always pretty. My heart is breaking for my poor Treston. To carry all this guilt for so long without talking about it. But I see there's a slight peace to him now that everything's out in the open.

He moves closer to me and I'm beginning to understand why he did what he did. I can't fault him for this. I want my man back and we'll be together.

"So, you told me a lot and I'm glad. Treston, babe, we all have gone through things in our life that suck. I know you've been holding all of this in, but no more. I need you to always be open with me and realize that as long as we talk and love each other and trust one another, we'll be good. Our love is strong and I know this is where I want to be."

"I want you to be here, too."

"Then stop running and keep me in."

"Thank you for coming back to me. Thank you for listening. You saw a piece of me that I thought I hid from the world. I don't know how you did it, but you saw past the asshole me and found the sweet me."

"Like you did with me. This isn't just how you see me or I see you. It's how we see and love each other. Every moment with you has been amazing, Treston. You're my world and I want to be there with you through all your successes and failures. You catch me when I fall and I'll catch you when you fall."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"Me either." We share another kiss and hold each other through the night after a few more sessions. We have a lot to make up for.

"Can I call you my boyfriend?"

His eyes are wide and soon relaxes. "Always."

To say we're not blissfully happy and extremely annoying to our friends would be another big lie. Every day is a new day for us. There's the peace I saw in him the night he told me everything. It's the peace on his face that tells me he's going to be okay. Sometimes I find that he crawls back to the dark, but I pull him back. I'm learning to be patient and trust him to know he'll find his way back to me and tell me what I need to know.

I've been spending most of my time at the guys’ house. We find a rhythm in our schedules and spend the nights, mornings and weekends together. All the months we were apart have led us to this point.

I feel his kisses on my face and neck, "What are you thinking about, baby?"

My hand rests on his and I smile, "Just you. Us. Everything."

We don't waste time and surprisingly we're not fighting, as much, anymore. I still annoy him and he still finds ways to push me. But that's why we fit.

"You need to get ready. It's the first round today and if you're late, Coach is going to kill you."

"Well, we need to get out of bed." I'm about to get up, when he pulls me back in. "I need a good luck fuck before you leave."

"You're such a pig." I laugh, pulling him over me and having another round of amazing sex.

Katy, Jamie and I find seats on the bleachers and patiently wait for the guys to come out. Treston's superstitious and doesn't want me texting him. When I left the house, I blew him a kiss and walked out.

His mom, Regina, took me, Katy and Jamie out for lunch and we did some shopping. I saw a watch at the jewelry store and instantly had to get it for him. Requesting to get it engraved with the date we became official and our favorite quote,
Breathe. Live. Fly.
The associate hands me the slip and smiles.

"He's going to love this," Katy squeals.

"I hope so."

Katy tugs on my hand and I follow her eyes in the direction of the field. The crowd is large and people cheer when the boys walk out. I look for number eight, Treston, and can't find him. I take out my phone and there's nothing.

"Where is he?" The three of us look around and a few minutes pass without any sign of Treston.

Gavin runs over to us, "Can you girls check on him? He said he needed to get something in his locker and would be out when he's done, but it's been almost ten minutes."

"Okay let's go," I tell Katy and Jamie. We get up from the bleachers and walk to the men's locker room.

An eerie feeling washes over me and I sprint down the hall and through the door. Walking into the locker room, I let out a blood curdling scream and rush to Treston. There's blood on the ground near him.

"Treston," I scream, afraid to touch him. I kneel beside him and touch his face. It's not warm. "Treston," I scream again. I look over and Jamie's on the floor crying while Katy's on the phone.

My world goes dark. I'm holding onto his hand, praying to God to save him and not to take him from me.

"Please baby, fight. Fight for your life and fight for us. Please," I beg him through my sobs. Grabbing his hand, I beg him to squeeze so I know he's still with us. There's no movement and I break down harder.

"Treston, you can't leave me." I lay down, not caring that his blood is soaking through my clothes. I need to be close to him. "Please don't leave me. We just got back together. We have our whole lives together. But you need to open your eyes." There's commotion in the room. I don't move. Instead, I hold onto his hand tighter until Coach Young pulls me off. When he does, I kick and scream for him to let me go so I could be with Treston. I watch as the EMT medics do what they have to and put him on the gurney. He's still not moving, but they say he's breathing and there's a low pulse.

Everyone follows the medics and Treston's parents are in the hall, waiting to see what's going on. When Regina sees Treston, she screams and her husband, James, holds her in his arms. They're both crying and asking questions.

I wish I had the answers.

Cars start pulling out of the parking lot, heading to the hospital. I'm numb and weak. The tears keep coming down and I don't know what to say until Katy gets to the emergency room and we all rush out.

Sitting in the waiting room, my head's on Jackson's lap. My eyes are on the doors, waiting for Treston's surgeon to come out and tell us what's going on.

He's been in there for so long. No one has any updates and the nurses aren't helping. It's been four hours and I'm going crazy. I'm thankful that he's alive, but news and updates would be better.

I look around the room. Everyone's pretty quiet. Some people are sleeping and some are talking amongst themselves. My parents are talking to Treston's parents and everyone's face is pale. Gavin's holding onto Katy and Jamie's sleeping on the floor. I hate that I'm here in the waiting room and not with Treston. There has to be something I can do.

The cops came and took our statements. I guess Treston's phone records show a private caller three times a day. There's no way it can be traced with the calls coming from different disposable cell phones.

A sick part of me thinks whoever did this to him will never be caught. Closing my eyes, I see Treston lying on the ground. He's not moving and I'm so afraid. We're back together and he finally let down his walls. He's finally living again and now his life is hanging by a string. A soft whimper leaves my lips and I cry again.

Jackson plays with my hair, trying to calm me down. All it does is remind me of Treston, and the way his touch used to affect me.

The doctor comes through the doors and walks over to us. I jump up from Jackson’s lap and hold my mom’s hand. I’m nervous and scared. I pray that he’s going to be okay and we didn’t lose him. "The family for Treston Parker?" He asks looking at us. We all say yes and he smiles. "Treston's going to be okay. Now his face is bruised and swollen. Whoever did this to him, well," the doctor pauses, "I don't mean to be blunt, but he's lucky to be alive. He suffered a concussion and there's a large gash on his head. He has a broken arm, but other than that we were able to fix him up. There are some internal injuries. With rest and medicine, he will be okay. Now, he may not remember what happened, but give him time."

Giving the doctor a hug, I smile and cry. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

"He's only allowed two visitors at a time. Please keep it short. I know you're all worried for him, but he needs his rest." I look at his parents and Regina takes my hand.

"Come on, sweetie. He'll want to see you." I nod and we follow the doctor to Treston's room. When I step foot into his room, I fall apart again. His eyes flutter open and his voice, the voice I never thought I would hear again, hits me.

"Peaches."

"I'm here." I run over to his side and take his hand. "I'm here." Gently kissing his forehead, I sit down on the chair next to him and place my head in his hands. "Thank you for not leaving me."

"No," he whispers, "I fought for you. I fought for us and our future." His voice is low and I'm so thankful he fought. My Treston.

"Looks like
The King
will reign until the end huh?" We laugh and his hand rests on my head. "I love you, Treston."

"I love you too."

CHAPTER 26

TRESTON

I LOOK AT PEACHES AND smile. The picture that I've been carrying for months hangs in front of me. Touching her face, feeling her love, I know that she's who I've been waiting for.

I'm knocked down. Whatever it is hits me again on my back and I fall to the ground. "Fuck," I yell, grabbing my head. I feel the warm liquid and feel sick. Turning over on my back, I see his face. "Jeremy?"

He kicks my stomach a few times and I can't move. He gets on top of me and wails on my face.

"You piece of shit," he seethes, "You fucking stole everything from me."

Waking up in a pool of sweat, I look over and see Zara. She's slowly waking up and brings me in her arms.

"It's okay," she mumbles. "It's okay. I'm here. He can't hurt you anymore, babe."

I let go of the breath I'm holding and rest my head on her shoulders. My career as a Blue Devil ended the day Jeremy attacked me. He thought he killed me, but that bastard was caught and ended up killing himself in prison. I never got my fucking day in court.

My mom told Beth what happened and she called me shortly after. She wanted to come back and visit me. I told her it wasn't a good idea and she agreed. We talk once a week to catch up and talk about Emily.

The men's lacrosse team won the NCAA Championship and I've never been prouder than that moment when Gavin made the last goal.

11-9. Duke wins.

The summer nights are my favorite. Zara's living with me, for now, until school starts up. I've accepted a job at an accounting firm and things are good. Our friends are happy and moving on with their lives. The other night, we had a going away party for Jamie. She's off to do big things in Paris, while Gavin and Katy are planning their wedding. Jackson's moving to New York City to be with the woman he loves while the rest of the guys are going pro.

A few days after leaving the hospital, I brought Zara to Emily's grave.

"Emily, this is Zara. The woman who saved me and pulled me down from floating away."

Zara kneels down and places flowers on Emily's grave. "Hi Emily. I wish we could've met. I love hearing stories about you and Treston." She touches her tombstone and cries, "Thank you for not taking him to Heaven. Thank you for always watching him."

I kneel down too and place my arm around her, "I love you Emily. Thank you for everything and bringing me Zara."

Resting at my parents’ house with Zara by my side is more than I could ever want. She's been there for me through the good, the bad and the ugly. Our love story isn't over and it won't be. She fell in love with me even with all my imperfections and secrets. She reminds me every day of our love and spending forever with me. I laugh because we're both young, but I think the girl's onto something.

Holding her in my arms, watching her sleep, are my favorite things to do. Well, besides having hot sex with my feisty girl.

I never thought I would be capable of loving again or finding someone who could push past my walls. She makes me better and makes me want to try harder.

Her head is resting on my chest. The smile on her face warms me and I love how she clings onto me, even in sleep. Staring down, I see the calmness on her face. She's cute as hell when she's sleeping. I wish I could hold her like this always.

When her eyes slowly open, she smiles and reaches to meet my lips. Her legs are wrapped around me and curiosity gets the best of her as she travels down my stomach, and grasps my cock.

I groan at her touch, needing more from her. My lips find her neck and breasts. After touching and kissing each other, I have her on her back and slowly I rock in and out of her.

"I love you, Peaches."

"I know," she smiles.

Rocking faster and harder, she grips my back and moans into my mouth. In seconds, I feel her come and I'm not too far behind her.

The passion and love between us is undeniable. It blows my mind every time I see her and feel her. Through the ugly and drama, she still looked past that and gave us another chance. It's always going to mean the world to me that she loves me with all my scars and wounds.

Before, women were nothing to me. They were there as props to fulfill my needs.

Until Zara.

She's the breath of life and thanks to her I feel amazing. Incredible, even. I know I sound like a pussy, but when you have a love like this in your life, that shit doesn't matter. She's my perfect. She's my forever.

I'll never have to hide anything from her again and it's thanks to her I'm able to forgive myself. I'm able to let go of the weight holding me down and face life head on like I'm supposed to. The demons of my past are free to fuck with someone else.

And it's all because Peaches loves me.