by Mary Cope
The sun was warm and felt good against my face. The ocean water was glimmering in the distance, and the slight breeze cooled the warmth of my skin. I drank the last of my shake before I placed the cup next to me on the bench and pulled my hair band out. I ran my fingers through my hair. The park was quiet. Only a few joggers were running the stairs. I took comfort in the peace I felt and I leaned back and closed my eyes. The night’s events and this morning’s with Aidan had left me feeling spent. I began to drift off until something shadowed the brightness behind my eyelids. Assuming it was a passing cloud, I kept my eyes closed.
“Elizabeth.” My heart leapt as I opened my eyes, and my breathing stopped for a second. My eyes roamed over his handsome face. His jaw was slightly swollen and bruised, but other than that, his face was untouched. His grey eyes were unusually light from the angle where I sat, and his dark hair was tousled in a way that made me ache to run my fingers through it.
“May I?” He motioned to the bench next to me.
I was still pretty surprised to see him, so I just nodded.
Spencer sat and shifted his body so it was facing mine. “I’ve been looking all over for you. Didn’t you get my calls?”
In my rush to see Aidan, I had left my cell phone at home, so I shook my head no.
Spencer gave me a ghost of a smile and softly chuckled. “Are you gonna talk to me or just nod your head?”
“I’m sorry. I’m just shocked to see you.” I shifted my body so it was facing his.
“After last night, I wanted to make sure you were okay.” His soft gaze traveled from my face to the length of my body. When he saw the bruises, his jaw clenched before he frustratingly blew out a breath of air. He gently lifted my arm to examine it further. I could sense he was trying to rein in his anger. “Did he hurt you anywhere else?”
Spencer reached to place a stray lock of my hair behind my ear.
My eyes didn’t leave his. I whispered, “No.”
“Why, Elizabeth? Why would you be with someone who treats you so badly?” His eyes softened, and his words sounded pained.
“He wasn’t always like that. He’s a good guy.”
A concerned expression covered his face. “Don’t.” He commanded. “Don’t make excuses for him. No man has a right to put his hands on you. I don’t care how good you think he is.”
His grey eyes bore into mine. I had to temporarily look away.
I blinked back up at him. “He said he’d talk to someone to work through his… issues.”
Spencer exhaled in relief. “Alright, but if he ever touches you again… ever. You have to promise me you’ll leave him. Do you understand?”
“But…”
“No Elizabeth, promise me.” Spencer’s lips were pressed in a thin firm line, waiting for me to respond.
“Aidan and I aren’t together. We’ve been broken up for a while. He just overreacted because he saw us last night.”
Spencer’s facial expression went from concerned to confused.
“What? You’re not with him? But, I thought.”
“I just let you think that way because you were with Kara, and…” I couldn’t finish my sentence until I looked away from him. With my head bowed and eyes downcast, I continued. “I knew I had feelings for you… I wanted you to be happy, and I thought…” My words cracked with emotion while my eyes welled with tears. “I thought if you assumed I was still with Aidan, it would be easier for me, but it wasn’t… it wasn’t easier… and then last night… I’m so sorry about last night. It’s my fault. It was all my fault. I know you would never cheat on Kara, but… I threw myself at you. I’m sorry.” I shut my eyes in anguish as the tears began to fall.
“Hey… hey… hey.” Spencer lifted my chin to meet his gaze. “I’m not with Kara,” he whispered.
“What?” I sniffled.
“Why would you think that?” He cupped my face with his hands and wiped my tears away with the pad of his thumbs.
“Because… I… just thought — she’s at your house a lot.” It was hard for me to speak in between my tears and chaotic thoughts.
Spencer shook his head back and forth while he continued to brush away my tears. “No, Elizabeth, she’s a friend, like a sister to me. Kara was Sierra’s best friend.”
“All this time… I thought…” I tried to blink the tears from my eyes.
“Shh… don’t cry anymore.” His words were soft and soothing as he brought his lips to mine.
Spencer kept whispering “Don’t cry… don’t cry…” in between tender kisses laced with the salt of my tears. It was almost like he was trying to kiss away the past, the pain, and the heartache of not being together.
My heart swelled with so much love for him it overwhelmed me. He removed his hands from my face while my arms slid up his back and held him. He tightened a hand behind my neck and pulled me in close as our tender kisses deepened into more. Reveling in his touch, I shifted my body forward and desperately kissed him again. Spencer abruptly backed away. He just as quickly brought his face back to mine, nose to nose, and whispered, “Ouch.”
I bit my bottom lip as I backed away from him and said, “I’m sorry.”
I lifted my hand and slid it over his bruised jaw then softly kissed it. Spencer sat back against the bench, and I nestled into his neck. He tenderly stroked my hair while we sat in silence for a few minutes.
“I can’t believe this.” Spencer continued to run his hands through my hair. “All this time.” He kissed my forehead before he shifted back so he could look me in the eyes. “Do you know how much I’ve wanted you?”
I looked at him as a shy smile crossed my face. “Yes.” I whispered. “As much as I’ve wanted you.” And with that said, he smiled a dimpled smile and kissed me again.
Chapter Thirty
Five Months Later
“Let’s go, darlin’. We’re up.”
Hearing Spencer refer to me using my pet name still made my skin tingle. Remembering the moment when the sweet word was silenced from his lips was a bitter memory, so hearing it, no matter how often, was never taken for granted. I clasped my hand in his and we made our way to the stage. Mason stood behind the mic and introduced us to the familiar crowd.
After Aidan left for school, Spencer had joined the band. It had only taken one passionate kiss from my sexy music man to have my head spinning in a haze of “Yes, I’ll join too.”
Spencer and I finished out the set with our signature song, “Love’s Hold”. We always ended the song with a kiss that had our female fans howling for more. We took our final bow, and as Spencer was gathering up the gear with Mason and the guys, I hurried to our usual table where Melissa stood hopping up and down on her heels. When I reached her, we hugged with a combination of tears and laughter.
“I’m so happy you’re home!”
“Me too.” She squealed.
I pulled back and looked at the tear-stained face of my beautiful friend. “How long is winter break?”
Melissa sat down and she waved a hand in front of me.
“Oh, I don’t know, sometime in January. I don’t even want to think about going back!”
“At least you’re only at San Diego State. I don’t think Mason could handle it if you were any farther.”
“Me neither.” She beamed. “He’s been so awesome. I love that he comes to see me all the time. Hey, speaking of coming to see me.” Melissa raised an eyebrow. “You and Spencer need to ride that mean machine out again.”
“We will.” I grinned, remembering what a fun time we had when we’d ridden out to see her in early fall. “We definitely will.”
Melissa kept looking up at the stage at Mason.
I rolled my eyes and said, “You can go.”
She had already spent the day with Mason, but from experience, I now knew exactly what it felt like to be apart from the one I loved. Time together was never enough.
Melissa scurried up the stage to Mason’s waiting arms as Spencer was making his way toward me. I wa
s admiring his gorgeous face and smile until it faded. Spencer’s eyes shifted from mine to just over my head. I glanced over my shoulder to see what had caused the sudden change.
I hadn’t seen his blue eyes since we’d said our final goodbye, when he’d left for school. His hair was longer, and it made my heart swell a little when he swept his soft bangs to the side. Spencer and Aidan reached the table at the same time. I stood up and glanced at Spencer before I greeted Aidan. Spencer gave me a warm dimpled smile before he reached out his hand to Aidan and confidently shook it.
“I’m sure you’re here to talk to Elizabeth. I’ll give you guys some privacy.”
I turned my gaze to Spencer, and, in that moment, I didn’t think I could love him anymore. He winked at me before he turned around and went back to the stage.
I hugged Aidan and squeezed him a little tighter as his fresh scent enveloped me. When we broke apart, our eyes locked.
“It’s so good to see you. How are you?” he said then we both sat. “You look beautiful.” His blue eyes crinkled, and a soft smile slid over his face.
“Thank you, Aidan, I’m good. How are you? The last text you sent me said you were kickin’ butt in your classes. I’m so proud of you.” I beamed.
“Yeah, well, the grades aren’t in yet, but I think I did pretty well.”
“How’s everything… else?” Aidan had also let me know he was making good on his promise to seek counseling, so I didn’t feel bad asking him. He knew what I meant.
“A struggle.” He breathed. “Especially being in a frat… alcohol, girls, partiers.” He chuckled.
“Maybe joining a fraternity wasn’t the best idea.”
“It’ll be alright. There’s a lot of good that goes with it too.”
There was a change in Aidan’s smile, almost like he was hiding something from me. But I knew him too well to let it slip by.
“What?” I leaned in close. “What aren’t you telling me, Aidan Mitchell?”
“I met someone.” His blue eyes seemed to warm at the thought of his mystery girl.
“What’s she like?”
“Well, she not you.” He smiled. “But she’s special.” His shy smile told me it was serious.
“I’m so happy for you.” And I was. I truly was.
“I have something I want to give you.” He nervously bit his lower lip.
“Oh?”
“Close your eyes and open your hand.”
I gave him a smirk, closed my eyes, and extended an open hand. The silver chain felt cool against the warmth of my palm, and I knew it was the tanzanite necklace. When I opened my eyes to his, they were soft and full of sorrow.
“I want you to keep this. You don’t have to wear it, but I just wanted you to have it. To remember the good times.”
It broke my heart to hear the pain and regret in his words.
“Of course, Aidan, thank you.”
I smiled and placed the chain in the zipper compartment of my purse then glanced back at Spencer. He, Mason, and the guys were in an intense conversation with some good-looking guy in a suit. Melissa’s mouth was gaping, and she seemed to be hanging on every word. Spencer caught my eye and motioned for me to come over.
Aidan noticed. “I guess I should let you go. Let’s get together over break and catch up.”
“I’d love that.” I smiled.
We both stood, and as Aidan reached down and hugged me, he whispered, “Thanks for believing in me, Liz…”
I touched a few strands of his soft hair before I pulled back and looked into his bright blue eyes one more time. He turned and I watched as the beautiful boy who would always hold a special place in my heart walked out the door.
When I made my way up to the stage, Mason was near the exit door with the guy in the suit. Spencer snaked his arm around my waist, and he had something in his hand. Melissa seemed to be trying to contain her frenzied emotions. Derek, for once, was stunned to silence, and Kyle was shaking his head in disbelief. Mason returned and stood next to Melissa.
“What?” I questioned.
Spencer’s facial expression was unreadable as he held a small business card in the light so I could read it.
Christopher David, C.D.C. Records.
My eyes widened and I glanced to each of them. When I looked at Melissa I thought she might burst as she screamed. “They want to sign the band!”
“What?” My mind was spinning. I heard Spencer softly laugh while my legs started to give out from under me. Melissa turned to Mason, and they both hugged each other. Melissa’s excitement was contagious. My brother, Derek, and Kyle began to jump up and down and join her in a happy dance. Derek yelled out a string of expletives while he bounced around the stage.
“C’mere, Elizabeth. You’re gettin’ that deer-in-the-headlights look about you.” Spencer walked me to a private corner of the stage and cupped my face in his hands. “You alright?”
I nodded yes.
“You know all this doesn’t matter to me, right?”
I nodded.
Spencer glanced over his shoulder to everyone who was now skipping around. “It matters to them.’’ He chuckled. “Not me. You’re all that matters to me.” Spencer moved in close and whispered, “I love you, Elizabeth.”
His gentle eyes slid over my face and gave me the assurance that whatever was ahead in our future, he would be there to support me, encourage me, comfort me, and love me. I reached up and clasped my arms around his neck as he held my gaze.
Then I whispered, “I love you too,” as he brought his lips to mine.
About the Author
Mary Cope is a freelance writer of romance. Her book, Beautiful One, is the first in a planned trilogy. She enjoys spending time with her family, baking gourmet cookies, listening to music and taking long walks with her yellow Labrador, Maggie.
You may stay connected with Mary via her website @ MaryCopeAuthor.com
Also from Astraea Press
Chapter One
The seven worst words ever spoken came out of my mother's mouth during breakfast. "I signed you up for math tutoring."
I coughed, nearly choked on my biscuit, and tossed the remaining part on my plate. It took a second for words to form between my full lips, and when they did, it was a mumbly, "I don't need math tutoring."
My mom glared.
I forced the remaining biscuit down and tried this again. "I don't. My grades aren't that bad."
"Sure." She took a sip of her coffee. "If it's opposite day."
It was my turn to glare. My mom, ever the comedian. "Why now? It's February. Do you know how late it is to have tutoring? I'll probably fail anyway."
My mom's brow rose like the sun over her mug. "Thought your grades weren't that bad." Apparently, she woke up on the sarcastic side of the bed this morning.
I sputtered and thought really hard on a comeback. Unfortunately, I didn't inherit my mom's wit, nor did my adoptive father's rub off on me. Knocked down but not defeated, I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms like the good defiant teen I wasn't. "I'm not going."
"Yes. You are." No question. No break in her voice.
"No. I'm not."
"Yes. You are."
"No…" This was going nowhere. "Mom," I huffed. "When will I ever need geometry?"
She sat back in her chair, matching me with her arms crossed. Only she had a smirk on her face. Mom's smirk never meant good things were coming to the smirk-ee. "You need it right now. To pass this class so you won't be a sophomore forever."
"I like being a sophomore." I pouted then squinted my eyes at my mom to see if it worked.
Nothing.
"I don't. I'd like you to, you know, graduate."
I shrugged and let out a short sigh. "Graduation is overrated."
"Brittany." Mom's tone had changed into the voice she used when enough was enough. If that didn't work, I expected the overly raised brow followed by the tilted head… then the lethal stare.
"I guess I might want to graduate
someday."
She smiled and her jaw relaxed. "Good to hear."
I wasn't finished. "But geometry? Mama, it's a hard class. I get shapes. Remember in preschool, I got the Star Student Sticker for knowing all eight of my shapes before anyone else?"
My mom's body twitched, but an eep of a snicker came out anyway. "That was eleven years ago, Britt. One has to move on. Grow. Learn new things."
"Yeah, right angles. Acute… obtuse…" I knew all about obtuse angles and obese as my doctor liked to tell me. Who cared if I weighed thirty pounds more than normal? Who invented normal? A normal person?
"You're stalling." Mom got up and put her plate in the sink. With her back to me, I saw the tension in her shoulders as she slumped against the counter. Water ran from the old (antique was too kind of a word) faucet into the cream-colored basin. The kitchen oozed 'country chic' without the chic part. Faded yellow walls held up off-white wooden cabinets with black paint-peeling handles.
We weren't exactly poor but had no money to put into renovations since my mom had gotten laid off, and no time since Dan worked hundreds of miles away in Panama City, Florida, three out of four weeks of the month. He wouldn't be back for two.
"Did you hear me?"
Hear what? "Huh?"
She sighed and turned off the water. With her back still to me, she picked up a dish and started washing it. I heard the familiar slush of the water and clang of the plates as she washed each one and placed it in the black drainer to the right. The dishwasher died six months ago, right around the time Mom got laid-off. "You start tutoring today. After school."
A syllable rushed out of me before I could stop it. It started with an M and would have started her name in a very whiny voice.
"Enough, Brittany." She put a plate in the drainer harder than I figured she meant, so I clamped my mouth shut. "It's all set up. Instead of riding the bus at three, go back to Ms. Bennett's classroom. She has a tutor all picked out for you."
I stood up, defeated, scraped my newly unwanted food into the trashcan and put it in my mom's soapy hand. "Then what?"
