by E. L. Todd
Was it really him? “Reid?” I dropped the mail, not realizing it slipped from my hands.
He closed the gap between us, wearing a gray suit with a black tie. His eyes were just as blue as I remembered them, and I could read the emotion just as much as before. He looked down at me, his eyes focusing on my leg. “I just talked to your father…he told me what happened.”
I was still in shock that he was there. “What do you mean…?”
“Your accident. He just told me.” He eyed my left leg. “I’m so glad you’re okay. I know I’m a bit late but…I just had to see it for myself.” He took a deep breath and let the air out of his lungs.
Now I understood. “Oh, yeah I’m okay. I couldn’t walk for a few months but now I’m as good as new.” I tried to sound positive so he wouldn’t feel bad for me. I could tell my accident was painful for him.
He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m glad you’re okay. I would have come sooner if I’d known…”
“It’s okay, Reid. Don’t worry about it.”
He sighed. “I’m sorry I disrupted your life like this. I just had to know…”
I placed my hand on his arm, comforting him. “I appreciate the visit.”
He smiled slightly then spotted my mail. He grabbed the pile then handed it to me. “I’m sorry I startled you. I didn’t anticipate you being right outside your house.”
I chuckled. “It’s okay. It was an odd coincidence.”
“So, everything okay?” he asked. “Just in general?”
“Yeah…no complaints.” I knew he was wondering about Slade even if he didn’t ask. The subject was too awkward so I didn’t bring it up. “How are you?”
“Good.” He nodded. “Just work and stuff…no complaints.”
I chuckled. “The bank is doing well?”
“Yeah. It’s really fascinating,” he said sarcastically.
“Well, it’s hard to be creative when you’re just counting money all day.”
“And hoping people don’t pay off their credit cards so we can just charge them interest.” He said it in a positive way but he sounded slightly bitter. “So, how’s the fashion going?”
“I’m going to be an intern at Vogue when I graduate.”
“Awesome.” His eyes burned in excitement. “I’m happy for you. I’m sure you’ll love it.”
The front door opened then slammed hard. The sound made Reid and me turn our heads immediately.
Slade stepped out, his arms by his sides. The threatening look on his face was directed at Reid. He didn’t look happy to see us talking at the end of my sidewalk. Actually, he looked like he might kill Reid. Then he started to march toward us, the blood lust in his eyes.
“Slade, stop.” I gave him a hard look.
He stopped in mid-step.
“Go back in the house or wait on the porch.”
He clenched his jaw while he stared at me. Then he glanced at Reid, the blood lust returning. His entire body shook as he forced himself to turn around and walk back to the house. He stood on the porch then leaned against the pillar, staring at us.
I knew we would have a huge fight once I walked back inside that house.
Reid turned back to me. “So, still with Slade, then?”
I nodded. “Yeah…”
“At least you can control him now.”
“Not without difficulty,” I said with a weak laugh.
“Is he giving you everything you want?” Emotion was in his eyes.
“Yes. And more.”
He nodded in approval but his eyes showed his disappointment. “I’m glad to hear that. You deserve the best.”
“No, you deserve the best, Reid.” I meant it. He was a sweet and caring guy. “Are you seeing anyone?”
“Not really,” he said with a shrug. “I haven’t hit it off with anyone.”
“You will,” I said firmly. “I know you have a lot of admirers.”
He blushed slightly. “Not really. But thank you for the compliment.”
“Wrap it up!” Slade gave us both a threatening look.
Reid smirked. “I guess I should go…”
“Yeah…”
“I just wanted to see if you were okay. And now that I see you are…I’ll be on my way.”
“It was nice seeing you, Reid.”
“Hold on, I brought you something.” He opened the passenger door then came back to me, holding a bouquet of yellow flowers. “For you.”
I smiled as I took them. “Thank you.”
He nodded then stepped away. “Goodbye, Trinity.”
“Bye, Reid.”
He got into his car then drove away.
I stayed at the curb until he was out of sight. When I turned back around, Slade didn’t look happy. He marched back inside then slammed the door, acting like a jealous gorilla. I sighed then followed him.
Slade was pacing in the living room, about to scratch my eyes out. “What the fuck was that about?”
I placed the flowers in a vase then filled it with water. “He came to see if I was okay.”
“And why wouldn’t you be?” He marched to me and got in my face.
I put a hand on his chest and pushed him back. “He heard about my accident and wanted to check on me.”
“The accident that happened four months ago?” he asked incredulously.
“He ran into my dad recently.”
“Whatever,” he snapped. “You aren’t in his life anymore. He had no right coming here.”
“Slade, calm down. He just wanted to know if I was okay.”
“If it’s been four months, then obviously you are.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “Fucking asshole.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “Uh, I don’t think that makes him an asshole. You’re the one acting like one.”
“And he thinks he can bring my girl flowers? I don’t think so.” He reached for the vase, about to break it.
“Knock it off!” I pushed him back. “Don’t you dare touch them.”
He breathed so hard his nostrils flared. “He was just trying to be nice. And he didn’t know if we were together or not.”
“I bet he was disappointed,” he snapped.
“You made it pretty clear I was taken, Slade.” I rolled my eyes when I remembered how he stomped around like a gorilla in a tree, throwing a hissy fit. “And I told him how happy we are together.”
He calmed down slightly. “You did?”
I nodded. “He won’t bother me again. You can calm down now.”
“He won’t?” He looked to me for assurance.
“Yes.”
He eyed the flowers for a moment before his anger ebbed away. “Sorry I got upset…”
“Upset?” I laughed. “You mean you flipped the hell out. God, it was embarrassing.”
“Like you don’t throw a hissy fit when you see me with girls.”
“It’s not the same thing and you know it. Reid didn’t come here to sleep with me. He just wanted to check on me.”
“Well, I, your boyfriend, can do that.”
“Again, he didn’t know if we were together!” I walked away, unable to take this ludicrous behavior for a second longer.
Slade grabbed me then pinned me against the wall. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” He breathed onto my face, making me feel warm.
“Are you really?”
He nodded. “I’m crazy when it comes to you. I wish I could change that but I can’t.” His voice was soft, no longer angry.
“Slade, I wouldn’t want you to.”
He kissed the corner of my mouth before he pulled away. “Really?”
I nodded.
“So, it’s okay if I’m jealous?”
“Once in a while…”
He grinned then kissed my neck. “Thanks for letting me off the hook.”
“Off the hook?” I asked incredulously. “I don’t think so. You have a lot of making up to do.”
His eyes narrowed. “I like where this is going…”
I move
d to my washer then sat on it. I pulled my shirt off, just sitting in my bra.
His eyes darkened then he came to me. “I’ll start now.”
77
Cayson
I held the envelope in my hands and saw whom it was from.
NYU.
My future rested in the envelope. If I were accepted, the rest of my life would be set in stone. I’d be in the same city as Skye, the woman I’d share my life with. But if I were rejected…then I’d have to figure out a different plan.
Slade sat beside me on the couch. “Open it.”
I held it in my hands, unable to tear the envelope. “I’m scared…”
“Dude, if you got into Stanford, one of the most competitive schools in the world, then you definitely got into New York. It wouldn’t make any sense if you didn’t.”
“But nothing is guaranteed.”
“Stop being a pussy and just open it.”
I sighed while I stared at the envelope.
Slade rolled his eyes. “It doesn’t matter what that letter says. We’ll find a way to make everything work.” He clapped my back. “Now do it.”
I’d wasted an hour sitting on that couch staring at that envelope. It was time to face the music. I ripped the seal then tore out the paper. Slade leaned over me, reading through the lines at the same time. By the third sentence, I learned my fate.
We regret to inform you…
Fuck.
I read it again just to make sure. Then I dropped it on the floor, feeling my heart move into my stomach.
Slade moved back to his side of the couch, his face resting in his hands.
It was a horrible blow and we both knew it.
“You weren’t even on the wait list?” Slade asked incredulously.
I shrugged, too broken to speak.
“That makes no fucking sense.”
It didn’t matter if it did. Getting upset wouldn’t change anything. “Now what am I going to do…?”
Slade rubbed his temple. “What schools did you get into?”
“Stanford, USC, Florida, and Idaho.”
“Idaho?” he snapped. “Why the hell would you apply there? I bet the only thing they have is corn.”
I wasn’t in the mood for jokes.
Slade caught on. “Florida isn’t that far away…”
“It’s a seventeen-hour drive,” I spat. “Yes, it’s too far away.”
“What about Idaho?” he asked.
I gave him an incredulous look. “Do you even know where Idaho is?”
He shrugged. “By Iowa…?”
“No, it’s right by Oregon. It’s even farther away.”
“Oh. Whoops…”
“Fuck.” I clenched my hands into fists and tried not to have a breakdown.
Slade tried to make me feel better. “Dude, it’ll be alright. Let’s just make a new plan. You can work at the shop with me. I’ll give you something to do.”
I knew he was just trying to help so I stopped myself from snapping. “I don’t want to work in a tattoo parlor. I want to go to medical school. I’ve been working toward it my entire life.”
“Okay…maybe you could volunteer in a hospital for year…get more experience.”
“I have plenty of it.”
“Well, maybe you could take another class or something.”
I was done with school. I paid my dues.
“Or you could just work in a lab or something, doing something commercial.”
I didn’t want to do that either.
“Cayson, I know this is hard but you need to work with me on this… I’m trying to make a bad situation into a bearable one.”
I sighed. “I’m sorry. This is just…not what I wanted.”
“I know, man.” He clapped my shoulder. “I know.”
Why was this happening to me?
“You could still go to Stanford and do a long-distance relationship…”
“No,” I said firmly.
“You haven’t even talked to Skye about it. How do you know how she’ll feel?”
“I just do. I don’t need to ask.” I gave him a firm look. “You better not say a word of this to Trinity. I mean it.”
Slade gave me a pissed look. “Really? Do you need to remind me? Bros before hoes, right?”
“Just keep my secret.”
“I will.”
Facing the truth was painful. I’d have to sacrifice a year to be with Skye. I’d apply again, but if I didn’t get in a second time, I was sealing my fate. I’d have to go to a nearby state or city and commute to her. But it was still better than being on the opposite end of the country. And if that didn’t work out, any chance I had of being a doctor was gone.
“What are you going to tell her?” Slade asked.
“What do you mean?” I whispered.
“She’s going to want to know why you aren’t going to school. What will you tell her?”
I shrugged. “I’ll say I didn’t get in anywhere.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “And you expect that genius to believe you? That you didn’t get in anywhere? Dude, she’s not going to buy that.”
“Well, if I tell her the truth, she’ll make me go.”
“Say you’re on the wait list or something,” Slade suggested. “That would be more believable. Like, really far down on the wait list so she knows you won’t be going anywhere.”
“I guess that would be better.”
“It’s still a risk… If you told me, I wouldn’t believe you.”
“And that’s saying something,” I jabbed.
Slade let the comment go.
I turned to him, feeling helpless. “What would you do?”
“You already asked me this.”
“I need to hear it again.”
He sighed. “I’d choose Trinity.”
Then I could do this.
“But you and Skye are meant for each other. I honestly think you could survive a long-distance relationship. If anyone can make it work, it’s you two.”
“But it’s not for a few months or a year. It’s a huge chunk of time,” I argued. “We’ll grow apart and cause more problems.”
“Then I don’t know what else to say…it looks like you aren’t going to medical school this year.”
“And maybe not even next,” I said bitterly.
Slade eyed me curiously.
“If I didn’t get into New York this year, why would I get in next year?” I asked. “I’ll get rejected again.”
“You don’t know that…”
“I do. I’ll apply to schools nearby this time. I should have applied to more but I did my applications before we were together. I never thought I’d have this problem.”
He rubbed my shoulder. “It’ll be okay, man. Just remember why you’re doing this. Maybe that will make you feel better.”
I hated the fact that I was giving up my dream. But when I remembered what I was sacrificing it for, it calmed me. I pictured Skye in a wedding dress, holding my future children in her arms, and the long years we’d spend together. I was lucky enough to find someone I cherished so much. It would be stupid not to hold on to that. “You’re right. Thanks…”
“Anytime, man. I know this is going to be a hard time for you. Just know I’m always here, okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah…”
Slade and I sat side by side, having nothing more to say. The darkness crept into the room but neither one of us turned on a light. We sat in silence, letting it envelop us. Slade never moved or left my side. A silent companion, he carried the weight with me, knowing I couldn’t do it alone.
I tried not to act depressed but Skye, who was in tune with my every thought and emotion, was catching on.
“Are you sure there’s nothing wrong?” She eyed me suspiciously, like she thought I was lying to her every time I said I was fine.
“I’m just tired,” I lied. I looked down at my textbook and avoided eye contact.
She wasn’t buying it. “Are you stressed about finals
?”
That was a good excuse. “Yeah…my analytical chemistry class is a lot to take in.”
“Well, I could help you,” she offered. “Well, I could try…”
I smiled for the first time in days. “It’s okay, baby. I’ll be fine.”
“I wish I could cheer you up…” There was a twinkle in her eye.
She’d been rocking my world all week because she thought she was chasing away my stress. Little did she know she was battling my depression, reminding me why I made this decision to choose her over my future to begin with. It worked at the time, focusing my thoughts on her and what we did best when we were in bed, but when we were finished, the pain returned.
“Maybe later,” I said vaguely.
She seemed to catch something in my voice because her eyes narrowed. “Cayson, are you sure there’s nothing else?”
“Yes.” I gave her a firm look. “Now get back to studying. We got a lot to do.”
Graduation was coming and everyone was growing excited. Conrad tried to be happy for us, but he was just moody. He had a year left to go until he was done with his undergraduate degree. Silke was behind by a semester and she was forced to continue in the fall. Roland was dropping out of college at the end of this term. I think that was the real reason Conrad was such unpleasant company.
Skye came over after she grabbed her gown. “Look, I’m graduating with honors.”
I smiled then hugged her. “Congratulations, baby.”
“I worked so hard for this. I can’t wait to throw my hat in the air and be done forever.”
“Me too.”
“Well, you’ve got like twenty years of school left to go,” she said with a laugh. “Where’s your gown?”
I pulled it out of the closet. “Looks like we’re both graduating with honors.”
She smiled then felt the gold cord in her hand. “Sexy but geeky at the same time. That’s hot.”
“You’re geeky too,” I countered.
“Which is why you’re so hot for me.”
I chuckled. “It’s one of the many reasons.”
She hung her gown over the back of a chair at the kitchen table. “Where are you going to medical school anyway? You haven’t mentioned anything to me.”
I knew this conversation would happen soon. With graduation approaching, it was bound to come up. I was surprised I had evaded the topic for as long as I had. “Nowhere.” I said it plainly and tried not to get emotional about it. I wanted her to know I was okay with the situation.
