To Save You (13 page)

Dexter came up to me while I was taking a shot of Braxton and Ashton talking. I was trying to capture as many moments, capturing moments was my specialty.

“Here’s the second memory card.” The first memory card was almost full, and I didn’t like filling them up because there was always a risk that it would damage some of the pictures. I was always careful.

“I asked the bride and groom if they’d give you a ten minute break. They gave you a half hour, you can eat and stuff.” I smiled at Dexter.

“Thanks, but I’m not really hungry.” If anything, I felt sick. I hated the feeling in my stomach, and I knew it was there because of Mathew.

“How about a dance, then?”

“Okay.” I nod. He leads me out to the dance floor. It’s a slow dance, to Stay With Me by Sam Smith.

“Can I ask something quite personal?” Dexter asks.

“You can ask, doesn’t mean I’m going to answer.” He chuckles. The scars on my arms are just that, scars. No one here has actually asked me about them, people respect my privacy here, and I feel freer to wear stuff that reveals them.

“Who is the guy who has been staring at you all night? I spotted him at the church, and I know he’s a part of the bride’s family. Must be somebody important to you, he’s actually glaring at me right now.”

I turn my head slightly, and sure enough there is Mathew glaring at Dexter. He thinks we have something. He’s jealous.

“He’s a friend.” I lie.

“Ah, an ex.” He sees right through my lie. “Well, your friend is on his way over to you.” I hear him clear his throat behind me.

“Can I steal her away for a bit?” Mathew asks.

“Sure, mate. Only for a bit.” I’m sure Dexter just said it like that because he knew it would just to make Mathew more jealous. He steps away and Mathew places his hands on my waist.

“He was joking.” I say, trying to take away the harsh look he had.

“I know.”

“How is school?” I ask him, trying to make small conversation to make this the least awkward it can be.

“Not the same without you.” He caresses my cheek and leans in a little bit.

I flinch away from him. I see the hurt in his eyes. Mathew has to know that he just can’t play with my feelings.

“You broke up with me.” I say.

“I know.”

“Then don’t do this to me.” I plead. He nods.

“How is work?” He asks me.

“It’s great.” The song ends, but neither of us make a move to step away from each other. Finally, I can’t take it anymore.

“I need to get back to work.”

He watches me walk away back to my table to get my camera. I don’t look at him because I know I won’t be able to keep my strength.

After Ashton and Braxton left the reception area, I went home to Bear. He was very excited to see me. He laid beside me as I looked through all the pictures of the wedding. I was pleased to see they all came out perfect.

I get to Dexter’s memory card, he was doing a lot better with his photography. He got lots of pictures of the guests, and I find a video. He wasn’t supposed to take any videos.

I press play and Mathew pops up on the screen.

“Do you love her?” I hear Dexter, who is behind the camera, asking Mathew.

“More than life.” From the angle of the camera, I can see that Matty doesn’t know he is being filmed.

“Then why did you let her go.”

“Because I love her. Doesn’t make sense, but it was to protect her and to help her heal. One day she’ll understand.” How was leaving me protecting me? Or helping me heal? I was alone. I wanted be with him and he left me.

That’s where the clip ends.

Chapter Twenty Nine

Mathew Pennington

It’s been a year since I’ve seen Presley Masters. James has Dessie in the living room and they’re talking to her, on Skype. I’m sitting behind the computer, she doesn’t know I’m there, I just want to hear her voice.

Sometimes I’ll text her, but she rarely responds. It hurts. I sent her a gift for her birthday, and she sent back a thank you letter. Presley caught me up in it, and I read it every night, wishing she was back in the US.

“You two are so adorable.” She says to James and Dessie.

They have had their struggles like Presley and I. Most of the problems stems from Dessie having a troubled past. She didn’t want a relationship, and I know she has secrets that only few people know about. The other troubles were on James’ side, and his injury, apparently he had been struggling more than he said with it.

“What’s the big news?” Dessie asks. “It must be big since you did call me in the middle of the night. You were getting so good at getting the time difference right.”

“Sorry about that, I forgot about the time difference. I was just really excited about this news, and I was dialing before I could think.”

“Tell us!” James says and he glances at me.

“I’m moving to Australia! Sydney to be exact. I just got a job offer this morning, they flew out to see me and woo me. It’s also not just based there, I’ll get to travel and write about the world.” I could hear the clear excitement in her voice as she spoke.

“That’s amazing.”

“I’ve been packing since I got the offer, and I put in my notice at work, they actually encouraged me to take it. Also, I will be in Chicago for a few days in about a week to sort packaging stuff out.”

Dessie and James both looked at me, but I didn’t say anything. Dessie looked back at Presley.

“I have class in ten minutes, but I want to talk about this more with you. We have to hang out next week.”

“Okay, I have to eat dinner and finish packing, too. I’ll talk to you guys later.” I heard the call end. I stood up before James or Dessie could say anything.

But to no surprise, Dessie followed me into my room. “She still loves you. You’re being an idiot.”

“Her mom had a point, look how much happier she is without having to rely on me.” She yells in frustration.

“All love is and being in a relationship is, being there for somebody. Be there for her. Relying on someone, isn’t weak, her mom is in the wrong here. Sure it helped her, but maybe she could be even happier with you!” She walked out of my room.

I throw myself back on my bed and sigh. Of course I wanted to be with her, but how many times have I let her down now? It was too late, she’d never forgive me.

One month from now, I’ll be getting my degree and being thrown into the family business. I’ll have what I want.

Except for her.

I will have to live with that for the rest of my life, and I’ll never forgive myself for letting her go. I will always love her, even when she stops loving me. Maybe she already has. I’m just torturing myself with these thoughts.

I walked into the apartment to find the lights on. It was late and I knew James was at Dessie’s apartment, when they wanted more privacy they would go over there, also Dessie was mad at me for what I said the week before, she liked to avoid me when she was mad. I didn’t blame her.

“Hello?” There was nobody in the kitchen or living room. I did hear some music playing, and then I heard a voice singing along to…Taylor Swift?

It was coming from the guest room and I opened the door. The music was playing in the room on a phone, and I saw the bathroom light on. Whoever was here was in the bathroom.

I looked at the phone, and I paused the music. Immediately, the background popped up, it was a picture of me that I’ve never seen or remember someone taking of me.

“James? Dessie?” My heart was beating so loudly, it was the only thing I could hear.

The door opened and out she came. Presley was in her pajamas, a white t-shirt and some little black shorts. Her blue eyes widened at the sight of me.

“Hi.” I say, she was so close to me.

“Hi.” She says so quietly, I almost miss it. “James told me I could stay in the guest room, he didn’t say you were going to be home for the weekend.”

Was she trying to avoid me?

“Did you think I was going to be in Evanston?” She nods. I never told James that. He made that up. I was at a study session for my business class.

“I can leave.” She says.

“No, don’t.” I didn’t want her to go. I looked at her, like really looked at the beautiful woman standing in front of me.

“You cut your hair.” It was shoulder length now, her blonde hair was pretty long last time I saw her, last year at my sisters wedding.

“Does it look bad?” She still cared what I thought about her. She could still have feelings for me.

“No! It looks great.” I smile and she smiles back at me.

We’re standing in an awkward silence. She looks down at my hand, and nods toward it. “Why do you have my phone?”

I forgot it was in my hand. “Sorry.” I place it down. “I was turning off the music.”

“Do you have something against Taylor Swift?” She jokes.

“Of course not.” I smile. I remember the background on the phone. “When did you take that photo of me?” She immediately starts blushing.

“Remember when you came to pick me up because I blew out my tire?” I nod. I totally forgot that she snapped a few pictures of me. “It’s my favorite picture that I have ever taken.” She admits.

“Congrats on your career, I heard you’re going to Sydney.” I hold my arms open to her, for a hug.

She hugs me. “Thanks.” I take in her scent, she smells like vanilla. I pulled away and I took a few steps back.

“I am going to bed, goodnight.” She nods and I go out of the room, closing the door behind me.

I pause outside of my room and look back at the guest room. That was so hard for me. This was going to be even harder, sleeping one room away from each other. I can deny all I want, but I am not over her.

I wake up to soft knocking and I quickly open the door. Presley is standing there. Her wild eyes were staring at me.

“I need you to tell me why you broke up with me. The real reason.”

“At three in the morning?” She nods.

“I can’t sleep.” I let her come in.

She sits on my bed and I sit next to her. I fight the urge to hold her hand or touch her in the slightest way.

“It was my mom, wasn’t it?” I guess the look in my face gives it away. “I knew it!”

“What makes you think that?” I wasn’t going to blatantly tell her that her mother was the one who suggested we break up.

“It was a few things she said to me. I love her, but she had no right meddling in our lives like that. We lost our chance to be together.” She shakes her head.

“You really think that?”

“What?”

“That we have no chance at being together again?” She pauses.

“I love you. I will always love you.” Presley says.

“I love you.” I say to her.

I kiss her.

Chapter Thirty

Presley Masters

I missed Mathew’s lips, I would never get enough of them, like ever. They were so soft, and as he kissed me I could feel the stubble on his face. It was a major turn on.

The minute I saw Mathew in the guest room, I knew James and Dessie set us up. I was told he would be in Evanston, so I was welcome to hang out at their apartment. Now, I was very happy they set us up.

I pulled off my shirt, no bra. His mouth quickly covered my right nipple and I was starting to lose control. I haven’t been with anyone since we broke up. I never got over him, and I knew he never got over me via Dessie.

He started going for my shorts and I stopped him. I wanted to bring him pleasure, too. I went for his boxers. He threw them off to the side, and I put him in my mouth, as much as I could. The rest I pumped with my hand.

Mathew was watching me, I saw as I looked up at him. His head rolled back as I licked the head of his cock.

“Fuck.” I sucked him harder and he pulled me up. He looked at me with dark green eyes, I had awaken something in him. “I am so close so fast because it’s been a long time, but I want to be inside you when I come.”

I was pushed onto the bed, and he pulled my shorts off in one swift move. I liked him being bossy in bed.

Mathew cursed. “I’ll be right back.” I watched as he went out of the room naked. I admired his beautiful butt.

He came back with a few condoms. “Stole them from James.”

“Our little secret.” I grin.

He kisses me for a few seconds, then pulls away to put on the condom. Mathew looked at me hungrily with his eyes.

In one swift move he pressed himself into me. I brought my legs up, pressed them against his sides. I gasped as he continued into me.

“You’re so fucking tight. It’s heaven inside of you.”

“You feel so good.” I say, moaning as he pressed his finger against my clit. My breathing was harder as I came closer to my climax.

“I can feel how close you are, I love that I know that about you.” His strokes became harder and I couldn’t hold out anymore.

“Mathew, I’m going to come.” I barely had any air to breathe, I was so aroused. I moaned really loudly.

I was in orgasm heaven. I heard Mathew yell my name as he came. We were both breathing hard, neither of us made any movement. It felt perfect.

“You leave for Australia today.” Mathew says.

I nod.

“I only have less than two months of school left. Spring break is next week, and I could come see you. Help you move into your new place.” He kisses my neck. “I’m not letting you go ever again, understand?”

“I do.”

“Are you two decent?” Dessie asks, her eyes are covered as she walks into the living room at James’ apartment.

“We are.” We weren’t half an hour ago.

She peeks and sighs in relief, dropping her hands at her side.

“Are you two back together?” I raise our hands that are intertwined. “Thank fucking god, no offense, but you two are a handful to deal with.” I laugh.

“Thanks for being such a good friend, Dessie. We appreciate all you’ve done.” Mathew says and I kiss his cheek. He smiles at me.

“I know.” I roll my eyes at Dessie. “Hate to be a downer, but James is waiting downstairs to take you to the airport.”

“Why does it feel like every time we get back together, we just get pulled apart again?” I ask.

“I don’t know, I only care that we keep finding our way back to each other every single time.” He kisses me.